From a tuberculosis patient to a martial arts master

Back at my lodgings, I fetched water and started boiling water.

After bathing, Zhu Hong changed into a brand-new set of official clothes. Looking in the mirror, he saw that his features were neat and tidy, and he was still the same handsome young man. He nodded in satisfaction, took the goose-feather sword and slung it at his waist, then pushed open the door and left.

The Department of Statistics was located in the Capture Hall.

The place was rather deserted at the moment. When Zhu Hong arrived, there was only one clerk on duty, who was fast asleep at his desk.

He suddenly heard a few "thump-thump" sounds.

"Who is it?"

The plump, fair-skinned clerk raised his head, rubbed his eyes, and seeing that it was a constable, asked, "You didn't go on duty?"

"I just returned to the yamen." Zhu Hong gestured with his waist token:

The entire open space was covered in a mess, with scattered monster carcasses of varying sizes. "Come and settle your merits."

He pointed.

"So many?!"

Wu Li was stunned for a moment. He glanced at him in shock, his Adam's apple bobbing. He hurriedly grabbed the merit record book and ran to the pile of demon corpses to count them one by one.

"Are all these gains yours alone?" The more he pointed, the stranger his expression became.

The materials used to build the small mound were not only weak little demons, but also included several ferocious beasts that had mastered the art of meat-making.

Logically speaking:

Even those of low rank must hunt in groups.

Just in case.

"nature."

Wu Li stopped what he was doing, looked him up and down suspiciously, and asked, "Waist token?"

Zhu Hong took off his waist tag and handed it over. Wu Li took it and glanced at it. "It really is just an ordinary constable..." A strange light flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and returned to his desk.

"Merit points total 610."

After calculating, Wu Li handed back the waist token: "I've noted everything down."

Zhu Hong took it and thanked him.

The official behind him stared at his back until the figure turned out the door, then clicked his tongue softly, "Not simple."

A new constable?

Strange.

……

After leaving the Jigong Department, I went straight to Guangchu Building.

We arrived at the destination.

Han Wu was sitting in the rattan chair at the entrance of the building, dozing off in the sun.

Zhu Hong stood in front of the building. Han Wu opened his one eye, glanced at him, and asked, "What do you want?"

"A finely crafted knife, and a white Yuan fruit."

Zhu Hong loosened his waist tag.

"Oh?" Han Wu, the old man, still had a memory of the boy, and was surprised to hear his words.

Does a newcomer have this kind of strength?

He took the waist tag, got up and walked inside.

Zhu Hong followed closely behind.

Upon entering the building, Han Wu placed his waist token on the jade inkstone on the table.

Six hundred and ten.

"Not bad, the younger generation is truly formidable." Han Wu only truly believed it after seeing the number of merits; this young man before him had actually defeated a group of veterans.

Zhu Hongchang, ever modest, said, "Mr. Han, you flatter me."

Han Wu nodded slightly, pinched two fingers together, and a faint light appeared on the jade inkstone. With a casual flick of his wrist, he took out an object and tossed it onto the table with a "clang".

The knife was entirely black, without any decorations.

The blade is about three feet long and about two and a half fingers wide, with a faint, cold glint at the edge.

"It was made by mixing meteorite iron with cold gold."

Han Wu said, "It's lighter than ordinary heavy weapons, but harder and tougher." He paused, then added:

"No name yet, choose one yourself."

Zhu Hong reached out and took the black knife. He weighed it in his hand and found that the blade was well-made and three times heavier than the goose feather knife, but it was just right for his current strength.

Moreover, its blade is incomparably sharp.

He flipped the blade over, flicked it with his finger, and a clear, resonant "hum" of the blade lingered for a long time.

"A fine knife!"

Zhu Hong praised it highly, held the knife horizontally in front of him, and pondered for a moment: "Let's call it Black Knife."

Han Wu rolled his eyes and shook his head, whether out of dislike for the casually chosen name or simply because he was too lazy to speak, it was unclear. He then pushed a brocade box towards Zhu Hong.

