Chapter 284: Eccentric Cognition Beyond Reason

The back office of the County Office was already in a state of utter chaos.

With trunks and sundries scattered everywhere, Ma Chunmin directed several maidservants and Personal Attendants as they moved, lifted, and took inventory of various large and small items.

Firstly, Shen Mizhi was going to the Taiyi Sect; as a young girl going on a long journey, and needing to live there once she arrived, naturally, not a single item, big or small, could be missing.

Secondly, Shen Yanliu had been promoted, and they were also heading to Ruyang Prefecture. Shen Yanliu had been promoted to Surveillance Commissioner, and the Surveillance Commissioner Office was in the Prefecture City; moving from a small, remote, and impoverished county town to live in the Prefecture City all at once, the joy in Ma Chunmin's heart could well be imagined.

Although she had to pack two sets of luggage and was so busy she didn't have a moment to rest, her eyes still shone brightly, and she walked with a spring in her step.

"These are the Young Lady's things! Which one of you has no eyes and put them here? Hurry up and move them over!" Ma Chunmin scolded, yet the corners of her eyes remained filled with a faint smile.

After following Shen Yanliu and enduring so many years of hardship, they were finally going to enjoy some comfort.

In fact, if it weren't for the need to see Shen Mizhi off, they would have already set out for Ruyang Prefecture.

Strictly speaking, from the moment he received the promotion order, Shen Yanliu was already the Surveillance Commissioner of Ruyang Prefecture. Because the original wording on the promotion order said to take office immediately!

And the new County Magistrate of Xiangu County was already on the way and would arrive to take office in these next few days.

When Zhu Guibao, holding the brief autopsy report, bypassed the spirit wall and rushed into the Back Courtyard, what he saw was a scene of bustling activity with trunks scattered everywhere, in a complete mess, and people moving in and out of every room...

"This is...?"

Shen Yanliu hadn't told them at all about his promotion; if it were just for packing Shen Mizhi's luggage, it certainly wouldn't have caused such a big commotion with trunks everywhere...

Zhu Guibao was stunned for a moment, blinking his eyes. He walked slowly to Ma Chunmin, bowed deeply, and then said, "May I ask, Madam, where is the County Magistrate? This subordinate has an urgent matter to report."

Ma Chunmin glanced at Zhu Guibao, almost wanting to say smugly, "My husband has already been promoted to Surveillance Commissioner, why do you still call him County Magistrate?"

The current Shen Yanliu was already the Surveillance Commissioner, and she was the Surveillance Commissioner Lady!

However, she managed to suppress the urge to show off and smiled, "My husband, that man of leisure, is drinking tea in the flower hall. Go ahead!"

Zhu Guibao cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Madam," before bypassing the scattered trunks and sundries and heading toward the flower hall.

When Zhu Guibao walked to the flower hall, he saw no Personal Attendants guarding the entrance; the Personal Attendants and maidservants had all been pulled away by Ma Chunmin, so who would be left to guard here?

The hall doors were wide open, and he saw Shen Yanliu and his daughter, Shen Mizhi, sitting there chatting.

Zhu Guibao immediately stood outside the flower hall, bowed, and shouted, "Reporting to the County Magistrate, this subordinate has an urgent matter to report!"

After all, Shen Yanliu had also come from being a Sect Registered Disciple. With Shen Mizhi going away for three years this time, besides the worries of parting, Shen Yanliu also poured all his experience out and told it all to Shen Mizhi.

Shen Mizhi rarely saw her father put his heart into her like this, so she listened very attentively.

As the father and daughter were chatting, they suddenly heard Zhu Guibao's loud shout from outside the door. Shen Yanliu was fine, with no expression visible on his stern face, but Shen Mizhi furrowed her brows, looking at the figure outside the door who was bowing and shouting with an angry gaze.

Shen Yanliu said, "Mizhi, you go first. Father will talk to you in detail later."

"Yes, Father." Shen Mizhi stood up, curtsied, and then retreated.

As she walked out of the flower hall, she shot a cold, sharp glare at Zhu Guibao at the entrance.

Zhu Guibao's heart trembled, not knowing how he had offended this young lady. Just then, Shen Yanliu's stern voice rang out from inside the hall. "Come in!"

