Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 208 A Major Case Started with a Floral Embroidery (4k2)

Before she could speak, Li Fu preemptively warned, "Think it over before you speak."

Don't think that you can fool me by making up stories about your family suffering misfortune, being hunted by enemies and having to go into hiding, or encountering a master who secretly taught you martial arts.

"Since I have the right to ask, I have my own way of distinguishing truth from falsehood."

Liu Ying'er was intimidated by the coldness and certainty in his words, and swallowed back the excuse that was on the tip of her tongue. Her expression changed constantly, as if she was struggling fiercely inside.

Finally, she raised her head, a resolute glint in her eyes.

"Officer Li—have you ever heard of the Dragon Shock Society?"

Upon hearing this, not only did Li Fu raise an eyebrow, but even Yanzi Niang, who was leaning against the wall to meditate, suddenly widened her eyes, her face showing an expression of disbelief and shock, and blurted out.

"Ying'er, you—you're actually a member of the Dragon Shock Society?!"

Judging from Yanzi's mother's reaction, she was obviously also learning about Liu Ying'er's identity for the first time. The two of them were indeed just friends who became acquainted through fighting because they were both down on their luck, and were not true acquaintances.

He knows the Dragon Shock Society all too well.

Li Fu stared intently.

"Are you a member of the Dragon Shock Society?"

"That's right." Since Liu Ying'er had already spoken, she no longer hesitated and admitted it.

Li Fu pressed further, "So, your marriage into the Zuo family was arranged by the Jinglong Society?"

Liu Ying'er nodded, her expression complex.

"Yes, it's an arrangement made by the association."

But initially, my approach to my husband was indeed on orders, to complete the task assigned at the meeting, but—

But my husband—he...I am very good.

My disguise was that of a fallen official's daughter, a courtesan who had fallen into prostitution; my identity was lowly.

But he never complained, and despite everyone's objections, he insisted on marrying me as his legal wife.

After I joined the family, she became even more considerate and loving towards me, drawing my eyebrows and promising me a peaceful life—I—I—”

She couldn't continue, tears streaming down her face. Her genuine feelings for Zuo Ji seemed real.

After several years of marriage, their fake relationship had become real, and she seemed to have developed genuine feelings for Zuo Ji.

Li Fu had no interest in the romantic relationship; he believed he had found the key to the case.

"Why did the Jinglong Society arrange for you to impersonate someone and marry into the Zuo family? What are they plotting?"

Yihe Escort Agency was indeed a renowned escort agency among all the escort agencies in the world, and Zuo Yuncheng was indeed a rare and unparalleled master in the martial arts world.

However, the power of the Jinglong Society is unfathomable, and it has recruited countless extraordinary people. It seems unlikely that they would spend several years and set up such an ingenious infiltration scheme for the sake of a single escort agency.

There must be a deeper reason behind this.

Liu Ying'er bit her lip, a mixture of embarrassment and difficulty appearing on her face.

As a lowly member of the Dragon Shock Society, her knowledge was indeed limited, and the special nature of the mission made it even more difficult for her to speak about it.

She hesitated for a long time before finally stammering, her voice barely audible.

"The task assigned to me by the organization is to find a way to see clearly the complete pattern of the embroidered flower on the back of the eunuch, Chief Escort Zuo."

And—and every detail, the direction of the texture, the shade of color, even every tiny mark, must be recorded and depicted exactly as it is, without the slightest error.

"Floral embroidery?"

Tattoos, also known as floral embroidery, have a long tradition in southern China, especially in the Wu region, dating back hundreds of years. Locals even consider them a mark of beauty, believing that only those with beautiful floral tattoos are good men.

Li Fu was taken aback, then suddenly realized why Liu Ying'er was so reluctant to speak.

A daughter-in-law is asked to spy on her father-in-law's private tattoos on his back.

"The Dragon Shock Society—that's truly ingenious."

Liu Ying'er said awkwardly, "The organization did consider letting me get close to my father-in-law, Chief Escort Zuo, at first."

