Text-based martial arts: A nighttime rendezvous with the gang leader's wife in a dilapidated te

Why is Shen Han here? And in the middle of the night? Is he deliberately waiting for me?

You regained your composure in the shortest possible time.

Feigning surprise, she looked at Shen Han and the others who were approaching and asked in confusion, "Young Master Shen? What brings you here at this time..."

Shen Han shrugged: "Let's go inside and talk..."

You nodded, your gaze casually sweeping over everyone around him, but that single glance sent a jolt through you once more.

[Because you suddenly realize that, under the hazy moonlight, among the crowd brought by Shen Han, besides him and those who are clearly his entourage, there are two other people.]

[One of them was a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. Her face was not clearly visible, but she was dressed in official robes and carrying a sheathed sword, clearly a constable from the Six Doors (a branch of the imperial court).]

However, what you truly didn't expect was another person, dressed in a short-sleeved, close-fitting outfit, who appeared incredibly strong and muscular even in the autumn night. It was none other than the Wang-surnamed steward from the Viper Gang who had tried to capture you that night!

Without a second thought, unlock the door and immediately upon entering, activate the Fate-Defying Technique, allocating all attribute points to Comprehension and Fortune.

You know, the worst has already happened!

The worst-case scenario you imagined was that, the night before Shen Fu approached you, he had told the Wang-surnamed steward about his suspicions about you.

This is the only flaw, and the only possibility that could lead to suspicion against you!

[And clearly, the arrival of these three people is enough to explain what has happened.]

[Upon entering the pharmacy, you lit the lamps before sitting down and looking at the three people present: "Young Master Shen, this pomp and circumstance is..."]

However, Shen Han wasn't as serious and cold as you imagined. He pursed his lips, seemingly unconcerned about his mission. But then, as if remembering something, he quickly said:

"Dr. Chen, let me introduce you. This is Wang Zhuo, the Deacon of the Viper Gang in Jinling City. He's the gang member who helped me find Shen Fu's whereabouts this time..."

He then pointed at Wang Zhuo, whose icy gaze was also fixed intently on you.

You know, he's trying to identify you as the petty thief who stole from Shen Fu's residence that night.

You pretended to be meeting him for the first time and nodded.

When it came to the woman who was supposed to be a constable, Shen Han appeared extremely respectful. He even shifted his body slightly, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and bowed slightly as he introduced her:

"This is Yan Jinghong, the deputy chief constable of the Six Doors from Jiangdong Road, who was originally a guest at our Shen family and was just passing through Jinling. He is now ranked eleventh on the list of people and is known by countless people in the martial arts world as the 'Amazing Constable.'"

Fairy Yan is known as the top female constable of the younger generation in the Six Doors!

Upon hearing this, you looked incredulously at the woman whose face you could finally see clearly under the lamplight.

The woman's face was extremely indifferent, with thin lips, a defined jawline, and sharp, sword-like eyebrows.

You could bet that if this woman were dressed as a man, she would be a stunningly handsome man who could charm any beauty in the world. But now, with her masculine features, she possesses an indescribable air of stubbornness and heroism.

However, as you looked at the astonishingly skilled constable before you, you finally noticed that Yan Jinghong's gaze first met yours without any politeness, and then his eyes slowly moved down to look at your hand.

[That goose-feather dagger you just brought back from the Shattered Star Tower.]

You quickly cupped your hands in greeting, immediately changing the subject and drawing Yan Jinghong's gaze away from the goose-feather saber.

"The Ranking of People? But I've heard people say that members of the Six Doors aren't allowed on the Ranking of People, are they?"

As expected, upon hearing this, Yan Jinghong frowned slightly, and Shen Han, standing to the side, then said:

"Hehe, although Fairy Yan is a member of the Six Doors, she comes from the Yan family of Chang'an. In her early years, she hated evil and was very famous in the martial arts world, so she can naturally be considered a member of the martial arts world..."

As soon as the words were spoken, information about the Yan family of Chang'an reappeared in your mind.

The Yan family of Chang'an is one of the five surnames and seven families alongside the Tang family of Shu. However, compared to the Tang family, the Yan family is much more low-key, and many members of the Yan family have joined the government.

[Rumor has it that one of the four top constables within the Six Doors headquarters is from the Yan family!]

You nodded, saying nothing more. Shen Han finally revealed his purpose:

"Dr. Chen, you've heard about it these past two days, haven't you? Shen Fu has gone missing."

You nodded: "I just heard that Young Master Shen hasn't been found yet?"

"Found him! But he's dead, and his body is burned beyond recognition. He was probably murdered to cover his tracks!"

Shen Han shook his head, then glanced at Wang Zhuo beside him with undisguised disdain:

"However, the Viper Gang said they saw Shen Fu come to see you on the 16th. What did you talk about that day?"

[You sensed that when he asked that question, Yan Jinghong and Wang Zhuo's gazes were both fixed on you, while Shen Han seemed quite indifferent.]

[You shook your head: "That morning, Manager Shen did come to see me, but what he said was very strange..."] (Option 1)

You recounted everything that happened that day, down to the smallest detail, without hiding anything, because you truly had no reason to.

[And after you mentioned that Shen Fu accidentally tripped and fell on top of you, causing you to tumble as well, Yan Jinghong's brows furrowed slightly, as expected.]

"And then?" Shen Han continued, seemingly bored.

"Then I went to get the medicine, and spent the rest of the day refining medicine and pills. I dared not disobey my master's instructions before he left..." (Optional opening)

"And what about these past two days?" This time it was Yan Jinghong who spoke. Her voice lacked the usual clear and ethereal quality of a woman's, possessing a slightly husky quality that gave it a unique texture.

"These past two days, I went to Zhongshan to gather herbs, but because I went too deep the day before yesterday, I spent the night in a dilapidated temple in Zhongshan, and that's where..." (Optional opening).

As you continued speaking, Yan Jinghong's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, even forming a deep frown line between them.

Shen Han remained silent, looking at Yan Jinghong beside him. Yan Jinghong's gaze continued to fall on you: "Young Master Chen, you don't know martial arts?"

You nodded, then shook your head: "I'm physically weak. My master did teach me some things, but it only makes me a little stronger than before. My martial arts skills are probably not even worth mentioning..." (Option 2)

Your gaze followed hers to the goose-feather saber, then you chuckled: "But my dream is to roam the martial world, so I'm going to the Shattered Star Pavilion to buy a saber to play with..."

"Officer Yan, Young Master Shen, you wouldn't think I'm the murderer of Shen Fu just because of this, would you? I don't even know where Steward Shen is..."

Shen Han remained silent, continuing to gaze at Yan Jinghong. As for Wang Zhuo, no one paid him any attention, yet he kept his eyes fixed on you, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.

Yan Jinghong nodded, then stood up, saying, "Sorry to bother you."

The three people stood up, and you, with a calm gaze, stood up to watch them leave.

However, at that moment, Wang Zhuo, who had been walking at the back and had remained silent, did something that surprised everyone present, the instant Yan Jinghong and Shen Han turned around.

In the dimly lit room, his body, which had already risen and turned to leave, suddenly swung back, like a venomous snake launching a surprise attack in the darkness, its palm aimed straight for your chest!

Just like that night, the palm strike he didn't deliver!