Chapter 308: The Blood Infant Within

After the few of them finished their meal, Xiao Yu took Shen Mizhi with her to rest in her own boudoir.

Duan Rong accompanied Xiao Zongting to drink a cup of strong tea after the meal in the main room, chatted for a while, and then took his leave.

He had already returned the key to the Liu Lu to Xu Shoufu, the Chief Accountant of the Escort Agency, when he left.

Duan Rong paced out of the Escort Agency and walked toward his original old residence.

After entering that dilapidated old house, Duan Rong first drew a bucket of well water, washed his entire body until he felt refreshed, and then, naked, lay down on the bed in the inner room.

Although this house was dilapidated, it was still a place to stay.

Duan Rong had only been lying there for a while when his expression suddenly shifted, and he sat up.

Duan Rong sat cross-legged on the bed, naked, his hands quickly forming seals, his mouth murmuring incantations; his attention was focused on the point where his breathing transitioned, and suddenly concentrating his spirit, he struck that "very point" of the breathing transition.

Duan Rong suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and the next moment, he had already appeared within his own Spirit Sea.

Duan Rong discovered that he was sitting cross-legged in the center of the Black Earth, with thin, rolling, faint mist permeating the surroundings...

Duan Rong stood up and raised his eyes to look up at the firmament.

Sure enough, a strange change had occurred above the firmament!

The three Star Bodies that Duan Rong had refined while practicing the Womb Treasury Sutra were still suspended in the center of the firmament, reflecting each other and shining brilliantly.

But that blood-colored light, which had originally hidden in the corner, cowering away from the suspended Star Bodies like a nebula, had undergone a change.

After Duan Rong achieved the Second Layer of the Filthy Blood Divine Art, that patch of blood-colored light not only expanded its coverage by more than three times, but its color also became even more fresh and blood-red...

But what worried Duan Rong the most was that the rolling blood-colored light was floating and flickering beneath the firmament. It had actually drifted to a position very close to the three suspended Star Bodies.

Even the soft light of those three Star Bodies and the blood-colored light emitted by that nebula-like thing, which represented the origin of the Filthy Blood Divine Art, were already faintly reflecting and merging at a certain point...

Duan Rong stared intently, his gaze deep; he did not know what that meant, but the unknown usually implied an aura of danger.

Originally, that blood-colored light representing the origin of the Filthy Blood Divine Art was clearly afraid of the three Star Bodies, but now that Duan Rong had achieved the Second Layer of the Filthy Blood Divine Art, it seemed that a certain balance had been reached between the Filthy Blood Divine Art and the Womb Treasury Sutra.

Whether it was the Womb Treasury Sutra or the Filthy Blood Divine Art, both were incredibly profound and mysterious techniques. But now, they appeared simultaneously within Duan Rong's Spirit Sea.

This undoubtedly made Duan Rong very worried! He was afraid that if he continued to practice like this, he would suffer a cultivation deviation!

Duan Rong wondered, could there be anyone else in this world who, like him, practiced both the Womb Treasury Sutra and the Filthy Blood Divine Art?

Perhaps there was no such person at all?

But thinking of this, Duan Rong's heart suddenly stirred.

He thought of one person!

That was the founder of the Filthy Blood Sect, Fu Yi.

Before founding the Filthy Blood Sect, Fu Yi was a Core Disciple of the Taiyi Sect; he must have practiced the Womb Treasury Sutra.

And since the Filthy Blood Sect was founded by him, and the Filthy Blood Divine Art originated from him, he naturally also practiced the Filthy Blood Divine Art.

Moreover, according to street rumors, he not only practiced the Filthy Blood Divine Art, but through intensive study of it, he even refined a mysterious and unfathomable Blood Infant that he carried with him. It was precisely by relying on this Blood Infant that, even when the Taiyi Sect dispatched top experts several times to surround and attack Fu Yi, he was able to escape.

But in these last few years, this person had already disappeared from the pugilistic world, and the Taiyi Sect's secret agents had spread throughout all parts of Qingzhou; after many years of searching, they had not discovered any trace of him...

Although the founder of the Filthy Blood Sect was an unreachable, strange person to Duan Rong.

But with this person as a precedent, it at least showed that these two divine arts could be practiced simultaneously.

Of course, it was also possible that the founder had used some strange method to resolve the conflicting parts of these two divine arts.

Duan Rong looked at the three Star Bodies above the firmament and that patch of rolling blood-colored light; although they already had a stance of faint confrontation, they had not, after all, experienced any real mutual restriction or collision.

