Chapter 266: Man and God in Shared Indignation

Man and God in Shared Indignation

As a forensic doctor, in past lives and this one, Nie Jinxuan has seen countless corpses. Yet never once has she been as angry as she is now!

In the vast courtyard of the Tianyuan Inn, crimson blood stained the ground, and several corpses lay on the floor. The dead included men and women, old and young; even though their bodies were rigid from death, they still stared with wide eyes, blankly watching the world.

And in those unblinking eyes, obvious terror was written, chilling the onlookers to the bone!

Everything before one's eyes is shocking. Even worse, although the corpses fell in different directions, their positions were almost on a straight line! Moreover, each corpse's wound was inflicted by the murderer… It was clear the killer acted deliberately, making the victims stand in the courtyard before slaying them one by one!

What a gruesome act! Nie Jinxuan could not imagine, yet her anger surged like a breached flood!

At that moment, Shui Yun, seeing Nie Jinxuan's grim face and extreme fury, stepped forward and steadied her, fearing she might stumble. But the instant Shui Yun supported Nie Jinxuan, Nie Jinxuan raised her hand to stop her.

I'm fine!

Nie Jinxuan's voice was as low as it could be. After speaking, she took a deep breath, then without turning, asked Pei Yaoguang beside her.

Who reported the case?

The shopkeeper Cheng of the pawnshop across the street. He knows the Tianyuan Inn's proprietress, and this morning, seeing no activity at the inn, he came out of curiosity. At that time the inn's door was open, so he stepped in to look, and then…

Did Cheng the shopkeeper touch any corpse?

Probably not! According to Cheng, when he entered and saw the dead, he was stunned, and immediately reported the case! I saw him speak; he stammered, looking terrified, so he likely didn't lie!

Any survivors?

None!

So that means all the dead are here?

All are here, except one!

Saying that, Pei Yaoguang glanced at Nie Jinxuan, then turned and walked toward the other side of the inn. Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan wasted no words and stepped forward as well.

Pei Yaoguang led Nie Jinxuan through the inn's Houyuaner, then arrived at a side room in a corner. The Yamen Runner at the door immediately bowed, then silently pushed the door open, and the moment the door swung, a pungent smell of blood rushed in.

Nie Jinxuan involuntarily furrowed her brows, but before Pei Yaoguang could speak, she walked straight in… Yet the instant she entered, she was stunned on the spot!

It turned out that the modest room was splattered with scarlet blood everywhere, and in the very center lay a horribly mutilated corpse!

The victim's eyes had been gouged out, leaving only two bloody sockets. Hair soaked in blood lay scattered on the floor, the body bore countless wounds, and both feet had been cut off by the murderer and carelessly tossed aside!

The unimaginable carnage, even from the general shape one could tell the victim was a woman. One can imagine how she was treated before death! Thinking of this, Nie Jinxuan clenched her lips, but couldn't stop her silver teeth from chattering!

Nie Jinxuan was already like that, and Pei Yaoguang was no different! Yet after a moment, Pei Yaoguang forced himself to calm, then whispered to Nie Jinxuan.

We can't be certain yet, but judging by the situation, this victim is the inn's proprietress Sun!

Pei Yaoguang said with his rarely seen grim face, and upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan said nothing. At that moment the Yamen Runner fetched the autopsy tools, and without hesitation Nie Jinxuan slipped on sheepskin gloves and approached the corpse to begin the examination.

Now Nie Jinxuan is nearly seven months pregnant, making movement a bit awkward. Her motions are slower, but her autopsy technique remains deft and efficient. After swiftly inspecting the corpse, she stood up and addressed Pei Yaoguang, who had been standing beside her the whole time.

The victim is female, about forty years old. There are thirty‑six wounds on her body; besides the gouged eyes and severed feet, her tongue was also cut off… It must be the inn's proprietress, no doubt!

What? The tongue too…

Yes, indeed! Moreover, the eye gouging, tongue cutting, and foot severing were done while she was still alive! Although she bore thirty‑six wounds, none were fatal… Thus the true cause of death was massive blood loss!

Not a swift death by a single sword, but a prolonged agony as blood drained from her body, ending in despair, terror, and pain as she watched death approach!

That is unimaginable. So upon hearing this, not only Pei Yaoguang but even Shui Yun couldn't help but grow solemn.

At this moment Nie Jinxuan lowered her gaze at the corpse, then scanned the room and indeed found the victim's eyeballs and tongue in an inconspicuous corner!

However, the eyeballs had been crushed underfoot! A bloody, unrecognizable mess that made one want to vomit. Yet Nie Jinxuan showed no disgust, picked them up, placed them on a tray, and then, in front of everyone, returned them to the victim's body!

This is respect for the dead. After all, a missing corpse is the deepest ancient curse!

After everything was dealt with, Nie Jinxuan finally rose with Shui Yun's assistance and whispered.

