Chapter 86: The Hateful One

Li Lin felt it was somewhat absurd.

He did not know how others felt when wrongly accused, but he only wanted to laugh.

Hearing Huang Yan's inquiry, Li Lin said, "Four days ago, I indeed met with Escort Head He and discussed going to Jincheng, but afterward, I thought too few people were going to Jincheng and it was unsafe, so I abandoned the plan."

"What did you intend to do in Jincheng?" Huang Yan asked.

"I wanted to go to the Gold Workshop to craft a few women's dangling hairpins."

Everyone around let out an "Oh."

Huang Yan also laughed; he felt he had guessed which women's head ornaments those were, and who they were meant for, or what preparations they were for.

Immediately, he looked at Guo Shi kneeling on the ground, his expression turning cold: "Relying solely on your one-sided account to frame a Spirit Hunter, is that not too arrogant? Do you take this official for a fool?"

Guo Shi knelt and kowtowed, crying out, "This common woman merely said he might be related to my husband's disappearance; I did not specifically frame him. This common woman is willing to spend all the family's floating wealth, only to beg the County Magistrate to act on her behalf."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yan grew even more furious; he slammed the gavel heavily on the desk, and a tremendous roar echoed through the entire courtroom.

Guo Shi shrank her neck in fright.

"Daring to attempt bribery before all these eyes! Guards, bring out the torture!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Shi was stunned with fear.

Two government office Runners approached, lifted Guo Shi's hands, and placed them into the "Finger-Crushing Clamp."

It was the torture device specifically designed to crush a person's ten fingers.

Extremely cruel.

Guo Shi shouted loudly, "My Lord County Magistrate, I truly am willing to scatter all my family's wealth, only to avenge my husband; please, My Lord, investigate thoroughly."

Huang Yan snorted, angrily shouting, "Apply the torture!"

The Finger-Crushing Clamp tightened; Guo Shi's ten fingers let out a scream of agony, and her body shook uncontrollably.

She clearly had abundant vital energy and must have possessed excellent martial arts, yet she dared not resist.

After the screams continued for quite some time, Huang Yan snorted and said, "It is time to speak the truth."

Guo Shi's lips were bitten through; she trembled as she said, "Begging the My Lord... to investigate thoroughly."

"Continue applying the torture."

Guo Shi let out another scream of agony and soon fainted.

Huang Yan snorted and said, "Imprison her for now."

Two government office Runners approached and dragged Guo Shi away.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the courtroom immediately improved; Su Huafang approached and asked, "How did you offend Guo Shi of the Changfeng Escort Agency?"

Li Lin gave a bitter smile: "I have never even seen her; how could I have offended her?"

Huang Yan stroked his long beard in the courtroom; after pondering for a while, he said, "This matter is quite suspicious."

Not long after, a Head Constable returned from outside with several government office Runners.

This Head Constable clasped his hands and said, "My Lord Magistrate, we have ascertained that many escorts of the Changfeng Escort Agency have gone missing; simultaneously, Guo Shi's two sons and one daughter have also vanished."

Huang Yan snorted: "This case indeed has something fishy. Head Constable Yan, quietly visit the prison to probe Guo Shi's words and see if there is another hidden truth. The others go to the Changfeng Escort Agency to investigate the case; Spirit Hunters should go together; they should be able to find some clues."

Everyone dispersed.

Soon, a group arrived at the Escort Agency.

At this time, the Changfeng Escort Agency was very desolate; only a few escorts were guarding it here.

But they dared not obstruct the government officials from handling the case; they could only stand aside, watching with helpless gazes.

The group walked around here and found nothing particularly unusual.

Instead, Li Lin pondered for a while and said, "Wait for you all; I will be back shortly."

Having said this, he used his light-body leaping technique to quickly return to his "New Residence," retrieved a mask, and then returned again to the Changfeng Escort Agency.

He found the highest rooftop, then put on the mask.

Soon, he discovered something amiss.

He jumped down from the air and pointed at the pool: "There is a trace of Yin Qi inside here. Check the surroundings for any mechanisms."

Several government office Runners and Spirit Hunters immediately began searching the area.

With a target in mind, it was easy to find the anomaly; a government office Runner quickly found a mechanism, pressed it, and soon the pool water was drained, revealing a tunnel.

Before anyone could descend, a person "flew" out.

This person had messy hair covering his face and wore an escort's clothes.

But he was still recognized by Su Huafang, who shouted loudly: "That Daoist..."

The Daoist landed not far away, then used his hands to push aside his hair, revealing a pale green face, like that of a corpse, to everyone: "I did not expect you to find your way here so quickly."

Then he looked at Li Lin, staring at the mask on his face: "A Strange Artifact... kid, I did not expect you to have some ability after all."

At this moment, everyone had already surrounded him.

But this Daoist was not in a hurry; he snorted and laughed: "Relying on you lot to catch me? You are far from it. Hahahaha!"

He laughed loudly, and his head and body separated again.

The head flew away, while the body remained in place, then fell straight down to the ground.

Su Huafang threw out two silk-threaded bronze bells, intending to trap the opponent's head, but missed.

Li Lin formed a hand seal, but before he could finish halfway, that head flew far away.

This spell's speed was truly too fast.

He had to interrupt the casting and took off his mask.

At this moment, the Head Constable approached and said, "That headless corpse, judging by the lividity on the body, has been dead for at least two days; moreover, there are traces of stitching at the neck."

Everyone returned to the courtroom and reported the situation.

Huang Yan pondered for a while, then led Li Lin and others to the prison.

At this moment, Guo Shi sat in the corner, head bowed, hair disheveled.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head to look. Seeing Huang Yan, she scrambled over on hands and knees, shouting: "County Magistrate, I beg you, avenge my husband..."

Huang Yan cut her off: "Li Xunshou has already found that demon in the tunnels beneath your Changfeng Escort Agency."

Guo Shi's body froze; despair filled her face.

A moment later, she sat back down on the ground, sobbing continuously.

After letting her cry for a while, Huang Yan asked: "Do you have anything else to say now?"

"I beg the County Magistrate to grant me death."

"Why?"

"Since you have discovered that demon, my three children, whom he held hostage long ago, have now lost their usefulness with their whereabouts exposed; naturally, he will kill them." Guo Shi's words were filled with utter hopelessness and sorrow: "My husband is gone, and now my children... What meaning is there for me to live on this earth alone?"

Then, she suddenly grabbed the railing, staring fiercely at Li Lin: "It's you, it's you! If you hadn't provoked that demon calamity star, if you hadn't come to the Changfeng Escort Agency a few days ago to meet my husband, how could my Guo family have been targeted by that demon, leading to our ruin and death... You are a calamity star."

Hearing this, Huang Yan could not help but shout in anger: "Nonsense!"

Li Lin chuckled lightly: "You are quite interesting. Clearly, it was that Daoist priest who harmed your entire family, yet why pin the blame on me? Is it simply because I look easier to talk to?"

Guo Shi paid no heed, still staring fixedly at Li Lin: "It's you, it's you..."

She kept muttering, her tone full of venom.

"Let's go!" Huang Yan snorted: "Ignorant woman. Speaking another word to her is a waste of spit."

Everyone left, leaving only a madwoman in the prison.

(End of this chapter)