Chapter 155: Chapter 155: The Curtain Falls
Chen Ping’an moved with incredible speed, carrying Mu Wanjun in his arms as he sprinted through the streets and alleys.
Perhaps it was the violent jostling from the run, or maybe her injuries were starting to heal, but Mu Wanjun gradually regained consciousness in Chen Ping’an’s arms.
Disoriented at first, Mu Wanjun watched the scenery flash by on either side, gradually recalling what had just happened.
’I’m... not dead?’
She opened her eyes and looked up, seeing Chen Ping’an’s determined face.
"Lord Mu, I’m taking you to the Garrison Commandant’s Office to treat your injuries!"
Chen Ping’an said in a low voice, seeing that Mu Wanjun had woken up.
Feeling Chen Ping’an’s intense, masculine presence, Mu Wanjun felt a bit flustered. However, understanding the urgency of the situation, she gradually composed herself.
"What about Mai Xiongbo? Has he stopped hunting us?"
"Mai Xiongbo was hot on our heels at first, and I was under immense pressure. But then he suddenly stopped giving chase..."
Chen Ping’an explained.
’Some things are better left unsaid. The more one explains, the greater the risk of being exposed. Sticking to the facts of what transpired was the most suitable approach.’
Hearing Chen Ping’an’s brief explanation, a thoughtful expression crossed Mu Wanjun’s face.
’Mai Xiongbo was injured by Lord Yan, so he must be in bad shape. And being inside Weishui City, he couldn’t keep up a long pursuit. But still... Mai Xiongbo is a master of the Second Stage of the Inner Qi Realm. Even injured, his speed should be no less than that of an ordinary expert at the First Stage of Inner Qi. How did Chen Ping’an manage it?’
Mu Wanjun was puzzled.
However, it was clearly not a good time to ask questions.
Chen Ping’an weaved through the streets and alleys, the sounds of chaos echoing around them from time to time.
"Die!"
A shadowy figure suddenly emerged from a side alley, brandishing a Short Spike and lunging viciously at Chen Ping’an.
"You’re courting death!"
Still carrying Mu Wanjun, Chen Ping’an didn’t dodge or evade, simply leaping into a flying kick.
THUD!
The shadowy figure’s chest instantly caved in as he was slammed violently to the ground.
A fiend from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect!
Chen Ping’an recognized his identity at a glance.
’A mere Qi Blood Third Layer, and he dared to attack me!’
’He must have had a death wish!’
GURGLE...
With just a single kick, the shadowy figure was already on his last breath.
Chen Ping’an delivered a final kick to finish him off, then left without a second thought.
By the time Chen Ping’an brought Mu Wanjun to the South Town Garrison Command, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s rampage in Weishui South City had begun to subside.
"First squad to the east, second squad to the west, third squad with me! Remember, kill any fiend from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect on sight! Don’t let a single one escape!"
A man in leather boots and a black-and-red cloak shouted at the top of his lungs.
Behind him, groups of elite constables sprang into action at his words.
As the Outer City Garrison Command gradually freed up its forces and dispatched elite reinforcements, the fiends of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect saw the situation turning against them and began to retreat.
In the process, many of the sect’s fiends failed to escape and were killed on the spot.
With the continuous arrival of reinforcements from the Outer City Garrison Command, Mu Wanjun was properly settled and cared for.
Chen Ping’an didn’t remain at the South Town Garrison Command. Instead, he joined the elite constables in hunting down the remaining fiends of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.
’A chance to kick them while they’re down? There’s no better opportunity to rack up some easy merits!’
The hunt continued until broad daylight before finally coming to an end.
The organized, premeditated uprising by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was gradually brought to a close by the full-scale intervention of the Outer City Garrison Command.
The losses from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s uprising were quickly tallied.
In Weishui Outer City, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect had deliberately set fires in five locations, destroying numerous homes. Countless innocent civilians were caught in the crossfire; dozens were killed on the spot, and hundreds were injured...
As for the Garrison Commandant’s Office, ninety-six constables were killed and three hundred sixty-seven were injured; seventeen Constables were killed, and twenty-one were injured...
Even among the Inner Qi Realm Tributors, three had fallen and over a dozen were injured. In addition, Mu Wanjun, Chief of the Patrol Office for the South Town Garrison Command, was severely injured.
Fu Yuanming, the Vice Director of the Southern Town Governor’s Office, died in the line of duty. His body was discovered by a constable while it was burning. By the time he was found, it was too late to put out the fire, leaving only partial remains.
