Chapter 149: Closing the Case

Morning, Si hour, converted to modern time, it's about nine o'clock.

There were many people squeezed outside the Tianmen Town county government office, but it was very quiet inside.

Between the main hall and the main entrance, there was still a large courtyard left empty.

Usually, people would be allowed to enter the large courtyard to watch the trial, but at this moment it was empty without a single person.

Inside the main hall of the government office, there were even very few government office runners.

Commander Zhu Yiqun sat behind the case table, with the Dianli and the Criminal Room recording the trial process on both sides.

Below were Xiao Yu, iron-clad warrior Ye Xing, and ghost god Chi Miao, who had been released and was floating on the side at this moment.

"Ghost god Chi Miao, you speak first, tell the whole story in detail."

The look in Zhu Yiqun's eyes when looking at Chi Miao was only curiosity, without half a bit of fear.

Even though Chi Miao had revealed his true form, red eyes, green face, wild boar fangs, it was very terrifying.

"Reporting to Commander, the little one... cough cough... the little ghost is actually a righteous god of the underworld."

Zhu Yiqun nodded and said: "This official knows, so I didn't ask you to kneel, and you don't need to call yourself 'little one'."

Chi Miao's face was toward Zhu Yiqun, but his eyeballs almost turned to his temples, glancing at Xiao Yu. Seeing that she was expressionless and didn't say a word, seemingly having the intention of permission, he continued: "The little god is a small officer under Inspector Ge Qing of the Western Shu Kingdom realm in the Western Sha region of the Underworld, which can also be called 'Deputy Inspector'.

When Ge Master was alive, he was a cavalry captain of the Luye Guard Iron Cavalry Battalion of Western Shu. When he went to the Northern Wilderness sand dunes, he was... by Grandmother Tiger Girl—"

"Cough cough!" Xiao Yu coughed twice.

Chi Miao's fierce and tall ghost body trembled twice, and he hurriedly changed his words: "Ge Master was killed face-to-face by Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu on the battlefield, full of resentment, often harboring a heart of hatred and revenge.

Because Ge Master was loyal to the king's affairs and was chivalrous, he was favored by Chief Judge Hu of the Western region and selected as the Inspector of the Western Shu Kingdom, often traveling between various places in the Shu Kingdom.

After Zhu Tong, Sun Laoqi, and Liang Long brought Ge Master's ashes back to the Ge family in Yingxiang Mansion, Ge Master manifested as a ghost god, and that night he dreamed of meeting Zhu Tong, Sun Laoqi, Liang Long, and others.

What exactly they said, I didn't follow them into the dream, so I don't know.

But I can swear to the King of Hell and the Heavenly Emperor that I have been persuading Ge Master to think openly and not to be obsessed with old grudges from his lifetime.

Not only did he not listen, but he was also worried that I would leak the news, so he detained me by his side and forced me to participate in the Baxia Alley assassination case.

But the little god is really wronged! The little god didn't want to assassinate Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu.

Appearing at the assassination scene was not the little god's original intention!"

Zhu Yiqun's suspicious eyes swept between Chi Miao and Xiao Yu, and he asked: "Chi Master, did you know Miss Yu before?"

Chi Miao hesitated.

Xiao Yu shouted in a low voice: "The Commander is asking you a question, why don't you tell the truth."

Chi Miao said with a bitter face: "How can those unspeakable old things be told truthfully?"

Xiao Yu sneered: "The rotten things you did are indeed unspeakable, but what does it have to do with me?"

"Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi, you can't say that. If it weren't for Guan Huchen's summoning, Head Song—"

Seeing Zhu Yiqun's shocked expression, Chi Miao stopped again and hummed: "Zhu Master, you are also a person in the government, you should be able to understand the ways of the government, right?"

Zhu Yiqun didn't understand the ways of the Underworld, but he was very curious in his heart, so he nodded repeatedly and urged: "Understand, of course I understand, you just say it, this official won't be surprised."

Chi Miao picked and chose to say a bit about Guan Huchen summoning yin gods to help draw the Shadow God Map.

Hearing this, Zhu Yiqun was already angry and clenched his fists.

Chi Miao didn't notice and continued: "When he first became Inspector, Ge Master didn't know anything and didn't know the power of Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu's 'Tiger Roaring Blade' at all, and even planned to take us to the Red Sleeve Workshop to hook her soul and beat her to death!

