Chapter 37

Listening to the man's laughter, Yang Yu's face remained expressionless, but his mood was at its worst.

How could he be caught again?

This small riverbank was a secluded spot he had found after circling around for a while. Few people came here during the day, and the sound of the water could mask any noise.

He thought he wouldn't be easily discovered.

Unless...

Yang Yu's heart stirred: "You were following me!"

"You're a smart kid!"

Wang Wu stopped laughing and stood still, casually tearing off his tattered clothes and stepping into the stream.

Yang Yu saw clearly that this bearded man was severely injured, with a ghastly knife wound running diagonally from his left shoulder, almost splitting his abdomen open.

"You're a bold and ruthless kid, but you're also too ignorant. After a blood change, a person's five senses are far beyond those of an ordinary person. Without the technique of 'concealing qi and hiding blood,' how could you hide from an expert?"

Wang Wu washed his body carelessly, speaking as if no one else was around:

"The night may hide your shadow, but it can't hide your heartbeat and blood flow. To me, you're like a firefly in the darkness—though not glaring, you're still noticeable!"

"I see."

Yang Yu finally understood.

He had only undergone one blood change, and although he felt his senses were sharper, he was still within the range of a normal person. He never imagined that someone could detect him from miles away in the dark.

Thinking about it now, had Wang Fobao discovered him the same way?

He immediately became more cautious, vowing not to be so reckless in the future.

"Thank you for your explanation."

With his doubts resolved, Yang Yu had no intention of staying. He bowed and was about to leave with his things.

"Leaving so soon?"

Wang Wu shook his head, reached into his loincloth, and a metal plaque landed in front of Yang Yu with a whistling sound.

He took a step back in disgust, glancing at it. It was actually a bailiff's badge.

"No wonder you're good at tracking..."

He muttered to himself, then bowed again: "May I ask who you are, sir?"

"Good question!"

Wang Wu smiled slyly: "Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

"I am Zhu Shisan, a constable from Black Mountain City."

Yang Yu replied casually.

But then he remembered why the name sounded familiar. Anxian County was next to Black Mountain City, and this Wang Wu had worked with Wang Fobao several times to capture criminals.

However, thinking about how Wang Wu had disguised himself as a member of the Liansheng Sect to infiltrate the Yang family, Yang Yu's heart stirred.

Could the authorities be planning to move against the Liansheng Sect?

"You're underutilized."

Wang Wu walked ashore naked, sat by the campfire, and waved his hand:

"Come on, kid, let's file a report."

Yang Yu's lips twitched, and he took a step back: "No need to file a report, right? That old man colluded with the Liansheng Sect, and killing him was a service to the people."

"I've been a constable since I was sixteen, a bailiff since I was twenty, and I'm forty-seven this year. I've captured thirteen major bandits and countless horse bandits..."

Wang Wu casually flipped a piece of raw meat to roast, speaking nonchalantly:

"Do you want to compare your speed with me?"

"..."

Yang Yu looked at the night sky, feeling speechless.

His luck was really bad.

With his current skills, an ordinary constable wouldn't even catch a glimpse of him.

But he had encountered two bailiffs from counties with tens of thousands of households, twice in a row...

With no choice, Yang Yu sheathed his knife and walked over.

As soon as he reached the campfire, he smelled a strong scent of blood. This bailiff must be seriously injured?

"That Shi Kai was originally a lone bandit, cruel and ruthless. After joining the Liansheng Sect, his powers increased. I almost lost this time."

Wang Wu applied medicine to his wound, muttering:

"Why did the fires start in our county first among the six prefectures and forty-three counties of Qingzhou?"

Yang Yu had a good habit of asking questions when he didn't understand: "Sir, are you here to move against the Liansheng Sect?"

"You've been listening a lot, haven't you?"

Wang Wu neither confirmed nor denied, only warning him not to spread what he had seen and heard today.

Yang Yu naturally agreed.

But he was worried. The Liansheng Sect had deep roots, not just among the outer city populace but also among the gentry families in the inner city.

If things went wrong, it might provoke them to act prematurely.

After hastily bandaging his wound and swallowing a few medicinal pills, Wang Wu said: "Your sword skills are solid. Who was your teacher?"

"Wei He."

Yang Yu answered casually, thinking about whether he should send his grandmother out of the city first.

Otherwise, once the city was in chaos, she might be caught in the crossfire.

"That old executioner?!"

Wang Wu seemed surprised but quickly returned to his usual expression, speaking solemnly:

"I have a task for you."

Yang Yu had guessed what he wanted and nodded: "Is it about the things in the prison?"

"Exactly."

Wang Wu stood up, pacing, his mind heavy.

He suspected that the Liansheng Sect chose Black Mountain City because of the things in the prison...

