By the ti he left the restaurant, the sky had already grown dim.
Yue Shan was drunk, and he was escorted ho by Yang Feng and Han Jun. Chen Yuan noticed his traits, not lascivious, but a lover of alcohol. Most of the drinks on the table had been consud by Yue Shan.
After a simple interaction, Chen Yuan had gained so understanding of the several Heavenly Patrol Guards under Zhang Xuan's command, and he also inquired about Yang Wanlou's detailed situation.
However, their knowledge was also very one-sided; they felt that among the many officials in Ping'an County, Yang Wanlou was relatively incorruptible, so Chen Yuan did not bring up the Ji family's matter.
During the exchange, Chen Yuan learned that,
the Five Great Forces of Ping'an County-the Shenxiao Hall, Azure Flood Dragon Association, Changle Gang, Dragon Tiger Sect, and Gold Mountain Monastery-are all located near Ping'an County. Among them, the Changle Gang has significant influence in the South City and West City.
anwhile, the Azure Flood Dragon Association occupies Yunjiang, taking the areas closest to the Jiang He in North City, controlling all the docks there. Of course, their influence is also extending downwards.
Among the Five Great Forces, the strongest is Gold Mountain Monastery, and nowadays, the Buddhist influence in the court is extrely strong, so these subordinate monasteries are also thriving. Below Gold Mountain Monastery stands Shenxiao Hall alone.
Then co the Changle Gang, Azure Flood Dragon Association, and Dragon Tiger Sect.
The Dragon Tiger Sect is located forty li west of Nanling Prefecture City at Wo Hu Mountain. Its power has also surged in recent years, closely chasing Shenxiao Hall's strength. Because of interests, there have been several disputes between them.
Such information is difficult for ordinary people to know, and even the previous Yunjiang Four Ghosts and Chu Yunfeng from Qingmu Sect didn't know much about it; only people inside the Heavenly Patrol Bureau were very clear about it.
On the surface, the Heavenly Patrol Bureau is powerful, but in reality, most of Nanling Prefecture is under the control of the Five Great Forces of Jianghu; the current Green Envoy of Nanling simply cannot suppress those forces.
Sotis, they even feel suffocated while carrying out their tasks.
For Chen Yuan, who had just joined the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, such information was essential, as he needed to have a profound understanding of the situation in Nanling Prefecture so that he could determine how to act in the future based on the circumstances.
On the streets, pedestrians were endless.
Compared to Ping'an County, life in the prefecture city was more colorful. Even at night, it remained bustling. Chen Yuan's pace was steady, breathing rhythmically.
His eyes occasionally emitted a green light as he observed his surroundings.
Hoping to find soone who would catch his eye.
Suddenly, Chen Yuan's movents stilled, as he subtly noticed soone in front observing him. He turned his head without drawing attention, as if he hadn't noticed.
Yet in his mind, he pondered who might be watching him...
It had only been two days since Chen Yuan entered the city, he hadn't made any enemies, and he hadn't even gotten to know everyone in the Heavenly Patrol Bureau. It was unlikely anyone would be so
desperate to move against him.
After joining the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, the only person he had a grievance with was Yang Wanlou.
Chen Yuan had considered that after Yang Wanlou's threat earlier that day, he might take action against him, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon. Investigating in the morning and taking action at night?
Didn't he know that the case file had already been submitted?
Was there a hole in his brain?
No...
As soone who could assu the position of a Sima, Yang Wanlou was definitely not a fool.
If he was making a move against Chen Yuan in such a hurry, perhaps he was already on guard against sothing and decided to nip Chen Yuan in the bud as swiftly as possible.
That way, he'd be safe.
If all evidence was destroyed afterward, even if Zhang Xuan suspected that he was behind the deed, without evidence, even if his ho were searched, he would erge unscathed.
It was a simple logic that anyone with a bit of sense could guess.
"The more he rushes, the better..."
Once he had figured it out, Chen Yuan's mouth curved into a
half-smile.
If Yang Wanlou really let Chen Yuan continue the investigation, even if he discovered sothing fishy about the Ji family's death, Yang
Wanlou could still push a scapegoat to take the fall,
and he would remain untouchable.
Chen Yuan's plans would be foiled.
Hence, he threatened the butler today, actually to force them to take
action.
Fortunately, they picked up on his intention.
As long as Chen Yuan could seize evidence of Yang Wanlou's attack on him, then, nobody would be able to save him!
Once Chen Yuan sensed soone secretly following him, he imdiately turned around and started moving toward a deserted place. With his cards at hand, even if he faced an opponent in the Gang Condensation Realm, he would have the strength to fight. Given Yang Wanlou's status, he would likely have at most a Gang Condensation expert to help. As for stronger Reach Profound experts, Chen Yuan didn't think he could arrange for one,
especially to deal with him, a Bone Refining Martial Artist.
That would be like using a cannon to kill a mosquito, utterly
superfluous.
Even Yang Wanlou might not be able to hire a Gang Condensation
expert.
It was worth a fight!
After Chen Yuan's figure had faded away, two n in ordinary green clothes exchanged a glance and then nodded to each other, following
after him.
Soon, Chen Yuan slipped into a deserted street.
This was a very ordinary alley, long but not wide. In the dimness of
the night, one could barely make out a few things. Halfway down the
alley, Chen Yuan slowly ca to a stop,
reaching for the hilt of his sword.
