Chapter 57 - 517: Two Identities
Chapter 57: Chapter 517: Two Identities
Report it to the Taiping Bureau?
’Should I tell you that I’m an intern at the Taiping Bureau right now?’
Su Mu grumbled internally. He had just become a Taiping Bureau intern, and he was already running into a case of demonic chaos?
’Is this considered good luck or bad luck?’
"Sergeant Zheng, are you sure the case in Five Miles Temple Village is related to demons?"
Su Mu asked, looking at Zheng Wang.
"Who can be sure? It’s not like we saw it with our own eyes."
Zheng Wang shook his head and said, "But we constables have a nose for this kind of thing. Didn’t you see that none of the other squad leaders wanted to take this case?
"That guy Zhao didn’t want to go himself. He’s just taking advantage of your inexperience, so he dumped the case on you."
Solving a murder case is a great merit for a constable. If it were an easy case, everyone would be fighting over it. Who would try to push it away?
"Constable Xiao Su, let me give you an idea. Just head out of the city, wander around a bit to put on a show, and when you come back, just say you couldn’t find the killer. At worst, you’ll get yelled at by the Sima and lose two months’ salary. That’s still better than losing your life."
Zheng Wang advised.
"Thank you, Sergeant Zheng. I understand."
Su Mu said, cupping his hands in a salute.
After bidding farewell to Zheng Wang, Su Mu did not leave the city immediately.
Instead, he returned to his desk, sat down, and opened the case file in front of him.
He appeared to be reading the file, but in reality, Su Mu’s attention was focused on the system panel before his eyes.
[Name: Su Mu]
[Identity: Constable Leader / Taiping Bureau White Clothes (Ninth Grade)]
[Points: 0]
[Cultivation Techniques: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Technique (Perfection), Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique (Entry)]
[Martial Arts: Submerging Wave Saber Technique (Perfection), Archery (Entry)]
Staring at the contents of the panel, Su Mu fell into deep thought.
In the identity section, besides his original title of constable leader, he now had the additional identity of a Taiping Bureau White Clothes.
’Ninth Grade is the rank, while squad leader and White Clothes are the actual positions. Is the system panel also using a parallel rank and position system?’
He had thought the identities would replace each other, but it now seemed that while he could only have one rank, he could hold multiple actual positions.
’Two identities, two salaries... I wonder if I can earn two sets of Points?’
A sense of anticipation grew in Su Mu’s heart.
He focused his attention on the Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique, and a piece of information surfaced in his mind.
To advance the Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique from Entry to Minor Accomplishment required fifty Points. From Minor Accomplishment to Major Accomplishment required one hundred fifty Points. From Major Accomplishment to Perfection required five hundred Points.
This was exactly half the number of Points required to upgrade the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Technique back then.
’It’s probably because I already have experience with skin tempering. Cultivating another Skin Tempering Technique should naturally be easier than the first time.’
’If both identities can earn Points, it won’t be long before I can cultivate this Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique to the Realm of Perfection. By then, even if my skin can’t match Wei Yongfu’s natural copper hide, it shouldn’t be too far off.’
Su Mu thought to himself. He dismissed the panel and his gaze returned to the case file.
’Zheng Wang is an experienced old squad leader. Since he said the murder case in Five Miles Temple Village is related to demons, then nine times out of ten, it probably is.’
Su Mu opened the file and began to read it carefully. ’If I were just an ordinary squad leader, the best choice right now would be to report this to the Taiping Bureau and have them send a Taiping Captain, or even a Taiping Capital Captain, to handle it.
’But I’m not.’
’I myself am a White Clothes of the Taiping Bureau. For a case involving a suspected demon killing people, if I just call for help without doing anything, it will definitely affect the Bureau’s evaluation of me.’
’Someone who doesn’t even have the courage to face a demon isn’t fit to join the Taiping Bureau. Lin Qi Huan gave me a chance precisely because of my courage. If I don’t even have the guts to investigate now, I’m afraid he’ll give up on me completely.’
Su Mu mused to himself as he looked over the case file.
Even if he had to call for reinforcements, he first needed to determine whether the matter in Five Miles Temple Village was truly related to a demon. It would be best if he could somehow gauge the demon’s strength.
If it was truly beyond his ability to handle, then calling for help would be reasonable and justified.
The case file recorded that in the last six months, a total of six people had died in Five Miles Temple Village—an average of one per month.
’One a month, and the most recent one died the day before yesterday.’
The file clearly noted that the causes of death for the six individuals were not the same. Some had died from accidental falls, some were killed by wild animals, and two had an unknown cause of death.
Normally, it wouldn’t be strange for a few people to die in this day and age.
But the strange thing was that all six of the deceased were in the prime of their lives and had no history of illness.
’A Foot-Emptying Worker, a Night Watchman, a vendor who sells spring water...’
Su Mu’s fingers tapped involuntarily on the desktop as he looked at the occupations of the deceased listed in the file.
The deceased all had legitimate occupations. While not prestigious, they were at least enough to ensure they were fed and clothed.
’Was the killer after money?’
If it was for money, there were plenty of wealthy households in South City. These victims clearly didn’t have much to offer.
’If not for money, was it a personal grudge?’
But the six victims had no connection to one another, so it was unlikely they shared a common enemy.
’Could it really be the work of a demon?’
But if it were a demon, it surely wouldn’t have killed only a few people. Demons are bloodthirsty, savage, and devoid of reason.
If a demon truly existed in Five Miles Temple Village, the entire village would likely have been wiped out by now.
Su Mu read through the case file twice but still couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
’According to the pattern of deaths, someone dies roughly once a month. The last victim died only two days ago, so the killer probably won’t strike again so soon.’
Su Mu rubbed the bridge of his nose. ’There’s still time. I can investigate slowly.’
He continued to pore over the case file until sunset, then tucked it under his arm and returned to the former Xu Mansion, now his home.
At midnight, Su Mu, who had fallen asleep while reading the file, was woken by his precise biological clock. His eyes snapped open.
’It’s time. Let’s see if two identities can really earn two sets of Points.’
[Name: Su Mu]
[Identity: Constable Leader / Taiping Bureau White Clothes (Ninth Grade)]
[Points: 70]
[Cultivation Techniques: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Technique (Perfection), Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique (Entry /+)]
[Martial Arts: Submerging Wave Saber Technique (Perfection), Archery (Entry)]
In the darkness, Su Mu’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Seventy Points!
It was actually seventy Points!
The base daily Points from being a squad leader was twenty. If he was diligent and maxed out his performance, the daily upper limit was forty Points.
In other words, the identity of a Taiping Bureau White Clothes brought in at least thirty Points per day.
As expected of an identity granted by a Ninth Grade rank! He had barely performed any duties, yet the base Points alone were at least thirty!
’Out in the world, you define your own identity.’
A thoughtful expression appeared on Su Mu’s face, as if he had found his path. Since two identities worked, could he get even more?
For example, a Ghostwriter...
’I can experiment with more identities later. For now, I’ll upgrade the Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique to Minor Accomplishment.’
With a thought, Su Mu focused on the "+" sign next to the Black Jade Skin Tempering Technique on the system panel and mentally pressed it.