A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Chapter 93 Plum Rain Season

A large number of Bone Forging Realm martial artists have disappeared?

Zhou Yuan was quite puzzled; the whole affair seemed strange.

After all, Bone Forging Realm warriors are already considered the backbone of Luochuan County, and no force would easily lose them.

"Let's go without delay."

Zhou Yuan suppressed his thoughts, stopped asking questions, and walked out the door first.

Outside the patrol station, in the restaurant across the street.

"They're out!"

The fifth brother suddenly stood up, staring intently at the figure walking out of the yamen, his eyes filled with excitement.

"He finally came out!"

"What's the rush?"

The hunched old man who had been sitting upright in the center slowly opened his eyes, his breath faint and unclear.

"This person has been hiding for several days, and he has emerged from seclusion today. He must have some kind of backing."

"What can they possibly rely on?" Another, shorter man scoffed. "The five of us working together could easily take down even a Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivator!"

"Follow them."

The hunchbacked old man ignored his words and only uttered three hoarse words.

Horse hooves trod on the wet flagstones, splashing up tiny droplets of water.

Zhou Yuan and Xue Min rode side by side, and after about half an hour, they stopped in front of a quiet house.

"We're here, let's go in."

Xue Min dismounted swiftly.

Zhou Yuan reined in the horses and looked around the house in front of him.

This is not the county government office.

-

"Is the county magistrate waiting for us here?"

"You didn't know?" Xue Min glanced back at him. "Every year during the plum rain season, the county magistrate moves here to stay temporarily."

The rainy season?

Zhou Yuan was indeed unaware of this habit.

Without thinking further, he dismounted and followed Xue Min into the courtyard.

The pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and flowing water inside the house are arranged in an extremely elegant manner.

What's even more peculiar is that the back of this residence is right next to the surging Caohe River.

Led by the gatekeeper, the two walked through several courtyards and finally stopped in front of an antique-style study.

"Come in."

A slightly tired voice came from inside the room.

Zhou Yuan and Xue Min stepped inside and bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

Behind the desk, County Magistrate Liu Wenju was writing furiously. He looked up, and Zhou Yuan glanced at him casually, feeling a slight chill in his heart.

However, after only a few days, the county magistrate had aged considerably.

His complexion was sallow, his face was covered with fine wrinkles, and he looked sickly.

Could it be that there is some hidden ailment that requires recuperation in this house by the canal, using the moisture to heal?

"I presume Commander Xue has already told you that I have summoned you here today."

Liu Wenju put down his wolf-hair brush and pushed a list in front of him forward.

"These are the Bone Forging Realm martial artists who have recently gone missing."

Zhou Yuan stared intently at it.

The list contained more than a dozen names.

He was particularly familiar with two of them.

Xu Yan, the patrol inspector of the western city.

Zhang Hao, a disciple of Qingyang Martial Arts School.

Xue Min's expression also hardened. Several of the patrol battalion sergeants under her command were also on the list.

"Chief Inspector Xie and Commander Xue have been busy eliminating Blood Spirit Pills lately and have no time for anything else," Liu Wenju said slowly. "You two, one a rising star of the Patrol Division and the other a young talent of my Patrol Battalion, are entrusted with the investigation of the missing martial artist case."

"Rest assured, Your Excellency! I will certainly live up to your expectations and bring the real culprit to justice!" Xue Min immediately clasped his hands in a fist and replied firmly.

"Good." Liu Wenju nodded in satisfaction. "The Xue family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and is the backbone of Luochuan County. Commander Xue, you will surely bring glory to your family in the future."

Upon hearing this, Xue Min stood even taller, her pride as a daughter of a military family overflowing.

Zhou Yuan stood to the side, remaining silent.

He had heard about the Xue family. They had served in the patrol battalion for generations, and Xue Min's father had even died from serious injuries sustained in the suppression of bandits, making them a family of loyal martyrs.

However, more than a dozen Bone Forging Warriors have gone missing, including an official from the imperial court. Such a major case, and they only sent a centurion and a constable to investigate it?

This is far too frivolous.

"Inspector Zhou, do you have any concerns?"

Liu Wenju's gaze fell on Zhou Yuan.

