Chapter 92 - 86: Edge

Chapter 92: Chapter 86: Edge

’If I actually said that, the City Defense Army’s reputation would be in the gutter by tomorrow. When that happens, the City Lord himself might even have a word with the General.’

’Damn you, Ding Zhidou, you deserved it!’

Zheng Tu cursed inwardly. He wanted to turn around and leave right then, to wash his hands of this whole mess involving Ding.

But a Captain from the army had been assassinated. If they didn’t catch the killer, wouldn’t the City Defense Army’s honor be trampled into the dust?

"Captain Ding was in the South City because he was on official business."

Zheng Tu explained reluctantly. ’If this constable asks what kind of business, I’ll just say it’s a military secret and not for him to know.’

Zheng Tu inwardly applauded his own cleverness.

"Since it was official business, then I have strong reason to suspect his death is related to that business. In other words, the person who killed him is an enemy of your City Defense Army. If that’s the case, I imagine you already have a good idea who the killer is and don’t need the South City Bureau meddling in your affairs."

Su Mu said nonchalantly.

Zheng Tu opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was in a bind he couldn’t explain.

’Damn it, why doesn’t this constable play by the book?’

’Official business, my ass!’

’The son of a bitch was off sleeping with another man’s wife!’

’Wait, could the killer be—’

A thought suddenly struck Zheng Tu. ’If someone slept with my wife, I’d definitely kill the guy.’

But the soldier from last night was on duty at the barracks. He didn’t have the opportunity to commit the crime.

’Could it have been another soldier whose wife he slept with?’

’Who could it be?’

The moment Zheng Tu started thinking about it, his mind became a tangled mess. That son of a bitch Ding Zhidou had slept with too many men’s wives. Any one of them could be the killer.

There was even a squad leader who tried to assassinate him before, but Ding killed him on the spot. That incident caused quite a commotion at the time.

There were too many possibilities.

Zheng Tu cursed inwardly. ’Wasn’t he just asking for it?’

"I understand now. The South City Bureau doesn’t need to get involved in this matter!"

Zheng Tu said in a gruff voice.

You don’t air your dirty laundry in public. If the South City Bureau kept investigating and found out the killer was one of the City Defense Army’s own men, what would become of the General’s reputation?

For now, the only option was to let it go.

Besides, that bastard Ding Zhidou got what he deserved. At most, they could publicly claim he was killed by a vicious enemy while on official business. That would preserve the City Defense Army’s honor.

Zheng Tu picked up the broken blade from the ground and left dejectedly.

Wang Guan burst out laughing.

"Son of a bitch! Coming here to the South City to act all high and mighty. He didn’t even bother to see who he was dealing with!"

Wang Guan said with a laugh, "You’ve witnessed the might of the Da Xuan Twin Dragons today, haven’t you?"

The Da Xuan Twin Dragons?

Su Mu looked confused.

Wang Lai and the Master were also completely baffled.

"You, Brother Mu, and me! The Da Xuan Twin Dragons!"

Wang Guan pointed at Su Mu, then at himself.

Wang Lai and the Master were left speechless.

’Where do you get the nerve to put yourself on the same level as Constable Xiao Su?’

Without realizing it, both Wang Lai and the Master had started referring to Su Mu with respect in their minds.

That’s right. Although Su Mu was just a minor constable for now, they could already see that his future was boundless.

For the first time, they felt that their own good-for-nothing second young master wasn’t entirely useless. His eye for talent, it seemed, was actually quite good.

"You flatter me, Sima. You are the true dragon. I’m just a humble constable."

Su Mu said, a bit exasperated. He had revealed a bit of his strength for a specific reason and had no desire to be ruined by excessive praise.

He knew full well that there was still a considerable gap between him and a true master.

The memory of Lin Qi Huan’s single strike that slayed the demon was still deeply seared into his mind.

Even now, the thought of that strike sent a shiver of fear through him.

He wondered when he, too, would be able to unleash such a strike.

"Brother Mu, how are you planning to investigate Ding Zhidou’s death?"

Wang Guan didn’t press the issue, asking with a curious expression instead.

"We’re not."

Su Mu said, "Didn’t the man from the City Defense Army just say they don’t need us to investigate?"

"So we’re really not investigating."

Wang Guan said with a look of regret. A murder case like this was a great opportunity to earn merit.

