Chu Fan was not flustered.
He had been clean and efficient last night, leaving behind no witnesses or evidence.
It was only natural for the Government Office to investigate due to the number of deaths.
But even if they did, there was no way they would have tracked it back to him this quickly.
This world was chaotic and lawless. In a way, murder and arson were commonplace—even the neighbors didn't pay much mind.
No one would go to all this trouble over the deaths of a few thugs.
Especially not these officials.
...
A scrawny constable glanced at Chu Fan before walking into the courtyard. His eyes immediately locked onto a firewood splitter covered in snow.
He walked over, picked up the splitter, and chipped away the ice and snow. Then, he raised it to his nose and sniffed.
Seeing this, a flicker of amusement crossed Chu Fan's eyes.
Zhao Hu, however, was nervous, his eyes fixed on the constable's every move from the doorway.
The constable shook his head and tossed the firewood splitter to his colleague at the door.
The constable at the door, who was already holding one firewood splitter, caught the second one and said coldly, "Chu Fan, you and Zhao Hu are coming with me to the Liu Family home in Cyan Porcelain Lane. You will cooperate with our investigation!"
"Ah? Oh…" Chu Fan blinked, his face a mask of confusion.
The constable ignored him and turned, heading for Cyan Porcelain Lane.
Meanwhile, the constable who had first entered the courtyard went straight into the house and began to search the place.
Chu Fan frowned but said nothing.
It was common for these Government Officials and constables to use an investigation as a pretext to help themselves to the belongings of common folk.
But he had already sold off everything of value in his home long ago.
'If this constable can find so much as a single copper coin or a sweet potato, I'll admit he's got skills!'
Chu Fan and Zhao Hu exchanged a glance, then followed the constable toward Cyan Porcelain Lane.
Zhao Hu cast a worried look at Chu Fan.
When he heard this morning that Liu Da and his men had been killed, his first thought was of Chu Fan.
The look in Chu Fan's eyes when he returned yesterday, that aura about him…
But then again, he thought it was impossible.
Just half a month ago, that gang of thugs had beaten Chu Fan.
Liu Da and his men had trained at a Martial Arts Hall for half a year. A single punch from them could shatter a block of bluestone. How could Chu Fan possibly have killed them?
And emerge without a single scratch?
But if it wasn't Chu Fan, the timing was far too coincidental.
Zhao Hu whispered, "Liu Da and his gang… they were hacked to death last night. I heard the killer used a firewood splitter…"
"The officials learned from the neighbors about the evil things Liu Da and his men have been up to lately, so they suspect the killer is one of us."
"Liu Da and his gang were hacked to death last night?" Chu Fan feigned shock, his eyes wide.
'One must commit to the act.'
It was a pity the constable walking ahead couldn't appreciate his performance, which made him a little disappointed.
Zhao Hu sighed, but he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes. "Wicked men get what's coming to them. I wonder which hero slaughtered those animals…"
"Just now, one of the neighbors said if they knew who did it, they'd kowtow to him in gratitude!"
'That's not necessary. If they really feel that way, they could just give me a couple pounds of beef…' Chu Fan thought to himself.
The constable walking ahead clearly heard their conversation but didn't say a word, seeming completely indifferent to the bloody case.
Zhao Hu added, "When we get there and the official starts asking questions, you say as little as possible. I'll do the talking for you."
"Don't panic. We have nothing to hide!"
"I know." Chu Fan nodded, glancing at the constable ahead.
The constable appeared lazy, but his gait was steady as he walked through the snow, each stride almost exactly the same length.
While Chu Fan kept up his act on the outside, he was already preparing for the worst.
'If they really find out it was me…'
'I can't make a move against these Government Office officials unless I have absolutely no other choice. Instead, I'll have to flee as fast as possible and go to the Seven Stars Gang Sub-Branch to ask Master Cao for help!'
'I only killed a few scoundrels. With Master Cao's influence, he can surely protect me.'
'At worst, it'll just mean bribing the Government Office with some silver.'
Chu Fan began to mentally retrace the route from the Liu Family home to the Seven Stars Gang Sub-Branch.
Along the way, many people were heading toward the Liu Family's home in Cyan Porcelain Lane.
It wasn't that people enjoyed gawking at a spectacle.
