Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 206 The Unassuming Willow Oriole (Two Chapters Combined)

The constable was sincere and approachable. Despite his high position in the Six Doors, he showed no airs of superiority when facing Li Fu, a local constable. Instead, he treated him as if he were talking with a peer with outstanding reputation in the martial arts world, which made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Li Fu said, "Commander, you flatter me. I dare not accept such praise."

The constable smiled slightly.

"Officer Li, there's no need to be so modest."

You have solved numerous extraordinary cases in Yanzhou, earning a great reputation. Furthermore, you turned the tide in Zhongnan Mountain, preserving the righteous spirit of the martial arts world. I have heard of you in the capital and deeply admire you.

This investigation will rely heavily on the help of Officer Li.

He spoke at a measured pace, with a clear and resonant voice, truly embodying the demeanor of a scholar-general.

The two exchanged only a few pleasantries before Feng Shaoting, who had been standing to the side, snapped out of his daze, his face once again beaming with smiles. He then stepped forward and hurriedly invited the constable and his entourage into the government office for a welcoming feast.

The constable nodded to Li Fu and said gently, "Constable Li, we'll talk later." After saying that, he followed Feng Shaoting inside.

Since then, the constable has lived a secluded life, residing in a quiet courtyard specially prepared for him by Feng Shaoting, and rarely making public appearances.

The methods used by the head constable to investigate the case next left Chen Tao and the other local constables of Yanzhou dumbfounded and incredulous.

This renowned detective neither personally investigated the robbery scene nor deployed a large network of informants to track down the thieves.

He simply ordered the Yihe Escort Agency members to be moved from the Yanzhou prison to the government office for detention, and then summoned the local constables and the men brought by the Six Doors to announce his method of solving the case.

The thieves stole the taxes, and the Yihe Escort Agency is highly suspected, possibly being an inside agent.

The thieves are very likely to attempt a prison break at the government office in the coming days, either to rescue their accomplices or to silence witnesses.

All we need to do is keep a close watch, lay a tight net, and wait for the thief to come to us. We will surely be able to capture him in one fell swoop!

Upon hearing this order, Chen Tao and the others exchanged bewildered glances, hardly believing their ears.

Is this the detective's method of solving cases?

Are you placing all your hopes on the thief coming to your door?

Isn't this a bit too much—a joke?

This is quite different from the image of him in the martial arts world, who is said to be infallible and a genius at solving cases.

Li Fu was also slightly surprised, but he had other doubts in his heart.

This constable's actions may seem absurd, but considering the previous unusual events, it's likely that he has ulterior motives and a deeper meaning that others don't understand.

Just as Li Fu was observing the situation,

Chen Tao rushed over to report, a hint of excitement on his face.

"Boss, there's some activity at the orphanage!"

The brothers sent out discovered that this afternoon, a suspicious woman had been loitering in the back alley of the orphanage. Although she was disguised, her figure and appearance were quite similar to Liu Ying'er in the case file!

She seemed extremely wary and did not approach, only glancing at them from a distance for a moment before leaving.

The brothers have secretly followed her, without alerting her yet.

Li Fu's spirits lifted, and sure enough, Liu Ying'er appeared.

This clue is crucial.

Just as he was about to set off to investigate in person, a constable from the Six Doors ran over and asked him to come.

"Officer Li, the Commander-in-Chief invites you to his courtyard for a chat and some tea."

Hearing this from the side, Chen Tao couldn't help but gasp and instinctively looked at Li Fu.

Since his arrival, the Chief Constable has declined the welcoming banquet hosted by Prefect Feng and has kept a low profile. Apart from the Six Doors constables he brought with him, no one else has even seen his face. Yet, he took the initiative to invite the chief for tea.

Even Prefect Feng might not receive such treatment.

The search for Liu Ying'er is at a critical juncture, and we cannot afford to delay.

