Red Stone Lane.

Early in the morning, a dozen or so constables from the City Guard Department, expressions grim and hands on their Constable’s Sabers, surrounded Gentry Zhang’s home.

The common folk of the lane, having learned that the Zhang Family had been targeted by robbers and massacred overnight, were all filled with unease, gathering nearby to discuss the matter in hushed tones.

The Zhang Family was moderately influential and even had Hospital Martial Artists on guard, yet they still met with such a disaster. How could ordinary folk like them possibly feel safe?

Most of Red Stone Lane’s residents were commoners, and their homes were mostly dilapidated, low-slung structures of tile and earth.

Only three households had large courtyards built of green limestone. Each of these three estates was a self-contained compound, set some distance apart from its neighbors. The Zhang Family was one of these, and their home was situated even farther from the other two.

Among the crowd of onlookers, two middle-aged men dressed in long silk gowns were conversing in low voices, their faces etched with worry.

"Sigh... The Zhang Family’s fate is just too tragic. Not a soul was left alive, young or old."

"The Zhangs never really had any enemies. How could such a calamity befall them!"

"In this day and age, who needs enemies to have their whole family massacred? The culprits were clearly just after the Zhang Family’s riches. Besides the Zhangs, our two families are the only ones in Red Stone Lane with any silver coins to speak of. We need to be vigilant."

"Indeed. We’ll have to look out for each other at night from now on. If there’s the slightest sign of trouble, remember to scream for help. Brother, if something happens at your home, even if I don’t dare confront them myself, I can at least shout along to make some noise and hopefully scare the intruders away." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"My thoughts exactly, brother. Our homes aren’t far apart; it’s only right that we unite and watch each other’s backs. Rest assured, if trouble comes to your door, I’ll be shouting my lungs out too."

"I’m afraid this will be another year of harsh winter famine. Many outsiders have flocked to Lishui District, including a fair number of powerful individuals Cultivating the Martial Dao. There’s likely to be more trouble. I hope Chief Chen can catch the murderers and make an example of them to deter these other vicious criminals."

"Isn’t that the truth! Whether we can make it through this year in one piece depends entirely on Chief Chen and the Lord Officers of the City Guard Department."

.....

"He’s here! Chief Chen is here."

Someone in the crowd shouted, and the people immediately stopped their discussions, parting to clear a path.

A young Chief Constable with a handsome face, dressed in a black, cloud-patterned uniform with a Long Saber at his waist, strode into the mouth of the lane. He wore a pair of large, gleaming silver Iron Claws on his hands.

His expression was composed, his gaze clear. This was none other than Chen Cheng, the Iron Hand Chief Constable of the Qingshui Pier district.

Several constables from the City Guard Department followed closely behind him, their faces stern.

"You few, question the neighbors. See if there are any useful clues."

Upon reaching the entrance to Gentry Zhang’s home, Chen Cheng turned and gave an order to the constables behind him before leading Li Sheng and the others who were guarding the gate into the courtyard.

Chen Cheng had previously ordered Li Sheng to secure the crime scene, so it had been kept quite intact.

The moment he stepped through the gate, the thick stench of blood assaulted his nostrils. The Zhang Family’s four Hospital Martial Artists and an elderly doorman lay dead near the wing, their dark red blood pooled on the ground.

It seemed the four Hospital Martial Artists never even had a chance to fight the intruders. Two had their throats slit with a single strike, while the other two had been stabbed through the heart.

The elderly doorman was also wounded in the neck, his head nearly severed from his body.

The cuts on the dead were clean and decisive. The assailants had to be at least Great Success Blade Masters. The blow that killed the doorman was exceptionally vicious; the one who struck was likely a Martial Artist who had reached Saber Technique Perfection.

Combining the various clues left at the scene, Chen Cheng began to form a theory in his mind.

’One Martial Artist at Saber Technique Perfection and two Great Success Blade Masters. They snuck into the Zhang Family estate under the cover of darkness, deliberately made a noise to draw out the Hospital Martial Artists, then ambushed and killed them.’

’Of these three assailants, the one at Saber Technique Perfection must be at the Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm. The other two are at most at the Beginner Level of the Skin Grinding Realm, having only cultivated their Saber Technique to Great Success.’

’With that level of power, it’s no wonder they had to slaughter the entire Zhang Family. They were clearly afraid of their identities being exposed.’

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Cheng headed toward the back courtyard of the Zhang estate.

The back courtyard was more spacious than the front and had several more wing rooms. The doors to all the rooms stood wide open.

Starting with the main residence, Chen Cheng examined the scene in each room, which only served to further confirm his theory.

All the victims had been killed with a single slash. The wounds were identical to those in the front courtyard—only three types of cuts could be found. One was exceptionally vicious, while the other two were merely from a Great Success Level Saber Technique.

Another commonality was that all three assailants struck with ruthless decisiveness, clean and without hesitation. They were likely hardened figures from the Jianghu, accustomed to living by the blade.

After surveying the scene, Chen Cheng ordered Li Sheng to take his men to collect the bodies and handle the clean-up.

Ma Zehua and the others in charge of questioning the locals hurried over to report. They said that due to the cold weather last night, everyone had gone to bed early. They hadn’t heard any commotion from the Zhang residence, nor had they noticed any suspicious individuals entering or leaving Red Stone Lane.

The Zhang estate was a self-contained compound with high walls, and the intruders had clearly come prepared, making very little noise during the attack. The neighbors were all commoners; it was only natural they hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

"Does Gentry Zhang have any living relatives?" Chen Cheng asked after a moment of thought.

Ma Zehua answered, "I just asked around. Gentry Zhang has a younger brother in Xin’an County Town, under the jurisdiction of Linji Prefecture."

"Send a message to Xin’an County Town and inform Gentry Zhang’s brother. As for the rest, you and Li Sheng can handle things as you see fit," Chen Cheng instructed.

Just then, Mu Song hurried over. Chen Cheng gave him a meaningful look and walked straight out of the Zhang residence.

Once they found a secluded spot, Mu Song leaned close to Chen Cheng’s ear and reported in a low voice:

"Mr. Chen, right after you left the Lishui Sub-Department, Constable Yang went to Lord Ji’s Government Office Hall. He stayed for quite a while before coming out."