Chapter 86: Hateful People

Li Lin felt it was absurd.

He didn’t know what it felt like to be falsely accused, but he only wanted to laugh.

Hearing Huang Yan’s question, Li Lin said: “Four days ago, I did meet with Marshal He and discussed going to Jincheng, but later I thought too few people were going, and it wasn’t safe, so I gave up.”

“What were you planning to do in Jincheng?” Huang Yan asked.

“I wanted to buy a few pairs of dangling hairpins for women at the Gold Workshop.”

Everyone around let out an “oh.”

Huang Yan smiled too; he thought he now understood whose hair ornaments those were meant for—or what they were preparing for.

He turned his gaze to the kneeling Guo Shi, his expression turning icy: “On your word alone, you dare accuse a Spirit Hunter? Are you too arrogant? Do you take me for a fool?”

Guo Shi kowtowed to the ground, weeping: “I only said he might be connected to my husband’s disappearance—I never deliberately framed him. I’m willing to spend every last bit of our family’s wealth just to beg Your Honor to uphold justice for me.”

At these words, Huang Yan grew even angrier, slamming his gavel hard on the table, the sound echoing through the entire courtroom.

Guo Shi flinched, pulling her neck back in fear.

How dare you bribe me in broad daylight? Bring in the torture devices!

Hearing this, Guo Shi froze in terror.

Two government office runners stepped forward, lifted her hands, and placed them inside the “zhan zhi.”

It was the instrument designed to clamp the ten fingers.

Extremely cruel.

Guo Shi cried out: “Your Honor, I truly mean to spend every last coin—I only want vengeance for my husband! Please investigate!”

Huang Yan snorted, barking: “Apply the torture devices!”

The zhan zhi tightened; Guo Shi screamed in agony, her body writhing uncontrollably.

She clearly had strong blood and qi—likely a skilled martial artist—but she dared not resist.

After the screams lasted a while, Huang Yan grunted: “Time to tell the truth.”

Guo Shi’s lips were bitten bloody; she trembled as she whispered: “Please… investigate.”

Apply the torture devices again.

Guo Shi let out another scream, then fainted.

Huang Yan grunted: “Lock her up for now.”

The two government office runners came forward and dragged Guo Shi away.

The atmosphere in the courtroom immediately improved. Su Huafang walked over and asked: “How did you offend Guo Shi of Changfeng Escort Agency?”

Li Lin smiled bitterly: “I’ve never even met her—how could I have offended her?”

Huang Yan stroked his long beard, thinking for a moment, then said: “This case is strange.”

Soon after, a constable returned with several government office runners from outside.

The constable bowed and said: “Your Honor, we’ve confirmed: many Changfeng Escort Agency escorts have vanished, and Guo Shi’s two sons and one daughter have disappeared too.”

Huang Yan snorted: “This case is clearly tainted. Constable Yan, quietly visit Guo Shi in the dungeon and probe her for hidden truths. The rest of you, investigate Changfeng Escort Agency—Spirit Hunters go with you; you should find traces.”

Everyone dispersed.

Soon, the group arrived at the escort agency.

Changfeng Escort Agency was now eerily quiet, with only a few escorts guarding the premises.

They dared not obstruct the officials’ investigation, so they stood aside, watching helplessly.

The group wandered around but found nothing unusual.

Then Li Lin thought for a moment and said: “Wait here—I’ll be right back.”

With a light body technique, he leapt away, returned quickly to his new residence, retrieved his mask, and rushed back to Changfeng Escort Agency.

He climbed to the highest rooftop and put on the mask.

Soon, he noticed something odd.

He leapt down and pointed to the pond: “There’s yin energy here. Check for traps nearby.”

Several government office runners and Spirit Hunters immediately began searching.

With a target, the anomalies were easy to spot; one runner quickly found a mechanism, pressed it, and the pond water drained away, revealing a tunnel.

Before anyone could descend, a man “flew” out.

His hair was disheveled, covering his face; he wore an escort’s uniform.

But Su Huafang recognized him and shouted: “That Daoist…”

The Daoist landed a short distance away, pushed back his hair, and revealed a pale blue face, corpse-like: “I didn’t expect you to find me so quickly.”

Then he stared at Li Lin’s mask: “A magical artifact… Boy, I didn’t think you had any skill.”

The group had now surrounded him.

Yet the Daoist wasn’t worried; he sneered: “You think you can capture me? You’re nowhere near capable. Hahaha!”

He laughed loudly—and his head separated from his body.

His head flew away; his body remained, then collapsed stiffly to the ground.

Su Huafang flung two silk-threaded bronze bells to trap the head—but missed.

Li Lin formed a seal, but halfway through, the head had already flown far away.

The technique was too fast.

He broke the incantation and removed his mask.

The constable walked over and said: “The headless corpse—based on lividity—it’s been dead at least two days, and there are signs of stitching on the neck.”

The group returned to the courtroom and reported the findings.

Huang Yan thought for a moment, then took Li Lin and the others to the dungeon.

Guo Shi sat slumped in the corner, hair hanging loose.

Hearing footsteps, she turned, saw Huang Yan, and scrambled toward him on hands and knees: “Your Honor, please, avenge my husband!”

Huang Yan cut her off: “Li Xunshou has found the demon in the tunnel beneath Changfeng Escort Agency.”

Guo Shi froze. Despair spread across her face.

After a moment, she slowly sat back down, weeping softly.

Huang Yan waited until she’d cried a while, then asked: “What do you have to say now?”

“Please, Your Honor, let me die.”

“Why?”

“You’ve found the demon. My three children were taken long ago. Now that our trail is exposed, they’re useless—and he’ll kill them. My husband is gone; my children now… What’s the point of me living alone?” Her voice was filled with utter hopelessness: “I have nothing left.”

Then she grabbed the bars, staring fiercely at Li Lin: “It’s you—it’s you! If you hadn’t angered that demon star, if you hadn’t come to Changfeng Escort Agency to meet my husband days ago, my family would never have drawn his attention! We’re ruined… You’re a curse!”

Hearing this, Huang Yan couldn’t help but roar: “Nonsense!”

Li Lin chuckled: “You’re interesting. The Daoist destroyed your family—why blame me? Because I look easy to talk to?”

Guo Shi ignored him, still staring fixedly at Li Lin: “It’s you… it’s you…”

She muttered endlessly, her tone thick with venom.

“Let’s go!” Huang Yan snorted. “A foolish woman. Talking another word to her is a waste of breath.”

Everyone left. The dungeon held only a mad, weeping woman.

(End of Chapter)