Midnight.


    Moonless and windy.


    At the three-way junction of Wutong Grove District, several figures quietly converged. It was Shang Qini and hispanions, each dressed in in casual wear. Even the servant''s knives they carried were wrapped in coarse cloth, barely recognizable unless drawn.


    Suddenly.


    The blowing wind paused briefly.


    It was in this moment of still air that a figure silently appeared in the darkness ahead of the group, startling Shang Qini and the others so much that they nearly drew their des. But they quickly recognized the neer as Chen Mu.


    "Sir."


    Shang Qini and the others sighed in relief and lowered their voices to greet him.


    Chen Mu nced at the six men and said, "Let''s go."


    "Yes."


    Shang Qini and the others responded and followed Chen Mu.


    But soon, someone looked around, a peculiar expression shing in his eyes, and nudged Shang Qini.


    Shang Qini also noticed and after a brief hesitation, caught up to Chen Mu and whispered, "Sir, Zhang Tong hasn''t arrived yet."


    "We don''t need him anymore."


    Chen Mu responded indifferently.


    Shang Qini''s expression slightly changed, sensing that something might have happened. He quietly agreed with Chen Mu, then moved back among the head constables, signaling the others with a nce and a shake of his head.


    Seeing Shang Qini''s reaction and hearing Chen Mu''s earlier words, everyone felt a chill.


    "We don''t need him anymore."


    A simple phrase… yet deeply unsettling upon reflection.


    For a time, no one dared to speak; they all followed Chen Mu in silence through the dark night. Before long, they left the Wutong Grove District and entered Huigou Lane to the southwest.


    Compared to Wutong Grove, Huigou Lane was much more secluded, with overgrown paths, and many dpidated alleys with numerous crumbling, gaping-open houses, clearly uninhabited.


    It turned out they were going to Huigou Lane for the case.


    Shang Qini and the others could not help but inhale sharply.


    They were no fools. Without orders from the Chief Officer, the City Defense Division had no authority to cross into Huigou Lane for cases. Chen Mu leading them here implied sanction from higher-ups.


    Everyone knew the City Guard General was not a cohesive unit, constantly embroiled in open and secret conflicts between the He Family and the Yu Family. Chen Mu, being a man of Hongyu and belonging to the Yu Family, was well known. Hence, tonight''s actions likely circumvented the He Family, and might even pertain to the feud between the He and Yu families.


    Regrettably.


    These head constables, although somewhat significant, had no choice in such affairs; theycked even the right to take sides, only to follow orders.


    Out of the seven head constables, only Zhang Tong was absent, leading to suspicion that he might have done something untoward.


    ...


    Under the cover of night.


    A carriage slowly passed by.


    About a dozen figures surrounded the carriage, each holding a bright saber, walking steadily with somber expressions, broadcasting an intimidating presence, clearly not to be trifled with.


    The carriage threaded its way through the deserted alleys and was about to cross a rugged path, when a figure suddenly blocked its way in the dark ahead.


    The carriage did not stop but continued forward.


    The person in front facing the shadow in the darkness coldly said,


    "He Family business."


    "Get lost!"


    However, the retort did not make the shadow retreat.


    Usually, such a shout would clear the path of scores of gang ruffians, but this time, the figure in the dark advanced instead of retreating, walking towards the carriage and said lightly, "Looks like my luck is good, caught you right in time."


    As the encounter drew nearer.


    The figure in the dark became visible, holding a servant''s knife, unmistakably Chen Mu.


    "Courting death."


    The leader of the He Family convoy, not recognizing Chen Mu and seeing him dressed in coarse linen, mistook him for a reckless thug from a local gang. A fierce glint shed in his eyes, and without further words, he shed directly at Chen Mu.


    Blocking the He Family''s convoy, truly courting death.


    Although there were only about a dozen escorts, they were all elite sabermen of the He Family, each powerful enough topete with gang leaders such as those from the Sand Gang in the Outer City. Ordinary gangs, even in the hundreds, would be no match for them.


    However.


    The anticipated quick resolution of cutting down Chen Mu did not ur.


    In the dim moonlight, only a sh of the saber was seen, followed by a dull sh of metal. Chen Mu''s servant''s knife forcefully held off the He Family saberman''s saber, sparks flying, and a grating friction noise filled the air.


    "Ah!"


    Apanied by the spray of blood, the He Family saberman cried out in pain as his fingers clutching the saber were severed.


    Swiftly.


    Chen Mu swung his servant''s knife in return, and a head soared into the air, its face still marked with horror and disbelief.


    The two He Family de practitioners nearest to Chen Mu were caughtpletely off guard, unable to react as Chen Mu killed one of theirpanions within two moves. It was only when a head flew into the air that they each showed a look of shock.


    "Servant''s Knife? Who are you!"


    "Such strength and de technique... I''ve heard that the newly appointed Prefecture Chief of Wutong Grove District once killed the Gang Leader Sha Xiangtian of the Flowing Sands Gang with a single strike. It must be you, huh? Come on, anyone else, show yourselves!"


    One of the He Family de practitioners coldly spoke.


