Da Xuan Martial Saint

Outside the main gate of the City Defense Division.

Hundreds of people crowded the spacious street outside the gate, blocking it completely.

A person was seen tightly bound with rope, kneeling at the main entrance of the City Defense Division with a bruised nose and a swollen face, while a female corpse lay prostrate beside him. The woman appeared to be about twenty years old and looked as if she had just recently died.

The outer perimeter was a large mixed crowd of various individuals, from a middle-aged man in a luxuriant brocade robe surrounded by a group of Protector martial masters, to a rugged brute with a steel blade on his hip and a fearsome scar on his face.

The Head Constables guarding the entrance to the City Defense Division were somewhat intimidated at this time.

For them, had it been commoners causing trouble, they would have kicked them out long ago. It would've never come to this point where the incident grew so intense that it alarmed their superiors inside.

But this situation was completely different, as the man with the steel blade and the scar had a notorious reputation locally. He was the Gang Leader of the Quicksand Gang, known to almost everyone in Wutong Grove District, with a presence even said to silence the cries of children at night.

The man surrounded by bodyguards in brocade clothing was Zheng Hong, the master of the Zheng Family from South Street. The Zheng Family's local influence was even more significant; they were more domineering than the Quicksand Gang. It was trivial for them to abduct local women, and Zheng Hong's eldest son, Zheng Yi, once had a minor dispute with someone in a tavern.

He ordered his house servants to beat the man to death in the street and then left without further concern.

Even when Head Constables of the City Defense Division were patrolling nearby, Zheng Yi had killed the man right in front of them. He further instructed the constables to "clean the street," and afterwards, the incident sank like a stone in a deep sea without causing the slightest ripple—a testament to the Zheng Family's brazenness.

Being a Head Constable in the City Defense Division meant first and foremost to discern those who could be provoked from those who could not. In Wutong Grove District, the Zheng Family and the Quicksand Gang were not to be trifled with.

The Head Constable at the gate wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He kept looking into the City Defense Division, and finally saw Chen Mu leading a group of people out. He promptly greeted Chen Mu with respect, "Prefecture Chief."

Both the Gang Leader of the Quicksand Gang and Zheng Hong of the Zheng Family were not figures that mere Head Constables could handle.

Upon seeing Chen Mu emerge with a group of people, Zheng Hong offered a slight smile and cupped his hands towards Chen Mu, "A reputation is better seen than heard. Lord Chen is truly a young talent. When I was your age, I was still indulging in the pleasures of the Flower District, struggling even to manage a common shop owned by my family, yet Lord Chen has already become the head of a division."

The statement appeared to be complimentary, but it sounded quite awkward, causing Liu Song and Li Tie among others to frown quietly.

Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged. He glanced at Zheng Hong and then turned his attention to the corpse in front of the gate and the person bound and kneeling beside it. At this glance, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Because he recognized the kneeling person.

"H-head... Prefecture Chief, you must uphold justice for me. They deliberately framed me..."

The person kneeling on the ground raised his head to look at Chen Mu and then spoke with a grieving face.

The halfway uttered address of 'Little Mu' was something only two people besides Chen Mu's aunt Chen Hong could use to refer to Chen Mu.

It was his second uncle, Chen Mao.

Chen Mao had always been ignorant and uninformed. His relationship with Chen Mu's father was quite average, and he had been scolded repeatedly by Chen Mu's father. So much so that when Chen Mu's father passed away, he didn't even show up. Afterwards, hearing that Chen Mu had suddenly risen to a high position, he thought of reconnecting with his nephew but hesitated and didn't have the face to visit.

Despite this, as Chen Mu's second uncle, his circumstances had still changed significantly. Many gang members who once looked down on him began to greet him initiatively, and some even sought to make his acquaintance. Chen Mao was naturally pleased to see this and gradually rose in influence.

Chen Mu had actually heard of this, but considering Chen Mao did not explicitly use his name for personal gain, nor had he heard of Chen Mao committing any evil deeds, he hadn't paid it much attention.

Today, in fact, was their first meeting after many years.

His second uncle, Chen Mao, who had stormed off resentfully after being scolded by Chen Mu's father, was now kneeling on the ground, bound and swollen-faced right at the entrance of the City Defense Division.

From the moment he recognized Chen Mao, Chen Mu knew with crystal clarity that someone was deeply dissatisfied with his appointment in Wutong Grove District. They had chosen his first day to make a statement, and it looked like they'd been planning this for some time.

Without any delay,

Chen Mu disregarded Chen Mao's pleas and turned to Shang Qinglai, "Since a life has been taken, bring all concerned into the division for interrogation. Chief Head Constable Shang, I entrust you to ensure justice is strict and impartial."

Shang Qinglai wasn't aware of Chen Mao's identity, but he understood someone was trying to make things difficult for Chen Mu, intending to humiliate the newly appointed Prefecture Chief on his first day.

"Yes."

After a brief hesitation, he promptly responded.

No matter the current situation, with the Zheng Family and the Quicksand Gang possibly uniting against him, he had to stand by Chen Mu. Not only because of Xu Feng's instructions before he left, but more importantly, Chen Mu's current status as the unequivocal Prefecture Chief of Wutong Grove District, overseeing the entire City Defense Division.

Just as Shang Qinglai was about to step forward and take Chen Mao and the others into the City Defense Division, Zheng Hong spoke out.

"Hold!"

Zheng Hong's initial greeting had been ignored by Chen Mu, resulting in his expression turning cold. Now, he spoke firmly, "A life has been lost, and it indeed calls for strict and fair judgment. However, I am aware that the main suspect seems to be a relative of Lord Chen. If the case were to be tried within the City Defense Division, it might lead others to question Lord Chen's impartiality.

Perhaps it would be better to conduct the interrogation here on the spot, to convince the onlookers."

