Green Mountain Sect

Li Qingge said, "I know you want to ask what White Chrysanthemum looked like in these three cases, Young Master Wang."

Wang Chong did indeed want to know what White Chrysanthemum looked like. He nodded slightly and said, "Exactly."

Li Qingge replied, "This sexual predator is tall and long-legged, with extremely handsome features..."

The renowned female constable paused, then continued, "His appearance is roughly similar to yours, Young Master Wang."

Wang Chong's heart thumped. He wished he could smash every toad on the mountain to death. Why should he look roughly similar to a sexual predator? Shouldn't he be like a jade tree standing in the breeze, with girls smiling at him just for standing there?

Li Qingge continued, "Judging from the injuries on the victims, this criminal is proficient in six or seven martial arts. After going through countless case files, I suspect he may come from the Green Mountain Sect."

Wang Chong perked up slightly and asked, "What exactly is this Green Mountain Sect?"

Li Qingge pondered for a moment, then said, "Years ago, Shaolin had a kitchen laborer who, because he knew nothing of Buddhist teachings, couldn't become a monk and could only do odd jobs. His position was lowly, and he always felt others were bullying him. Nursing resentment, he secretly learned several formidable martial arts and practiced them in private to an extremely high level. Then, on a dark and windy night, he ambushed the monks he had grudges against, killed twenty-one in succession, and fled the monastery."

"Afraid that Shaolin Monastery would hunt him down, he fled far into the Western Regions, where he encountered a renegade from Wudang. The two became wolves and jackals in collusion, wallowing in the same mire. They exchanged martial arts and founded the Green Mountain Sect."

"Both came from major Central Plains schools, and in talent alone, they could be counted among the outstanding figures of their time. But their temperaments were extreme, so after exchanging martial arts, each developed his own interpretations, and the arts they created strayed down an evil path.

"This sect's martial arts resemble those of the Central Plains without truly being the same. For example, Shaolin has the Great Vajra Palm Force and the Prajna Palm Technique, but the kitchen laborer felt neither divine art was ruthless enough, so he created the Vajra Prajna Palm. Its palm force is ferocious enough to rank among the top three in the world."

"Another example is the Candle-Bearing Sword Technique you excel at, Young Master Wang Chong. That Wudang renegade combined it with several formidable sword techniques from the Western Regions and reworked it into a sword style called Fire-Burning Eyebrows! The name refers to flames singeing one's eyebrows, caring only for what is immediately before one. Its sword moves are urgent, every strike seeks mutual destruction with the enemy, and it leaves no avenue of retreat whatsoever."

"However, the Green Mountain Sect has no sinister martial art such as the Ice Soul Finger, so I can only suspect, not be certain."

Wang Chong asked, "What is the origin of the Ice Soul Finger, then?"

Li Qingge replied, "Jade Taoist, who created this martial art, died decades ago and left no successors, so there is no way to trace its source."

Wang Chong asked, "Could someone from the Green Mountain Sect have killed Jade Taoist and obtained the sinister Ice Soul Finger art?"

Li Qingge's gaze suddenly turned peculiar. "Jade Taoist committed many evil deeds and sought refuge with the Eighteen Tribes of the Grasslands. He was killed by the Empress just after she completed her training. If anyone in the world could have obtained the Ice Soul Finger from Jade Taoist, it would only be the Empress of this dynasty. Do you think Her Sacred Majesty the Empress could go around being a sexual predator?"

Wang Chong gave an embarrassed laugh. "I forgot that detail."

Of course, he had not forgotten. He had never known about it in the first place.

He thought to himself, I'd better not speak so readily. It's far too easy to expose my ignorance.

Li Qingge did not pursue the matter. After all, not knowing about the Empress's glorious exploits back then had nothing to do with this case and did not signify anything. She continued, "What's more, this criminal is proficient in several other martial arts, none of which have anything to do with either the Green Mountain Sect or Jade Taoist."

A thought suddenly popped into Wang Chong's head. Could he be one of those transmigrators with a system, some cheating bastard who completes a task and gets rewarded with a maxed-out martial art?

