The Martial Lord of the Troubled World

Chapter 32 Footprints
"The Fu family, the Xu family, and the Lin family. This case is truly unusual, involving three prominent families in the city at once."

Watching the Fu family's car slowly disappear into the distance on the driveway, a junior policeman following behind Zhou He couldn't help but sigh.

Zhou He, with his hands behind his back, glanced indifferently at the junior patrol officer. "Is the case investigation finished?"

"It's over."

The young patrolman nodded and reported, "Miss Xu was tied up at the back gate of Shengchang Incense Shop. She had just finished a business deal with someone, and this group of bandits must have come for her."

Then, passing by the Sun family's clothing store, he also kidnapped the Lin family's grandmother.

The young patrol officer paused for a moment, then said, "Director Zhou, do you think this kidnapping case today, and the ones from last month, could be the work of the same group of people?"

"Don't make wild guesses about things without evidence."

Zhou He gave a light hum and then asked, "What were the results of the on-site investigation?"

"The trauma specialists just examined her."

The junior officer replied, "There were a total of nine bodies. Apart from one who was shot directly in the center of the chest, the remaining eight all died from their bare hands."

Including the leader who had already entered the Bone Forging stage, almost all of them were killed with a single blow.

The person who made the move must be at least at the Blood Refining Realm.

"It's not surprising that the eldest young master of the Fu family has a Blood Refining Realm martial artist by his side."

Zhou He nodded, "Let's close the case like this."

"However, there is still one small point of doubt."

The young patrol officer hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

What's suspicious?

The young policeman stammered, "The brothers searched the entire forest and found no trace of anyone else besides the footprints of the nine bandits and Young Master Fu."

"Uh"

Zhou He was taken aback, and the junior patrolman whispered, "Director Zhou, you said..."
Even a martial artist at the Blood Refining Realm shouldn't be able to kill eight people without their feet touching the ground.

Zhou He frowned, pondered for a moment, and was just about to say something.

At this moment, someone ran up to report.

"Director, Mr. Xu Shirong has arrived."

As they were talking, they saw the group of people quickly walk into the woods.

Xu Shirong, dressed in a brocade robe, walked at the front, followed by Xu Xinyi and several servants.

"Why has Master Xu come in person?"

Zhou He put on a smile and quickly went to greet him.

"Director Zhou."

Xu Shirong saw Zhou He and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Deputy Director, Deputy Director."

Zhou He waved his hand repeatedly, "The director is concurrently held by County Magistrate Hu."

"It's all the same, it's all the same."

Xu Shirong seemed to have little interest in exchanging pleasantries with Zhou He. After a few perfunctory words, he led his men away.

"Director."

The young patrolman sidled up, peering at the backs of the Xu family, and whispered, "That Mr. Xu's face smells like shit."

"You would have done the same if you were in my shoes."

Zhou He chuckled, "Originally, it was such a wonderful thing that the eldest son of the Fu family defeated the mountain bandits and bravely rescued his fiancée."

Now, unfortunately, there's one more person involved.

Zhou He glanced at someone on the field, his expression playful.

The young patrolman followed Zhou He's gaze, immediately understood, and couldn't help but click his tongue twice.

"No wonder Young Master Fu didn't even glance at that place when he left."

"This Xu Shirong, he's getting senile."

"A large family like this, and they can't even keep an eye on their daughter. They're just making a fool of themselves." Zhou He said leisurely, then suddenly changed the subject and ordered, "Alright, this has nothing to do with us."

If there's nothing else, let everyone leave.

"Zhou Chu, what about the footprints?"

"Who cares if there are footprints or not?"

Zhou He waved his hand impatiently, "Hurry up and close the case, then quickly take your men to help Young Master Fu catch the thief. If you do this well, you will all receive a reward from the Fu family."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the young patrolman's eyes lit up, and he immediately tried to run away.

"return."

Zhou He beckoned the person back and then solemnly instructed, "Go to the Lin family again later and explain the case to them clearly and thoroughly."

"Don't let people think our police department is just a bunch of useless people."

The young patrolman scratched his head, puzzled. "Director Zhou, are you sure it's the Lin family and not the Fu family?"

Is that person from the Lin family worth dealing with so meticulously?

"Just go when I tell you to, stop with all the nonsense!"

Zhou He glared at him, and the young patrolman quickly shut up, turned around, and left.

After everyone left, a look of relief slowly appeared on Zhou He's face.

He glanced at the chaotic scene and muttered in a voice only he could hear, "A bunch of damned idiots, they really know how to pick their people."

Thankfully nothing serious happened, otherwise the Luan River would have been in complete chaos.

Xu Shirong, his face grim, looked at Xu Leyi, who was squatting on the ground, and said coldly, "Get up and go home."

Xu Leyi bit her lower lip and slowly stood up. Xu Xinyi, who was behind her, quickly stepped forward to take her arm and softly called out, "Sister."

Seeing this, Zhao Xinhua, who had been standing by for a while, couldn't help but speak up: "Uncle, Leyi has just escaped danger and is still in shock."

"I don't need Mr. Zhao to worry about the affairs of my Xu family."

Before Zhao Xinhua could finish his sentence, Xu Shirong coldly cut him off, saying, "I'll have someone send Mr. Zhao a hundred silver dollars later as a way of thanking him for his righteous act of calling the police."

"Oh, right."

Xu Shirong added, "From now on, please ask Mr. Zhao to have less contact with my daughter. That's all for now."

After saying that, Xu Shirong didn't even glance at Zhao Xinhua before turning and leaving.

The Xu family members looked at Zhao Xinhua with cold eyes, completely unlike the attitude one would expect towards someone who had saved their young lady.

Zhao Xinming watched the group walk away without looking back, and stood there awkwardly, speechless.

As the patrol officers finished their shift and prepared to leave, mocking and teasing glances occasionally fell on Zhao Xinhua. Some even deliberately walked past him, chirping loudly.

They mostly said things like "toad" and "why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror?"

Zhao Xinhua's face was flushed red, as if he was enduring the humiliation. He refused to leave until everyone in the woods had left, leaving him alone.

Zhao Xinhua, who had been feeling aggrieved and indignant, has now completely calmed down.

"Come out."

Zhao Xinhua slowly spoke, facing the empty forest.

Before long, a figure emerged silently from under a tree, like a ghost.

This person was tall and thin, with an average appearance. He had a mole the size of a fingernail on his left cheek, which could even be described as somewhat ugly.

But she had applied a thick layer of powder and had strange eyeshadow on her eyelids.

His clothes were also quite strange; the lining was gray, but the outer layer looked like it was pieced together from various strips of fabric of different lengths and colors.

He looked like a beggar, yet also like a traveling magician; he had an indescribable, bizarre, and eerie quality.

"You've messed this up."

Zhao Xinhua looked at the man in front of her and said coldly.

(End of this chapter)