Chapter 386

His shout ignited the powder keg.

"What? Chen Mu?!"

"The youngest Inspector? Chen Mu, who broke through Earth Altar Realm?!"

"Isn't he in the south? How did he end up here?!"

"Sss… It really is him—I've seen his portrait! He's even younger than in the painting!"

The other three from Qiyangmen and the Town Martial Corps guards behind Lin Zicheng all erupted in chaos, staring at Chen Mu in stunned disbelief, their murmurs rising and falling.

Especially the younger Town Martial Corps guards, whose eyes instantly blazed with fiery admiration—awe, excitement, disbelief!

Chen Mu's name carried far more legendary weight within the Town Martial Corps system than in the outside world.

He ranked on the Potential Dragon List before turning twenty, swiftly broke through Earth Altar Realm, and rose to become the youngest Inspector at a pace so unprecedented it shattered countless records of the Town Martial Corps and even the Zhou imperial court.

His strength, combat record, and flawless investigative conduct had long become the subject of endless admiration and gossip among the lower ranks and young Town Martial Corps guards!

Lin Zicheng suddenly realized it too.

Of course—such a young Earth Altar Realm cultivator, and an Inspector—could only be that legendary Chen Mu.

He'd been stunned only by the Inspector's title and hadn't connected it to that possibility.

Now, looking closely at Chen Mu, though his aura was calm and restrained, the youthfulness and the subtle, unmistakable sharpness and confidence of a true prodigy were undeniable.

"Your subordinate pays homage to Inspector Chen!"

Lin Zicheng quickly bowed again, his tone even more respectful, tinged with faint excitement.

To many in the Town Martial Corps, simply seeing this legendary superior in person was already an honor.

"Rise, no need for such formalities."

Chen Mu raised a hand in a gentle supporting gesture, his voice still calm.

He tucked away the token, glanced at the corpses on the ground, and his tone grew colder, "I came to Yuanlong Dao City on personal business, with no intention of disturbing the local authorities or interfering in local affairs."

"But this Liu family's third young master clearly doesn't want me to rest in peace—he led men to storm a civilian home at night, smashed the door, and ordered these two…"

Chen Mu glanced at the corpses of Ding Laosi and Ding Laosan, a flash of coldness in his eyes, "... filthy scum, to 'eliminate' me. Lin Wei, how should this be handled?"

His tone was bland, but the content of his words sent Lin Zicheng's sweat pouring down.

Attacking an Inspector's quarters, damaging his lodging, and ordering subordinates to assault an Inspector with intent to kill…

Any one of these charges alone would be enough to cripple the Liu family!

And with multiple crimes compounded, the target being an Inspector like Chen Mu—whose status is unique, strength immense, and authority to investigate absolute!

Liu Mingfeng, this fool, has just kicked a mountain of blades!

Lin Zicheng's mind raced.

He knew that since Chen Mu had publicly named this matter, he would never let it pass lightly—he must show a clear stance.

"Inspector Chen, please calm your anger!"

Lin Zicheng bowed deeply, voice firm, "This incident is grave, and the evidence is undeniable! I will immediately lead men to the Liu residence to summon Liu Mingfeng and formally confront the Liu patriarch—I will demand a full explanation and a satisfactory response from the Liu family!"

"Explanation?"

Chen Mu's lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile, "Very well. I appreciate you taking the trouble."

His gaze turned toward the direction Liu Mingfeng had fled, and he said calmly, "Tell the Liu family: before noon tomorrow, the person who can make decisions must come personally to the alley entrance with sincerity to apologize. I will be waiting there. No exceptions."

He didn't spell out the consequence of "no exceptions," but the chill beneath his calm sent shivers through everyone present.

"Yes, Your subordinate obeys! I will deliver your words to the Liu family, word for word!"

Lin Zicheng dared not object, immediately agreeing.

"Hmm."

Chen Mu nodded, "You've worked hard. It's late—go rest. Don't spread word of this incident for now."

"Yes, my lord!"

Lin Zicheng bowed again, then gestured to his men, "Quickly, remove and carry off these two corpses—don't defile Inspector Chen's lodging."

The Town Martial Corps guards moved swiftly, wrapping Ding Laosi and Ding Laosan's bodies in cloth, lifting them, and hastily cleaning the spilled blood.

"Your subordinate takes leave!"

Lin Zicheng bowed one final time to Chen Mu, then led his men away in swift, orderly fashion from Locust Blossom Alley.

The four elders from Qiyangmen had already been trembling since Chen Mu revealed his identity and Lin Zicheng knelt—now that the Town Martial Corps had left, they dared not linger a moment longer.

The elder, forcing himself upright despite his wounds, led his companions in a deep bow to Chen Mu, gratitude in his voice, "Thank you, Inspector Chen, for your mercy earlier and your aid. This favor, the surviving disciples of Qiyangmen will forever remember. We take our leave now—no longer shall we disturb you!"

Saying this, the four supported each other, gritting their teeth against pain, and vanished swiftly down the other end of the alley.

In an instant, the once tense, noisy mouth of Locust Blossom Alley was left with only the ruined restaurant and Chen Mu standing at the door.

Chen Mu turned and walked back into the restaurant.

Cheng Yong, who had been nervously watching from the back door, finally exhaled and stepped out.

"Thanks, Old Chen!"

Long Tuti stepped forward, tiptoeing to pat Chen Mu's shoulder, her small face bright with relief and a grin, "I knew as long as you were here, no ghost or demon could scare us!"

Cheng Yong was even more tearfully grateful, bowing deeply, "Thank you, Inspector Chen, for your intervention! Without you, tonight our little shop would have been destroyed, and we…"

He knew Chen Mu had chosen not to pursue Liu Mingfeng immediately—or even punish the four Qiyangmen disciples—largely to avoid escalating the situation and endangering their small outpost or bringing unnecessary risk to Long Tuti.

This quiet, unspoken protection, he understood fully.

"What's to thank for?"

Chen Mu waved his hand casually, his tone returning to its usual calm, "They came looking for trouble. But this door…"

He looked at the shattered doorway, now just a hollow frame, and shook his head, "Looks like we'll need to rebuild it."

"I'll do it, I'll do it—how could I dare trouble Inspector Chen!"

Cheng Yong hurried forward, his face wearing a simple, slightly embarrassed smile, "I'll find something to block it temporarily tonight, and get a carpenter first thing tomorrow. Inspector Chen and Young Lady Wu, please rest—outside, I'll keep watch!"

Saying so, he turned and went to the back courtyard to look for planks, wooden strips, and the like.

In his heart, however, he kept sighing with emotion.

Although Chen Mu had come off the Hidden Dragon Ranking, it was only because he had broken through to the Earth Altar realm that he dropped off it.

He was on an entirely different level from those who dropped off because they had reached the age limit and exhausted their potential!