News of Han Yuan’s injury was suppressed.

His current position in the Qingshui County Yamen was too important.

If word of his injury were to get out, it would likely cause trouble.

Inside the inner courtyard of the County Yamen.

The most renowned Physician in Qingshui County was cleaning Han Yuan’s wound again before applying Golden Wound Medicine.

Zheng Heda and Zhang Hu, watching from the side, felt a bone-deep pain just from the sight and turned their heads away.

"Chief Constable Han, it’s a good thing you dealt with the poisoned blood and flesh in time. Otherwise, even I would have been powerless to help."

"I’ve now thoroughly cleaned the wound. As for the sinister poison remaining in your body, I will prescribe a formula to bolster your yang energy and suppress it."

"With your physique and vitality, I believe it will only take about ten days to dissolve the sinister poison."

"Remember not to fight with anyone during this time to avoid agitating your qi and blood."

The Physician gave a few more instructions, left a prescription, and departed.

"Magistrate Zheng, have any clues been found on the killer’s body?"

Han Yuan asked weakly, his face a little pale.

"Chief Constable Han, the killer’s head was smashed to a pulp by a single punch... The forensic doctor simply couldn’t reconstruct his appearance... So no clues could be found."

Zheng Heda said with a wry smile.

"This person committed numerous evils, and he was an Inner Breath Expert. I’m afraid he was a master from the Black List."

"Magistrate Zheng, have someone bring me the Black List warrants to look at."

Han Yuan said in a deep voice.

The Black List warrants were issued by the County Government Office and contained over a hundred wanted criminals.

However, the County Yamen generally didn’t provoke these Black List criminals and would usually ignore them.

Han Yuan himself had only seen the top-ranked masters on the Black List, not the entire list.

"I’ll have someone fetch them then." Zheng Heda nodded.

Soon.

A pile of case files was moved into Han Yuan’s room.

’A Black List master with Inner Breath Cultivation should be ranked outside the top fifty.’

’The criminals on the Black List ranked beyond one hundred aren’t even at the Inner Breath Realm, so they can be excluded too.’

Han Yuan thought for a moment and first set aside some of the case files.

This greatly reduced the workload.

"Chief Constable Han, you’re covered in bandages and can’t move easily."

"Let me look through them for you."

Zhang Hu said hurriedly upon seeing Han Yuan try to get up.

"Mm... Then I’ll have to trouble you, Steward Zhang."

Han Yuan nodded.

Zheng Heda felt awkward just standing there, so he also started looking through the files with Zhang Hu.

Soon.

they had a breakthrough.

"This has to be him!"

Zhang Hu said with sudden excitement.

He placed a case file in front of Han Yuan.

Han Yuan glanced at the portrait and said in a low voice, "That’s him."

The case file contained a great deal of information about the decrepit old man.

Name: Luo Zhang

Black List Ranking: Eighty-seven

Cultivation: Inner Breath Realm

Proficient Martial Arts: Blood Essence Scripture, Ghost Claw Hand

Following this was a list of the monstrous, bloody crimes the man had committed.

Zheng Heda couldn’t help but do a rough count; the number of people who had died at this man’s hands was likely in the hundreds.

"His sins are truly monstrous!"

Zheng Heda said, shaking his head.

’I’m afraid it’s not that few.’

He thought back to what Luo Zhang had said to him last night.

Who knew how many people from the prison Gao Yuan had supplied to Luo Zhang to have their Essence Blood drained.

But he didn’t elaborate on it.

After all, both Gao Yuan and Luo Zhang were dead. There was no point in bringing these things up.

"Chief Constable Han, for killing Luo Zhang, I will report to the Government Office to request a commendation for you."

"For now, our County Yamen will reward you with five hundred taels of silver."

Zheng Heda said with a chuckle.

This was a figure from within the top one hundred of the Black List.

Reporting this to the Government Office would bring him prestige as well.

"Thank you, Magistrate Zheng," Han Yuan said softly.

"Now that the killer’s identity has been cleared up,"

"you should get some proper rest."

