Daily News: You promised yourself to be a fisherman, but you've become a martial arts god?

"Your Excellency, are you aware that more than two years ago, Shenyuan Village killed Lord Linchuan? Why didn't the Yi family mobilize the government's resources to deal with Shenyuan Village then?"

Sun Tao said mysteriously.

Li Nian shook her head.

Yi Linchuan was a direct descendant of the Yi family and a genius of extraordinary talent. Logically speaking, the Yi family would not tolerate the killing of such a person.

However, upon recollection, there was no record of the government launching a large-scale attack on Shenyuan Village.

He originally thought that Shenyuan Village was too powerful and that the Yi family dared not act rashly because of their fear. But now, judging from Sun Tao's tone, it seems that there is another hidden story behind this matter.

"Back then, Shenyuan Village mobilized four leaders—Langlifeng, Li Hanhai, Ma Mianbiao, and Liu Tanqi—to lead more than a dozen Ming Jin martial artists and over a hundred water ghosts in a massive attack on Canyue Island."

"In the end, it cost Lord Linchuan his life and severely injured a member of the Yi family's inner strength guest. The Yi family was furious and wanted to petition the prefecture to destroy Shenyuan Village."

"Later, Ji Cangshan, the eldest elder of the Ji family, and Zhang Xiaoyue, the patriarch of the Zhang family, stepped forward and, on the grounds of fearing that things would get out of control and that the water bandits would invade Qianhu County and cause the people to suffer, they rallied the major forces in the county to prevent the Yi family from petitioning the prefecture to send troops."

"In order to force the Yi family to compromise, the two top experts from the Ji and Zhang families led a group of skilled fighters to Shenyuan Village to negotiate with its leader, Fan Pingbo. In the end, they brought back the heads of a few minor characters as an apology to the Yi family."

"Because of the intimidation from the major powers in the county, the Yi family had a way out and could only let the matter drop."

That's it!

Li Nian's gaze darkened.

No wonder Zhang Yuan dared to be arrogant in front of Yi Xiao that day; it turns out that the Zhang family had coerced the Yi family into compromising, which gave Zhang Yuan the confidence to act.

However, judging from the fact that the Yi family spent a lot of money to recruit him, the Yi family has not really let go of the matter of Shenyuan Village killing Yi Linchuan.

As we chatted, it was already past midnight.

A loud shout came from outside:

"Team C, it's time to take over!"

"They're here!"

Li Nian responded.

There are four teams, A, B, C, and D, on the island, divided into two groups, patrolling around the island.

Groups A and C are responsible for the eastern waters, and they rotate shifts every two weeks.

Team C is currently on the night shift.

Li Nian got up and walked out of the house, while Cao An and the other three put on straw hats and raincoats.

As early spring approaches in Qianhu County, the ice and snow are gradually melting, but the chill remains.

Especially on Crescent Moon Island, which is near the water, the cold wind blows at night, making it damp and chilly, with a cold that seeps straight to the bone.

Li Nian is a blood martial artist, with fiery blood and qi that can withstand the coldest winter.

Cao An and the other three had not yet entered the Blood Refining stage, as their physical bodies alone could not withstand the freezing cold.

Cao An and his three companions, each carrying a lantern, approached Li Nian.

"Your Excellency, we'll show you the way."

"Thank you all for your hard work."

Li Nian nodded.

Then, they followed behind Cao An and the other three.

Beyond the boardwalk at the head of the house, a tall figure stands on a sampan on the water.

By the light of the candles hanging on the sampan, Li Nian could make out the appearance of the person who had come.

The man was dressed in the same patrolman's uniform as him, with a large steel knife at his waist, a full beard on his face, and a gourd of wine in one hand, gulping it down his throat, letting the damp, cold wind beat against his body, looking casual and carefree.

Looking at the people on the boat, Cao An and his companions bowed and clasped their hands in greeting:

"Inspector Shi!"

"What have you thought about what I mentioned to you yesterday?"

Shi Kui tucked the wine gourd into his waistband and looked at Cao An and the other three.

"Your leader, Zhang Shun, has been transferred back to the yamen (government office), and you've lost your protection. Luckily, I'm short-handed, so come work for me, and I'll have your back from now on!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Inspector Shi. However, the Yi family has recently recruited a guest advisor to serve as the inspector of our C team on the island, so it would be inappropriate for us to join your ranks."

