Chapter 307: Sun Qian

The clerks and constables in the Ya Men, as well as the local gentry and wealthy families of the county, had mostly not eaten breakfast, waiting early at the city gate.

By the time they had stood until their legs were weary and their stomachs were growling, and saw the sun had already risen high, they suddenly spotted an inconspicuous carriage on the official road in the distance, slowly driving over, with a few light cavalrymen carrying sabers following in front and behind.

As soon as Clerk Qin saw the light cavalrymen wearing soap-colored boots and official uniforms, he immediately shouted to the drummers and double-reed wind instrument players behind him: "The official has arrived, play with all your might."

Instantly, dense and rapid drumbeats and the high-pitched, resonant sound of suonas rang out at the city gate.

Everyone was full of anticipation and perked up, but just at this moment, they saw the carriage in the distance suddenly stop and remain motionless.

A moment later, a light cavalryman was seen riding over, pulling the reins to stand before the crowd. Without even dismounting, the man looked down at the crowd with an arrogant air.

Clerk Qin frowned and immediately signaled for the drums and suonas behind him to quiet down.

The man looked at them and said: "Everyone, you may disperse. Colleagues from the Ya Men, go to the County Office to pay your respects. As for you gentlemen, the official is weary from his travels, so we shall meet another day."

After the man finished speaking, he waved a hand behind him, and the coachman and light cavalrymen slowly drove forward, entering Xiangu County directly from the city gate.

Pitifully, these people had not even eaten breakfast and had waited here eagerly, yet they could not even catch a glimpse of the new county magistrate, truly a case of a hot face pressed against a cold butt.

The gentry and wealthy families all had unsightly expressions; having just arrived at their post, before even entering the city gate, they had been given a show of force. This new county magistrate was likely coming with ill intent and would be difficult to get along with.

As for Clerk Qin and the constables, they had already left the city gate in a hurry; it had just been said that they should go to the County Office to pay their respects, and they certainly could not let the official wait for them.

Once the people from the Ya Men left, the gentry, wealthy families, and the musicians all grumbled and dispersed one by one...

Just as the people at the city gate had dispersed, about half a stick of incense later, three ox carts came swaying over from the official road.

As soon as these ox carts reached the city gate, they startled the city-guarding yamen runners, who nearly surrounded the newcomers.

This was because both ox carts were piled high with corpses, and the corpses on the first ox cart were covered in wriggling blood-filaments.

On this day, the foreman of the city-guarding yamen runners was Zhang Yufu; only when he saw Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu, and Ximen Kankan sitting on the last ox cart did he not immediately take action.

Just at this moment, Zhu Qunxiang had already jumped off the carriage and directly revealed the Taiyi Order.

Only then did Zhang Yufu recognize that the person before him was one of the Sect Emissaries monitoring the Selection of Heroes.

The triennial Selection of Heroes was also a grand event in the county; Zhang Yufu had gone to watch it when he was off duty, and he had originally taken note of Zhu Qunxiang.

It was just that Zhu Qunxiang usually paid attention to his appearance, but at this moment his hair was disheveled and his clothes were torn, so Zhang Yufu had not recognized him at first glance.

Zhu Qunxiang said: "Of your team of city-guarding yamen runners, leave two men here to guard the gate, and the rest are requisitioned by this Emissary. Escort these corpses to the County Office."

Zhang Yufu cupped his hands and said: "Yes, I will strictly follow the Emissary's orders!"

While Zhang Yufu called for men to surround the two ox carts, he found two pieces of black cloth to cover the corpses, so as not to cause panic among the commoners.

Zhang Yufu led his men to escort the two ox carts, with the others following behind, and the group headed toward the County Office.

Although the corpses were covered tightly with black cloth, the onlookers did not know what was being hauled in the two dilapidated ox carts surrounded by a team of yamen runners.

But as for Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu, and the others, the onlookers recognized them at a glance.

During the Selection of Heroes, Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu, and Xia Shuangshuang were the topics people discussed the most.

At this moment, seeing these newly promoted Registered Disciples return so soon, and in such disheveled clothing, suspicions flew instantly, and they began to gossip in the streets and alleys...

Zhang Yufu led his men to escort the two ox carts, driving them straight into the gate of the County Office and stopping not far from the main hall of the Ya Men.

Several of the new county magistrate Sun Qian's personal guards were standing guard on both sides of the main hall entrance when they suddenly saw a group of people rush into the County Office gate, driving two ox carts.