The weapon was likely a dagger or short sword. From the wounds, each cut went to the bone but was not lethal, clearly the killer is a master. However, the clean cuts that removed the eyes, tongue, and feet suggest a different strength, implying another person, possibly a woman, committed those.

A woman? Hmph, so it's her!

Clearly, Pei Yaoguang had suspected from the start, and now hearing Nie Jinxuan say one of the killers might be a woman, his conviction strengthened! Meanwhile, the Yamen Runner Old Zhou, who had been staring dumbfounded, couldn't help but tremble and interject.

But… sir, this killing… killing is killing, why gouge the eyes, cut the tongue, then sever the feet? What kind of grudge is this?! My god…

Old Zhou is a veteran Yamen Runner of the Jingzhao Prefecture, yet even now he is terrified by the brutality! As soon as his words ended, Nie Jinxuan answered without hesitation.

Gouging the eyes means the victim had eyes but no pearls; cutting the tongue means the victim was talkative; severing the feet because the victim had once stepped on the killer!

Nie Jinxuan spoke word for word, and at that moment the trembling Pei Yaoguang's face darkened instantly, and he turned and rushed out! Seeing this, Nie Jinxuan only gave him a glance, then silently followed.

…

Pei Yaoguang's mentioned woman was, of course, the mysterious girl who appeared yesterday. So as soon as he left the Tianyuan Inn, Pei Yaoguang led his men straight to the Tianxiang Pavilion!

Tianxiang Pavilion is the largest and finest inn in Dongling Capital, and since the mysterious girl left yesterday, Pei Yaoguang has been secretly monitoring her movements, thus knowing she checked into Tianxiang Pavilion!

It was already approaching noon, and Tianxiang Pavilion was crowded with guests. When Pei Yaoguang stormed in, furious, with a squad of Yamen Runners, everyone in the main hall froze!

Then the Prince Shopkeeper Wang rushed out, and bowed to Pei Yaoguang, saying

"So, Lord Pei, rare guest, rare guest, may I ask what brings you today, Lord Pei…"

Wang knows Pei Yaoguang, and seeing Pei's fierce entrance, Wang naturally tried to speak politely, but clearly Pei Yaoguang was too angry to waste time on small talk. So he cut him off before Wang could finish.

"Enough talk, I ask you, the woman who stayed yesterday, in which room?"

"Um… woman? Are you referring to that woman?"

"The one with several followers!"

Because of his anger and haste, Pei Yaoguang's words were vague. Upon hearing this, Wang was momentarily stunned, then promptly answered.

"Oh, oh, I recall now, it's the Tian‑shaped room! Yesterday that girl took over the Tian‑shaped room in the back courtyard, drove other guests out, and even said no one was allowed into the Houyuaner…"

Recalling the mysterious girl, Wang felt a lingering dread! After all, in the capital he had met many dignitaries, but none as domineering and arrogant as that girl, so he remembered clearly.

Upon hearing that the mysterious girl stayed in the back courtyard's Tian‑shaped room, Pei Yaoguang pushed Wang aside and personally led his men inside!

…

Pei Yaoguang advanced with great momentum. But as Wang had said, just as they stepped out of the front hall and entered the back courtyard of Tianxiang Pavilion, someone instantly blocked Pei Yaoguang and his party!

The newcomers were several burly men, clearly martial artists. Seeing this, Pei Yaoguang, who was at the front, instantly darkened his face and shouted

"I am Pei Yaoguang, the Chief of the Capital of East Tomb; today I am here on routine arrest of a murderous criminal—won't you let me in?!"

Pei Yaoguang was already full of arrogance, and now his brows were furrowed and his gaze fierce, inspiring dread; yet on hearing this, the few burly men merely stared at him motionlessly, and then one of them coldly replied,

"There is no criminal you seek here!"

"Is that not what you said! You there, bind these people!"

Seeing no sign of retreat, Pei Yaoguang issued the order without further words. Upon hearing it, the Yamen Runners behind him, though somewhat fearful of the burly men before them, recalled the victims they had slain and their blood surged, and they rushed forward in an instant!

Yet the Yamen Runners were ultimately no match for them, and in the blink of an eye they were knocked to the ground by those burly men.

Their blows were sloppy; the Yamen Runners still had some vigor, but their breath was uneven. Watching his subordinates beaten like this, Pei Yaoguang fumed even more. At that moment, a pleasant, silver‑bell‑like laugh suddenly echoed from the courtyard!

Instantly, Pei Yaoguang was startled, looked up, and saw the mysterious girl from yesterday push open the door and stride out…

Today the mysterious girl wore a striking red outfit; the blazing hue under the sun highlighted her beautiful face, making her exceedingly gorgeous. Yet seeing the smile on her lips and the almost dazzling clothes, Pei Yaoguang trembled with anger.

Red is a festive color. So the mysterious girl deliberately donned such attire today, plainly telling everyone, "I am the one who killed; what can you do to me?!"

