Chapter 74

“Lin Chen, what’s going on over there?”

Jiang Qing saw Lin Chen return and asked, her expression unchanged.

“There are over a dozen children in the courtyard; a few have superficial injuries.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s answer, Jiang Qing’s eyes turned cold: “With that constable here, we don’t need to get involved. Let’s go.”

“Go?”

Lin Chen frowned—were they just leaving like that?

“Go kill Zhou San’s family.”

At Jiang Qing’s words, Lin Chen froze—had his senior sister not yet had her fill of killing?

“Puh.”

Seeing Lin Chen stunned, Jiang Qing suddenly laughed.

“I’m just teasing you, Lin Brother. These people here have committed countless evils—I had no qualms killing them. As for Zhou San’s family, the government office will handle their arrest. When a man like Zhou San dies, his family won’t fare well.”

In Da Liang, no one commits a crime without implicating their entire household.

“Senior Sister Jiang, won’t this bring trouble upon you?”

“It will. So let’s return to the martial arts academy first. As long as we’re inside, no one can touch us.”

Jiang Qing answered crisply. Lin Chen was bewildered—he was beginning to find this Senior Sister Jiang hard to read. One moment she was ruthless and decisive, the next she was back to being that mischievous girl next door.

When he caught the sly glint in her eyes, Lin Chen realized she was teasing him—of course they couldn’t just walk away.

“Relax. This won’t affect us. If the government office isn’t stupid, they’ll know how to choose. As for Zhou San having someone behind him…”

Jiang Qing snorted: “A human trafficker like Zhou San has no powerful patrons. Even criminal gangs look down on such petty gains.”

There was another thing Jiang Qing didn’t say: even if he truly had a patron, the one who should be trembling was Zhou San’s backer.

Lin Chen’s expression turned thoughtful—he realized he’d been overestimating Zhou San.

A man who kidnapped children from villages and towns, with no organ trade in this world—he was nothing but a human trafficker, preying on ordinary folk. He wasn’t worth much.

After half a stick of incense passed, hurried footsteps echoed at the alley’s mouth.

The constabulary had arrived.

The lead man looked around thirty, followed by over a dozen constables—all Qi Refining cultivators.

“How bold! You dare take lives within the city!”

The chief constable glanced at the corpses in the courtyard and roared, his voice like a temple bell. Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed—this man was likely more than ten-opened.

In the government office, only those with ten opened meridians were eligible for the post—but eligibility didn’t guarantee appointment.

“Chief You, these two are new students from Jing Shui Martial Arts Academy. Zhou San kidnapped children; Miss Jiang and Young Master Lin followed the trail and rid the people of a scourge. There are over a dozen children here, all from surrounding villages, whose parents have already filed reports with the government office.”

Hearing the footsteps, Lin Xiuyong stepped out from the opposite courtyard and hurried forward to explain.

He knew Chief You—one of the four chief constables, rumored to have opened twenty meridians, the most likely among them to enter Qi Refining’s Internal Organ stage.

“Even martial arts academy students may not take the law into their own hands.”

Hearing they were academy students, You Siqi’s anger eased slightly. Human traffickers deserved death—but if every academy student acted like this, what use were the government office?

“Chief You, these two are new students of this year’s Jing Shui Academy cohort. Young Master Lin has opened six meridians; this Miss Jiang is his senior sister.”

Hm?

You Siqi’s anger vanished completely. Academy students meant nothing—he himself had come from the academy. Each year, only a few students showed real promise; he’d been top five in his time.

But if these were new students who’d opened six—or even eight—meridians in such a short time, their backgrounds demanded caution.

Was it worth angering two students with such bright futures over a dead man like Zhou San?

The math was simple. You Siqi didn’t need long to decide.

He didn’t know Zhou San well. A trafficker like him wasn’t worth his time. At most, lower constables might have taken bribes from Zhou San to cover for him.

“Chief You, I learned children from my village were kidnapped by Zhou San and came to demand their return. Zhou San refused and, relying on his numbers, attacked us first. My senior sister and I had no choice but to defend ourselves.”

Lin Chen spoke at the right moment. You Siqi’s mouth twitched—“no choice but to defend”?

If he believed that, he’d be a fool.

A man like Zhou San would never dare provoke a promising academy student. More likely, these two saw Zhou San’s cruelty, couldn’t bear it, and killed him outright.

But again—was it worth angering these two over a dead man?

As a chief constable, You Siqi had dealt with many powerful figures. The young man revealed nothing, but the girl—she likely had powerful connections.

At his arrival, she showed no reaction at all—she didn’t even regard him as a chief constable.

Someone who opened eight meridians in just three months might be arrogant, but certainly not foolish. To ignore him meant she had backing.

“I see. You two are truly worthy of the academy—your sense of justice is commendable. I’ll send a formal letter to the Wuzheng Office, thanking you on behalf of the patrol. May I ask your names?”

You Siqi changed his tone. Lin Chen glanced at Jiang Qing—she’d been right. Power truly ruled here.

“I’m Lin Chen. This is Senior Sister Jiang.”

Lin Chen decided not to antagonize him—this man’s demeanor didn’t suggest he was connected to Zhou San’s backer.

The case wasn’t over. Lin Ming’s whereabouts still needed investigation.

“All eight martial arts academies are one family. I’ll call you Lin Brother. Your act of ridding the people of evil is righteous, but as an officer, I must ask a few questions.”

“Chief You, ask away.”

Since he was cooperative, Lin Chen was willing to answer.

In the end, with mutual understanding, the investigation concluded swiftly.

