I have a martial arts panel.

Chapter 62 Case

Tao Jin returned to her room.

Before entering, she looked around to make sure no one was there before stepping into the room and locking the door.

Then, Tao Jin took out the Shadow Blood Scripture and placed it on the table.

After a long while, Tao Jin reached out and opened the booklet again.

This time, she turned a few more pages.

"It's demonic art...that's right..."

Only then did Tao Jin finally make up her mind.

Tao Jin's expression was very complicated.

She could have taken out the Shadow Blood Scripture just now, but in the end, she didn't choose to do so.

Tao Jin knew very well that the voice in her heart was her truest desire and thoughts.

Right now, she really needs a way to quickly improve her cultivation level.

The booklet of Shadow Blood Scripture sat quietly on the table, but as Tao Jin stared at it, she felt as if many tentacles were reaching out from inside, trying to pull her in.

"No!"

Tao Jin shook her head vigorously and washed her face with the cold water in the room.

This calmed Tao Jin down considerably.

Rapid progress is indeed tempting, but once you start practicing demonic arts, you're on a path of no return.

According to the booklet, fresh blood is required as an auxiliary material for practicing the Shadow Breath Blood Scripture.

The higher the quality of the blood, the faster the cultivation speed.

Tao Jin wasn't sure whether the blood on it was human or animal blood.

Although she felt that human blood was more likely.

"I can't do that."

If human blood were used to aid in cultivation, Tao Jin simply couldn't overcome her own inner conflict.

"But what if beast blood works too..."

Tao Jin was tempted again.

"That won't work either!"

Tao Jin quickly rejected the idea.

Once I truly master the Shadow Breath Blood Scripture, my weakness will inevitably fall into the hands of that man in the bamboo hat.

If the other party forces me to collude with the Demonic Sect, then I will have no choice at all.

That would not only harm yourself, but also implicate your family.

"Who exactly is he, and how does he know my current situation...?"

Tao Jin felt she had been set up: "Was he deliberately targeting me, or did he throw bait at all the newcomers who had been demoted?"

Using the extremely fast-learning demonic techniques as bait to lure downgraded newcomers is indeed a plausible explanation.

However, Tao Jin thought for a long time but still couldn't come up with an answer.

Currently, besides Tao Jin, there are indeed other people in the camp who have been demoted.

However, Tao Jin dared not test the waters, because whether she found out or not, she would be in a very passive position.

"This demonic art, at least for now, is not to be touched."

After thinking it over, Tao Jin still felt that the uncertainty she was facing was too great.

If even one detail is not handled properly, the consequences can be very serious.

However, even though she wasn't practicing for the time being, Tao Jin still picked up the booklet and focused on memorizing it.

An hour passed.

Tao Jin read the short booklet countless times, repeatedly trying to memorize it, until she was finally certain that she had memorized all of its contents.

Then, Tao Jin took out a tinderbox and set the booklet ablaze.

Her gaze remained fixed on the burning paper, until finally, the entire booklet was reduced to ashes.

Even so, Tao Jin was still not at ease.

She put all the ashes from the fire into a basin, added water and stirred it until it was very fine. Then she went outside and poured it into the muddy water, and only then did she feel a little relieved.

Once all this is done, as long as you don't practice demonic arts, you won't be discovered.

"However, I still need to be careful in the future... If someone is really trying to find out what I'm doing, it will be a very troublesome thing..."

After finishing everything, Tao Jin spent a long time calming herself down.

After that, she once again entered a state of exploration and practice in the realm of Qi perception.

……

In the following days, people who had previously returned to the village to visit relatives gradually came back.

One evening, not long after Xu Ning returned to his residence, Tao Qingping entered the courtyard carrying large and small bags.

"You're back?"

Xu Ning offered to help Tao Qingping carry things.

"These are oranges I brought from the village; take some with you."

Tao Qingping said.

Xu Ning was speechless: "The county town has everything, why did you travel such a long distance to bring all this back?"

"These are things from home, they're different."

Tao Qingping answered very seriously.

