I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Before the City Gates

Jie Daohan glanced at Ruan Fengshan not far ahead of him. At this time, for Ruan Fengshan to still be able to get such a hand order from Shen Yanliu, it showed that he still held some influence with the County Magistrate.

”Brother Shen, since there is a hand order, we should naturally verify and let them pass!”

Ruan Fengshan stood there with a calm demeanor and said, ”High integrity, Chief Constable Jie!”

Others might not know the inside story, but he knew very well that ever since Shen Yanliu came to Xianggu County, Jie Daohan had essentially been sidelined.

After all, he grew up in this county. No matter how formidable Shen Yanliu was, he was still an outsider. The saying goes that a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake, but in this case, the outsider had completely undercut him. Isn’t that frustrating?

Though Ruan Fengshan looked down on Jie Daohan in his heart, his face maintained a faint smile.

Jie Daohan glanced at his trusted constable not far from him, shook the large sheet of paper in his hand, and said, ”Wei Ming! Take the list and verify them one by one!”

”Yes!”

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fengshan’s eyelid twitched, but he said nothing.

It was a tumultuous time, and verification was unavoidable! The time for the funeral procession to set out had already been moved up, just to avoid delays when leaving the city.

Wei Ming, around forty years old, with a burly stature and slightly swollen eyes, took the list and announced, ”When I call your name, step forward! No pushing!”

”Xiao Ping!”

When Wei Ming finished speaking, a slender, fair-skinned, twenty-year-old youth in mourning clothes stepped forward from the front of the procession, holding a white banner.

Jie Daohan’s gaze was sharp, like an eagle, scrutinizing Xiao Ping from head to toe!

”Xiao Chong!”

”Xiao Yun!”

As Wei Ming called out names, each banner holder stepped forward, passing through the city gates and waiting outside...

Behind the banner holders was the team carrying the coffin!

The coffin bearers couldn’t be called one by one to step forward.

Therefore, Wei Ming called the names, and the coffin bearers answered as a signal!

”Qin Yu!”

”Here!”

”Zhao Mu!”

”Here!”

”Duan Rong”

”Hmm!”

Jie Daohan circled Xiao Baijiao’s coffin, examining each coffin bearer!

He paused slightly in front of Duan Rong; the coffin bearers were all wearing escort master’s attire, except Duan Rong, who was in short attire!

Seeing Jie Daohan stop in front of Duan Rong, Ruan Fengshan said, ”He’s a new apprentice escort master this year!”

Jie Daohan stopped because he found Duan Rong’s name vaguely familiar, though he couldn’t recall where he had heard it before. He hesitated for a moment.

Jie Daohan waved his hand!

Once the names of the coffin bearers were called and verified, they should have been allowed to carry the coffin out of the city!

But just as everyone started to move, Jie Daohan’s cold gaze swept over the dark coffin and suddenly said coldly, ”Stop!”

The coffin bearers paused, then steadily set the heavy coffin back down!

At that moment, all the coffin bearers turned to look at Jie Daohan!

Even Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi, leading in front of the coffin, turned half around to see what Jie Daohan was up to this time!

”Ruan, is the shopkeeper’s coffin already sealed?”

”Yes, it’s sealed!” Ruan Fengshan blinked and replied.

Jie Daohan suddenly said coldly, ”Open it!”

His words brought a sudden silence over the scene!

Ruan Fengshan’s expression changed as he looked at Jie Daohan, speaking with a hint of discontent, ”Chief Constable Jie, the coffin is sealed. If we unseal it again, it might be disrespectful to the deceased!”

”If you don’t open it, how can I know there isn’t a hidden criminal inside?” Jie Daohan’s sharp eyes were fixed on Ruan Fengshan.

His attitude was not at all firm. Throughout the whole incident, he suspected the involvement of several major forces. The more Ruan Fengshan acted this way, the more he needed to open it to feel at ease!

”Is Constable Jie suspecting me with those words?” Ruan Fengshan felt a hidden anger in his heart.

”I’m just handling the case as it is, and I hope Shopkeeper Ruan can cooperate! Moreover, this case involves the Taiyi Sect, so we must be cautious! I hope Shopkeeper Ruan can weigh the pros and cons!”

As soon as Jie Daohan said this, Ruan Fengshan’s eyelids couldn’t help but twitch. As soon as he returned, Luan Jingfu reported to him about Fan Yuanhai assisting Jie Daohan to search the Yuan Shun Escort Agency with the Taiyi Order in hand.

If this case truly involved the sect, he didn’t want to get too deeply involved!

These people might have some influence in the Mortal World, but in front of the sect, they were just cannon fodder. To put it bluntly, they could be killed without anyone even batting an eye.

Ruan Fengshan, thinking this far, didn’t want to resist Jie Daohan any longer. After all, Fan Yuanhai, with the Taiyi Order in hand, might be nearby.

”This...” Ruan Fengshan’s tone and expression had already wavered.

