A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

On the official road leading from Qingyang Martial Arts School to the inner city, a luxurious carriage was slowly traveling.

Inside the carriage, Wu Lianyue, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wu family, leaned against the soft cushions, with the older maid sitting beside her. The maid's aura was calm and collected, clearly indicating that she was also a martial arts expert.

"Have you disposed of all the Blood Spirit Pills in our shops?" Wu Lianyue picked up a cup of fragrant tea and gently blew away the steam.

The maid bowed and replied, "Reporting to Madam, everything has been transferred as you instructed. Not a single Blood Spirit Pill can be found in the open, whether in pharmacies or other clandestine channels."

Wu Lianyue nodded slightly.

The Merchant Alliance wielded considerable influence and had numerous informants in Luochuan County. The government's large-scale mobilization of the patrol battalion and inspection office naturally couldn't be kept secret from them. The five major families had been busy transferring the Blood Spirit Pills in secret these past few days.

At least on the surface, the Wu family will no longer get involved in this mess.

The maid hesitated for a moment before asking, "Madam, the spots in the Qingyuan Sword Sect are extremely valuable, and countless eyes within the clan are eyeing them. Why were they given to Zhu Xiaowen's daughter?"

Wu Lianyue put down her teacup and let out a barely audible sigh.

"There are no extra spots; it's just a way to win people over."

Upon hearing this, the older maid was visibly taken aback.

"Han Yan is not of the Wu family bloodline. She was able to join the Qingyuan Sword Sect and become an inner elder because of her own talent and opportunities. She did not rely on the Wu family in the slightest."

"She previously agreed to open a way for the Wu family, simply because of Xing Tong and Xing Tong's deceased father." Wu Lianyue's voice carried a hint of remoteness.

The older maid seemed to have thought of something and spoke again: "Elder Liu's change in attitude, could it be because of the Prince of Yan?"

Wu Lianyue nodded.

"Han Yan's attitude turned cold when she learned that my Wu family was involved in selling Blood Spirit Pills. Now, the Qingyuan Sword Sect, or rather the six major sects of Qingzhou, are all watching and waiting. The sect has strictly forbidden its disciples from interfering in the conflict between the imperial court and the Prince of Yan."

"So, what she means is that only one spot can be reserved for Xing Tong, and the person should be sent there as soon as possible."

The older maid fell silent.

Outsiders only know that the Wu family has close ties with the six major sects of Qingzhou, but they are unaware of the inside story. Liu Hanyan, an inner elder of the Qingyuan Sword Sect and the successor of the Frost Condensation Sword, holds a highly respected position. Although the Wu family is one of the five major families in Luochuan County, it is as insignificant as dust in the face of such a behemoth.

The only connection between Liu Hanyan and the Wu family is Wu Xingtong.

Wu Xingtong is the only blood relative of her brother Liu Qing in this world.

Back then, the Liu family was poor, and their parents died early, leaving the brother and sister to depend on each other for survival. Later, Liu Hanyan was exceptionally talented and went to the prefecture to join a sect, while her brother Liu Qing was troubled by love and married into the Wu family, where he had a son named Wu Xingtong.

When Liu Hanyan learned that her brother had married into the family, she was furious and even demanded that Wu Xingtong change his surname back to Liu, but Liu Qing dissuaded her.

After Liu Qing passed away, Wu Xingtong became Liu Hanyan's only relative.

"Then... what if Zhu Xiaowen finds out we broke our promise?" The older maid snapped out of her thoughts. "After all, he is a martial artist at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and he was quite a prominent figure in Luochuan back then."

"By then, he won't have a choice." A meaningful smile appeared on Wu Lianyue's lips.

The reason she chose to marry Zhu Xiaowen was because she valued his cultivation level at the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

The Prince of Yan's army is imminent, and the small city of Luochuan is utterly unable to withstand it. After the city falls, the real key will be the redistribution of power. What makes the Wang family so firmly established as the leading family? Simply because they have undergone three marrow cleansing rituals.