At the very least, Duan Rong's Spirit Sea had no adverse sensations, and his Soul Technique could still be used normally.

Only, after this, Duan Rong was clearly more wary of that patch of blood-colored light.

He had only been inattentive for a moment, allowing it to achieve the Second Layer, and that blood-colored light had already floated to the vicinity of the three Star Bodies; if he were to let it grow another wave, wouldn't it want to occupy the magpie's nest, drive the three Star Bodies to the corners of the firmament, and occupy the center of the firmament itself?

Duan Rong could not be sure what that would mean.

In any case, he must absolutely not let that patch of blood-colored light grow any further.

Fortunately, Duan Rong had only swallowed the realm of the Second Layer of the Filthy Blood Divine Art, and he knew nothing of the subsequent techniques; even if that blood-colored light wanted to grow, it would have absolutely no opportunity.

And as long as he continued to practice the Womb Treasury Sutra, he believed that as the realm of the Womb Treasury Sutra improved, he would certainly be able to force that patch of blood-colored light back to the corner again.

Thinking of this, Duan Rong let go of his entanglement, and with a shift of his mind, he exited the Spirit Sea.

After a bitter battle yesterday, being squeezed on an ox cart at night, and with his mind thinking about Lv Qingzhu's departure, he hadn't slept soundly; at this moment, Duan Rong felt sleepiness strike, and as he lay on the bed, he fell into a deep sleep.

After the Coroner finished examining the corpses, Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong took the bodies back from the Ya Men.

For the old to bury the young, and at this age, half his life was already gone.

By the afternoon, the Xia family, the Jiang family, and the Tao family had already set up mourning halls, and white mourning banners were hung inside and outside the mansions.

What was originally a joyous occasion to bring honor to one's ancestors had vanished into thin air in the blink of an eye...

People say that fortune and misfortune are unpredictable, but when the matter has not fallen upon your own head, how can you truly understand that taste?

Only those trapped in this great sorrow know what it means to have a heart more dead than ashes.

At this time, it was already the Hour of the Bo, and there was no one left on the streets.

Everything was quiet all around, with only the faint sound of funeral music from afar occasionally ringing out.

At this hour, the County Government Office was actually still brightly lit.

Those Clerks and Constables had all lit Candle Lamps, keeping watch in their respective rooms. The County Magistrate had said he would summon them today; since he hadn't summoned them yet, who among them dared to leave?

Just as everyone was waiting in anxious impatience, Ding Xingxing had already walked hurriedly to notify them room by room, telling them to go to the Back Courtyard flower hall to see the Magistrate.

Sun Qian had been busy for the better part of the day, only just having finished organizing the first draft of the case report.

The circumstances of this case were quite complex and involved a wide range of people; according to the Coroner's autopsy report and the accounts of the Sect Emissaries and Registered Disciples who had personally experienced the case, when combined, there were several people among them who seemed to be long-term wanted criminals of the Sect, and some seemed to be extremely important figures within the Yuanyang Hall of the Filthy Blood Sect.

"This matter is somewhat suspicious!?"

Sun Qian looked at the autopsy report and the first draft of the document spread out on the desk, his brow knitting into a twisted "chuan" character.

Just at this moment, there was a sound of chaotic footsteps outside the door.

Ding Xingxing cupped his hands and entered, saying: "Magistrate, everyone has arrived."

Sun Qian let out a long sigh, his brow heavy with exhaustion. He took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Let them come in."

Following this, the clerks and constables of the Ya Men filed in one after another, lining up in two rows and standing not far from the desk where Sun Qian sat.

Sun Qian gripped the armrests of his grand master chair and stood up. His legs felt a bit stiff. He walked slowly out from behind the desk, stood before the crowd, and said, "I originally intended to meet with everyone properly so we could get to know each other. But I did not expect that as soon as I arrived in this county, before I had even warmed my seat, such a major case would be dumped on me. I have been negligent toward you all."

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare... The County Magistrate is too kind..." those clerks and constables immediately bowed and said.

Although Sun Qian said he had been negligent toward them, there was not the slightest hint of apology in his expression. He kept his face cold and said, "However, it is fortunate that we are all working in the same Ya Men; gradually, we will surely become familiar with one another. From now on, the clerks' affairs will be handled by Clerk Qin first, and the constables and yamen runners' affairs will be handled by Ding Xingxing first."

