The divine manifestations began at the Gongwei Division.

"I'll talk, I'll talk—"

Large beads of sweat poured from the coffin shop owner's forehead, dripping onto the ground with a soft patter.

He hadn't even seen clearly how Zhou Heng put the knife to his neck.

The disparity in strength meant he had absolutely no intention of putting up a fight.

Zhou Heng was slightly disappointed that the other party had backed down so quickly.

He still has plenty of interrogation techniques he wants to try.

With a beautiful flourish, Zhou Heng sheathed his sword.

There is no danger here.

The coffin shop owner touched his neck, as if thankful that his head was still intact.

"My lord... someone did buy a quiver of arrows from me two days ago."

The coffin shopkeeper composed himself and said in a low voice, "I bought that quiver of arrows from the prefectural capital. It cost me fifteen taels of silver, but I only sold it for thirty taels—"

Zhou Heng couldn't help but glance at him. He earned fifteen taels from just one quiver of arrows?

You're still not satisfied?

As far as Zhou Heng knew, the salary of a constable in Ningyang County was only ten taels of silver a month.

Reselling contraband is indeed a lucrative business.

Thinking about his empty pockets, Zhou Heng suddenly felt an urge to rob someone.

Fortunately, he still remembered his purpose.

Who bought the arrows?

Zhou Heng asked coldly.

"Sir—you know that we don't do business in the open, and we won't ask customers about their identities."

The other person arrived with their face covered and wearing a large black robe; I honestly have no idea who they are.

The coffin shop owner said with a mournful face.

"Sir, this kind of person is the most dishonest. I don't think he'll confess even under torture."

Niu Jingui rubbed his wrist and said, "That damn bastard is really strong. He almost broke my wrist."

However, he still can't compare to our acting head constable.

That slash from the acting constable was really cool.

"I truly don't know. Even if you kill me, I still can't confess."

The coffin shop owner secretly glanced at the sword at Zhou Heng's waist.

He could guarantee with his own eyes that this knife was absolutely a treasure that could cut through iron like mud!

You might not be able to find a better knife in the entire Ningyang County.

If I were to give it to myself, I could definitely sell it for a good price.

He muttered to himself, "If a knife like that were held to my neck, it wouldn't feel good."

"Oh, right, I just remembered something."

The coffin shop owner suddenly said, "I smelled a strange fragrance on that person."

I was curious at the time, how could a grown man have such a strange fragrance?

Later, after thinking about it carefully, I realized I had smelled that fragrance on someone before.

"Stop keeping me in suspense, just say what you want to say."

Zhou Heng frowned and said impatiently.

The coffin shop owner chuckled sheepishly. He always liked to keep people in suspense when promoting his goods, and he had almost forgotten his current predicament.

"Zhong Xiaoxiao is the owner of Yingchunlou Restaurant."

He quickly said, "I smelled that fragrance on Zhong Xiaoxiao before. Not long ago, Zhong Xiaoxiao bought a coffin from me. I'm absolutely sure I didn't smell it wrong."

…………

"Niu Jingui, go and keep an eye on Zhong Xiaoxiao."

Upon leaving the coffin shop, Zhou Heng immediately gave his orders.

"Lord Zhou, why are you keeping an eye on Boss Zhong? Is she also connected to demons?"

Lu Zian suddenly appeared out of nowhere and asked with a curious look.

"Brother Niu, it's inconvenient to keep watch over people in this outfit. How about I go instead?"

I've never been to Yingchunlou before in all my life.

"This is considered official business, right? The government should reimburse the related expenses, right?"

Lu Zian volunteered, his shyness tinged with a hint of eagerness.

Zhou Heng gave him a strange look.

"My lord, Yingchun Tower is a brothel."

Niu Jingui whispered, answering Zhou Heng's question.

Zhou Heng paused for a moment, then continued walking forward.

He'd never even tried listening to music in a brothel.

"You can't do it, you have to lead the way for me."

Zhou Heng said to Lü Zi'an.

"Where to?"

Lu Zian was somewhat disappointed and said listlessly.

"Take me to the dilapidated temple where you encountered the demon."

Zhou Heng looked ahead again, a cold glint flashing deep in his eyes.

……

After the lamps were lit.

Zhou Heng brought Lü Zi'an back to the county government office.

He thought that if he went to the ruined temple, the assassin would reappear.

It seems the other party knew he was fishing, so they didn't show up.

