Wuxia: Start with max-level Nine Yang Divine Skill

Chapter 88 It sounds like this Constable Li... is a good official? (Two chapters combined)

"Who cares if it's a good match or not, as long as the gold is real."

A soft, feminine voice came through the interface, slow and deliberate, yet carrying a chilling, venomous edge.

"After killing too many of those self-proclaimed heroes and masters in the martial arts world, it's not bad to occasionally try out a lackey of the imperial court."

"This job is good."

Easy and profitable.

A deep, muffled voice echoed.

"He's just a lowly constable in blue robes. I've killed high-ranking officials before."

The crowd spoke in turn, men and women, old and young, their tones sometimes sharp, sometimes hoarse, sometimes effeminate, sometimes deep, all chilling and piercing, exuding murderous intent and devoid of any human warmth.

His words were full of disdain for Li Fu, as if he were talking about a chicken or dog waiting to be slaughtered.

Each of them carried a notorious and infamous reputation.

"Beggar Clan Leader," "Meteor Swordsman," "Golden Pen Hero"—these legendary titles that once drew attention in the martial arts world have all become names that have been crossed out from their records.

Ordinary martial arts practitioners often feel more terrified upon hearing the words "Twelve Fierce Signs" than upon hearing "King Yama is demanding your life."

No one could ever get them to work together. They gathered only, as always, to take on a business of lives that was unimaginable to ordinary people.

"Such a fat sheep, who would go?"

Someone spoke up, getting to the point.

"Wow, this is such a good thing that came out of nowhere. It's perfect for stretching my muscles."

The muffled voice interrupted.

"Heh, you've always been clumsy and forgetful in your work, but this time you're killing the imperial court's lackeys, so it's a bit different."

A soft, sarcastic voice.

"you!"

"Shut up, all of you."

The dragon head on the stone platform finally spoke, its voice deep and majestic.

"According to the old rules, priority is given to those who take turns and can choose from the business they receive first."

Who should we play this time?

The cave was quiet for a moment.

Then the shrill voice carried a hint of annoyance and realization.

"That's it, this time it's that guy Zishu's turn!"

No wonder I haven't heard his goosebump-inducing voice before!

"The Rat?"

The soft, feminine voice snorted, "In terms of direct combat, he wouldn't rank among the top of our group."

But as for the methods of assassination—heh heh, they are indeed cunning and difficult to guard against, and they can penetrate anywhere.

The number of so-called experts who fell victim to his despicable methods is no less than ours.

"It seems he has already decided that the ten thousand taels of gold is his for the taking and has made his move ahead of time."

The hoarse voice's tone was ambiguous, neither revealing regret nor mockery: "He's certainly impatient."

"He got off too easily—"

He muttered in a muffled voice, filled with deep resentment.

Ten thousand taels of gold was an astonishing fortune, even for them.

The thought of the baby rat taking it first according to the rules made everyone feel a little uneasy.

"It's Chenlong, the eldest brother," he said slowly.

"Since the rat has left, let it go."

His methods were more than enough to deal with a mere constable with a minor reputation in the martial arts world.

Li Fu already had some guesses about the mastermind behind the ten thousand taels of gold bounty on his head.

The most direct clue is the words spoken by the old man Tianpeng before he died.

That old devil was a renowned figure in the martial arts world, and at the time he was full of pride and regarded him as his own. Under those circumstances and in that position, there was really no need for him to fabricate a trivial lie to deceive him.

Old Man Tianpeng said that the Jinglong Society didn't need to take action personally, but because Li Fu offended the Wang family of Suzhou, someone from the Wang family had already put a bounty on his head.

Li Fu felt that there was about 70-80% credibility to this statement.

"Even if it's not the whole picture, it must be a key clue worth exploring."

After leaving the desert, Gong Xiaoshang mentioned that Wang Zheliu, whom he had killed, had a father named Wang Chongyu, who was serving as the Flower and Stone Commissioner in Pingliang County, Weizhou.

Pingliang County, Weizhou —

Li Fu thought to himself.

Along the way, the twelve fierce warriors, other assassins drawn by the scent of blood, and even the Dragon Shock Society whose plans I had ruined, would certainly not have a peaceful journey.

But he felt no fear; instead, he felt a surge of eager anticipation.

"Come on then, let's settle this now."

He then went to the government office the following day to ask for leave.

Taking leave and traveling far away just a few days after taking office is quite willful.

But having just accomplished such a great feat, Feng Shaoting naturally had to give him this much face.

Li Fu did not delay. After packing up briefly, he left Yanzhou City alone on horseback that same day, heading towards Weizhou.

Two days later, at dusk, the sky became extremely gloomy.

The leaden-gray clouds hung low over the mountaintops, heavy and imposing, as if you could reach out and touch them.

The mountain wind blew through the gaps in the forest, bringing with it a damp, cold, earthy smell that made people's clothes cling to their bodies and chill them to the bone.

