บท 10: Law Enforcement Division's Investigation
'One, two, three… six guys. And what's up with those two in the back?', Zhang Baichi's gaze swept over the young men that came knocking at his door. All of them wore the same black attire with the words 'Law Enforcement' embroidered on their chests.
He didn't know what this meant exactly, but if the novels from his past life taught him anything, then these people were here to make trouble. And they'll most likely use the sect's rules to do so. 'First some trash young master, who has a blood feud with me, then some two-faced bastard and now these clowns? I really can't catch a breath here.'
Zhang Baichi stared at the young man at the front. This persons gaze was the most hostile, and he looked to be the leader of their group, as well as the strongest among them.
[Ding! Yu Hao, 15 years old, 8th Layer of the Body Forging Realm.]
'Not too strong. I can take him on, easily.', the system gave Zhang Baichi the opponent's information without him even asking, causing Zhang Baichi's tense body to relax. He looked at the young man called Yu Hao and opened his mouth with a calm expression. "What's the problem? Why is the Law Enforcement Division looking for me?"
Yu Hao was surprised. He knew of Zhang Baichi from hearsay and rumours; The boy was supposedly a timid good-for-nothing with a low aptitude for cultivation. Yet, the Zhang Baichi in front of him was different. Not only was he calm and confident, but at 13 years old, his cultivation was also at the 5th Layer of the Body Forging Realm.
'5th Layer? Didn't Di Fangsheng say he was at the 3rd Layer? Did that fellow lie to me?', Yu Hao observed Zhang Baichi for a while and a tense silence filled the area. The other members of the Law Enforcement Division didn't say anything and waited for Yu Hao to take the lead.
'His aura is still somewhat chaotic. A clear sign that he just broke though. He was at the peak of the 4th Layer when he defeated Di Fangsheng? That's much more believable.', Yu Hao closed his eyes for a second; His gaze became sharp and he spoke in a resolute, yet indifferent voice. "Zhang Baichi, we've been informed that you used an unknown Sword Technique to fight Di Fangsheng at the training fields today. We've been sent to investigate. If you are found guilty to be a spy from another sect, you are to be executed on the spot."
The moment the words 'executed on the spot' left his mouth, the other members of the Law Enforcement Division drew their swords – real swords with gleamingly sharp edges! The faces of the surrounding people changed to all kinds of expressions; Some of ridicule, some of disgust, anger or even fear.
Being suspected of being a spy was no small matter. And with the law Enforcement Division being the ones to investigate the truth of that claim, Zhang Baichi might be found guilty even if there was no evidence. After all, aside from the Elders, the Law Enforcement Division held the greatest power in the Outer Sect.
Zhang Baichi frowned, not understanding what Yu Hao was talking about. Di Fangsheng was the bald young man he had fought before, but he had allegedly used an unknown Sword Technique? 'Wait, is he talking about what I blurted out before knowing that baldy around?'
He didn't speak his mind directly, but instead opened the door to his cottage and stepped to the side. "Since it's an investigation, I will naturally cooperate. I have nothing to hide."
His tone was still calm, yet contained a hint of impatience. He was just cultivating a moment ago and was now disturbed for such a ridiculous reason, yet he couldn't even defend himself. If he did so, Yu Hao and his goons would use that to paint him as a spy – that much he was sure about.
Yu Hao's eyes flashed while he continued to stare Zhang Baichi down with an expressionless face. He gave the word and two of the people behind him flashed past Zhang Baichi and into the cottage, roughly rifling through his belongings, even throwing the mattress around.
Zhang Baichi glanced at them for a moment and rolled his eyes, then turned back to face Yu Hao. "Can't you tell you men to be more civil about this? I'm already cooperating despite these ridiculous claims, yet you're ransacking my house like hungry wolves finding a bag of food."
"…I'll have them clean their mess up later. If… they don't find anything.", he made his stance clear, putting a lot of emphasis on the word 'if'. Zhang Baichi's eyes flashed with anger. 'These dogs… Have they already planned to pin something on me? This might get complicated.'
While Zhang Baichi frowned, Yu Hao decided to ignore the mess going on, interrogating Zhang Baichi instead and commanded in the same indifferent tone. "Tell me about your fight with Di Fangsheng."
"There's nothing much to say.", Zhang Baichi spoke and shrugged his shoulders. "I was lost in thought while training, and blurted a few words out in frustration. Di Fangsheng thought they were directed at himself and challenged me directly. I couldn't be bothered to explain and accepted his challenge instead."
"Then you used underhanded methods and foreign techniques to win-", Yu Hao continued, to which Zhang Baichi frowned with displeasure and interrupted him. "Wrong. I fought him yes, but it was a fair fight. He was the first to make a move. I dodged and used a regular overhead strike to knock him out. After that, I returned to my training and left a few minutes later."