As the leader of Sun Qian's personal guards, Ding Xingxing immediately grabbed his saber and came over, shouting angrily: "Where did these ox carts come from, driving into the Ya Men? Do you think this is a marketplace?"

Ding Xingxing shouted, glaring at the yamen runner foreman Zhang Yufu.

Just as Zhang Yufu was about to speak, Zhu Qunxiang stepped forward, flashed the Taiyi Order, and said: "I am a Sect Emissary! I have an urgent matter and must see your county magistrate!"

Upon seeing the Taiyi Order, Ding Xingxing was stunned for a moment and immediately turned back into the main hall of the County Office.

On the way, Zhu Qunxiang had already inquired with Zhang Yufu and knew that the new county magistrate had already entered the city earlier that morning.

Sun Qian was in his early thirties, dark-complexioned, very thin, and wore a goatee on his chin; his eyes held a restrained sharpness, and his gait was steady and powerful, giving one a sense of shrewdness and capability.

After getting off the carriage, he entered the Back Courtyard of the County Office, washed up, changed into his official robes, and walked slowly to the main hall of the County Office.

Sun Qian took his seat in the main hall, and the clerks and constables of the Ya Men had already been standing respectfully below the hall, waiting for a long time.

Sun Qian sat before the desk, his gaze sweeping over the people below the hall, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard a chaotic clamor outside the hall door, followed by two ox bellows.

Sun Qian's face darkened, and he was about to flare up when he saw Ding Xingxing walk in quickly from outside.

Ding Xingxing whispered something into Sun Qian's ear with a grave expression.

"Sect Emissary?" Sun Qian's eyes flickered; he had just arrived at the Ya Men, and a Sect Emissary had come to visit—what kind of medicine was hidden in this gourd?

Sun Qian walked quickly out of the main hall and saw at a glance the two ox carts stopped not far away, along with the few people standing there, all of whom had disheveled hair and torn clothes.

But Sun Qian still stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said: "I do not know which one is the Emissary? What is the purpose of your visit to my office?"

Zhu Qunxiang glanced at Sun Qian, walked to an ox cart, and with a *whoosh*, directly lifted the black cloth covering the ox cart.

They saw that the ox cart was piled high with corpses, with dense blood-filaments crawling and wriggling...

"This..." Upon seeing this, Sun Qian was instantly filled with astonishment.

Zhu Qunxiang said: "We are the Emissaries monitoring the county's Selection of Heroes, escorting the newly promoted Registered Disciples on their journey. Yesterday afternoon in the wilderness, we encountered an ambush by the Filthy Blood Sect. One Sect Emissary and three Registered Disciples were killed in action."

"This case occurred within the borders of Xiangu County, and the three deceased Sect Registered Disciples were also natives of Xiangu County. Therefore, Zhu believes that the primary jurisdiction for this case also lies with the Xiangu County Office."

"The corpses of these Tainted Blood Demons can also serve as evidence and should naturally be handed over to the County Office."

Sun Qian's heart was greatly shaken; he had not expected that just upon taking office, he would encounter such a thorny major case, so he immediately cupped his hands and said: "Honorable Emissaries, would you mind accompanying Sun to the flower hall in the back courtyard to discuss this matter in detail?"

Since this case had fallen into his hands, he naturally had to understand the details thoroughly.

The people before him were all eyewitnesses, but they were either Sect Emissaries or newly promoted Registered Disciples. In any case, he could not treat them in the main hall as if he were interrogating criminals or summoning subordinates.

Zhu Qunxiang said: "I was just about to discuss it in detail with the magistrate."

Sun Qian immediately turned his head to look at Ding Xingxing behind him and said: "Keep these two ox carts under guard and have the coroner examine the bodies later. Also, I will be discussing the case details with the Emissaries in the back courtyard flower hall; go to the main hall and call an experienced clerk to come and record the proceedings."

"Yes," Ding Xingxing said, cupping his hands.

Sun Qian turned his head and smiled: "Honorable Emissaries, please!"

The group followed Sun Qian toward the back courtyard flower hall.

Seeing Sun Qian walk away, Ding Xingxing immediately ran to the main hall, called Clerk Qin, and gave him the task. Then he had people escort the two ox carts toward the morgue...

In the marketplace, as the gossip from the end of the street spread, people learned that the Registered Disciples like Shen Mizhi and Xiao Yu had returned.

Zhu Xiaoqi was wandering by a vegetable stall with a basket on her arm when she suddenly heard people discussing this. She immediately grabbed a few of those talking and asked carefully, only then hearing that Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu, and the others had just returned and had all gone to the County Government Office.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaoqi stopped buying vegetables and immediately returned home to tell Xiao Zongting about it.