Although the father-in-law was middle-aged and his wife had passed away early, he was a man of deep affection and loyalty. Over the years, he not only did not remarry, but he also had no desire to take a concubine or have casual sex. He was resolute and difficult to approach.

The guild then resorted to a less desirable option, ordering me to get close to my husband, Zuo Ji.

A complex and indescribable emotion flashed in her eyes.

"I know that my husband is said by many outsiders to be somewhat like his father, but his martial arts skills are far inferior to his father's. He is also not good at interpersonal relationships or business management. He has been protected too well by his father, and his nature is somewhat too kind, even somewhat naive."

But it was precisely this selfless kindness, this sincerity towards others, especially towards me—that made me—

""

Her voice trailed off, the unspoken meaning clear.

The doubts in Li Fu's heart not only did not dissipate, but became even stronger.

Just for a floral embroidery tattooed on Zuo Yuncheng's back?

This sounds unbelievable, yet it made the Dragon Shock Society go to such lengths, even resorting to using a honey trap to infiltrate for years, just to get a glimpse of its full extent.

What secret is hidden within this floral embroidery?

Is it a treasure map?

Is it some kind of lost martial arts manual?

Or is it an account book, or evidence of a major conspiracy?

If the Zuo family truly harbors such a secret, then many things become clear.

It is highly likely that the Six Doors (a secret police agency) went so far as to disguise themselves as thieves, steal tax silver, and fabricate a sensational case to imprison the Zuo family father and son in death row—the missing 500,000 taels of tax silver was merely an excellent pretext to justify the court's fury.

A pretext to legitimately control Zuo Yuncheng and his son, and to legitimately appoint high-ranking and powerful figures such as the arresting master!

The true purpose of the Six Doors, or rather certain people in the imperial court, is probably the secret behind Zuo Yuncheng, and the embroidered pattern that the Dragon Shock Society also covets!

Moreover, this secret seems so big that even the imperial court has to be roundabout in its investigations and dare not make it public.

"Did you succeed?"

No—no.

"It's like a willow warbler," said Liu Ying'er.

Come to think of it, it's a difficult task for a daughter-in-law to secretly observe and memorize the embroidery on her father-in-law's back, to not miss any detail.

Li Fu looked sharply at Liu Ying'er.

"What else do you know about this floral embroidery?"

Tell me every detail, even those you think are insignificant.

"That's all. Also, it might be—"

Liu Ying'er frowned, deep in thought, trying to recall the vague instructions from the meeting and her limited guesses. She was about to speak up and say something that she didn't know if it would be of any use.

"Ah—!" "Who's there?!" "Bang!"

From the front hall of the Warm Fragrance Pavilion downstairs, several shrill screams, angry shouts, and loud crashes of overturned tables and chairs and shattered cups and plates suddenly rang out!

"Where are you, Liu Ying'er? Come out now!"

Immediately afterwards, a cold, sinister, and murderous voice rang out, sending chills down one's spine like a biting winter wind, and quickly approached the backyard!

Li Fu looked down through the window.

In the courtyard, four people had appeared at some point. They stood in different postures, but all of them exuded a sense of stagnation that was out of place with their surroundings.

The leader was a thin old man with sparse hair and a sallow complexion like someone who had been ill for a long time. His hands were tucked into his sleeves. When he looked up, his gaze was cloudy, but it made Yanzi Niang and Liu Ying'er by the window instinctively feel a chill in their hearts, as if they were staring at a grim reaper from the underworld.

To the left of the old man was a tall, thin man with eerily red lips and long, sharp, bright red fingernails. He was licking his nails lightly with the tip of his tongue, making a soft hissing sound.

The man on the right was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with his hands hanging down to his knees. His palms were unusually large and his knuckles were thick, but his face was deathly pale and his eyes were sunken, like a skeleton or a water ghost that had just been pulled out of the water.

A little further on, stood a middle-aged man with an elusive figure, unusually long legs, his toes barely touching the ground. His body swayed slightly from side to side with his breathing, like a drifting ghost, sending chills down one's spine.