"Okay, thank you very much."

Xu Ning simply held a few oranges in her hand.

"By the way, Xu Ning, you really missed out by not going back this time."

As Tao Qingping tidied up, he said to Xu Ning, "The news of your promotion to captain has spread throughout the manor. Everyone says you've made something of yourself, and even the clan elders are full of praise for you. If you really go back, I don't know how high-level the treatment you'll receive."

"Also, during the few days I was in the village, I saw people coming to your house every day to act as matchmakers."

"To act as matchmaker?"

Xu Ning peeled half of the orange in his hand, his brows furrowed.

"Yes, you're not from the Tao family. Many families in Tao Village are interested in marrying off their daughters to you. There are also some aunties and sisters-in-law from other villages who have married into our village, and they all want to introduce their daughters to you."

When Tao Qingping said this, there was a clear hint of envy in his tone.

"Did my sister arrange a marriage for me without my consent?"

Xu Ning suddenly felt a little nervous.

"No, your sister hasn't given her answer. She said it has to be your own consent."

Tao Qingping's words put Xu Ning at ease.

My older sister is quite reliable.

"However, according to Guo Ye, Tao Tao really wants a younger aunt."

Tao Qingping added another sentence.

Xu Ning's lips twitched.

My niece, I've spoiled her rotten.

"Xu Ning, you really have no intention of settling down?"

Tao Qingping asked.

"At least not yet."

Xu Ning answered frankly.

Although getting married at eighteen is common in this era, Xu Ning, influenced by her previous life's ideas, still felt it was too early.

"What about you? Haven't you been asking around about that girl in our backyard lately?"

Xu Ning took the initiative and became the host.

"she……"

When the girl was mentioned, Tao Qingping suddenly sighed, his expression very forlorn: "Just now, when I walked into the alley, I heard some neighbors say that she got married."

"You got married?"

Xu Ning asked, "Didn't you say that the girl's parents didn't want her to marry her childhood sweetheart?"

"yes."

Tao Qingping said, "Indeed, she didn't marry that person, but instead became a concubine to a fur shop owner."

"this……"

Xu Ning was also surprised.

"She was forced into it by her family," Tao Qingping said, her tone tinged with anger. "If I had known it would be like this, I should have had someone help me arrange a marriage. Marrying me is better than marrying an old man as a concubine, isn't it?"

Tao Qingping's words reminded Xu Ning of the last time he saw that girl.

At that time, she looked very timid and had self-inflicted injuries on her body.

In retrospect, the injuries she sustained were likely caused by her family beating her when they forced her to marry.

Xu Ning didn't say anything, but patted Tao Qingping on the shoulder.

Just as Tao Qingping said, that girl would have been better off marrying him.

In Xu Ning's opinion, Tao Qingping was a good person with a good temper and character. Moreover, he was young, had the identity of a Black Armor Guard, and the girl he married would be his legal wife, which was better than her being a concubine to that old shopkeeper.

From this perspective, Tao Qingping's decision to give up at the time actually harmed the girl to some extent.

For a moment, neither of them knew what to say.

Boom boom boom!

Just then, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

"My lord!"

Xu Ning heard the noise outside the door.

He recognized the voice; it belonged to a city guard from Fengliu Lane, a subordinate of Feng Sigua.

Xu Ning opened the door.

The man was covered in sweat and panting heavily, clearly having run there.

"What is it?"

Xu Ning asked.

This was the first time someone from the post station had come specifically to see him.

"A murder has occurred in the alley!"

The city guard spoke very quickly.

"A murder case?"

Xu Ning was somewhat puzzled.

Although murder cases are major events, they are usually handled directly by Feng Sigua. Why is he coming to me?

"It might...it might involve the Demonic Sect..."

The city guard lowered his voice and leaned close to Xu Ning's ear.

"The Demonic Sect?"

Xu Ning's pupils contracted.

"Take me there!"

Xu Ning acted quickly.

Thank you to readers 20200819191809763 and Ditianban for the generous donations!

(End of this chapter)