Zhang San is a fool and nodded repeatedly after hearing it.

Fortunately, I had deeply experienced Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu's tiger might and persuaded them in time.

Knowing Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu's power, Ge Qing hated her more and more, but didn't dare to face the Tiger Roaring Blade with a ghost god's body.

Waiting until Zhu Tong brought his remains home, he was immediately touched in the Underworld, and also remembered that he still had a group of good brothers to rely on.

A ghost god acting alone is no match for Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu.

Relying only on the mortal warriors of the Luye Guard is also no match for Hongfu Hongfu Xianzi Yu.

But the combination of human and ghost has great potential...

Of course, I personally strongly opposed it, but Ge Master was the superior, so I had to obey orders, but I didn't do it."

"Damn it, you ghosts and gods, tied to the welfare of millions of people, actually dare to disregard the king's law and use power for personal gain, you deserve a beating, you deserve a beating!"

Zhu Yiqun was furious and pulled three red sign boards from the sign box, "Left and right, drag him down and beat him hard!"

The government office runners outside poked their heads and looked at each other, but no one dared to move.

"Cough cough, Master, Chi Master is not a citizen of Tianmen Town," the Dianli advised tactfully.

Xiao Yu shouted, stood out, kicked Chi Miao over, and said: "Master, I am willing to be a government office runner and perform the stick punishment for you!"

She snatched a stick from the government office runner at the door, secretly operated the fierce tiger divine intent, and hit Chi Miao's back hard.

"Pa——Aowu~~~~" The Dianli and the Criminal Room in the hall frowned high.

"Pa——Aowu~~~~" The government office runners outside the hall turned pale and retreated repeatedly.

"Pa——Aowu~~~~" After hitting the third time, Zhu Yiqun finally couldn't take it anymore and shouted repeatedly: "Stop, stop, this ghost thing is wailing so much that I feel flustered and stuffy, my head is swollen, and my soul is almost leaving my body.

Hitting him, we suffer more, it's too much of a loss, a huge loss.

Sure enough, humans and ghosts are on different paths; things that we living people shouldn't manage, we shouldn't manage."

"Exactly, exactly!" The Dianli said with a pale face, nodding repeatedly.

Not to mention them in the main hall, the county magistrate's wife and young lady hiding in the back government office also covered their ears, feeling very uncomfortable.

Even outside the main gate, the citizens of Tianmen Town who were watching the fun were shouting: "Who is wailing like a ghost? It's so ugly, so eerie, it's almost scaring my three souls and seven spirits away."

Xiao Yu said: "Master, why not ten sticks for one blade? You planned to hit him thirty boards, change it to three blades, 'shua shua shua' three times, cut him into eight pieces, which saves effort and won't wail like a ghost."

Zhu Yiqun felt his teeth ache and really wanted to say: Are you "Zhu Yiqun," or am I "Zhu Yiqun"?

This little girl, looking delicate and pretty, how can she be more cruel than me!

"Cough, no need, hitting him just now was because the anger in my chest couldn't be dissipated, now the fire is gone, continue the trial."

Zhu Yiqun cast his gaze toward the iron-clad warrior and said: "Chi Miao has confessed leniently, you quickly tell the inside story of the assassination you know in detail."

Ye Xing was full of frustration and muttered: "A few days ago, Zhu Head brought Cheng Qingge's remains back to Yingxiang Mansion, we..."

He was very honest, from meeting Zhu Tong to drinking flower wine, each hugging a girl back to the room.

"... After Cheng Qingge left, Zhu Head woke up from his dream and found that he was still lying on the bed, and the room was pitch black.

He shouted 'Cheng Qingge' several times, which woke up Old Qi and Xiao Long next door.

They actually all dreamed of Cheng Qingge.

Zhu Head pulled us out of bed overnight.

We left the brothel and returned to his house. After closing the door, he said he wanted to avenge Cheng Qingge.

Old Qi, Xiao Long, and others immediately agreed loudly.

Dongsheng and Su Huan raised objections.

Dongsheng said, Zhu Head, you just came back, you don't understand the situation, Sha barbarian Yu is too powerful, she killed Kong Zan at Flying Immortal Ferry a few days ago, and killed several immortals a few days ago, the dozen of us are not enough for her to kill.

I was also hesitant and said that Sha barbarian Yu now has a loud reputation, how will it end if we kill her?