As soon as they entered, they scanned each room with a sinister look, as if searching for someone.

The four quickly noticed the broken door of the room on the second floor, which clearly showed signs of a fierce fight, and also saw Li Fu's striking purple official uniform by the window.

"It's up there!"

The leader spoke, and the four figures blurred as they pounced on the room like four vengeful ghosts, their speed astonishing, bringing with them gusts of eerie wind.

Swallow's mother had already moved to the window. After just one glance, her face paled, and she gasped in shock, recognizing them: "The Four Ghosts of Lingnan?!"

How could they—how did they end up in Yanzhou?!

"The Four Ghosts of Lingnan?"

Li Fu's gaze sharpened.

He had also heard of the four men's notorious reputation.

Those were four evil masters who dominated the Lingnan region and were feared by all. They committed all sorts of evil deeds, including burning, killing, and looting. Their martial arts were vicious and terrifying, and even many prestigious sects were wary of them.

The imperial court and government issued warrants for his arrest, but they were powerless to stop him. He had a notorious reputation in the Lingnan region that could stop a few children from crying.

Yellow Springs — Blood Erosion — Bone Dissolving — Yin Wind —

Any one of these four individuals would be a formidable figure in Lingnan, someone even the most skilled martial artists would avoid. Yet, they have now appeared together in Yanzhou, thousands of miles away!

Swallow's mother was startled, and in an instant, she thought of something and looked at Willow Oriole.

Liu Ying'er stumbled backward in fear.

The four men rushed to the door and locked their gazes on Liu Ying'er, whose face was deathly pale inside.

The withered old man at the head, who was also the leader of the Four Ghosts of Lingnan, Huangquan Ghost, slowly opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse, like that of a critically ill person who was about to fall into the Yellow Springs at any moment, but it also had a strangely terrifying and cold quality.

"Liu family girl, come out."

We've been waiting for your reply for a long time.

Even if I get nothing for the task I assign you, it doesn't matter.

Upstairs, Liu Ying'er was pale and trembling, completely disbelieving what she was hearing.

She came from the Dragon Shock Society and knew best the cruelty and ruthlessness of their methods.

"No, I—I don't want to go back."

Swallow's mother was shocked and said in a trembling voice.

"The Four Ghosts of Lingnan—are actually members of the Dragon Shock Society?!"

Rumor has it that the Dragon Shock Society's tentacles reach everywhere, recruiting masters from all over the world, and can even command such a notorious evil master—it seems to be true—”

Li Fu stepped in front of Liu Ying'er, calmly handing the child to her. His gaze swept over the four men, and he asked, "Were you sent by the Jinglong Society to silence them, or to arrest them?"

Now he is no longer afraid that Liu Ying'er will run away with the child, because she has nowhere else to go.

The ghost of the underworld stared at Li Fu.

"The purple-clad constable?"

There is only one purple-clad constable in Yanzhou City.

Li Fu unleashed a divine dragon from his palm.

I heard you've ruined things for the association time and time again, cough cough—perfect timing to settle old scores.

He waved his hand.

The Bloodthirsty Demon licked his lips, his red tongue tracing across his sharp fangs: "I've long heard of your formidable martial arts. People in the martial arts world say your skills are unparalleled. I've wanted to test my skills against you for a long time."

As he spoke, he swept across the ground like a blood-red phantom, so fast that he left only a trail of afterimages on the stairs. Wherever his palm struck, a sweet, fishy smell spread, making people want to vomit.

The other two didn't waste any words and attacked simultaneously.

Knowing Li Fu's reputation and martial arts skills, they went all out from the start, unleashing their most vicious techniques.

With perfect coordination, they attacked Li Fu from different directions, their palm shadows, finger strikes, and leg shadows weaving together a deadly net that enveloped all of Li Fu's vital points!

The second brother, the Bloodthirsty Demon, has a pair of fleshy palms that are as red as blood. He cultivates the Bloodthirsty Demon Palm, whose palm power can erode a person's blood and damage their meridians.

