Chapter 675: a.s.sa.s.sination
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The morning of the next day.
The air in the courtyard was exceptionally refres.h.i.+ng. Every breath taken made the body feel lighter and energetic. Chu Li was cultivating the Crouching Bull Punch in the courtyard while Leng Qiu and Leng Qing were practicing their swords.
Footsteps were heard coming from the outside before Qin Jin’s voice was heard, “Centurion?”
Chu Li answered, “What’s the matter?”
Qin Jin deepened his voice, “Something major happened downtown.”
Chu Li stopped his fist technique and got up to leave the courtyard. He saw Qin Jin and three others standing outside the courtyard.
“Centurion, the fifth prince of Prince Kang was murdered,” Qin Jin lowered his voice and said, “The magistrate is investigating the incident.”
Chu Li frowned. “The fifth prince? Prince Kang has a total of six princes, right?”
“Yes,” answered Qin Jin. “The fifth and sixth prince of Prince Kang are good-for-nothings, while the remaining four princes are quite competent. Prince Jiang was a.s.sa.s.sinated last night!”
“He doesn’t hold any official positions, right?” Chu Li frowned.
Qin Jin nodded. “No official position. He’s a pleasure seeker.”
“Any other developments?” Chu Li asked.
Qin Jin shook his head, “None whatsoever. The magistrate is so worried that he can’t sleep. With Prince Kang and His Majesty on his back, this case will probably fall to the Secret Guardians Hall!”
“Let’s go then,” Chu Li headed out.
When they reached Mei Er Courtyard, Dong Qifei, Yang Zongwen and the rest were at the martial arts field.
Upon seeing him enter, everyone came over to greet him.
Chu Li waved his arm. “Go attend your own matters. Yang Zongwen, come over.”
Yang Zongwen responded.
Dong Qifei, together with Qin Jin and the others, returned to the martial arts field.
Yang Zongwen followed Chu Li to the hall and reported, “Centurion, this is about the fifth prince of Prince Kang, right?”
“What’s going on?” Chu Li sat on an armchair and asked.
Yang Zongwen shook his head. “A very professional and clean a.s.sa.s.sination. One critical hit using a long narrow sword. A peculiar piece of weaponry that doesn’t belong to any faction in the martial arts world, so we are at a loss. Moreover, this happened late in the night, so there weren’t any pa.s.sersby. Prince Jiang and his entourage were slaughtered, as well as their horses. Not one living creature was left behind.”
Chu Li replied, “Judging by this technique, who do you think it is?”
Yang Zongwen thought about it momentarily before shaking his head. “I really can’t think of anyone. The case is now in the hands of the magistrate, but we predict that it will be transferred to our House. Our Mei Er Courtyard has a centurion and the Ning sibling trio so we might be able to crack this case.”
Chu Li smiled.
Yang Zongwen added, “There’s been a lot of gossip in the House while you were gone. If you don’t gain a meritorious service by capturing them, our lives will be tough from here on out.”
“Oh?” Chu Li’s brow raised.
Yang Zongwen glanced his left and right before lowering his voice, “The second in command has just recovered and came over yesterday. He was nit-picking everyone, so we had to call the centurion over.”
Chu Li scoffed, “Why do you want to listen to him!”
“He’s still the second in command. If we do not listen, he will punish us,” Yang Zongwen said helplessly. “The House is ruled militarily.”
Chu Li snorted. “Where is he now?”
“He went out for a walk. His connections are vast,” Yang Zongwen continued. “He too does not wish to remain here, n.o.body is nice to him.”
Chu Li slowly nodded. “Help me investigate Miss Yu Qing from the Verdant Cloud Brothel, but don’t let anyone know. Do it in secret.”
“Miss Yu Qing?” Yang Zongwen quickly nodded. “Yes, I will do it immediately.”
Chu Li added, “Right. About this a.s.sa.s.sination case, we shouldn’t involve ourselves in it!”
“Ah?” Yang Zongwen could not understand as his jaw dropped.
Chu Li shook his head. “This case seems to be deeper than we think, we should stay out of it.”
