Chapter 1 Doubts

Seeing Tie Shan, An Qi Sheng couldn't help but feel worried about the efficiency of this world's yamen (government office).

It's been months, and they still haven't caught Kong San, who is committing crimes everywhere.

But this is not surprising.

Even on Xuan Xing, with cameras everywhere, there are still quite a few fugitives on the run, let alone an ancient world with a large land and a small population?

However, this is a good thing for him.

Kong San is extremely vicious and has killed so many people. Zhao Qian Du's blame won't make a difference.

"Sigh."

Thoughts flashed through his mind, An Qi Sheng sighed and pretended to recall:

"Before, this old Daoist was enjoying the snow outside when this great Xia (martial hero) suddenly rushed in, smashing the door. This old Daoist thought he was here to kill me, but I didn't expect that as soon as he came in, I saw a masked man in black standing on the eaves, trying to kill this old Daoist!

That person was the one who wanted to kill this old Daoist. The two exchanged a few blows in the yard. The man in black wanted to retreat, but was stopped by this great Xia. After several exchanges, the man in black, perhaps seeing that things could not be done, wanted to leave, but this great Xia pursued him relentlessly...

This old Daoist hid in the house and saw that after several exchanges, this great Xia's long saber was broken by the black-clothed man's palm, and a punch hit his brow..."

"A man in black..."

Tie Shan's eyes flickered. Just now, that yamen runner suddenly leaned in and said something to him.

An Qi Sheng heard clearly that the yamen runner had revealed Zhao Qian Du's identity.

Tie Shan listened expressionlessly, and the doubts in his heart were somewhat relieved.

He was still wondering why the Twelve Linked Forts, which acted the most wildly and were almost demonic, would take the initiative to save someone. It seemed that Zhao Qian Du probably thought that the man in black was the murderer who killed his father.

However, if that man in black came to kill the old Daoist, why would he suddenly give up after killing Zhao Qian Du?

Many doubts flashed through his mind.

Tie Shan raised his eyes and glanced at An Qi Sheng:

"Daoist, may I check your injuries?"

"Of course."

An Qi Sheng nodded:

"It's still thanks to Head Constable Tie's medicine, otherwise, this old Daoist might not have lived to this day."

*Pa-thump!*

Tie Shan's palm fell, pressing on An Qi Sheng's wrist, and his internal force was released, entering his body.

"The meridians are old and decayed, the physique is depleted, the internal force is scattered, and the bones are aging... It's a little better than before. If he risked his life, he could exchange one move with an inner refinement practitioner, but it's impossible to kill Zhao Qian Du..."

"Could it be that the man in black is the murderer who killed the officials of Ronghua County? Is he here to silence him this time?"

"I've been tracking him all the way, and that person seems to be near Nanliang County. It's not impossible..."

"However, if he came to silence him, why would he kill Zhao Qian Du and leave this old Daoist, Wang Quan?"

Many thoughts flashed through his mind. Tie Shan released his hand, still harboring doubts in his heart.

The suspicion was simple. If the person could kill Zhao Qian Du, killing a dying old Daoist would naturally not take much effort. There was no reason to let go of the main target.

However, in this old Daoist's state, he couldn't have killed him, could he?

An Qi Sheng withdrew his hand, his mind as clear as a mirror.

He wasn't using the methods of this world, so even if Tie Shan was an experienced old constable, it was impossible for him to see through his flaws.

However, he was probably still suspicious.

Therefore, he frowned as if he had remembered something:

"Head Constable Tie, before that great Xia died, he seemed to say something..."

"Hmm?"

Tie Shan's eyes narrowed:

"What did he say?"

"It seems to be..."

An Qi Sheng pretended to be thinking hard:

"It seems to be... Ji, Ji Shen Zong..."

"Ji Shen Zong..." (Extremity God Sect)

Tie Shan's body shook, and he blurted out:

"Kong San?!"

"That's right! It's Ji Shen Zong!"

An Qi Sheng nodded.

"Ji Shen Zong..."

Tie Shan was shocked and uncertain.

Ji Shen Zong is a large sect in the Da Feng Dynasty, the leader of the Southern martial world, and its status is no less than that of the Imperial Awakening Temple.

How could they do such a thing?

He hesitated for a long time before saying:

"Daoist, can you describe the person's physique and characteristics?"

"That person was wearing black clothes and couldn't see his face because of the mask. He was tall and thin... Oh, right! He had a black mole to the left of his brow!"

An Qi Sheng pretended to recall and said what he had prepared long ago.

"Brow... black mole... tall and thin..."

Tie Shan's body shook, and he blurted out:

"Kong San?!"

A hint of a smile flashed in An Qi Sheng's eyes.

Of course, he could say Kong San's name directly, but where would the effect be as good as Tie Shan deducing it himself, making him believe it even more?

People ultimately believe themselves the most.

"If it's him..."

Tie Shan's expression was solemn, unwilling to stay here any longer. He glanced around the scene and turned to leave.

"Head Constable Tie!"

That yamen runner hurriedly shouted, "This, this case, how..."

Tie Shan's figure went away, his heavy voice coming from afar:

"The person who committed this crime is fierce and cruel, and it's not something you can handle. Go back and tell your lord that the Six Doors (secret police) have taken over this case!"

"Yes, yes."

The yamen runner bowed repeatedly, relieved in his heart, not at all resentful for having the case taken away.

He turned around, glanced at the scene, and waved his hand:

"Clean up the yard and inform the Zhao family to claim the body at the county yamen."

"Yes."

Several yamen runners leaned down this time and carried away the almost stiff corpse.

"Daoist."

