Chapter 73: I Am Someone With Status

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“The Divine Constable Bureau is handling matters. All unrelated individuals, withdraw!”

Zhou Shu had just placed the Spring Embroidered Saber he forged into a box when he suddenly heard a clamor outside.

He casually put on a coat and walked out.

When he arrived at the front courtyard, Zhang Yibei and the others were in a confrontation with a few constables dressed in the uniform of the Divine Constable Bureau.

Zhang Yibei and the rest were all holding hammers in their hands as they shouted, “I told you. If you want to see our superintendent, wait here. We will go in and inform him. What right do you have to barge in?”

“Report? I think you want to tell the person inside to escape!” The head constable sneered. “Get out of the way! Otherwise, I’ll treat it as you obstructing official business and kill you without mercy!”

The few constables had their sabers in their hands and were very arrogant.

It was no wonder. The Divine Constable Bureau’s constables were not local constables, and they all had official positions. In terms of rank, they were even higher than Zhou Shu, the workshop superintendent.

Why would they care about a group of Forging Apprentices?

“Stop!” Zhou Shu hurriedly shouted when he saw that a conflict was about to break out between the two sides. Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the others would definitely be on the losing end.

“Superintendent!”

“Superintendent!”

Zhang Yibei, Sixth Brother Wu, and the others all called out. They took the initiative to make way for Zhou Shu to walk in front of the constables. At the same time, they didn’t step back. They continued to hold their hammers and stand guard behind Zhou Shu.

“What are you doing? Put the hammers down and go do whatever you need to do!” Zhou Shu berated.

“They—” Zhang Yibei still wanted to say something, but Zhou Shu was already glaring fiercely at him.

Zhang Yibei wilted and called for his colleagues to return to the factory.

Zhou Shu turned around and said to the constables, “I am the superintendent of this workshop. I am honored by your presence. May I ask what you need?”

“Divine Constable Bureau’s Constable Yang Hong.” The head constable cupped his hands and said coldly, “You are the 0th Workshop’s superintendent, Zhou Shu?”

“It is my honor to meet you.” Zhou Shu cupped his hands.

“So, it’s you.” Yang Hong nodded. “Zhou Shu, you’re currently suspected of being involved in a murder case. We need to bring you back to assist in the investigation. Come with us.”

Yang Hong waved his hand, and two constables walked out from behind him. The two constables walked behind Zhou Shu and grabbed his arms.

“What are you doing!” Zhang Yibei and the others had yet to enter the factory when they suddenly saw this scene. The Forging Apprentices were instantly enraged. They raised their hammers again and rushed over.

“Zhang Yibei!” Zhou Shu shouted. “Are you trying to rebel! You don’t even listen to me? Go back!”

Zhang Yibei stopped in his tracks and appeared to be in a dilemma.

“I’ll go with Constable Yang to help with the investigation. Stay here and watch over the workshop. If anyone dares to mess around, get out of the 0th Workshop!” Zhou Shu reprimanded sternly.

Zhang Yibei and the others opened their mouths, but no sound came out.

Zhou Shu turned around and said to Yang Hong, “Constable Yang, let’s go. I don’t need to be shackled, right?”

Yang Hong narrowed his eyes at Zhou Shu for a moment before waving his hand, indicating for his subordinates to put away the shackles.

“Superintendent Zhou, it’s best that you’re willing to cooperate. Let’s go!” Yang Hong waved his hand and brought a few constables to escort Zhou Shu away.

“Brother Zhang, the superintendent has been taken away by them. What should we do!”

Inside the 0th Workshop, the Forging Apprentices were already in a mess.

Zhang Yibei’s brows were tightly furrowed, and his expression was solemn. “The superintendent said that we should look after the workshop. You guys look after the workshop. I’ll go and beg the grand minister to save him.”

“The grand minister?” Sixth Brother Wu frowned. “Brother Zhang, how are you going to meet the grand minister?”

The grand minister was the boss of the Forging Division. She wasn’t someone that apprentices like them could easily meet.

This place was only the Forging Division’s workshops. The core Forging Division was within the capital. With Zhang Yibei’s status, if he went to the core Forging Division, he probably wouldn’t even be able to enter.

“I’ll kneel at the entrance of the Forging Division. I’ll definitely be able to meet the grand minister somehow!” Zhang Yibei gritted his teeth.

“But the superintendent just said that whoever messes around will be chased out of the 0th Workshop,” Sixth Brother Wu said weakly.

“Even if I’m chased out, I want to save the superintendent!” Zhang Yibei said firmly.

“I’ll go with you!” A few of the Forging Apprentices raised their hands.

“I’ll go alone. There’s no point in so many people going together. Follow the superintendent’s orders to guard the workshop well and wait for our return!”

After Zhang Yibei finished speaking, he strode out of the 0th Workshop. His actions were like the howling wind and cold running water. He looked like a hero who would never return.

…

Zhou Shu followed Yang Hong and the other constables back to the Divine Constable Bureau. Along the way, Zhou Shu asked calmly, “Constable Yang, may I ask why you arrested me?”

Yang Hong curiously sized up Zhou Shu. Zhou Shu has been completely calm from beginning to end, without the slightest hint of nervousness.

Yang Hong had captured countless people in his life. In his opinion, such a person was either extremely evil or had never done anything wrong.