Li Fu replied to the constable, "Reporting to the constable, Li Fu thanks you for your kindness, but I have urgent official business to attend to immediately and cannot go. Please forgive me. We can discuss the tea later."

After saying that, he quickly left the government office with Chen Tao.

Li Fu led his men to the outside of the orphanage, where they saw several sentries disguised as vendors and pedestrians lying sprawled on the ground, some clutching their chests and others pressing their arms, clearly having suffered considerable beatings.

One of them, seeing Li arrive, endured the pain and struggled to report.

"Boss—that woman—one of us secretly followed her, but she noticed us. When she realized she was being watched, she turned back and stormed into the orphanage without saying a word, trying to snatch the child!"

We—we stepped forward to stop them, but we were no match for them—

Upon hearing this, Chen Tao was both surprised and suspicious: "The case file clearly states that Liu Ying'er was just an ordinary singer, a frail woman. How could she possess martial arts skills? And be so formidable at that?"

"The case file may not be entirely accurate. This young mistress of the Zuo family is probably far more complex than she appears." Li Fu said no more, and with a flash, he had already entered the courtyard. Chen Tao and the others quickly followed.

The courtyard was in a mess, and several saleswomen and servants huddled in a corner in a panic, clearly having just experienced a fright.

An old nanny, seeing the officials enter, pointed tremblingly towards the backyard.

"Officer, there's a formidable female thief! She stormed in, took down several men, went straight to the nursery in the backyard, snatched a baby, and ran away!"

Li Fu led Chen Tao swiftly through the halls and rooms, and rushed to the backyard. There, they saw fresh footprints on the roof tiles of the back wall. A slender figure was holding a baby in a swaddling cloth, and like a swallow returning to its nest, she leaped and bounded on the roof ridge in the distance. Her movements were light and swift, far beyond those of ordinary martial arts figures.

The figure seemed to sense something, and as it leaped onto a high roof, it looked back and saw it was Liu Ying'er!

However, at this moment, there was not a trace of the gentle and delicate demeanor that was usually rumored to be the daughter-in-law of the Zuo family on her face. Instead, her brows were filled with anxiety, determination, and resolve.

"What incredible agility!"

Chen Tao leaped onto the wall and stared wide-eyed at what he saw.

"Could Chief Escort Zuo possess such lightness skill?"

Boss, that willow warbler is really good at hiding!

Did the Zuo father and son know that their daughter-in-law possessed such abilities?

Li Fu squinted and looked into the distance. Liu Ying'er had already carried the child and darted dozens of feet away, leaping and bounding through the densely packed rooftops and alleyways, seemingly heading out of the city.

Without saying a word, he moved swiftly, his toes touching the top of the wall, his purple robes fluttering as he swept away like a wisp of smoke.

When Lingbo Weibu was unleashed, it appeared to be a leisurely stroll, but in reality, it was incredibly fast. Moreover, its posture was elegant and composed. In just a few breaths, the distance between him and Liu Ying'er had been greatly reduced.

"I'll go after them first, you guys follow up and seal off the city gates and key roads!" Li Fu's voice echoed from afar, but he was already far away.

Liu Ying'er held her infant son in her arms, her heart filled with anxiety.

The child squirmed slightly in her arms, emitting a weak cry. His face was thin and sallow, clearly indicating that he had not received proper care in the sales office.

Babies in swaddling clothes are always hungry, and they won't grow well if they don't get nourishment from breast milk. She just wanted to get rid of her pursuers as soon as possible and find a safe and quiet place to feed her baby.

As he sped along, he glanced back and saw a figure in purple robes closing in at an incredible speed. The figure was as graceful as an immortal, seemingly even more skilled than his own superb lightness skill!

"Purple Robe—Li Fu, unleashing a divine dragon with his palm!"

Liu Ying'er's heart trembled violently.

