16: Catch yourself

One day... two days... Chu Qing, dressed in linen clothes, spent most of his time studying at Madam Jin's while waiting for Iron Cloth to reach thegetting Started stage.

Madam Jin ground ink for him; he massaged Madam Jin's shoulders; they were like a pair of talented scholars and beautiful women.

This scene made Xiao Tao Hong's little heart pound with fright.

This day, Chu Qing came out of Madam Jin's house, went home, washed the fragrance from his hands, and his profession bar refreshed:

【Iron Cloth successfully promoted】

【Cultivation Technique: Iron Clothgetting Started — Daily hundred refinements, thousands of days to reachskilled】

【Promotion Conditions: 1: Three portions of Secret medicine, 2: Three days of being wrapped in iron wire】

“Three portions of Secret medicine?”

Chu Qing's heart stirred: “Mantis Fist, Red Snake Leg, didn't require Secret medicine when promoting toskilled.”

“This Iron Cloth, needs three portions of Secret medicine just for theskilled level? Then how much will it need forproficient, Major Achievement, and Perfection?”

“Now, should I get Secret medicine?”

Currently, someone must be watching the Iron Cloth Martial Hall, and buying Secret medicine would definitely be dangerous.

The safest method was to wait.

However, in the Dao of martial arts, one step fast means every step is fast.

Chu Qing thought it over repeatedly and decided to take the risk:

“I have the silver I found, so it doesn't matter even if I can't get the Secret medicine.”

He found children to buy the medicine again.

The Hall Master of the Iron Cloth Martial Hall, upon learning this, turned pale and almost cried.

“The killer is harming me!”

A Disciple said: “Hall Master, why don't we just take the silver and not give him the Secret medicine.”

“And then notify Chief Constable Shi.”

The Hall Master smiled bitterly: “Since the killer dared to buy Secret medicine, he isn't afraid of me not giving it to him.”

“If I don't give it to him, he will surely kill someone.”

“I'm not afraid of the killer; but are you?”

The Disciples were horrified.

Are you kidding? They weren't even as good as Li Hao.

“Chief Constable Shi, after all, didn't tell us to report it, so we'll pretend not to know; give him the Secret medicine.”

A few minutes later: The child came out with the Secret medicine.

They followed Chu Qing's instructions, went through streets and alleys, and handed it to other children; this group of children then dispersed, and one of them handed it to another wave of children.

After repeating this three or four times, Chu Qing followed from a distance, and only when he was sure no one was tracking him did he take the Secret medicine.

This time, he purchased a full twenty portions of Secret medicine.

In the short term, he wouldn't lack Secret medicine, only iron wire.

Iron wire was easy to get; he just went to the blacksmith shop to get over ten catties of iron wire to wrap around himself.

【Second condition in progress... Please persist for three days】

Wrapped in iron wire, Chu Qing made an appearance at the Martial Hall, casually practiced Mantis Fist a few times in the training grounds, then did frog jumps, striving for the first condition of Toad Skill.

When he got hungry at noon and went to the large dining hall to eat, he found there wasn't much food.

Chu Qing was puzzled, and just happened to see Shi Tiezhu looking distraught, so he went over and asked:

“Tiezhu, what's going on?”

“All the food is gone?”

Shi Tiezhu hesitated, then sighed:

“The Hall Master, Senior Brother, and Senior Sister are still in jail.”

“Everyone is in a panic, fearing the Martial Hall will close down.”

“I don't know what to do either.”

Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he comforted him: “With Senior Brother and the others absent, you should take responsibility.”

Shi Tiezhu... looked bewildered.

“Mantis Martial Hall has existed for over a hundred years; the Hall Master and the others will definitely be fine.”

“You are the only one in the assault class who has reached thegetting Started stage; you need to take charge of the overall situation; when Senior Sister and the others return, they will surely praise you.”

Shi Tiezhu pondered: “But I don't know what to do.”

Chu Qing smiled: “People are iron, rice is steel; start by reorganizing the large dining hall; then reorganize the members of the assault class.”

“As for the official Disciples, you don't need to worry about them.”

Shi Tiezhu followed his advice, and in just half a day, the Martial Hall largely recovered its order:

The dining hall had plenty of food; most of the assault class students were practicing punches in the training grounds.

