Chapter 185

The monk stared at the three corpses on the ground, lost in thought.

Shen Qing looked at the monk: "Baldy, I see you have some spiritual roots—where are you from and what's your name?"

The monk came to his senses, palms pressed together: "This humble monk comes from the Diamond Temple, dharma name Wu Nian."

Shen Qing had heard of the Diamond Temple—the strongest temple in Great Wu, though far from Qingzhou, up in the northern desert.

"You're a monk—why aren't you chanting sutras in the temple, running off to Qingzhou to cause trouble?"

Wu Nian said: "This humble monk's cultivation lacks sufficient insight on the path, so I came down the mountain to seek answers."

"All the way here to Qingzhou, I heard there's a man named Shen Qing who can give me answers, so I came to find him."

"Do you know Shen Qing, benefactor?"

Shen Qing froze for a moment—Qingzhou is so big, did he really just find him out here in the wild mountains?

Could this monk have some kind of divine intuition? Just think it and it appears?

Shen Qing waved his hand: "Still pretty familiar."

Suddenly, a noise came from inside the house—Shen Qing flicked his finger, tossing the three bandits' corpses into the mountains to avoid frightening the children.

Xu Yun poked his head out: "Brother, where are the bad guys?"

Shen Qing rubbed Xu Yun's head: "The bad guys have already been driven off by me—they're probably sleeping somewhere now."

Xu Yin stepped out of the house, but now he stood far away, too afraid to approach, unusually cautious—even if Xu Yin were any more foolish, he should now be able to see that Shen Qing is extraordinary.

Xu Yun clung to Shen Qing's thigh: "Brother, you're amazing."

Shen Qing looked at Xu Yin: "Um, Elder Xu, right? Tell me where the Xu family is."

Xu Yin hastily clasped his hands: "This... this really isn't necessary..."

Shen Qing directly interrupted his speech.

"I don't have that much time—I still have things to do after finishing up here."

"I'm asking you—just answer."

Shen Qing has been missing these days—who knows what kind of trouble the people of Qingzhou might have stirred up for him.

Xu Yin hurriedly said: "The Xu family is just in Lingyun City."

Oh, still the old place.

Shen Qing looked at them: "You two aren't afraid of heights, are you?"

"Never mind—you'd better just get some sleep."

A seven-year-old child and an old man—neither could likely withstand a fright, and Shen Qing also couldn't be bothered to go looking for trouble for himself.

A thread of true qi extended out, rendering both unconscious.

Shen Qing grabbed the few people and that old donkey, slowly suspending them in midair.

Wu Nian said: "Benefactor, I haven't yet asked for your name."

Shen Qing glanced at him: "Only now thinking to ask for a name? Didn't the Diamond Temple teach you basic etiquette?"

"Next time we meet, ask for the name first."

Having said that, Shen Qing shot up into the sky, leaving only his voice echoing.

"My name is Shen Qing."

Lingyun City.

The officials of Lingyun City were killed by Shen Qing in the dozens.

Yet unexpectedly, the reduction in officials had no significant impact on Lingyun City's operations.

On the contrary, efficiency greatly improved—previously, merchants' applications would be stalled for weeks, now they're processed in just two days.

The common people exclaimed outright: "The sun must be rising from the west!"

Shishan Alley.

The Xu family.

Over these past few months, funerals in the Xu household have not ceased.

The eldest son, second son, and third son died one after another—even the youngest son's whereabouts are unknown, leaving only the fourth son alive today.

The Xu family can truly be said to be in a state of panic and anxiety.

The Xu family is currently conducting the funeral for the third son, Xu Lei.

The fourth concubine knelt before the coffin—she is Xu Lei's birth mother—and she wailed: "My son, why is it that the white-haired must send off the black-haired?"

"You lived a life of goodness, never even eating meat—why did this happen to you?"

A somewhat older middle-aged woman came to her side—she is the Xu family's grand matriarch. The Xu family patriarch is dead, and he had no brothers, so until a new head of the Xu family is chosen, the grand matriarch manages the household.

The grand matriarch reached out and patted the fourth concubine's shoulder: "Old Four, let Little Lei go."

The fourth concubine's tears would not stop, and she flung herself into the grand matriarch's arms, sobbing bitterly.

The grand matriarch's eyes were also red-rimmed—she must have been thinking of the earlier tragic death of the eldest son—and she shouted low: "Lift the coffin!"

Just then, a cold voice sounded.

"Don't rush."

A unit of Embroidered Uniform Guards walked in from outside the courtyard, led by Lin Yun, the Qianhu of the Lingyun City Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The courtyard instantly fell silent as the grave—Lin Yun produced his token.

"Embroidered Uniform Guard investigation—I advise you all not to move about recklessly."

The grand matriarch glanced at the Xu family members continually retreating beside her, then strode forward and performed a salute.

"Greetings, Qianhu Lin—I don't know what case Qianhu Lin has come to investigate this time."

Lin Yun smiled: "Before your third son Xu Lei died, he had someone file a report, saying his eldest and second brothers died under suspicious circumstances—and now he too has died..."

Upon hearing this, the courtyard fell utterly silent.

The second aunt came out: "Ah? Didn't the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Qianhu from Jinh River come to investigate not long ago? He said there was no problem."

Lin Yun sneered coldly: "Whether there is a problem or not, do I need to explain it to you?"

"Seal the mansion! Search it for me!"

The next moment, the Xu mansion was in chaos, everyone looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Could it be... could it really be a problem?"

"But Qianhu Jin didn't say there was no problem before?"

"What on earth is going on?"

The hundreds of Embroidered Uniform Guards brought by Lin Yun immediately scattered and began searching inside the Xu mansion.

Lin Yun also arrived outside the room of the third young master, Xu Lei.

Just as Lin Yun was about to open the door, a voice sounded at that moment.

"Qianhu Lin, please wait!"

Lin Yun turned his head; it was the Xu family's second aunt.

"What do you want to do? Is there a situation to report?"

The second aunt slowly walked over, pulled out two gold bars from her chest, and shoved them into Lin Yun's hand.

"Qianhu Lin, why didn't Qianhu Jin come for this matter? But never mind, I understand the rules."

Qianhu Jin of the River was the Qianhu executed by Shen Qing for corruption earlier, though the outside world actually did not know this news.

The second aunt also thought Lin Yun was colluding with Qianhu Jin and had come again to collect benefits.

Lin Yun looked at the gold bars in his hand, a cold smile appearing on his face.

"Are you using this to test the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Having said that, Lin Yun directly slapped the second aunt across the face.

Lingyun City's Embroidered Uniform Guard has only two Qianhus in total; the other Qianhu, Jin He, was executed for corruption, and so far no one has even collected his corpse.

The entire Lingyun City, up and down, is currently investigating corruption.

Now you want to slip me gold bars? Is this you slipping me gold bars? This is you trying to get me, Lin Yun, killed!

Lin Yun stepped forward, grabbed the second aunt's hair with one hand, and dragged her into the courtyard.

"I was still wondering where to find clues, but this is perfect—you delivered yourself to my door."

"You've saved me the trouble."