If there's a cheating bastard like that, how could the natives of this world beat him? And what could I possibly rely on to kill the guy?

No, it probably isn't a max-level reward. At most, it would reward him with a few years of cultivation or something. Otherwise...

Hmm. In any case, I have to guard against it.

Li Qingge truly deserved his reputation as a renowned constable of the realm. He had abundant investigative experience and a deep understanding of the case. Wang Chong soon gained a general understanding of the sexual predator White Chrysanthemum, and he raised a question that had puzzled him for a long time. "Could White Chrysanthemum be several people? Could they each commit crimes but all claim to be White Chrysanthemum?"

Li Qingge was slightly taken aback. Only after a long while did he say, "That is indeed possible!"

"Although there has been a new case, that does not clear Sun Yanqi. At least two cases may be connected to him. Not only did he appear nearby, but his movements were secretive, with many suspicious points."

Wang Chong sighed. Although Li Qingge was "professional," he was ultimately only a renowned constable in a martial arts world. He had no modern knowledge of "crime prevention" or modern concept of "criminal investigation." Wang Chong himself was merely an engineering graduate from a Project 985 university and could not offer many valuable suggestions.

Li Qingge felt differently from Wang Chong. She had originally only thought this young man was reliable and would do as a temporary helper. But after their conversation, the renowned female constable greatly admired the various suggestions Wang Chong had offered and felt deeply that he was a talented man.

Watching Wang Chong, who was still leafing through the case files, Li Qingge said, "Would you like to join the Ministry of Justice, Young Master Wang? I can arrange an eighth-rank position for you."

One had to understand that ninety-nine percent of the constables in the realm were merely clerks and runners, with no official rank at all. Only a very few chief constables, sometimes only those who reached the level of head constable, gained official status. Li Qingge's proposal was tantamount to letting Wang Chong stride straight into the clouds and become an official in a single leap. Xu Nuo was indeed a generous promise.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Chong said, "My family still hopes I will study diligently and earn a proper scholarly distinction."

Seeing him refuse, Li Qingge did not try to persuade him further. They studied the case files for a while before Li Qingge said, "Young Master Wang Chong, it would not be suitable for you to appear with your true face. I have a human-skin mask here, along with a new identity. For the time being, assist me with the investigation as Ma You, head constable of Pine City."

Wang Chong agreed and took the mask Li Qingge handed him. A single glance left him deeply disappointed. This thing was of the sort that anyone could tell at a glance, "This person is wearing a mask." It could conceal his identity, but it certainly could not turn him into someone else. It was far too crude.

By then it was noon. Li Qingge arranged an extremely plain lunch, consisting only of coarse rice, radishes, leafy greens, and a bowl of clear soup, with little oil or flavor.

Wang Chong was not picky either. After lunch, he parted ways with Li Qingge and went to find his maid and page.

Yuzao was sitting in meditation and practicing, while Wang Dong was so bored that he was staring blankly into space. Both were delighted to see him return. Wang Chong asked and learned that both had already eaten, then pondered briefly. Yuzao works relatively hard. She probably won't refuse my guidance. Wang Dong is a little lazy. I'm afraid he isn't so keen on martial arts.

Yuzao was diligent and nimble, and had long since brewed tea. She bustled about so busily that her attentions left Wang Chong feeling ashamed. He asked casually, "Sister Yuzao, what martial arts did you learn in the Su Family?"

Yuzao smiled. "When I was with the Su Family, it was fine for you to call me Sister, young master. After all, 'Mama' and 'Sister' were customary forms of address. But now that I am a maid of the Wang family, you need only call me Yuzao."

"I learned five martial arts in the Su Family..."

...Ma You: I've been wronged! I was secretly arrested and locked in the Ministry of Justice's prison, while someone else is out there using my identity to enjoy romance and pleasure...

...Yuzao: Heehee, the more I look at my young master, the more he seems warm as jade, graceful and untrammeled as an orchid...