"The rain has been holding back all day, threatening to fall but not quite."

The world was shrouded in darkness, exuding a gloomy atmosphere that disturbed the mind.

-

Li Fu rode his horse along the mountain road for a whole day, and his mount was puffing out heavy white smoke, clearly exhausted.

He looked up at the dark sky and then caught a glimpse of a corner of a flying eaves peeking out from the mountain hollow ahead. Knowing it was a temple, he pulled on the reins and decided to rest there.

As soon as I arrived at the dilapidated gate of the temple, a few drops of cold water fell on my face.

The rain finally started to fall sporadically.

Li Fu dismounted, tied the horse to the eaves where it could shelter from the rain, patted the horse's neck, and then turned and stepped into the dilapidated temple.

There were already people inside the temple, so he wasn't surprised.

From afar, he saw flames flickering in the temple. Upon entering, he found that many people were indeed taking shelter from the wind and rain there.

This is an abandoned mountain god temple, abandoned for who knows how long. The paint on the statues is peeling and spider webs hang down. However, a bonfire is burning in the center of the ground, which dispels some of the cold and dampness.

In the firelight, shadows of people stretched out.

A middle-aged merchant dressed in silk, with a kind face, was accompanied by two porters who looked like assistants, and a lone peddler carrying a shoulder pole. They were gathered together talking in hushed tones.

On the other side, a woman in her early thirties with a slightly pale face was tightly embracing what appeared to be her two children.

The girl was about seven or eight years old, nestled in her mother's arms. The boy was a little older, around eleven or twelve, and although he was also close to the woman, there was a stubborn look in his eyes, and he would occasionally look around warily.

Most eye-catching were the master and servant pair on the other side of the campfire.

A young scholar dressed in a faded blue robe and wearing a square scarf on his head was asking the woman with the child questions with great interest.

"Madam, where did you come from? Where are you going?"

It's not easy traveling with two children in this remote, desolate place.

This "scholar" had a clear voice and excessively fair skin. Although his eyebrows and eyes were deliberately drawn thick, they still couldn't hide his refined and elegant air. In particular, his curious and gazing expression was completely unlike that of someone who had been through many hardships.

The "page" serving beside him, also with delicate skin, was secretly tugging at the "scholar's" sleeve with a helpless expression and whispering.

"Young master, we're in a desolate mountain temple, and we've only just met. Please don't ask any questions, it's not appropriate."

Li Fu glanced at it only once, but understood immediately.

Both the "scholar" and the "page boy" are women disguised as men.

When traveling the world, it's common for women to dress as men for safety reasons, and this is not surprising.

However, although this couple dressed similarly, their demeanor and behavior were rather carefree, lacking the caution and prudence one might expect.

It's more like a curious young lady from a wealthy family sneaking out to see the world, accompanied by her maid, playing a game of dressing up as a man.

This has nothing to do with him.

Li Fu's gaze lingered for a moment on the worried woman's face.

The woman was pale and her eyes were filled with fear. She kept looking at the dark night outside the temple gate, as if she was worried that someone was chasing her. She barely answered the "scholar's" questions and was absent-minded.

Li Fu stepped into the temple gate, attracting everyone's attention.

The amiable-looking middle-aged businessman was the first to stand up, cupping his hands in greeting and smiling.

"Where are you from, young man?"

You've come at the perfect time! It's getting windy and rainy outside. Come in and warm yourself by the fire to ward off the chill.

When you're traveling, everyone is a friend.

Li Fu remained calm and politely said, "I was just passing by when the weather turned bad, so I apologize for the inconvenience."

"Hey, what kind of talk is that!"

The merchant's smile widened, and he waved his hands repeatedly.

"This dilapidated temple doesn't belong to anyone."

These days, the roads are not safe, so having more people around and more courage is always a good thing.

Please, have a seat! Please, have a seat!

Li Fu thanked him and, without refusing, found a slightly empty spot by the campfire to sit down, reaching out to warm his hands by the fire.

The damp, cold clothes gradually warmed up.

The girl disguised as a scholar's eyes lit up when she saw the newcomer. She seemed to want to come over and strike up a conversation, but was tightly held back by the "page" beside her, who whispered a plea for her to stop.

The woman with the children seemed startled, hugging them even tighter, glancing at the tall, upright figure...

Upon seeing Li Fu, who seemed to possess martial arts skills, Li Fu quickly lowered his head and tensed up slightly.

Outside the temple, the rain gradually thickened, pattering softly on the broken tiles and fallen leaves.

The campfire crackled, illuminating the faces inside the temple.

The girl disguised as a scholar was not stopped by the page. She seemed quite curious about Li Fu, who was silently warming himself by the fire, and took the initiative to move closer. Her bright eyes sparkled in the firelight. She cupped her hands in a gesture of greeting, imitating the manner of a martial arts practitioner, and spoke in a somewhat familiar tone.