Yu Hao's gaze grew sharper after he was interrupted and pressed further. "Dozens of people were present during the fight. Not one of them testified that you used a 'regular strike'. All of them said that it was a Sword Technique they had never seen before."
Zhang Baichi clicked his tongue. "Those idiots that were impressed when Di Fangsheng shouted out the name of his attacks? Great sources. And Di Fangsheng is just as much of an idiot. Shouting out the moves of the Breezing Wind Sword Technique in a fight; He was basically begging me to dodge and counterattack his moves. And so I did."
From the side, another member of the Law Enforcement Division chimed in. "Don't spout nonsense! You counterattacked my brother's attacks with you strength? As if! It's obvious that you used a foreign technique! Chief Yu, there's no use in talking to that spy! Just kill him!"
Yu Hao frowned and turned to the person by his side. "Di Yuansheng, be quiet. It's already an exception that you're allowed on this investigation."
Surprise flashed through Zhang Baichi's eyes. 'His name is 'Di' as well? So he's that baldy's backing, huh. He most likely brought up the topic of me being a spy, since I humiliated his brother. System what's his strength?'
[Ding! Di Yuansheng, 15 years old, 6th Layer of the Body Forging Realm.]
'Another small fry.', Zhang Baichi ignored the man and turned to the two people still rummaging through his cottage. It looked like they hadn't found anything yet, but the chaos they left behind was a huge annoyance to Zhang Baichi. 'Yu Hao better makes those dogs clean up or I'll make them do it myself.'
Di Yuansheng grit his teeth, enraged by the blatant disregard Zhang Baichi had shown him. He turned to Yu Hao and spoke in a low voice. "Chief Yu, he won't admit, no matter what we say. Why don't I fight him instead? Since he can easily beat my brother, his strength should be similar to mine. With your discerning eyes, you would be able to see if he used any unknown techniques, wouldn't you?"
The idea didn't sound too bad, but Di Yuansheng had no idea that he was basically asking to be humiliated by doing this. Zhang Baichi said nothing and looked at Yu Hao instead. The latter was quick to speak up. "What do you think, Zhang Baichi. Do you dare fight him to prove your innocence?"
"Why wouldn't I. He's just as rotten as his brother, though; Both are openly asking me to beat them up. Could there be something wrong with their heads? You Law Enforcement Division should be careful who they hire.", Zhang Baichi spoke in a relaxed voice as he walked to a more open space and then faced Di Yuansheng.
Yu Hao's eyes turned sharp, while Di Yuansheng unsheathed his sword. Zhang Baichi looked at the blade and hesitated for a moment, causing Di Yuansheng to laugh at him. "What's wrong? Are you getting scared because this is a real sword? Right, someone lend this fellow a blade before he finds an excuse."
"No need", Zhang Baichi spoke, inwardly mocking Di Yuansheng for such a low-class provocation. The Sturdy Iron Sword appeared in his hand and he took the standard combat stance for the Breezing Winds Sword Technique, then looked at Yu Hao. "You give the signal."
Opposite of him, Di Yuansheng also took the same stance and both of them stared at each other. Yu Hao waited for a short moment, allowing both of them to concentrate on the battle, then raised his left hand. "Begin."
Di Yuansheng charged at Zhang Baichi in the same manner as his younger brother did, but the technique he used was different. His sword was held parallel to his body, the tip pointing at Zhang Baichi as he walked with small, yet fast steps. "Breezing Winds Sword Technique – Fourth Movement, Piercing Wind"
Zhang Baichi countered with the Seventh Movement of the same Sword Technique, but he didn't speak it's name. His sword moved in an arc, clashing with Di Yuansheng's. Zhang Baichi sidestepped his opponent and redirected the Piercing Fang to the ground.
This Seventh Movement was a defensive technique of the Breezing Winds Sword Technique called Controlling Storms and Zhang Baichi perfectly executed it.
Surprised, but not missing a beat, Di Yuangsheng twisted his body and swung his sword vertically from the ground up, forcing Zhang Baichi to take a step back to dodge. After that, Di Yuansheng took a large step towards Zhang Baichi and executed another Sword Technique. "Breezing Winds Sword Technique – Second Movement, Sweeping Winds!"
"Just as dumb as his brother." Ridicule flashed through Zhang Baichi's eyes as he jumped over the attack and tucked his feet in – the very same dodge he used against Di Fangsheng! In the same motion, he raised his sword over his head, grabbed it with both hands and struck down. "Whack-A-Mole, Deluxe Edition, the second."
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