The mysterious girl was extremely arrogant; seeing this, Pei Yaoguang stepped forward to speak… but at that moment, Nie Jinxuan, who arrived shortly after, grabbed him.

"Lord Pei, hold your temper!"

At this moment Nie Jinxuan had regained her usual composure, though a faint cold resolve shone in her brows. Hearing her words, Pei Yaoguang turned his head to glance at her, then stepped back, ordering the injured Yamen Runners to be taken away for immediate medical examination!

Everyone scrambled; Prince, the manager of Heaven Fragrance Pavilion, saw trouble erupting here and hurried to send his assistants to help. After a flurry of activity, once everything was settled, Nie Jinxuan finally stepped forward… but at that instant she was blocked again by the few burly men guarding the courtyard!

In an instant, Nie Jinxuan's foot froze

"Move aside!"

Without raising her head or raising an eyebrow, Nie Jinxuan spoke softly, yet her gaze never left the mysterious girl in the courtyard.

Nie Jinxuan's expression remained unchanged, her low, steady voice gave no hint of emotion. Upon hearing it, the few burly men blocking her reflexively froze, instinctively wanting to retreat, but then quickly recovered.

The burly men did not yield, yet felt an indescribable dread toward Nie Jinxuan. Seeing her subordinates like this, the mysterious girl's smile grew even more evident!

For a moment, the vast courtyard of Heaven Fragrance Pavilion fell silent. Still expressionless and unmoving, Nie Jinxuan calmly raised her voice toward Pei Yaoguang behind her and said,

"Lord Pei, according to our dynasty's laws, what crime is it to defy enforcement, openly beat Yamen Runners, and insult an imperial official?"

"At most, a flogging; at worst, exile!"

"Fine!"

After shouting "Fine," Nie Jinxuan directly ordered Lian Feng behind her,

"You there, seize all of them and subject them to thirty lashes!"

Nie Jinxuan's voice showed no hesitation. Hearing it, Lian Feng immediately replied respectfully and promptly led his men over…

……

Unlike the Yamen Runners of the Capital Prefecture, the guards now beside Nie Jinxuan are few but each was carefully selected by Yin Fengzhan from among the death soldiers, making every one a top‑hundred martial arts master!

Though those burly men possessed decent skills, they were no match for Lian Feng and his men. After only a few exchanges, Lian Feng's forces had already restrained the burly men!

Lian Feng's success instantly turned the tide. Seeing her subordinates captured, the mysterious girl, who had been smiling, suddenly grew pale and, without further thought, shouted,

"Everyone, stop!"

Saying so, the mysterious girl strode forward, first glancing at her own subordinates, then fixing her gaze on Nie Jinxuan.

"What do you mean? How dare you touch my people?!"

"I think you understand what I mean; it's merely applying East Tomb's law according to the rules. Why must you make such a fuss, miss? Besides, I only acted… what can you do about it?"

"You… do you know who I am?"

"I don't know who you are, nor do I wish to know! However, miss, I warned you yesterday—no matter who you are or where you come from, this is East Tomb; it cannot tolerate your reckless behavior here!"

Nie Jinxuan's voice was neither loud nor soft, but resonant as if striking the ground. After speaking, she did not wait for the mysterious girl to reply, and directly ordered Lian Feng,

"Act!"

"Yes!"

Without hesitation they answered, and Lian Feng gave his men a signal; instantly, several guards holding the burly men reached out and tapped them a few times, followed by a few muffled groans.

Lian Feng disabled the martial abilities of the burly men. At once, the mysterious girl widened her eyes, but before she could recover, the guards swiftly pinned the burly men to the ground, seized the wooden staff from a nearby Yamen Runner, and began beating them!

The guards struck simultaneously; being martial masters themselves, they were relentless. After only a couple of blows, the once‑gritting burly men began to cry out uncontrollably!

Yet those guards, originally death soldiers, felt no sympathy and even increased their force!

Thirty lashes were delivered in the blink of an eye! Looking down again, the burly men were already out of breath. Without further comment from Nie Jinxuan, Pei Yaoguang ordered his own men to take over and dragged the burly men away!

Clearly, Pei Yaoguang intended to imprison them now and, as he and Nie Jinxuan had just discussed, exile them. After such a ordeal, even the strongest man might not survive, period.

In chaotic times, heavy statutes punish chaotic subjects with severe penalties! These people before us are no longer mere rebels but soulless demons, so neither Pei Yaoguang nor Nie Jinxuan will be courteous.

At this point, dealing with the few obstructing burly men was only the beginning. After they were taken away, Nie Jinxuan again stepped forward toward the mysterious girl.

"Miss, a bloodshed occurred last night at the Tianyuan Inn, and you had a conflict with the inn's proprietress yesterday; may I ask where you were between midnight and the hour of the Ox last night?"