Chapter 199: The Azure Badge
Unlike the State of Zhuang, the State of Qi did not establish a separate institution for handling supernatural cases.
Instead, all cases, regardless of type, were handled uniformly by the government.
The constables of various local governments were classified into different ranks from ordinary to supernatural, each enjoying different resources.
Ranking was not determined by cultivation level, but by the level of cases solved. For instance, solving three Soaring Dragon realm cases would qualify one for promotion to Sixth Rank constable. Since constables above the supernatural level all wore azure waist badges, distinct from the ordinary black badges, they were often referred to as Azure-badge constables.
Because of this promotion rule, Qi's constables were generally stronger than ordinary cultivators of the same realm. Of course, there were also those with insufficient cultivation who could solve cross-realm cases, though such situations were extremely rare. They typically possessed some unique secret arts that far surpassed their cultivation level in the art of solving cases.
Lin Youxie was precisely such an Azure-badge constable.
This person had only Sixth Rank Soaring Dragon realm cultivation, yet had solved more than six cases involving Fifth Rank Inner Fane realm cultivators!
It must be understood that cultivators at the Inner Fane realm, when committing crimes, rarely bothered to conceal themselves. Moreover, their methods for destroying evidence were numerous beyond count, making investigation extremely difficult.
Across the entire State of Qi, the number of cases involving Inner Fane realm cultivators reported to the government annually did not exceed twenty.
If not for the fact that their cultivation level was insufficient, requiring assistance during arrest operations, they would already be more than just a Fifth Rank constable.
At this moment, this person stood before a dilapidated small courtyard in a small city at the northernmost part of Fengxian Commandery.
Behind them circled a group of Sixth Rank Azure-badge constables, who quickly dispersed to surround the courtyard. Standing beside her was also a genuine Fifth Rank constable with Inner Fane realm cultivation.
Yes, the renowned divine detective Lin Youxie was female. The Lin family had been in the business of criminal justice for generations. After three generations of only children, only one daughter remained.
They had thought the family's ancestral craft would end here, but unexpectedly, Lin Youxie proved to be even more capable than her predecessors.
"Constable Lin, are you certain the culprit is inside?" The Inner Fane realm constable beside her, a stern-faced middle-aged man, couldn't help asking. "So many days have passed. If we can't find the killer soon, we'll all be in trouble."
The case they were investigating was the massacre of the entire Zhang family in Fengxian.
Being able to summon two Fifth Rank Azure-badge constables to handle this case was naturally not something anyone in Fengxian Commandery could arrange.
The person who truly made the effort was the Eleventh Prince Jiang Wuqi. Though young, his actions were grand and magnificent, bearing the closest resemblance to the current Emperor.
His supervision of the Fengxian Commandery case was not merely to win over Zhang Yong. More importantly, it was to use this matter to demonstrate that the Jiang imperial dynasty would never forget the contributions of its meritorious subjects. His moves aimed not only to strengthen his own position but to enhance the overall influence of the entire imperial family—a grand vision.
Lin Youxie wore an azure headband and stood with hands clasped behind her back, resembling a fresh young scholar.
Upon hearing this, she simply asked, "Have the array plates been deployed? Are you certain the battle won't affect the surrounding area?"
"Everything is in order," the Inner Fane realm constable replied.
She said coolly, "Then let's go in and make the arrest."
As soon as these words fell, the middle-aged man hesitated no more. With a single slash, he broke down the door.
The entire small courtyard, starting from the gate, split cleanly in half.
The door shattered, the house opened, and dust rose into the air.
The Azure-badge constables surged in en masse.
However, what they saw in this dilapidated courtyard was only one person sitting cross-legged in solitude.
This person's face was covered in scars, hideous and terrifying.
Their aura was faintly discernible, clearly indicating Inner Fane realm cultivation as well.
But they simply sat there, watching calmly from outside the courtyard: "Lin Youxie truly lives up to your reputation. You've found me after all..."
Their voice was also strange—hoarse and strained, with a flat, uninflected tone that betrayed none of its original color.
"Why?" Lin Youxie asked.
But she received no answer.
Right before these Azure-badge constables, this person exploded violently!
