Chapter 97: Jade Returns

"Chen Mu, Yamen Constable of Wutong Li, greets Deputy Commander."

Chen Mu walked out from the back of the main hall, calmly giving a formal salute. He then reached out and took out a document, saying, "The cross-border arrest last night was naturally under the instructions of the Headquarters, and there is a document here.”

Setting aside the death of He Mingxuan, the interception of He family’s goods last night was a plan that Xiao He and he had already decided upon. Naturally, all aspects were arranged properly, including the follow-up, and the written instructions were all complete.

Including the City Guard Headquarters, there is also a corresponding document at this moment, included in the headquarters’ decree book.

The Deputy Commander Zhang before him came with a fierce momentum as soon as he appeared, clearly not someone from the Xue or Xie families. He could only be someone from the He family, and most likely came intentionally to make things difficult.

“Hmph.”

Zhang Heng took the document from Chen Mu’s hand, and after just a glance, threw the document directly onto the ground, sternly saying, "You are extremely audacious, daring to forge imperial documents, arbitrarily deploy troops, and act across borders! What should be your punishment?"

"Men, seize them!"

Following Zhang Heng’s order, two soldiers immediately stepped forward and pressed down on Chen Mu’s shoulders.

Chen Mu remained calm and allowed the two soldiers to hold him down. He said calmly, "What does Master Zhang mean? The instruction document was personally received by me from the Headquarters yesterday. The Headquarters also has proof. How can there be any forgery?"

Zhang Heng sneered, "The South District City Guard Headquarters has never issued such an order. If it was a secret order, it would have to be personally signed by Chief Constable Xu Hongyu. Xu Hongyu was not in the city yesterday. Does your South District have a second Chief Constable?"

Xiao He is temporarily in charge of the City Guard Headquarters for Xu Hongyu, but it is not a nominal temporary charge. She herself does not have any official position. Her rationale is that she is still acting under the orders of Xu Hongyu through mutual correspondence. She is merely implementing the orders on Xu Hongyu’s behalf.

Because Xu Hongyu has complete trust in Xiao He, Xiao He can arbitrarily give orders and make decisions on the spot, as long as a letter is sent to Xu Hongyu after the fact. Xu Hongyu can then provide the decree to correct any issues.

Although many decrees are supplemented later.

The problem is that it is impossible to investigate this kind of matter. After all, others cannot know the content of the letters in advance. Even if they really know in advance, it is impossible to present them as evidence to indicate that it was Xiao He who gave the orders and later supplemented the documents. Because it is necessary to first explain how one ‘stole and read official documents’, that is equivalent to first affixing a crime onto oneself, which is absurd.

In fact, Zhang Heng is also clear about this. It is difficult for him to take issue with Xiao He issuing orders on behalf of Xu Hongyu. After all, Xu Hongyu can immediately ‘produce’ an official document from yesterday.

Therefore.

He is mainly using intimidation at this moment, and hopes that Chen Mu, being young, will argue and make a case. In the end, if he does not submit he can choose to resist with violence, then there will be a reason to directly apprehend Chen Mu on the spot, and even execute him directly under the guise of resisting arrest.

Even if there are no problems found after the fact, he can just release the person. It does not have much impact on him. As a deputy commander, he has the power to investigate. He is more than one rank higher than Chen Mu!

Chen Mu, merely a branch constable, is just a junior eighth rank.

Chief Constable Xu Hongyu is only a junior seventh rank.

While he, as a deputy commander, is a principal seventh rank!

Above that are the two commanders of the inner and outer cities, respectively at junior sixth rank, and then the deputy commander at principal sixth rank. Finally, the commander in charge of the entire Yuzhou Prefecture, Xie Jin, has an official rank of junior fifth rank, and even higher than that would only be the Prefecture City Lord himself, at principal fifth rank.

Facing Zhang Heng’s aggressive pressure, Chen Mu remained very calm, and said, "There is naturally only one Chief Constable, Xu Hongyu. Yesterday’s document is also naturally a letter and official document from Master Xu.”

"Is that so? Then where is that official document?"

