Chapter 51: Little Black, Showed Your Chicken Feet, Didn

The rising sun bathed the sky in bright light.

Chen Mo chewed on a meat-stuffed baked pancake, strolling slowly toward Huai Zhen Fang like an old man enjoying his morning walk.

Clip-clop—

Hooves clattered behind him, and a clear female voice called out:

"Chen my lord."

Chen Mo turned to see several constables riding toward him, their leader being Lin Jingzhu.

Dressed in a white fitted outfit with a dark blue short jacket over it, she looked sharp, spirited, and highly capable.

Reaching Chen Mo's side, she pulled her reins, dismounted, and smiled: "What a coincidence, meeting again."

Chen Mo nodded. "How is your wound, Lin Baitou?"

Lin Jingzhu waved her hand dismissively. "Just a flesh wound. Doesn't matter."

Chen Mo knew her constitution was unusual, so he didn't press further.

"Why aren't you riding a horse? And you haven't changed clothes… This doesn't seem to be the street where the Chen residence is, does it?" Lin Jingzhu asked curiously, then immediately realized her mistake and apologized: "Sorry, it's just my professional habit—I didn't mean to pry into your privacy."

Chen Mo replied calmly: "It's fine. I went to the Jiaofangsi last night."

"…."

The constables behind lowered their heads, stifling laughter.

Lin Jingzhu's expression grew slightly awkward, but she quickly recovered.

Recalling how Chen Mo had said last night he was going to the Jiaofangsi to listen to songs and feel up women, it seemed he hadn't been joking… This Chen my lord was indeed a playboy.

"About the demon race case, I have some thoughts…"

Lin Jingzhu leaned in and whispered softly.

After listening, Chen Mo's eyes flickered with surprise.

He hadn't expected this Lin Baitou to be so perceptive—she'd deduced Zhou Jingan's oddness from just a few words.

But the Empress's mission wasn't complete yet; he absolutely couldn't alarm the snake yet.

After a moment's thought, Chen Mo shook his head. "Though I despise Zhou Jingan, to claim he's involved in this case is too far-fetched. His reaction yesterday was probably just to avoid making enemies."

"But…"

"Everything requires evidence. Don't let personal feelings cloud your judgment, Lin Baitou."

Before Lin Jingzhu could finish, Chen Mo turned and walked away.

Watching his back, Lin Jingzhu furrowed her brow slightly—something felt off…

…

Huai Zhen Fang, Headquarters of the Tianlin Guard.

As Chen Mo reached the gate, his sharp hearing caught murmurs.

"Has the Chu Bahu been injured?"

"I heard it was Chen Platoon Leader who cut him…"

"True? No matter what, Chu Bahu is fifth-rank—they're a whole major realm apart!"

"You don't know yet? The Zuiyue Pavilion on Huai Fang Street was torn down! Not only did Chu Bahu bleed, but Chu Chen was beaten to critical injuries—some say people died…"

A bloody clash within Ducheng involving the Tianlin Guard and the Liufanmen should have long since reached the Three Departments.

Yet the Jingzhao Prefecture has shown no reaction whatsoever.

Clearly, someone has suppressed the matter.

And who that someone is… that's worth pondering.

Chen Mo entered the training ground; the chatter halted, and the atmosphere fell silent.

"Chen Mo."

Li Yan hurried over, her expression concerned. "Are you alright? I heard you were…"

"I'm fine."

Chen Mo smiled. "You act like this, others will misunderstand."

Noticing the watching eyes around her, Li Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly; she scanned the crowd, her gaze sharp as blades.

Everyone lowered their heads, daring not to look again.

"Now no one misunderstands."

Li Yan smiled, her dimples appearing.

Her effortless switch between "mother tiger" and "kitten" left Chen Mo in awe.

"Chu Bahu."

"Greetings, Bahu my lord."

At that moment, voices rose from the crowd.

Both turned to see Chu Zhuo approaching, his head white with age, his steps stiff—his sword wounds clearly hadn't healed.

Li Yan instinctively stepped in front of Chen Mo.

"Chu my lord…"

Looking at this former trusted subordinate, Chu Zhuo's gaze was complex, yet he said nothing, his eyes fixed on Chen Mo.

"Talk?"

Chen Mo replied coolly: "Say it here."

Chu Zhuo hesitated, then said: "What happened yesterday was a misunderstanding. I didn't know the Lin Baitou had special status—I apologize for the offense…"

Chen Mo cut him off: "You should say that to her."

Chu Zhuo's heart turned bitter.

He only found out later that the female constable was the Empress's niece!

If you hurt her badly, even ten heads wouldn't be enough to save you!

Judging by this, Chen Mo's knife strike not only saved Lin Jingzhu, but also indirectly saved him…

Chu Zhuo wanted to probe further.

After all, the other party was injured; if they pressed charges, trouble would surely be great.

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

"Since Master Chu has already found a patron, what is there to fear?"

"But this patron may not be sturdy—if one day it collapses, watch out for being crushed by falling debris."

Chu Zhuo's expression turned cold.

Knowing further talk was useless, he swept his sleeve and turned away.

Chen Mo's eyes were deep as a frozen pool, beneath their still surface seething with lethal intent!

"Gaining Chu Zhuo's alliance was to keep watch on me? Looks like I need to prepare another layer…"

He strode toward the Gui Shui Siya.

…

…

…

In the following days, everything remained normal.

Chen Mo shuttled between the Tianlin Guard and the Chen Residence, as if he had completely forgotten the case.

Shangguan Yunfei came to see him several times, but each time Chen Mo sent him away—this left Shangguan Yunfei increasingly disappointed; the deadline for solving the case drew nearer—was he truly going to give up entirely?

Even Eunuch Jin made a special trip—clearly, the Empress was paying close attention to this case.

Yet Chen Mo continued as if nothing mattered.

Until the fifth day.

The moon was dark, the wind high, the night deep and silent.

In his bedroom, Chen Mo lay on his bed, breathing evenly, as if sound asleep.

Boom! —Boom! Boom!

From the street came the night watchman's gong—slow, then two quick strikes—it was the third watch.

Chen Mo suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils bright with no trace of sleep.

He pulled out a paper doll from his robe, felt its steady pulses, and a clear smile curled his lips.

"Finally caught you!"

…

The Zhou Fu's back courtyard.

A figure arrived at the back gate and softly tapped the door knocker.

Dong dong dong—

After a moment, the gate slowly opened, and a black-clad man stepped out, wearing a hooded veil that hid his face.

"How is it?"

"Almost ready to wrap up—the miners…"

"Eliminate them on the spot. Leave no survivors."

"Go."

The two vanished into shadow, arriving at an old house at the alley's end. They scaled the wall, lifted the massive stone covering the well, and leapt down into it.

Landing at the bottom of the dry well, they carefully dismantled the array—a circular ring appeared on the well wall.

Pulling it open, a dark tunnel emerged.

The two entered, sealed the hidden door, and sprinted down the tunnel. After roughly one incense stick's time, they burst out from a grassy hollow in the wasteland.

After confirming no one was nearby, they shot off toward the Xihuang Mountains.

Moments later, Chen Mo stepped out from the grassy hollow.

He gazed back at the distant, brightly lit Ducheng.

"Tsk. This way out of the city is rather unique… Lin Constable, don't hide—I know you're behind me."

Shasha—

The soft crunch of crushed grass echoed, and Lin Jingzhu emerged from the shadows.

Chen Mo sighed: "You're out of bed in the dead of night, following me? Can't people just trust each other a little?"

Lin Jingzhu rolled her eyes, her expression oddly playful: "Master Chen, who's the one not trusting whom here?"