A few days later.
At the end of West Street, the courtyard.
Chu Ming stretched lazily, his gaze lingering on the panel.
[Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique (Minor Success)]
[Progress: 70/100]
"The sixth path of Qi Blood condensation completed..."
"With all Qi Blood activated, the strength is comparable to the Blood Circulation Realm martial artist with perfect Body Refining Technique and twelve paths of Qi Blood."
His deep eyes slowly shifted away.
Sunlight streamed into the inner room, dust drifting in the air, and he could even see particles finer than dust.
On the panel.
[Sword Gourd Spirit]
[Progress (Minor Success) 77/100]
[Evaluation: Acquired through studying various travelogues, enhanced perception ability, active stimulation, consuming Spiritual Power, enabling inner vision or meticulous observation of the surroundings]
"It does consume some Spiritual Power, otherwise I could increase the progress further."
"The entry-level Sword Gourd Spirit allows inner vision, while Minor Success enables meticulous observation. I wonder what special effects will come later."
Chu Ming reached out his hand, fiddling with the floating dust, while focusing on the panel.
[Military Skill (entry-level): deploy troops and arrange formations]
[Progress: 67/100]
Compared to the rapid improvement of other abilities, the progress of [Military Skill] was much slower.
"I've read more than half of the military part in 'Poetry, Politics, and Military', but at this rate, even if I finish reading, it might not reach Minor Success..."
"Fire attack, flooding, luring the tiger away from the mountain, empty city strategy..."
"Square Array, Round Array, Conical Array, Snake Formation, Eight Trigrams Array..."
Chu Ming's eyes flickered. These strategies and arrays were familiar from his previous life, but military skill isn't just about understanding and comprehending; the true essence lies in adapting to the times, terrain, and humanity.
"Talking about military affairs on paper..." He shook his head gently, "I am pretty much like that right now."
"There are quite a few military tactics in my mind, but none of them have been tested in actual battle."
At that moment, Little Shan's voice came from outside.
"Young master, it's time to eat."
"Coming."
Chu Ming got up and left the room. It was noon, and the temperature was somewhat hot and dry.
Entering the main hall, only Little Shan was setting up the dishes.
"Little Shan, how many days has Housekeeper Fang not returned?"
"Hmm..." Little Shan carefully carried a bowl of soup to Chu Ming, blinking her eyes, "I think it's been three days."
"Three days already?"
"Yeah, he came back yesterday morning just to change clothes." Little Shan served Chu Ming a large bowl of white rice.
"Did he mention what it was about?"
The aroma of the rice was enticing, but Chu Ming didn't start eating as usual because he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
It was hard to describe that feeling, but it wasn't good.
"I don't know. Grandpa Fang never talks about matters related to the Arresting Office." Little Shan picked up spare chopsticks and served Chu Ming several large pieces of fish.
"Okay."
Chu Ming lowered his gaze, "Let's eat."
...
Liuu Town, East Street.
The street paved with bluestone bricks felt much more comfortable than the small road on West Street.
On either side of the street were numerous shops, taverns, and even brothels.
Chu Ming wore a black conical hat as he walked briskly.
The afternoon sun was a bit harsh, so he used Housekeeper Fang's conical hat for shade.
It served to conceal his identity and avoid running into people like Huang Lu, which would waste time, like during his last trip to register for the academy entrance exam.
His target this time was the Arresting Office.
Fang Xiao had not returned for many days, definitely due to an incident, and Chu Ming planned to head to Baiyuan County after condensing six paths of Qi Blood. He wanted to see if he could help before leaving.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, he came upon two moderately sized lion statues. On the pitch-black door, the words "Arresting Office" were written in dark yellow.
However, what puzzled Chu Ming was that in broad daylight, the door of the Liuu Town Arresting Office was actually tightly closed.
Immediately, the strange feeling in his heart turned into a sense of foreboding.