Zhou San’s kidnapping of children was undeniable. Lin Chen and Jiang Qing arrived to confront him, witnessed him abusing a woman, and intervened. Zhou San’s gang didn’t surrender—they attacked together. Forced to defend themselves, Lin Chen and Jiang Qing fought back.

Witnesses: the village chief of Linhu, constable Lin Xiuyong, villagers Lin Liang and Gu Fei, and two mothers whose children were stolen.

“Lin Brother, thank you for your cooperation.”

You Siqi smiled warmly, then lowered his voice: “About your cousin Lin Ming…”

Since he was willing to show face, You Siqi decided to go all out. Lin Chen shook his head: “Chief You, handle it as you must. No need to hold back.”

“Xiao Chen?” The village chief looked worried. In his view, Lin Ming should be cleared first—punishment could come later, privately, once Lin Ming was found.

The village had ancestral halls—and village rules!

“Chief, leave it to the constabulary.”

Lin Chen understood the chief’s concern—it was about reputation. He could sympathize.

In this world, people still held strong clan and blood ties. When one member of a clan erred, the whole family’s honor suffered.

“Fine. Don’t worry about the village—if anyone spreads rumors, I’ll beat them senseless.”

Since Lin Chen had decided to hand it over, Zhao Canghu stopped pressing.

Lin Chen looked at Aunt Zhou, who held her daughter: “Aunt Zhou, Qianqian must be frightened. Go home and comfort her.”

The little girl trembled in her mother’s arms.

“Th-thank you, Young Master Lin.”

Hearing her words, Lin Chen sighed inwardly. He didn’t press further—until Lin Ming was caught, Aunt Zhou still didn’t trust him.

Hearts are hidden.

If he were in her place, he’d feel the same—who could be sure another’s words weren’t just empty formalities?

“Big Brother, Ah Fei, go back with the chief.”

Lin Chen saw Gu Fei standing dazed and clapped his shoulder: “You’ve seen the power of a martial artist. Work hard to cultivate your essence.”

Gu Fei’s daze was easy to understand.

Jiang Senior Sister killed someone—and the constabulary didn’t arrest her, but praised her. That was shock one.

Chief You called him “Brother.” That was shock two.

In town, even the constables following Chief You were major figures.

Lin Chen’s own transformation in just a few months had shaken Gu Fei.

Lin Chen hoped this shock would fuel Gu Fei’s drive on the martial path.

“This year, I’ll definitely cultivate my essence. I won’t be as mighty as Chenzi, but at least I’ll be able to call a constable brother.”

Gu Fei’s eyes burned with determination—he finally understood what martial cultivation meant.

…

…

“Senior Sister Jiang, sorry for keeping you.”

After everything was settled, Lin Chen looked at Jiang Qing with regret.

“It’s fine. I acted because Zhou San deserved death.”

Jiang Qing’s expression remained calm. Her killing intent had formed the moment she saw Zhou San abusing the woman. As for why she’d come with Lin Chen to confront him—she’d keep that secret for now.

…

…

South City.

A certain courtyard.

A young man said calmly: “I’ve heard. Leave.”

The subordinate withdrew. The beautiful maid behind him couldn’t help asking: “Master, Zhou San sent you plenty of gifts every year. Are you really doing nothing?”

“Zhou San gave me gifts so he could operate in South City. It would be the same if it were Zhou Si or Zhou Wu.”

The young man shook his head, then added: “Still, Zhou San has sent me a good deal of silver over the years. Take care of his family.”

The maid’s pupils contracted—she understood Master Pang’s meaning.

Zhou San was dead—but he still had property.

I’ll give the order.

……

……

Wu Garden.

“Elder, something happened in the southern district today.”

Yan He’an recounted Lin Chen’s actions in the southern district; Zhao Qianqiu’s eyes turned cold: “Cutting the grass without removing the roots is foolish. Did you never consider that the Zhou family would retaliate against his family?”

“What do you mean, Elder?”

“Does Zhou San have any descendants?”

“Zhou San has a son, fourteen this year, who will enter the Martial Hall next year. He also has a daughter, sixteen, who has never trained in martial arts. Zhou San seems to have devoted all his attention to cultivating his son.”

“Already over fifteen. The ill-gotten wealth of Zhou San was enjoyed by his children. Then let them all be slaughtered.”

As a woman, Zhao Qianqiu naturally despised men like Zhou San, but given her status, she had never paid attention to such matters before—otherwise Zhou San would have been dead long ago.

Were Zhou San’s family innocent?

Liang has always had the law of collective punishment. What is there to call innocent?

……

……

The moonlight fell.

Jing Shui Martial Hall.

Lin Chen did not continue his cultivation today. Recalling what had happened, he pondered whether he had overlooked anything.

After much thought, Lin Chen let out a bitter smile.

There were oversights—but he himself refused to consider them. Jiang Jie had already warned him during the day.

Zhou San’s family is still alive!

Jiang Jie wasn’t afraid of Zhou San’s family retaliating, and neither was he. But his father, mother, and older brother were ordinary people. What if the enemy, in his madness, targeted his family?

He had previously refused to consider this because in his past life, his education taught him that one should bear the consequences of one’s own actions, without involving wife, children, or elders.

But after much reflection, he realized his worldview was wrong.

Didn’t Zhou San’s family enjoy the money he earned from trafficking children?

Eating buns soaked in blood, yet claiming innocence?

“Go see what’s happening at the Zhou household first.”

Lin Chen’s eyes held resolve. If Zhou San’s family knew of his crimes and harbored revenge, he had no objection to reuniting them all in death.

At the beginning of the Xu hour, Lin Chen leapt over the martial hall’s courtyard wall and departed. Moments after he left, another figure flew over the wall from nearly the same spot.

(End of Chapter)