Chapter 245: The Filthy Blood Case

Duan Rong carried Su Di on his back, moving rapidly through the streets in the night...

As he walked, he repeatedly turned over and considered in his mind the various details of what he had to do next.

At this moment, the streets were empty, and Duan Rong chose the closest route to the County Government Office, which was to go straight along West Street.

If anyone were to see the scene of Duan Rong carrying a woman dressed in a light green water-silk dress, rushing through the night, they would surely mistake him for a flower-plucking thief abducting a civilian woman!

Carrying Su Di, Duan Rong quickly arrived at the entrance of the County Government Office. Duan Rong stepped onto the stone stairs and called out, "Officer, I am here to report a case!"

The Constable, who had been dozing with his arms folded, lifted his eyes to glance over. Seeing Duan Rong carrying a woman on his shoulders, a look of astonishment appeared on his face, which still held traces of sleepiness. "You... what case are you reporting?"

"Abduction of a civilian woman!" Duan Rong said, and having already carried Su Di, he took a large stride into the County Government Office.

The Constable swallowed a mouthful of saliva and shouted at Duan Rong's back, "This young brother, are you reporting a case, or are you turning yourself in?"

It was the middle of the night, and Duan Rong had carried a woman into the Ya Men; it truly left this old Constable, who had spent many years in the Ya Men, completely bewildered.

Duan Rong did not pay any attention to the question from the Constable guarding the gate. He glanced at the Constable who was sleeping on a desk inside the main gate, walked straight past him, and headed quickly toward the small path beside the main hall.

This was not the first time Duan Rong had come to this County Government Office; he knew that past that small path lay the Back Courtyard of the County Office.

For the sake of a reputation for integrity, Shen Yanliu lived year-round in that simple Back Courtyard.

The Guard at the gate, seeing that Duan Rong had actually bypassed the Constable responsible for registration and seemed to be heading toward the Back Courtyard as if he were familiar with the path, immediately shouted, "Where are you going? You cannot run around in the Ya Men! Quick! Stop him!"

Seeing Duan Rong's figure flash into the shadows of the small path beside the main hall.

Following the Guard's shouts, a group of night-watch Guards rushed over.

Duan Rong unleashed his full speed, and within a single breath, he darted out of the small path and stood before the shadow wall between the Back Courtyard and the main hall of the County Government Office.

With a flicker of his figure, Duan Rong had already bypassed the shadow wall.

The chaotic shouting from the main gate of the County Government Office had already alerted this side, and several Guards in the Back Courtyard had long since drawn their blades and stood ready.

As soon as Duan Rong's figure flashed out from behind the shadow wall, the *shing-shing* sounds of blades being drawn rang out almost simultaneously. Under the dim light of the lanterns, the blade light shimmered like water waves, and in an instant, they surrounded Duan Rong.

Duan Rong's expression remained unmoved; he still carried Su Di and said, "I seek an audience with the County Magistrate; I have an urgent matter to report!"

The leader of the Guards, dressed in official robes, saw that even though Duan Rong was surrounded by a group of Guards with drawn blades, he still appeared completely fearless and composed. He bared his teeth and roared, "Any commoner who trespasses into the County Government Office shall die!"

The Guard leader roared and had already swung his blade to attack Duan Rong. He was at the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer Small Success, and his diagonal slash was fierce and powerful!

Duan Rong's figure flashed, and he actually dodged it.

The Guard leader was slightly startled; Duan Rong was still carrying a person!

The group of Guards had already attacked Duan Rong one after another. Blade Shadows flickered and surrounded him; Duan Rong parried left and dodged right, avoiding as much as he could, and only when he truly could not dodge did he occasionally kick one or two Guards away!

While dealing with these Guards, Duan Rong had already walked into the Back Courtyard.

As he walked, he shouted, "Magistrate, this one has a major case to report!"

Suddenly, a figure flashed out from the doorway of the main room at the end of the courtyard. The figure was fast as lightning, crossing the courtyard, and with one hand formed into a claw, he reached out to grab the top of Duan Rong's head!

Duan Rong knew clearly that Shen Yanliu was an expert of the True Qi Realm Second Layer. In his rage, the power of a single claw could crush his skull.