Upon hearing this, Ding Xingxing's eyes lit up. He cupped his hands and said loudly, "Yes!"

Clerk Qin was still busy at the morgue at this time and was not among these clerks. Sun Qian had seen that he was skilled with the pen and meticulous in his thinking—exactly the material for a good advisor—so he had promoted him a step.

As for Ding Xingxing, he was originally just a guard at Sun Qian's home, and because he had followed Sun Qian for many years, he was quite loyal.

It is the so-called: when one person attains the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

This man had thus become the Head Constable of a county.

Sun Qian glanced at Ding Xingxing, nodded slightly, then looked at the clerks and constables before him with a grave expression and said, "Everyone, you may disperse. Each of you, do your own duties well. I am a person who cannot tolerate sand in my eyes. If some matters fall upon anyone's head, then, when the time comes, do not blame me for being heavy-handed. Go on, all of you."

Those clerks and constables, silenced by Sun Qian's few words as if they were cicadas in winter, bowed one after another and retreated.

But only Zhu Baogui stood to the side, bowing slightly with his hands cupped, and did not exit.

Sun Qian walked back to his desk. Only after sitting down did he see Zhu Baogui, who was standing bowed at Ding Xingxing's side, and he said, "Do you still have something to report?"

Sun Qian had just arrived in Xiangu County and did not know Zhu Baogui's name.

Zhu Baogui immediately stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the County Magistrate, your subordinate knows that you are busy with a thousand tasks and are already very tired, but there is still an unsolved case in this county that your subordinate dares not fail to inform you of!"

"An unsolved case?" Sun Qian took a sip of tea and said, "Speak and let me hear it."

Zhu Baogui then told Sun Qian the case of Xie Daohan's murder, as well as Shen Yanliu's statement, without changing a single word.

Upon hearing this, Sun Qian's brows knit together. This Xiangu County was truly a muddy pool!

That morning, when he had just arrived at the main hall, he had already received a list, and on that list, the column for Head Constable was written as 'vacant'.

He had originally thought that the previous Head Constable had followed Shen Yanliu in his promotion and gone to Ruyang Prefecture.

Who would have thought it was actually another homicide case!

The murder of a Head Constable in charge of a county's criminal matters could be considered a major case.

Sun Qian pondered for a while, then suddenly asked, "When did you say this case occurred?"

Zhu Baogui said, "It was on the morning of the second day after Magistrate Shen received his promotion order."

Sun Qian's eyes flickered, and he said, "Move the time of the crime forward by six days. Re-issue all the documents regarding this case."

"This...?" Zhu Baogui was stunned. He had not expected Sun Qian to play it this way. In this way, this case would be counted on Shen Yanliu's head.

Sun Qian said, "Do as I say. The documents reported to the prefecture will bear the seal of the County Government Office and be signed with my name, Sun. What are you afraid of?"

Sun Qian dared to count Xie Daohan's case on Shen Yanliu's head because he had his own considerations.

Although Shen Yanliu had been promoted to Surveillance Commissioner of a prefecture, in charge of the criminal matters of a prefecture, he could be said to hold great power.

But he was the Surveillance Commissioner of Ruyang Prefecture; prefectures do not belong to one another, so he would never know that this case had been counted on his head.

The Surveillance Commissioner of Yuanyang Prefecture would also not go to the trouble of writing letters to hold an official of the same rank from another prefecture accountable over an unsolved case. After such buck-passing, this case would just become an unsolved mystery, and no one would bear the responsibility.

Zhu Baogui realized the implication and immediately bowed, saying, "Rest assured, Magistrate, this subordinate will handle it immediately."

"Go." Sun Qian waved his hand. Seeing that Zhu Baogui had reacted after only a moment of hesitation, he couldn't help but look at him and smile slightly.

Zhu Baogui then bowed and retreated.

Sun Qian looked at Ding Xingxing, who was standing not far away, and said, "You go too. I want to rest for a while. You guard the door; do not let anyone come in to disturb me."

"Yes, Magistrate!" Ding Xingxing grasped his blade and exited the door, pulling the door of the flower hall to a slight close.

Sun Qian rubbed his temples. Between the exhaustion of the journey and the worry over the criminal case, he was truly feeling mentally tired at this moment.

Sun Qian was leaning back in the grand master chair when he suddenly heard a rustling sound at the window. A black shadow flashed, and he saw someone actually vault through the window and leap inside.

This person clearly had excellent Lightness Skill; they landed without a sound, and with a light tap of their toes, they flew and landed, standing not far before Sun Qian's desk.