"This humble official will certainly do his utmost," Zhou Yuan replied, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

"Hmm." Liu Wenju adopted a gentle demeanor. "I owe you a lot for Rong'er's matter last time. I've been busy with official duties and haven't had a chance to thank you in person yet."

"Killing the bandits is my duty; Your Excellency is too kind," Zhou Yuan replied calmly.

"Excellent, excellent!" Liu Wenju clapped his hands and laughed. "One is one of the Three Heroes of Luochuan, and the other is a rising star of Luochuan. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young!"

He looked at the two people in front of him with appreciation, then coughed lightly and waved his hand.

"Go."

Zhou Yuan and Xue Min bowed again, then turned and left the study.

Watching the two figures disappear, the smile on Liu Wenju's face slowly faded.

He walked to a huge bronze mirror, touching the increasingly numerous wrinkles on his face. His once gentle eyes had now become utterly cold.

"The rainy season is approaching again —"

Leaving the mansion, Zhou Yuan and Xue Min walked side by side.

"Inspector Zhou, what are your thoughts on this case?" Xue Min spoke first.

"The person who made the move, who was able to make more than a dozen Bone Forging Warriors disappear without a sound, must have a cultivation level of at least Yi Jin Realm, or even possibly Xi Sui Realm."

"Within Luochuan County, there are only a handful of experts at this level."

"Does Commander Xue mean to investigate them one by one?" Zhou Yuan asked rhetorically.

"Why not?" Xue Min declared righteously. "Within Luochuan County, we have the Blood Spirit Pill in the past and martial artists going missing. We are paid by the imperial court, so we should be loyal and dutiful, and wipe out these demons and monsters one by one!"

Zhou Yuan did not respond.

Which of the people or forces involved in this matter are not to be trifled with?

-

For the two of them to investigate these forces is like throwing an egg against a rock.

County Magistrate Liu Wenju could not possibly be unaware of this.

But he did exactly that anyway.

The implications of this are truly intriguing.

Just then, several figures suddenly rushed out from the alleyway ahead.

These people were all dressed in black, carrying large bows on their backs and long swords at their waists—the standard attire of sword-wielders.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, the leader shouted, "Is that Inspector Zhou ahead?"

Zhou Yuan reined in his horse, his expression shifting slightly.

"That's me."

Upon hearing this, the knife-wielders' faces lit up with joy, and they quickly stepped forward, kneeling down on one knee.

"Reporting to Inspector Zhou! Inspector Lü suffered heavy losses in an ambush by bandits at Yanling Fort!"

"He is now seriously injured and in critical condition. We urge Inspector Zhou to come to his aid immediately!"

Lü Chong?

Before Zhou Yuan could speak, Xue Min's expression changed.

"You're saying Inspector Lü was ambushed?"

"Exactly!" the knife-wielding man said urgently. "We were ordered to accompany Inspector Lü to Yanling Fort to wipe out the Blood Spirit Pill den, but unexpectedly, a large number of bandits were entrenched there. We were no match for them and suffered heavy casualties. We could only risk our lives to escape and report back!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's heart sank.

Shen He, Yanling Fortress, the swordsman —

As expected, something bad happened.

"I remember, Lü Chong was also at the Bone Forging Realm." Xue Min reacted very quickly.

She immediately connected this to the missing persons case.

"We shouldn't delay, let's go to Yanling Fort immediately!" Xue Min made a decisive decision and turned to Zhou Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan did not reply, but instead pondered. He was now basically certain that this matter was not so simple, and that his senior brother Shen He was definitely involved. He just didn't know what Shen He's purpose was, or whether it was really related to the series of disappearances of Bone Forging Warriors.

"They're just lowly bandits. What, Inspector Zhou, are you scared?"

Seeing that Zhou Yuan had not responded, Xue Min became somewhat impatient.

afraid?

Zhou Yuan smiled slightly and slowly clenched his fist.

That immense force, powerful enough to shake mountains, flowed quietly through his veins.

Since the situation is unclear, there's no need to dwell on it. He also wants to see for himself what these people are really up to.

No matter how much you scheme or plot, it doesn't matter.

I will break it by my own strength.

"Let's go then."