PDLP Chapter 19 Investigation
Chapter 19 Investigation
Although Blackrock Mountain Market is not small, there aren't many truly famous people there. Naturally, Jiang Chen's affairs couldn't be kept secret from these patrol guards.
He was able to draw mid-grade first-rank talismans in his early twenties, and his success rate in the garrison's assessment could reach 30%.
With this potential, becoming an outer disciple of the Golden Cauldron Sect is almost a certainty. Even reaching the Foundation Establishment stage is not out of the question.
Such a promising individual was naturally someone the patrol officers wanted to befriend. At the very least, it would save them money when they needed talismans in the future.
The guard grabbed Gu Laohu by the back of her neck and, with a clever twist, injured the meridians in her arms.
He then said, "Go and capture her son, Gu Long. If we don't gather enough spirit stones, neither of them will escape."
At this moment, Gu Laohu cursed loudly: "You damned Jiang Yun, we've been neighbors for so many years, and you not only didn't help me when I was in trouble, but you also kicked me when I was down."
You'll end up like your dead grandfather, never getting away with anything...
Before she could finish speaking, the guard dislocated her jaw and also injured some of the meridians in her mouth.
Gu Laohu wanted to curse, but he couldn't utter a complete sentence and could only make incomprehensible noises.
Seeing how ruthless he was, Jiang Chen couldn't help but think of the first time he entered the dream simulation, when the one-eyed man holding the knife injured his meridians. So this was a technique that even the patrol guards knew.
The guard said apologetically, "Little Jiang, I'm really sorry, I haven't done this kind of work for several years, and my skills are a bit rusty."
Jiang Chen waved his hand: "It's already very good. May I ask your esteemed name, fellow Daoist?"
The other person is taking the initiative to befriend you and even helping you get revenge; they clearly want to befriend you. Not asking their name would be considered impolite.
He was currently being watched by a group that likely included a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and could be assassinated by a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator at any moment. Making connections with more patrol guards would certainly be beneficial.
The guard smiled slightly: "I wouldn't dare, Brother Jiang, you can just call me Li Cheng."
Jiang Chen cupped his hands in greeting: "From now on, I'll call you Brother Li. If you ever need a mid-grade first-rank talisman, just come to me, and I'll give you a 30% discount."
Before long, the executioner brought over Gu Long, whose face was bruised and swollen and whose legs were weak.
Li Cheng greeted Jiang Chen and then went to collect taxes from other households.
Jiang Chen also left this place to buy the Nourishing Spirit Pill.
After he left, a middle-aged cultivator who had been watching the commotion said, "Old Jiang has always been kind and generous, but I didn't expect his grandson to be so ruthless."
An old man next to him sneered: "You're just talking without thinking. Don't you know who Gu Laohu is?"
When Master Jiang was still alive, who in the neighborhood hadn't received his kindness? He'd barely left when this mother and daughter surnamed Gu took advantage of the situation, bullying someone's grandson. Is this how people behave?
The other cultivators chimed in, "That's right. Little Jiang, the talisman master, used the patrol guards to punish Gu Laohu, which rid our Black Stone Mountain Market of a great scourge."
A young cultivator's eyes were filled with envy: "The status of talisman masters is really high! Even the patrol guards take the initiative to curry favor with them."
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Because of the tax increase, many demon-hunting cultivators of average strength couldn't afford to pay and were captured and sent to Changyuan Mountain to "fill the gaps." For the entire day, the air was filled with the wails and howls of ghosts.
Fortunately, there was a soundproofing array in the courtyard, so Jiang Chen was not greatly affected.
The next afternoon, Jiang Chen squatted in a horse stance inside the house, constantly making twisting movements with his body.
At this moment, a faint blood-red mist appeared on his body, which then condensed into an extremely dim armor phantom.
A few breaths later, the armor phantom dissipated, and the blood-red mist returned to his body.
Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief, his anger replaced by joy: "My talent for cultivation isn't great, but my comprehension is truly remarkable! In just a few days, I've already mastered the Spirit Armor Forging Technique."
I don't expect to achieve anything remarkable from this practice. As long as it can improve my blood and energy and strengthen my body, it's already very valuable.
If my physical strength were even half that of the bull, I'd dare to go toe-to-toe with him using my Black Rhino Armor. I wouldn't have to be crippled in two moves like in the simulation.
dong dong dong~~
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Jiang Chen released his divine sense to investigate and found that outside the door were Li Cheng and the scarred guard who had come to recruit him earlier.
He was somewhat puzzled: "I haven't heard of anything major happening today, so why are two guards at the door?"
The guards were all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, so he dared not be negligent.
He immediately opened the door, cupped his hands in greeting to the two men, and said, "Brother Li, and this senior, what brings you here?"
The scarred guard looked at Li Cheng with some surprise, wondering, "How come this guy with the thick eyebrows and big eyes is so good at networking?"
"I'm clearly the veteran of the Southwest Ward, and he's only been here a few days. How come he's already calling Jiang Chen 'brother'?"
Li Cheng laughed and said, "A few nights ago, there was a lot of noise in your little courtyard. Our Commander Meng sent us to investigate."
Jiang Chen was genuinely surprised. In the past, if there were any troubles in the courtyards of the various households, as long as they didn't affect other people or escalate into the street, the patrol guards wouldn't bother with them.
"I've overlooked that. Please come in and have a seat."
Jiang Chen didn't intend to hide this matter. After the patrol guards found out about it, it would be best to get rid of the parasites so that he could be safer in the future.
After the three of them sat down, Jiang Chen immediately took out a heavy sword, the same one that Man Niu had used before.
"The commotion that night was an assassination attempt on me, and this sword belongs to that assassin."
Li Cheng took the heavy sword and gave it a slight tremor: "Wow, this sword is heavy! It seems the assassin must be a physically strong body-refining cultivator."
He carefully examined the blade and hilt of the sword, and then said, "This person is practicing the Hundred Battles Sword Technique. This sword technique is very suitable for cultivators with strong physiques."
Brother Jiang, now that this sword is in your hands, the assassin is most likely dead. I wonder if you have his body?
Jiang Chen was somewhat surprised. Li Cheng could determine the sword technique used just by looking at the marks on the sword, so he was probably a master swordsman as well.
Jiang Chen casually took out a cloth bag: "The assassin's ashes are here. I didn't expect the garrison to investigate this matter. I just burned them after the murder."
I don't know what to do with it yet. If you want it, feel free to take it.
Li Cheng nodded; this was the norm in the cultivation world. When rogue cultivators killed someone and didn't want trouble, they would simply burn the body.
Jiang Chen killed the assassin in his own yard, and the garrison commander had nothing to say about it.
Afterwards, Li Cheng inquired about the assassins' appearances and methods.
Jiang Chen answered each question, but of course, he wouldn't reveal the information he had obtained from the dream simulation.
Li Cheng recorded all this information on animal skin paper, and only after he finished recording did he ask questions again.
"Brother Jiang, what's your guess about the assassin's identity?"
Jiang Chen replied without hesitation: "I've been thinking about this a lot these past few days. This person didn't come earlier, but waited until I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining and was able to draw mid-grade first-rank talismans before coming."
I suspect they're after my talismanic heritage. They're worried that if I join the Garrison Command, it'll be harder for them to harm me later.
"This isn't the first or second time someone has tried to seize my talisman inheritance. Gu Laohu and his mother, who were taken away by Brother Li before, came to demand it back."
"And what about when they were recruiting independent cultivators a while ago, that..."