The visitor was dressed in night-traveling clothes and wore a pitch-black mask on their face. They stood there, their eyes fixed on Sun Qian through the holes in the mask.

When Sun Qian saw this person, there was no look of surprise on his face, as if he had long expected this person to come.

At this moment, the person in black took off the mask on their face, revealing a face full of charm.

The visitor was actually Ge Qingchuan!

Sun Qian sighed, looked at Ge Qingchuan's bright eyes, and said, "Miss Qingchuan, you are truly too polite! As soon as Sun took office, Miss Qingchuan sent such a grand gift."

Ge Qingchuan's face turned slightly red. She knew Sun Qian was talking about their ambush on the Registered Disciple.

"The matter was botched! We ran into a tough nut to crack; Fan Hanzhou and Xueseng Wuxiang are both dead!"

"Fan Hanzhou is also dead?!"

Hearing of Fan Hanzhou and Xueseng Wuxiang, Sun Qian's expression changed abruptly, and he sat straight up from his chair.

After seeing the autopsy report and hearing the oral accounts from the Sect Emissaries, he had already had some guesses.

He was basically certain about Xueseng Wuxiang, but he was unsure about Fan Hanzhou. Firstly, this person had not easily shown his face in recent years, and secondly, he truly could not imagine who could have killed Fan Hanzhou.

"Yes." Ge Qingchuan looked at the astonished Sun Qian and said, "Regarding the documents for this case, delay them for two days before reporting them to the Sect and the prefecture. I need time to maneuver some backup plans."

Sun Qian tapped his fingers on the desk and said, "That is acceptable."

Ge Qingchuan said, "Sun Qian, the Hall spent such a great price to have you take the position of Xiangu County Magistrate. Do you know why?"

This Sun Qian had originally been lurking in the Administration Commissioner Office, merely an obscure Principal who handled nothing but miscellaneous items without any profit.

Not long ago, he had suddenly received the transfer order to become the Xiangu County Magistrate. Although he was happy in his heart, he also knew this was the Hall's manipulation. He had always been drumming in his heart about what exactly they wanted him to do in Xiangu County.

Sun Qian said, "I ask Miss Qingchuan to enlighten me!"

Ge Qingchuan said, "This Xiangu County is located in a remote area, and it is mountainous and densely forested; it can be called a place easy to defend and difficult to attack. The task the Hall has given you is to build this place into a secure stronghold for our Filthy Blood Sect!"

"Of course, the Hall will also tilt resources toward you and support you as much as possible."

Sun Qian's brow twitched. He had known that this Xiangu County Magistrate position wouldn't be so easy to sit in.

Sun Qian said, "Xiangu County, hasn't it been managed by Ruan Fengshan all these years?"

Ge Qingchuan said, "Under the nose of that scoundrel Shen Yanliu, how could he possibly spread his wings! He does his work, you do yours! You are far more important than Ruan Fengshan now; until the time is right, he cannot know your identity. This is for your safety."

Sun Qian frowned and said, "Are there still spies around Ruan Fengshan?"

"Whether there are or not, it is better to be careful. After some time, we will set up a trap to test him. Before that, your identity must absolutely not be told to Ruan Fengshan."

Sun Qian nodded.

Ge Qingchuan said, "Do you have anything else?"

Sun Qian said, "There is one more thing. Was the matter regarding Xie Daohan done by our people?"

"Xie Daohan?"

"The Head Constable of Xiangu County."

Ge Qingchuan shook his head and said, "It shouldn't be. The Hall didn't do it. Ruan Fengshan is currently lying low, so it shouldn't be him either."

Sun Qian's eyes flickered, and he nodded thoughtfully.

Ge Qingchuan glanced at Sun Qian, put on his mask, and with a flicker of his figure, he vanished.

After Ge Qingchuan left, Sun Qian slumped into the grand armchair.

Xie Daohan was, after all, the criminal investigation Head Constable of a county and a powerhouse of the True Qi Realm; how could he be so easily killed?

He had originally suspected that the case of Xie Daohan was committed by his own people. Therefore, he had just suppressed the case, wanting to turn it into an unsolved mystery and pin it on the transferred Shen Yanliu.

But, it seems now, this case was not committed by their people?

A powerhouse of the True Qi Realm!

"The waters in this Xiangu County are truly getting deeper and deeper..." Sun Qian muttered, the weariness in his eyes seeming even heavier at this moment.

(End of this chapter)