Starting from his vigorous old age, he began to conquer Liaozhai.

"Mr. Fang Qi?"

The magistrate of Guobei County felt a pang of anxiety and asked in surprise.

"The magistrate is Fang Zheng, the head of the Hundred Household Office of Guobei County, a seventh-rank military officer."

"Even if it was indeed Fang Zongqi who did it, the matter still needs to be compiled by the Hundred Household Office and reported to the Thousand Household Office, and finally decided by the Garrison Command."

Cao Xiong glanced at the county magistrate, remaining expressionless.

The magistrate's expression turned serious as he stared intently at Cao Xiong. "Of course, but now it seems that Commander Fang is a suspect. If it really is him, Commander Cao wouldn't protect him, would he?"

"Haha, Magistrate, rest assured. My Cao family has been military households for generations, and I will naturally enforce the law impartially. I will investigate Commander Fang."

The county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed to Cao Xiong in gratitude, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Commander Cao."

After the magistrate left, Cao Xiong began to ponder, for this was an opportunity for him to deal with Fang Zheng.

Whether Fang Zheng is the real culprit in the mutilated corpse case is not necessarily that important.

A square shape is, of course, the best.

Cao Xiong sent people to investigate and confirmed that Fang Zheng was currently at his home.

As evening fell, Cao Xiong left the Hundred Household Office and went alone to the second floor of an inn not far from Fang Zheng's house.

From this vantage point, you can see the entire Fangzheng family home.

Pour in the tea and wait quietly.

As expected, at midnight, a figure dressed in a black robe left Fang Zheng's house.

"You think I won't recognize you just because you're wearing a black robe?"

Cao Xiong put down his teacup, picked up the Evil-Sniffing Longsword, and leaped out of the window of his second-floor room in the inn, hanging not too far behind Fang Zheng.

Fangzheng moved incredibly fast, and in no time he had traveled from the eastern district of the outer city to the western district.

The streets of the West End are crowded and narrow, like a maze.

Cao Xiong increased his speed, shortening the distance between himself and Fang Zheng.

But Fang Zheng's figure disappeared into a street.

Cao Xiong did not make any rash moves. He lay on the roof, looking down at the street ahead.

While tracking Fang Zheng, Cao Xiong maintained a safe distance and used Xiao Cheng's "leaf-picking steps" to get close.

He was confident that Fangzheng would not easily notice.

Sure enough, not long after, Fang Zheng's figure reappeared.

"Quite cunning!"

Cao Xiong chased after him again.

Finally, Fang Zheng stopped outside a rather magnificent courtyard.

The courtyard was spacious, so even if there were sounds of fighting coming from inside, it wouldn't be easily noticed, which shows that Fang Zheng had his reasons for choosing this location.

The mansion's walls are over two meters high, and the vermilion gate faces south. A lantern hangs on each side of the gate, its light casting the words "Cheng Mansion" on the gate tower, making them appear and disappear intermittently.

Fang Zheng looked around again, then leaped onto the courtyard wall. Seeing that no one was below, he scaled the wall over.

Cao Xiong had just reached the entrance of the mansion when he heard the sounds of fighting coming from inside.

He quickly climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard.

Fang Zheng was holding a willow-leaf knife, and blood was dripping from the tip of the blade.

Three corpses lay on the ground.

Several servants wielding sticks gathered around Fang Zheng, surrounding him completely.

Lights gradually came on in the rooms of the house.

"Who are you, daring to cause trouble at the Cheng residence?"

A guard wielding a goose-feather saber questioned Fang Zheng.

"Dead people don't need to know this much."

Before he finished speaking, Fang Zheng suddenly stepped forward, his willow-leaf blade flashing, and the blood on the blade was flung away.

The guard quickly raised his sword to parry, but as Fang Zheng brought down his sword, he leaned forward, and the guard felt a numbness in his arm, causing his goose-feather sword to fall to the ground.

……

Cao Xiong smiled, having been waiting for this moment to arrest him on the spot.

"Bold and righteous, slaughtering civilians! Surrender now!"

Fang Zheng suddenly turned around and looked at Cao Xiong, his face behind the mask turning gloomy.