Zhang Heng snorted.

In fact, he is clear that as long as he drags it out, Xiao He can produce a document. If that doesn’t work, it will be no problem to imitate Xu Hongyu’s handwriting, as long as Xu Hongyu directly admits it. It is even possible that the Headquarters has such a document right now.

Therefore, he is still focusing on intimidation. As long as he can find a flaw in Chen Mu’s words, that would immediately be evidence to implicate him with the crime of forging an official document. Then he can reasonably convict Chen Mu directly.

"Isn’t Master Zhang from the Headquarters?"

Chen Mu knows all the processes of Xiao He acting on behalf of Xu Hongyu. Naturally, he has no fear of Zhang Heng. It is impossible for him to expose any flaws under Zhang Heng’s intimidation. At this time, he only calmly asks a question, "If Master is from the Headquarters, then you should have found the instruction document at the Headquarters."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng’s face immediately turned grim as he sized Chen Mu up and down.

He was indeed not from the Headquarters, but instead came directly from the Inner City. His purpose was to retrieve those goods, and to directly take Chen Mu back. As long as he is locked up for two days, it will be easy to cripple him. If they can catch Chen Mu’s flaws or if Chen Mu tries to resist and is killed on the spot, then even better, they would have ample justification.

Even if no problems are found after the fact, he can just release the person. Anyway, it will not have any impact on him. As a deputy commander, he has the power to investigate. As the saying goes, ‘a higher official rank can suppress others.’ He is more than one rank higher than Chen Mu!

Chen Mu, as a branch constable, is just a junior eighth rank.

Chief Constable Xu Hongyu is only a junior seventh rank.

While he, as a deputy commander, is a principal seventh rank!

“You are in cahoots with Ning He. The Headquarters document was also forged by you. No need for further investigation. The evidence is now conclusive. If you honestly confess, you may be spared from a crime. If you resist and do not submit, then do not blame the Great Xuan Law for being ruthless!”

Zhang Heng spoke sternly.

There is no need to go to the Headquarters. Whether they investigate or not, it is all the same.

"I have always been acting under orders. I am afraid I do not understand what Master is saying."

Chen Mu responded calmly.

He understood, Zhang Heng clearly has some concerns. It is estimated that a higher figure in the City Guard had spoken, requiring the He family not to act recklessly. Otherwise, Zhang Heng would probably have already directly attacked him.

That would be a bit more troublesome. Someone who can become a deputy commander must be at least a master of Tendon Transformation. He cannot take that on with his apparent strength. Of course, if he angers them, he can just kill them all and leave the city. With his current strength and means, he can go to many places after leaving Yuzhou, but that is ultimately a last resort.

After all, Chen Yue would be trapped in the Inner City.

Although once he truly reveals his strength and leaves the city, the Yu family will most likely protect Chen Yue. Additionally, there are Xu Hongyu and Xiao He, but in the end, he cannot gamble on such things.

All things considered, ultimately his strength is not enough to resolve everything.

If he was at the Viscera Realm right now, what would it matter if he killed a mere He Mingxuan?

Even.

There is no need for him to reach the Viscera Realm. If he had reached the Perfection of Bone Forging, with Artistic Conception, he would also be the strongest existence in the entire Yuzhou except for the few Viscera Realm experts. Even if he killed He Mingxuan in front of them, he would not be afraid of the He family.

“Very good.”

Zhang Heng’s face turned completely cold. He said harshly, "It seems that you are dead-set on ignoring the consequences. I’ll give you a chance to cooperate or face severe punishment! Men, take him to the Inner City Yamen. Interrogate him severely. If he dares to resist, kill him without mercy!"

He did not expect that Chen Mu was such a stubborn rock. No matter what he did, he could not make him yield. In that case, he could only forcibly take him down and escort him directly to the Inner City Yamen, where he can use torture during interrogation and deal with him properly.

Although there are orders from above not to act recklessly, taking a mere Yamen Constable for supervision and interrogation does not count as acting recklessly. As long as he is not killed, everything is within his authority.

“……”

Chen Mu slightly narrowed his eyes.

