"The Fu Family, the Xu Family, and now the Lin Family. This case is a rare one, getting three of the city’s great families tangled up at once..."

As he watched the Fu Family’s car slowly drive away down the lane, a young Patrol Police officer trailing behind Zhou He couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

Zhou He, his hands clasped behind his back, gave the young officer a faint glance. "Is the investigation finished?"

"Finished."

The young Patrol Police officer nodded and reported, "The young lady of the Xu Family was kidnapped at the back door of the Shengchang Fragrance House. She had just finished a business meeting. This group of mountain bandits must have been targeting her."

"Then, as they passed the Sun Family’s tailor shop, they also snatched the matriarch of the Lin Family..."

The young officer paused, then said, "Director Zhou, do you think the same group is behind today’s kidnapping and the ones from last month?"

"Don’t make wild guesses without evidence."

Zhou He snorted softly and then asked, "What are the results of the on-site examination?"

"The forensics team just finished their examination."

The young Patrol Police officer replied, "There are nine bodies in total. Except for one who was shot directly through the heart, the other eight were killed by bare hands."

"That includes the leader, who had already reached Bone Forging. Almost all of them were killed in a single blow."

"The person who did this must be at least in the Blood Refining Realm..."

"It’s not surprising for Young Master Fu to have a Blood Refining Realm Martial Artist with him..."

Zhou He nodded. "Let’s just close the case like that, then."

"It’s just... there’s one small, suspicious detail..."

The young officer hesitated.

"What detail?"

The young officer stammered, "The men searched the entire forest. Besides the footprints of the nine mountain bandits and Young Master Fu, we couldn’t find any trace of anyone else having been involved in the fight..."

"Er..."

Zhou He was taken aback. The young officer continued in a hushed voice, "Director Zhou, do you think..."

"Even a Martial Artist in the Blood Refining Realm shouldn’t be able to kill eight people in a row without leaving a single footprint, right...?"

Zhou He’s brow furrowed. He pondered for a moment and was just about to say something.

Just then, someone ran up to report.

"Director, Master Xu Shirong is here."

As he spoke, a group of people had already walked swiftly into the woods.

Xu Shirong, dressed in a long brocade robe, led the way, followed by Xu Xinyi and several family servants.

’Why did Master Xu come in person?’

Zhou He put on a smile and immediately hurried over to greet them.

"Director Zhou."

Xu Shirong clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute upon seeing Zhou He.

"Deputy Director, Deputy Director."

Zhou He waved his hands repeatedly. "County Magistrate Hu holds the position of Director."

"It’s all the same, all the same."

Xu Shirong didn’t seem to be in the mood for pleasantries with Zhou He. After a couple of perfunctory replies, he led his people past him.

"Director."

The young officer sidled up, eyeing the backs of the departing Xu Family. He muttered under his breath, "Why does Master Xu look like he just smelled a pile of shit?"

"You’d be the same if you were in his shoes."

Zhou He chuckled. "Originally, this was a wonderful story: Young Master Fu thwarts the mountain bandits and bravely rescues his fiancée."

"But now, someone else just had to get involved..."

Zhou He glanced at a certain person at the scene, his expression laced with amusement.

The young officer followed Zhou He’s gaze, understood immediately, and couldn’t help but click his tongue twice in disapproval.

"No wonder Young Master Fu didn’t even spare a glance in that direction before he left..."

"This Xu Shirong is getting senile."

"Such a large family, and they can’t even keep an eye on one daughter... It’s just making them a laughingstock for no reason."

Zhou He said leisurely, then suddenly changed the subject, giving an order, "Alright, none of this has anything to do with us."

"If there’s nothing else, have the men pull out..."

"Director Zhou, what about the footprints?"

"Who cares if there were footprints or not?"

Zhou He waved his hand impatiently. "Just wrap up the case quickly, then hurry up and take some men to help Young Master Fu catch the thief. If you handle this well, the Fu Family will reward every last one of you."

"Yes, sir!"

The young officer’s eyes lit up at this, and he was about to run off immediately.

"Come back."

But Zhou He beckoned him back, then instructed him seriously, "Later, make another trip to the Lin Family. Explain the details of the case to their matriarch, clearly and thoroughly."

"Don’t let people think our police department is full of useless freeloaders."

The young officer was confused and scratched his head. "Director Zhou, are you sure you mean the Lin Family... not the Fu Family?"

"Is the head of the Lin Family really worth us being so meticulous?"

"Just go when I tell you to! Where’s all this nonsense coming from?"

Zhou He glared, and the young officer quickly shut his mouth, turned, and left.

Only after the man had left did a look of relief slowly appear on Zhou He’s face.

He glanced at the chaotic scene and muttered in a voice only he could hear, ’A bunch of damn fools who deserve to be sliced a thousand times. They really know how to pick their targets.’

’Thank goodness nothing truly terrible happened. Otherwise... all hell would have broken loose in this Luan River area...’

...

Meanwhile, Xu Shirong stared with a grim face at Xu Leyi, who was squatting on the ground. He spoke coldly, "Get up. We’re going home."

Xu Leyi bit her lower lip and slowly stood up. Behind her, Xu Xinyi hurried forward to support her by the arm, calling out softly, "Sister."

Zhao Xinhua, who had been standing by their side for a long time, saw this and couldn’t help but speak up. "Uncle, Leyi just escaped danger. She’s still in shock..."

"The Xu Family’s affairs are no trouble for Mr. Zhao to worry about."

Before Zhao Xinhua could finish his sentence, Xu Shirong cut him off coldly. "Later, I’ll have someone send one hundred silver coins to Mr. Zhao as thanks for your righteous act of reporting this to the police."

"Oh, right."

Xu Shirong added, "From now on, I must also ask that Mr. Zhao have less contact with my young daughter... I’ve said all I need to say."

After speaking, Xu Shirong didn’t spare Zhao Xinhua another glance and turned to leave.

The rest of the Xu Family also looked at Zhao Xinhua with coldness, not at all the attitude one would expect toward the person who helped save their young lady.

Zhao Xinhua watched the group walk away without looking back, standing there awkwardly, at a loss for words.

The Patrol Police at the scene began packing up to leave one by one. Occasionally, mocking and jeering glances fell on Zhao Xinhua. Someone even deliberately walked past him, muttering loudly.

The comments were mostly things like "a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh" and "he should take a piss and look at his own reflection."

Zhao Xinhua’s face was beet red, as if he was forcing himself to endure the humiliation. Yet he didn’t leave, staying until everyone had departed from the woods and he was the only one left.

The Zhao Xinhua who had just looked so aggrieved and resentful had now, contrary to expectations, become completely calm.

"Come out."

Zhao Xinhua spoke slowly, facing the empty woods.

Before long, a figure emerged from beneath the shade of a tree, as silent and sudden as a phantom.

This person was tall and thin with an ordinary face, made somewhat ugly by a mole the size of a fingernail on his left cheek. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Yet, his face was caked in a thick layer of powder, and his eyelids were painted with an eerie, demonic eyeshadow.

His clothes were also exceedingly strange. The inner lining was gray, but the outer layer seemed to be stitched together from colorful strips of cloth of various lengths and shades.

He looked like a cross between a beggar and a traveling magician, exuding an indescribable aura of grotesque oddity.

"You botched this."

Zhao Xinhua said coldly, looking at the man before him.