"Nonsense!?"

Xiao Zongting naturally did not believe it. Xiao Yu and the others had left under the protection of a Sect Emissary to head to the Taiyi Sect; how could they return in just one day? And why would they go to the Ya Men?

But Zhu Xiaoqi's face was full of anxiety, saying that the whole marketplace was discussing it and it didn't seem like a lie.

Xiao Zongting was half-believing and half-doubting, so he left the Escort Agency and paced toward the Ya Men.

When he arrived not far from the County Government Office, he saw that Ximen Yong, Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong were already gathered there by the main gate.

Xiao Zongting's heart skipped a beat. "Did something really happen?"

Xiao Zongting walked over and asked them about it. It turned out they had also heard the gossip on the street and had come to the Ya Men side. They didn't know the specifics, and the guards at the gate said the County Magistrate was busy with important matters and would not let them in.

They stood guard there for a long time. During this, Xia Zhongyang and Tao Jiusong both wanted to force their way in, but they were blocked by the guards. After all, this was the County Office, and they dared not truly resort to violence, so they had to continue waiting outside the gate...

Half an hour later, Zhu Qunxiang and his group finally walked out from the flower hall in the Back Courtyard of the County Government Office.

Sun Qian personally accompanied them out.

Zhu Qunxiang and the others had already written down the document detailing the incident, and everyone had signed it. After Sun Qian summarized the case in detail, he would send out urgent dispatches. One would be sent to the Sect, and one to the Surveillance Commissioner Office in the prefecture.

As the group walked to the entrance of the Back Courtyard, Zhu Qunxiang looked at the Registered Disciples and said, "Fellow Disciples! This great change was unexpected. But our journey cannot be delayed. You may return today to rest for the night and reorganize your luggage. We must set off early tomorrow morning!"

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu had no luggage to begin with.

Shen Mizhi and Ximen Kankan had brought quite a few things, but they were all destroyed in the explosion.

"What luggage to bring?! I've already decided, I'm going to travel light," Ximen Kankan suddenly said.

Duan Rong glanced at Ximen Kankan; he felt that after this ambush, this kid seemed to have matured a lot internally.

Shen Mizhi, however, had a dim look in her eyes. Shen Yanliu had already gone to Ruyang Prefecture to take up his post, and she could be considered alone in Xiangu County. Where would she go to prepare luggage?

As the group spoke, they exited the Back Courtyard of the County Government Office, passed through the small path beside the main hall, and walked toward the main gate of the County Office.

Xiao Zongting, Ximen Yong, Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong had been waiting outside the main gate of the County Office, as anxious as ants on a hot pan...

Just then, they suddenly saw Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, Xiao Yu, and Shen Mizhi walk out.

Seeing that Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, and Xiao Yu were fine, Xiao Zongting and Ximen Yong both felt their hearts lighten, as if a heavy stone had been lifted.

Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong, however, still stood at the gate, peering inside with anxious eyes.

But after those few, no one else was seen coming out.

"Dad!" Ximen Kankan threw himself into Ximen Yong's arms.

Seeing that Xia Shuangshuang had not come out, Xia Zhongyang pulled Shen Mizhi and asked, "Miss Shen, where is Shuangshuang? Is she still inside the County Government Office?"

Shen Mizhi's face turned pale, her expression hesitant, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

As soon as Jiang Heng saw Shen Mizhi's appearance, a bad premonition immediately arose in his heart. He walked up to Ximen Kankan and asked, "Kankan, where is my Qingyu? Why haven't I seen him?"

Ximen Kankan's expression darkened, and he turned to look at Zhu Qunxiang not far away.

The gazes of Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong were now also focused on Zhu Qunxiang; the Sect Emissary had a duty to protect these Registered Disciples.

"May I ask the Emissary! Where are Xia Shuangshuang, Jiang Qingyu, and Tao Rong right now?"

Zhu Qunxiang's expression was somewhat awkward as he explained, "We encountered an ambush by the Filthy Blood Sect on the way, and the three of them have died!"

"Died……?!"

Xia Zhongyang, Jiang Heng, and Tao Jiusong were all stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

"It can't be... Tao Rong cannot be dead... You must have made a mistake..."

Tao Jiusong shook his head, his eyes unfocused, and the next moment he suddenly fainted at the gate of the County Office.

Jiang Heng rushed forward, grabbed Zhu Qunxiang's lapels, and shouted with a twisted face, "Hand over my Qingyu..."