Zhang Heng wants to escort him to the Yamen in the Inner City instead of the Headquarters in the South District. That means they are determined to put him to death. The He family indeed is as domineering as always. Last night, they first sent the Black Cloud Bandits to secretly assassinate him, and now a Deputy Commander from the Inner City is here to kill him outright.

Although he knew he would be involved in the conflict between the He and Yu families when he stepped onto Xu Hongyu’s boat, these repeated attempts on his life with threats to kill him are no longer a matter between the He and Yu families.

The He family,

Hmph!

A cold glint flashed in Chen Mu’s eyes.

Shang Qinglai and the other Yamen Heads were still kneeling on the ground, each trembling and afraid to lift their heads, each secretly complaining in their hearts and hoping that the matter will not involve them. It turned out that even Chen Mu, the constable, could not withstand it.

However.

Just as the soldiers with murderous looks were about to step forward, to cuff Chen Mu and take him away.

A cold voice came from outside.

“As a Deputy Commander of the Inner City, what right do you have to apprehend people in the Outer City?”

Chen Mu’s slightly curled fingers slowly relaxed when this voice entered the main hall.

Inside the main hall,

everyone was stunned.

Many of the Inner City Guard soldiers also paused, and looked towards the direction of the voice. They saw a woman, wearing plain tight-fitting clothes, her face cold and beautiful, like a lotus emerging from water, entering the main hall.

It was none other than Chief Constable Xu Hongyu, who had gone to hunt demons, and had not been seen for a long time!

Her clothes still have some tears, and there was a bloodstain on her shoulder. It seemed like she had rushed back from outside the city nonstop. She had not even had time to tidy up her appearance before heading straight to Wutong Li.

Following Xu Hongyu closely was Xiao He, also dressed in plain clothes, who secretly winked at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu’s expression calmed down. He lowered his eyes and stopped speaking.

On the other side.

Zhang Heng’s face turned unpleasant. He looked at Xu Hongyu, his face stern, and said, "Chief Constable Xu, watch your attitude. Are you questioning me, Deputy Commander?"

As soon as Xu Hongyu appeared, he knew that he could not deal with Chen Mu today. He can forcefully take Chen Mu away, but Xu Hongyu cannot. Even if the higher-ups will likely remove Xu Hongyu from the position of Chief Constable, it is still the same whether Xu Hongyu is the chief constable or not. Her identity is that of the Yu family’s direct lineage. Her strength is also obvious, and recently, she had hunted demons outside the city and established many merits.

If it were not for He Mingxuan’s matter, Xu Hongyu would have had a good chance for a promotion. After all, it is rumored that she is not far from the Perfection of Tendon Transformation. She has a background and status, and she has earned merit for her achievements. It is normal that she can become a deputy commander.

The most that could happen is that it would not be possible for her to be promoted to deputy commander within the City Guard, because the position of Deputy Commander in the City Guard is already full. It is more likely she would be transferred to other departments, like the Demon Slaying Division or the Salt Affairs Division.

But it is difficult to say now. It is more likely a lateral transfer.

“Master Zhang, all matters of the South District City Guard are under the control of this Chief Constable. Even if you are a Deputy Commander of the Outer City, if you want to deal with the constables below, you must first inform me. Moreover, the Inner City does not have jurisdiction over the affairs of the Outer City.”

Xu Hongyu looked coldly at Zhang Heng, "Since Master Zhang is acting so presumptuously, and does not respect me as the Chief Constable, then I have nothing more to say to Master Zhang. It is better if Master Zhang returns to the Inner City."

"You…"

Anger flashed in Zhang Heng’s eyes.

Xu Hongyu said indifferently, "If Master Zhang still wants to take my men, then feel free to act. I have hunted demons outside the city for several months, and I’m also looking to learn Master Zhang’s spear technique. But I also have to report to the Commander of the Demon Slaying Division. I think it does not matter if I’m a bit late. Master Zhang will explain on my behalf, right?"

These words made Zhang Heng’s face even more unsightly. In the end, he angrily snorted and flung his sleeves, leaving.