If they could catch the killer, wouldn’t that be another huge credit on his record as Sima?

He was still hoping to use his merits to climb the official ladder, then go back to the Inner City and rub it in the faces of all those who looked down on him.

"Sima, it was obvious that Zheng Tu already knows who the killer is. There’s no need for us to investigate something like this," the Master quietly reminded Wang Guan.

"Fine, then."

Wang Guan sighed and said, "What a shame. Brother Mu, I was thinking that if you could solve this case, I’d use the opportunity to petition the City Lord to make you the new Minister. The rank of constable is too small for you. Besides, the Minister and Chief Clerk positions are open now that those two old geezers resigned and cleared out..."

Su Mu already knew that the Minister and Chief Clerk had not only resigned but had also left Wuling City.

Su Mu had even gone out of his way to see them off. Noticing their burdens were too heavy, he had also helped lighten their load significantly.

"Merit is something that will always come to those who work hard enough for it,"

Su Mu said.

In Wuling City, promotions for officials depended on two things: first, strength, and second, seniority and merit.

"Strength" was a comprehensive measure. Besides personal power, one’s background and connections were also part of it.

Su Mu had no background to speak of. He had a few connections, but they were nothing compared to the deep-rooted gentry and powerful clans.

However, his own Cultivation was more than sufficient to serve as a Minister in the Outer City.

This was precisely why he had deliberately revealed some of his strength earlier.

To be an official, you had to climb the ladder one step at a time.

In terms of seniority and merit, Su Mu was indeed somewhat lacking.

After all, he hadn’t been a constable for long. Even if he worked himself to the bone day in and day out, there was a limit to the merit he could accumulate.

However, taking the heads of Peng Li and Gao Yuanhua went a long way toward making up for that shortcoming.

If Su Mu were willing to use his connection to Luo Anning, becoming the Minister would actually be a simple matter.

Luo Anning was no profligate son like Wang Guan, who had little status in his family. She was a true noble lady.

But it wasn’t worth calling in a favor from Luo Anning for a mere Minister position.

That would be like using a cannon to swat a fly—a complete waste.

"That may be true, but without sufficient merit, even if I petition the City Lord, he’ll reject it nine times out of ten,"

Wang Guan said, frustrated.

As the second young master of the Wang Family, he didn’t have any sway with the City Lord.

The Wang Family had already paid a hefty price just to secure his own position as Sima.

He really didn’t have the power to directly decide who would become the next Minister.

"I’m not asking you to stick your neck out for me. Since I’m going for the Minister position, I’ll naturally have to show what I’m made of,"

Su Mu said with a smile, "This matter still hinges on the City Defense Army."

"The City Defense Army?"

The three of them all looked puzzled.

They didn’t have any friendly relations with the City Defense Army.

Hadn’t they just seen how Zheng Tu tried to bully them?

"Brother Mu, the City Defense Army is the Xie Family’s domain. I really don’t have any influence there,"

Wang Guan said meekly.

The four great families of Wuling City’s Inner City were the Luo, Xie, Wang, and Hu.

The Xie Family was ranked second in power, even above the Wang Family.

"What would you say if I told you that someone in the City Defense Army is secretly selling crossbows, arrows, and armor?"

Su Mu said with a faint smile.

"That’s impossible, right?"

Expressions of shocked disbelief appeared on the faces of Wang Guan and the other two.

Crossbows, arrows, and armor were all items strictly controlled by the Da Xuan Dynasty. Any commoner found privately possessing them would be executed.

"Nothing is impossible. If I can crack a case involving the smuggling of crossbows, arrows, and armor, would that be enough merit for me to take a step up and become the Minister of the South City Bureau?"

Su Mu asked.

The Minister was the second-in-command of the South City Bureau, an official of the eighth rank.

Wang Guan glanced at the Master. He didn’t have a clear grasp of these things.

The Master thought for a moment before speaking. "Everyone has witnessed Constable Xiao Su’s strength; there’s no question about that.

As for merit, Constable Xiao Su captured Peng Li and Gao Yuanhua. If he also cracks a military equipment smuggling case, I imagine even the City Lord won’t have much to say against it.

I think, forget Minister—he would even be qualified to be an Outer City Captain."

"Then that settles it!"

Wang Guan said excitedly, "Brother Mu, just tell me what to do. I’ll support you with everything I’ve got! To be honest, my great blade is already thirsting for action!"