Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Something That Doesn’t Know Life or Death

"What happened at Iron Rock Manor?"

Hearing the voice, an anxious look appeared on Li Qi’s face. He quickly walked to the entrance, opened the door, and questioned the person outside.

Outside was a government constable who had rushed all the way from the constabulary, so exhausted he was leaning on his thighs, panting for breath.

He was also one of the few at the constabulary who was on good terms with Li Qi.

Seeing the courtyard gate open, Chen Xuan took a deep breath, straightened up, and said urgently:

"Chief Li, a villager covered in blood escaped from Iron Rock Manor to file a report. He said five villains were causing chaos in the manor, plundering property. He died right after he finished speaking."

"We have to hurry. Otherwise, that guy He Kui will hear about it soon, and the credit will go to him."

"Alright, let’s go now." Li Qi didn’t dare delay. He immediately went inside to change into his constable’s uniform, which would make things much more convenient.

As a constable, and a candidate for the Demon Suppression Bureau selection, there was naturally an evaluation system at the constabulary for dealing with pugilist villains who preyed on the common people.

He had already been standing guard at the foot of the city wall for two months, and his assessment merits had fallen far behind his rival, He Kui. Naturally, he was desperate.

But whether it was for the merit of slaying villains or for the sake of the people, he had no reason to delay.

Furthermore, the eight hundred elite soldiers within the city were not permitted to leave, as they had to garrison the walls.

Therefore, the city’s labyrinth of streets and alleys, as well as the dozens of miles of territory outside its walls, all fell under the jurisdiction of the constabulary’s thirty to fifty government constables.

But now that a case had come up, Li Qi had no intention of avoiding it; he didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

「A moment later」

Three riders on fast horses galloped through the city’s main thoroughfare and out through the west gate of Mountain Mist City.

Since two of them were wearing the black uniforms of the county constabulary, no soldiers stopped them for questioning.

CLOP! CLOP! CLOP!

The three horses galloped unimpeded, heading straight for the place called Iron Rock Manor.

On the way to Iron Rock Manor, the constable who had notified Li Qi, Chen Xuan, kept glancing back at the unfamiliar face following behind them. He was curious and couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

’Brother Li is exceptionally talented, and he’s quite proud deep down, so he has very few friends.’

’Who is this man? Why was he at Brother Li’s home?’

’Could it be because of the Demon Suppression Bureau assessment? Did Brother Li specially invite a disciple from one of the sects outside the city to give him pointers on his martial arts?’

’I just don’t know which sect...’

"We’re here."

But before he could ask, their spurred horses brought them to the gate of Iron Rock Manor—a high-walled compound some twenty or thirty li from Mountain Mist City—which now appeared before the three of them.

With a sharp cry from Li Qi, the three of them immediately dismounted and dashed toward the manor’s half-open, vermilion-lacquered gate.

"Damn it. Lucky for me I was wearing this uniform. Otherwise, I’m afraid my heart would’ve been ripped out today."

A lean man in a constable’s uniform walked out of a rather grand-looking house in Iron Rock Manor, his face grim.

Only when he was standing in the sun and the chill enveloping him began to dissipate did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He had thought this would be another routine job to rack up merit, but he’d almost lost his life on this trip.

He quietly glanced back at the house behind him. Even though they had temporarily spared his life because of his status as a constable, the thought of the scene that had greeted him when he first entered still made his legs go weak.

Gazing at the dim, lightless interior of the house, his face remained a mask of fear and trepidation, even after stepping outside.

"Lord He, it was just that you disdained to act. Otherwise, dealing with five fiends would have been child’s play for you."

Another constable who had followed him, though he’d pissed himself a little, didn’t forget to offer a bit of flattery.

"Idiot, shut up!" This time, the leading constable felt none of the usual pleasure of being flattered; he wanted to strangle the man speaking next to him.

Fortunately, no strange sounds came from behind him, which allowed him to let out a deep sigh of relief.

The constable beside him also realized his blunder and didn’t dare say another word.

He simply followed the Chief Constable, quickening his pace toward the manor’s exit.

These two were, of course, He Kui and his subordinate, who had been the first to learn that Iron Rock Manor was being pillaged by villains and had rushed here for the merit.

"Remember this."

After taking a few steps, He Kui seemed to think of something. He looked at the constable beside him and warned in a low voice:

"Don’t speak of what happened today. Just act like we never came to Iron Rock Manor, understand?"

"I understand perfectly!" the accompanying constable said hurriedly, then added, "Not even a word to the City Defense Department?"

"Idiot! Don’t you dare let a single word get out!"