His instinct was to retreat; he absolutely could not admit it or be discovered.

"Trying to run away?"

Cao Xiong channeled his internal energy, moving with incredible speed.

"Fleeting glimpses~"

Fang Zheng was stopped and had no choice but to draw his sword and fight Cao Xiong.

"Bang!"

In just a few rounds, Fang Zheng's willow-leaf dagger was cut in two by the Evil-Sniffing Longsword.

The broken blade flew out and landed diagonally on the ground.

Cao Xiong took two steps back. "Fang Zheng, it's not too late to turn back from the wrong path. Are you going to resist arrest?"

Fang Zheng remained silent and threw the half-finished willow-leaf knife in his hand onto the ground.

A layer of blue covered the fair hands, which were loosely clenched into claws with sharp nails.

He leaped up and aimed straight for Cao Xiong's face.

"He actually practiced evil arts."

"The eagle soars through the sky!"

Cao Xiong drew his knife, but Fang Zheng caught it with his bare hand.

The fingernail scraped across the blade, producing a piercing sound that sent chills down one's spine.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Fang Zheng used his hands and feet, resembling a monkey, to leap ten feet away, attempting to leave the house.

Cao Xiong hurriedly caught up; Fang Zheng must die tonight.

The two chased and fled, and in a short time, they left the "Cheng Mansion".

Fang Zheng's figure became even faster, and Cao Xiong's "Leaf-Picking Step" was unable to close the distance between them.

Fang Zheng's speed increased, and he climbed high and jumped long as if walking on flat ground.

"Don't stop. Shake off Cao Xiong first. His strength is no less than yours. You must not get caught. As long as you shake off Cao Xiong, he will have no evidence to prove that you did what happened before."

A voice that only he could hear rang in Fang Zheng's mind.

"I know."

Fang Zheng was furious. He had been careful enough, but Cao Xiong still noticed him and even followed him all the way from the East District to the West District without him noticing.

His anger grew stronger and stronger, and he wished he could tear Cao Xiong to pieces on the spot.

He quickly suppressed the impulse. Ever since he broke through to the second level of the Iron Corpse Technique, he had become increasingly bloodthirsty. He felt uneasy if he didn't kill someone every day.

"Fang Zheng, your Iron Corpse Technique is at a critical moment. Endure a little longer and break through to the third level. At that time, your strength will be comparable to the Tendon Refining Realm. Cao Xiong will be no match for you."

The voice in his mind rang out again, and Fang Zheng managed to remain calm only after hearing it.

Instead of returning to the East District, Fang Zheng took advantage of the complex terrain of the West District to constantly change directions.

After Cao Xiong had completely disappeared from his sight, Fang Zheng ran for nearly ten more minutes before stopping.

"Fang Zheng, you can't escape."

Cao Xiong's voice suddenly rang in Fang Zheng's ears.

Fang Zheng looked up and met Cao Xiong, who was walking towards him at a leisurely pace.

Fang Zheng was puzzled; he hadn't expected Cao Xiong to be so difficult to deal with.

"The stench of the corpse monster on you is too strong; it followed the scent here."

Cao Xiong pinched his nose and said with disgust.

"You're asking for it!"

Fang Zheng's voice was hoarse, and his aura continued to rise.

Cao Xiong was also gathering his inner strength, preparing to defeat his enemy in one move; tonight was destined to be a fight to the death.

"Ah~"

With a soft roar, Fang Zheng's black robe was shattered into pieces, and his mask slipped off his face.

At this moment, he no longer resembled a human; his entire body was indigo blue, his eyes were bloodshot, and two fangs protruded from the corners of his mouth.

"Transforming won't help."

A strong killing intent emanated from Cao Xiong.

"Cao Xiong, I am only twenty-one years old and I have already reached the Bone Forging Realm. I should go further."

You will never understand what a genius feels like.

"Stubborn to the end!"

"Sword Drawing Technique!"

As Cao Xiong drew his Evil-Sniffing Blade, a powerful gust of wind swept through his body, causing his clothes to rustle.

"Roar~"

Fang Zheng roared to the sky, surrounded by black mist, like a demon god.