Master of Chinese Martial Arts: I Can Steal the Skills of a Grandmaster from the Republic of China E

Chapter 102 Rapid Progress

Almost simultaneously, he used all his listening skills to detect a completely different rhythm.

Thump—thump—thump—

Slow, heavy vibrations transmitted through the water, through the riverbed, and through the concrete foundation.

Like the heartbeat of this body of water, each pulsation carries struggle and anger.

"Found it."

Zhou Xing silently prayed, his mind clear.

The obsession with Zhenheqian lies here.

He floated silently in the cold water, feeling excited, but also a chill.

He assessed his condition: his physical strength was less than 40%, his internal energy circulation was becoming sluggish, and his mind was exhausted from prolonged high concentration.

He glanced at the water's surface again, estimating the time.

"Not today," he made a decisive judgment.

He made a quick decision, taking one last deep look at the dark depths from which the rhythm came, and etched its location into his mind.

Without hesitation, he turned and fled. He activated his full power, using the most energy-efficient method, and retreated along the route he had come from towards the meeting point agreed upon with Hans.

When Zhou Xing came ashore, it was nearly noon. His soaked clothes clung to his body, and the cold wind made them feel the chill of late autumn.

He subtly channeled his inner energy, causing his pores to open and close, releasing a cloud of white steam. His clothes were instantly seven or eight parts dry, leaving only a slight dampness.

Hans quickly stepped forward and handed over a spare police jacket: "Detective Zhou."

"Um."

Zhou Xing responded, took the coat and put it on, then took the dry cloth Chen Qi handed him and wiped his face. "Any movement from the Green Gang?"

"No. After Mr. Wu and Peng Dajiao went back, the alley became quiet."

"7

Hans replied, "Do you need support for your underwater exploration?"

"Not for now."

Zhou Xing threw the cloth back, "The current is too turbulent, and there are too many shipwrecks. It's easy to hide people, but difficult to hide anything that causes a big disturbance. We need to observe more."

""

Hans nodded and then asked, "And next—"

"Let's eat first."

Zhou Xing replied. In just a short while, he was so hungry that his stomach was practically sticking to his back.

Over the next two days, Zhou Xing and his group traveled around.

He first went to Yuntian Temple under the pretext of seeking advice on Qimen Dunjia divination. Qingxu and Yunqing received him. He also met with Xuanchengzi.

Hans and the others stayed outside, while Zhou Xing chatted with the old Taoist priest for most of the afternoon before drinking tea and taking his leave.

Outside the mountain gate, he glanced back. The gray eaves of the Taoist temple looked exceptionally quiet under the autumn sun, a picture of tranquility.

He also went to the archives of the Public Works Bureau to review the summary records of dredging, dike construction, and sluice gate construction along the entire Haihe River in recent years.

He flipped through the pages very carefully, spending the most time on the pages about the Xiaxihe Sluice Gate.

As he closed the file, he casually asked, "I heard that the foundation work for this sluice gate didn't go smoothly?"

The senior clerk in charge of the archives pushed up his glasses: "I heard the older generation mention it, saying that the stones underneath are particularly hard, and a bit eerie. But the foreigners' machines are amazing; they poured cement in, and everything was frozen in place."

Zhou Xing nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

He spent most of his time on patrols.

Flower-arranging areas, old town, riverside wharves—he took Hans and Chen Qi there frequently, observing everything closely.

Sometimes they would stand by the river for a long time, as if observing the water conditions or watching people.

Occasionally, he would point to a spot in the water and say, "Something's not right here," then go into the water himself, only to shake his head and come back up saying, "No movement, let's check somewhere else."

Only he knew that during those trips into the water, he went to Laolongtou and the reed marshes.

At Laolongtou, he stood close to the edge of the rapids, his eyes closed, letting the cold, sharp water jets scrape across his cheeks, ears, and fingertips.