"This is a white glutinous rice fruit."

Zhu Hong took the brocade box, opened the lid, and took a look inside.

Inside the box lay a snow-white fruit, as large as a baby's fist, its delicate fragrance wafting straight into the nose, invigorating the senses. He glanced at it briefly, then closed the box and put it into his mustard seed pouch.

We don't need this white fruit right now.

Only when one is ready to open the door to becoming a "miracle tendon" martial arts disciple should one consume it, so that the full effect of this fruit can be achieved.

What you desire in your heart will be fulfilled.

Zhu Hong then bid farewell to Elder Han and went to the police station.

As soon as I entered, I saw Wang Zhenshan sitting behind his desk, his brows furrowed, staring blankly at a scroll of documents.

"Boss."

Zhu Hong took two quick steps and clasped his hands in greeting.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhenshan snapped out of his reverie. He glanced around and, seeing it was Zhu Hong, his brow relaxed slightly: "You're back from the Rift Valley?"

"Um."

Wang Zhenshan stood up, his gaze lingering on the black knife at his waist for a moment before shifting away, and casually asked:

"Judging from this, the harvest is quite good."

Zhu Hong patted the blade and laughed, "Thanks, I've accumulated some merit points and exchanged them for a new knife."

Wang Zhenshan nodded, then changed the subject: "Now that you're back, rest for a day, and come to the police station again tomorrow." He paused, his voice slightly lower:

"Do not act without authorization these next few days."

Zhu Hong's expression remained unchanged, already knowing the reason, and he simply lowered his hands and said, "Yes, boss."

Wang Zhenshan was somewhat surprised to see him like this:

"Have you heard about the family massacre last night?"

Zhu Hong gave a soft "hmm" and said, "I ran into Brother Dao and the others on my way back and overheard a bit of what they said."

No wonder.

Wang Zhenshan leaned back in his chair, picked up his teacup, and took a sip:

"The Liu family case has happened at this crucial juncture." His brows furrowed with worry. "The Prefect has ordered all six squads of constables to investigate this case within five days."

"Five days?"

Zhu Hong felt a chill run down his spine.

The entire Liu family, numbering over a hundred, perished overnight. Such a massive case might not be solved even in fifty days, let alone five.

unless……

A thought flashed through his mind, and a strange expression appeared on his face.

"If you have something on your mind, feel free to speak it." Wang Zhenshan noticed that slight pause in concentration and said in a calm tone.

"Boss."

Zhu Hong hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Does the yamen know of the murderer?"

"Um?!"

Wang Zhenshan hadn't expected him to hit the nail on the head. He stared at Zhu Hong for a while, and then a look of surprise flashed in his eyes before turning into a smile: "Good lad, you can understand ten things from one. I, Wang Zhenshan, have indeed gained a strategist."

Zhu Hong lowered his head and remained silent.

Wang Zhenshan slowly stopped laughing, pondered for a long while, and then said:

"Jiang Yannian".

Zhu Hong raised his head and straightened his ears.

Wang Zhenshan said, enunciating each word clearly, "His damn second son, Jiang Feng."

It turned out to be the case.

Jiang Yannian is the patriarch of the Jiang clan. As one of the strongest forces in Jinyang, if they were to commit a crime, they could indeed silently eliminate the Liu clan, which only had one martial arts apprentice.

"What about these five days?"

Zhu Hong couldn't help but ask.

He absolutely refused to believe that the prefect's order to send the police to arrest people within five days was truly made.

"Collect evidence."

Wang Zhenshan didn't hide anything, stating frankly, "The bodies of all the more than one hundred members of the Liu family have been recovered, except for the eldest son of the Liu family, Liu Wenyuan, who is nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead." His expression turned solemn as he slowly continued:

A scout has come to report.

It is said that Young Master Liu had a dispute with Jiang Feng at Baiyun Temple a few days ago. The registrar deduced that the irrefutable evidence against Jiang was...

The answer lies with Liu Wenyuan.