When the two brothers left, in the courtyard, Henry Jennings was still kneeling in front of the study door. Seeing Peter Lambert come out, he muttered curses under his breath: “Fatherless bastard! Are you happy now?”

Peter Lambert walked away nonchalantly, only tossing back a light remark as he turned: “Likewise.”

Today’s events had gone surprisingly smoothly. After leaving the Zhen residence, George Lambert couldn’t help but sigh, “No wonder Steward Zhen has such a good reputation—he really is kind and reasonable. How could a father like that raise such a son?”

Peter Lambert shook his head, equally puzzled.

……

By the time the two brothers returned home, it was already completely dark. Peter Lambert went back to his own room, while George Lambert stayed in the courtyard to practice his boxing.

It was still Tiger Might Fist. As soon as he assumed the stance, his energy and blood surged, fierce as thunder, much more powerful than in the previous days. This progress was thanks to the pill given by William Warren.

Back when they unexpectedly uncovered the Jiuyang spy, all three of the Imperial Guards were injured, with George Lambert suffering the least—just a bruised leg bone, no internal injuries.

But that young lady from the Demon-Slaying Office, Miss Warren, still gave them three pills.

She handed them over casually, saying they were for stabilizing energy and blood and healing injuries. George Lambert believed her.

It was only after John Brooks took his that he realized it was actually a very precious Daoist Deer Blood Pill. Among pills that replenish energy and blood, it was absolutely top-tier. The Daoist alchemists rarely bothered to make such minor pills, so production was low and they were even scarcer on the market. Many noble families would only seek a few of these when their children were breaking through to the second stage.

Stabilizing energy and blood was actually its least valuable effect.

After the three of them took the pills, they all felt their energy and blood rapidly replenished, a powerful surge strengthening them!

Now, as George Lambert practiced Tiger Might Fist again, he could already sense a roaring tiger’s phantom in his mind, his whole being taking on the presence of a beast king.

This meant his energy and blood were at their peak, reaching the Divine Palace stage. As he breathed and moved, he could feel the martial spirit—his previous bottleneck had completely vanished.

Only a thin membrane remained.

He could break through at any moment, stepping into the second level of martial arts: the Visualization Realm!

Once he reached the Visualization Realm, he could use visualization to study all kinds of powerful martial techniques, no longer limited to basic fist and footwork. For a martial artist, the first level was just laying the foundation; the second level was the true entry, stepping into the world of martial arts.

Whether it was martial artists, cultivators of the Three Teachings, or the legendary mysterious sorcerers, all forms of cultivation were divided into three great realms—Tower Realm, Master Realm, and Immortal Realm.

The first of these, the Tower Realm, was further divided into seven minor stages.

Each breakthrough was like ascending another floor; the seven floors of martial arts were enough to trap most martial artists for a lifetime.

The first stage, the Energy and Blood Realm, could be overcome with hard work and years of effort. But at the second stage, the Visualization Realm, it all depended on that elusive thing called insight.

Without insight, it was common to spend a lifetime visualizing and achieve nothing.

George Lambert was diligently practicing his boxing when he suddenly heard a sharp whistle from the sky not far away, accompanied by a streak of bright light shooting upward.

“Something’s happened?” He immediately stopped.

This was a special whistle arrow used by the Imperial Guards to summon their men. One arrow meant all Imperial Guards stationed in the ward, whether on duty or not, must assemble immediately; two arrows meant all Imperial Guards in the southern city must rush to assist; three arrows meant the entire city’s Imperial Guards must mobilize at once.

Even though it was only one arrow this time, it was still quite rare in Fukang Ward.

George Lambert immediately put on his official uniform, strapped on his sword, and hurried out of Ping’an Alley toward the location where the arrow had been fired. As he arrived, he saw John Brooks waiting at the street corner.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Something big…” John Brooks pointed to the house behind him. “Steward Zhen of the Ministry of Works, Zhen Changzhi, was found dead in his own home!”

“What?!”

Chapter 8 Robert Lincoln

Fukang Ward wasn’t without murders, but they were rare.

Let alone a case involving a court official—such things were almost unheard of in the entire city of Longyuan. A sixth-rank official was not a low position; he had a seat at court. This meant the case would definitely alarm the emperor.

But what shocked George Lambert even more was the identity of the deceased.

From the time the brothers left the Zhen residence, returned to Ping’an Alley, practiced boxing, and then came here, it had been less than an hour in total. The man who had just been sitting there perfectly fine was now dead?

It was truly sudden.

By now, the Imperial Guards of Fukang Ward, summoned by the whistle arrow, had already surrounded the Zhen residence. Some were controlling the scene in the courtyard, but no one had entered the study where the body was found.

“Why aren’t you going in?” George Lambert asked.

“We’re waiting for the Ministry of Justice,” John Brooks replied. “Mr. Howard isn’t here yet, so we little guys better not disturb the scene.”

“Don’t the Imperial Guards have the authority to investigate cases too?” George Lambert asked.

This was his first time encountering a murder, especially involving someone he’d just seen, so it was only natural he was eager to investigate.