Chapter 174: Catching the Unyielding Grim Reaper

"He's trying to escape!"

Although Yu Shijiu was entangled by the Tongshan School disciples, his attention remained fixed on Wu Chang Guisou. Seeing Wu Chang Guisou about to flee, his heart tightened, and he prepared to deal a heavy blow to the Tongshan disciples who were bothering him.

However, at that very moment, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air, like a blade tearing through the sky. A dark blur flashed past with indiscernible speed, carrying immense force, ripping through the air, and shooting towards Wu Chang Guisou. With a soft thud, it penetrated deep into Wu Chang Guisou's thigh.

"Ah!"

Wu Chang Guisou let out a pained shriek. Losing his balance, he plummeted from the sky like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Everyone looked closer and discovered it was a chopstick, which had pierced straight through Wu Chang Guisou's thigh. Blood trickled down the chopstick.

Lying on the ground, Wu Chang Guisou cried out in pain. In that instant, he whipped out a slender silver whip from his sleeve. The whip's tip soared into the air like a living creature, suddenly coiling around the roof's eave ornament. He abruptly flicked his wrist, and the entire iron whip tautened like a crescent moon, intending to vanish into the twilight like a fleeting night owl using the recoil. The green tiles on the inn's eaves shattered, sending fragments flying.

At that moment, inside the inn, Gu Mo casually picked up a bamboo chopstick and lightly tapped it against the rim of his bowl. A clear "zheng" sound rang out as he casually tossed the ordinary bamboo chopstick. With a "whoosh," it shot out like a cold gleam, moving so fast that it left a three-inch afterimage in the air before striking the iron whip instantly.

The crisp snap of the iron whip breaking and the muffled sound of flesh tearing erupted almost simultaneously. Half of the bamboo chopstick was conspicuously embedded in Wu Chang Guisou's right wrist. Dark red beads of blood snaked down the green bamboo's grain, shimmering like amber in the twilight.

"I thought he had truly seen the light," Gu Mo said, flicking away a bamboo splinter floating in his wine bowl. The other two chopsticks spun lightly between his fingers, "Turns out he was just putting on an act to escape."

Before he finished speaking, Gu Mo sent two more chopsticks flying through the air. The bamboo chopsticks, carrying the force to split mountains and sever rivers, pierced through Wu Chang Guisou's left knee and right elbow.

Wu Chang Guisou stumbled and fell, his limbs completely incapacitated. He collapsed onto the ground like a pile of mud. Stubbornly, he raised his head, looked at Gu Mo, and gritted his teeth, "Who are you, sir? When did the Six-Fan Gate in the Mobei region get such a master?"

Gu Mo ignored Wu Chang Guisou and instead said to Chen Xiuyuan, "Commander Chen, aren't you going to call for backup? Do you plan to take this Sang Guhong back to the yamen by yourself?"

Chen Xiuyuan immediately stepped out, pulled out a signal flare, and launched it, creating a burst of fireworks in the night sky. Instantly, a responding signal flare rose into the sky from nearby.

At this moment, the inn was remarkably quiet.

The Flying Swordsman Yu Shijiu had just fiercely injured two Tongshan School disciples. At the same time, Gu Mo's intervention, using a few chopsticks, had also intimidated the other Tongshan disciples, none daring to move. The two who had been injured endured their pain without making a sound.

As for the Flying Swordsman Yu Shijiu, he had no intention of harming the Tongshan School members; he only struck with ferocity when he saw Wu Chang Guisou attempting to flee. With just one sword strike, he injured the wrists of Wang Can, the Tongshan School's senior disciple, and another disciple, preventing them from holding their swords.

However, seeing that Gu Mo had already incapacitated Wu Chang Guisou, he sheathed his sword and ceased his attack on the Tongshan School members. Thus, silence fell for a time.

