Chapter 44: Event Process

Gu Mo recognized the voice; it was indeed Zhuo Qingfeng. He could also sense that the person outside was weak, their steps light but unsteady, clearly indicating a serious injury and posing little threat.

"Are you really Zhuo Qingfeng?" Gu Mo asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"If you have doubts," the person outside replied, "you can ask your sister to come out and confirm."

Gu Mo opened the door and summoned Gu Chudong from the adjacent room.

"Brother, it truly is Thousand Households Zhuo," Gu Chudong confirmed.

Gu Mo, somewhat perplexed, invited Zhuo Qingfeng inside. "Thousand Households Zhuo," he began, "you actually dared to come to me? Do you realize how much you're worth these days?"

"I know," Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "That's precisely why I only dared to seek you out. I can't trust anyone else right now."

"And you dare to trust *me*?" Gu Mo asked, surprised.

"Yes," Zhuo Qingfeng affirmed. "You're the only Knife-Wielder who publicly refused to arrest me and believed I was framed. What's more, you even had someone send me a message warning me about White-Headed Man and Scholar. I trust you mean me no harm."

Gu Mo was momentarily speechless. "Aren't you afraid I was just grandstanding, saying all that on purpose?" he countered.

"You're not that kind of person," Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "I spent a few days with you at the Wang family estate in Yong'an County. I trust your character."

"Alright, alright," Gu Mo said, waving a dismissive hand. "Tell me, what brings you here?"

"I didn't massacre my colleagues; I was framed," Zhuo Qingfeng stated.

"But everyone says you're the killer," Gu Chudong interjected. "They claim you conspired with King Mu's descendants and absconded with the treasure token. And your colleagues all died by your Seven Stars Long Sky Sword Art."

"It truly wasn't me," Zhuo Qingfeng insisted. "Xiao Xuan is lying."

Zhuo Qingfeng took a deep breath. "That day," he recounted, "I was escorting the token with a group of colleagues when we were ambushed in Dalong Valley. During the fighting, White-Headed Man and Scholar deliberately led me away, though I didn't realize it at the time.

"I was led into a forest, where I encountered Silver Fox and engaged him in combat. During our fight, Scholar and White-Headed Man suddenly attacked me, catching me off guard and wounding me. I fled in a hurry. While I was escaping, I ran into Xiao Xuan, who was supposedly coming to my aid. To my shock, Xiao Xuan betrayed me, stabbing me in the back when I least expected it."

"Ah?" Gu Chudong exclaimed, surprised. "Xiao Xuan betrayed you? But wasn't it reported that *you* tried to kill *him*?"

"It wasn't me," Zhuo Qingfeng said, slowly turning and lifting his robes to reveal a sword wound on his back. "It was this wound."

"Then how did you get away?" Gu Chudong asked, puzzled.

"Facing the combined assault of Silver Fox, Scholar, White-Headed Man, and Xiao Xuan, while already severely wounded, I had no chance of fighting them," Zhuo Qingfeng explained. "I simply ran for my life. Fortunately, there was a river nearby, and I jumped in, letting the current carry me away.

"A fisherman rescued me, and I spent two days recovering in his village. I asked him to report to the authorities in the nearby county town, but when he returned, he brought with him a large contingent of people who had come to arrest me.

"Fortunately, I sensed something was wrong. Once the yamen constables entered the village, I hid and then found an opportunity to slip away quietly. It was only then that I gradually learned I had been declared a wanted man. I found a doctor, coerced him into closing his practice, and had him treat my wounds. Once I was somewhat recovered, I returned to Linjiang City."

Gu Mo looked at him with a touch of admiration. "You're truly remarkable," he commented. "With the entire martial arts world, both righteous and illicit, and the authorities all pursuing you, you actually dared to enter Linjiang City and weren't caught?"

"Have you forgotten what I do?" Zhuo Qingfeng responded. "I am a Divine Constable of the Six Doors. How many can match my anti-reconnaissance skills? Most of the capable constables in the Six Doors today were trained by me. If the Six Doors can't apprehend me, then those common martial artists stand even less of a chance."

"You're quite proud of yourself," Gu Mo said with a smile. "However, there's a significant logical flaw in what you just told me."

"Where?" Zhuo Qingfeng prompted. "Is it about my rapid recovery? That's because I cultivate the authentic Daoist internal cultivation art, the Everspring Skill. The older this art becomes, the more refined and potent it is, offering myriad benefits. Not only does it prolong life, but it also expels poisons, heals injuries, and provides incredibly deep internal energy."