In front of him, about seven or eight Zhang away, stood a figure with
unclear features, holding a long spear, who watched Chen Yuan
calmly,
as if he had been waiting for him for a long ti.
"Shasha..."
Chen Yuan's gaze swept behind him, where two other figures with
swords were approaching.
With the way forward and back blocked, Chen Yuan showed no sign of panic; instead, he revealed a hint of a smile.
Though they hadn't made a move yet, Chen Yuan was already certain that their strength was at most on the Bone Refining Level; they hadn't reached the Gang Condensation Realm, or else, there would be
no need for this.
"Chen Yuan..."
The figure with the spear in front emitted a faint voice, as if to verify
his identity.
"Who are you?"
Chen Yuan didn't rush to make a move, but instead asked very calmly.
"Azure Flood Dragon Association, Blood Killing Hall, Song Ren!"
"Azure Flood Dragon Association, Blood Killing Hall, Wu Shan."
"Azure Flood Dragon Association, Blood Killing Hall, Liu Xu."
Behind Chen Yuan, two voices said in unison. "Does Mr. Chen have a grudge against people from the Azure Flood
Dragon Association?"
Song Ren, "No grudge."
"Any resentnt?"
"No resentnt!"
"Then why kill ?"
"Soone wants you dead!"
Chen Yuan nodded,
"Are you aware of the cri of attacking a Heavenly Patrol Guard?"
"We know, but as long as you disappear forever, no one will know it
was us who killed you."
Song Ren's tone was very calm, with quite a master's deanor. "Very well..."
Chen Yuan was satisfied.
"In your next life, rember clearly who you should go after and who
you shouldn't."
Song Ren gripped his spear tightly, and his eyes beca sharply
focused.
A murderous aura began to wrap around him.
"That line should be delivered to you!"
Chen Yuan's face gradually turned cold, his fingers tightly clutching
the handle of his knife, turning slightly blue.
"Move out!"
Behind Chen Yuan, one of the n shouted lowly, while the other
nodded in agreent, suddenly exerting force with his feet, and leaping within the alley, while the other made a horizontal slash.
"Ding!" Chen Yuan parried with his scabbard from behind, producing a clanging sound of tal striking tal, a spark flying out; in the next mont, Chen Yuan drew his sword, a flash of blade light shining
brightly, illuminating his indifferent eyes in the dim alley.
"Whoosh!"
The whistling blade light, as if cutting through tofu, simultaneously
severed both n's arms, blood spurting wildly as they fell to the ground, crying out in pain.
With a fierce expression on their faces.
This was Chen Yuan showing restraint, otherwise, severing their
heads would have been easy.
The speed and power of the two n's movents were not bad; together, they were comparable to a Bone Refining Martial Artist, but for the current Chen Yuan, they were far too lacking.
Song Ren's pupils shrank, revealing a trace of shock. He had exchanged blows with Liu Xu and knew how strong they
were; he couldn't defeat them within ten moves himself and had thought he might not even need to take action.
That's why he had spoken so calmly just now.
But...
From that one move that Chen Yuan revealed, Song Ren could tell
that he might not be a match for him.
How careless!
Not properly investigating Chen Yuan's strength, knowing only that
he had just beco a Heavenly Patrol Guard, he assud Chen Yuan
was a rookie, not expecting him to be a formidable eagle! The strength of that cut even reminded him of the Hall Master's thods when facing enemies-equally crisp and decisive,
unapproachable for an ordinary martial
artist.
Is this still a Bone Refining Martial Artist? Song Ren thought deeply and even began to consider retreating, but
at this mont, so close, unless Chen Yuan did not wish to kill him,
escaping would only hasten death.
Taking a deep breath, Song Ren decided to stake it all.
Perhaps...
Chen Yuan only had the strength for that one cut? Upon further reflection, that cut seed reminiscent of the Sword
Drawing Skill widely spoken about in the governnt, known for its explosive power! Song Ren comforted himself with this thought.
Then, his spear thrust out like a dragon, moving at an extrely fast speed towards Chen Yuan, and in the narrow alley where there was no room to dodge, he had to choose to et it head-on. Song Ren
was still very confident in his spear technique.
In the Azure Flood Dragon Association, below the Gang Condensation Realm, his strength was enough to rank in the top three.
"Kill!"
Song Ren thrust his spear, but Chen Yuan tilted his head to dodge. To
him, the spear tip that was moving with extre speed seed like
slow motion, easily foreseeable.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
The spear repeatedly jabbed, its cold light enveloping Chen Yuan, whose long knife in hand parried continuously, maintaining a steady rhythm.
Suddenly, Song Ren's eyes hardened, his left hand releasing the spear shaft as a faint light flickered from his sleeve, and a black-lustered sleeve arrow shot out violently!
Chen Yuan tilted his head to dodge, the sleeve arrow grazing past his
ear and striking the wall with a 'ding, the cool breeze even perceptible
to him. Seizing the mont, Chen Yuan stepped forward, closing the distance to Song Ren, and threw a punch. Song Ren raised his arm to block and clenched his teeth from the
pain. Chen Yuan's arm was like a hamr in its hardness, but
ultimately, he had blocked the punch.
"Bang, bang, bang!!!"
In a flash, Chen Yuan threw several punches, all of which Song Ren managed to block with difficulty, his long spear now dropped to the ground. Liu Xu and the other person watched the fight in shock from
not far away.
Chen Yuan's mouth curled into a smile, no longer delaying. His palm gently brushed over Song Ren's right arm.
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