Chapter 62: Competitive
Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Competitive
"Hey, you know why I never became an Official?"
Wei Yongfu chuckled dryly. "It’s because I can’t outplay them."
He looked at Su Mu, who had returned empty-handed, and gloated a little.
"Those guys are useless at getting things done, but they’re all experts at screwing over their own people."
Wei Yongfu said, "They obviously don’t trust you. For something like this, what evidence could there be?
Why would the No-Heaven Sect leave any evidence behind?
It’s obvious they’re deliberately trying to mess with you.
With just those few Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals under you, it’s impossible to take down the No-Heaven Sect in five days."
A five-day deadline to crack the case, and if he failed, Su Mu would lose his squad leader position. Anyone with eyes could see what was going on.
They tell you to investigate the case, and when you do, they demand evidence. When you produce the evidence, they’ll demand you bring back the culprits.
If they want to get rid of you, they’ll always find a reason.
A cold smile appeared on Su Mu’s face. This was the only kind of trick Zhao Ji knew.
If he just changed his clothes right now, he could guarantee that Zhao Ji, and even Hu Yuxing, would become completely obedient.
But Su Mu refused to do it just yet.
’Doing it now would be too much like bullying you.’
A strange competitive spirit was ignited within Su Mu.
Revealing his identity as a Taiping Bureau White Clothes now wouldn’t show his true ability, and he might even be looked down upon by Lin Qi Huan and the others.
’If I flash my background at the first sign of trouble, how is that any different from saying "My dad is Li Gang"?’
’It’s just cracking a case, isn’t it?’
He was dead set on cracking this case, no matter what.
"They don’t want me to be a squad leader? Well, I’m going to become one just to spite them. And not only that, I’m going to become a constable, too."
Su Mu sneered, "I can choose not to take it, but if it’s mine by right, they can’t refuse to give it!"
"What are you planning to do?"
Wei Yongfu’s heart stirred, and he asked subconsciously.
"Wei Yongfu, where is the No-Heaven Sect’s main headquarters? How many experts do they have?"
Su Mu turned to Wei Yongfu, his eyes filled with determination.
"I don’t know."
Wei Yongfu frowned. "I don’t know the answer to either question. The No-Heaven Sect has been in Wuling City for seven or eight years, but no one has ever known where their headquarters is, nor has anyone seen the No-Heaven Sect’s Sect Leader.
I once saw one of their Hall Masters. His strength was no less than mine.
I estimate the No-Heaven Sect’s Sect Leader is at least in the Third Stage of Body Tempering."
"Back then, the entire South City Bureau was mobilized to wipe out the Black Dragon Stronghold, and they still suffered heavy losses. The No-Heaven Sect’s power is no less than the Black Dragon Stronghold’s, and you definitely can’t mobilize that many people."
Wei Yongfu said in a low voice, "I know you’re pissed off, but acting on impulse will only make things worse."
"The rougher the storm, the more expensive the fish,"
Su Mu said slowly.
"Hmm?"
Wei Yongfu was completely baffled. He thought for a moment before he understood what Su Mu meant.
He had to admit, there was some truth to that statement.
They all knew that as Ghostwriters, the more dangerous the mission, the higher the price.
Wiping out the No-Heaven Sect would indeed be very difficult and extremely dangerous. But if Su Mu really managed to do it, the South City Bureau would have no excuse not to make him a constable.
Isn’t that just "the rougher the storm, the more expensive the fish"?
"That may be true, but if the storm is too rough, the boat can easily capsize,"
Wei Yongfu said.
"I know what I’m doing,"
Su Mu said.
Wei Yongfu was worried because he didn’t know about Su Mu’s alternate identity.
Su Mu didn’t actually need to destroy the No-Heaven Sect. As long as he could get his hands on solid evidence linking them to demons, he could call for backup at any time.
A small sect whose strongest member was merely at the Third Stage of Body Tempering wouldn’t even require a Taiping Captain to act; any Taiping Capital Captain could sweep through them.
Others couldn’t call on the Taiping Bureau, but he could.
The Taiping Bureau token that Lin Qi Huan had someone deliver had a signaling function. If he encountered demons, he could send a signal, and any Taiping Bureau personnel within a certain range would come to support him.
"If I wanted to continue hiring you, would you agree?"
Su Mu asked.
Wei Yongfu was, after all, in the Third Stage of Body Tempering, and even had naturally tough skin like bronze. He was a rare talent.
"I’d agree. Why wouldn’t I?"
Wei Yongfu said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "But you’ll have to add more money."
* * *
Night enveloped the whole of South City, and the moonlight was dim.
"The weather is dry, be careful with fire and candles."
A Night Watchman walked down the street, striking his clapper and shouting loudly.
A black shadow appeared silently on a nearby rooftop, almost invisible under the cover of night.
The figure moved with agility, leaping effortlessly between eaves and corners, tailing the Night Watchman from a distance.
’Strange.’
Su Mu lay prone on the roof ridge, watching the Night Watchman’s back with a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
At the Extreme Skin Tempering Realm and the entry-level of flesh tempering, Su Mu’s strength was such that he had few rivals in the Outer City.
He had paid Wei Yongfu a hefty sum to investigate the location of the No-Heaven Sect’s headquarters, but he hadn’t been idle himself.
The South City Night Watchman had originally been a villager from Five Miles Temple Village. After that Night Watchman was murdered, this new one, according to Wei Yongfu’s intelligence, was likely a member of the No-Heaven Sect in disguise.
Su Mu had been following him, hoping to find the No-Heaven Sect’s headquarters through this Night Watchman.
He had followed him for two straight days but hadn’t found any signs of anything unusual.
This Night Watchman seemed just like an ordinary night watchman.
He made his rounds at night and returned to Five Miles Temple Village to sleep during the day.
He didn’t even interact with anyone in the city.
’Am I on the wrong track?’
Su Mu pondered, ’Wei Yongfu is a professional. Logically, he shouldn’t make such a basic mistake.
Could it be that this Night Watchman is just too cautious?’
Su Mu suppressed his frustration and continued following the Night Watchman.
The Night Watchman wound through streets and alleys, and most of the night passed just like that.
Just as the sky began to show the first light of dawn, the Night Watchman suddenly stopped.
In the western part of South City, in front of a very secluded courtyard, the main gate suddenly pulled open, and a hand reached out from within.
The Night Watchman quickly took a package from his robes and placed it in the hand. The hand immediately withdrew, and the courtyard gate closed without a sound.
The Night Watchman continued onward, striking his clapper.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Their movements were fast and extremely cautious, and they didn’t make a single sound.
If Su Mu hadn’t been keeping his eyes fixed on the Night Watchman, no one would have noticed it at all.
’Is this the meeting point?’
Su Mu’s heart stirred. He didn’t continue chasing the Night Watchman, but instead leaped a few times and arrived outside the courtyard.
The sky was not yet bright, and the nearby residents all seemed to be sound asleep. The surroundings were completely quiet.
Su Mu lay on the eaves, pricking up his ears to listen for any sounds from the courtyard.
After reaching the Extreme Skin Tempering Realm, and especially after beginning flesh tempering, Su Mu’s senses were sharp. His hearing was far superior to that of an ordinary person, and he could clearly pick up the slightest sound.
He could almost hear the breathing of the person in the room below.
There was only one person.
After a moment of thought, Su Mu flashed to the spot outside the window. With a slight exertion of force from his palm, he vibrated the window open.
Inside, a pair of astonished eyes looked up at Su Mu as he vaulted in through the window.
Before the person could make a sound, Su Mu had already seized him by the throat.