Chapter Three: Reasoning

Inside Fuman Restaurant, after Edward Clark killed two thugs, he walked into the back courtyard of the restaurant, where several laborers had already hidden themselves in the corners out of fear.

The backyard was a storeroom, with sacks piled up like mountains and white powder scattered all over the floor.

The female constable Martha Foster was in no mood to care about any of this now. Clutching her head, she darted around Edward Clark's side, babbling incoherently.

Tap tap tap...

Light footsteps and the rustling of armor grew closer and closer, soon surrounding the entire restaurant. The glow of torches appeared in the alley outside the wall, with shadows of people running back and forth in dense numbers.

Clearly, the soldiers had received the signal and already arrived.

Martha Foster was anxious beyond words and could no longer care about anything else. She ran up and urgently tried to dissuade him:

"Young master, I know your martial arts are formidable, but this matter is too serious. You absolutely must not resist. If the Wolf Guards come, they'll surely bring crossbows and nets. If you act rashly and get killed, it'll all be over..."

Edward Clark didn't answer. Carrying his sword, he walked into the storeroom and poked at a sack, causing white salt to pour out onto the ground like sand.

Since ancient times, the salt trade has been the lifeblood of the nation and strictly controlled. The stock in this storeroom was enough to cost ten heads.

All of this was a route Old Smith had scouted in advance, specially prepared as credit for Martha Foster.

Martha Foster knew this was a major case, but at this moment, she had no mind to think about promotion or wealth. She said anxiously:

"Young master, leave this for now. If your family can settle the matter of killing an officer, I'll go out with you and surrender quietly, and let the higher-ups handle this place.

If not, hurry and escape while you can. I have a Wolf Guard token to get out of the city. The owner of this place must be a high official or noble; ordinary people can't afford to provoke them."

Edward Clark tilted his head and glanced at her: "If you give me the token, you'll become an accomplice of a bandit. Are you sure you've thought this through?"

Martha Foster grew anxious, gritted her teeth in frustration, and slapped Edward Clark on the shoulder:

"My father always said, 'A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring.' Young master, you got into this disaster to help me. How could I stand by and watch now? Stop dawdling—soon, you won't even be able to run if you want to."

Edward Clark shook his head with a light laugh, picked up a sack of illicit salt, and walked out of the restaurant, saying calmly:

"Wait here. Leave the rest to me."

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With two lives lost, all the brothels and gambling dens on the back street closed their doors. Over a dozen Imperial Guards arrived first, and two squads of Wolf Guards also reached the restaurant. One squad wore wolf-head bronze badges at their waists—the Wolf Guards of the Tianzi Battalion.

Among the Imperial Guards, a noble young man in splendid attire had just rushed over from the Longyin Pavilion. He was dignified in appearance and was the Deputy Commandant of the Commandant's Office, Henry Carter.

Henry Carter's father, Charles Carter, held the post of Capital Assistant Commandant, in charge of thieves in the capital—a true high official and noble in the city.

At this moment, Henry Carter's face was dark with anger as he strode through the alley. A commander immediately ran over and said in a low voice:

"Sir, the criminal is inside Fuman Restaurant. Should we rush in?"

Henry Carter narrowed his eyes slightly, hesitated for a moment, and replied in a low voice:

"The restaurant belongs to a noble. If our men go in, they'll surely turn the place upside down. Surround it and wait for the rabbit."

"Yes, sir."

With just a few words, they arrived outside Fulai Restaurant.

Two corpses lay outside the restaurant. The Imperial Guard commander had been dragged under the eaves, and three Wolf Guards from the Tianzi Battalion were gathered around, pressing on his wounds and examining him, speaking in low voices:

"The White Snake Spits Letter from Wudang—no wounds on the body, just a thin sword mark on the neck. One strike to the throat. This kind of skill takes at least ten years to master."

The thug's corpse was laid beside him. Another Wolf Guard tore open his clothes to look at the bruised chest, then glanced at the shattered door and the cracks in the steps:

"The opening move of Bajiquan, but used a knee strike—seems like the Tiger Ascends the Mountain from the Tan Tui school. The neck was broken with the Eagle Claw's Crane Capture technique. The skills are very mixed—not like the assassin from last time, but the martial arts are about the same..."

Hearing this conversation, Henry Carter's angry expression turned cautious.

The Wolf Guards of the Tianzi Battalion were the best of the best. For them to give such high praise, the criminal inside the restaurant was probably not someone he could handle.

Thinking of this, Henry Carter slowed his steps and stood behind several Wolf Guards of the Tianzi Battalion, shouting loudly:

"Bold criminal, surrender at once!"

Both the Imperial Guards and the Wolf Guards knew the situation and didn't rush in. Instead, they stood ready with weapons outside the door, waiting for the archers to arrive.

Tap tap...

Footsteps soon sounded from inside the restaurant, and the soldiers outside immediately fell silent, leaving only the occasional crackle of torches.

There were no lights inside the restaurant. Only when the figure reached the doorway could they see the criminal's appearance:

A white robe stained with blood, a wine gourd at his waist, a long sword in his left hand, and strikingly handsome features—like an immortal fallen to the mortal world.

A man this devastatingly handsome would be unforgettable to anyone who had seen him.

Henry Carter narrowed his eyes, searching his memory of all the noble sons in the capital, but found no impression at all. His face darkened:

"Who are you, and why did you kill my Imperial Guard commander in broad daylight?"

Edward Clark threw out the sack in his hand, scattering illicit salt across the bluestone tiles like a layer of white snow.