Atop the Startling Swan Gang's flagship, Jin Wuduan sat at the head.
Zhuo Yinghai's face grim, sat to the lower left, staring intently at the opposite Zuo Sheng, "Does your conscience really clear regarding Feng Er's matter?"
Zuo Sheng felt he could jump into Jinshui River and still not be able to clear his name. That bastard Zhang Ye had even sneaked to see him, saying he handled the affair too carelessly.
"The day Brother Feng disappeared corresponded with an issue at the checkpoint. I was busy mediating and overwhelmed, so..." Zuo Sheng argued earnestly.
On the contrary, the cheap senior brother just happened to leave Nanyang. And Zhuo Rufeng even paid special attention to Chen Mu because of his attitude.
Heh...
"Senior brother, you really are my benefactor! Leaving such a big mess for me to deal with as you departed." Zuo Sheng thought bitterly.
"That day, I was first stationed at the checkpoint."
"Later, due to knocking out the Shangguan family's guard, I had no choice but to personally visit and return the young Miss of the Shangguan family and the Young Master of the Bai family to their homes."
"After finishing, it was already evening, so I took my men back to the pier without any stops.""Many people were aware of my whereabouts during that period," Zuo Sheng explained with a helpless face.
"The Shangguan family? The Nanyang Prefecture's Shangguan Ji?" Zhuo Yinghai's pupils shrank.
Jin Wuduan showed a surprised expression as well. The matter unexpectedly involved Shangguan Ji, the number one expert of Nanyang Prefecture!
"It was him," Zuo Sheng couldn't help but become solemn.
This person had been a dominant figure in Nanyang for twenty years.
"Then who exactly poisoned my son?" Zhuo Yinghai's thoughts were in turmoil.
"It should be related to a scholar," Zuo Sheng's eyes flickered, ultimately not revealing Chen Mu's identity. Having dropped such a bomb with Cheng Yi was already troublesome enough. Saying more would serve no purpose.
"A scholar?!" Zhuo Yinghai stared hard at Zuo Sheng.
Zuo Sheng gestured with his hand, and a subordinate behind him quickly left, soon returning with an old man sporting a goat beard.
"This man is called Xing Lao Liu, a coroner by family trade, skilled in scrutinizing people and bones, capable of revealing the Face-changing Technique."
"That day I enlisted him to guard the checkpoint because a scholar seemed off."
"Speak!" Zhuo Yinghai glared fiercely at Xing Lao Liu.
The little old man with the goat beard trembled, not daring to hide anything.
"Indeed, there was something wrong with the scholar's face. From my understanding, he definitely underwent bone-cutting and flesh-filling modifications." ᚱ₳𐌽òꞖĘṥ
"Why didn't you say anything at the time?!" Zhuo Yinghai raged.
Xing Lao Liu involuntarily shrank his neck: "To alter one's appearance through bone-cutting and flesh-filling, the process is cruel and painful, taking at least two years."
"And those who dare to use, those who can use such means are all individuals of extreme notoriety and bravery."
"The person we were after wouldn't have the time to undergo such modifications, and he's much older than that scholar," he cautiously glanced at Zhuo Yinghai and cautiously said.
Who would have thought that your curious son would follow him on his own initiative?
Encountering such a ruthless figure, it would be strange if he didn't meet with disaster!
Zhuo Yinghai's face immediately turned as dark as water, his heart full of anger with nowhere to vent.
Zuo Sheng's expression was odd, looking at the earnest Xing Lao Liu.
Bone-cutting and flesh-filling? A figure of great courage and evil? My cheap senior brother? Heh...
"Do you still remember that person's identity?" Jin Wuduan spoke up.
"Remember, remember," Xing Lao Liu nodded, "Such individuals are very rare. Out of curiosity, I later went to inquire about his identity and leads."
"That person's name is Chen Jia, twenty-three years old, from Liangpu County."
"Alright, you can go now," Jin Wuduan waved his hand to dismiss Xing Lao Liu.
"Old Zhuo. I will send someone to pursue this individual's trace shortly. We cannot let Feng Er's disappearance remain unresolved," Jin Wuduan solemnly promised.
Zhuo Yinghai's face showed an unsightly expression as he folded his hands in salute.