To emphasize the severity, Wang Wu revealed a bit more:

"Among the six prefectures and dozens of counties of Qingzhou, Black Mountain is not the most prosperous, strategically advantageous, or populous. They chose it for a reason, and it's no coincidence."

"Six prefectures of Qingzhou?"

Yang Yu was shocked.

Wang Wu's words clearly implied that the Liansheng Sect had infiltrated more than just Black Mountain City.

Other places might be in chaos too?

"Alright."

Wang Wu said no more, waving his hand to signal Yang Yu to leave.

But Yang Yu didn't leave. Instead, he moved closer, seizing the opportunity to talk to this seemingly more approachable expert.

He had too many questions about blood change, internal cultivation, external cultivation, qi absorption, and internal qi martial arts.

At first, Wang Wu, enjoying the role of a teacher, explained in detail. But as Yang Yu's questions became more numerous and more pointed, Wang Wu eventually grew tired.

Finally, as dawn broke, Wang Wu extinguished the campfire and prepared to enter the city.

"There is no first in literature, but there is a second in martial arts! We martial artists have our pride and would never demean ourselves by ranking as first, third, or ninth class!"

Seeing that Yang Yu still wanted to say something, Wang Wu was thoroughly annoyed, waved his hand, and walked away:

"In this world, there is only blood change, no such thing as first, third, or ninth class!"

As he spoke, he was already far away.

"Only blood change?"

Yang Yu pondered Wang Wu's words as he watched him leave, then turned, picked up his things, and headed into the city.

...

"What has become of this place?!"

Walking through the desolate and cold outer city streets, Wang Wu felt a chill in his heart.

A gentle breeze blew the fallen leaves along the road. Wang Wu squatted at the street corner, picked up a blood-stained paper money, and couldn't stop trembling.

"As an official, I was supposed to protect this place. What have you done, Liu Wenpeng?"

Looking at the once bustling outer city, Wang Wu's eyes reddened, and his heart ached.

"What have you done, Wang Fobao?!"

A figure approached, and the pale-faced Wang Fobao sighed deeply, unable to speak.

"Wang Fobao!"

Wang Wu suddenly turned and punched Wang Fobao to the ground:

"Incompetent! Useless!"

"I am incompetent."

Wang Fobao climbed to his feet, feeling bitter.

"Your wound?!"

Wang Wu noticed something was wrong and tore open Wang Fobao's shirt, revealing a shocking blood hole in his chest.

This wound was clearly old, yet it was still bleeding.

"Fusion Blood Finger, who did this?!"

"What's the point of saying it?"

Wang Fobao's expression was wooden but serious: "I sent a secret message to you, and no one else should have known. How could I be ambushed?"

"How should I know?"

Wang Wu's anger hadn't subsided, and his tone was harsh: "It could be that big shot from your place!"

"Be careful what you say!"

Wang Fobao's face changed, dragging Wang Wu to a secluded corner.

He recounted everything that had happened in Black Mountain City over the past few days, ending with a bitter laugh:

"I escorted a criminal to Qingzhou and was away for almost a year. When I returned, I was already severely injured. The Liansheng Sect has deep roots, and the outer city is in chaos. I can only barely protect the inner city."

Wang Wu's expression improved slightly and shared his own discoveries:

"I pretended to be Shi Kai and went to the Yang family, and it did reveal some things. However, the Liansheng Sect's intentions might only be known to 'Shi Kai.'"

"Shi Kai is as strong as you and me. With my current injuries, I can only rely on you."

Wang Fobao nodded.

"Shi Kai almost gutted me, but I broke his spine. He won't be a threat until next spring."

Wang Wu smiled coldly:

"But to lure him out, we might need to find the thing in the prison."

"Difficult."

Wang Fobao shook his head.

Although he didn't know the Liansheng Sect was after the thing in the prison, the guards had been killed one after another, and he had visited the prison several times.

He had thoroughly searched it, and if there was anything unusual, it wouldn't have escaped his notice.

"By the way, speaking of the prison, I met a young guard outside the city who was quite ruthless, named Zhu Shisan."

Wang Wu seemed to remember something.

"Zhu Shisan? There is someone by that name in the office, but he's not a guard. He only knows a few basic martial arts."

Wang Fobao was slightly surprised: "If you're talking about a young, ruthless guard, could it be Yang Yu?"

Describing Yang Yu's appearance, Wang Wu became furious: "That kid with the thick eyebrows and big eyes dared to deceive me?!"

"Alright."

Wang Fobao frowned: "What do you plan to do next?"

"What to do?"

Wang Wu glanced at the desolate outer city, gritting his teeth:

"Of course, we need to see our 'Lord Liu'!"