87: Chapter 87 The Massacre of the Entire Family

Chen Mo gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging, and cold sweat streamed down his cheeks.

But this sweat wasn't transparent; it was tinged with a grayish-black oiliness and carried a fishy stench.

"Is this Marrow Cleansing?"

Chen Mo’s body shook like a sieve, yet his mind was exceptionally clear.

He could feel that as the stream of heat washed over him, a certain heavy substance within his body was being stripped away bit by bit.

It was like an old cotton padded jacket, worn for a long time and saturated with dust and sweat, being thrown into water and scrubbed vigorously.

That sense of lightness permeated from the very bones.

After an unknown amount of time, the watchman outside struck the gong for the fourth watch.

Chen Mo suddenly snapped his eyes open.

Hoo—

He exhaled a breath of turbid air, which actually blew a white plume in front of the oil lamp, lingering for a long time.

He looked down at himself.

Good heavens.

His arms and chest were coated with a thin layer of black mud, sticky and incredibly foul-smelling.

But he didn't feel disgusted; instead, he felt refreshed, as if a burden of several dozen catties had been lifted.

His chest, which had been faintly aching due to his injury, was now clear, and his breathing was incredibly smooth.

He quickly fetched water to bathe.

He washed three times before he managed to get rid of the smell.

After changing into clean clothes, Chen Mo sat by the bedside, and with a thought, he summoned the panel.

[Name: Chen Mo]

[Age: 16]

[Lifespan: 105]

[potential points: 55.5]

[Mastered Martial Arts:]

Five Animal Frolics (Perfection)

Returning Origin Strength (Beginner 45%)

Blade Technique (Nameless) (Mastery 12%)

Turtle Breathing Technique (Perfection)

Great Sun Tathagata Marrow Cleansing Incantation (Beginner 1%)

It was done.

His lifespan had increased by 6 years, directly breaking past the century mark.

His potential points had also risen by 5 points.

And this was only just reaching the entry level.

If he could cultivate it to Perfection...

Chen Mo stroked his chin, a smile curving his lips.

This two taels of silver plus the three volumes of 'Artistic Albums' were absolutely worth the expense.

That fat monk Wunian, although greedy for food and lustful, possessed truly potent goods.

Chen Mo slept exceptionally soundly that night.

...

The next morning.

As soon as Chen Mo stepped across the threshold of the West City Yamen, before he could even report for duty, he saw Zhao Dazhu running over in a panic, his hat crooked.

"Head! Something huge has happened!"

Zhao Dazhu gasped, his face filled with terror, "A massacre! A major case!"

Chen Mo frowned: "Don't panic, speak clearly. Where was the massacre?"

"In the area where West City borders East City, Official Liu's residence!"

Zhao Dazhu swallowed hard, "The entire family, including the servants, over thirty people... all... all gone!"

Chen Mo’s heart skipped a beat.

He knew Official Liu; he was a famous gentry in Qingyang County, owning thousands of acres of fertile land, and was rumored to have a few words with the County Magistrate.

For such a prominent family to be massacred was unprecedented in Qingyang County.

"Let's go take a look."

Without another word, Chen Mo turned and left.

Zhao Dazhu and the skinny Wang Xiaoliu quickly followed.

The Liu Residence was on the edge of West City, right next to the affluent area of East City.

Before even entering the gate, a pungent smell of blood assaulted them.

The scent mixed with the morning mist, drilling straight into their nostrils and churning their stomachs.

The entrance was already surrounded by quite a few onlookers, pointing fingers, their faces pale.

Several Runners were maintaining order, and upon seeing Chen Mo arrive, they quickly cleared a path.

Chen Mo stepped over the high threshold.

In the courtyard, bodies lay scattered everywhere.

There were guards, maids, and servants.

The blood had already dried, turning a dark red, staining the blue bricks on the ground mottled and patchy.

Flies buzzed around, as if they had smelled a feast.

"Whoever did this... was truly ruthless."

Wang Xiaoliu shivered, his face turning ashen.

Chen Mo didn't speak; he squatted down to examine the corpse of a guard.

A single slash to the throat.

The wound was clean and smooth, the bone even severed, clearly inflicted by a Sharp Weapon, and the perpetrator possessed immense strength and extreme speed.

"Younger Brother Chen, you've arrived too."

A rough voice came from the direction of the main hall.

Chen Mo looked up; it was Tiger Li.

Tiger Li used to be his direct superior, but later Chen Mo was promoted to Constable, overseeing a certain area, making them peers.

However, Chen Mo had always been polite to him, as this old Jianghu man was experienced and generally righteous.

"Head Li."

Chen Mo stood up and cupped his hands, "This territory happens to border my area, so I came to check things out. What's the situation?"

Tiger Li’s expression was grim; he held a heavy broadsword and pointed toward the main hall.

"Tragic. Not a single living thing spared. Even the big yellow dog in the backyard was split in two."

The two walked into the main hall side by side.

The scene in the main hall was even more brutal.

Official Liu and his few concubines lay in pools of blood, their deaths gruesome.

But right in the center of the main hall lay another person.

It was a young man, in his early twenties, dressed in a white training uniform, still tightly clutching a broken sword in his hand.

"This is the Liu Family's Eldest Young Master, Liu Dalong."

Tiger Li pointed at the corpse with his scabbard, "I know this kid. He was sent to the 'Iron Clothes Martial Arts School' in the Inner City to study since childhood. Rumor has it his talent was excellent; he already reached the Realm of Skin Tempering Perfection, his skin and membranes trained to be like cowhide. Ordinary swords and blades couldn't harm him."

Chen Mo walked over and examined him closely.

Liu Dalong’s eyes were wide open, unable to close in death.

His fatal wound was on his chest.

There was a fist-sized bloody hole there; his heart had been completely shredded.

"Skin Tempering Perfection..."

Chen Mo murmured to himself.

Martial cultivation, the first step, was Skin Tempering.

To train the skin to be tough as leather, capable of resisting blows and locking in the Qi and blood within to prevent leakage.

Although Chen Mo's current Returning Origin Strength also had the effect of Skin Tempering, it mainly focused on cultivating internal strength; the defensive power of his skin and membranes was only average.

"Look at this wound."

Tiger Li squatted down, pointing at the edge of the bloody hole, "The flesh is turned outward, the bone is crushed into powder. This wasn't done by brute force; this is penetrating force. Moreover..."

Tiger Li paused, his expression solemn, "There is residual Sword Qi around this wound. The person who killed him is at least at Flesh Refining Perfection, perhaps even touching the threshold of Bone Refining, and they mastered Sword Intent."

"Sword Intent?"

Chen Mo's pupils contracted slightly.

That was a higher Realm than a mere Move.

"Younger Brother Chen, try his skin."

Tiger Li suddenly said.

Chen Mo was startled, then understood what Tiger Li meant.

He drew the standard-issue long saber from his waist. Although it wasn't some divine weapon, it was crafted from fine steel and quite sharp.

Chen Mo held the saber and slashed Liu Dalong's arm with three parts of his strength.

Ssssh—

A grating sound that made one's teeth ache.

It sounded like a dull knife scraping against old cowhide.

Only a white mark was left on Liu Dalong's arm; not even the skin was broken.

Chen Mo was shocked internally.

The skin and flesh of a dead person lose the support of Qi and blood, causing their defensive power to drop significantly.

Yet even so, this Liu Dalong's skin was still this hard.