It was just that Liu Da and his men were so notorious in the area that when the neighbors heard they'd been hacked to death, they were all dying to set off firecrackers in celebration.
Many neighbors on the street greeted Zhao Hu, Chu Fan, and even the constable.
By the time the two of them followed the constable to the Liu Family home, the entrance was already surrounded by a crowd.
Several people were standing next to Liu Da's corpse.
They had strange expressions on their faces, a mixture of joy and fear warring in their eyes as they shivered in the cold wind.
Chu Fan didn't recognize them, but he guessed they were the ones Zhao Hu had mentioned…
Zhang Mazi from Qingfeng Lane;
Li Si from Black Water Lane;
Chen Qiang from Wugu Lane;
That Huang Shouliang had wanted to seize their homes, so he'd had Liu Da and his men "take care" of them one by one.
Liu Da's gang had just finished "taking care" of them when they were hacked to death…
That was why the officials had rounded them all up.
"You two, get over there and stand with them!"
The constable who brought Chu Fan and Zhao Hu pointed at Zhang Mazi and the others, who were shivering in the cold.
Chu Fan and Zhao Hu exchanged a glance and walked over.
In the courtyard, Liu Da's body, pinned to the ground by a large saber, had already frozen into an ice sculpture.
The ice covering his body actually lessened the ghastliness of the scene.
The crowd of onlookers pointed and muttered amongst themselves.
"These animals are finally dead… Good riddance!"
"The heavens are watching; it's claimed them! Otherwise, who knows how many more people they would have tormented!"
"Someone hired them to do their dirty work, to try and seize the homes of the Chu Family, the Zhao Family, and others. And then, overnight, they were all slaughtered…"
"Did you see? The worst one was Sun Laosi. His head was chopped clean off, right by the window. His eyes are still wide open—he died unable to close them!"
"Scum like that deserved to die! Damn right, they did!"
"Quiet down! Constable Lu is coming out!"
The chatter from the crowd died down instantly.
Three constables emerged from the house.
The middle-aged man in the lead was tall and powerfully built, with broad shoulders and a thick back. He stood ramrod straight. This was the Head Constable, Lu Tao.
Lu Tao had a short, three-pronged beard, its hairs as stiff as iron wires. He projected an intimidating aura without even trying.
He was like a drawn, thick-bladed saber, emanating a piercing aura. Just by standing there motionless, the surrounding noise seemed to quiet, and even the snowflakes drifting down outside the courtyard appeared to slow their descent.
Lu Tao's gaze swept over Chu Fan and the others. Unlike the other constables, his eyes held no aggression, yet they were like the deep waters of a frozen pond, making one's heart sink just by looking into them.
"Chief, they're all here."
The constable who had brought Chu Fan and Zhao Hu stepped forward and reported.
Lu Tao gave a slight nod but said nothing. Inside, however, a fire of frustration was blazing.
'The Seven Stars Gang and the Blood Saber Sect are at war, and the County Magistrate says to leave them be—the more vicious their fighting, the better.'
'The Moon Worship Sect grows more brazen by the day, forcibly recruiting members and causing the people of the Outer City to cry out in protest, and the County Magistrate says it's no big deal.'
'Men from the Blood Saber Sect beat someone to death in the street, and the County Magistrate says the life of a "troublesome commoner" is worthless and not to bother with it…'
'But now that a few wicked thugs are dead, the County Magistrate claims it has a "vile influence" and demands a thorough investigation!'
'Zhang Yunpeng, oh, Zhang Yunpeng. As the "parent official" of this county, you are meant to be a gentle spring rain that nurtures the people. Instead, you have become a ravenous tiger that preys upon them.'
'The "Bright Mirror Hung High" plaque at the Government Office has long been stained charcoal-black by your greed.'
'The silver coins the people pay in taxes have become the jingle of gold in the cellar of your own home.'
'Today you sit in judgment, deciding life and death with a stroke of your vermilion brush. Tomorrow, the people should be hanging banners demanding your life upon the gilded gates of your Government Office!'
Lu Tao suppressed his disgust and turned his gaze to the pile of firewood splitters.
'The killer's blade was fast, their work clean. They wouldn't have left such an obvious clue, would they?'