Gu Mo shook his head slightly. "Not that," he said. "It's that you managed to escape from Silver Fox? What's more, according to your account, you fought Silver Fox without falling behind, even gaining the upper hand, and only then did Scholar and White-Headed Man ambush you, causing you to flee, before you encountered Xiao Xuan's betrayal, which led to your final defeat. That was Silver Fox! Does Silver Fox need help to kill you? Could you truly gain the upper hand in a direct confrontation with Silver Fox?"

"Great Hero Gu," Zhuo Qingfeng said, clearly agitated, "believe me. As unbelievable as it sounds, that's what happened. I..."

"I believe you."

"Ah?"

Gu Mo's swift declaration of belief caught Zhuo Qingfeng off guard. "Why?" he asked. "It's genuinely hard to believe that I could have gained the upper hand against Silver Fox."

"Precisely because that statement sounds so obviously false, I actually believe you," Gu Mo explained. "If you were truly trying to deceive me, you wouldn't be so foolish as to concoct a lie that no one would possibly credit."

Zhuo Qingfeng sighed. "Honestly," he admitted, "even now, I can't comprehend how I could have possibly gained the upper hand against Silver Fox's strength. Logically, I shouldn't have even had a chance to escape."

"It's very simple," Gu Mo replied. "The Silver Fox you encountered was either a fake, or the one at the Wang family estate who gave countless masters no chance to struggle was the fake. Hmm, either way, it doesn't matter. The important thing is, what do you need me to do now?"

"I need your help," Zhuo Qingfeng pleaded. "I must uncover the truth of this matter. All will be revealed if I can just confront Xiao Xuan. It was he, not I, who betrayed the Six Doors."

"Are you saying that Xiao Xuan conspired with King Mu's descendants to get the treasure, and when he failed to kill you, he directly framed you for the murder of your colleagues and the theft of the treasure token?" Gu Mo clarified.

"That appears to be the case, yes," Zhuo Qingfeng confirmed.

"And what about White-Headed Man and Scholar?" Gu Mo probed. "According to your account, they were also in league with King Mu's descendants, and should have been allied with Xiao Xuan. Yet they also died."

"I don't know," Zhuo Qingfeng admitted. "All of this can only be understood by confronting Xiao Xuan. So, Great Hero Gu, please help me!"

Gu Mo eyed him skeptically. "Thousand Households Zhuo, you're not suggesting I help you kidnap Deputy Thousand Households Xiao Xuan, are you? I can't do that. You're a wanted man, and I have no desire to become your accomplice."

"Not at all, not at all!" Zhuo Qingfeng quickly reassured him. "It's just that I can't reveal myself right now. Currently, I only trust two people: you, and Chu Yuan, the Six Doors Inspector for Linjiang Prefecture. However, Lord Chu's status is sensitive, and I can't just meet him directly; if I were to approach him openly, I'd be instantly exposed."

Gu Mo let out a small sigh of relief. As long as it didn't involve kidnapping Xiao Xuan, the situation wasn't too problematic. After all, he wasn't yet ready to become a wanted man and roam the martial world.

"So, what exactly do you need me to do?" Gu Mo asked.

"Lord Chu usually resides at the Six Doors yamen during the day, making it impossible for me to meet him there," Zhuo Qingfeng explained. "Therefore, I can only ask for your assistance."

As he spoke, Zhuo Qingfeng removed a jade pendant from his waist. "This is a token," he said. "Lord Chu will definitely grant you an audience if he sees this. Please tell him the full truth and ask him to come here to meet me."

Gu Mo took the jade pendant. "Aren't you afraid Chu Yuan will just bring his men and surround you?" he asked.

Zhuo Qingfeng shook his head. "He and I share a bond forged through life and death," he stated. "In the ten years I've been in Linjiang Prefecture, he has protected me from countless overt and covert attacks. For the past decade, everyone has attributed the prestige of the Linjiang Prefecture Six Doors to me. In truth, all my accomplishments are due to his unwavering support behind the scenes. He deserves half the credit. My back has always been entrusted to him. If he doesn't believe me now, then I'll have no regrets even in death."

"Such profound trust?"

"Some people you can spend a lifetime with and never dare to trust, yet others, even after a single meeting, you'll trust implicitly," Zhuo Qingfeng replied.

"That sounds... complicated," Gu Mo mumbled, then picked up the jade pendant and called out, "Chudong, take me to the Six Doors yamen."

"Oh, alright," Gu Chudong quickly rose. "Uh, well, Thousand Households Zhuo," he added, "there's food in the kitchen. Just help yourself if you're hungry."

With that, he followed Gu Mo out the door.

***

Linjiang Prefecture, and indeed the entire Qian Kingdom, had no curfew. Especially in large cities, night markets would spring up after dusk, making nighttime travel within the city perfectly safe and common.

Gu Chudong led Gu Mo to the Six Doors yamen.