Zhu Guibao's shoulders shook, and he immediately hurried inside, standing not far from Shen Yanliu.

Shen Yanliu held a cup of clear tea, drinking it slowly.

Seeing Shen Yanliu sipping tea, Zhu Guibao didn't dare to speak for a moment.

Shen Yanliu set down the teacup, looked at Zhu Guibao standing not far away, and said coldly, "What is it?"

"Reporting to the County Magistrate, Head Constable Xie has been murdered!"

"What?" Shen Yanliu's hand moved, and his sleeve almost knocked over the teacup beside him.

Zhu Guibao continued, "The body was discovered this morning; the person died in the Wild Lake behind the City God Temple."

As Zhu Guibao spoke, he hurried forward, placed the autopsy report in his hand by Shen Yanliu's side, then retreated to his original position and said, "This is the preliminary brief report written by the Coroner after the autopsy. According to the preliminary traces of the autopsy, the killer's method seems to have quite a few similarities to the methods used in the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases. Both had traces of needle-like hidden weapons! And both used poison!"

Shen Yanliu took the brief autopsy report written by Liu Kui, reading it while listening to Zhu Guibao's report.

Shen Yanliu was surprised in his heart; Xie Daohan was already a True Qi Realm expert, his True Qi fine and dense, circulating within his body, making it very easy to control the spread of toxins, yet the autopsy report actually stated that Xie Daohan was deeply poisoned.

"Did the Coroner determine what kind of poison Head Constable Xie was struck with?" Shen Yanliu held the autopsy report, raised his eyes to look at Zhu Guibao, and asked.

Zhu Guibao lowered his head and said, "Reporting to the County Magistrate, it was not determined! But the Coroner, Liu Kui, used fresh meat for an experiment and discovered that the ferocity of this poison's erosion far exceeds that of Corpse Rot Poison!"

"Far exceeds Corpse Rot Poison?" Shen Yanliu knitted his brows and suddenly said, "You just said that the killer's method in this case has similarities to the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases?"

"Yes, County Magistrate. Based on this subordinate's experience in handling cases, both cases involved needle-like hidden weapons, and both shot and injured the eyes! Secondly, both involved people skilled in using poison. Furthermore, there is a connection between the two cases; Head Constable Xie likely fell into danger while tracking the killer of the Xie Lei case! Therefore, this subordinate boldly believes that these two cases were committed by the same killer!"

Shen Yanliu smiled faintly, stood up, paced a few steps in the flower hall, then looked at Zhu Guibao and said, "I think Team Leader Zhu's approach to solving cases is a bit too detached!"

Zhu Guibao's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately bowed and stood to the side. Shen Yanliu's words clearly indicated he did not approve of his viewpoint.

Shen Yanliu said, "Head Constable Xie was a True Qi Realm expert; the person who could kill Head Constable Xie must also be a True Qi Realm expert. Yet in the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases, Xie Lei was only at the Inner Breath Realm Second Layer, and Xu Ruhu was even a waste whose dantian had been destroyed. If it were truly the same person committing the crimes, do you think a True Qi Realm expert would need hidden weapons and poison to kill those two? That would be a matter of a single encounter!"

The reason Shen Yanliu said that the person who killed Xie Daohan must be a True Qi Realm expert was because he knew very well how vast the chasm between major realms was; only by being a fellow True Qi Realm expert could one have the possibility of forcibly killing Xie Daohan with the auxiliary aid of hidden weapons and poison!

Zhu Guibao was drenched in cold sweat from Shen Yanliu's words; he had to admit that Shen Yanliu's analysis also had its logic.

Shen Yanliu suddenly shook the brief autopsy report in his hand and said, "A few days ago, I received the promotion order, transferring me to be the Surveillance Commissioner of Ruyang Prefecture. Once the public notice ends and that child Mizhi leaves, I will leave Xiangu County and head to Ruyang Prefecture! Strictly speaking, I am no longer the County Magistrate of this county and have no authority to inquire into this case. In a few days, the new County Magistrate will arrive to take office! When the new County Magistrate arrives, you can report this case to him to handle."