A dignified Inner Fane realm powerhouse, capable of governing an entire city district, a figure who would be a local hero wherever they went.
They chose self-destruction and death the very moment they were discovered.
Even though the Azure-badge constables present were all seasoned veterans, this still left them shaken and bewildered.
"What's going on here?" the stern-faced Inner Fane realm constable asked.
"Collect his remains and bring them to that child of the Fengxian Zhang family. This case is closed." Lin Youxie sighed. "He is the one who massacred the entire Fengxian Zhang family."
"But..." the Inner Fane realm constable asked. "Why?"
Lin Youxie shook her head and turned to leave on her own.
"I only search for culprits. The stories behind them—I can't find those answers."
...
The State of Yang, Rizhao Commandery, Jiacheng.
The celestine stone vein controlled by the Chongxuan family was located within this city's territory.
Before entering the State of Yang, Jiang Chen had already dismissed the Chongxuan family's coachman.
He did not wish to arrive in Jiacheng directly as a representative of the Chongxuan family, for apart from a veneer of peace, he would likely see nothing else.
The situation in the State of Yang was quite similar to the State of Zhuang—another place where fierce beasts roamed.
Official roads connected the various cities within the country, with beast-repelling arrays carved at intervals along them. All areas beyond these roads were dangerous territory.
Jiang Chen stopped in a small mountain in the wilderness.
Back when he was only at the Pulse Wandering realm, he could already move freely among fierce beasts.
With his current strength, as long as he wasn't surrounded and killed by a large pack, there was basically no danger.
So-called dangerous territory was only dangerous for ordinary people.
What would draw the most attention was probably his prematurely white hair. As a vassal state of the State of Qi, the State of Yang might well be concerned about matters related to the Celestial Residence Secret Realm. Someone might guess his origins from this head of white hair and thus understand his intentions.
Before officially beginning his plan, he needed some disguise.
Jiang Chen now possessed a Youth-Nourishing Pill that could extend his lifespan by one year, and a Longevity Fruit that could add ten years.
The reason he hadn't consumed them earlier was that he wanted to continue experiencing the state of aging to help him complete the final sword strike of his three great sword techniques.
Since he had inevitably aged once, he would make use of that state.
Now he sensed that the sword strike could be unleashed at any moment, so there was no need to suppress it further.
He first swallowed the Youth-Nourishing Pill.
This pill was made from the powdered shell of the sacred guardian beast of the State of You. That giant creature's combat strength approached the Cavern Purity realm, making its entire body a treasure trove.
The Grand Preceptor of the State of You, Zhao Cang, surely possessed more potent Youth-Nourishing Pills, but that was none of Jiang Chen's concern.
The Youth-Nourishing Pill had no particular taste. After swallowing it, there was merely a warm, pleasant sensation that lasted only a moment.
Jiang Chen then popped the Longevity Fruit into his mouth. The fruit dissolved instantly upon contact, cool, sweet, and refreshing. It flowed down his throat like a fine stream, dispersing into his limbs and bones.
He could even clearly feel that his vitality, energy, and spirit were all restored to completeness.
The enhancement of strength naturally led to an extension of lifespan, supplemented further by the Youth-Nourishing Pill and Longevity Fruit. At this point, his remaining lifespan was nearly comparable to what it had been before using the White Bone Escape Art.
Of course, the regret was that consuming another Youth-Nourishing Pill and Longevity Fruit of the same effect would be useless.
At this moment, Jiang Chen felt a slight itch on his scalp. He simply brushed his hand across it, wiping away all the white hair.
A water mirror coalesced before his eyes, and Jiang Chen watched himself transform into a handsome young bald head.
Then black stubble sprouted from the scalp, and black hair grew rapidly until it reached his ears.
Not as long as before, but enough to tie into a Daoist topknot.
Of course, Jiang Chen would not tie a Daoist topknot again.
He no longer felt any sense of belonging to the State of Zhuang or the Daoist sect.
He casually tied his hair back.
Now dressed plainly, with a long sword at his waist, he controlled the fluctuations of his Dao essence. Walking casually along the official road, he appeared no different from any ordinary young man.
Except for that heart, which was far too heavy.