I Can Devour Spirits

The back office of the County Office had long become a chaotic mess.

Boxes and miscellaneous items were scattered everywhere, as Ma Chunmin directed a group of maids and servants to move and sort various large and small objects.

Firstly, because Shen Mizi was heading to the Taiyi Sect, a young girl traveling far, with everything needed for living there, naturally, nothing could be missing.

Secondly, Shen Yanliu was promoted, and they also had to move to Ruyang Prefecture. Shen Yanliu had been promoted to Inspector General, which was based in the Prefecture City, moving from a remote small county town to the Prefecture City; Ma Chunmin’s delight was easily imaginable.

Even though she had to pack two sets of luggage, she was busy and could hardly keep still, yet her eyes remained bright, and she walked briskly.

”These are the young lady’s belongings; who can’t see where they belong? Hurry up and move them!” Ma Chunmin scolded, but her eyes constantly carried a faint smile.

Following Shen Yanliu, after years of hardship, it was finally time to enjoy some comfort.

In fact, if it weren’t necessary to send Shen Mizi off, they would have long departed for Ruyang Prefecture.

Strictly speaking, from the moment the promotion order was received, Shen Yanliu had already become the Inspector General of Ruyang Prefecture. Because the original wording of the promotion order was for immediate assignment!

And the new County Magistrate of Xianggu County was already on their way, expected to arrive within the next few days.

Zhu Guibao, holding a brief autopsy report, bypassed the screen wall and stormed into the back yard to see boxes scattered everywhere, rooms bustling with people moving in and out...

”What is this...?”

Shen Yanliu’s promotion was never disclosed to them; if it were only preparing Shen Mizi’s luggage, it certainly wouldn’t have caused such a stir, with boxes littering the ground...

Zhu Guibao paused, blinking his eyes, he slowly walked up to Ma Chunmin and performed a complete bow before saying, ”May I ask, madam, where is the County Magistrate, I have an important matter to report.”

Ma Chunmin glanced at Zhu Guibao, nearly bragging, Our dear one has already been promoted to Inspector General, why are you still calling him County Magistrate?

Now, Shen Yanliu is the Inspector General, and she is the Inspector General’s wife!

Nevertheless, she restrained her urge to show off, smiled, and said, ”Our dear one, the idle rich man, is having tea in the flower hall, you may go!”

Zhu Guibao cupped his fists in gratitude, ”Thank you, madam,” before dodging the scattered boxes and sundry to head towards the flower hall.

At the flower hall, Zhu Guibao found no servants at the door—it seemed all servants and maids had been pulled away by Ma Chunmin, so no one was guarding the place.

The door to the hall was wide open, and inside, Shen Yanliu and his daughter Shen Mizi were sitting there conversing.

Zhu Guibao immediately stood outside the flower hall door, made a bow, and shouted loudly, ”Reporting to the County Magistrate, your subordinate has an important matter to discuss!”

Shen Yanliu, after all, had come from being a sect named disciple, and Shen Mizi was leaving for three years; besides the parting sentiments, Shen Yanliu had shared all of his insights with Shen Mizi.

Shen Mizi rarely saw her father being so attentive to her; therefore, she listened intently.

As the father and daughter were talking, suddenly Zhu Guibao’s loud voice was heard from outside the door, Shen Yanliu was fine, his stern face showed no emotion, but Shen Mizi furrowed her brows in anger, looking towards the shadow bowing and shouting at the door.

Shen Yanliu said, ”Mizi, you can go now. I will discuss with you in detail later.”

”Yes, father,” Shen Mizi rose, gave a respectful bow, and then retreated.

She walked out of the flower hall, at the doorway, her eyes coldly glaring at Zhu Guibao.

Zhu Guibao’s heart trembled slightly, not knowing how he had annoyed the young lady, when suddenly Shen Yanliu’s stern voice echoed from inside the hall, ”Come in!”

Zhu Guibao’s shoulders shook, and he immediately made his way inside, standing not far from Shen Yanliu.

Shen Yanliu held a cup of tea, slowly sipping it.

Zhu Guibao saw Shen Yanliu sipping on tea, temporarily dared not speak.

Shen Yanliu set down the tea cup, looking at Zhu Guibao standing at a distance, coldly asking, ”What’s the matter?”

”Reporting to the County Magistrate, Chief Constable Jie was murdered!”

”What?” Shen Yanliu’s hand moved slightly, his sleeve almost tipping over the tea cup beside it.

Zhu Guibao continued, ”The body was discovered this morning, found dead by the Wild Lake behind the City God Temple.”

As Zhu Guibao spoke, he stepped forward, placing the autopsy report beside Shen Yanliu, then retreated to his original standing position and said, ”This is the initial brief report written by the Forensic Doctor following the autopsy. According to the preliminary traces in the autopsy, the method used to kill Chief Constable Jie seems to be quite similar to the murder methods in the Jie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases. All showed traces of needle-like hidden weapons and were poisoned!”

Shen Yanliu held the brief autopsy report written by Liu Kui, reading while listening to Zhu Guibao’s report.

Shen Yanliu was shocked; Jie Daohan was a True Qi Realm expert, with his True Qi finely flowing, easily controlling poison spread, yet the autopsy reported Jie Daohan was heavily poisoned.

”Did the Forensic Doctor determine what poison Chief Constable Jie was subjected to?” Shen Yanliu asked Zhu Guibao, looking up from the autopsy report.

Zhu Guibao lowered his brows and said, ”Reporting to the County Magistrate, nothing was identified! However, Forensic Doctor Liu Kui’s experiments with fresh meat found the toxin’s corrosiveness was far beyond that of Corpse Rot Poison!”

”Far beyond Corpse Rot Poison?” Shen Yanliu furrowed his brows, suddenly said, ”Earlier, did you mention the murder method in this case has similarities to the Jie Lei, Xu Ruhu case?”