As Shen Yanliu spoke, he handed the autopsy report in his hand back to Zhu Guibao.

Zhu Guibao's heart skipped a beat; he finally understood why there were trunks all over the Back Courtyard. It wasn't just that Miss Shen was going to the Taiyi Sect; it turned out the County Magistrate's family was also leaving Xiangu County.

Zhu Guibao immediately took the autopsy report and said respectfully, "Congratulations on your promotion, My Lord. This subordinate has presumptuously disturbed you!"

As Zhu Guibao spoke, he bowed and retreated.

A county Head Constable being murdered was naturally a major case. However, by the time Xie Daohan was killed, his promotion order had already arrived several days prior; legally, this case had nothing to do with him.

Even if he solved this case, the credit wouldn't count toward him, only pointlessly benefiting that newly arrived County Magistrate.

As for why he refuted Zhu Guibao's view that the killer of this case and the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases were the same person:

The Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu cases were cases that had already been closed during his tenure.

According to Zhu Guibao's view, wouldn't that mean overturning his original closing report? To close that case, he had pulled quite a few strings back then.

Shen Yanliu watched Zhu Guibao leave, walked slowly to the side table, and took another sip of tea.

Although he was leaving, he couldn't help but sigh that in this remote and impoverished Xiangu County, the temple was indeed small but the evil winds were strong!

Not only did the Tainted Blood Case break out, but even the Head Constable in charge of a county's criminal justice had been murdered.

Xie Daohan is also a True Qi Realm powerhouse!

Shen Yanliu rubbed the rim of his teacup with his fingers; although he had deliberately misled Zhu Guibao earlier so as not to let him overturn his original case-closing report.

But thinking about it carefully, the analysis in Zhu Guibao's autopsy report was not without reason.

However, the analysis he gave to Zhu Guibao also had sufficient grounds. Whoever could kill Xie Daohan must be a True Qi Realm powerhouse. The two cases were less than a year apart. For a True Qi Realm powerhouse, killing Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu would be a matter of a mere glance or a wave of the hand; why would they need poison or hidden weapons, and go to such trouble?

"Unless..."

Shen Yanliu suddenly thought of a possibility that could accommodate both Zhu Guibao's analysis and his own, bridging the contradiction between the two.

That is, when this person committed the cases of Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu, they were only a Martial Artist at the Inner Breath Realm Second Layer, which is why they needed to use hidden weapons and poison.

However, by the time they killed Xie Daohan, they had already broken through to the True Qi Realm, and were a True Qi Realm powerhouse just like Xie Daohan.

Only this answer could bridge Zhu Guibao's analysis and his own together, turning sand into a solid mass!

However, the moment he thought of this answer, Shen Yanliu couldn't help but smile.

The time difference between the two cases was barely more than half a year.

What kind of person could have such a cultivation speed? To break through from the Inner Breath Realm Second Layer to the True Qi Realm in just over half a year!

Absolutely impossible!

Even within the Taiyi Sect, those high and mighty Core Disciples could not have had such a cultivation speed back in the day!

Shen Yanliu put down the teacup in his hand; he felt his own thought was somewhat absurd.

Although Xiangu County was a small temple with strong demonic winds, legally speaking, this place was no longer under his jurisdiction. Even if a major case like the killing of a county Head Constable occurred, what did it have to do with him, an Inspector of Ruyang Prefecture?

Shen Yanliu put his hands behind his back, walked out of the reception hall, and paced toward the small courtyard where Shen Mizhi lived. Regarding the Sect Registered Disciple, he still had many things he hadn't explained clearly to Shen Mizhi.

Zhu Guibao returned to the Constable's room, where Yang Zhen was still staring blankly at Xie Daohan's corpse, as if he had lost his soul.

As soon as Zhu Guibao returned to the Constable's room and sat down at the desk, the Coroner Liu Kui, who was writing furiously, looked at him and said, "I will try my best to get the detailed and complete autopsy report finished today!"

Zhu Guibao let out a "ha," walked to his seat, leaned back in his chair, propped his legs up on the desk, picked up the teacup on the desk, and poured a mouthful of cold tea down his throat before saying, "No rush now!"

Liu Kui looked at him with a puzzled expression.