Niu Jingui also sent back a message saying that Zhong Xiaoxiao was not acting strangely.

Zhou Heng sat behind the desk, tapping his fingers on the surface.

The trail went cold. How can we find out who the snake demon's accomplices are?

The coffin shop owner smelled the same fragrance on the assassin as on Zhong Xiaoxiao, but that doesn't prove anything.

Zhong Xiaoxiao was a madam at a brothel, welcoming and seeing off guests.

It's perfectly normal for a man to have a bit of her scent on him.

Zhou Heng grabbed the Dragon Sparrow Blade, stood up, and walked outside.

"Sir, where are you going? It's already dark."

Lu Zian asked curiously.

I need some peace and quiet.

You should go home first.

Zhou Heng said without turning his head.

Lu Zian scratched his head and muttered under his breath, "Who is Jingjing?"

He chuckled, shook his head, and swaggered out of the government office, heading home.

suddenly.

A burlap sack was put over his head, and then with a muffled thud, he knew nothing more.

…………

Without realizing it.

Zhou Heng walked outside Yingchun Tower.

At this time, most other shops in the city had already closed, but Yingchunlou was brightly lit.

You can hear the sounds of string and wind instruments coming from inside from afar.

Zhou Heng watched from afar, glancing at the danger countdown out of the corner of his eye.

The countdown is still at zero.

There is no danger.

Could it really be unrelated to Zhong Xiaoxiao of Yingchun Tower?

I was just thinking about it.

Zhou Heng suddenly drew his Dragon Sparrow Blade from his waist.

With a clang, the blade flashed, slicing through the darkness.

"Lord Zhou, it's me."

The blade stopped precisely at a person's neck.

If Zhou Heng's Broken Gate Blade Technique hadn't reached the point where he could control its release and retraction at will, this strike would have been impossible to stop.

"Boss Ma?"

Zhou Heng looked at the person who appeared behind him with some surprise.

Although there is no curfew in Ningyang County, most people do not go out at night unless they come to the brothel for pleasure.

The blacksmith in the blacksmith shop looked honest and simple, and didn't seem like the kind of person who would come to a place like Yingchunlou.

"Lord Zhou, it's me."

Ma Qichang gave a stiff smile and said in a low voice.

"Boss Ma, don't show up behind me like that again, it's dangerous."

Zhou Heng asked seriously, "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to see you, Lord Zhou."

Ma Qichang rubbed his hands together and said.

"Looking for me? Is something wrong?"

Zhou Heng sheathed his sword, somewhat unexpectedly.

When Ma Qichang approached me, the danger countdown didn't warn me, so he probably meant no harm.

"Lord Zhou, Jin Gui is our family's only son. Could you please not let him investigate the demon case in Ningyang County with you?"

Ma Qichang said cautiously, "He doesn't have any special skills. If he really encounters a demon, he will lose his life."

"Lord Zhou, if you spare him, I'm willing to give you my family's ancestral martial arts manual."

"Let Niu Jingui go?"

Zhou Heng was somewhat taken aback and fell silent.

For ordinary people, demons are indeed terrifying beings.

Although Niu Jingui was a constable in Ningyang County, he had not yet mastered martial arts and was no different from an ordinary person when facing demons.

It's not surprising that Ma Qichang would be worried.

When Zhou Heng was an auxiliary police officer in his previous life, he saw many parents trying every means to get their children transferred away from criminal police positions.

The reason is simple: being a criminal investigator is too dangerous.

Who would want their child to risk their life for a meager salary?

"I see."

Zhou Heng said slowly, "I will bring him back now."

"Thank you, Lord Zhou. Thank you, Lord Zhou."

Ma Qichang said repeatedly, and he took out a yellowed booklet from his pocket and stuffed it into Zhou Heng's hand.

"That won't be necessary."

Zhou Heng refused.

"Yes, yes, Lord Zhou. This manual is useless in our family. No one in our family has ever mastered it in generations."

If it can be of use in Lord Zhou's hands, then it will be our contribution to slaying demons and eliminating evil.

Fearing that Zhou Heng would disagree, Ma Qichang dropped the booklet and ran away.

Zhou Heng shook his head with a wry smile, bent down to pick up the manual, and upon closer inspection, his expression immediately turned serious.

"The art of observing qi."

Humans have human energy, and demons have demonic energy. The art of observing energy fields can distinguish between humans and demons!