At first, there was a stinging pain, then a numbness, and then the hidden energy flowed to these extremities, and the blood and qi under the skin became scalding hot. The sharpness of the water seemed to be separated by an invisible membrane, making it difficult to penetrate even a little bit.

In the reed marshes, he chose to dive into the murky waters at dusk.

The chilling, muddy aura enveloped him. He circulated his Fishing Toad Technique, his internal organs slowly and powerfully compressing, his breathing becoming long and drawn out, unlike that of a living person.

A subtle, pleasurable tremor emanated from deep within my bones, as if dormant life force was being awakened. Each time I emerged, though my body was icy cold, the energy and spirit in my eyes seemed to intensify.

Two days.

His internal energy was under perfect control at the extremities, even gradually extending to his face, and the foundation of his "Toad-Fishing Strength" had become somewhat more solid.

Everything is going smooth.

The special investigation team's operation went remarkably smoothly.

Based on the "earthly features" area provided by Zhou Xing, Renault dispatched another elite team, which he directly commanded, to conduct a comprehensive search in conjunction with the water patrol boats.

The results are remarkable.

In a desolate area downstream of the Haihe River, a hideout disguised as a fishing shed was raided, three disciples of the outer altar of the Yiguan Daoist sect were captured, and a large quantity of spices, medicinal herbs, and strangely drawn talismans were seized.

On the outskirts of an abandoned warehouse, traces of a bloody ritual are discovered. Two resisting demons are killed, and two imprisoned children are rescued.

In a secluded bend in the upper reaches of the Haihe River, a suspicious fishing boat was intercepted. The boat contained a French flag, a copper bell, and skeletal remains soaked in a medicinal solution. All five people on board were captured.

Newspapers began to report that "French Concession police cracked down on cults and maintained peace during the River God Festival," to which the Public Works Department expressed great satisfaction.

Renault began to appear frequently at high-level gatherings.

When Hans reported this to Zhou Xing, his tone carried a hint of pride: "The captain's methods are swift and decisive. At this rate, these villains will be wiped out before the River God Festival."

Zhou Xing listened and nodded, his face expressionless.

His own plans proceeded smoothly, and the police station he borrowed in the concession was also highly decorated.

The situation looks very promising.

On the morning of the third day, he inadvertently saw two prisoners being escorted through the courtyard in the backyard of the police station.

The faces looked somewhat familiar; they were one of the two Taoist priests from the abandoned warehouse that had been captured a couple of days ago, and a boatman from that fishing boat.

They were unhandcuffed and accompanied by two police officers as they walked towards the back door. A black sedan without any markings was parked there.

Zhou Xing stood behind the pillar, motionless.

He saw one of the Taoist priests look back at the police station building before getting into the car. There was no fear on his face, but rather a look of relief.

The accompanying police officer gave him a push, but the action wasn't too rough.

The car drove away quickly.

Zhou Xing stood there for a moment, then turned and went back to the office building.

As he passed the interrogation record room, he casually asked, "Have you finished extracting confessions from the people in the warehouse?"

The clerk at the door looked up and saw it was him, and hurriedly said, "Detective Zhou. The statement—has been transferred to headquarters. The case is closed."

"Is it settled?"

Zhou Xing raised an eyebrow. "So fast?"

"Yes, the higher-ups said the evidence was conclusive and it has been transferred to the prosecutor's office for processing."

The clerk replied.

Zhou Xing didn't say anything more and walked over.

The tension in his heart stirred slightly.

The arrest went smoothly, which is a good thing. But did it go so smoothly that they were already rushing to transfer the suspect before the confession was even ready?

It's only been a few days?

Moreover, it was taken over by the Renault-affiliated headquarters, and he, as the vice-captain with such an important responsibility, hadn't even had a chance to ask about it yet!

And those two from earlier. If they were serious offenders, why would they look like that? Are they going to have them examined at the prosecutor's office?

The car that picked them up —

Zhou Xing returned to his office and closed the door. Outside the window were the bustling streets of the French Concession, with trams clanging past.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Not right.