After exchanging a few more words with Han Yuan, Zheng Heda left the room with Zhang Hu.

Han Yuan gazed at Luo Zhang’s case file, lost in thought.

....

A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard, wearing a Conical Hat, walked into Qingshui County.

After asking around on the street, he quickly heard about the bloody incident at the Golden Martial Arts Hall that had occurred the day before.

’I’m still a step too late.’

’I hope that guy didn’t get away.’

Duan Xu frowned and strode toward the County Yamen.

To catch Luo Zhang, he would naturally need the assistance of the local County Yamen.

He arrived at the entrance of the County Yamen and found a Government Official to announce him.

At that moment, Zheng Heda and Zhang Hu happened to be handling official business in the main hall. They were greatly surprised to hear that someone from Cangshui County had arrived.

"What is the man’s name?"

Zheng Heda asked.

"I don’t know... He didn’t give his name or his origin, but from the looks of him, he seems more like a Blade Master..."

the Government Official said in a low voice.

"How strange."

"Bring him in."

Zheng Heda said with a wave of his hand.

Soon.

Duan Xu walked into the main hall.

"Who are you?" Zheng Heda asked, somewhat puzzled by his appearance.

"Observatory. Demon Exterminator. Duan Xu."

Duan Xu said flatly.

The moment Zheng Heda heard the word "Observatory," a look of shock crossed his face.

The Observatory was established during the early days of the Great Ling Dynasty. It was a highly secretive organization, not subject to the jurisdiction of local government offices.

Even Zheng Heda had only ever heard of the Observatory by name and had never dealt with them. He only knew they were responsible for monitoring and safeguarding the peace of the realm.

As for "Demon Exterminator," he had no idea what that meant.

"You say you’re from the Observatory... Do you have any proof?"

Zheng Heda’s expression grew serious.

"This is my Token."

"And a document from the Government Office."

Duan Xu took out an iron Token and a document.

Zheng Heda didn’t recognize the Observatory’s Token, but when he saw the official seal on the document, he knew the man wasn’t lying.

"So it is Lord Duan."

"May I ask what brings you to our Qingshui County?"

Zheng Heda’s attitude became much more cordial.

"I’ve come because of the Golden Martial Arts Hall case that occurred in your county."

"The killer in this case practices an Evil Skill that requires the constant consumption of human blood, so he is likely to strike again."

"This time, I require the assistance of your County Yamen."

Duan Xu said gravely.

"The Golden Martial Arts Hall case?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"In that case, Lord Duan, you’ve arrived too late."

"We’ve already solved it."

Zheng Heda said with a laugh.

"Lord Zheng... this is no time for jokes."

Duan Xu’s expression turned cold.

He thought Zheng Heda had found a scapegoat to close the case.

Because although Luo Zhang had broken through to the Inner Breath Realm through unorthodox, evil methods, making him weaker than a normal Inner Breath Martial Artist...

...in a remote place like Qingshui County, he was still an overwhelming force.

It was impossible for anyone here to be his match.

Moreover, the man was exceptionally cunning, changing locations at the slightest hint of trouble.

Duan Xu himself had come up empty-handed several times while trying to catch him. How could the people of a small County Yamen possibly capture him?

"This is a major case involving more than twenty lives."

"How could I possibly joke about such a thing?"

"The killer’s corpse is with the forensic doctor right now."

"If Lord Duan doesn’t believe me, I will take you to see for yourself."

Zheng Heda said with a serious expression.

Hearing Zheng Heda speak with such certainty, Duan Xu was still skeptical but nodded and said, "Then I’ll trouble the Magistrate to lead the way."

Zheng Heda and Zhang Hu immediately led Duan Xu to the morgue.

When Duan Xu saw Luo Zhang’s corpse, his expression was one of shock and disbelief.

Although Luo Zhang’s head had been obliterated by Han Yuan’s punch,

Duan Xu could tell from other marks on the body, especially the hands, that it was undoubtedly Luo Zhang.