He Kui’s expression was stormy as he berated him in a low voice. The underling finally shut his mouth for good.

He Kui didn’t want to stir up trouble; he wished he could sprout wings and fly away from this place, let alone report the matter to the City Defense Department.

Even if the City Defense Department sent a hundred elite soldiers to exterminate the fiends, and even if they succeeded, so what?

Plenty of people had seen him come here!

He could already imagine what kind of deadly pursuit he would face from these fiends in the future.

’The fiends wouldn’t dare make a move against the City Defense Department, but they definitely wouldn’t show any mercy to the constable who reported them.’

’If I tell the City Defense Department today and word gets out, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take a single step outside Mountain Mist City without having my heart ripped out!’

’My spot in the Demon Suppression Bureau assessment is practically in the bag. I’m about to go make my way in Cangwu Commandery City. A good life is right around the corner. I just need to get through this period safely!’

So He Kui thought. As for this manor and the lives of its hundred or so residents after today, he couldn’t care less.

What could be more important than his own future?

But as he walked, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Because he saw several figures appear across from him, walking in from outside the manor.

Two of them, like him, were also wearing constable uniforms. A look at their faces revealed they were old acquaintances.

"Well, well. I didn’t expect Chief Constable Li’s intelligence network to be so effective, even after standing at the foot of the city wall for months! To think you rushed over here so quickly!"

As he drew closer, He Kui spoke to Li Qi in a snide tone, then glanced at Chen Xuan by his side, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

Clearly, the fact that Li Qi knew about the trouble at Iron Rock Manor was thanks to Chen Xuan.

Li Qi took a step forward, shielding Chen Xuan.

He didn’t get angry at He Kui’s provocation. Instead, he looked at the two men who had arrived first yet were now walking out empty-handed, and said with a deadpan expression:

"Chief Constable He is walking out of the manor. Does this mean you’ve dealt with the villains who attacked Iron Rock Manor?"

"How come I don’t see you carrying out their corpses?"

The clear implication was that He Kui wasn’t skilled enough and had failed to capture the culprits.

Hit with such a measured retort, on any other day, He Kui would have likely insisted on a contest with Li Qi, especially since his cultivation realm was now a level higher than Li Qi’s.

But today was different, and this was no place to linger.

He smiled and said, "Since I arrived at Iron Rock Manor first, there’s no need to trouble Chief Constable Li with this matter."

"Chief Constable Li, you should just head back!"

"What does it matter who came first? Since you couldn’t handle it, get out of my way!" Li Qi frowned.

Normally, if He Kui killed even a single villain, he’d want the whole city to know about it.

His rare lack of showing off today clearly meant he hadn’t resolved the situation at Iron Rock Manor. In fact, he’d likely hit a brick wall. The perpetrators might even still be inside the manor, not yet having left.

He couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words with He Kui and was about to walk around him into the manor, but He Kui darted over to block his path.

"Regardless of whether this matter is resolved, I presume with your uncle’s influence, no blame will fall on you, right?"

Li Qi looked at the figure blocking him, his expression turning cold. "Why are you stopping me?"

"I’ve already handled the matter here. There’s no need for your concern." At this, He Kui’s smile vanished, and his right hand fell to the saber at his waist.

Of course, he didn’t dare let Li Qi pass.

’If I hadn’t come today, it wouldn’t matter what Li Qi did. But since I came first, I now have to ensure those five fiends survive!’

It was for one reason only: to keep Li Qi from getting him implicated.

’Those fiends let me go, so they’ll surely let Li Qi go too.’

’And then Li Qi will inevitably go to the City Defense Department to have them round up the fiends, and in the end, I’ll still be hunted down for my involvement.’

At the same time as he reached for his saber, the underling beside him also moved to block the constable by Li Qi’s side.

"Take a word of advice from your big brother: it’s best you stay out of the business here, lest you get caught up in trouble."

He Kui advised him again, drawing his saber three inches from its sheath, showing his intent to strike:

"Just live your life. Then you can have a grand career as a constable in Mountain Mist City with this little brother of yours. I’ll even have my uncle look out for you. That’s better than anything else."

"..."

Wu Chen, who had been standing to the side, gave the standoff an indifferent glance, then started walking toward the interior of the manor.

STEP! STEP! STEP!

In the silent standoff, the sound of his footsteps was exceptionally jarring.

He Kui turned his head to see the unfamiliar face who had come with Li Qi walking right past him.

He then walked further on, step by step, and entered the pitch-black house just behind them.

"Pah!"

Seeing that the man was dressed in ordinary clothes, he couldn’t help but spit. "Reckless fool!"

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