Chapter 75

At the dock, there was already a squad of Black Water Army, about fifty men, gathered together. Another fifty or so were checking the travel permits of those boarding and disembarking from the ships. Upon hearing the soldier's call, over a hundred well-trained Black Water Army soldiers immediately ran over, surrounding Su Peng and Ling Xiaoyu. Many of the soldiers drew their weapons as they ran, quickly forming a tight circle around them.

"What are you doing?" Ling Xiaoyu shouted loudly, while Su Peng frowned and called out, "Who is in charge here? I am Su Peng, also a member of the Black Water Army. Please come out and speak, and tell me what this is all about!"

Hearing Su Peng's words, the Black Water Army soldiers did not rashly attack him with their weapons. Instead, they looked back, and a centurion in heavy armor stepped forward.

"Are you Su Peng? You have quite the nerve to kill so many wealthy merchants in Jiangning County and still dare to move around in your true form. I am Centurion Li Qing of the Black Water Army. Today, we are stationed at the dock to investigate and apprehend you, the murderer!"

The centurion Li Qing looked at Su Peng, a long sword with a black scabbard hanging from his waist, and said, "Brother Su, what's going on?"

Su Peng first frowned, then asked, "General Li, when did you say I killed people in Jiangning County? I just returned from Binhai City in Tengzhou. I have been on the road these past few days, and there are many passengers on the ship who can vouch for me. I wasn't even in Jiangning County, so how could I have killed the wealthy merchants here?"

"You weren't in Jiangning County?" Centurion Li Qing glanced at Su Peng, his eyes showing confusion. The soldier who had checked Su Peng's travel permit walked over and whispered, "General, I indeed saw Su Peng and the woman disembark from the passenger ship, which just docked. We asked the ship's owner, and he confirmed they came from Binhai City in Tengzhou."

"What?" Li Qing was taken aback, hesitating for a moment. He looked into Su Peng's eyes and said, "You don't know? About half a month ago, several murders occurred in Jiangning County. The victims were all well-known wealthy merchants in the county. Four people in total were killed, and at each crime scene, someone used the victim's blood to write 'The murderer is Jiangning Su Peng' in large letters. This incident has shaken the entire city and even alarmed the city lord. The city lord ordered the case to be solved within a deadline, and your name was found in the Black Water Army's investigation. Since you disappeared from Jiangning County around that time, the city lord's office identified you as the suspect and issued a city-wide manhunt."

"Is that so?" Su Peng was surprised, his mind racing. Suddenly, he thought of someone.

However, at this moment, Su Peng couldn't explain in detail. He said, "General Li, I was in Tengzhou about ten days ago, nearly two thousand miles away from Jiangning County. How could I have committed the murders? I believe this was done by someone who has a grudge against me, using my name."

"That's right! I can vouch for Brother Su. He has been on the ship these past few days and couldn't have committed the murders in Jiangning County. Please stand down," Ling Xiaoyu said to Li Qing.

"You're just a young girl. What authority do you have to prove his innocence?" Li Qing coldly replied.

Ling Xiaoyu felt belittled and raised her eyebrows, saying, "This is Jiangning County, right? My father is the famous detective Ling Zhui, and my uncle is the city lord, Mo Tianqing. I am here to celebrate my grandfather's birthday. Can my identity vouch for Brother Su?"

"What?" Li Qing frowned. He knew that the city lord's father was celebrating his birthday soon, and the city lord's sister was married to the famous detective Ling Zhui. He looked at Ling Xiaoyu again, noticing a resemblance to the city lord, and hesitated.

If it were a regular female martial artist, he wouldn't have cared. Jiangning County had its own system with tens of thousands of elite soldiers. If not a disciple of a major sect, how much trouble could an ordinary martial artist cause? But this girl claiming to be the city lord's niece made Li Qing very cautious.

Although the city lord was usually strict, involving the city lord's family could lead to endless trouble. Seeing the girl defending Su Peng, he couldn't determine their relationship. If she were his lover... Li Qing still wanted to serve for a few more years and seek a better position. He didn't want to get involved in this mess.

Thinking this, Li Qing became conflicted. Just then, the sound of hooves was heard. Li Qing turned around and was delighted, thinking a savior had arrived.

Su Peng also saw the newcomers and felt a surge of hope. The riders were Han Tuo, Su Peng's direct superior in Heilang Ear, and a few soldiers. Han Tuo's armor seemed to have changed, indicating a promotion.

Han Tuo and the deputy head of Heilang Ear rode up, and the Black Water Army soldiers quickly made way. They soon reached Su Peng and Ling Xiaoyu. Han Tuo glanced at Su Peng, then at Ling Xiaoyu, and asked, "Su Peng, were you responsible for the recent murders in Jiangning County?"

"Unjust!" Su Peng loudly replied, repeating his earlier explanation.

"Deputy Commander, this girl claims her uncle is the city lord, and she is here to celebrate the old lord's birthday," Li Qing said, bowing to Han Tuo.

