Chapter 50: A Heart Bent on Murder (Please bookmark and keep reading!)

Chief Ma was already in a foul mood, and hearing Sun Ying’s inquiry only stoked his anger further, to the point that he even forgot to correct Sun Ying’s form of address.

“The decision to promote him came from the magistrate and the registrar. What am I supposed to do about it? Tell me, what can I do?”

Sun Ying was left speechless.

Indeed, even if Chief Ma had objections in this matter, they were useless. He had only himself to blame—these past few years, his cultivation had not only stagnated but even regressed, and his performance reviews had earned him the lowest grade.

After a moment of silence, Sun Ying sighed.

“Shang Lu’s luck is just too good. First, he gained a fortuitous encounter in Yunhua Mountain, not only healing his internal injuries but also sending his cultivation soaring. The night before last, just as we wanted Zhao Hai to apprehend him and force out the secret of the hidden realm, Zhao Hai was killed by Xu Biao and the others…”

Although rumors outside claimed Zhao Hai was killed in a magistrate-led raid, Sun Ying knew that wasn’t the case at all.

It was he and Chief Ma who had first discovered Zhao Hai’s death.

Judging from the traces left at the scene, Zhao Hai had been grabbed by two people from the front, then hacked from behind with an axe!

Combined with the confessions of the Blackwind Gang members, this was clearly the result of Xu Biao, Yuan Guilong, and others turning on each other.

Sun Ying had also suspected that Zhao Hai’s death might have something to do with Shang Lu.

After all, the timing was too coincidental—they had just sent Zhao Hai after Shang Lu, and Zhao Hai was immediately killed.

But Shang Lu simply didn’t have the strength to kill someone at the threshold of the Meridian Unification level like Zhao Hai, let alone when there were at least three martial experts present at the scene.

Where would Shang Lu have found such powerful helpers? Unless they were ghosts.

Chief Ma couldn’t help but sigh as well. Shang Lu’s luck was indeed enviable to the point of making one jealous!

Suddenly, he recalled something and lowered his voice to ask, “The other night, when you went to find Zhao Hai, did Xu Biao and the others see you?”

Sun Ying was momentarily stunned, then nodded and said yes.

In that instant, Chief Ma understood.

Xu Biao, Yuan Guilong, and the others were all wanted men. Upon hearing that a shaman official had arrived in Luoshui County, they must have misunderstood and thought the shaman had come for them.

To make matters worse, that same night he had sent Sun Ying out in the rain to see Zhao Hai.

Xu Biao and the rest, already jumpy as startled birds, saw this and assumed the authorities were about to join forces with Zhao Hai to capture them.

So, they struck first, killed Zhao Hai, and emptied the treasury!

The more Chief Ma thought about it, the more convinced he became. His mood grew increasingly irritable.

These wandering martial types only know how to fight and kill. If you all died, it wouldn’t matter, but now you’ve ruined my plans!

Chief Ma took a deep breath and asked, “Have the men you sent to investigate Yunhua Mountain returned?”

Sun Ying shook his head. “Not yet.”

Chief Ma’s expression turned cold. “Then why are you still standing here? Get moving! The shaman official already has his eyes on Yunhua Mountain. We have no time to waste!”

Hearing Chief Ma’s urgency, Sun Ying didn’t dare delay. He immediately left the constables’ office, called a few deputies, and set off to find Shi Fan, Chu Xing, and the others.

After Sun Ying left, Chief Ma stared at Shang Lu. The oppressive, stifling air only deepened his restlessness and growing murderous intent.

“Time waits for no one. If Sun Ying fails to find any useful clues, I’ll have no choice but to seize Shang Lu and force answers out of him! Xu Biao and Yuan Guilong vanished after killing Zhao Hai—maybe I can even pin their crimes on him…”

In the third division’s office, after receiving congratulations from his colleagues, Shang Lu cupped his fists to Chief Niu, asking for his guidance in the future.

