Chapter 51: Little Blackie, You've Shown Your Chicken Feet, Haven't You

The morning sun rose high, and the daylight was bright.

Chen Mo chewed on a sesame flatbread stuffed with meat, walking slowly toward Huaizhen Ward, looking like an old man out for a morning stroll.

Clatter, clatter, clatter—

The sound of horse hooves rang out behind him, and a clear, bright female voice reached him:

"Lord Chen."

Chen Mo turned his head to look and saw several government runners riding toward him; the one in the lead was none other than Lin Jingzhu.

Dressed in a white martial outfit with a dark blue short jacket over it, she looked heroic, spirited, and very capable.

Arriving beside Chen Mo, she pulled on the reins, dismounted, and said with a smile, "What a coincidence, we meet again."

Chen Mo nodded, "Is Head Constable Lin's injury feeling better?"

Lin Jingzhu waved her hand, unconcerned, and said, "Just a flesh wound, it's nothing."

Chen Mo knew she had a special constitution, so he didn't ask any further.

"Why is Lord Chen not riding a horse? And you haven't changed your clothes... This doesn't seem to be the street where Chen Fu is located, right?" Lin Jingzhu was a bit curious, but after saying this, she realized it was improper and said apologetically, "My apologies, it's a professional habit; I didn't mean to pry into your privacy, my lord."

Chen Mo said indifferently, "It is fine. This official went to the Music Conservatory last night."

"..."

The runners behind her lowered their heads, stifling their laughter.

Lin Jingzhu's expression was slightly awkward, but she quickly returned to normal.

Recalling that when they were drinking yesterday, Chen Mo said he wanted to go to the Music Conservatory to listen to tunes and touch thighs, it seemed he wasn't just talking... This Lord Chen was indeed a romantic figure.

"Regarding the case of the demon race, this subordinate has some thoughts..."

Lin Jingzhu leaned in close and whispered.

After listening, a trace of surprise flashed in the depths of Chen Mo's eyes.

He hadn't expected this Head Constable Lin to be so sharp; she had seen the anomaly in Zhou Jing'an from just a few words.

However, the Empress's mission had not yet been completed, and he absolutely could not alert the enemy at this time.

Chen Mo pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Although I dislike Zhou Jing'an very much, to say he is involved in this case is too far-fetched. His reaction yesterday was likely just a desire not to make enemies."

"But..."

"Everything must be based on evidence. Head Constable Lin, do not let personal emotions affect your judgment."

Before Lin Jingzhu could finish, Chen Mo turned and left.

Watching his back, Lin Jingzhu frowned slightly; she always felt something was not quite right...

Huaizhen Ward, headquarters of the Heavenly Qilin Guard.

Just as Chen Mo walked to the main entrance, his keen hearing caught bursts of whispers.

"Battalion Commander Chu is injured?"

"I heard it was Platoon Leader Chen who slashed him..."

"Really? Regardless, Battalion Commander Chu is a fifth-rank official; the two of them are a whole major realm apart!"

"You guys don't know yet? The Drunken Moon Pavilion on Huaifang Street was demolished! Not only did Battalion Commander Chu see blood, but that Chu Chen was beaten into a serious injury, and I heard people even died..."

A bloody conflict had occurred within the capital city, involving both the Heavenly Qilin Guard and the Six Gates; logically, this matter should have already reached the Three Judicial Offices.

Yet, up until now, the Jingzhao Prefecture government office had made no move at all.

Clearly, the matter had been suppressed by someone.

As for who suppressed it... that was quite intriguing.

Chen Mo walked into the training grounds, the conversation stopped, and the atmosphere instantly went quiet.

"Chen Mo."

Li Yuan walked over quickly, her expression concerned, "Are you alright? I heard that yesterday you..."

"I'm fine."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "You doing this makes it very easy for others to misunderstand."

Noticing the prying gazes around them, Li Yuan raised her eyebrows slightly, looked around, and her eyes were as cold as blades.

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look again.

"No one is misunderstanding now."

Li Yuan revealed her dimples and said with a faint smile.

Her ability to switch freely between "mother tiger" and "little kitten" left Chen Mo in awe.

"Battalion Commander Chu."

"Greetings, Battalion Commander."