"In the future, the Startling Swan Gang will still rely on you to hold the helm. You must take care to look after yourself," Jin Wuduan said with concern.
Zhuo Yinghai nodded in agreement.
He was not in the mood for other matters and took his leave after a short while.
...
Jin Wuduan watched Zhuo Yinghai's retreating figure with complex emotions.
After the other party had completely left the ship, he turned and looked at Zuo Sheng with admiration.
"I didn't expect Sheng Er to have a backup plan."
"With plenty of evidence, you cleared yourself completely, and even I couldn't detect any flaws."
"Impressive!"
Zuo Sheng: "..."
So you didn't believe my explanation all along, huh?
Damn it, this really wasn't my doing!
...
Lijiang Guard City, Yongtong District.
In the middle of the yard, a three to four meter high, two-meter-wide circular wooden frame was set up.
Fist-sized white stone balls, hanging at different heights, swung back and forth in mid-air.
Within the circle, there were also several haphazardly placed horizontal wooden poles blocking the way. Find your next read at .com
On the ground, there were crooked wooden stakes about half a meter tall, randomly driven into the earth.
Chen Mu, dressed in black, jumped onto a stake, took a deep breath, and suddenly sprung into action.
He was like an agile monkey, leaping high and crouching low, sometimes even swinging forward upside down.
The white stone balls hanging in mid-air were covered in white dye; touching them even slightly would leave a mark.
The environment was complex, but Chen Mu moved through it with ease, leaving behind afterimages due to his speed.
His body contorted into unnatural positions, yet he always maintained his balance, without slowing down as he raced around the circle.
After a while, Chen Mu leaped down from within the circle.
Looking down at his black clothes, which bore no trace of the white dye, he said, "After a few more runs, I'll need to add more obstacles."
The Blue-eyed Golden Ape Shape Cultivation Technique was majorly accomplished, enhancing strength, speed, balance control, among other things, to varying degrees, especially the sense of body balance.
With this aid, he could perform many movements that defied common sense, making his movement technique even more unpredictable and elusive.
In a battle between masters, a hair's breadth could mean the difference between life and death.
"Only with an unpredictable movement technique can you escape more easily," Chen Mu said with satisfaction on his face.
Chen Mu reflected on the hardships he had encountered along the way and was full of emotion, "I practice martial arts not to kill, but to save my own life."
"Unfortunately, the world is treacherous, and villains and masters emerge one after another."
"The Red Falcon Shape Cultivation Technique increases speed while the Blue-eyed Golden Ape enhances balance, improving the ability to traverse rough mountain terrains and dense alleyways, which indirectly increases speed."
"The faster you run, the longer you live."
"Nanyang has many waters; I wonder if there's a Shape Cultivation Method to improve underwater movement speed," Chen Mu noted to himself.
Maybe in the future, I could try to find such a technique.
These days, the progress of the White Ape Shape Cultivation Technique was rapid, and Chen Mu estimated that in a little over twenty days, he could complete the Bone Transformation.
"I hope that the Soul Strength that comes forth is a bit stronger," Chen Mu sighed.
He no longer held out hope for the White Ape Shape Cultivation Technique to transform the strength of his body.
...
By the banks of the Jinshui River, at Lanhe Ferry.
A middle-aged man in his forties was thrown to the ground, his nose bruised and his face swollen.
"Have you seen this man?" Zhuo Yinghai said indifferently, pointing at a portrait.
The portrait was corrected based on descriptions by Xing Lao Liu and painted by a well-known artist in the city. He even specially confirmed it with Zuo Sheng.
"I have!" the ship's captain nodded without hesitation.
"Do you know the consequences of trying to fool me?" Zhuo Yinghai glanced at the man coldly.
The middle-aged man cautiously glanced at the beast pattern on the other's sleeve, "Tang Leader Zhuo, I'm a peripheral member of the Startling Swan Gang."
Zhuo Yinghai looked surprised for a moment, then understood.
Most people making a living on the Jinshui River were related to the Startling Swan Gang.
"It's easier if you're one of us." Zhuo Yinghai nodded indifferently, "Go on."
"This person went to Lijiang Guard City," the middle-aged man hesitated not a bit.
"Lijiang Guard City..." Zhuo Yinghai's expression was inscrutable.
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