The Bloodthirsty Demons, swift as ghosts and emitting a foul stench, were the first to attack. Li Fu rolled up his right sleeve, and a gentle yet powerful force emerged like a vortex—it was the Tai Chi Cloud Hand.

The palm strike, propelled through the air, crashed into this vortex of soft energy, causing it to involuntarily pause.

Li Fu's left palm shot out smoothly, seemingly slow but actually fast, striking the Bloodthirsty Demon's ribs.

The Bloodthirsty Demon roared and slammed its crimson palms together in an attempt to defend itself, but was blasted back several steps by the overwhelming force, blood spilling from the corner of its mouth.

There's also the third brother, the Bone-Melting Ghost, who cultivates the extremely vicious Bone-Melting Divine Skill. His claws contain insidious internal energy that can cause the bones and muscles of those struck to become brittle.

The fourth brother's legs generated gusts of chilling wind. His Yin Wind Evil Leg technique was cunning and ruthless, and the force of the wind contained cold internal energy that could freeze the opponent's blood vessels.

The eldest, Huang Quan Gui, is the most unfathomable martial artist among the four. His unique martial art, Huang Quan Jie Zhi, is a finger technique where the force is condensed to the point of being tangible. The pitch-black finger wind contains a strange internal force, which is said to be able to destroy a person's life force. Those who are hit by it will fall into the Yellow Springs and die on the spot.

Swallow's mother and Willow Oriole were terrified by the four men's fearsome reputation, murderous aura, and evil power; their faces were filled with panic, and they could barely breathe.

These four ghosts of Lingnan are indeed worthy of their reputation. Each of them is a rare and unparalleled master of the evil sect in the martial arts world. When the four of them join forces, their power is multiplied. I wonder how many people in the martial arts world can withstand them.

They had only just repelled one enemy when the other two launched a deadly attack.

Li Fu remained calm and composed. He took a step, his feet treading the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) pattern, his hands dividing Yin and Yang. With a casual move, he caught the wrist that the Bone-Melting Ghost's claws were grabbing, and then pulled it away.

The Bone-Melting Demon was involuntarily pulled back, its claws sweeping across a nearby pillar, leaving five deep claw marks on the hard wooden post. The edges of the claw marks were rotten, as if eaten by ants.

"What vicious martial arts."

Li Fu rammed his shoulder into the other, sending him flying backward, coughing up blood.

The elusive, ghostly figure drifted in as if weightless, its legs leaving afterimages in the air and bringing with them sharp, piercing gusts of cold wind that went straight for Li Fu's back.

A strong wind swept through, and a thin layer of white frost quickly condensed on the window frame!

A gust of wind came from behind, but Li Fu didn't even look. He swung his arm back, his robe sleeves unfurling like flowing clouds, performing a Tai Chi move called "Reverse Lotus Swing".

The Yin Wind Ghost's soft leg strength seemed to have struck an impenetrable wall, crumbling inch by inch. Furthermore, a counterforce, both soft and hard, traveled along his leg bone, causing his blood and qi to surge. After landing, he couldn't help but take three steps back before he could neutralize the shock. Even so, his leg trembled uncontrollably, as if struck by lightning.

"Impossible, how can someone so young possess such formidable internal strength?!"

From the moment the three launched their attack to their eventual defeat and injuries, it was only a matter of a breath.

The Bloodthirsty Demon took a blow and was so shocked that blood spilled from the corner of his mouth; the Bone-Melting Demon was hit in the chest and coughed up blood; the fourth brother, the Yin Wind Demon, seemed to be in better condition, but since all his martial arts skills were in his legs, one of his legs was now trembling and he could no longer stand steadily.

Li Fu remained standing in place, his clothes fluttering slightly, his breathing steady. He made three moves and repelled the three men, as if he had merely brushed away a few annoying flies.

Swallow's mother and Willow Oriole were shocked and stunned.

The eldest brother, Huang Quan Gui, who had been standing still, couldn't help but change his expression slightly.