Han Tuo nodded, dismounted, and said to Ling Xiaoyu, "Are you the daughter of the famous detective Ling Zhui? I heard a niece was coming to Jiangning County. Is it you?"

"Yes, my travel permit is with that soldier," Ling Xiaoyu nodded, pointing to the soldier who had checked her and Su Peng.

The soldier obediently presented the travel permit, which Han Tuo examined and returned to Ling Xiaoyu, saying, "Indeed, you are the niece. The old lord has been looking forward to your visit. Please come to the city lord's residence."

"I won't go! Brother Su didn't kill anyone. You can't arrest him!" Ling Xiaoyu shouted, feeling a strong sense of justice. Su Peng had taken good care of her and even saved her life. She was determined to protect him.

"Sister Xiaoyu, please go to the city lord's residence first. I know General Han Tuo, who is upright and fair. He won't wrong me," Su Peng said. Hearing this, Ling Xiaoyu hesitated but then nodded, "Brother Su, I will immediately explain your innocence to my uncle. I won't let you suffer unjustly!"

"Thank you." Su Peng nodded. Seeing that Su Peng was not worried, Ling Xiaoyu mounted a horse with a few of Han Tuo's soldiers, looking back at Su Peng as they rode away.

Watching Ling Xiaoyu leave, Han Tuo looked at Su Peng and said, "I won't let a criminal go, but I won't wrong an innocent person. Su Peng, I know you have a grievance. For now, please come with me to the county office to explain in detail."

Su Peng nodded. Although he had only known Han Tuo for a short time, he felt he could trust him. There was no reason for Han Tuo to harm him, and he still had Ling Xiaoyu as a backup. He handed over his blunt sword to the Black Water Army, who did not bind him but kept him in the middle of a group. Han Tuo remounted, and the Black Water Army followed them to the county office.

The Black Water Army quickly arrived at the county office. Without even striking the gong, they rushed in, startling the clerks. Soon, the county magistrate rushed out, seeing Han Tuo and hesitating, then bowing and asking, "Isn't this the newly promoted Commander Han of the Black Water Army? Why are you occupying my office?"

Han Tuo barely raised his eyes, bowing politely and saying, "We have captured the suspect in the recent murders, Su Peng. We need to use your office temporarily. I will return it after the interrogation."

The county magistrate's face showed a mix of emotions. His position, while sounding important, had very little power. The city lord and the Black Water Army controlled the area, leaving him to handle minor disputes. Major cases, like murders, were usually handled by the Black Water Army. He was essentially a high-ranking civil servant in Jiangning County, far from being the master. Even a centurion could ignore him, let alone a deputy commander like Han Tuo.

Despite his reluctance and feeling humiliated, he couldn't refuse. He bowed and said, "Commander Han, please use it. Should I stay to observe?"

"You can go." Han Tuo waved him off. The county magistrate felt uncomfortable but said nothing and left. Han Tuo then ordered the Black Water Army soldiers, "You can all leave. Only I and Xu, the deputy head, will handle this."

The soldiers left, leaving only Su Peng, Han Tuo, and the deputy head of Heilang Ear in the room.

Su Peng looked at the two men, and the deputy head of Heilang Ear suddenly bowed to Han Tuo, asking, "Commander, should I also leave?"

"Commander?" Su Peng was surprised, noticing that his direct superior in Heilang Ear called Han Tuo "commander" instead of "deputy commander."

"Could Han Tuo also be part of Heilang Ear?" Su Peng thought.

"You don't need to leave. Stay as a witness," Han Tuo said to the Heilang Ear member, then looked at Su Peng, "You don't need to be surprised. I intended to tell you that I am one of the commanders of Heilang Ear in the Black Water Army."

"I see." Su Peng understood.

The commander of the Black Water Army was not the city lord but another person. However, as the Black Water Army was the city lord's private army, he wouldn't entrust it entirely to an outsider.

Heilang Ear was likely established to help the city lord control the Black Water Army and monitor the military situation.

Apart from low-ranking members like Su Peng, higher-ranking members of the Black Water Army could directly report to the city lord. Han Tuo was definitely one of them.

"No wonder Han Tuo has been promoted so quickly in the Black Water Army. It must be because of this... He must be someone the city lord trusts deeply."

Su Peng thought about this and reconsidered Han Tuo's intention to bring him into Heilang Ear. Initially, he thought it was just to place an intelligence agent, but now it seemed more than that. Perhaps Han Tuo truly considered him a trusted subordinate, even a potential successor.

"Su Peng, I have investigated and found that about half a month ago, you went to Luoxia Peak, where nearly a hundred martial artists gathered. A martial artist riding a giant eagle took someone away. Was that you? What happened these past few days? Please tell me in detail."

Han Tuo looked at Su Peng, who stood below, and asked...

~~~

The power went out again last night... I'll try to update earlier today, before 10:30.

But I won't default. I'll try to update three times tomorrow and the day after to make up for it.

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends