I Can Devour Spirits

Fan Yuanhai thought of this and suddenly stood at the door of the Chief’s Room, shouting, ”Zhu Baogui, come here!”

Zhu Baogui was chatting with Liu Kui over there. He suddenly heard Fan Yuanhai calling him and immediately panicked, running over at once and standing at the door, respectfully clasping his fists and saying, ”Imperial Envoy!”

Fan Yuanhai was deep in thought, suddenly turned around, and looked at Zhu Baogui, saying, ”Has Yang Zhen lived in Wutong Lane since he was young?”

Zhu Baogui was stunned for a moment and said, ”Yes. He currently lives in his family’s old residence.”

Fan Yuanhai paced a few steps and asked, ”Zhu Baogui, let me ask you something, think carefully before you answer me!”

Seeing Fan Yuanhai’s serious expression, Zhu Baogui replied solemnly, ”Imperial Envoy, please ask.”

Fan Yuanhai said, ”What was Yang Zhen’s reaction when Jie Daohan’s corpse was discovered the other day? Was there anything unusual?”

This question made Zhu Baogui’s heart skip a beat. The image of Yang Zhen staring blankly at Jie Daohan’s corpse flashed through Zhu Baogui’s mind.

After repeated consideration, Zhu Baogui murmured, ”Imperial Envoy, this... it’s hard to say...”

”Just tell me, was Yang Zhen’s reaction normal or not?” Fan Yuanhai said somewhat impatiently.

”It seems... a bit abnormal...” Zhu Baogui’s tone was noticeably uncertain.

”What was abnormal about it?” Fan Yuanhai pressed.

Zhu Baogui stammered, ”He just stared blankly at Jie Daohan’s corpse. He didn’t seem to show anger or surprise! I didn’t pay attention at the time, but now that the Imperial Envoy mentioned it, it does seem a bit abnormal...”

Fan Yuanhai sneered to himself, thinking: Of course he wouldn’t be angry or surprised, because he’s one of the murderers. Unfortunately, he didn’t expect to be silenced in the end.

What a way to destroy and conceal evidence!

As Fan Yuanhai paced before the desk, he realized he’d unraveled all the threads of this case.

”What a cunning Duan Rong! Truly, the desolate mountains breed the devious!” Fan Yuanhai muttered to himself, suddenly turning his head to Zhu Baogui, saying sternly, ”Get me a fast horse! I need to leave the city now!”

Zhu Baogui’s heart skipped. He didn’t know why this young Sect Envoy acted so unpredictably—just asking about the case, and now suddenly wanting to leave the city!

Seeing Zhu Baogui still standing there dumbstruck, Fan Yuanhai suddenly became furious, cursing, ”What are you standing there for? If you waste my time, I’ll kill you!”

Zhu Baogui shrank his neck, immediately turned, and ran towards the Horse Stable.

A few moments later, Fan Yuanhai was riding a black steed, galloping out of the County Government Office, charging along West Main Street, injuring several pedestrians along the way, causing quite a commotion...

As Fan Yuanhai rode the black steed out through the East City Gate, heading away, the West Gate Mansion’s Shi Kang drove a carriage slowly to the side door of the Xia Mansion.

Ximen Yong, hugging two wooden boxes, jumped off the carriage, intending to go to the main gate of the Xia Mansion to knock and pay a visit.

Ximen Yong knew well that Ximen Kankan had overstepped, but he and Xia Zhongyang were old friends for many years, and as the saying goes, ”An outstretched hand won’t hit a smiling face.” He thought that if he visited a few more times, the rift could be mended.

Just as Ximen Yong jumped off the carriage, he saw a donkey pulling a cart coming out from inside the side door.

An old man was sitting at the head of the cart, but the back of the cart carried a bloody figure, their whole body whipped to shreds, facial features blurred, unrecognizable.

Ximen Yong edged closer, whispering, ”Old man, what happened here?”

The old man sighed, ”Xueqing was such a good girl! I don’t know how she offended the master! She was whipped to death like this, truly a sin!”

Ximen Yong observed the blood-stained hair and skirt of the figure, and it really seemed to be Xueqing.

Ximen Yong shivered, tightened his grip on the two wooden boxes he held, hesitated in his steps, and returned to the side of the carriage, saying to Shi Kang, ”Let’s go back first. We’ll come another day!”

Ximen Yong sat back in the carriage, letting out a long, heavy sigh, cursing, ”That little bastard, always causing trouble, and now he’s leaving me with such a mess!”