Chapter 194: The Person Behind the Scenes

Qinghe, southern district of the city—flames had subsided, leaving only charred ruins and blackened walls.

"Magistrate Chai."

Cao Wei and Jiang Lin both arrived at the ruins with their men.

"What happened here?"

Cao Wei stared at the house, where faint flames still flickered, leaving almost nothing behind.

Chai Jingong replied respectfully:

"One of my subordinates accidentally discovered that Gao Zhen had another residence in Qinghe, so I came to investigate. But the moment my men arrived, they were killed, and the house was set on fire."

"Damn it!"

Cao Wei grew angrier—this was an open provocation right under his nose!

"Can you determine who did this?"

Chai Jingong's eyes narrowed slightly: "If my guess is correct, this is the work of the Ghost Ming Sect."

"The Ghost Ming Sect?"

Cao Wei raised an eyebrow: "You mean Gao Zhen was killed by the Ghost Ming Sect? What's your evidence?"

Chai Jingong explained:

"You know my true qi is unusual—I can smell odors others cannot."

"I've had dealings with the Ghost Ming Sect before. Their demonic cultivation method emits a unique scent. If one of their people committed the act, and the time gap is under an hour, I can detect it."

Hearing this, Cao Wei brightened: "Chai brother, you're truly skilled. Now that we know it's the Ghost Ming Sect, this becomes easy."

But Chai Jingong shook his head: "No. This only proves Gao Zhen's death is connected to the Ghost Ming Sect—but we still lack proof they were the actual killers."

Cao Wei dismissed this, firmly insisting: "It's definitely the Ghost Ming Sect!"

"Just before Gao Zhen died, we fought a battle with the Ghost Ming Sect. These devils are clearly seeking revenge!"

Jiang Lin's expression remained calm.

Chai Jingong glanced at the furious Cao Wei, then said nothing.

As far as he knew, Cao Wei had always served in the Ministry of War and the military—he was indeed hot-tempered and decisive.

But was his current rage truly due to the Ghost Ming Sect's murder?

At least Chai Jingong didn't think so.

Cao Wei appeared impulsive—he accused the Ghost Ming Sect without gathering evidence.

In truth, he was pushing Chai Jingong to blame everything on the Ghost Ming Sect and close the case quickly.

Since arriving in Qinghe, these past days—

Pressure from the Gao family had grown heavier, and as expected, the Wei Guo Gong's side had also begun paying attention.

Every day, documents arrived from Annan Town.

More than in the past three years combined.

All of them urged the same thing: solve the case quickly.

But Gao Zhen clearly fled Qinghe himself, deliberately hiding his movements—even his closest servants knew nothing. All leads were cut. How were they supposed to investigate?

So the best solution was naturally to find a scapegoat.

Right now, the Ghost Ming Sect was undoubtedly the best choice.

Cao Wei probably had this idea from the start.

Now he'd even found evidence linking Gao Zhen to the Ghost Ming Sect—perfect for framing them.

But… was Gao Zhen really killed by the Ghost Ming Sect?

At least, he didn't believe so.

Chai Jingong sighed softly.

The case had ultimately turned into something he never wanted to see.

He was a genius at investigations, yes—but everything required evidence. Even a goose must leave traces.

After days of investigation, he'd uncovered several useful clues.

Based on the information gathered, he had a gut instinct: Gao Zhen was very likely not killed by the Ghost Ming Sect. In fact, Gao Zhen probably had deep, tangled ties to them.

This was an instinct forged through years of detective work.

And every time he solved a case, his intuition proved correct.

But if this were true, matters would become troublesome.

A Gao clan disciple serving as an official, secretly colluding with the Ghost Ming Sect, then murdered.

If this news reached the imperial court, it would ignite a massive uproar.

Gao Zhen's death was minor—but the Lin Faction would surely exploit this to destroy the Gao family. Countless people would be dragged in—it would be a seismic shock to the Yu Kingdom's court.

The Gao family might even act preemptively against those who knew the truth, suppressing the case.

Using the death of a traitorous clan member to erase all damage to the Gao name.

The stakes were clear.

To these powerful figures, only interests mattered. If it benefited the family, even the worst acts were justified.

Justice meant nothing.

Chai Jingong did not voice his inner suspicions:

"Magistrate Cao, the case remains unclear. Please order your men to re-examine the house."

"No problem."

Cao Wei agreed instantly without hesitation.

He was eager to find more links to the Ghost Ming Sect.

The more the Ghost Ming Sect appeared, the easier it would be to convince General Xue and close the case.

The truth?

He no longer cared about the truth.

As long as he could deliver results, he'd arrest any suspect—even fabricate one—as long as the explanation made sense.

"Each has their own agenda."

This was Li Rui's assessment of Jiang Lin, Cao Wei, and Chai Jingong.

He and Ge Hong stood nearby.

The three had not avoided speaking in front of them, so he heard every word clearly.

Different views on the matter led to different attitudes and actions.

