Chapter 112 - 96: Murder and Arson

Chapter 112: Chapter 96: Murder and Arson

"Fifty thousand taels!"

Hu Gongxiu gritted his teeth. "No matter who did this, I swear I’ll make you pay it all back, with interest!"

If losing their income stream from the Xu Family had only left the Hu Family a bit tight on cash, they could have still operated normally.

But now, this loss was far too great.

So great that the Hu Family’s normal operations would be affected.

If they couldn’t recoup this loss, they wouldn’t even be able to guarantee the necessary resources for the clan’s disciples to continue their training for some time.

"Hu Wu isn’t back yet?"

Hu Gongxiu asked with a frown.

"Not yet. I’ve already sent someone to look for him,"

the butler said.

"Master, terrible news!"

Just then, a Hospital Martial Artist ran in, his expression panicked.

"I’m perfectly fine!"

Hu Gongxiu snorted coldly.

"It’s not you, Master."

The Hospital Martial Artist gasped, out of breath. "It’s not that you’re in trouble, it’s Boss Hu.

Boss Hu... he’s dead!"

"What?!"

Hu Gongxiu’s vision went black again, and he keeled over backward, his body rigid.

"Master!"

The butler and the Hospital Martial Artist rushed to catch Hu Gongxiu, stopping him from crashing to the floor.

Hu Gongxiu was, after all, a Martial Artist at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering. However, his cultivation level had been achieved purely through an abundance of resources, and his combat experience was likely inferior to that of a gang leader from the Outer City.

But with his physical conditioning, he shouldn’t have been so fragile.

The truth was, he had been under immense mental strain recently. These incidents, happening one after another, had sent him into a fit of rage and anxiety.

After catching his breath, Hu Gongxiu immediately led his men to the place where Hu Wu had been killed.

When he arrived, another important figure from the Hu Family was already on the scene: Hu Gongfu, the current City Defense Army Commander.

Hu Gongfu was Hu Gongxiu’s full-blooded younger brother. Like Hu Gongxiu, he was at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering.

However, Hu Gongfu was at Bone Tempering Perfection. He had also mastered a twofold blade aura, and his combat experience far surpassed Hu Gongxiu’s.

He was the one in the Hu Family most likely to break through to the Blood Transformation Realm, and he served as the public face of the family’s martial prowess.

"Brother."

Hu Gongfu cupped his fist in greeting to Hu Gongxiu, then knelt to examine Hu Wu’s body.

"Xun Wind Realm."

After a moment, he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"A Realm? Are you sure?"

Hu Gongxiu said in a grave voice.

"There’s no mistake."

Hu Gongfu nodded, his expression grim. "Within Wuling City, the only ones who have mastered the Xun Wind Realm are those few old fossils from the Xie Family."

"Those old fossils wouldn’t have bothered to come out and kill Hu Wu,"

Hu Gongxiu frowned. "Besides, if it really was one of those old fossils from the Blood Transformation Realm, they wouldn’t have needed two moves to kill Hu Wu."

He pointed to Hu Wu’s broken arm and the sword wound on his throat.

Hu Gongfu nodded. That was true.

Logically, a Martial Artist in the Blood Transformation Realm who had also mastered a higher Realm would only need a single move to kill Hu Wu.

And yet, the attacker had used two.

’Was it a deliberate show of force?’

"The attacker isn’t necessarily from Wuling City."

Hu Gongxiu had calmed down by now. He spoke slowly, a pensive look on his face. "It could have been an outsider.

It’s possible that old fox Wang Zang hired someone, hoping to provoke a conflict between our Hu Family and the Xie Family."

Hu Gongfu’s brow relaxed slightly. ’When it comes to strategy, Brother is still the best,’ he thought. It sounded quite plausible.

"Brother, what should we do now? Should I take my men to the Wang Family and demand an explanation?"

Hu Gongfu asked.

"That’s just my speculation. It wasn’t necessarily Wang Zang. The Luo Family and the Xie Family are equally suspicious,"

Hu Gongxiu said, shaking his head.

The four great families of the Inner City were locked in a struggle of open conflicts and hidden schemes, each wanting to see the others utterly destroyed.

"Even if it was Wang Zang, if you go there now without any proof, he’ll be able to deny everything!"

Hu Gongxiu said coldly, "We need to launch our own investigation, both overt and covert. No matter who committed this arson and murder, we will never let them go!"

"So we’re just dropping it for now?"

Hu Gongfu asked.

"Drop it? As if!"

