Martial Saint through Reading-Chapter 36: Speculations Abound

Fang Xiao, sensing the atmosphere had somewhat eased, finally spoke, "We went to pursue the tea stall owner and the little girl, only to find the tea stall owner dead in Liuu Town, the little girl nowhere to be seen, and Zhang Yii, who was impersonating Yuan Chengji, also dead in Liuu Town."

"The tea stall owner and Zhang Yii both had the same Identity Token and cultivated the same Blood Evil Technique; it’s already very clear now that Zhang Yii was the second mole."

Shao Pengshu and Tan Hong’s expressions changed slightly, putting away their Embroidery Blades with an unpleasant look, secretly shocked in their hearts.

Zhang Yii, who had been with them for years, turned out to be someone from the Blood Evil Sect.

What kind of organization is this Blood Evil Sect?

"Palm Technique..."

As everyone was pondering, Lin Zhenwu’s gaze focused on the Handprint on the chests of the two corpses, then looked at Hou Ping, "Captain Hou, don’t tell me you secretly learned the Palm Technique."

The implication being, are these two not killed by you, Hou Ping?

"I..."

Hou Ping’s eyes flickered; he was initially trying to maintain silence and keep up the facade of an expert, but upon being spoken to like this, he realized the fatal wounds of both were caused by the Palm Technique.

Pausing, he still decided to explain the story, "You went to chase the tea stall owner and the little girl, Zhang Yii tricked me to Wheat Alley, intending to devour my heart and liver. At a dangerous moment, a mysterious figure appeared and killed Zhang Yii."

"Then the tea stall owner’s body appeared beneath my feet at that time."

"The mysterious figure was exceptionally agile, coupled with the dimness of Wheat Alley, I only saw a shadow flash by, and then they vanished."

"Did you discover anything?" Lin Zhenwu asked.

Hou Ping thought for a while and said thoughtfully, "If I have to say, when that person swept past me, I smelled a faint fragrance of ink."

"Fragrance of ink?" Lin Zhenwu mused.

People carrying the fragrance of ink are mostly those dealing with pen and ink, like civil servants, Confucian scholars, etc.

But these kinds of people, besides having some strength to wield a pen, are often considered too weak to even truss a chicken.

A scholar? A martial artist?

Or rather, a martial artist who likes reading?

But that seems unlikely.

Reading consumes time and energy, much like practicing martial arts, requiring even greater dedication, he believed.

The martial prowess of a mysterious figure won’t be low, having surely dedicated a lot of time to reach such, yet still having time to read? 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Or was the fragrance of ink just a disguise?

A martial arts expert disguising as a Confucian scholar?

Others also remained silent.

Only one person, upon hearing ’fragrance of ink’, felt their heart leap suddenly.

"The Palm Technique used to kill these two is extremely proficient, and with abundant Qi Blood, I estimate... they are a Blood Circulation Realm Perfection expert with Eleven Qi and Blood Paths."

"Even if I go all out, I can only achieve this Effect."

Lin Zhenwu, seeing everyone silent, spoke again.

Eleven Qi and Blood Power?!

That Young Master?!

Hou Ping’s heart trembled suddenly.

He was now caught between two extremes in his speculations, feeling contradictory and uncomfortable:

The young master of Brother Fang’s family couldn’t be the one who saved him;

The young master of Brother Fang’s family is the one who saved him.

Fang Xiao, hearing this, frowned even more tightly.

Among those present, who besides Hou Ping was in such contradiction—it was Fang Xiao.

Handprint! Fragrance of ink!

Another coincidence!

The other night, the mysterious person sent him complete evidence, and from all the coincidences, he is almost certain that the mysterious person is the Young Master.

And the Handprint on the two corpses before them was very similar to the one on the dead constable Yuan Chengji, all one-hit kills.

Could it be the Young Master again?

But... the Young Master condensed Eleven Qi and Blood Paths?!

Is this possible?

"Instructor Lin mentioned the Palm Technique, does that mean..."

A now-calm Shao Pengshu regained his composure, walking over to examine the two bodies, his eyes lighting up, looking at Fang Xiao.

"Instructor Fang, the Palm Technique resembles very much that which killed Yuan Chengji!"

"It’s the mysterious figure who delivered us evidence!"

Lin Zhenwu, showing interest, remarked, "There’s such a master hidden in Liuu Town?"

"Old Fang, you’ve had the most contact with him, tell me about it. Such a master shouldn’t be buried in Liuu Town, they ought to join the Criminal Defense Bureau."

Fang Xiao, coming out of his surprise and doubt, looked over the two bodies and slowly spoke, "The mysterious person’s Body Technique and Stealth Techniques were too advanced, plus it was late at night, I couldn’t discern any clues."

"Then it’s even more important we find this person!" Lin Zhenwu clutched his long spear, an excited expression on his face, "To draw such high praise from you, Old Fang, this person’s skill must not be inferior to..."

"This person’s skills might only be a bit inferior to mine."

"..."

At least Condensing Eleven Qi and Blood Paths, with such high Palm Technique prowess, able to shake off Instructor Fang’s pursuit—this is just a bit inferior?

If not stronger than you, at least on par, right?

Fang Xiao gazed at the street outside the Government Office, pondering.

Is it you, Young Master?

If so, what’s the point of this scene I orchestrated with Shao Pengshu?

He glanced sideways at Shao Pengshu.

The young master condensed Eleven Qi and Blood, while Shao Pengshu only Seven.

Who’s protecting who?

But how could the young master have condensed Eleven Qi and Blood...?

How is it so soon? Eleven Qi and Blood in just a month?

Shao Pengshu, catching Fang Xiao’s gaze, felt apprehensive if he said something he shouldn’t have.

But it seems he only mentioned the mysterious person.

Or was it that mentioning the mysterious person was off-limits?

Or was it...

Suddenly, he had a strange thought.

Could it be the mysterious person doesn’t exist at all, and Instructor Fang is that mysterious person!

Yes, it must be so.

The paper ball Fang recovered himself, unseen by others, fabricated the mysterious person.

The pursuit of the tea stall owner and girl today was split, giving Instructor Fang the chance to return and kill the two.

Shao Pengshu felt the clues connect.

But upon confidently looking at Fang Xiao, more doubts sprouted within.

Why would Instructor Fang do this?

Such redundancy!

No motive.

Silence filled the government office, with several pondering over something.

For a long while.

"Old Fang, let’s put aside the mysterious person matter for now." Lin Zhenwu sat on a nearby chair, looking at the two bodies, saying:

"What we can confirm now is that there is a Blood Evil Sect operating secretly; the girl you mentioned, the Young Master, got warning from Zhang Yii and escaped."

"Where they escaped, we don’t know."

"The Blood Evil Sect’s technique of devouring human organs poses great harm; we must continue the investigation."

"Moreover, the Blood Evil Sect’s reach has extended into our Criminal Defense Bureau."

Lin Zhenwu, with a sharp tone, glanced over Shao Pengshu and Tan Hong as he spoke.

The two understood the implication hastily explained.

"Instructor Lin, I was taught by Instructor Fang and you—there’s absolutely no connection with the Blood Evil Sect. If there is any connection, it’s me, Shao Pengshu, determined to catch them!"

"Gentlemen, I, Tan Hong, am an orphan, taken in by the Criminal Defense Bureau from a young age, it’s impossible for me to commit such heinous acts."

Lin Zhenwu looked at the two, his expression softening, "I’m not implicating you two, rather suspecting there’s another Blood Evil Sect mole within our Criminal Defense Bureau."

Then, he surveyed around, gripping his long spear tightly, speaking coldly, "This matter must be investigated thoroughly!"