Chapter 99: House Arrest in Qingya Garden

Inside the Qingya Garden.

He Bo seized upon the suspicious points at this moment, pursuing them relentlessly, swearing not to give up.

He was dead set on dragging Du En toward the label of an evil cultivator; although after arriving at Qingya Garden, tests—both overt and covert—using magic power and the like had already confirmed that Du En was not someone who practiced evil arts, He Bo did not care about these facts.

Facing He Bo's aggressive, malicious interrogation, which was intended to force out a statement that didn't align with the investigation in order to frame him and deliberately distort the truth, Du En remained calm throughout, answering with composure and steadiness.

"Because the New Year is approaching and there has been no work to do lately, I thought about finding some joy in the midst of hardship. So, I let the others go prepare materials to each make a signature dish or prepare some hometown specialty. For the past two days, we have often had free time at this hour."

This statement matched the testimony He Bo had gathered from the others.

Ha, you're talking to me about rules?

Because too many people died this time!

"Finding joy in hardship, that is indeed correct; one truly needs a reprieve to be able to accept the long, bitter days that follow."

Hearing this made He Bo want to laugh, but he couldn't.

The Mining Manager thought of the similar activities the Digging Stone Gang used to hold at the beginning of the year, then thought of how the Digging Stone Gang had now completely and thoroughly disbanded, with everything having become past smoke and clouds, and he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"No, I have good comprehension."

"That is indeed the case. Furthermore, a Storage Bag is a special magical artifact. To prevent such storage artifacts from being obtained by hostile immortal sects and causing a loss of resources, they usually employ special artifact-sealing refining methods. Forcibly demanding one without the owner's self-release, or using violent inspection, will only cause it to be destroyed."

"Of course, before that, you need to reside here for a while and cannot see people at will; it counts as a form of house arrest and surveillance. After all, the evil cultivators were truly rampant this time, actually wiping out the supervisors in one fell swoop, and even slaughtering all those at the middle stage of Qi Refining."

He simply did not believe that Ren Li would truly become friends with Du En!

Although the other party was only a newly accepted disciple of that great cultivator and had shallow foundations and shallow cultivation, compared to the likes of Du En and his group of lowly laborers, their status and standing were worlds apart!

The main issue was that it was currently a peak period for labor, and manpower could not be transferred from anywhere, while the new batch of people who met the age requirements would not arrive until after the New Year.

The Mining Manager then led Du En out of the room, walking through the courtyard in the night.

It seemed his comprehension was quite good.

"That is fine, no problem."

"This is not that; I learned it myself."

They were not just one person, but a whole group!

Killing Zhu Er had not been kept hidden, so it would inevitably invite retaliation. Being under house arrest in Qingya Garden now was a good development; it suited his wishes to use the managers as a shield!

He Bo wanted to sneer, but unfortunately, there was someone on the side backing him up.

After giving instructions to Ning Caize and the others, it was considered moving into Qingya Garden to live.

At least this New Year would be easier to get through.

"..."

The manager nodded and, thinking of something, said: "Also, although in name you are under surveillance, in reality, your case has been investigated and there are no suspicious points, so the residence arranged for you can still guarantee privacy."

He Bo's expression froze instantly.

Manager Shi appeared very easygoing.

"Wealth from the dead—an old tradition in the corpse-handling business. During the previous large-scale incidents, the upper and middle segments weren't searched clean, so it finally left an opportunity for us wretches at the bottom."

So he chose to leave this place, rushing off in a flurry to seek an audience with the Superintendent.

Just as he looked down on them, he figured this person would only look down on him too!

"Are you playing me for a fool?"

Du En answered, then shook his head: "I have not committed any wrongdoing; on the contrary, I have rendered service. According to basic regulations, these personal artifacts do not need to be handed over."

That makes him even more deserving of death!

Otherwise, once he grows up, the one who will be unlucky is me!

Thus, He Bo continued to find fault: "Speak! What is the deal with that stash of spirit stones you corpse-buriers are hiding? Also, you need to hand over the Storage Bag for us to conduct an inspection!"