Chief Niu’s attitude toward Shang Lu had changed. Since Shang Lu posed no threat to his position—even if he broke through to the Meridian Unification stage, he would only replace Chief Ma—there was no reason to be hostile.

Moreover, Shang Lu was young, and after recovering from severe injuries, he had rebuilt and even surpassed his former strength—a testament to his talent and luck.

Now that the Shaman Academy was recruiting, perhaps Shang Lu truly would pass the entrance exam someday. There was no need to offend someone like that, even if he didn’t actively seek his favor.

So Chief Niu was quite cordial, sharing some experience with Shang Lu about being a chief and arranging a seat for him in the office.

By this time, Chief Ma had already left, destination unknown.

Chief Niu introduced Shang Lu to the duties he would be overseeing, gave him a few words of advice, and told him to come by anytime with questions before getting back to his own work.

Shang Lu sat for a while in the office, reviewing the responsibilities assigned to him. At first glance, there seemed to be quite a few, but none required his personal involvement unless a major case arose or his subordinates couldn’t handle something.

This suited him well—it wouldn’t interfere with his cultivation due to bureaucratic busywork.

Still, having just been promoted, Shang Lu couldn’t, like Chiefs Niu and Ma, use official business as a pretext to slack off.

He remained in the office, appearing to work diligently.

In reality, he had taken out the cultivation diagram he’d received from the magistrate and was studying it closely.

To his delight, he discovered that this manual taught not only how to open acupoints and meridians, but also how to circulate blood and energy through the organs and channels, using the body’s own Small Celestial Circuit to generate even more vitality and power.

After breaking through to the Meridian Unification stage, Shang Lu had noticed that his blood and energy could flow through the newly opened channels, fostering strength.

But until today, the energy within his meridians had been left to its own devices, producing only limited power.

Now, with this cultivation diagram, combined with the Spleen Spirit’s ability to refine vital essence, Shang Lu believed his speed in opening acupoints and meridians would greatly increase!

Shang Lu could hardly wait to begin training with the cultivation diagram, but the third division’s office was hardly an ideal place for such practice. So he put away the diagram, imitating the two chiefs and quietly slipping away…ahem, going out on official duty.

As he left, he called Du Feng over, asking him to keep an eye on things at the office and come find him if anything urgent arose.

Du Feng slapped his chest in assurance, saying it was no problem at all.

Shang Lu lowered his voice and said, “You should focus on your training, too. Strive to reach minor mastery in Bone Refinement soon. When a regular position opens up, I’ll help you get it.”

Du Feng smiled wryly, “But I don’t have the money for a regular post.”

“Just do your best. With me here, what are you worried about?”

Shang Lu patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Du Feng stood there, stunned for a moment, then, his face alight with excitement, he rubbed his hands together, murmuring his thanks, nearly falling to his knees in gratitude.

Once Shang Lu left, the constables in the third division instantly relaxed, ending their work for the day.

It’s hard to slack off when the boss is around.

On the way home, Shang Lu stopped by a gold shop and used the silver the registrar had given him to buy a gold bracelet.

When he got home, he gave the bracelet to San Niang, watching her slip it onto her slender, fair hand—it was a perfect match.

He chatted with San Niang for a while—it was mostly him talking, and her listening.

After telling her about his promotion, Shang Lu moved to the center of the courtyard.

But instead of immediately starting his training with the cultivation diagram, he first took out the amber bead he’d obtained from the hidden realm.

Back in the strange mist, Shang Lu had wanted to swallow the bead, but San Niang had stopped him, saying the time wasn’t right.

Now that he had awakened his Liver Spirit and could store excess vital essence, perhaps the time had come?

Shang Lu cleaned the amber bead, opened his mouth, and swallowed it in one gulp.

This time, San Niang did not stop him.

But his expression suddenly changed dramatically…

(Monday rankings and PK are here—please bookmark and follow! It’s very important to the author. A deep bow and many thanks to all my readers!)