It was he who had been urging Liu Kui like a life-taker just a moment ago, and now it was he who said there was no rush!

Zhu Guibao noticed Liu Kui's expression, put his feet down, sat up a bit straighter, and explained, "The County Magistrate has been promoted to Inspector of Ruyang Prefecture and will leave Xiangu County in a few days. Legally, he is no longer the chief official of Xiangu County, and he will not inquire into this case."

"The new County Magistrate will take office in a few days. Before the new County Magistrate arrives, just get that report out; no need to rush!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Kui's eyes flickered. Shen Yanliu had actually been promoted directly to an Inspector of a Prefecture; he was truly rising rapidly! However, Liu Kui was usually cautious and not someone who liked to wag his tongue, let alone talk about the promotion of a superior, so he just buried his head and continued writing his report.

Hearing Zhu Guibao's words, Yang Zhen's heart also stirred, and he slowly came back to his senses from his dazed state.

Zhu Guibao sat there, glanced at the foolishly stunned Yang Zhen, and said, "Yang Zhen, go call a few people to carry Xie Daohan's corpse to the morgue."

Zhu Guibao had previously ordered people to carry the corpse directly into this Constable's room because he felt that for such a major case, the County Magistrate would certainly inquire personally and would definitely come to examine Xie Daohan's corpse. The morgue was cold, damp, and smelled too foul, so he had the corpse brought to the Constable's room to make it convenient for Shen Yanliu to examine.

Who knew that Shen Yanliu had already been promoted and would not inquire into this case at all? This subtle attempt of his to curry favor with his superior had gone down the drain.

"I have other things to do!" Yang Zhen suddenly walked straight out.

"You..." Zhu Guibao was filled with annoyance; watching Yang Zhen's back, he spat on the ground.

"Old Xie is already dead; do you think there's still anyone covering for you!"

Zhu Guibao was very resentful of Yang Zhen's cold and arrogant attitude; he had already secretly decided in his heart to find an opportunity to fix Yang Zhen.

Yang Zhen walked out of the Constable's room, turned a corner, and walked toward the Back Courtyard of the County Office. He bypassed the spirit wall and saw the ground of the Back Courtyard piled high with trunks and miscellaneous items; maids and Personal Attendants were holding various sundries, their figures in disarray.

Yang Zhen stood by the spirit wall, lingering for a long time.

He was almost certain in his heart that the person who killed Xie Daohan was Duan Rong!

However, he had no evidence, and he couldn't even make the story consistent himself.

Xie Daohan was a True Qi Realm powerhouse, while Duan Rong was merely a Martial Artist at the Inner Breath Realm Great Accomplishment!

But Yang Zhen had a deep feeling, a strange perception that transcended rationality; he just knew that the person who killed Xie Daohan was Duan Rong!

In the end, Yang Zhen still lacked the courage to cross the ground full of trunks and sundries to find Shen Yanliu.

His state of mind was indescribably torn and depressed, so he left the County Office and began to wander the streets.

Yang Zhen's head felt a bit numb; as he walked, he subconsciously walked to the entrance of the Yuanshun Escort Agency.

He stared blankly at the Yuanshun Escort Agency, at the gate where two tall stone lions stood, and as if possessed, he walked inside and came straight to the gate of the Liu Lu courtyard.

Yang Zhen stared blankly at the gate of Liu Lu!

If the person who killed Head Constable Xie was Duan Rong! Then Duan Rong must have returned, and perhaps he was inside Liu Lu right now!

Yang Zhen hesitated for a long time before finally gathering the courage to knock lightly on the gate of Liu Lu.

The dilapidated hardwood gate made a dull thudding sound. After knocking, Yang Zhen tilted his head to listen for any movement inside.

But after a long time, there was still no sound from behind the gate!

Yang Zhen stepped back a few paces and looked up into Liu Lu. Several tall willow trees had soft spring willow branches that had sprouted faint tender buds, dancing with the light breeze...

Yang Zhen really wanted to climb over the courtyard wall to go in and take a look, but he didn't dare!

He was afraid of Duan Rong!

That Duan Rong who killed Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu, that Duan Rong who killed the True Qi Realm powerhouse Xie Daohan—how could he not be afraid?

(End of chapter)