This young constable's reputation has recently become legendary in the martial arts world. Especially since she lives in Yanzhou City and is part of the escort agency, how could she not have heard of the prowess of Li Fu, who can unleash the Divine Dragon Palm?

At this rate, escape will be impossible!

She gritted her teeth, hugged the child tighter with her left hand, and suddenly swung her right hand backward, sending several cold stars flying to Li Fu's knees.

She harbored good intentions and did not kill him, only hoping to slow his progress and gain a chance to catch her breath.

When Li Fu saw the hidden weapon coming, he neither dodged nor avoided it. His protective true energy flowed naturally, forming an invisible energy wall about a foot in front of him.

With a series of soft clanging sounds, the silver needles, which had been injected with anesthetic, fell to the ground as if they had hit an impenetrable wall.

"This unassuming daughter-in-law of the Zuo family possesses unparalleled lightness skills, but her other martial arts skills are rather ordinary."

They are like thieves and spies in the martial arts world.

Liu Ying'er caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye and was even more alarmed. Although her skill with hidden weapons was not top-notch, she believed that she had a precise grasp of the force. If she suddenly unleashed it, even an ordinary expert would find it difficult to escape unscathed.

But the opponent didn't even slow down, blocking it with just his protective true qi. His internal strength was simply unfathomable!

She knew she would be caught sooner or later, and with her young child crying incessantly in her arms, Liu Ying'er was in a state of utter confusion.

In a flash, she caught sight of the crisscrossing streets ahead. Suddenly, she gritted her teeth, abruptly turned around, and instead of fleeing out of the city, she rushed towards the most bustling South Market!

Li Fu's eyes narrowed slightly.

Instead of fleeing to the countryside outside the city, they went into the densely populated areas of the city.

Could she have a hiding place or someone to meet her in the city?

He was attacked by a series of hidden weapons and was about to speed up his light footwork to catch up when he saw this scene. He changed his mind and followed behind at a leisurely pace, wanting to see where she was going.

Liu Ying'er's lightness skill was truly remarkable. She moved through the rooftops and alleyways as if walking on flat ground. Ordinary people only felt a gentle breeze passing over their heads, and when they looked up, she had already disappeared without a trace.

Before long, she turned and entered the backyard of Nuanxiang Pavilion, the most bustling place in Nanshi and the most prestigious brothel in Yanzhou City!

Li Fu stood on the eaves of a restaurant not far away, gazing at the Warm Fragrance Pavilion, which was lit even during the day, filled with melodious music and the faint sounds of birdsong. A look of surprise flashed across his eyes.

He was familiar with this place; he had dined at the Zuixianlou restaurant across the street several times.

He also remembered that after the Zhongnan Mountain incident, Huo Shuyan, who was stripped of his martial arts and imprisoned for life in the back mountain of Kongtong, had secretly slipped out of this Nuanxiang Pavilion and was caught by him.

The records state that when Liu Ying'er fell into prostitution, she made a living as a singer, moving between several restaurants and music halls, but there is no mention of any connection between her and Nuanxiang Pavilion.

Did she flee to this place in a panic, or was it premeditated?

Li Fu descended gracefully, landing in the backyard of Nuanxiang Pavilion like a falling leaf.

The backyard is quite spacious, with artificial hills and bonsai, winding corridors, and several independent, exquisite courtyards, hidden among flowers and trees, clearly a place for distinguished guests who do not wish to show their faces to seek pleasure.

Li Fu, dressed in a striking purple official robe, descended from the sky and suddenly burst in, causing an immediate commotion.

"Ouch!

Sir, what are you doing?

A heavily made-up madam swayed forward, but before she could finish speaking, she noticed Li Fu's attire and demeanor, especially his purple robes that signified a high-ranking constable. Her expression changed, and her voice lowered.

"Sir, sir—what brings you here?"

We're doing legitimate business here—

Li Fu's eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the courtyard and locked onto a two-story brocade pavilion at the east end.