With these words,

Suddenly, many faces showed a slight change of expression.

Shang Qinglai's mouth twitched with a hint of a headache as he looked towards Chen Mu. Aside from Zheng Hong's clear intention to stir up trouble, finding out that the main suspect was Chen Mu's relative was giving him an even bigger headache.

In today's world, it wasn't a big deal for a relative of the high-ranking Prefecture Chief to be implicated in a homicide case—unless someone used the incident as a pretext to cause trouble. And when the person seeking to create issues was a powerful figure like the Zheng Family, it inevitably turned into a troublesome matter.

"Very well."

Chen Mu gave Zheng Hong a faint glance.

This look sent a chill down Zheng Hong's spine, but he quickly regained his composure. He knew all about Chen Mu's background, simply an underling cultivated by Xu Hongyu, there to replace Xu Feng's position. Even if Chen Mu might have a bit of a future, that presupposed he had a future to speak of.

The Yu Family's situation wasn't too good at the moment, and today's events were hinted at by some higher-ups.

Moreover, Zheng Hong was no ordinary figure himself, not only distantly related to the He Family in the Inner City but also had people serving in the Inner City. Compared to Zheng Hong's own connections and background, Xu Hongyu, who backed Chen Mu, really wasn't much. And as for authority, Chen Mu was a newly appointed Prefecture Chief, newly arrived and young.

It was doubtful he could easily control the City Defense Division's men and horses. What ability did he have to compete with Zheng Hong?

"I implore the lords present," one person stood out and knelt to the ground, speaking, "Chen Mao acts willfully and despotically and indulges in wanton pleasure. Drunk, he forced himself upon our house concubine, and afterwards, in a violent rage, brutally murdered her. I hope the lords will administer justice impartially and restore what's just."

"Utter nonsense!"

Chen Mao nearly jumped up, arguing, "My Lord, they are in this together. That day I drank a little, and this woman deliberately seduced me. Afterwards, they framed and accused me, saying I marred her reputation and wanted to report me to the City Defense Division. We had an argument and in the heat of the moment..."

"Lies, clearly you took advantage of being drunk with lustful intent, with both human and physical evidence present, how can you still deny it!"

"Clearly it's your deliberate plot..."

The scene quickly erupted into a commotion.

"Silence!"

Chen Mu's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable force that quickly quieted the agitators.

Chen Mu glanced at the female corpse lying beside, clear signs of strangulation on her neck. He then looked at the so-called eyewitnesses and other physical evidence and shook his head slightly.

The case wasn't complicated.

With a little deliberation, it all became quite clear.

It should have started with the Zheng Family intentionally contriving a rape case. However, during the struggle, when threatened, Chen Mao, driven by desperation, committed murder. He didn't know the Zheng Family's men were lying in ambush nearby; he just thought to destroy the corpse after the murder and suppress the matter with his connections.

But when the Zheng Family's men saw the rape case turn into a homicide, they did not intervene, just watched as the woman was choked alive by Chen Mao before finally stepping out to capture him.

Only then did Chen Mao realize something was amiss, but it was too late. There was no room for struggle or argument; he was apprehended and brought here.

A farce.

This was Chen Mu's assessment.

The deceased woman, the murderer Chen Mao, and the Zheng Family... This case had neither a completely innocent victim, culprit, nor deceased.

What was more ludicrous was that all this was just to serve him, the new Prefecture Chief, a lesson on his first day in office.

Very well.

The surprise on his first day in office was truly received.

Chen Mu slightly closed his eyes for a moment, then looking at Chen Mao, said in a calm tone, "So you're saying you indeed killed the person?"

Chen Mao suddenly fell silent, his eyes darting around frantically, his argumentative tone weakening, he stuttered, "I... I was just furious, it was an accident... And it was their deliberate scheme, to frame me, it was them..."

Chen Mu turned his head toward Zheng Hong and said indifferently, "The laws of the state brook no personal feelings. Man does, heaven watches. If evil is done, regardless of the reason, a price must be paid. What do you think, Shopkeeper Zheng?"

Zheng Hong, who had been watching the drama play out, found these words grating, frowned, and was about to say something when he saw Chen Mu had already waved his hand:

"With eyewitness and physical evidence present, take him to the Chief Officer's prison."

"Yes."

Shang Qinglai immediately responded and stepped forward.

Chen Mao's complexion stiffened, and he began to struggle, opening his mouth to shout something, but before he could speak, Shang Qinglai struck him with a hand chop to the back of his neck, causing him to collapse limply, unable to utter another word.

Several constables immediately came forward to assist, escorting Chen Mao away.

"The Zheng Family, the Quicksand Gang, and those thieves over there... any further business?"

Chen Mu no longer watched as Chen Mao was taken away but instead swept his gaze across the many factions present in the scene, his voice still as tranquil as an undisturbed ancient well, betraying no emotion.

The various factions exchanged looks of bewilderment.

Zheng Hong's brow also furrowed.

In truth, he knew that Chen Mu and Chen Mao's uncle-nephew relationship was not very good. The purpose of today's events was not to use Chen Mao to force Chen Mu into submission but merely to undermine Chen Mu's authority.

However, this whole scheme didn't seem to have the desired effect. Chen Mu had remained composed from beginning to end, conducted himself with steadiness, and exhibited a detached attitude.

Furthermore, his ability to enforce discipline had his Head Constables obeying on the very first day, with Shang Qinglai handling matters sharply, acting swiftly to control the increasingly unruly Chen Mao and immediately suppressing the situation.

This farce, far from damaging Chen Mu's reputation, had instead inadvertently built up his authority.

To think he was barely in his twenties and it was his first day as Prefecture Chief, yet his conduct was so steady, without a single fault to be found. Truly strange indeed.