Jiang Lin cared least about Gao Zhen's death.

Why?

Probably because his patron was too powerful—this case couldn't touch his future.

Besides, it wasn't his duty as a military officer; no need to invite trouble.

But Cao Wei was different.

He hadn't reached the point where his patrons would shield him from any consequence—he had to produce results.

Chai Jingong was the same.

In the end, it was simply that their positions differed—they sat on different stools.

Li Rui gazed at the still-smoldering ruins, lost in thought.

"Who did this?"

"Zhuang Renhe?"

County Ya, inner courtyard.

"Who?"

"Who the hell is it?!"

Zhuang Renhe's eyes were bloodshot, like a beast ready to devour.

He had heard of the events in southern Qinghe today.

Gao Zhen was dead.

He didn't care.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

He hadn't been involved in Gao Zhen's mission, and he'd planted spies in Anning Guard—Cao Wei and Chai Jingong had found no leads, so they wouldn't touch him.

But just as he thought the case would become unsolved and he could continue his Anwen life as county magistrate—

The situation changed. Now the blame pointed to the Ghost Ming Sect.

"Let the Ministry of Justice investigate—why must they kill again?!"

He too believed the Ghost Ming Sect had done this.

"Fools."

"All of them are fools!"

Though he was a member of the Ghost Ming Sect, he was first and foremost the second master of the Zhuang family—he had little affection for the sect's people.

"I must stop them."

"If this keeps escalating, one day they might trace it back to me."

Zhuang Renhe pondered, then made his decision quickly.

He didn't think Chai Jingong of the Ministry of Justice was a fool.

On the contrary, Chai Jin Gong has risen to his current position in the capital because he has real skills, especially in solving cases.

The more the Ghost Ming Sect does, the more clues they leave behind; doing nothing now is the best course.

As Zhuang Renhe was pondering this.

Someone knocked on his door.

Zhuang Renhe snapped impatiently: "Enter!"

The door creaked open, and it was the maid from the county magistrate's residence.

The maid asked sweetly:

"My lord, the water is warmed. Shall I bathe you now, or wait a while? I'll help you undress."

Zhuang Renhe had a habit.

He had to bathe every day before he could sleep.

Among the common folk of Yu State, bathing once a month was already a luxury; in winter, many went without a bath for three or four months straight, saving up until spring warmth arrived, then washing in the rivers outside town.

Those with more money bathed in large wooden tubs filled with heated water.

But heating a full tub took half a day, and the firewood cost alone was no small sum.

Very few could bathe daily.

Zhuang Renhe grunted: "Bathe me now. Come, undress me."

Shuowan 。

The young maid stepped forward timidly, extending her slender fingers to unfasten Zhuang Renhe's belt.

Just as her fingers were about to touch the belt.

Zhuang Renhe's expressionless eyes flickered with a cruel glint.

His right hand shot up, unleashing a palm blast that struck straight for the maid's head.

But the maid reacted instantly, arching backward and skidding several meters along the ground.

She let out a high-pitched, giggling laugh.

In the next instant,

the maid's face peeled away in fragments, revealing the features of a seductive woman.

Zhuang Renhe sneered:

"You vixen, if you ever dare do this again, I'll kill you."

"You killed someone from my household?"

The seductive woman laughed wildly, her previously withered figure now trembling with exaggerated curves.

"How would I dare touch one of Lord Zhuang's men?"

Zhuang Renhe's gaze remained icy. He sneered: "Best be so."

Yet inside, his heart sank.

"It really was the Ghost Ming Sect who killed them!"

The woman before him was Liu Jiaoniang, the Third among the Twelve Blood Disciples—the Thousand-Faced Rakshasa.

Like the Ten-Thousand Ghosts Mother, whom Jiang Linxian had killed earlier, she excelled in disguise.

In fact, Liu Jiaoniang's skill in disguise surpassed that of the Ten-Thousand Ghosts Mother.

Her presence in Qinghe made it hard not to suspect her involvement in the events in the southern district.

Zhuang Renhe stared coldly at Liu Jiaoniang:

"Why did you kill several of Gao Zhen's men in the southern district? Don't you know this only draws attention?"

Hearing this,

Liu Jiaoniang blinked in surprise.

"I… killed someone?"

Zhuang Renhe's lip twitched: "What, are you lying to me too?"

Liu Jiaoniang burst into a sarcastic laugh.

"I just arrived in Qinghe. If I were going to kill anyone, you'd be the first."

Zhuang Renhe studied her for a long moment, then asked hesitantly:

"So… you didn't kill them?"

"Of course not. I kill people hoping the whole world knows—I wouldn't waste time hiding it."

"."

Zhuang Renhe fell silent.

From her expression just now, he was certain she hadn't killed them.

Moreover, given the Ghost Ming Sect's modus operandi, if she'd killed them, she'd have boasted about it—there was no reason for her to lie to him.

Then the question arose:

If not Liu Jiaoniang, then who killed them?

(End of Chapter)