At this moment, greetings rang out from the crowd.

The two turned to look and saw the white-haired Chu Zhuo walking toward them, his gait slightly stiff; clearly, his saber wound had not yet healed.

Li Yuan subconsciously blocked Chen Mo's path.

"Lord Chu..."

Looking at this once-capable subordinate, Chu Zhuo's eyes were somewhat complex, but he didn't say anything, his gaze shifting to Chen Mo.

"Shall we talk?"

Chen Mo said coolly, "If you have something to say, say it here."

Chu Zhuo deliberated for a moment and said, "Yesterday's matter was a misunderstanding. I did not know that Head Constable Lin had a special status; there were many offenses..."

Chen Mo interrupted, "Lord Chu should go tell her that."

Chu Zhuo felt bitter in his heart.

He had only learned later that the female head constable was actually the Empress's niece!

If he had beaten her into a bad state, even ten heads wouldn't be enough to behead!

Looking at it this way, Chen Mo's slash hadn't just saved Lin Jingzhu; it had also saved him in disguise...

Chu Zhuo still wanted to probe for information.

After all, the other party was injured, and if they were to pursue it, the trouble would certainly be significant.

Chen Mo saw through his thoughts at a glance and sneered:

"Since Lord Chu has already found a backer, what else is there to fear?"

"It's just that this backer might not be solid. If it collapses one day, be careful not to be crushed to death by the falling rubble."

Chu Zhuo's face turned cold.

Knowing that more talk was useless, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Chen Mo's eyes were deep, like a cold pool; beneath the calm surface, murderous intent surged!

"Recruiting Chu Zhuo to keep an eye on me? It seems I need to make extra preparations..."

He lifted his legs and walked toward the Guishui Office.

For the next few days, everything remained as usual.

Chen Mo traveled between the Heavenly Qilin Guard and Chen Fu, seemingly having completely cast the case-solving matter to the back of his mind.

Shangguan Yunfei had come to find him several times, only to be dismissed by him, which made Shangguan Yunfei feel somewhat disappointed. With the deadline for solving the case drawing closer, was he really going to just give up?

Even Eunuch Jin had made a special trip, which showed the degree of the Empress's concern for this case.

But Chen Mo continued to go his own way.

Until the fifth day.

The moon was dark and the wind was high; the night was deep and quiet.

In the bedroom, Chen Mo lay on the bed, his breathing even, as if he had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Dong!—Dong! Dong!

The sound of the night watchman beating his gong came from the street; one slow and two fast, it was already the third watch.

Chen Mo suddenly opened his eyes, his bright pupils showing no trace of sleepiness.

He took the paper doll from his bosom, felt the waves of energy coming from it, and a bright arc curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Finally caught you!"

The backyard of the Zhou residence.

A figure arrived at the back door and lightly knocked on the door knocker.

Dong dong dong—

A moment later, the door slowly opened, and a man in black walked out, wearing a veil hat, his face covered by black gauze.

"How is it?"

"It's almost time to wrap it up; those miners..."

"Dispose of them on the spot, leave no survivors."

"Let's go."

The two hid in the shadows and arrived at an old residential house at the end of the alley. They climbed over the wall, lifted the giant stone covering the well, and jumped into the well mouth.

Falling to the bottom of the dry well, they carefully deactivated the array, and a circular ring appeared on the well wall.

After pulling it open, a deep, secluded tunnel was revealed.

The two walked inside, closed the hidden door, and dashed forward along the tunnel. About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they crawled out from a grass pit in the middle of a desolate wilderness.

After confirming there was no one around, they flew toward the direction of the Western Desolate Mountain.

A moment later, Chen Mo walked out from the grass pit.

He looked back from afar at the brightly lit Ducheng.

"Tsk, this way of leaving the city is quite unique... Head Constable Lin, stop hiding; I know you're behind me."

Rustle—

The soft sound of wild grass being stepped on came, and the figure of Lin Jingzhu emerged from the shadows.

Chen Mo sighed, "Not sleeping in the middle of the night, and you're actually following me? Can't there be a little more trust between people?"

Lin Jingzhu rolled her eyes at him, her expression even showing a hint of coquettishness, "Lord Chen, who exactly is it that doesn't trust whom here?"