Cao An and the other three exchanged a glance, and finally Cao An spoke.

"Inspector Shi, this is Li Nian, the inspector of my C team."

"A new inspector?"

Shi Kui frowned in displeasure and turned his gaze to the man behind Cao An and the other three.

After seeing Li Nian's youthful face clearly, a cold disdain flashed in his eyes.

Then, without making a sound, he cupped his hands in greeting:

"I am Shi Kui, Inspector of the First Squad. May I ask who Inspector Li is?"

"Greetings, Inspector Shi. I am Li Nian from the Qinyun Martial Arts School."

Li Nian stepped forward a few steps and bowed respectfully.

Qinyun Martial Arts School?

A barely perceptible glint of malice flashed in Shi Kui's eyes, but he quickly said calmly:

"Qinyun Martial Arts School, does Inspector Li know Gu Jingsong?"

"Gu Jingsong is Li's third senior brother."

Li Nian told the truth.

"Hahaha! So Inspector Li is Brother Gu's junior brother! What a pleasant surprise to meet an old friend in a foreign land!"

Shi Kui took a step forward and leaped high off the sampan, landing heavily on the boardwalk, leaving the sampan in the water rocking violently.

"To be honest, Brother Li, your third senior brother and I have been friends for many years. Whenever I return to the city on my days off, I always have a good drink with him!"

"Since you are Brother Gu's junior brother, then you are my brother, Shi Kui's brother!"

"If you have any free time in the future, feel free to come find me, and we'll drink until we drop!"

After saying that, he came up to Li Nian and tentatively patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother Shi, you're too kind. I'll definitely do it next time!"

Li Nian smiled and clasped her hands in greeting.

During the day, he heard about Shi Kui from the passing constables.

This man is reckless and recently killed his subordinates, yet he can still drink and make friends with them and win over his men.

Even if such a person is his own brother Shi's close friend, he will not become close to him.

Of course, we won't rashly antagonize each other.

After a brief chat, Shi Kui returned to the sampan, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Brother Li still needs to work, so we'll take our leave for now."

"Take care, Brother Shi."

Li Nian clasped her hands in a fist salute.

Shi Kui waved with a smile and used a bamboo pole to propel the sampan away.

The sampan meandered through a dense reed bed, and Shi Kui moored the boat by the rocks.

Shi Kui's smiling face was now filled with intense anger.

"unlucky!"

"Those scum from the Qinyun Martial Arts School had to come to the island at this crucial moment, ruining my plans!"

"I once fought with Gu Jingsong. He is ruthless and vicious in his Eagle Claw Kung Fu, and quite skilled in it. Li Nian must have some ability to become a patrol officer. Just to be on the safe side, I must report this matter!"

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Shi Kui took out a piece of animal hide from his pocket, picked up a piece of gravel from underwater, and wrote on the hide:

"The new patrol officer of Team C comes from the Qinyun Martial Arts School and practices blood cultivation..."

After finishing writing, he placed the animal hide under an inconspicuous rock by the water.

...

Watching Shi Kui leave, Cao An and the other three exchanged glances, as if they had reached some kind of consensus.

Finally, Cao An cautiously approached Li Nian, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting:

"Inspector Li, there's something we want to confess to you!"

"What is it?"

"To be honest, Your Excellency, Shi Kui lost four of his constables some time ago, and then he set his sights on the four of us."

"Just now, I told Shi Kui that I was interested in joining his service, but that was only because I was afraid of his status. We are sincerely serving Inspector Li and have no ulterior motives!"

After saying this, Huang Gang and the other two stepped forward, bowed, and clasped their hands in greeting, not daring to straighten their backs.

Li Nian glanced at the four people.

He knew that the four men's fervent loyalty stemmed from their fear that what they had just said to Shi Kui might have caused him resentment, leading to him making things difficult for them or even harming them.

Regardless of whether these four people are sincere or not, he needs them temporarily to help him share the burden of his inspection duties.

If these four individuals subsequently cross the line, it will not be too late to deal with them!

Gathering her thoughts, Li Nian waved her hand and said:

"I understand. You can just focus on your work."

The four men let out a long sigh of relief, straightened their backs, and solemnly declared:

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"