The losses this time were absolutely devastating.
Of course, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect hadn’t fared much better.
In terms of casualties, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect had initially achieved great success, but their losses began to mount rapidly following the swift response from the Outer City Garrison Command.
In the end, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s losses were actually greater.
However, Wu Haihua, the very fuse that ignited this incident, was successfully rescued by the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Considering that the chaos unfolded within Weishui City, causing civilian casualties and property damage, this clash between the two sides could be considered a draw.
With the Ten Thousand Demons Sect in full retreat, the next few days were spent on appeasement and stabilization efforts. Beyond that, investigations into certain matters were also launched.
Special investigators also came to question Chen Ping’an.
In response, Chen Ping’an answered truthfully, aside from concealing a few crucial details.
"Hmm? Lord Chen, are you saying that you were able to escape the pursuit of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect Protector, Mai Xiongbo, while carrying Lord Mu?"
The man questioning Chen Ping’an was a Deputy Supervisor from the Outer City Garrison Command with an Inner Qi Realm cultivation. As he listened to Chen Ping’an’s account, he fittingly expressed his doubt.
"Lord Ren, I didn’t escape Mai Xiongbo’s pursuit, I merely managed to stay just out of his reach," Chen Ping’an explained patiently.
Hearing this, Supervisor Ren of the Outer City Garrison Command looked at Chen Ping’an, his eyes glinting.
"If I’m not mistaken, Lord Chen, you have yet to enter the Inner Qi Realm, correct?"
"That is correct. My cultivation only just reached the Qi Blood Six Layers Perfection a few days ago. I have not yet stepped into the Inner Qi Realm."
"Without being in the Inner Qi Realm, and while carrying another person, how could you possibly keep Mai Xiongbo, who is at the Second Stage of the Inner Qi Realm, from catching you? Lord Chen, are you sure you’re not misremembering?"
"There’s something you may not know, Lord Ren. At the time, Mai Xiongbo had already been severely injured by Lord Yan, so his speed was nothing like it was at his peak. Lord Yan can vouch for that."
Chen Ping’an ignored the man’s attempt to pressure him and replied with a smile. Seeing the doubt that still lingered in his eyes, he continued.
"Furthermore, I specialize in a certain Lightweight Skill, which I have cultivated to the Great Success Stage. I can’t make any other claims, but when it comes to speed, I am no slower than an ordinary Inner Qi Realm practitioner!"
"A Lightweight Skill? Which one?"
Supervisor Ren’s eyes flashed as he couldn’t help but ask.
"Eight Steps Chasing Cicada!"
...
The intense interrogation was weathered safely thanks to Chen Ping’an’s composed responses. In the end, Supervisor Ren from the Outer City Garrison Command dismissed his suspicions about him.
As an investigator, it was his job to be reasonably suspicious of everyone. He hadn’t been targeting Chen Ping’an specifically—it was nothing personal.
However, this encounter did make him aware that Chen Ping’an had cultivated a Superior Lightweight Skill to the Great Success Realm. He would, in turn, dutifully report this fact, and it would be added to Chen Ping’an’s official file.
After seeing the man out, Chen Ping’an closed the main door. He went into his room, sat cross-legged on his bed, and mulled over the details of the interrogation.
He replayed the conversation several times in his mind, and finding no flaws in his story, Chen Ping’an finally allowed himself to relax.
’Sigh... The Fine Blade was discovered after all!’
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Chen Ping’an heaved a long sigh.
The Fine Blade he had hidden in the scholar tree had been found by the professional investigators from the Outer City Garrison Command. This discovery led them to conduct further analysis, resulting in more speculation about who killed Fu Yuanming.
Still, no matter how much they speculated, they wouldn’t suspect him for the time being.
He had left the scene early, but his efforts to destroy the body and erase all traces had been largely successful, leaving no obvious overs-ights.
With that thought, Chen Ping’an retrieved a wooden box from under his bed.
He opened the box to reveal two pieces of parchment. Both were palm-sized and had a texture entirely different from sheepskin or cowhide, as if made from some special material.
One of them was the piece he had chanced upon and bought in the Black Market.
The other, he had found embedded in the skin on the back of Mai Xiongbo’s neck after killing him!
When placed side by side, the two pieces of parchment fit together to form a complete map.
A Treasure Map!
Chen Ping’an’s expression grew excited.