Seeing this, Shi Tiezhu sighed to Chu Qing:

“You truly are a seed for studying; such a chaotic situation, and you resolved it with just a few words.”

Chu Qing smiled without speaking.

Wrapped in iron wire, he continued his frog jumps... Hall Master Liu of the Head Chopping Hall was in a depressed mood.

Today, Chief Constable Shi sent someone to reprimand him, saying he wasn't working hard enough; in the afternoon, he was told to bring the Big Boss and other Toumu to see him.

“He took my money, and still makes me work? Are there any rules left?”

Hall Master Liu was displeased, but he didn't dare to resist.

Because his subordinates, the Big Boss, had all gone to be dogs for Young Master He Qi.

He could only gather a group of Toumu.

The Toumu, with dark circles under their eyes and tired expressions, made Hall Master Liu frown.

“I need a Big Boss.”

Hall Master Liu scanned The Crowd and casually pointed to a slightly more energetic young man:

“What's your name? From now on, you're the Big Boss.”

The energetic young man fell to his knees with a thud: “Hall Master, I don't know martial arts, I can't be a Big Boss.”

Are you kidding? Anyone who became a Big Boss now was likely to die.

I don't want to die.

Hall Master Liu pointed to several other people, but no one wanted to take the position.

He became furious and cursed loudly.

A Toumu's eyes darted around and he said:

“Hall Master, why don't we let Chu Qing be the Big Boss.”

Hall Master Liu: “Hmm? Chu Qing? Who is that?”

“Chu Qing joined the Mantis Martial Hall assault class; he wants to take the martial arts academy exam.”

“He knows martial arts, stronger than all of us; he also recognized Hall Master Jin's wife as his Godmother, and he can read and write.”

“It's only fitting that he be the Big Boss.”

Many Toumu nodded in agreement.

“Then he's the one.”

Thus:

Chu Qing, inexplicably became the Big Boss.

Before he could figure out the situation, he was led by Hall Master Liu, surrounded by a group of Toumu, straight to the yamen.

Upon seeing the yamen, Chu Qing wanted to run, thinking Hall Master Liu had discovered his identity.

On second thought, if he really knew he was the killer, he would have sent people to arrest him long ago, so why would he act like this?

He forced himself to remain calm.

Half an hour later:

Chu Qing and The Crowd arrived at a courtyard, and Hall Master Liu entered the main hall alone:

In the center sat a young man in his thirties, with prominent eyebrows and bright eyes, possessing an extraordinary Aura.

At his feet knelt a muscular, bald man.

This was... the Iron Cloth Hall Master.

Chief Constable Shi sipped his tea and said coldly:

“Three days, you Blood River Gang haven't found a single clue in three days.”

“Tell me, do I still have a use for you?”

Thud!

Hall Master Liu knelt down, kowtowing frantically: “Lord Shi, we searched day and night, not daring to be negligent.”

Chief Constable Shi didn't even glance at him, saying coldly:

“This morning, a child bought twenty portions of Secret medicine from the Iron Cloth Martial Hall.”

“Do you know about it?”

Drip!

Drip!

Hall Master Liu was drenched in sweat.

The Chief Constable had said he would dig out the killer within three days.

However, three days had passed, and there was no trace of the killer.

Yet, the killer had actively jumped out to buy Secret medicine, revealing his whereabouts.

This was a slap in the Chief Constable's face.

“Lord...” Hall Master Liu wanted to cry.

Chief Constable Shi said calmly: “Can you find a clue or not?”

Hall Master Liu, sweating profusely, his eyes darting, said: “Lord, I just promoted a Big Boss; he is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and will surely find a clue.”

Chief Constable Shi's heart stirred:

“Let him in.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Chu Qing entered.

He clasped his fists and said loudly: “Greetings, Chief Constable.”

Chief Constable Shi was secretly pleased; this young man, though in linen clothes and barefoot, was full of spirit and had an excellent temperament.

“Hmm... you lead people to investigate the killer, and report any news immediately.”

Chu Qing felt strange in his heart.

Good heavens, he wants me to investigate myself?

“Yes, Lord.”

Chief Constable Shi said calmly: “Do your job well, and you will be rewarded.”

Chu Qing said with a look of ecstasy: “As you command, Lord.”

Clatter!

A teacup was thrown in front of Hall Master Liu.

“Eat it and get out!”

“Yes!”