A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Chapter 136 Murder

"What do you know?" The older constable curled his lip and spat on the ground. "You think he relies solely on connections? Ever heard of the 'Wind God Leg'?"

"Wind God Leg?" Several people's expressions changed simultaneously. "What happened to him?"

"Lord Su killed him."

"Did Warden Su kill him?"

"That's right." The constable nodded, lowering his voice even further, as if afraid the wind would hear him. "I heard from the brothers in the torture chamber that Chief Su arrested him a few days ago, killed him, and sent him to the chief constable."

"What?!"

"Who is Fengshentui? He's been a legend in the martial world for over twenty years, and no one has been able to catch him. It's said that he has superb lightness skills and is faster than a rabbit, so many people can't catch him."

I heard he committed a crime when he was young, killing a family of seven. He fled for twenty years, and the authorities couldn't catch a hair on his head. And what happened? Our jailer Su executed him."

Everyone looked at each other.

The wind under the eaves suddenly stopped, and even the withered leaves did not move.

"What level of skill is that?"

"True Qi Realm, at least mid-stage True Qi Realm, but I estimate it's late-stage True Qi Realm," someone murmured, a hint of awe in their voice. "He's only twenty years old—"

The murmurs under the eaves gradually subsided.

Everyone turned their gaze in unison to the half-open door deep inside the prison, their eyes filled with something indescribable—awe.

I feel envious, and a little bit of unreality.

The door was still half-open, and the light coming through the crack was still dim, but it suddenly felt different to me.

Just then, the door opened.

Su Bai walked out from inside.

His face remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard anything.

He glanced at the corridor—just a fleeting, indifferent glance—but it immediately dispersed the few bailiffs who had been huddled together, each bowing their heads to their work. Some pretended to adjust their belts, some bent down to pick up things from the ground, and some turned and hurried inside.

Su Bai didn't say anything, and started walking out.

Sunlight fell on him, casting a long shadow that stretched all the way to the feet of the people in the corridor. He walked slowly, each step steady, as if he had traversed the path a thousand times in his mind. The soles of his boots clattered softly and rhythmically on the blue bricks.

Behind them, the constables quietly huddled together and whispered something.

Su Bai overheard a few words—"twenty years old," "True Qi Realm," "Chief Envoy"—his lips twitched slightly, but he didn't turn around.

He didn't care about those words.

Cultivation is the only real thing; everything else is illusory.

Su Bai pushed open the door to the office; someone was already waiting for him inside.

Ning Yuechan sat on a chair by the window, holding a document in her hand and looking at it against the light. The autumn sunlight filtered in through the window cracks, illuminating her profile and outlining her features very clearly—her eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips were all edged with a thin layer of gold.

She stared intently, her eyelashes drooping slightly, motionless, like a statue.

Hearing the door open, she looked up and placed the document on the table.

"They're here."

Those two words were spoken softly, like something you say every day.

Su Bai nodded, walked to the table, and picked up the document.

He was transferred to Qingjiang County, where he will enjoy the treatment of a chief clerk and will take office immediately.

His gaze fell on the large, bright red seal at the end of the document—"Fengshan County Garrison Command". The seal was stamped perfectly straight, the cinnabar color bright, clearly newly applied. The seal of the highest command authority at the county level was even more formal than he had expected.

He watched for a few moments, then remained silent.

"Have you finished reading?" Ning Yuechan asked.

"I've finished watching it."

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Su Bai raised his head, thought for a moment, and said, "The seal is stamped very straight."

Ning Yuechan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

The smile was faint, just a slight curve at the corners of her lips, but her eyes shone with light. She stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to him. The light from outside cast her long, thin shadow on the ground.

"You're quite impolite," she said, her voice tinged with amusement. "Qingjiang County is not like Fenjiang. The waters there are murky, and all sorts of people are involved. Whether you can hold onto your position as chief inspector depends on your own abilities."

Su Bai didn't speak, his gaze fixed on the document in his hand.

The Chief Constable of Qingjiang County—the top official in charge—had several hundred people under his command and was in charge of the security of seven or eight townships. He had read some of the case files from that area; there were quite a few cases, some of which were rather tricky.

There are several powerful families in the county with deep-rooted influence and connections with the prefecture. The county government is no pushover either. The magistrate, surnamed Chen, is said to be a cunning old fox who has served in Qingjiang County for almost ten years and has managed to keep everyone in line.