Xia Zhongyang stood there, his whole body trembling uncontrollably...

After a flurry of activity, the crowd finally revived Tao Jiusong and pacified the emotions of the three men.

Once they had calmed down slightly, they were led by Ding Xingxing to the morgue to identify the bodies...

Yesterday morning, they had just sent their children out of the city to the Taiyi Sect, which was supposed to be a joyous occasion of a fish leaping over the dragon gate. But after only one day, a joyous event turned into a funeral, and they had to go to the morgue to identify bodies.

The three of them silently prayed in their hearts, hoping that what they were about to see was not the bodies of their own children...

After the three were led away by Ding Xingxing, the crowd sighed with emotion before dispersing.

Ximen Kankan returned to the residence with his father. Ximen Yong invited Duan Rong to go with them, but Duan Rong did not accept. Instead, he went with Xiao Yu to Xiao Zongting's side.

He had the reality of a master-disciple relationship with Xiao Zongting, and he was originally a member of the Yuanshun Escort Agency, so according to etiquette, he should go to Xiao Zongting's side.

Seeing that Shen Mizhi was all alone, Xiao Yu pulled her along to go to her home.

Along the way, the group talked about the Filthy Blood Sect ambush, and looking at the wounds on Xiao Yu's shoulder and leg, Xiao Zongting felt a wave of lingering fear.

Upon arriving home, as soon as Zhu Xiaoqi saw that Xiao Yu and Duan Rong had returned, she was so happy that she spun Xiao Yu around. If not for Xiao Yu crying out in pain, Zhu Xiaoqi would not have stopped.

Afterward, Zhu Xiaoqi went to the kitchen to prepare food. Xiao Yu and Shen Mizhi went to the boudoir to treat their wounds.

Duan Rong originally had some minor injuries on his body, but when he performed the Filthy Blood Divine Art, those wounds had all closed up as if they were never there.

At this moment, he had no injuries at all on his entire body, so he sat in the main room drinking tea and chatting with Xiao Zongting.

Zhu Xiaoqi finished making lunch.

She knew that Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were only back for one day and would have to leave tomorrow, so she prepared a very sumptuous meal.

The group took their seats.

Xiao Yu looked at Shen Mizhi and smiled, "Sister Shen, my home only has simple fare, please don't mind it!"

Shen Mizhi said, "How could I? It's very sumptuous! It smells so good!"

Although they had spent a very short time together, Shen Mizhi felt a kind of intimate warmth from Xiao Yu, something she had never experienced in her life, which seemed glamorous but was actually cruel.

"Then eat more," Xiao Yu said, and picked up some food for Shen Mizhi.

Duan Rong, however, sat before the table in a daze, calculating the matters of Xie Daohan and Fan Yuanhai. And what about Yang Zhen, who was still in the dry well at Xie Lei's old residence?

He felt that this matter should already be in the past.

Because Xie Daohan had pursued him due to the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu Case. And with Fan Yuanhai dead, those who had handled the Xie Lei and Xu Ruhu Case were all gone.

A dusty old case, already closed, with the old people dead—who would still care?

As for the death of Xie Daohan, he was very certain that there was absolutely no evidence that could point to him. And the death of Fan Yuanhai was even attributed to an ambush by the Filthy Blood Sect.

Even if Yang Zhen woke up, he would have no proof to back his words!

Seeing Duan Rong holding his chopsticks but just staring blankly, Xiao Yu rolled her eyes at him and said, "What? Someone left, and you can't even eat your meal?"

Duan Rong glanced at Xiao Yu and said, "No. Am I not eating right now?"

As Duan Rong spoke, he stuffed a piece of braised pork into his mouth.

Zhu Xiaoqi blinked his eyes, looked at Duan Rong, then looked at Xiao Yu, and asked with a curious expression, "Who? Who left?"

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "You have to ask about everything? Go ask him."

As Xiao Yu spoke, she lifted her chin and gestured toward Duan Rong.

Duan Rong said, "Don't listen to Xiao Yu's nonsense; no one has left."

Xiao Yu sneered and remained silent.

Looking at Xiao Yu's expression, Duan Rong knew that she had already sensed some clues. However, he had no intention of hiding this matter from Xiao Yu at all; although kings do not meet, as a man who had been a virgin for two lifetimes, that night of Chunfeng with Lv Qingzhu was truly too profound for him.

Duan Rong was very clear about his feelings at this moment; Lv Qingzhu was already a woman he could never bypass in his life.

Regarding this point, he would find an opportunity to let Xiao Yu know.

(End of this chapter)