He looked around; pedestrians were all walking on the opposite side of the street, keeping their distance from the Arresting Office, leaving him as the only one standing in front of the door.
Chu Ming intended to ask a passerby but reconsidered and decided to try knocking first.
Just as he reached out and hadn't yet grabbed the slightly rusted door knocker, a familiar shout came from behind, "Brother Chu?"
Chu Ming turned to look, a tall figure blocking the sun, arms robustly wrapping around him from both sides.
"Brother Wu Chun... can you please let go for a moment."
"Let go, let go." Hou Wuchun said verbally while tightening his embrace, "How about my strength?"
"..." Chu Ming's eyebrows slightly furrowed as two paths of Qi Blood surged within him.
Hmm?
Hou Wuchun was startled, his arms bouncing open suddenly, a look of shock appearing on his face.
"Brother Chu, your slim figure actually has such strength."
"I'm just about to condense one path of Qi Blood, and you easily shook me off?"
"Right, Brother Chu can use Tiger and Python Strength, so you must have cultivated it." Hou Wuchun recalled the last time he was knocked flying, awkwardly retracting his shock, circling around Chu Ming feigning contemplation, "With Brother Chu's strength, you must be close to condensing the first complete path of Qi and Blood Power, right?"
"Yes." Chu Ming pushed back the prattling Hou Wuchun from before him, pointing behind himself, "Brother Wu Chun, why is the Arresting Office closed, is your father, and Captain Fang inside?"
Upon hearing this, Hou Wuchun turned his eyes, mysteriously pulling Chu Ming to a secluded corner outside the Arresting Office.
"Brother Chu, you still don't know, do you?"
Chu Ming shook his head. What should he know about?
Hou Wuchun glanced at the street, ensuring no one was around, then lowered his voice, "Eight homicide cases occurred in Wheat Alley, the Criminal Defense Bureau from Baiyuan County sent people over, my father and Captain Fang have been penalized, a three-month salary."
"Moreover, my mother said the people from the Criminal Defense Bureau are not good, trying to make my father and Captain Fang scapegoats."
An icy glint flashed in Chu Ming's eyes, "Have they been arrested yet?"
"Not yet, the Criminal Defense Bureau needs evidence to arrest people, they've only been here a few days, and don't dare touch my father and Captain Fang."
"But this can't go on, eventually they'll be accused."
"So, my father and Captain Fang have been staking out Wheat Alley day and night, hoping to catch the real culprit, only returning home at dusk to eat."
"Brother Chu, do you know what kind of place Wheat Alley is? Every year, quite a few people die there, also known as Burial Alley, 'burial' as in bury, 'bone' as in skeleton."
Wheat Alley?
Chu Ming's heart moved, relieved that they hadn't been arrested.
Catch the culprit, find evidence...
He looked at the panel's [Sword Gourd Spirit], forming an idea in his heart.
"Brother Chu, you must keep this confidential. My father and Captain Fang are hiding in Wheat Alley; the culprit mustn't find out, otherwise, my father and mother will suffer dual trouble..."
"Yes."
Chu Ming shifted his steps, not wanting to waste further time.
"Brother Chu, where are you going?"
"Home."
"Listening to music? I can get you in through the back, there's a private Fragrance Pavilion..."
...
Chu Ming didn't return home; after shaking off Hou Wuchun, he arrived near Burial Alley.
He didn't enter the alley directly but sat at a small tea stand not far from the alley entrance.
"What would you like, sir?"
"Just tea."
"New tea, old tea?"
"..."
Chu Ming glanced at the vendor: a gray cloth robe, slightly hunched back, each shoulder draped with a yellowed white cloth; his face was dark, showing signs of weather-beaten life, hands supporting a tray, trembling slightly.
"New tea." He replied blandly.
"New tea is bitter, old tea tastes good and is cheaper." The vendor added.
"New tea." Chu Ming turned his gaze, "I'm thirsty, please hurry."
"Alright, please wait a moment, sir." The vendor turned and left.