Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 108 - 98: Vajra Temple Masters, Muscle-Enhancing Pill!

Inside the Shuangbai Town Government Office, after dispatching his men, Li Qiu dismissed everyone and sighed once he was alone in the room.

The authority of the Qingyun County Captain faded away, and he seemed to suddenly age a decade in a single breath.

"Li Qiu, you are unworthy as a father, ... if Xuan'Er comes to harm this time, it's all because of you. How could you face Xuan'Er's mother and her dying wishes...?"

"You've caused trouble for Qiao'Er too. How will you face the Martial Master?"

Li Qiu painfully rubbed his forehead; the tranquility was shattered by urgent footsteps outside, "Quickly, take me to see Lord Li!"

Inside, Li Qiu immediately sat upright, meticulously arranging his official robe and official's hat before standing up with a deep breath.

"Who's outside causing such a commotion? Let him in!" Li Qiu spoke in a deep voice.

"Master, Master... it's the young ladies, both of them have returned safely!"

"What?"

Thunk!

A heavy item fell inside, the inkstone on the desk fell, ink spilling everywhere, and Li Qiu staggered towards the door. Opening it, he saw the familiar figure, his tiger-like eyes filled with tears.

"Father..."

"Xuan'Er, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back, it's all my fault..."

Father and daughter embraced each other, weeping, while the constables discreetly retreated, leaving only Wu Qiao'Er behind.

Seeing this scene, Wu Qiao'Er's nose felt slightly sour. She suddenly missed her father, who was usually as nagging as a gossip, yet strict with her.

"If Dad knows the news... could he already be on his way?"

After a moment embracing, Li Qiu discreetly wiped away a tear and then urgently looked over his daughter for injuries.

"Father, I'm fine..."

"Turn around quickly."

Li Xuan's face blushed as Qiao'Er was still present, but at this moment, her father Li Qiu was less concerned about that. After confirming his daughter was uninjured, he regained his composure.

The usual authority returned to Li Qiu's face as he began inquiring about the events, and Li Xuan looked at Wu Qiao'Er behind her.

"Father, let Qiao'Er tell you."

Wu Qiao'Er then detailed everything she knew, and Li Qiu, despite knowing his daughter had returned safely, still found it thrilling to listen.

After listening, he glanced at his daughter beside him, confirming it was not a dream, with an expression of disbelief.

"Qiao'Er, you said you were rescued after waking up, and the person was wearing a scholar's robe, then took you to Xuan'Er's study?"

"Yes, just like that." Wu Qiao'Er nodded like a little chick pecking rice.

"Is the secret letter there?"

"It is, Uncle Li, have a look."

Wu Qiao'Er handed over the secret letter, which he scrutinized with a frown. The script was hasty; it was his first time seeing such handwriting, perhaps deliberately done by the other party, making it hard to track through the script.

Li Qiu pondered briefly, "Xuan'Er, Qiao'Er, you should visit Gongsun. He's gravely wounded protecting you, drifting in and out of consciousness in guilt."

"Ah, how is Gongsun doing?"

"Someone, take the young ladies to see Gongsun, and have a doctor examine them as well."

"Understood!"

Li Qiu retracted his gaze after watching the silhouettes of the two girls fade away, then exhaled long, filled with gratitude towards the mysterious savior.

If Xuan'Er and Qiao'Er truly came to harm, Li Qiu would never find peace in his lifetime.

Once calmed, Li Qiu's mind began working; he planned to visit the academy to see the plum blossoms as mentioned by Qiao'Er. Just then, a constable hurriedly reported.

"Sir, we have got a lead on the identity of the corpse." A Cyan Cloud Soldier knelt on one knee, "The person had four fingers on both hands, naturally eight-fingered rather than postnatal. His body's bones and tendons are also far stronger than ordinary people, which may suggest..."

"Naturally eight-fingered, the Ghost-Hand Scholar Zhou Qing?"

As County Captain, Li Qiu understood well the villains in Qingyun County and even neighboring counties, immediately reacting.

"You're correct, sir. My investigation discovered scattered silver notes on Baiqing Street where Zhou Qing died. It's likely not a robbery. Here's the forensic doctor's autopsy report."

Li Qiu took the report and dismissed the Cyan Cloud soldier.

The autopsy report indicated Zhou Qing's chest and abdominal bones were completely shattered, as if someone had heavily injured him with a fist, without secondary trauma marks. The blade wound on his neck was suspected to be from a shattered soft sword fragment.

The forensic doctor concluded the neck was snapped then torn apart with brute strength.

"The soft sword fits Zhou Qing's characteristics... a single crushing blow, this person almost obliterated Zhou Qing."

"The act of taking heads, if not by the vicious rebel army, then likely by an assassin's doing."

Assassin?

If it truly was the assassin's doing, it would be easy to investigate. Just order a check with the Demon Slayer Bureau upon returning to Qingyun City. He vaguely remembers seven registered assassins there, one promoted to Silver Token just mid-year.

"Could the knight who saved Xuan'Er and Qiao'Er be one who accepted Zhou Qing's bounty as an assassin?"

Li Qiu couldn't help but entertain the notion that this person not only found time to save but possessed the strength to heavily injure Zhou Qing—truly impressive.

The Cyan-Faced Bat King's schemes were far from impulsive; someone rescued the girls under his nose and delivered Qiao'Er safely.

There is only one possibility.

Their forces must have clashed, and it was not the knight who suffered, but likely the Cyan-Faced Bat King. Otherwise, why would he relent?