Chu Ming lifted his gaze and searched his memory, having some impressions, but the memories related to names were lost.
It was like in a past life, when on the way to work, you're suddenly stopped by someone claiming to be your elementary school classmate, who even calls out your name, but you've completely forgotten them...
The original owner lived a reclusive life in the small town, occasionally visiting the brothel in the town center to listen to music, only acquainted with a few peers, and this person should be one of them.
The visitor's attention wasn't on Chu Ming's face but instead focused on the small alley behind him: "Brother Chu, did you just come out from Wheat Alley?"
"No." Chu Ming replied.
"Good, then. This alley is not to be entered; it's quite eerie. If Brother Chu is looking for convenience, see that alley, Yingfeng Lane, just go to the end."
The young man said this, his expression suddenly odd as he looked at Chu Ming: "Brother Chu, I see you're sweating on your forehead, your steps are unsteady, is your illness still not better?"
"You know I'm sick?" Chu Ming countered.
The fact of the original owner's illness was known to very few people.
"Isn't Brother Chu sick every other day? My father often visits your house, how could I not know?" The visitor said, placing his hand directly on Chu Ming's shoulder.
"No, Brother Chu, what's that look? The last time you were seriously ill, your brain was affected, do you not recognize me?"
"..." Chu Ming remained silent, not able to admit he truly didn't remember.
"My father is the doctor who treated you." The young man said.
"Still can't remember? Well, you should remember the travelogue 'Sword Gourd Journey,' which you bought from me."
"No, you still don't remember? Fine, fine, I'm Huang Lu."
"Oh, it's Brother Huang..." Chu Ming intended to acknowledge midway, but the other rattled on, not giving a chance to interject.
"Huh? Huang my ass, it seems Brother Chu's brain is indeed fried, must not have properly taken the medicine my father prescribed, or you'd be better by now. I'm Luu Huang, not Huang Lu!"
"..." Chu Ming was speechless: "The doctor who took my pulse, his surname is Huang, your father..."
"Hehe, it looks like Brother Chu did take my father's medicine properly, your brain isn't gone."
"My father's medicines are very sweet, you need to eat a lot, the more you eat, the faster you'll recover."
The young man patted Chu Ming's shoulder, then suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Actually, I prefer the surname Lu, do you know why?"
Chu Ming cooperatively shook his head.
"Because the proctor for this private tutor exam has the surname Lu."
"If I share the same surname as the proctor, maybe... hehe, you know, earn some favor points or something..."
What kind of strange logic is this?
Chu Ming raised his brows slightly, pretending to ask suspiciously: "Private tutor exam?"
Seeing that Chu Ming didn't know, Huang Lu's little eyes twitched, and his chin suddenly lifted, a proud expression on his face:
"Brother Chu, you are quite ignorant, better read fewer travelogues and frequent the brothels less. Brother Chu should be like me, literary in poetry and books, versed in military skill, able to govern, and martial in... "
Chu Ming braced himself through the other's long-winded bragging and finally got the critical information.
The private tutor exam would be held ten days later. For those under sixteen in the town, they could register and participate by paying one tael of silver at the private tutor's office before the exam.
"Brother Chu, aren't you sixteen this year too? Do you want to give it a try? Maybe the exam content will be a review of the 'Sword Gourd Journey' travelogue, discussing the best time to visit brothels to listen to music, which is possible."
The more Huang Lu spoke, the higher his posture became, even beginning to self-indulge in yin yang tones unconsciously.
Chu Ming glanced at this fellow, wondering if his odd behavior was from secretly eating his father's medicinal herbs.
...
At the private tutor office entrance.
Chu Ming paid one tael of broken silver, and Huang Lu, watching, almost had his face frozen into a smile, showing a look of a scheme succeeding.
"Hehe, Brother Chu, do you know how long I've been studying hard in poetry and books for this exam?"
"Two and a half years?"
"How did Brother Chu know?"
"I guessed."
"Haha, with my father feeding me tonic every day, and two and a half years of effort, I'm sure to get a good ranking!"
"By the way, Brother Chu, seeing that you're about to place below me... no, seeing your pale complexion and weak body, next time my father prescribes medicine, just mention my name for a discount."
You?
Never mind, one tael turning into two taels, right?
Chu Ming found an excuse to escape, retracing his steps, seeing Little Shan carrying a bowl of clear water from afar to greet him.
"Young master, are you thirsty?"
"A bit."
After drinking a large bowl of water, Chu Ming first practiced the [Slapping Wind Palm] and [Tiger and Python Strength] in the courtyard for a while; after Housekeeper Fang returned and they had dinner together, he continued reading.
The next day, as usual.
In Little Shan's concerned anxiety, Chu Ming finished a day's practice.
On the third day.
Chu Ming got up early to continue working on his progress.
By evening, the Great Success progress of [Slapping Wind Palm] reached '76', and [Tiger and Python Strength] made significant progress, breaking through Minor Success to Great Success, with a progress of '13'.
[Reading] was not neglected either, with last night's effort by lamplight, progress reached '37', and completed the second book 'Essence of Classics and History'.
...
Liuu Town Arresting Office.
"Two masters, a corpse was found in Wheat Alley." A junior constable reported.
"Wheat Alley?" Captain Hou responded indifferently, "Has the identity been confirmed?"
"Confirmed, it's a porter from the Black Water Gang, chest cavity has been ripped open, innards are gone, same as the previous two times." The constable spoke with fear.
"It's the third case." Captain Hou's expression was solemn.
Fang Xiao beside him slightly frowned: "Captain Hou, I'll go take a look."
Yesterday, Captain Hou had discussed this case with him, and he didn't expect to encounter a similar incident today.
...
Wheat Alley.
Fang Xiao and Captain Hou examined the relatively badly decomposed corpse.
"Brother Fang, did you see anything?" Captain Hou pinched his nose and asked.
Fang Xiao slowly stood up, his voice low and said, "There are obvious bite marks and claw traces on the wound, initially it seems to be the work of a beast."
"But besides the missing innards in the chest cavity, everything else is intact, it doesn't really fit a beast's habits."
Beasts wouldn't merely rip open a chest cavity and eat the innards.
Captain Hou nodded: "The previous two corpses were the same. And although Liuu Town isn't large, it has city defense patrols, beasts normally shouldn't be able to get in."
"The chances of consecutive acts without leaving any fur traces are minimal.
...
...
At the end of West Street in Liuu Town, the small courtyard entrance.
Fang Xiao and Captain Hou walked side by side.
"Brother Fang, we need to get to the arresting office early tomorrow. The top has sent people down, after all, there's been a murder, and if we can't catch the culprit, we still need to maintain appearances."
"Alright."
Fang Xiao opened the courtyard gate, just in time to see Chu Ming practicing [Slapping Wind Palm].
"Hmm?" Captain Hou's eyes scanned through the gate, his gaze subtly changing.
"Isn't Brother Fang's young master supposed to be frail and sickly, not long for this world?"
"Why is he still...?"
"Brother Fang, did you do this on purpose?" Captain Hou asked in a low voice.
"What?" Fang Xiao's expression remained calm.
"Nothing." Captain Hou chuckled.
Brother Fang is truly from the Tiger Armor Army, ruthless indeed.
His foundation was seriously damaged, moving around carelessly was consuming his limited life force, let alone doing such physically taxing movements.
"Perhaps he wants the young master to be liberated sooner."
...