Chapter Eight: Deadlock

“I was wrong, I was wrong, please, let go…”
The goat-bearded man screamed in agony, grimacing and begging for mercy.
This…
Qi Xiu was surprised as he looked at the local ruffian he had subdued so easily, and with a low command, he told the goat-bearded man to get out of the way.
Clutching his wrist, the goat-bearded man retreated in panic and rolled up his sleeve to look. His face paled.
There, clear as day, were five dark bruises in the shape of fingers on his wrist.
“Isn’t that young Qi? He’s amazing.”
“Yes, who would’ve thought? Always seemed like a frail scholar, but he’s so strong.”
“Never judge a man by his appearance, nor the depth of the sea by its surface.”
The murmurs of those nearby reached Qi Xiu’s ears, and his heart steadied.
He really had chosen the right martial art.
Otherwise, he would have been the one beaten.
Intimidated by Qi Xiu, the thugs who had been locked up in the cell suddenly behaved themselves.
After all, everyone saw the black bruises on the goat-bearded man’s wrist.
The cell was damp and cold, the smell unpleasant.
Anxiously, the group waited in this cramped space for more than an hour.
The county constable never came to interrogate them.
After another quarter of an hour,
the constable who had escorted them returned, took out his keys, and prepared to unlock the cell door.
“Sir, is the county constable here?”
Someone asked nervously.
“No, you can all go home.”
“Huh?”
Everyone looked at him in disbelief, eyes full of confusion.
Just like that, we’re being let go?
Is this a joke?
“Sir, may I ask why we’re suddenly being released?” An elderly man asked politely.
“Why so many questions? Just leave when you’re told—stop wasting time!”
With a cold glance, the constable pulled the cell door, making as if to close it:
“If you don’t want to leave, stay here a few more days.”
At those words, no one dared linger; they rushed out of the cell in a swarm.
Kicking aside a prisoner who tried to sneak out with the crowd, the constable grumbled as he locked the door.
“Damn it, how did such a mysterious killer turn up in our remote county…”
Qi Xiu, walking at the back of the crowd, overheard the constable’s muttering and slowed his steps to wait for him to catch up.
“Sir, may I ask you something?”
“You want to go back inside, huh…”
The constable frowned, ready to rebuke this stubborn youth, when a heavy, cold object was discreetly pressed into his hand.
His eyes flickered, weighing it in his palm, and a smile appeared:
“You’re quite something, aren’t you?
You’re wondering why you were all released so quickly, right?”
“Indeed, sir.”
Glancing around, the constable leaned close to Qi Xiu and whispered:

“It’s simple: the murderer struck again.
Half an hour ago, two families in Qingyuan Alley were killed, just like those in Nanguang Alley.
The deaths were identical.
The coroner determined the time of death was just after dawn.
By then, you were all locked up.
Impossible for you to have committed the crime.
So you were all let go.”
After explaining, the constable patted Qi Xiu’s shoulder meaningfully:
“Hurry home. Things are unsettled these days. Take care of yourself.”
“Thank you for the warning.”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Qi Xiu thanked him and quickly left the county office with the crowd.

…

He hurried back to Nanguang Alley.
The morning’s ordeal left Qi Xiu with one thought.
Move!
He had to move!
With murders happening so close—just a few dozen meters from his home—he felt as if venomous snakes lurked everywhere, and he couldn’t bear to stay another moment in Baohua County.
I still have over eighty taels of silver.
With my skills, I could hide out in some remote mountain village for a few years.
Once my martial arts level is high enough—first one level, then ten—I can return.
A wise man does not stand beneath a dangerous wall; having realized this, Qi Xiu felt the oppressive clouds over his head begin to clear.

Bang—

He pushed open the gate and stepped inside.
A familiar figure sat in the central hall, curiously examining a talisman marked with the word “Suppression.”
“Gong Yan?”
Seeing the woman who had only crossed paths with him once, Qi Xiu frowned.
Why was she here?
“You’re back.”
Upon hearing his voice, Gong Yan slowly turned. Her pronounced brow and straight nose lent her gaze a striking intensity.
“What is this?”
She waved the talisman in her hand.
The “Suppression” talisman was written in cloud script, unreadable to ordinary folk.
“It’s nothing, just some idle scribbling.”
Qi Xiu paused, his right foot hovering at the threshold.
This woman—could she be here to silence me?
Sensing Qi Xiu’s hesitation, Gong Yan let out a mocking laugh and stood up.
In the next instant,
her graceful figure crossed the courtyard in a flash, grabbing Qi Xiu’s collar and dragging him inside.
Bang!
The gate slammed shut.

At such close quarters, a rich fragrance invaded Qi Xiu’s senses.
He had never experienced such a scene before.
Qi Xiu’s face flushed bright red.
“Oh, I see—you’re still innocent,” Gong Yan laughed softly, letting go of him.
“I came today to inform you of something.
My senior brother wishes to hire you to copy a scripture.
The pay is generous.”
“But I have urgent matters at home. I may need to leave Baohua County for a few days. Could I complete the copying after I return?”
Qi Xiu touched his chest, still warm from her grip, his face tinged with red.
“I said, I’m here to notify you—not to seek your consent.” Gong Yan twirled her hair, lazily casting a glance at Qi Xiu.
“Of course, you can refuse.
But the road home…
might be one I’ll personally escort you down.”
Her open threat carried a chilling intent to kill.
“In that case, I have no choice but to obey.” Qi Xiu bowed slightly, his voice low.
“Good boy. Someone will come for you tomorrow.
Don’t think of running away—if I catch you, I’ll break all five of your legs, haha.”
She stroked Qi Xiu’s cheek, chuckling as she opened the gate and departed.

Qi Xiu remained in place until her footsteps faded completely, then straightened up.
His hands, hidden in his sleeves, were dark as night, the Black Sand Palm at full power.
No.
The gap is too great.
At that range, even if I struck her heart in a surprise attack, her death throes would surely drag me down with her.
Reviewing the encounter in his mind, Qi Xiu slowly released the energy from his hands.
“She thinks I’m some fool, blinded by desire.
But it’s lucky she played that card—otherwise, I couldn’t have explained the flush caused by circulating my martial art.”
With a cold laugh, Qi Xiu entered the inner room.
When Gong Yan had suddenly grabbed him, he had almost reacted instinctively.
But his mastery of Black Sand Palm was still incomplete; every time he used it at full strength, his blood surged and his face flushed.
If not for Gong Yan’s mistake,
he would have been exposed.
A man who had trained for ten days and gained such power—
if discovered, he would face endless darkness.

“Qian Yuchuan wants me to copy a scripture; it must be that beast-skin scroll.
Such a precious item—once I finish copying it, it will likely spell my doom.”
Looking at the disordered inner room, Qi Xiu’s brows knitted as he quietly pondered how to break free from this deadly predicament.

…