Chapter 171

A sudden incident made Chen Wuji's whole body tense, as if facing a formidable foe.

Although the other person wore a constable's uniform, their background was clearly more than just a constable.

Why did he want to kill this Zhu?

Chen Wuji's thoughts raced like lightning, but he simply had no idea where to start guessing.

At that moment, the constable suddenly looked at Chen Wuji and said, "Hurry up and leave; I'll buy you fifteen minutes. Go to the Hawthorn Building on Funing Street, ask for a girl named Wan'er, stay there for the night, and someone will smuggle you out of the city tomorrow."

"Although I can save your life, what happens next is up to your own fate—killing a court official is a crime that implicates nine kin; you must change your name, surname, and place, and start anew until this turmoil passes."

Chen Wuji:???

Damn it!

Chen Wuji, who rarely swears, could hardly hold back just now.

So you're one of our own, yet you barged in swinging and hacked Zhu Wei with a knife—was that to save me?!

Although saving his buddy entailed great risk, Chen Wuji was still somewhat speechless.

At least find out a bit before you act, okay?

Even if you had just eavesdropped outside for a while, how could you rush in so recklessly and hack someone down with a knife?

And yet he forced him into a life on the run—this favor is truly……

For a moment, Chen Wuji didn't know where to vent his old grudge.

"Don't be surprised; although we've met only a few times, I also bear the surname Chen." The person continued, "The situation in the city is now very complex, and I don't have much time to explain everything in detail. Later, go ask Chen Bushi—he will give you an answer."

Chen Wuji nodded and said wistfully, "But I just reached a cooperation with Magistrate Zhu, who promised me a constable position. Though this might be a pie in the sky, the situation isn't actually that complicated."

"But never mind… thanks, I'll just flee for my life; this matter is blown out of proportion."

The person opened and closed their mouth, face flushing red then pale, "You and Zhu Wei were discussing cooperation? But why have I heard you're a suspect in the Drunken Eight Immortals case?"

"This damned thing, just to make me bow its head, under the pretext…" Chen Wuji glanced at Zhu Wei's headless corpse and angrily cursed, "Making a huge fuss, but actually they're eyeing the value of some recipes in my hand, trying to force me to comply."

The person's expression was dazed; after a long while they weakly said, "This is his usual trick, but I ended up being dragged into a ditch. The situation in the city has been so chaotic lately, with people dying daily in the jail; I feared something might happen, and having finally found an opportunity, I dared not give it up and acted."

"Your status in the Chen clan is extraordinary, allowing no slip. But now it's too late to say anything; since this misunderstanding has occurred, you can only flee. However, for now don't go far—find a place to settle in Shenxian Ling and wait for my word."

Chen Wuji thought to himself, "What status could he possibly have?"

Although puzzled, now wasn't the time to discuss it; he quickly asked, "You appeared here—did anyone see you?"

"I sneaked in secretly." The person said, "To create the illusion that you killed Zhu Wei, I must stay hidden; probably no one noticed my trail."

Chen Wuji: ……

I thank you, you're really thoughtful.

"If that's the case, I can't leave; give me a stab, then you go." Chen Wuji said.

"Huh?!"

"Someone suddenly sneaked in, killed Zhu Wei, and seriously wounded me." Chen Wuji said, grabbing the skin on his own neck, "Give me a cut here—just break the skin—and then two more on my back."

The person hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your method isn't impossible, but the risk is higher—if you're suspected as the killer, you could die in prison."

"No problem, I have a way." Chen Wuji said.

"Are you confident?"

"At least eighty percent."

"……Okay!"

The constable gave a brief reply, then suddenly swung a knife.

Chen Wuji felt a sharp pain, and a gash appeared on his neck.

Although it missed the major artery, the wound still looked somewhat gruesome.

Chen Wuji grimaced in pain.

Damn it, I'll surely beat that brute to death someday!

This undeserved disaster has truly created a huge karma!

Suddenly there was another sharp pain in his back.

The constable swung the knife repeatedly, leaving two moderate wounds on Chen Wuji's back.

Chen Wuji let out a muffled groan, and his face instantly flushed.

Damn!

Really fucking hurts.

Although this guy meant well, I have to beat him to death!

If I don't beat him to death, I can't quell the hatred in my heart.

Chen Wuji flopped to the ground with a thud, feigning unconsciousness.

The constable looked a bit embarrassed, quickly glanced around to make sure no clues were left, then slipped out the window. His movement was light as a mosquito sneaking into a sealed room, vanishing without a sound.

Chen Wuji endured the intense pain and lay on the ground pretending to be dead.

He kept up the act for about an hour.

When he was utterly bored, even on the verge of dozing off, someone finally arrived.

It seemed to be a woman.

She wore heavy rouge perfume; as the door opened, the scent washed over him.

"Master…… ah!"

The caller uttered a soft cry, then let out a startled exclamation, stumbling and falling not far from Chen Wuji.

Lying on the ground, Chen Wuji dared not open his eyes, but through his peripheral vision he could faintly see a woman of lingering charm, most likely Zhu Wei's wife or concubine.

Zhu Wei has been dead for so long, yet the first to discover him wasn't an outside constable but his wife or concubine? What about the others?

The woman sat on the ground, frightened and dazed for a moment, then suddenly called out, "Someone, summon Chief Clerk Wang."

Yes.

A woman answered from outside the door.

After the footsteps sounded, the beautiful young woman quickly rose and closed the half-closed door.

Chen Wuji felt doubts rising in his heart—what kind of strange situation is this again?

Why didn't this woman quickly summon the Xianya constables, but instead sent for Chief Clerk Wang and closed the door? This posture feels like another conspiracy is about to unfold.

Moments later, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a woman's voice: "Madam, Chief Clerk Wang has arrived."

"Please let Chief Clerk Wang come in alone." The woman inside spoke, her tone somewhat flustered, forcing herself to stay calm.

Creak—

The door was pushed open, and a person walked in.

Chen Wuji only noticed a pair of large feet in his peripheral vision; he couldn't see anything else.

Lao Wang, Zhu Wei is dead.

The woman's voice rang out.

Perhaps the lighting in the room was dim, but Chief Clerk Wang failed to notice at first that Zhu Wei had lost his head, only seeing his body sitting in the chair.

"Who… died…?" Chief Clerk Wang suddenly exclaimed, "What's going on? Did you kill him? Where's the guy called Chen Wuji?"

"He was stabbed in the back with a Knife and looks dead too. I don't know who did it, but I heard Zhu Wei again summoned a handsome young man to the room, intending to cause him trouble, and ended up seeing this." the woman said.

Chen Wuji:???

He seemed to have heard something improper.