The location was higher and faster than he had expected.

He recalled when he first went to the Southern Garrison Command—back then he was just a temporary low-ranking servant, being ordered around by others every day.

In less than six months, he became a prison warden.

Now he's going to Qingjiang County as the chief clerk—this speed of promotion is astonishing anywhere.

But Su Bai knew in his heart that these were not the things he truly cared about.

He put down the document, walked to the window, and stood beside Ning Yuechan.

Outside the window is the courtyard of the Fenjiang County Prison.

The ground was gray, the walls were gray, and the sky was gray.

In the corner of the courtyard stood an old locust tree, most of its leaves already fallen, with only a few withered leaves hanging from the branches, rustling softly in the wind. Under the tree were piles of odds and ends: a few broken baskets, a few wooden sticks—all useless items.

He had stayed in this place for more than half a year, and now that he was leaving, he didn't feel any reluctance.

A predicament? He never took it to heart.

True progress in cultivation is what matters. Everything else is secondary.

He had already established himself in the late stage of the True Qi Realm.

The battle that killed the Wind God Leg gave him a deeper understanding of how to use true qi. When he slashed out with that sword, he could feel the true qi in his body come alive, surging out along his meridians more smoothly than ever before.

In another month or two, perhaps we can make another step forward.

By then, he will be able to suppress all the evil spirits and monsters in Qingjiang County with a single palm strike.

"What are you thinking about?" Ning Yuechan asked.

Su Bai withdrew his gaze and shook his head.

"Nothing," he said. "I'm just thinking about when to set off."

"The official document says you must take office immediately. Once you've handed over your duties here, you can leave. They're waiting for you, the Chief Commissioner." Ning Yuechan turned around, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze. "What, not in a hurry?"

Su Bai shook his head: "No rush."

"That's good." Ning Yuechan nodded and walked towards the door. Reaching the door, she stopped, turned back to look at him, and said, "By the way, the Ning family plans to choose another eldest daughter to marry you. What do you think?"

Su Bai naturally refused.

Ning Yuechan was not surprised at all.

It all started when the family once again neglected Su Bai because of Ning Tianyi.

Ning Yuechan hadn't really thought about putting in much effort for this; she was just asking.

Ning Yuechan pushed open the door and went out; her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

He spent the next few days busy with the handover.

There's really not much to hand over.

He spent more than half a year in the Fenjiang County prison, and apart from a few changes of clothes, all he had was the long knife that he never parted with.

The clothes were all old, faded from washing, and could be folded and stuffed into a bundle.

As for the house, it was a makeshift cell provided by the jailer; it should be returned.

No need to sell, and you won't have to worry about not having a house even if you move there.

After all, if the major powers in Qingjiang County knew that he, a chief constable, lived in the constable's quarters every day and did not have his own house, it would be a huge loss.

Wouldn't that be a dereliction of duty by those forces?

He left this time.

Many people came to give gifts again.

The day after the news spread, someone came to the door.

First came Li, the jailer, and a few constables, carrying tea and pastries wrapped in coarse cloth, saying things like "Congratulations, Lord Su!" and "Lord Su, on your promotion!"

Su Bai accepted them one by one, nodded, and they left happily.

There were also Sun Hou and a few of his subordinates who were considered friends.

And the Southern Garrison Commandery, her maternal home.

Finally, there were a few people I didn't recognize.

A silk shopkeeper brought over a bolt of blue cloth, the contents of which were a bit stiff; a grain shop clerk brought over a bag of new rice, the contents of which had changed color.

They said it was out of "admiration for Lord Su's reputation," but Su Bai knew perfectly well that it was just a formality.

He accepted them all.

On the eve of his departure, he sat alone in his office, took out the knife, and carefully wiped it clean.

Moonlight seeped in through the window cracks, falling on the blade and casting a cold gleam.

The light was so bright and white, like a pool of clear water, or like winter frost. He carefully wiped it with a cloth, from the base of the blade to the tip, not missing a single inch.

The blade was spotless, shiny and new, reflecting a person's image.

Looking at the light, Su Bai suddenly remembered his father's words: "The sword is a warrior's life. As long as your sword is there, your life is there."

That was a long time ago. He was just a little boy then, having just learned to hold a knife, and his father was teaching him step by step.

His father had large, rough hands. He held his hands and taught him how to chop, stroke by stroke.

