The two followed a side path to a room.
"Chief Liu, the one from White Cloud Martial Arts Hall is here," the Government Soldier reported.
"Alright, come in."
A deep, resonant voice came from inside the room.
Jiang Che entered the room to find several officials standing inside, all of them Qi Blood Martial Artists.
Besides them, there were a dozen or so young men and women who looked like disciples from other Martial Arts Halls.
The official in the lead was speaking to the crowd.
This man was about forty, with a round, kind face that naturally put people at ease.
He didn't look like an official; he looked more like a Shopkeeper.
But beneath his official's robes, his broad shoulders and back were clearly visible, and his Qi Blood was a cut above the rest.
Even just walking by, Jiang Che could feel an oppressive aura that made his skin tingle.
'A Martial Artist of the Iron Skin Realm at least!'
Jiang Che's heart tightened.
"You must be Jiang Che? Your master has mentioned you. A true talent! I'm Liu Hai, the Chief Constable here. We'll be counting on you all during the arrest later!"
The man spoke with a smile, but Jiang Che felt as if he were facing a ferocious beast!
After some brief pleasantries, Jiang Che went and stood among the crowd.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Liu Hai began to describe the target of their manhunt.
It turned out that their target was a Flower Thief who had drifted in from another area.
This person specifically targeted unmarried young women from wealthy households.
In one month, he had violated over a dozen women, but thankfully, he hadn't taken any lives.
It was said this person had the strength of the Stone Skin Realm and was skilled in Qinggong.
They had almost caught him several times, but he always managed to slip away, so they were expanding the manhunt.
However, what Liu Hai didn't say was this:
In the beginning, the County Captain hadn't taken it seriously.
After all, these wealthy households were just rich; they weren't Martial Artists or Inner City Families, so their influence was limited.
That was until a few days ago, when this Flower Thief targeted someone from the Chen Family, one of the Inner City's Five Great Noble Families.
The County Captain was even summoned by the Chen Family for a lecture.
When he returned, he chewed out every single Chief Constable and constable in the entire Government Office.
So, the Government Office organized a force overnight to capture the culprit, even calling in many disciples from the Martial Arts Halls.
"Furthermore, according to our intel, this person is also skilled in a kind of Enchanting Technique. It's said that the moment a woman sees him, she loses her senses."
Liu Hai added another piece of information.
'An Enchanting Technique like that actually exists?'
Jiang Che was reminded of the rumors from his past life, about people at train stations getting tapped on the shoulder and then losing all awareness, transferring money to strangers and so on.
Later investigations revealed they were basically all fake.
Many people were just swindled because their judgment was clouded, or they had simply spent the money themselves and needed an excuse because they couldn't account for it.
However, Jiang Che considered that this world couldn't be judged by common sense; perhaps an Enchanting Technique truly did exist.
Liu Hai then took out a portrait.
"According to the victims' descriptions, the man might look like this."
Jiang Che looked. The man in the portrait wore a jade-inlaid circlet on his forehead, had handsome features, and held a folding fan. He had the complete air of a dashing Young Master.
He secretly shook his head. 'It's a real waste for someone who looks like that to be a flower thief. In my previous life, if he joined a talent show, he would've debuted with a landslide victory.'
A female disciple next to him, wearing a long blue dress, saw the portrait, her eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but let out a "Wow."
Liu Hai coughed lightly, then said in a deep voice:
"Everyone, do not be deceived by his appearance. This man is insidious, cunning, and extremely dangerous!
"The main reason we've gathered you all here is to assist in the search. If you find any clues about this person, do not approach him on your own. Please notify us immediately!"
The disciples from the Martial Arts Halls all nodded. They knew their own capabilities.
A Stone Skin Realm expert who was skilled in Qinggong and even knew an Enchanting Technique was naturally not someone they could handle.
Next, Liu Hai brought out a box of bamboo tubes.
"Also, if the situation is urgent and you don't have time to send a message, pull this. It will shoot a firework into the sky, and we will come as soon as we see it."
Everyone then went forward to receive one.
Jiang Che took one as well. He examined it closely and found it was a device composed of a firework and a flint.
When the cord was pulled, the flint would strike, igniting the firework. The principle was simple, but it was practical.
"Of course, the Government Office isn't asking for your help for free. Regardless of whether the thief is caught, each of you will receive ten taels of silver.
"Furthermore, anyone who provides a definite lead will receive fifty taels of silver. And if you not only provide a lead but also help us capture the thief, you will be rewarded with an additional Qi Replenishing Pill!"
As Liu Hai spoke, he took a small box from his robes. He opened it to reveal a jujube-red pill the size of a lychee.
"It's actually a Qi Replenishing Pill!"
A commotion instantly went through the crowd.
Jiang Che, however, was completely baffled.
"What's a Qi Replenishing Pill?"
The female disciple in the long blue dress next to him shot him a glance, as if to say, 'Where did this country bumpkin come from?'
Her clothes and accessories were exquisite, indicating she came from a wealthy family. She had a cute face with a bit of baby fat, and even her disdainful expression wasn't enough to make someone dislike her.
Seeing this, a simple-looking male disciple next to them spoke up:
"The Qi Replenishing Pill is the best medicine for replenishing Qi Blood for those in the Bull Skin Realm. Even someone with the weakest Qi Blood can be forcibly raised to the Late-stage Bull Skin Realm!
"You can't buy it at any Pharmacy outside. It's said that only the Five Great Noble Families have them. I can't believe the Government Office could produce one—the Chen Family must have provided it. What a grand gesture!"
"I see. Thank you for clearing up my confusion, brother," Jiang Che said, cupping his fist.
His heart immediately burned with excitement.
His only weakness right now was his insufficient Qi Blood!
If he could get that Qi Replenishing Pill, he might be able to break through to the Stone Skin Realm in one go!
Even if he couldn't, it would still greatly speed up his progress.
Of course, everyone present was staring at the Qi Replenishing Pill with burning eyes.
After all, even if they didn't use it themselves, they could sell it for a high price!
"Next, you will split into pairs. Each pair will search a different area."
Liu Hai took out a piece of paper and began to read from it.
He read off several pairs of names, assigning them to the vegetable market, West Market Street, the City God Temple, and other areas.
When he reached the end, only two people were left.
They were Jiang Che and the blue-gowned woman beside him.
"Yin Yingying, Jiang Che. The two of you will be in charge of Fireworks Street in the Inner City."
The woman named Yin Yingying frowned. "Chief Liu, can I have a different partner? I don't want to be in a group with him."
She saw that Jiang Che didn't know anything and had insufficient Qi Blood. It was obvious that if she was grouped with him, they'd have no chance of getting the Qi Replenishing Pill.
"Oh? And why is that?" Liu Hai looked at Yin Yingying with a beaming smile.
"He's too… too…"
Yin Yingying wanted to say he was too weak, but she suddenly felt as if she were choking, unable to make a sound!
Although Chief Liu was looking at her with a wide smile...
...Yin Yingying felt he looked ferocious, like a beast about to devour its prey!
She couldn't help but shudder.
She suddenly remembered that before she left the Martial Arts Hall, her master had warned her not to talk back to Chief Liu, as he was no simple man.
"He's too… outstanding. I'm afraid I'll just drag him down…" Yin Yingying's voice grew quieter and quieter.
After she said it, she suddenly felt the pressure lessen dramatically.
Liu Hai nodded and smiled.
"Don't sell yourself short. You are both very good. There's no question of anyone dragging anyone down! Since there are no objections, it's settled!"