If the Wu family could win over Zhu Xiaowen, and with Wu Xingtong about to break through, why couldn't they compete for the post-war dominance of Luochuan County?

The older maid suddenly realized what was going on, and her respect for her mistress deepened even further.

Wu Lianyue exuded a dignified and heroic aura. As a woman, she took charge of the Wu family, and she never relied on luck.

She wanted to show the world that what men could do, Wu Lianyue could do too.

……

North City Patrol Office, Main Hall.

Zhou Yuan sat in the main seat, while Li Tong and two other newly appointed constables stood respectfully below.

"Officer Zhou, these two are Chen Hong and Wang Feng, who were recently transferred from the headquarters," Li Tong introduced to Zhou Yuan.

Chen Hong and Wang Feng had long heard of Zhou Yuan's reputation; he was a ruthless figure who had recently become famous throughout Luochuan. Now, seeing him in person, they were both unable to hide their excitement.

"Your humble servants pay their respects to Chief Zhou!" The two men bowed deeply.

"Get up," Zhou Yuan said calmly, his voice even, yet it carried an air of authority.

"As you all surely know, the magistrate has ordered the confiscation of Blood Spirit Pills. Our North City Patrol Division is responsible for cooperating with the patrol battalion to clear out twelve of the thirty-six alleys in the outer city."

As soon as Zhou Yuan finished speaking, Li Tong and the other two all straightened up.

The matter of the Blood Spirit Pill had already caused a great stir throughout the city, so they naturally knew about it. It was said that this substance was extremely malevolent, and once the person who took it stopped taking it, they would suffer unbearable pain and torment.

"The county magistrate only gave us three days. We must wipe them out completely within three days."

"Yes, sir!" Li Tong and the other two clasped their hands in unison.

Zhou Yuan stopped wasting words and, apart from leaving a few garrison soldiers to guard the yamen, mobilized all the remaining personnel, a large group of nearly a hundred people.

Xue Renjie had been waiting for a long time outside the Patrol and Inspection Office.

The man, clad in standard armor, sat high atop his warhorse, followed by hundreds of armored soldiers. These soldiers, however, were all brimming with vitality, including many skilled individuals at the Bone Forging Realm, far surpassing the mere soldiers of the Patrol Division.

"Inspector Zhou, time is tight and the task is heavy, let's set off now." Xue Renjie clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhou Yuan from afar.

Zhou Yuan's expression shifted slightly.

According to the commander's plan, he will be working with Xue Renjie for the next three days.

He had originally planned to lead his team and find an excuse to escape so he could completely eliminate Wang Tengfei. But with Wang Tengfei by his side, leaving unnoticed was no longer an option.

That's it.

Let Wang Tengfei live for three more days.

Zhou Yuan abandoned his thoughts, mounted his horse, and together with Xue Renjie, led his troops into the streets and alleys of the outer city.

The cleanup operation has officially begun.

Because the Blood Elixir was so widely circulated, it was sold not only in pharmacies but also in many brothels and gambling dens. The inspectors and patrolmen searched almost every house.

Two hours passed before they had just finished searching one alley.

The Blood Spirit Pills that were found numbered in the hundreds, and were currently piled up on a wooden tray in front of Zhou Yuan and Xue Renjie.

Xue Renjie picked up a pill and examined it from head to toe.

"Putting aside its harmful medicinal properties, the Blood Spirit Pill is of quite high quality."

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly.

In this day and age, most of the methods for refining elixirs have been lost. Not only are the prescriptions rare, but the refining process is also extremely complicated.

It's just unknown what the person behind refining the Blood Spirit Pill intends to do. It's definitely not as simple as just making a few coins.

Zhou Yuan crushed the pill in his hand and fell into thought.

Xue Renjie, standing to the side, remained silent. As a centurion of the patrol battalion, he obviously knew more information.

Just then, a soldier rushed out of the alleyway looking flustered.

"Report!"

"Someone in Linwu Lane refused to hand over the elixir and... even injured Li Tong's horse!"

......