“You don’t know?” Yang Hong asked. At this time, he was already using an interrogation technique.

“What do I know?” Zhou Shu had a puzzled expression as he replied with a question. “I’m just a forger from the Forging Division. I really can’t think of any way I can help you.”

“Let me ask you. Do you know Xiao Zongshui?” Yang Hong didn’t reply and instead asked this question as he stared unblinkingly at Zhou Shu.

“Superintendent Xiao? Of course.” Zhou Shu said. “I used to work at Superintendent Xiao’s 97th Workshop. He was my boss then. What’s wrong with him?”

Yang Hong looked straight into Zhou Shu’s eyes, only to see that his eyes were clear, without any signs of falseness.

“Your previous boss? Why do I hear that there was some conflict between the two of you?” Yang Hong said.

“It’s true. Is that weird?” Zhou Shu asked. “In the past, I was a Forging Apprentice, and he was the workshop superintendent. What good feelings could a subordinate have for his boss? Isn’t it normal to hate him?”

Zhou Shu spoke matter-of-factly. It was a public secret that the Forging Apprentices often cursed the workshop superintendents behind their backs.

It wasn’t just the Forging Division. The other government offices were similar.

Zhou Shu’s straightforwardness stunned Yang Hong.

That’s right. In a place like the Forging Division workshops, how pleasant could the relationship between apprentices and superintendents be?

No, I was almost led astray!

“Let me ask you again. Where were you last night?” Yang Hong asked with wide eyes.

“Last night?” Zhou Shu said hesitantly, “Can I not say it?”

“Hmph! What do you think?” Yang Hong snorted coldly. “At our Divine Constable Bureau, it’s not up to you to decide whether to say something or not.”

“This is my private matter. It has nothing to do with the Divine Constable Bureau, right?” Zhou Shu said.

“Private matter?” Yang Hong sneered. “Zhou Shu, let me remind you that you’re a suspect now. It’s best to answer me honestly when I ask you something!”

“Suspect? What did I do? Why am I a suspect?” Zhou Shu asked. “Constable Yang, don’t malign me. I took someone else’s thing, but I’ve already returned it.”

Yang Hong frowned and asked doubtfully, “What do you mean?”

Zhou Shu realized that he had let his tongue slip. He hurriedly said, “Constable Yang, what are you suspecting about me? You should at least let me know.”

“Don’t interrupt me. You said that you took someone else’s thing. What happened?” Yang Hong berated.

“I just took someone else’s zither and played it, but I returned it afterward. This isn’t considered stealing, right?” Zhou Shu whispered.

“What nonsense!” Yang Hong said. Thieves were not under the jurisdiction of their Divine Constable Bureau!

If it wasn’t for the fact that this murder involved a ranked martial artist, the Divine Constable Bureau wouldn’t be investigating it. Ordinary murders were handled by the local authorities.

Even if Zhou Shu really did steal something, he couldn’t be bothered.

“Let me ask you. Did you see Xiao Zongshui yesterday?” Yang Hong said coldly.

Zhou Shu looked around. “Constable Yang, is this related to Superintendent Xiao? Is this an official interrogation?”

“Am I asking you, or are you asking me?” Yang Hong glared. “If you don’t cooperate obediently, I’ll let you have a taste of the Divine Constable Bureau’s punishment!”

“Aren’t I being very cooperative?” Zhou Shu shrugged. “Constable Yang, you said that I should return to the Divine Constable Bureau with you to cooperate with your investigation, and I followed you without saying anything.

“If this isn’t cooperating, do you think you would be able to take me out of the Forging Division workshops?

“My questions are perfectly reasonable.

“I don’t know where you’re taking me. I don’t even know if you guys are constables of the Divine Constable Bureau. I don’t even know what you suspect me of. Is this how the Divine Constable Bureau handles cases?”

Zhou Shu changed from his previous attitude, becoming somewhat unyielding.

“Constable Yang, I, Zhou Shu, am also a person of status. If you want to interrogate me, sure. Get someone of sufficient status to come!”

Zhou Shu’s expression turned cold as he said, “If you don’t know who to send, go ask Commander Ma, Ma Fengzhang!”

“Haha.” Yang Hong was so angry that he laughed. Who does he think our Divine Constable Bureau’s great commander is?

It’s one thing for Zhu Chuanfeng to insist on looking for Commander Ma. He’s a Grand Craftsman after all.

You are just a lowly Forging Apprentice. Do you think you deserve to mention Commander Ma’s name?

Does Commander Ma have the time to meddle in the affairs of a mere Forging Apprentice?

“Zhou Shu, seems like you want to do this the hard way.” Yang Hong sneered.

“A mere superintendent of a small workshop really thinks he’s someone great? Ninth-rank officials can be found everywhere in the capital!

“I’ve been too kind to you! It seems like you won’t be honest unless you receive punishment from the Divine Constable Bureau!

“Since that’s the case, I’ll do as you wish!” Yang Hong shouted loudly. There were already constables preparing the torture tools.

Zhou Shu’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Constable Yang, you are abusing your authority. If Commander Ma finds out, he won’t let you off. Don’t blame me for not warning you!”

“Is that so?” Yang Hong smiled coldly. “Scaring me? You’re still too inexperienced.. I’ll ask you one last time. Where were you last night? What did you do? Do you have any witnesses?! Speak!”