    Which ordinary person would dare to attack the He Family''s convoy, let alone possess such remarkable strength, capable within two moves of killing an elite demaster? In the Outer City, the only ones who would dare to ambush their convoy would be forces from the Yu Family.


    "To kill you, why would I need anyone else."


    Chen Mu spoke indifferently, stepped forward with his de drawn, and advanced step by step.


    "Just you alone? No wonder there was no information beforehand. However, even if you are a practitioner of Tendon Changing, thinking you can stop us all on your own is a bit too arrogant."


    The He Family de practitioners sneered, as more than a dozen of them simultaneously raised their des.


    "Indeed, it is somewhat troublesome..."


    Chen Mu''s gaze swept across the group, and then a fierce light shed in his eyes. Suddenly erupting in movement, his Servant''s Knife swung down on the nearest He Family de practitioner, with the dual ovey of wild and fierce de Momentum sending up a vicious gust of wind as the de descended.


    Indeed, it was somewhat troublesome... because he had to slightly control his strength, not too simply wipe out the dozen men in front of him all at once, as that would scare too many people. After all, the one taking action tonight was only Chen Mu from the Prefecture Chief.


    ng! ng! ng!!!


    Suddenly, Chen Mu was battling with over a dozen of the He Family de practitioners.


    Though surrounded and attacked by more than a dozen, all of whom were elite de practitioners of the He Family with Body Refinement Perfection, the battle that eruptedpletely failed to contain Chen Mu''s offensive. He charged into their midst like a tiger amidst a flock of sheep, cutting a swath of destruction through their ranks.


    "Damn it! This guy really is a practitioner of Tendon Changing!"


    "No, he hasn''t reached Tendon Changing yet; it''s just that his physique is extraordinary. He has an Iron Body... No wonder such a formidable person as Sha Xiangtian was killed by him with a single strike."


    One of the He Family''s de practitioners eximed in shock.


    The Copper-Steel Skin and Iron Bodybined to result in strength far surpassing that of an ordinary practitioner with Body Refinement Perfection, nearlyparable to someone with Tendon Changing Minor Achievement, and even in such a melee, he could leverage his advantages more than a Tendon Changing practitioner could.


    After all, a strong practitioner of Tendon Changing is still made of flesh and might get hurt, or even severely wounded, from a de strike in a melee, but Chen Mu''s Horizontally Trained Body was such that ordinary attacks hardly breached his defenses.


    "He hasn''t reached Tendon Changing, but he can still be killed! Strike at his groin, throat, eyes!"


    Someone shouted loudly.


    Even a Horizontally Trained Body has weaknesses. No matter how you train, the groin and eyes are always vulnerable, unable to be turned into steel and iron. Otherwise, some might focus only on training these areas intensively.


    "Hmph!"


    However, this remark merely elicited a cold snort from Chen Mu. His Servant''s Knife suddenly turned, shing downwards at the speaker, pressing him so hard he nearly copsed to the ground. Then, with a swirling de motion, he blocked several attackers from various directions before lifting his de upwards in a sweeping arc.


    The He Family de practitioner hit by this attack didn''t even have time to scream before falling to the ground, convulsing and writhing in agony.


    Hiss!


    A de struck down, hitting Chen Mu''s shoulder, tearing open his garment, and revealing the skin underneath, yet it left only a white mark on the surface of his skin.


    Chen Mu counterattacked with his de, and the de practitioner groaned, blood spurting from his lower back as he staggered back and fell to the ground.


    One person,


    Two people,


    Three people,


    ...


    Bathed in blood, Chen Mu freely ughtered through the crowd, and soon, seven or eight of over a dozen He Family de practitionersy dead, with the remaining ones all heavily injured. Despite the copious amounts of blood on him, there were no visible injuries.


    Crack!


    With another slice, Chen Mu killed another man.


    The remaining few He Family de practitioners looked horror-struck, terror finally rising in their eyes. After another was cut down by Chen Mu, the remaining four exchanged nces and finally abandoned the fight, turning to flee.


    "Act now!"


    Just then, Chen Mu let out a cold snort and pursued one of them with his de.


    As his words fell, six figures darted out from the darkness. It was Shang Qini and five other Head Constables who had been hidden and watching the fight for a while. Shock filled their eyes at this moment.


    All these elite He Family de practitioners, each no weaker than notorious gang figures like Sha Xiangtian, yet not even theirbined efforts could stand against Chen Mu!


    "Stop running!"


    "Stay where you are!"


    As Shang Qini and others shouted coldly, two by two, they blocked the others attempting to escape.


    The He Family''s de practitioners were all very strong, but with injuries on several of them, when suddenly confronted by Shang Qini and the others, they were unable to charge through quickly.


    Meanwhile, Chen Mu had already caught up with the fourth man, killing him with a single strike, then swiftly returned and in quick session, cut down the three He Family de practitioners who had been briefly stalled by Shang Qini and the others.


    Finally.


    The scene was left with only a lonely carriage frame and bodies scattered on the ground.


    Chen Mu slowly sheathed his de, approached the carriage frame, lifted the bup cover to nce at the goods underneath, his eyes shing slightly before covering it again. He spoke solemnly, "Take it back."


    "...Yes."


    Shang Qini and the others took onest deep look at the bodies strewn across the ground.