“But Prince Jiang is not some big shot…” Yang Zongwen did not understand. “It wouldn’t be some amazing avenger and must have just been done out of spite, right? It could be a dispute within the royal family that the magistrate is afraid to offend. Our Secret Guardians Hall won’t have to worry about this.”
Chu Li shook his head. “Best to stay out of it. If someone wants to go after it, let them.”
“… Yes,” Yang Zongwen helplessly nodded.
Yang Zongwen excused himself when Ma Kun came strutting into Mei Er Courtyard. He raised his voice, “Has everyone died, where are my greetings?”
Everyone on the martial arts field helplessly exchanged glances and went over to pay their respects.
Chu Li usually paid no attention to this formality. Sometimes, he would let them greet him, but most of the time, he would just enter and wave them off, gesturing at them to continue with their cultivation.
But based on the rules, they were to come over and greet their superiors. Although Ma Kun’s att.i.tude was haughty and arrogant, he was right in this case and they had to abide by the official rules.
Chu Li’s cold voice was heard coming from the room, “How impressive of Second in Command Ma!”
Ma Kun’s face changed when he heard this voice.
Chu Li scoffed, “Come on you, what’s with the dilly dally?”
Ma Kun glared hard at Qin Jin and the others. Then, he took large strides into the hall.
Chu Li was sitting in an armchair, sizing up Ma Kun.
Ma Kun closed fist saluted when he entered. “Centurion!”
Chu Li dully stared at him. “All recovered?”
Ma Kun’s face darkened but he slowly nodded, “Thank you for your kindness, I have fully recovered.”
Chu Li added, “I see that now the wounds have healed, you forgot the pain and want another round, right?”
Ma Kun bit his tongue and did not reply.
Chu Li deepened his voice, “What arrogance are you pus.h.i.+ng onto them, huh? If you have the capabilities, why don’t you show me as well?”
Ma Kun’s face went gloomy as he continued to remain silent.
He scoffed internally as he imagined how he would torture Chu Li if he held a higher in position than him.
Chu Li continued, “I see you’re quite free, there’s a matter you can help me investigate!”
“Please let me know!” Ma Kun begrudgingly closed fist saluted.
Chu Li snorted. “The Cloud Slas.h.i.+ng Treasure Manual from the last time destroyed a few second-ranked factions. I suspect there’s a dark force pus.h.i.+ng it. It may Ji Public House acting alone, but it may also be Ji Public House teaming up with someone else. Figure out what’s going on!”
“Yes,” Ma Kun immediately nodded.
He knew that if he hesitated, he would quickly be handed another round of blows. The smartest thing to do was to quickly comply.
Chu Li responded, “There will not be anyone in the courtyard to help you. You figure it out yourself!”
“I won’t be able to handle it on my own,” Ma Kun replied.
Chu Li glanced at him dully. “Your connections are vast. You can’t handle something as small as this? You have one month to figure it out.”
“… Yes,” Ma Kun solemnly answered.
He was frustrated but could do nothing about it.
Chu Li could actually be considered as going easy on this one. He was allowed to go off on his own for a while. Moreover, he was given a relatively moderate task, so he should be able to handle it. However, if he did not play his cards right this time, a more tiring and crueler task would come up next!
Chu Li nodded in satisfaction. “Great, then set out today!”
“… Yes!” Ma Kun closed fist saluted and turned to leave the hall.
Once Dong Qifei and the others saw Ma Kun come out with a sour face, they let out a sigh of relief. It looked as though the centurion had put him in his place and they would have some good days ahead.
Chu Li also left the Secret Guardians Hall and returned to the Imperial Residence, placing his focus on the Nature Restoration Manifestation once again.
The more he cultivated, the clearer and more responsive his mind became. His thought patterns also became more vivid than before.
A picture worth a thousand words. Through the movement of the leaves, the wind could be seen. This peculiar feeling immersed him in the sense of comfort that everything was in the palm of his hand. He was endowed with extraordinary intelligence.
Ten days unknowingly pa.s.sed by.
The advancement of the Nature Restoration Manifestation was fast, as Chu Li swiftly surpa.s.sed the first stage to the second. He could now see clearer and with a wider range.
Meanwhile, Yang Zongwen would come over daily to report on the developments surrounding the investigation of the a.s.sa.s.sination of the fifth prince of Prince Kang.