The cold wind whistled, and the world was vast and bleak.
Before the depths of winter, snowflakes like willow catkins had already begun to drift down over Qingshi County.
Gu Zheng was dressed in a black constable's uniform, a large emblem on his chest marking his station. His brows were tightly knitted as he strode quickly down the street.
Ahead stood a large, imposing mansion, from which shouts and cries could be heard from time to time.
As Gu Zheng approached the entrance, a quick-witted gatekeeper promptly opened the main gates, stood respectfully to the side, and bowed. "Young Master."
"Mm."
Gu Zheng nodded and strode through the gateway.
The moment he entered, he saw a group of guards holding sabers, with bows and arrows on their backs. Each wore large iron plates on their chest and back, wired together and strapped tightly to their bodies.
Every guard wore a solemn and grim expression, their serious gazes betraying a hint of tension. They patrolled in pairs.
Seeing Gu Zheng, they called out one after another.
"Young Master!"
"Greetings, Young Master."
...
"Mm." Gu Zheng nodded as he walked, asking in a deep voice, "Report any abnormalities immediately. Is that clear?"
"Clear!"
The guards shouted in unison.
"My son, what's happened?"
Hearing the shouts, Gu Sihai rushed out of the main hall. He met Gu Zheng with a puzzled expression. "Why make everyone in the family so tense for no reason? Is some villain targeting our Gu Mansion?"
"No."
Gu Zheng replied calmly, "Father, keep a close watch on the house. Don't let Gu Feng or Gu Xue go out for the next few days. I'll handle things outside."
"...Alright."
Gu Sihai sighed. "I'll listen to you. But you must be careful, too. Protecting yourself is the most important thing if you encounter danger."
"I will."
Gu Zheng nodded firmly, but the furrow between his sharp brows never relaxed.
'If it weren't for this sudden anomaly, I wouldn't want to make the atmosphere at home so tense either.'
It had been twenty-one years since he had been reincarnated into this ancient, feudal world.
Before this, Gu Zheng had been certain this was a Low Martial World.
A Martial Artist who trained to a certain level could fight one against ten. But even the strongest among them, a Martial Artist in the Grandmaster Realm, would have to flee in disarray if besieged by a ten-man squad of soldiers equipped with Iron Armor and Crossbows.
The Gu Family he was reborn into was one of the wealthiest households in Qingshi County with substantial resources. As the eldest legitimate son, Gu Zheng could have been a carefree, profligate young master. But a wuxia dream from his past life led him to practice martial arts, and he discovered he had a talent for it.
With the Gu Family's vast wealth backing him, Gu Zheng became a renowned first-rate master in the region in less than ten years of training.
After that, the Qingshi County Magistrate's Office repeatedly extended invitations, and he eventually became the Chief Constable.
He accepted because the Government Office offered a Grandmaster Level Cultivation Technique as a condition.
It would just take time; he needed to accumulate enough merit to receive it from a higher-level Government Office.
And so, Gu Zheng served as Chief Constable for half a year. In and around Qingshi City, all was peaceful and harmonious.
If nothing unexpected had happened, he—a wealthy heir, martial arts master, and Chief Constable—could have lived a very comfortable life here.
But as fate would have it, three days ago, the anomaly arrived.
...
"Let me go! You guys, let me go!"
A stifled, angry shout rang out. Gu Zheng turned to see a boy of about sixteen or seventeen being escorted over, his arms held by two guards.
"Father, make them let me go!" the boy shouted at Gu Sihai, struggling all the while.
As for Gu Zheng, the boy didn't even dare to look at him.
"Were you trying to sneak out again?" Gu Sihai's round face darkened as he roared, "How many times have I told you? You are not to leave the house these next few days! Are you deaf, or have you lost your mind?"
"I..."
"You what? Are you talking back to me?"
Gu Sihai said in a low voice, "Get back to your room! If you try to sneak out again, I'll break your legs myself!"
"..." Gu Feng opened his mouth but didn't dare to speak again.
Gu Zheng paid him no mind and turned to walk toward his own courtyard.
But just then, a servant came running from the main gate.
"Young Master, a constable is looking for you! It seems to be urgent..."
SWOOSH—
Before the servant could finish, Gu Zheng was already moving as if flying, skimming across the ground as he dashed toward the main gate.
Seeing this, Gu Sihai's brow furrowed even deeper.
'Just what in the world is going on?'
...
"Chief! We've found another one..."
Outside the Gu Mansion, a young constable saw Gu Zheng emerge and hurried over to explain.
But Gu Zheng didn't stop, waving his hand. "Talk as we walk."
"Alright."
The young constable, Han Ming, took a deep breath to calm his frayed nerves. He kept pace with Gu Zheng and said, "This time it's in Pingchang Square, a family in Big Willow Tree Lane. A family of four... their chests and abdomens were hollowed out. All their internal organs have vanished into thin air..."
'Vanished into thin air again?'
Gu Zheng's expression was grim. He frowned and said nothing.
After speaking, Han Ming also fell silent.
The two of them walked swiftly until they reached Pingchang Square and Big Willow Tree Lane, entering a small courtyard surrounded by a crowd.
In the courtyard, several pale-faced constables were standing guard at the door. When they saw Gu Zheng arrive, they quickly called out.
"Chief, you're here."
"Mr. Gu, the bodies are in the house. Nothing's been touched."
"..."
"Disperse the crowd outside." Gu Zheng didn't stop. With a grim face, he gave the order and strode into the room, which reeked of blood.
Just inside, on the floor of the main room, lay two mutilated corpses.
One was a man in his forties or fifties. An arm and a leg had been torn off and lay in a corner. The man's mouth was wide open in a mask of terror. His chest cavity was completely open; aside from his intestines trailing on the floor, his other organs were nowhere to be seen.
The other body, a woman, was in a similar state. A large hole was torn in her neck, her head having rolled to the side. Her chest and abdomen were ripped open, the edges of the wound jagged and mangled, and all her internal organs were gone.
The walls and floor were spattered with blood.
Gu Zheng held his breath, glanced at the bodies, and then began carefully searching the corners of the room.
Suddenly, he spotted two dark, viscous, black-red Blood Pearls in a corner.
Gu Zheng immediately walked over, squatted down, and touched a Blood Pearl with his finger.
SIZZLE—
A stinging pain, as if from a scorching fire, shot through his finger.
The crimson Blood Pearl sank directly into Gu Zheng's finger and vanished.
[Demon Points +1]
A notification flashed before his eyes.
Gu Zheng remained impassive and touched the second Blood Pearl.
Instantly, the burning, stinging sensation struck again, then faded as the Blood Pearl sank into his fingertip.
[Demon Points +1]
After collecting the two Blood Pearls, Gu Zheng stood up. Enduring the lingering waves of pain in his finger, he focused his thoughts.
[Gu Zheng]
[Realm: Unentered Realm]
[Strength: 10/10]
[agility: 9/10]
[Constitution: 9/10]
[Spirit: 8/10]
[Demon Points: 2]
[Demon Techniques: None]
Below this were two rows of light blue squares, ten in total, like an equipment bar in a game.
Nine of them were empty, while one held a black-red Blood Pearl.
[Bloodshed (Incomplete, needs supplementing)]