With his profound internal strength, he could perceive every rustle of wind and grass within a radius of dozens of steps.

Liu Ying'er, carrying the child, hid in that attic.

Even from twenty or thirty steps away, through the wall, he could hear a woman speaking in a low voice inside the room. Though the voice was low, it could not escape his profound skill to detect, and only a few words drifted into his ears.

One was Liu Ying'er's urgent and pleading voice, while the other female voice carried surprise and hesitation.

"Ying'er, it's you? You—what happened to you? And you're holding a child? Weren't you at the Zuo family's—"

"Sister Yan, save me! There's a powerful assassin chasing me! Only you can help me now. Please, take my child and hide!"

"—Ying'er, you—sigh—you should hide first—"

He walked straight toward the pavilion, ignoring the pimps and guards who surrounded him.

"Halt! This is Miss Yanzi's private chamber; no one is allowed to trespass here!"

Several burly guards, seeing that Li Fu ignored them and that he dared to rush forward despite being dressed in official robes, tried to stop him.

"How dare you!"

Li Fu kept walking, his true energy flowing naturally around him, and an invisible force suddenly erupted.

The moment their hands touched his clothes, they were struck as if by lightning, staggering away with a scream, knocking over a nearby flower stand with a loud crash.

Li Fu had already stepped onto the wooden stairs leading to the second floor. The entire embroidered pavilion was luxurious and elegant, with even the stairs covered with thick carpets. He had only taken a few steps when he heard a creak from upstairs and the door opened.

A woman leaned against the door frame, her hair tied up high, with a gold hairpin tucked into her hair. She wore a peach-colored satin dress with floral patterns, covered with a light veil, and her figure was graceful.

She was born with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, and was extremely beautiful. However, her brows carried a bold and lively spirit that was different from that of ordinary courtesans. She was none other than Yanzi Niang, the top courtesan of Nuanxiang Pavilion and a famous courtesan in Yanzhou.

Swallow's mother's eyes sparkled, and after opening the door, she leaned against the door frame with a charming yet shrewish air, fanning herself with an embroidered fan, her words instinctively laced with sarcasm.

"Oh dear, in broad daylight, an official has barged into our young lady's private quarters. This is against the rules."

Even if you're in a hurry, you should at least take off this official robe first, shouldn't you?

If word gets out, it'll be easy to talk about.

Before she could finish speaking, her eyes clearly saw the person's face and his purple constable uniform. Her expression changed drastically, and the words she was about to say caught in her throat, her momentum weakening.

Li Fu continued walking slowly up the steps without stopping, and said calmly, "Why did you stop talking? Did you recognize me?"

Swallow's mother did recognize her.

There are many constables in Yanzhou City, but there is only one who is dressed in purple, has such an extraordinary demeanor, and is so young!

If it were anywhere else, she wouldn't even care about the Purple-Clad Constable or the Embroidered-Clad Divine Constable, let alone the Purple-Clad Constable. But Yanzhou City is different. Everyone in the martial arts world knows that there is a great figure in Yanzhou City who serves as the Purple-Clad Constable.

He single-handedly traveled a thousand miles to capture and kill the Iron Stream King, challenged the Fairy of Immortal Capital with his sword, and defeated the number one martial artist of Tibet and the leader of the Quanzhen Sect on Zhongnan Mountain. Legend has it that his martial arts have reached a state of perfection, excelling in both fist and sword techniques.

Liu Ying'er only said it was a master, but she never expected it to be this jinx.

Yanzi's mother secretly groaned, a hint of resentment rising in her heart. She suspected that Liu Ying'er was deliberately withholding information, fearing that Liu Ying'er would refuse to help after hearing the name of this great Buddha. She forced a smile.

"Officer Li is joking. Who in Yanzhou City doesn't know someone like you?"

But—I wonder what brings Officer Li here today?

If it's for investigating a case, please have tea served in the front hall, and let the maids take good care of you.