In the water tank in the courtyard, a few translucent water insects were floating on the surface, occasionally twisting their bodies for slow movement.
These were the Bisho Silkworms that Song Changming had bought from the market. The small ones were only an inch long, while the larger ones were as long as a finger.
Due to their average quality, the price of these Bisho Silkworms was not high, each costing only a few dozen to over a hundred copper coins.
Song Changming and his father were observing the state of these Bisho Silkworms.
"Is that one about to die?" Father Song suddenly pointed to one of the motionless silkworms and said.
"Seems like it..." Song Changming was at a loss for words and touched the water in the tank.
The water temperature felt just right, yet that Bisho Silkworm still seemed unable to adapt and could hardly survive for even a day.
Indeed, these Bisho Silkworms were notoriously difficult to keep alive.
Even with a breeding manual, it's no easy task.
"Forget it, let's take our time and figure it out. This first batch of silkworm larvae is just for gaining experience. The ones that die can be used to enhance my martial arts, so it's not a total loss," Song Changming shook his head and said.
He vaguely felt that out of these nearly ten Bisho Silkworm larvae, none might survive in the end.
Fortunately, the silkworm bodies are beneficial to martial artists and are excellent supplements. If they die, he won't feel it's a waste.
But Father Song still felt a bit upset, as in his eyes these Bisho Silkworms were bought with considerable money, and the cost of trial and error seemed high.
"Alright, dad, it's getting late. Let's check on them again tomorrow," Song Changming said, pressing the wooden lid onto the water tank.
"Okay."
After checking on the newly bred Bisho Silkworms, Song Changming resumed practicing his martial arts, refining his body until he restored his state to 'Concentrated' for the next day, then rested.
In his mind, he reviewed the battle process with the three killers, summarized the experience, and contemplated his shortcomings during the fight.
The next day, upon opening the lid, two more Bisho Silkworms were dead.
"That's not too bad. At least the remaining six seem to have initially adapted to the tank's water quality," Song Changming smiled, removed the bodies of the two Bisho Silkworms, and prepared to consume them after practicing with his knife in the evening.
He had tasted one the day before.
The taste was somewhat elastic, akin to jelly, quite refreshing, with a slight fishy smell. Not difficult to eat at all.
As for its effects, after eating one low-quality Bisho Silkworm body, he didn't expect a noticeable outcome.
Song Changming only felt a vague sense of effect, like his body gained a touch of vitality, nothing more.
After exchanging a few words with Father Song, he went to work at the Patrol Armor Bureau.
A few days later, the identities of the three killers had been extracted through interrogation.
They claimed to be part of a Jianghu faction called Anye Pavilion.
This Anye Pavilion was quite renowned throughout the Da Han Dynasty's underground, known for its assassins' impressive accomplishments.
One of its main businesses was hiring assassins, with even several Da Han Dynasty officials having been killed by them.
Moreover, many of its assassins were on the wanted list in the Da Han Dynasty, with significant reward silver offered for their capture.
These three killers, who disturbed the peace on Houli Street, were merely low-level assassins from Anye Pavilion.
They were hired by someone to target the Patrol Armor Bureau for assassination tasks.
As for who hired them, all three insisted it was the Tengya Mountain Bandit Army.
Liang Chuan Mountain and others were not entirely convinced.
Anye Pavilion's assassins underwent special training, and it's rumored they never revealed the information of their mission's employer, which was the key to their growth and stellar reputation.
The reason these three killers claimed after capture that their employer was the Tengya Mountain Bandit Army couldn't be ruled out as being instructed to mislead them and divert blame.
The only connection between Houli Street Patrol Armor Bureau and Tengya Mountain Bandit Army was the prior killing of Chen Beihu.
If this scheme was carried out for revenge for a minor leader like Chen Beihu, it's possible, but seems a bit far-fetched.
Chen Beihu was just a minor figure in the entire Tengya Mountain Bandit Army, not significant enough to warrant such extensive actions after being killed on bounty.
On the fifth day of interrogation, the three killers suddenly died in prison, with the cause being toxic substances in their bodies leading to poisoning.
Afterwards, no more clues could be obtained, and the case was interrupted once again.
Even if the mastermind was truly the Tengya Mountain Bandit Army, a city's Patrol Guard, with only a hundred-some members, couldn't senselessly attack Tengya Mountain, which boasted over ten thousand Bandit Army troops. Such a move would be unwise.
Fortunately, capturing the three killers successfully halted this chain assassination incident, a notice was posted, somewhat saving face for the Patrol Armor Bureau.
The patrol guards successfully removed safety hazards, relieved from fear and worry.
...
Life returned to normal again as Song Changming continued serving as an assistant for nearly a year.
On this day, a night with a full moon.
On Houli Street, a nimble figure was leaping between rooftops and walls.
This person was wearing a ghost-faced mask, frequently glancing at the corners and alleys, appearing extremely alert.
"Just with the patrol guards from the Patrol Armor Bureau, they think they can catch me, Ghost-faced Thief? Truly wishful thinking!"
The ghost-faced masked man chuckled disdainfully, his figure leaped again, lightly tapping his toes on a wall edge, flipping over like a falcon, landing atop the rooftop tiles.
Gazing at the beautiful moonlight overhead, he stretched lazily, feeling relaxed.
"With such a lovely moon, it's a pity I can't stay here too long; otherwise, I should really bring a beauty to savor the moon."
Just as his words fell, several crossbow arrows shot up from below.
The ghost-faced masked man seemed to have divine foresight, moving swiftly at the crucial moment, slightly shifting his body to dodge the incoming arrows.
He mocked the patrol guards below with a smile.
"Quick on the chase, are you specifically ambushing me?"
Realizing these patrol guards came prepared, he didn't dare linger; flipping down from the rooftop, he darted into the alley.
Just as he landed, an icy blade light swept towards him, making his heart tense.
In a moment of crisis, two short knives sprung from his sleeves, held in his palms, meeting the opponent's blade.
He was quite confident in his dual knife skills; many martial artists had fallen under them.
However, today turned out differently.
In the next instant, a dull thud sounded; the masked man had been chopped to the ground, his two short knives flew from his hands.
The mask covering his face was sliced by the blade, shattering into pieces, revealing his true appearance beneath.
A face filled with panic and confusion, with a bloodstain from the blade crossing its center.
"Lord, Lord Official, spare, spare my life," the Ghost-faced Thief pleaded fearfully at the armored patrol guard pointing a long blade at him, his earlier disdain evaporated into humble begging.