That was what I said back then.

He gently sheathed his knife, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the night was pitch black, without a single star.

A few lights shone in the distance, scattered here and there; that was the direction of Fenjiang County.

Further away, there are the continuous mountain shadows.

During the day, the outlines of those mountains were still visible, but now it was all dark, with only dark shadows stretching across the horizon, darker than the sky itself, like a sleeping giant beast lying there motionless.

Beyond the mountains lies Qingjiang County.

A night breeze blew in, carrying the coolness of an autumn night and a faint scent of grass and trees.

The lights in the distance flickered on and off, as if someone was watching him from afar.

Su Bai stood by the window, gazing at the darkness with a calm expression.

He had no idea what awaited him in Qingjiang County.

But he knew that whatever it was, he could handle it.

The day Su Bai left Qingjiang County was a gloomy, overcast day.

The sky, like a faded old cloth, pressed down heavily, so heavy that even the birds were too lazy to sing.

Two rows of bailiffs stood at the entrance of the county government office, dressed in black robes, standing solemnly like two rows of faded wooden stakes.

.

Old Wang stood at the front, wearing a brand-new formal constable's uniform. The stiff collar pressed against his neck, making him feel uncomfortable no matter what.

He would tug at his collar every now and then, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, trying to swallow to moisten his dry throat, only to find that his mouth was already dry.

Zheng Shijie stood beside him, ramrod straight, his back taut like a spear. Only his eyes were a little red, with fine blood vessels floating on the whites of his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well last night, or something else entirely.

He lowered his eyes, staring at the few thin blades of grass peeking out from the cracks in the bluestone slabs on the ground, not daring to look up at the horse that was about to go far away.

"Alright, go back now." Su Bai mounted his horse nimbly. Sitting on the horse, he looked down at the two men, his gaze sliding from Old Wang's furrowed brows to Zheng Shijie's slightly trembling eyelashes. "Do your job well, and don't embarrass me."

Old Wang opened his mouth, the flesh on his cheeks twitched, as if something was stuck in his throat. In the end, he just nodded heavily, so hard that the brim of his hat slipped down slightly.

Zheng Shijie stepped forward, his black boots making a dull thud on the bluestone slab.

He clasped his hands and bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the back of his hands: "Take care on your journey, my lord." His voice was deep, but the last syllable was somewhat ethereal, like smoke being blown away by the wind.

Su Bai waved his hand and flicked the reins.

The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, and the water in the gaps was crushed and splashed up, making a clattering sound, each sound like a tap on the heart.

Sun Hou sat on the carriage shaft, driving the carriage, and glanced back at the two people still standing in the same place.

Old Wang was raising his hand to adjust the brim of his hat, his movements somewhat flustered; Zheng Shijie remained in the clasped-fist posture, like a stone statue.

Sun Hou said softly, "My lord, both Lao Wang and Shi Jie are loyal and righteous."

"Hmm." Su Bai leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to rest.

The carriage was dimly lit, making it impossible to see his expression, but one could see that his fingers, which were resting on his knees, twitched slightly.

The carriage left Qingjiang County and headed north along the official road.

The poplar trees lining both sides of the official road were bare, their branches stretching towards the gray sky like countless withered fingers.

The wheels rolled over the road, raising fine dust that quickly dissipated into the cold air.

After traveling for about half an hour, Sun Hou's voice came from outside the carriage curtain, tinged with hesitation: "My lord, we're not going to Qingyuan County, are we? This direction leads to the prefectural capital."

"I need to take care of some business at the prefectural government first." Su Bai's voice came from inside the carriage, flat and emotionless.

Sun Hou hesitated for a moment, his lips moved, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He simply replied "Yes" and focused on driving the carriage. He lightly lashed the horse's back with his whip, and the chestnut horse snorted and quickened its pace.

Su Bai opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the canopy on the roof of the car. The canopy was bluish-gray with several finely stitched patches, preventing sunlight from getting through. Only a faint ray of daylight seeped in through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled light on his face.

A slight, fleeting smile played at the corners of his lips, as if he were recalling something amusing.

Li Yuehu, also known as Young Master Li.

Last time at the prefectural government, you relied on your family background to force me to bow my head.

This time, it's my turn.

The carriage rumbled along, gradually disappearing at the end of the official road.

A wild rabbit poked its head out from the withered grass by the roadside, pricked up its ears alertly, and quickly withdrew.