Only Yuan Zhu, looking at the miserable Wu Chang Guisou, angrily declared, "Grandpa Wu made mistakes when he was young, but he spent twenty years repenting and changing. We should forgive Grandpa Wu on behalf of those who died. When will this cycle of vengeance end? Grandpa Wu has repented, he has suffered for twenty years, isn't that enough? Why won't you just let him go?"

Gu Chudong retorted, "Do you know the magnitude of the sins Wu Chang Guisou committed back then?"

"I don't know, and I don't need to know," Yuan Zhu replied. "Whatever the matter, whatever his identity, it doesn't matter to me. All I know is that he is Grandpa Wu, who was extremely kind to me. When the village suffered a disaster, he saved us. As for the mistakes he made back then, what do they have to do with me?"

Gu Chudong was speechless. "The harm Wu Chang Guisou caused to others, and their hatred, has nothing to do with you. Then, what does Wu Chang Guisou's kindness to you have to do with us? If you want to save him, and you don't consider the evil he did to others, then why should we consider the good he did for you when we intend to kill him?"

"I don't care!" Yuan Zhu shielded Wu Chang Guisou and stated resolutely, "Unless I die, no one is allowed to..."

"Then die!"

Just then, a chaotic flurry of footsteps sounded from the doorway as a team of Six-Fan Gate constables rushed in, led by none other than Zhuo Qingfeng. He immediately drew his sword and lunged at Yuan Zhu. Under Yuan Zhu's disbelieving gaze, Zhuo Qingfeng's sword sliced directly across her throat. Blood instantly spurted out, and she stumbled, falling to the ground and convulsing.

"Junior Sister!"

Wang Can exclaimed, immediately brandishing his sword and pointing it at Zhuo Qingfeng, roaring, "How dare you kill my junior sister! She's my master's most beloved disciple!"

Zhuo Qingfeng scoffed, "I am Zhuo Qingfeng, Inspector of the Mobei Six-Fan Gate, a fifth-rank official of the imperial court. You dare point a sword at me? That's a death sentence!"

With that, Zhuo Qingfeng's still-dripping long sword swung out again. His sword moved with lightning speed; a cold flash, and it sliced across Wang Can's neck. Wang Can clutched his neck, his eyes wide. His long sword clanged as it fell to the ground, and his body went limp, collapsing.

"Senior Brother!" "Senior Disciple Brother!" "..." The other Tongshan School disciples all gasped in alarm.

"Apprehend them all!"

As Zhuo Qingfeng gave the order, the Six-Fan Gate constables surrounded them in unison. Although the Tongshan School disciples were surprised by the audaciousness of these constables today, they dared not resist, intimidated by Zhuo Qingfeng's power after he had killed two people, fearing they would be killed if they fought back.

Immediately, Zhuo Qingfeng sent men to apprehend Wu Chang Guisou.

"Brother Gu, truly, no wanted criminal you set your sights on can escape your grasp," Zhuo Qingfeng said, walking up to Gu Mo. "You don't even need to search; they practically throw themselves into your hands."

Gu Mo chuckled, "Enough chatter. You need to give me the official document for capturing the wanted criminal and bringing him to justice."

"With our relationship, surely it's not necessary?" Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "Don't you trust me?"

"Business is business; the procedures must be followed. That's my principle as a Ghost Hunter," Gu Mo stated. "Besides, if you don't issue an official document, how will you report it to your Six-Fan Gate headquarters?"

"That's true," Zhuo Qingfeng acknowledged, nodding. He immediately took out Xuan paper and his official seal.

In reality, what Gu Mo was truly concerned about was not the paperwork itself, but rather the system's reward settlement. For the system's Ghost Hunter missions, the simplest settlement method was direct elimination. However, if a target needed to be captured alive, an official acceptance document from the government was required.

Gu Mo generally disliked such missions, as escorting wanted criminals to the yamen was troublesome. However, today proved convenient, as Zhuo Qingfeng issued the official document on the spot.