The Mining Manager said this, then changed the subject: "If Manager He is acting out of public duty and insists on inspecting and verifying, it is not impossible. However, if it is ultimately proven that Du En has committed no wrongdoing, you will have to pay for this loss yourself when it is pursued!"

He himself was not actually important; what was important was his master, a great cultivator at the Transformation to Divinity stage!

Although in theory the other party could not exercise long-arm jurisdiction, just as He Bo felt the rules were laughable, if the other party truly intended to apply pressure, even the City Lord of this Southern End Border City would have to obediently "act according to the rules."

There was no need for the other party to even intentionally apply pressure; after all, one less thing is better than one more, and the City Lord would not care about a minor manager like He Bo outside the city!

Therefore, even though his face was twitching with anger, looking at Du En, who sat there calmly and unruffled as if he were the master of this place, he had no strength to use and was itching with hatred.

However, it was not impossible to restart and recover, but He Bo intentionally wanted to slow things down, wanting to let the corpses pile up to kill Du En and the others.

"Du En, you don't need to worry too much. The opinions of the rest of us are unanimous; we are all going to seek verification. As long as you have a clear conscience, there naturally won't be a bad outcome."

So now the entire corpse-handling business was directly half-paralyzed, and Du En and the other corpse-buriers had no work to do.

Du En nodded and asked: "By the way, may I ask the manager's name?"

He said this with a sense of emotion.

Du En thought as he walked, then asked calmly: "Can I go tell the others in the small courtyard, make arrangements, and retrieve some personal items?"

Without seeking verification from Ren Li to confirm, there was no way to completely clear the suspicion.

They talked like this and left Qingya Garden together to return to the corpse-burier courtyard for a trip.

"Hmph! Seeking verification, is it! Fine! You just wait for me!"

Although not much, it could serve as corroboration.

"No need to dwell on that; if you must say something, you can call me Manager Shi."

In the end, He Bo could only bite the bullet and continue to hold on.

"I know culinary arts; I can make a good spirit meal."

Who let the strength Du En displayed be so unexpectedly surprising!

"You can make spirit meals? Where did you learn it? Don't tell me it was taught by Ren Li again!"

Because the corpse-transporters were basically all dead, the corpse-handling business here could not be restarted yet.

Because after this guy finished interrogating Ning Caize and the others, he had also endured the stench and, shameless as he was, secretly eavesdropped on their conversation, so he had naturally heard them mention Du En's culinary skills.

However, after this incident, the suffering people at the bottom will clearly benefit.

Upon hearing this, He Bo's expression turned even fouler; he pretended not to hear and continued to press, "Then what about you? Why aren't you going anywhere?"

The environment of the Elegant Garden is good and the spiritual energy is abundant, far exceeding previous cultivation sites; there is nothing bad about it.

This time, without the pressure from Ren Liding, let's see what they can do!

This trick of nitpicking words won't work a second time!

And now, it has been turned around and used by Du En to make a point, making the entire act impeccable!

He Bo gritted his teeth, feeling like he had been targeted again.

The stewards placed Du En nearby, just in case, fearing he might run away.

According to the investigation, Du En's storage bag has been confirmed to be of the second rank.

Damn it, even I can't use a second-rank one and can only make do with the Storage Technique; what am I supposed to use to compensate him?

Moreover, this storage bag was only obtained through Ren Li's intervention; if it is finally confirmed that Du En was truly wronged, they will only end up having their own handles squeezed and being pressured in return.

"Furthermore, the matter of using this to lie low is also proceeding very smoothly!"

Not only are Ning Caize and the others tight-lipped, but they also truly do not know Du En's calculations; what they know and see is only what is on the surface.

The strength of the evil cultivator exceeded expectations.

These guys usually don't attend to matters, so now that they have helped them kill an evil cultivator, it is only right and proper for them to provide some cover.

Of course, Du En did not lower his guard and remained vigilant.

(End of this chapter)