"Hey, sir, judging from your upright posture and steady, powerful steps, you must be a martial artist, right?"

Young master—cough, I'm new to the world of martial arts and love to hear strange and unusual tales.

Are there any fresh and interesting rumors circulating in the martial arts world lately?

Would you like to tell me about it?

Her pageboy covered his face helplessly, unable to bear the sight of his young mistress's foolish and audacious behavior.

Who would so readily strike up a conversation with a strange man in a desolate mountain temple?

She showed no sense of caution or distance whatsoever, as if she were in her own home where everyone was expected to answer her.

Li Fu looked up at her.

The scholar and the young lady had clear eyes, and did not show much arrogance or conceit. They seemed to have been too well protected and were ignorant of worldly affairs.

"Never heard of it."

That's the truth. He was in the government and rarely mingled in the martial arts world, so how could he have the mind to listen to any interesting stories about the martial arts world?

What I heard was mostly related to myself.

"I did overhear it."

Seeing that someone had started the conversation, the traveling peddler next to him also became interested in talking and chimed in.

"A major event happened in the neighboring Yanzhou a few days ago, and a remarkable person emerged from it."

He was a constable in blue robes surnamed Li, whose given name was something like Li Fu.

Yes, Li Fu!

She's supposedly only around twenty years old, that's amazing!

"Oh? How is it so remarkable?"

The young lady, who was a "scholar," was immediately drawn to the question and kept asking it.

The peddler cleared his throat, his voice tinged with a boastful air, as if he were recounting a strange tale.

"Hey, you guys don't know, there was a series of robberies and murders in Yanzhou that caused a lot of panic, and I'll tell you—it was solved!"

Guess what?

The real culprit was none other than Dai Yue, one of the four top masters responsible for guarding the Iron Prison of Yanzhou, known as the Iron Wall Across the River!

"what?"

Not only the "scholar" lady, but also the merchant and the porter showed surprise.

It is utterly appalling that an official harbors thieving intentions and steals from his post.

"And there's something even stranger!"

Seeing the crowd's attention, the peddler became even more enthusiastic, "I heard that this case also involves a remarkable martial arts master, the old master of the Tianpeng Sect, the Tianpeng Elder!"

I heard that even this old man Tianpeng fell in Yanzhou and died at the hands of that Constable Li!

"Old Man Tianpeng?"

The maid disguised as a page couldn't help but gasp softly. She seemed to know more than her mistress, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"The Tianpeng Sect is located far in the southwest. Its leader, the Elder Tianpeng, is rumored to have retired more than twenty years ago, no longer concerning himself with the affairs of the martial world. How could he have come to Yanzhou to commit crimes and even—and died there?"

The peddler spread his hands.

"I don't know about that. There are all sorts of rumors circulating in the martial arts world, with all sorts of things being said."

However, it seems that the old man Tianpeng did indeed die in Yanzhou.

"Wow, that's a top martial arts master in the Southwest!"

Li Fu listened silently from the side, never expecting to hear about his own story from someone else in this desolate mountain temple.

The case has become so big that it was expected to spread.

"Wei Ying, is this Elder Tianpeng very powerful?"

The young lady, disguised as a scholar, asked.

The maid, Wei Ying, composed herself and whispered an explanation to her mistress.

"Young master, this old man Tianpeng is extremely powerful."

He was a recognized master in the martial arts world of Southwest China, who founded his own school and reportedly had tens of thousands of disciples, whose influence was deeply entrenched.

In terms of martial arts skills and prestige, few in the southwestern martial arts world can compare to him.

"That amazing?"

The scholar and the young lady blinked, even more surprised.

"That constable named Li Fu, so young, how could he defeat such a person?"

Isn't he even more amazing?

Wei Ying said, "It's impressive, but—I'm afraid it's also caused a great disaster."

The Tianpeng Sect is no easy opponent. With their founder dead, how could their disciples let this go?

They will certainly do everything in their power to avenge themselves.

The peddler nodded in agreement: "Young man, you're right. The Peng Clan is powerful that day, and Officer Li is likely to face endless troubles from now on."

"From what you've said, is this Constable Li Fu—a very capable and good official who can solve cases?"

The woman, who was tightly holding her two children and looked worried, said...

She bit her lower lip, her gaze sometimes fixed on the darkness outside the temple, sometimes on her bewildered daughter in her arms. The knot between her brows deepened, as if she had something unspeakable to say, and she murmured.

"It's a pity—he doesn't hold a position in our Jingzhou—"

Li Fu's gaze shifted slightly, and he couldn't help but take another look at the woman.

"Sister, is there anything you need this Officer Li's help with?"

Although the young lady was inexperienced in worldly affairs, she seemed to be very intelligent and noticed the strangeness of the older sister who had spoken to her a few words earlier and called herself Zhao.