Soon after, Zhuo Qingfeng finished writing and stamping the official document, then handed it to Gu Mo. The moment Gu Mo received the document, a system notification sounded in his mind:

"Killed a three-star wanted criminal.""Received three-star reward - Max Level Lingbo Weibu.""Claim reward?"

At the same instant, countless intricate incantations, essential movement techniques, and profound applications of Lingbo Weibu surged into Gu Mo's consciousness like a powerful tide, merging deeply with his thoughts. Consequently, Gu Mo even mastered the I Ching. This was because Lingbo Weibu was a unique movement technique of the Carefree Sect, exceptionally subtle and based on the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching. Users moved according to the specific sequence of hexagram positions, completing a full circle from the first step to the last.

For ordinary people to learn Lingbo Weibu, they would need to master and thoroughly study the I Ching. However, Gu Mo's case was a reversal of the natural order; he learned Lingbo Weibu first, which then directly provided him with an understanding of the I Ching.

Meanwhile, inside the inn, the numerous Six-Fan Gate constables were clearing the scene, and all the oil lamps had been lit.

Zhuo Qingfeng looked around and, seeing Yu Shijiu preparing to leave, quickly called out, "Brother Yu Shijiu, please wait!"

Yu Shijiu, who had already reached the doorway, stopped and turned, saying, "Esteemed sir, I am not a wanted criminal."

Zhuo Qingfeng quickly explained, "Brother Yu Shijiu, please don't misunderstand. I am Zhuo Qingfeng, Inspector of the Mobei Six-Fan Gate. I've been following your exploits for a long time. Your chivalry and powerful martial arts have earned my profound admiration. You..."

Yu Shijiu gazed at Zhuo Qingfeng expressionlessly, saying blandly, "Inspector Zhuo, please get to the point."

Zhuo Qingfeng gave an awkward smile and said, "I wish to invite Brother Yu Shijiu to join the Six-Fan Gate. Brother Yu Shijiu, the Mobei Six-Fan Gate is newly established, and it's an excellent opportunity for you to achieve great things. As long as you agree to join, I guarantee you a position as Commander of a Company, and in three years—no, two years—I guarantee your promotion to Commander of a Hundred..."

"I'm not interested," Yu Shijiu said, turning to leave.

Zhuo Qingfeng quickly added, "Even if you don't join the Six-Fan Gate, there's no need to rush off. It's already dark, and you know the climate in Mobei—it's cold and dusty outside right now. Why not stay here for the night? Also, aren't you interested in the Great Hero Gu Mo, the Great Hero of Yunzhou, the world's number one Ghost Hunter, a master of both sword and qi, the youngest and most promising of the Ten Grandmasters of the Qian Kingdom, and the most likely to become the world's number one? Great Hero Gu is here tonight; it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a martial arts discussion!"

Yu Shijiu's eyes lit up, and his cold expression wavered. He turned around, looked at Gu Mo, swallowed, and asked, "He... he is the Great Hero Gu Mo of Yunzhou?"

"Absolutely," Zhuo Qingfeng confirmed. "If you go out and ask around, you'll know that Gu Mo and I are brothers in life and death."

"Then... then can you ask him to give me some pointers?"

Zhuo Qingfeng's lips curved upward. "I could, but you're not one of the Six-Fan Gate members, so it's a bit difficult for me to ask!"

Yu Shijiu frowned, looking down in thought, seemingly in a difficult position.

Just then, Gu Mo spoke, "Young brother, if you don't mind, come sit with us and exchange martial arts insights."

Yu Shijiu's eyes shone. He quickly walked over, awkwardly cupped his hands, and excitedly said, "Earlier... no... I didn't realize it was the Great Hero Gu himself. My apologies... for my disrespect!"

Gu Chudong inquired, "Even in Mobei, have you heard of my brother?"

"Yes," Yu Shijiu replied, taking a deep breath and regaining his composure. "Ye Jinglan and Chu Tianqing have both openly admitted they are no match for Great Hero Gu. The jianghu all say Great Hero Gu despises evil and is extraordinarily righteous. I admire him greatly!"