"Hehe, the smell of the Criminal Defense Bureau." The girl's voice echoed.
"Young Master, do you want it?" It was the voice of the Night Watchman.
"Want what?" The girl's voice rang out again: "Yuan Chengji, can you beat him?"
"You killed two Deputy Captains, do you think that Chief Constable won't notice?"
"Can't you stop eating just heart and liver, and eat more brains?"
"The Young Master is rightly reprimanding."
"And you, Old Hong, can you stop acting so real, this Young Master hates when you people show one face in public and another in private." The girl's voice was stern.
"Yes."
"Hehe." The girl suddenly laughed again, "But, Old Hong, don't say, your acting is really good. Those Criminal Defense Bureau guys can't compare to you, they pretend to be arrogant officials by day, oppressing the people, and before long, they've sent the money for tea."
"Tsk tsk, two taels of silver, how much tea do you have to sell to make that..."
"And that scholar-like young master, he ordered tea but didn't drink a sip, such a waste, he didn't even pay for the tea, if it weren't for him being somewhat pleasant to look at..."
"Young Master, that person is not simple." The Tea Stall Owner said seriously.
Ordering tea but not drinking, secretly observing, clearly the intention is not just for the tea.
Appearing in front of Wheat Alley, the purpose is easily guessed.
"Hehe, truly not simple, very cautious, almost catching up to my elder brother."
The room fell silent, after a moment, the Tea Stall Owner spoke slowly: "The Criminal Defense Bureau is using such tactics to catch Yuan Chengji and us, and now there is an unidentified person. Young Master, maybe we should change places."
"Change places?" The Night Watchman, Yuan Chengji, who had been silent, said instinctively, "Then what about me?"
"Haha, look, you're anxious, you're anxious." The girl's playful voice came through.
"You can't leave for now; today's events show that the Criminal Defense Bureau is not foolish, they are very clever. If I'm not wrong, your two superior Captains have likely made an arrangement with the Criminal Defense Bureau, ostensibly staking out Wheat Alley, but in reality, they want to lure you into making a mistake."
"Wait until the Young Master safely leaves Liuu Town, then you can go."
"Under no circumstances should the Young Master's existence be revealed."
"Old Hong, why do you have to bring me up? Just those few from the Criminal Defense Bureau and two Captains, can they be my match?"
"Young Master..." The Tea Stall Owner pondered, "The Arresting Captain from the Criminal Defense Bureau is a martial artist who has Condensed Seven Qi Blood, and the two Deputy Captains have Condensed Six Qi Blood."
"So what? The Young Master has achieved Divine Skill Great Success, can swallow one bite at a time."
"Yuan Chengji, shut up." The Tea Stall Owner shouted, "Young Master, these three are not the biggest threat. The one to be wary of is Fang Xiao."
"Captain Fang?"
"Fang Xiao's background is not simple, he was once a Squad Leader in the Xirong County Tiger Armor Army, and later, for some reason, went to Baiyuan County's Criminal Defense Bureau to be an Instructor. Though he's old and his Qi and Blood have weakened, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, his true strength is not weaker than a martial artist in the Blood Circulation Realm Condensing Nine Qi Blood, or even Ten Qi Blood."
"Is that old man really that powerful?" Yuan Chengji was taken aback.
"Be careful, it can't be wrong."
Outside.
Chu Ming was equally surprised, hearing a lot of information.
First, it was Housekeeper Fang's experience, a Tiger Armor Army Squad Leader, and a Criminal Defense Bureau Instructor.
How could someone with such a notable status be willing to be a guard for the Chu Family?
"Could it be like the rumors, the old Housekeeper and the original owner's mother..."
Secondly, it seemed that the Arresting Captain of the Criminal Defense Bureau was not as he had heard from Wu Chun or seen at the tea stall at dusk.
Housekeeper Fang and the Criminal Defense Bureau seemed to know there was a hidden ghost within the Arresting Office, just uncertain of who, and if there were more behind.
Thus, they wanted to deceive the culprit, that is, the Tea Stall Owner and his group, through a fake stakeout.
"But...obviously, the Tea Stall Owner and his group were superior, directly setting up the stand at the alley mouth, observing Housekeeper Fang and the Criminal Defense Bureau's every move."
Finally, it came to the identity of the Tea Stall Owner and his group.
The girl was the Young Master, weaker in strength than Fang Xiao, the Tea Stall Owner held a slightly higher status, strength unknown, and the constable named Yuan Chengji held the lowest status, not as strong as the two Criminal Defense Bureau Captains.
"Young Master...which means, they have an even larger organization behind them..."
"That girl was with the Tea Stall Owner, and since the Tea Stall Owner's strength is unknown, I can't act directly."
"But the Night Watchman...could be a breakthrough point."
Chu Ming listened quietly, as the people inside continued to discuss in low voices.
"Old Hong, we can't touch that Fang Xiao, but we can touch the other Captain, right? I finally came out here, surely we can't just eat some ordinary stuff?"
"A martial artist in the Blood Circulation Realm with Condensing Five Qi Blood, hmm, must be delicious."
"Young Master doesn't want to leave...?"
"Wait another day or two, the person from Baiyuan County will soon send someone to pick me up. You and Yuan Chengji figure out a way these days. If you can get me some to eat, I'll teach you the next level of the Blood Refining Technique, how about it?"
What the girl said sounded like negotiation, but the tone was indisputable.
The small room fell silent.
After a long time, a lantern lit up on the street.
Dong——
"Dry weather, be careful of fire."
"..."
...
Yuan Chengji left the small room and walked quickly along the street, soon leaving North Street.
Chu Ming cloaked himself, following this Night Watchman from a distance.
After leaving North Street, he arrived at East Street, winding his way into an empty house.
"Damn, that old thing is scared, hanging around the Young Master all day, he must have spoken ill of me, otherwise the Young Master wouldn't treat me one way and him another."
"Just over twenty days, I've scooped eight hearts, all the good stuff goes to you, and I can only eat the leftovers. As soon as the Criminal Defense Bureau arrives, he wants to run, he even wants to leave me behind!"
Inside the house, Yuan Chengji cursed as he removed his Night Watchman clothes, changing into constable garments.
"If it weren't for me, you old thing would have starved to death, and the Young Master would have an empty stomach!"
The more he cursed, the more dissatisfied he felt.
The more dissatisfied he was, the more he wanted to curse.
"All this cursing has made me hungry."
Saying this, he walked to a side room, a strange smell wafting out. Yuan Chengji acted as if he couldn't smell anything, even showing excitement on his face.
He squatted, lifting a wooden board.
Instantly, a putrid odor wafted out.
"Smells so good."
Yuan Chengji rolled up his sleeves slightly, pulled away some cloth covering a half-rotten piece, eagerly jamming it into his mouth.
At this moment, kneeling on the ground, head buried, strange objects clinging to his mouth, he resembled a beast savoring its prey.
Crunch... crunch...
The grinding sound echoed through the silent little house.
"It's about time."
Suddenly, a young voice interrupted his meal.
"Who's there?!"
Squeak——
The wooden door slowly opened, Chu Ming walked in, frowning.
Even holding his breath didn't stop that stomach-turning stench from assailing his nostrils.
"You?!" Yuan Chengji was shocked, but reacted quickly, turning his body, lunging like a beast.
Chu Ming's gaze focused, his right hand lifted instantly, fingers forming a palm.
Buzz——
The Slapping Wind Palm struck, a breaking wind sound accompanying it.
Bang!