At this time, the yamen runner looked at An Qi Sheng, sighed, and said in a low voice:

"Daoist, keep your doors and windows locked recently and be careful..."

He stopped halfway and turned to leave.

Those who understand will naturally understand. He could only say so much.

The Zhao family can occupy more than half of the fields and shops in Nanliang County. Their methods are naturally self-evident.

"Thank you for the advice, sir."

An Qi Sheng cupped his hands.

He naturally knew what the yamen runner wanted to warn him about.

The Zhao family, where Zhao Qian Du was, could annex more than half of the fields and shops in Nanliang County in just a few decades. Their methods were naturally not very aboveboard.

It was highly likely that they would vent their anger on him.

However, he didn't even care about the Twelve Linked Forts, so why would he care about a mere Zhao family?

........

"Giddy up!"

In the wind and snow, Tie Shan rode out of the city.

He moved quickly and traveled dozens of miles in an hour, arriving at a small mountain village.

"Whoa~"

Tie Shan dismounted and casually tied the reins to the village entrance, stepping into the village.

After walking through two streets, Tie Shan came to a small courtyard with a fence.

In the small courtyard, several young men wearing constable uniforms stood up: "Brother Tie, you're back?"

"Where's the lord?"

Tie Shan pushed the door open and entered.

"What's the matter?"

Before the young men could speak, a middle-aged man in a long robe walked out of the room.

The middle-aged man's name was Ming Tang, a third-rank chief constable of the Six Doors, who had successfully completed blood exchange and condensed the seed of true qi, a master of great skill.

Among the sixteen prefectures of Da Feng, he supervised Feng and Zhen prefectures, holding a high position and great power.

"Lord Ming, I made a discovery this time when I entered Nanliang City."

Tie Shan did not dare to neglect and succinctly said what he knew.

"Kong San of Ji Shen Zong..."

The middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, stroking his long beard, lost in thought:

"A year ago, Kong San betrayed Ji Shen Zong and injured many disciples of Ji Shen Zong along the way. It is said that he fled to the Mo Bei (Northern Desert), not like he came to Ronghua Prefecture..."

Ming Tang did not doubt Tie Shan's words, but he was a little puzzled. Since Kong San had already betrayed them and was dodging the pursuit of Ji Shen Zong, why would he commit crimes along the way to provoke the Six Doors?

Was he tired of living, or was there some reason he had to do it?

Tie Shan and the other constables all stood solemnly, not daring to make a sound, for fear of disrupting the middle-aged man's thoughts.

After Ming Tang pondered for a moment, he looked at Tie Shan:

"Tie Shan, what is the cultivation of the kid from the Twelve Linked Forts? What is the cultivation of that old Daoist, and is the serious injury true?"

"This subordinate did not look carefully, but judging from his physique, Zhao Qian Du should have already entered inner refinement. I do not know if his martial arts have entered the marrow, but that old Daoist, Wang Quan, should have been at the stage of visceral refinement, but with seventy years of internal force, he is stronger than ordinary visceral refinement masters.

As for his injury..."

Tie Shan paused and said:

"Perhaps I didn't pay much attention when I checked him previously, but this time I looked closely and attentively. He is truly exhausted and on the verge of death. Although there is still a possibility that he has practiced internal force to prolong his life, at least at this time, it is impossible for him to kill Zhao Qian Du."

"Then that's strange..."

A gleam of light flashed in Ming Tang's eyes:

"Kong San's martial arts have already entered the marrow, and several disciples of Ji Shen Zong who had refined the marrow have been injured by him along the way. This mediocre old Daoist actually dodged Kong San's attacks twice..."

"Sir suspects that there is something wrong with that old Daoist?"

A young constable spoke:

"Why not arrest and detain him first to confirm?"

"Inappropriate! That old Daoist is old and frail, and he also has serious injuries. After a while of tossing him around, I'm afraid he will die before he can clear his name!"

Tie Shan frowned immediately:

"The Six Doors are not a Jianghu (martial world) sect. How can we treat human lives like grass?"

The young constable's expression changed, and he didn't dare to say more, but he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with what he said.

Tie Shan glanced at the other constables and saw that they didn't feel anything was wrong either, and he couldn't help but feel a little sad.

"Alright."

Ming Tang waved his hand:

"Several county towns near Nanliang County have been investigated. Whether the murderer is Kong San or someone else, they are near Nanliang County!"

"Tie Shan, you return to Nanliang County and mobilize the constables and yamen runners of Nanliang County to search for suspicious people entering and leaving the city in recent months. Yan Sa, you take the others to search the mountains and forests near nearby villages. If you find anything, send a signal immediately. Do not act without authorization!"

Ming Tang issued the order.

"Yes!"

Tie Shan and the others all responded solemnly and quickly acted.

........

The night was dark, and the red moon hung high.

After An Qi Sheng lulled the two little ones to sleep, he took out the specially tailored black Daoist robe and put it on.

He sneaked out of the courtyard.

It must be said that the night in this world is brighter than that of Xuan Xing, but under the sway of the red moon, it is a black and red color, and the vision is even worse.

In addition to malnutrition, most people are probably still night blind.

Therefore, even though the night was not very deep, and An Qi Sheng was doing this for the first time, when he climbed over to the Zhao family's house, no one found him.

On the tall walls, An Qi Sheng lowered his body slightly and swept his gaze. He saw that the courtyard occupied a large area, and the internal environment was complex, with artificial mountains, small lakes, and various landscapes.

Even at night, there were many lights, which were very bright.

A dangerous light flashed in An Qi Sheng's eyes:

"I hope you don't pay attention to me..."