Therefore, Duan Rong had been keeping his Divine Sense projected. The moment Shen Yanliu flashed out of the doorway, he immediately dropped Su Di, cupped his hands, knelt down, and shouted, "The Filthy Blood Case! I beg the Magistrate to preside over this!"

Just as Duan Rong's shout left his lips, Shen Yanliu's Steel Sleeve Iron Claw had already arrived, mere inches from the top of Duan Rong's head!

Shen Yanliu's weapon was this pair of custom-made gloves, woven from fine steel wire. The fingers were like eagle claws, the iron hooks sharp, and under the dim light of the lanterns, the iron claws shimmered with a faint blood color—those were bloodstains from being soaked in the blood of who knows how many people...

Blood-Stain Iron Claw, Cold-Faced Yama!

Shen Yanliu suddenly stopped because he had heard the words "Filthy Blood Case."

Although local officials had the duty to protect their territory, for the past few years, the Taiyi Sect had regarded the Filthy Blood Sect as a major threat. Therefore, in recent years, during political evaluations and promotions, performance related to the Filthy Blood Sect was especially important!

And in the past half-year, for some reason, three branches of the Filthy Blood Sect had been wiped out under the jurisdiction of Yuanyang Prefecture.

This had made Shen Yanliu, who had originally thought his promotion was promising, suddenly exceptionally anxious!

Although he had polished all his other political achievements until they were stellar, he had never cracked a Filthy Blood Case. If it went on like this until next year's political evaluation, he feared he would have no hope of promotion!

Duan Rong calling out the "Filthy Blood Case" could be said to have hit his sore spot exactly.

Seeing Shen Yanliu's Steel Sleeve Iron Claw suspended inches above his head, Duan Rong finally felt his heart relax, and a trace of lingering fear appeared in his eyes!

He had caused such a scene at the Ya Men; it was entirely possible that Shen Yanliu, in his rage, could have killed him on the spot!

Trespassing into the Ya Men in the dead of night was originally a capital crime!

But for the sake of Xiao Yu, he had to take this risk. If anything happened to that girl this time, he would have a guilty conscience for the rest of his life.

He had used the fastest way to see Shen Yanliu, which was to break in directly!

Because although the miscellaneous books said that practicing the Filthy Blood Divine Art required complex rituals that were quite time-consuming, he had no way of knowing exactly how long it would take. If he were even one step late, Xiao Yu could be raped to death.

Shen Yanliu's cold eyes stared at Duan Rong. He had naturally recognized that Duan Rong was that Escort from the Yuanshun Escort Agency. Come to think of it, it was strange; this obscure little Escort had actually crossed paths with him time and time again.

"You just said the Filthy Blood Case?"

"Yes!" Duan Rong replied in a deep voice, "The owner of the Weiyang Workshop, Wei Yutian, is a member of the Filthy Blood Sect!"

As soon as Duan Rong opened his mouth, he went straight to the point.

Shen Yanliu stared at Duan Rong for a while, then suddenly sneered, "Empty words, aren't you afraid of twisting your tongue! If you were to say that your Manager, Ruan Fengshan, was a member of the Filthy Blood Sect, should I take men to raid the Yuanshun Escort Agency right now and kill Ruan Fengshan!"

Shen Yanliu's inner anger rose.

The Filthy Blood Sect had been hunted and suppressed by the Taiyi Sect for many years, yet it remained unextinguished and instead grew stronger; it had its own set of ways of doing things.

Members of the Filthy Blood Sect usually hid in a secretive manner, and many members only had single-line contacts; before becoming core members, they would never even see a Helmsman.

He had been in Xiangu County for several years and did not know how many secret agents he had planted within this county, yet he had never uncovered any trace of the Filthy Blood Sect. Duan Rong was merely a small Escort from the Yuanshun Escort Agency; how could he possibly have clues about the Filthy Blood Sect?

"Magistrate, listen to me!" Duan Rong said in a deep voice, his breath full and his gaze clear. "This woman, Su Di, is Wei Yutian's personal maid."

Hearing this, Shen Yanliu finally cast his gaze toward the unconscious woman in front of Duan Rong, whom he had just thrown onto the ground.

This woman had fair skin, was plump and charming, and had quite a bit of allure. Shen Yanliu's brow twitched; he suddenly remembered that once, when Wei Yutian had hosted him at a restaurant, this woman was among those serving, along with another thin woman in white clothes.

(End of chapter)