A middle-aged constable guarding the entrance approached them, observing Gu Mo and Gu Chudong. Noticing their attire was unlike that of ordinary citizens, he inquired, "What can I do for you two? Are you here to report a crime?"

Gu Mo cupped his hands. "I am Knife-Wielder Gu Mo," he stated. "I have been entrusted to deliver something to Lord Chu Yuan. May I trouble you to convey a message?"

The constable hesitated. Suddenly, a younger constable rushed over from behind him, speaking with enthusiasm, "So it's Great Hero Gu Mo! Do you have a token? No matter if you don't; I'll go inform him for you."

"I do."

Gu Mo produced the jade pendant. "Much obliged," he said.

"No trouble at all, it's my duty."

With that, the young constable led the middle-aged one away.

"Who was that?" the older constable asked his junior. "You were so polite."

"I always tell you to pay more attention to affairs of the martial world, but you never listen, claiming I'm not doing my job," the younger constable retorted. "That was Great Hero Gu Mo, the recently promoted Gold-Ranked Knife-Wielder. The martial world calls him 'Blind Man.' He's the one who killed Flying Dragon. He's also the 'Blind Man' among the four Gold-Ranked Knife-Wielders who recently confronted Silver Fox at the Wang family estate in Yong'an County, alongside Iron Arhat and Crimson-Faced Beast!"

"Oh, oh, oh, so *that's* who he was!"

"But don't call him 'Blind Man' to his face..."

...

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong waited silently at the entrance.

That night, few people entered or exited the Six Doors yamen; it was remarkably quiet.

Not long after, a stern-faced middle-aged man emerged. Dressed in a long robe, every movement of his sleeves exuded an aura of unshakeable composure. Each step seemed to carry immense weight, and wherever he passed, constables bowed their heads and held their breath in respectful deference. This was Chu Yuan, the chief of the Linjiang Prefecture Six Doors and its Inspector.

"Are you Great Hero Gu?" Chu Yuan immediately asked as he stepped out. "Where is he?"

"At my home," Gu Mo replied. "He wishes to meet Lord Chu there."

"Let's go, let's go! Great Hero Gu, please lead the way," Chu Yuan urged quickly.

"Lord Chu," Gu Mo asked, perplexed, "aren't you bringing any men?"

Chu Yuan paused, surprised. "Bring men for what?" he questioned. "What if we're seen?"

"Uh... indeed."

Gu Mo was momentarily speechless. No wonder Zhuo Qingfeng trusted Chu Yuan so completely; these two truly shared an unspoken understanding, trusting each other without reservation.

Chu Yuan, understanding Gu Mo's unspoken thought, explained, "That jade pendant was personally carved and given by me to him. In this world, no third person besides us two knows its significance. Since he sent you with it, it means he trusts you implicitly, so naturally, I have no reason to doubt."

"I see. Please, lead the way!"

Soon after, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong led Chu Yuan back to their small courtyard.

Gu Mo had anticipated a tearful reunion, but to his surprise, as soon as Chu Yuan entered and saw Zhuo Qingfeng, he immediately declared, "This time, you're in deep trouble. It will be extremely difficult to clear your name."

"Can I see Xiao Xuan?" Zhuo Qingfeng asked. "I need to confront him."

"You can't see him," Chu Yuan replied. "He's already dead. He died after recounting the events of that day. The yamen didn't announce his death publicly, hoping to lure you out for revenge or an assassination attempt on Xiao Xuan."

At once, Zhuo Qingfeng then recounted the details of being ambushed and attacked that day to Chu Yuan, before asking, "What was Xiao Xuan's version of events?"

"His account is consistent with what was reported earlier," Chu Yuan began. "He claimed that in Dalong Valley, a group of masked assailants ambushed them. You, White-Headed Man, and Scholar engaged the main force, fighting further and further away until you vanished into the forest.

"Meanwhile, their group continued to fight. At some point, White-Headed Man and Scholar returned to assist them in repelling the enemy. The battle was fierce, and they only managed to drive back the assailants after everyone was utterly exhausted. Then, you reappeared.

"Everyone was still relieved that you were unharmed when you suddenly launched a lethal attack. You first caught Scholar and White-Headed Man, the two most skilled among them, off guard and killed them. Then, before Xiao Xuan could even react, you stabbed him and proceeded to massacre the rest.

"At that point, only five or six of the original dozen-plus Six Doors constables remained, apart from White-Headed Man, Scholar, and Xiao Xuan. All were exhausted and injured, and you easily slaughtered them all. Then, you took the iron box containing the treasure token and departed.

"Xiao Xuan was stabbed slightly to the left of his heart, barely clinging to life. He received aid and held on until the Six Doors found him. After recounting the entire incident, he died on the spot. It's highly unlikely he was lying to frame you; he had no reason to sacrifice his own life just to incriminate you."