Hu Gongxiu snorted. "Someone brazenly barges into the Inner City to commit murder and arson, then escapes completely unscathed. The Inner City’s security must be held accountable.

We pay so much in taxes every year, and this is the state of security? The City Lord must give us adequate compensation!"

...

「On the outskirts of Daxing Mountain.」

Inside a supply post built by the City Defense Army.

Su Mu stretched languidly as he stepped out of his tent, coming face to face with Zheng Tu, who was armored and carrying his blade.

"Chief Su."

Zheng Tu greeted him. "Breakfast is ready. The conditions here aren’t as good as in the city, so please bear with us."

"You’re too kind, Captain Zheng,"

Su Mu said. "We’re not disturbing you by being here, are we, Captain?"

"Not at all. We’re usually so bored guarding this supply post that we’re about to die of it. It’s rare to have visitors, so your presence livens up the camp,"

Zheng Tu said.

"I’ve heard that Daxing Mountain is rife with danger, but this camp doesn’t seem to be in any peril. Why is that?"

Su Mu asked.

"This is the periphery of Daxing Mountain, after all. It’s hard for common demons to get past the masters from the Taiping Bureau and make it this far. As for the mountain bandits, they know who they can and can’t afford to provoke, so they generally don’t dare to mess with these supply posts,"

Zheng Tu explained. "As for danger, there is some. We get occasional attacks on the stockade by wild beasts from the mountains.

You must have heard the wolves howling last night, Chief Su?

It’s normal to have a restless night on your first stay in the mountains.

I was the same when I first got here. But really, it’s quite safe inside the stockade."

Su Mu nodded and accompanied Zheng Tu to the breakfast area.

Chen Er and the other constables were already there, feasting heartily.

"Constable Xiao Su, when are you all planning to head back?"

Zheng Tu asked while chewing on a large piece of jerky. "If you’re not in a hurry, I could take you hunting nearby today. Let you experience the scenery of Daxing Mountain."

"Hunting?"

Su Mu couldn’t help but laugh.

Before becoming a constable, he had actually been a Hunter for a while.

Though he had only dared to hunt on the furthest outskirts back then, he was no stranger to it.

"More than hunting, I prefer exterminating bandits. Or demons,"

Su Mu said slowly. "Does Captain Zheng happen to know of any bandits nearby? Or perhaps some weaker demons?"

Zheng Tu’s mouth fell open. He was utterly dumbfounded.

’Weaker demons?’

’Are you kidding me?’

’Is there such a thing as a weak demon?’

’He had to be the first person I’ve ever met whose hobbies were exterminating bandits and demons.’

’I’m trying to help you relax, and you’re thinking about work?’

"There are definitely no demons."

Zheng Tu thought for a moment before saying, "If there were really demons here, we wouldn’t still be alive.

But as for bandits... I do know of one group."

"Oh? Where are they?"

Su Mu said with great interest, "How about we go wipe them out? If there’s a bounty, we’ll split it fifty-fifty."

"Better not."

Zheng Tu was tempted, but after a moment’s thought, he still refused. "While on duty at the supply post, we can’t leave the camp without authorization."

"Who said anything about leaving without authorization?"

Su Mu said with a serious expression, "As I understand it, the City Defense Army garrisoned at these supply posts is also responsible for supporting the Taiping Bureau, correct?

If the Taiping Bureau were to send a signal for aid, you would be obligated to respond, would you not?"

"Naturally,"

Zheng Tu nodded.

"And a Taiping Bureau White Clothes is a member of the Taiping Bureau, correct? So they’re also qualified to request aid from you?"

Su Mu continued.

"That is... of course."

Zheng Tu finally understood what Su Mu was getting at.

It was no secret that Su Mu was both a constable and a Taiping Bureau White Clothes, so of course Zheng Tu knew.

If Su Mu requested aid in his capacity as a Taiping Bureau White Clothes, there would be no issue with Zheng Tu leading his troops out of the camp.

"Captain Zheng, I am Su Mu, a Taiping Bureau White Clothes. I suspect the presence of a demon in a certain location and wish to investigate. I hereby request support from the City Defense Army."

Su Mu took out his Taiping Bureau White Clothes Identity Waist Token, held it up before Zheng Tu, and spoke slowly.

"This officer accepts the order!"

Zheng Tu slammed his right fist against his chest and boomed.

He’d been bored out of his skull for ages. Now he had a chance to stretch his legs and maybe even score some commendations. Why the hell not?