Octopus Market 30

A search of the western suburbs forests revealed a body in an abandoned mine, its heart also removed.

Inside the mine, a strange formation was also discovered. After Mr. Zhou confirmed that the formation was the "Five Yin Gathering Array," which requires a heart as a sacrifice to enhance the power of the person who sets up the formation.

This "Five Yin Gathering Array" also has considerable drawbacks.

The power gained through array formations is time-limited. To maintain his power, the perpetrator of the heart-ripping case had to keep killing people.

In order to capture the enemy, Zhao Shan made meticulous plans.

Zhou Wu and Chen Biao divided their demon-suppressing envoys into several teams to re-examine the lives of the five victims.

The fish market that Wang Laosi frequented, the outskirts of Liu Sanjia's village, and the mountain paths where woodcutters chopped firewood—everywhere was carefully investigated.

Shen Lian, Li Hu, Chen Yun, and others were responsible for heading towards the fish market area.

The fish market was bustling with noise and the stench of fish mingled together.

Vendors were hawking freshly caught fish, and women were haggling with them over prices; nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"Brother Lian, where should we start our investigation?" Li Hu asked in a low voice.

Shen Lian's gaze swept across the fish market: "Wang Laosi is a loner fisherman. He doesn't usually get along well with people except when he's selling fish. The murderer probably chose him from here."

Chen Yun said softly, "What Senior Brother Shen means is that the murderer is likely to be lurking around the fish market area, choosing his targets."

"Very likely," Shen Lian nodded. "Of the five victims in the heart-ripping case, apart from Liu San's family, Wang Laosi and the woodcutter all lived alone and often frequented the same area. The murderer needed someone with specific attributes, so he must have observed them beforehand."

The three men pretended to be customers buying fish and strolled around the fish market.

Shen Lian activated the [Combat Power Detection], his gaze sweeping over the vendors and customers. The combat power of the vast majority of people was between 0 and 1, while a few sturdy fishermen and porters could reach a combat power of 2 to 3.

They stopped in front of a carp stall, where the vendor was an elderly fisherman with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles.

Li Hu picked up a plump carp and pretended to weigh it in his hand: "Uncle, I heard that Wang Laosi from the riverbank had an accident a few days ago. Does he often come here?"

The old fisherman waved his hand and said, "Alas, Wang Laosi was an honest man. Every time he sold fish, he would squat by that rock in the southwest corner. A few days before his accident, he kept saying that it seemed like someone was watching him. We laughed at him for being paranoid, but we never expected that he would be killed a few days later."

"Is someone watching him?" Chen Yun pressed. "Do you know what that person looks like? Are there any distinctive features?"

The old fisherman shook his head: "Old Wang himself couldn't explain it clearly. He only said that the man always wore a straw hat to cover his face and occasionally wandered around the fish market, but never bought any fish. He walked very lightly, unlike us boatmen who work year-round; he seemed like a martial arts expert. Once, when I was close by, I saw an old scar on the web of his right hand, which was quite noticeable."

He wore a straw hat, didn't buy fish, and only observed among the crowd.

This is very likely a habit the killer had when scouting locations.

There's an old scar on the tiger's mouth!

Shen Lian's eyes lit up. Only those who hold weapons, especially swords and knives, for many years can easily develop calluses on their hands.

This person moved with a light step, seemingly a martial arts practitioner, and wore a bamboo hat to conceal his identity, clearly being very cautious and unwilling to reveal his true identity.

Upon receiving the crucial clue from the old fisherman, Shen Lian and his companions were overjoyed. After investigating the heart-ripping case for so long, they finally had some leads.

"Thank you, sir!" Shen Lian clasped his hands in thanks.

After leaving the fish market, the three returned to the Demon Suppression Division immediately and reported the clues they had obtained from the old fisherman to Zhou Wu.

"A straw hat, a martial arts expert, and an old scar on the web of his right hand." After listening to Shen Lian's report, Zhou Wu tapped his fingers on the table. "This is a very valuable clue. The killer needs to observe his targets. The fish market, the western suburbs forest, and the vicinity of Liujia Village are all likely within his area of ​​activity."

Shen Lian stepped forward and said, "Zhou Xiaoqi, the other party has killed people one after another, and they will definitely not stop here. I think they will make their move in these places as well."

Zhou Wu nodded slightly: "You're right. I will send out two veteran Demon Suppression Envoys, and the three of you will go with them. Starting tomorrow, the focus will be on setting up sentries at the fish market, the main intersections in the western suburbs, and the outskirts of Liu Family Village."

Remember that your task is to observe. Once you spot a suspicious person who matches the characteristics, do not act rashly. Immediately pass on the information.

This person has killed five people and used an evil formation to enhance his power. We don't yet know his strength, so we absolutely cannot deal with him alone.

"Understood," Shen Lian and the other two replied in unison.

……

The fish market was still bustling with activity, with many people coming and going.

Shen Lian disguised himself as an innkeeper buying fish, while Li Hu and Chen Yun disguised themselves as a woodcutter selling firewood and a woman buying fish, respectively.

Two other experienced veteran demon-suppressing envoys were lying in ambush in the tea stalls and inns on the outskirts, ready to provide support at any time.

Shen Lian activated the [Combat Power Detection] and began observing the people coming and going in the fish market.

Most of the time, those being tested are ordinary people. Occasionally, a few martial artists with vigorous blood and energy are just escorts or guards, with combat strength between 8 and 15, and have nothing to do with the murderer in the heart-digging case.

As evening approached, the people at the fish market gradually dispersed.

Shen Lian packed up the bamboo basket and looked up at the gradually darkening sunset in the west.

After several days of surveillance, the target person was not found.

Just as he was about to finish work, he caught a glimpse of a figure walking slowly along the riverbank path not far away.

The man wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, carried an inconspicuous bamboo basket in his right hand, and walked steadily, making almost no sound.

[Combat Strength]: 28~40

Shen Lian quietly checked the opponent's combat power data, and when he saw the opponent's combat power, his heart suddenly tightened.

Their combat strength is even higher than that of the veteran demon-suppressing envoys who led them here.

Is it the murderer?

Or was it just a master who happened to be passing by?

Shen Lian did not make any gestures, but instead stopped to tidy up the fish basket.

Just as the man and a vendor walked past each other, the wind blew up a corner of his sleeve, revealing a dark red old scar on the web of his hand.

it's him!

Shen Lian took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and winked at Li Hu, who was disguised as a woodcutter not far away.

Li Hu immediately understood, picked up his firewood, and headed towards the tea stall.

There are veteran demon-suppressing envoys there to meet you.

Chen Yun, who was standing at a vegetable stall not far away, also noticed Shen Lian's actions. She quietly retreated into the crowd and moved towards the outer edge.

The man wearing the straw hat did not notice anything unusual and continued walking southwest along the riverbank path, which led to the western suburban forest.

Shen Lian followed behind without making a sound, maintaining a distance of about thirty feet.

He quickly calculated in his mind that the opponent's combat strength was between 28 and 40, which was not an ordinary Body Tempering Realm martial artist. With his current strength, he was no match for the opponent.

If reinforcements haven't arrived yet, and he makes a rash move, he'll be the one who dies.