Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chapter 157: Chapter 156: Murder Case

Suddenly, two strips of White Silk appeared out of thin air, like living spirit snakes.

They shot in from the shadows outside the main gate.

The White Silk strips looked soft and weak, but their speed was astonishing. They wrapped with unerring precision around the necks of the two fastest runners.

The two Guards only felt a chill on their necks before a terrifying force suddenly tightened.

Urk!

They couldn’t even manage a scream. Their eyes bulged instantly, and then their bodies went limp, their breathing cut off.

The White Silk didn’t pause. Like the life-reaping chains of a grim reaper, it flicked and coiled in the air, then struck like lightning at the other fleeing men.

It wrapped around necks, bound waists, locked ankles...

The White Silk was agile and cunning. No matter how the Guards dodged or blocked, it always managed to find their bodies by a hair’s breadth.

Once ensnared, the seemingly soft silk instantly became harder than steel, its pliable length erupting with a terrifying constricting power.

CRACK!

CRACK!

The sharp sounds of breaking bones rang out one after another.

The remaining Guards had their cries of alarm choked in their throats. In an instant, their bones were snapped, blood seeped from their mouths and noses, and they collapsed to the ground, their deaths grisly.

In the blink of an eye, all the Jiang Family Guards had been executed. Not a single one survived.

The soft sound of footsteps was heard as Linglong’s figure slowly walked in from outside the gate.

She was still dressed in plain clothes, spotless as ever. Only in the depths of her shifting eyes did a trace of killing intent remain, not yet fully faded.

Her gaze swept over the corpses strewn across the floor. She walked straight to Chen Li, who stood motionless, and bowed slightly. "Senior."

Chen Li’s eyes fell on Linglong. "What’s the situation over there?"

"To answer you, Senior."

A faint smile touched Linglong’s lips. "It’s all been taken care of."

Chen Li nodded.

At their side, Chen Shouheng looked at the bodies on the floor, his brow furrowed slightly. He took a step forward and said, "Father, these bodies... shouldn’t we do something about them?"

Chen Li shook his head, his tone decisive. "No need. Let’s go."

With that, he turned and walked toward the door without the slightest intention of lingering.

Seeing this, Linglong hurriedly quickened her pace to follow.

Her previously calm face suddenly took on a look of mournful grievance, and her voice became pitiful. "Senior, you’re just leaving like this? After tonight, I can’t stay at the Drunken Creek Pavilion anymore. If you don’t take me in and give me some status and protection, I’ll truly be homeless and left to wander the streets."

She gently tugged on Chen Li’s sleeve, her eyes shimmering with a look of profound hurt.

Chen Li didn’t stop walking. He didn’t even turn to look at her, merely glancing down at the hand tugging his sleeve. "The one who died tonight was Jing Hong. What does that have to do with you, Linglong?"

Linglong’s hand on his sleeve stiffened slightly. She let out a soft sigh and released her grip.

She said no more, silently following behind Chen Li. The figures of the three of them quickly vanished into the night.

...

In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window lattice.

Cai Die rubbed her faintly throbbing temples as she slowly awoke from her slumber.

Her delicate brows knitted. She was deeply confused.

For some reason, she had slept as if she’d been knocked unconscious.

She hadn’t even heard the usual sound of strings and flutes from the other rooms. This was extremely rare for the Drunken Creek Pavilion, a place of constant revelry where courtesans entertained guests night after night.

She lazily threw on an outer robe, slipped on her embroidered shoes, and decided to find some warm water to clear her head.

The moment she pushed open her door, a thick, suffocating stench of blood assaulted her nostrils.

"Gag..."

Cai Die’s stomach churned violently, and she nearly threw up.

Terrified, she clamped a hand over her mouth and nose, instinctively looking down toward the main hall, the source of the smell.

One glance was all it took. She froze in place as if struck by lightning.

The main hall, usually opulent and bustling with guests, was now a complete wreck.

Amidst the chaos, more than a dozen bodies lay scattered about.

The entire scene was like an Asura Hell.

"AHHH—!!!"

A shrill, warped scream erupted from Cai Die’s throat,

piercing the morning silence and waking the other people still sleeping in the brothel.

Soon, more doors were thrown open. A chorus of screams, cries, and retching sounds followed, plunging the entire Drunken Creek Pavilion into panic and chaos.

"M-murder! There’s been a murder! So many dead people!"

Finally, a relatively composed Tea Master suppressed his fear, scrambled out of the Drunken Creek Pavilion, and ran like a madman toward the County Magistrate’s Office.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the sound of urgent footsteps and the shouts of government constables grew closer.

Chief He arrived at a brisk pace with a dozen government constables. The moment he stepped through the doors of the Drunken Creek Pavilion, he sucked in a sharp breath, his face paling at the gruesome sight before him.

"Secure the scene! All unauthorized personnel, stand back!"

Chief He was a veteran Chief Constable, after all, and he barked the order.

The government constables immediately set up a perimeter and dispersed the onlookers, but the terrified women of the brothel had already fled back to their rooms, none daring to come close.

Chief He, accompanied by two experienced forensic doctors and a Squad Leader, carefully began to examine the bodies amidst the wreckage and bloodstains.

When he turned over a face-down corpse and saw the man’s face, his heart sank.

"Jiang... Chaoping?!"

Chief He gasped under his breath.

He recognized the man. He was from a branch of the Jiang Family. In his younger years, when his Cultivation was lower, they had crossed paths.

But he had been a late bloomer, eventually breaking through to the Spirit Realm.

Only then did he leave their circle.

Given his status, even the County Captain would have to show him a measure of respect.

’And he died here?’

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Chief He’s forehead. He hurriedly growled to a constable beside him, "Quick! Go report to the County Captain and the County Magistrate! Something terrible has happened! The dead... I’m afraid they’re all masters from the Jiang Family!"

The news quickly reached the County Magistrate’s Office.

In just a few moments, County Magistrate Zhang Heming and County Captain Feng Zhan arrived together.

As soon as they entered the Drunken Creek Pavilion, the overwhelming stench of blood and the horrific scene made both of their faces change color.

The forensic doctor quickly reported, "County Magistrate, there are twenty-one dead. Judging from the wounds, most were killed in a single blow. The perpetrator... is terrifyingly powerful!"

Listening to the forensic doctor’s report, Zhang Heming’s expression grew as dark as a thundercloud.

Without needing any confirmation, he knew that these men were the elite forces of the Jiang Family, summoned by Jiang Chaoshan. The vast majority of them were in the Spirit Realm!

He had originally thought that with such a powerful force, dealing with Chen Li and his son would be an easy, surefire victory.

’A force of this magnitude was more than enough to kill me, at the very least.’

That was why he had gone to bed early after leaving last night.

’I never would have imagined I’d wake up to find they had been completely wiped out!’

’Was this Chen Li’s doing, or is there a master backing the Chen Family?’

At the thought of the terrifying power the Chen Family might possess, a chill involuntarily shot up Zhang Heming’s spine, and a profound fear bloomed in his heart.

"Jiang Chaoshan, where is Young Master Jiang?"

Zhang Heming snapped back to his senses and asked urgently, "Quick, see if the Jiang family’s young master is among them! Quick! Go find him! I want to see him, dead or alive!"

The government constables immediately began to search the entire Drunken Creek Pavilion meticulously.

However, despite searching every corner, they found no trace of Jiang Chaoshan.

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