Jie Daohan glanced at Ruan Fengshan and called out, ”If the coffin wants to leave the city, it must be opened and inspected!”

Ruan Fengshan heard this and remained silent. His expression and attitude were already quite apparent.

Xiao Yu looked at Ruan Fengshan’s demeanor, and her heart suddenly felt cold, filled with extreme disappointment. Her Xiao family had served the Yuan Shun Escort Agency for two generations, but when it came down to it, the master’s family had this kind of attitude!

Xiao Yu, overwhelmed by grief and anger, shouted, ”Who dares?”

Xiao Yu shoved the memorial tablet she was holding into Zhu Xiaoqi’s hands beside her, then reached behind her mourning clothes to draw out her Qingling Saber.

With a swishing sound, the long and narrow blade gleamed with a cold light like water. Xiao Yu stood in front of the coffin, boldly declaring, ”If you want to open the coffin, you have to ask the saber in my hand first!”

”Xiao Yu! Are you trying to rebel?” Jie Daohan stood aside, eyes wide open with anger, almost biting out the words one by one.

Xiao Yu sneered coldly and said, ”The Xiao family has been law-abiding for generations, how could we dare to rebel? But anyone who wants to humiliate my sister will have to step over the body of Xiao Yu first!”

”You?!” Jie Daohan was so enraged that his beard puffed and his eyes glared, shouting, ”Men, surround them for me!”

Wei Ming received the order, and with a group of constables drew their knives and formed a semi-circle, surrounding Xiao Yu in front of the coffin!

Xiao Yu, clad in mourning clothes, with tears in her eyes, the Qingling Blade in her hand glinting coldly, showed no sign of retreat. Holding the saber with one hand and gently caressing the raised edge of the coffin lid with the other, she said, ”Little sister, don’t be afraid! Sister is here, and nobody will bully you!”

The constables, seeing Xiao Yu with tears in her eyes and sadness in her heart, all felt a touch of reluctance in their hearts!

But Jie Daohan was even more furious. His nephew’s tragic death had filled his heart with sorrow, no less than Xiao Yu’s. How could he allow the slightest chance for his enemy to escape? He must probe this coffin!

”Xiao Yu, don’t persist in your folly! This is needed for the investigation, and the case is too significant for you, a mere commoner, to bear. This chief constable advises you to step aside!”

”It’s not Xiao Yu persisting in folly, but you, Constable Jie, who are going too far!” Xiao Yu bit her silver teeth in anger.

Seeing that words were of no further use, Jie Daohan flashed his eyes coldly and drew the Barrier Saber from his waist!

He was truly ready to act! However, he did not intend to kill Xiao Yu!

Jie Daohan was a Martial Artist of the True Qi Realm, while Xiao Yu was only at the Third Level of the Inner Breath Realm. To wound her and temporarily strip her of martial strength was no difficulty for Jie Daohan!

At the back of the funeral procession, Xiao Zongting, originally crying bitter tears and with weak legs, struggled to rush forward upon seeing his daughter surrounded, but was held back tightly by several relatives!

Xiao Zongting’s Martial Arts were crippled, and he was advanced in age. Being held back so tightly, he couldn’t break free, only howling helplessly...

Just as Jie Daohan was about to make his move, Duan Rong suddenly flashed out from under the coffin to stand by Xiao Yu’s side!

When Duan Rong suddenly flashed over, Zhao Mu, who was carrying the coffin beside him, felt a sudden weight on his shoulder, and had to brace himself to steady it!

Duan Rong stood beside Xiao Yu, drew the Cow Tail Saber, and stepped half a step forward, shielding Xiao Yu!

Duan Rong suddenly roared angrily, ”Fellow disciples! We were all taught by Elder Xiao! The kindness of being taught is greater than the heavens!”

”Today, the Xiao family is in trouble!”

”A true man fulfills his duty to righteousness, and today is that day!”

”Anyone with guts, come fight with me!”

At this moment, Duan Rong’s eyes were wide open. Because he was shouting so forcefully, the blue veins on his forehead stood out, and his face was flushed and neck bulging...

Xiao Yu stood behind Duan Rong, staring blankly at his back, and hot tears suddenly welled up in her eyes...

The Yuan Shun Escort Agency was usually very disciplined. These Escort Masters didn’t dare to act rashly without Ruan Fengshan’s orders. But now, incited by Duan Rong’s shout, these men who roamed the Jianghu, living on the edge, couldn’t hold back once their blood was stirred!

The sound of blades being drawn swished all around!

In an instant, shadows moved, and all the Escort Masters came wielding blades, counter-surrounding the constables around Xiao Yu!

At the back of the coffin, Zhao Mu, seeing everyone move, was also filled with fervor. He drew the Cow Tail Saber from his waist, still balancing half his shoulder under the coffin, and pointed the tip in the air at the constables, shouting amidst his spittle, ”If anyone dares harm Miss Yu, I’ll fight them to the death!”