Zhu Tong and Cheng Qingge had already discussed it.

Zhu Tong indicated that Sha barbarian Yu's sword bone had been abolished, and the Red Sleeve Workshop relied on the Investiture of the Gods to kill immortals, not its own strength.

Secondly, Sha barbarian Yu used a conspiracy to harm Cheng Qingge, why couldn't Cheng Qingge use the same method to calculate her—using a plan to ambush her?

We are, after all, soldiers of the Luye Guard.

Even the legendary 'Great Qin Demon-Shooting Crossbow,' we can easily obtain, one for each person.

The crossbow arrows use Great Qin forging technology, not only solid steel but also strange people from the Luodu Craftsman Workshop drew breaking-Qi talismans on them, specifically targeting internal-Qi experts.

Cheng Qingge also took out the 'Soul-Losing Powder' he brought from the Underworld to poison the arrows, and we had taken the antidote in advance.

We are very familiar with Tianmen Town, pretending to be city patrol guards, Sha barbarian Yu would definitely have no precautions.

Approaching within two zhang, surrounding her in the center, the crossbow arrows would be as fast as lightning, and she wouldn't be able to dodge.

Once hit, even if it's just a scratch, Sha barbarian Yu would also be dead for sure.

Finally, Zhu Tong said, no matter how loud Sha barbarian Yu's reputation is, she is always a barbarian of a foreign race with no one to rely on, no one will avenge her, while we are fierce generals who have made great contributions to Great Shu.

Even if the monarch knows about this, now that it's done, would he harm the brave warriors of the country for a dead barbarian?

How would the tens of thousands of brothers of the Luye Guard see it?

Not to mention Cheng Qingge is already a ghost god.

He can help us do it without anyone knowing, and can guarantee the certain death of Sha barbarian Yu.

We were persuaded, swore an oath of blood, and decided to avenge Cheng Qingge, Zhang San brother, and all the brothers who died in the hands of Sha barbarian Yu.

Soon Cheng Qingge discovered Sha barbarian Yu's pattern of action. She goes to Bao'an Hall every afternoon.

We entered the West City District, preparing to find a place to ambush her.

Last night she went out alone, which made us ecstatic, thinking that heaven was also protecting us..."

His face was even more gray, and there was no regret or pain in his eyes, only numbness and sorrow.

Zhu Yiqun sighed and said: "You were fully armored and carried bows and crossbows.

Now is not wartime, and you have no mission, armor, bows and crossbows, or Great Qin Demon-Shooting Crossbows... Forget it, I am just a tiny county magistrate, and your serious violation of military regulations is not my concern."

After a pause, he confirmed again: "Chi Miao, Ye Xing, the other day Heavens Yu Fengxian didn't carry weapons, didn't cover her face with a mask, didn't break into private houses, and the murder weapon she used to behead you was also snatched from your hands, right?"

Both the person and the ghost nodded.

"Pa!" Zhu Yiqun slapped the gavel hard and shouted: "Ghost envoy Chi Miao, you are a ghost god of the Underworld and are not managed by people in the mortal world.

But you committed a crime under my jurisdiction, this official will write a petition about this case, burn it, and bring it to your superior, do you have any objections?"

"The little god has no objections," Chi Miao said.

Zhu Yiqun shouted again: "Ye Xing, you are extremely guilty and should be killed! But you are a cavalry officer of the Luye Guard, and the Luye Guard is directly under the monarch, so I can try you but cannot behead you.

Regardless, your attempt to kill in Tianmen Town has caused extremely bad results.

No matter how the monarch disposes of you, I will give you thirty big boards first to warn others, do you have any objections?"

"No objections," Ye Xing said woodenly.

Zhu Yiqun finally cast his gaze toward Xiao Yu and said: "Heavens Yu Fengxian, you were besieged and killed by heavy-armored warriors, and you killed people for self-protection, you are innocent. This official only asks you for the crime of 'standing and placing,' do you have any objections?"

Xiao Yu asked: "What crime is the crime of 'standing and placing'?"

Zhu Yiqun said: "Standing and placing is being exiled to the post station to be a post runner.

You are a girl, going to the post station, you only need to serve the female relatives of passing officials.

As for the time, let's make it five years."

Xiao Yu shouted, "The Master also said I am innocent, why ask for the crime of 'standing and placing'?"

Zhu Yiqun sighed: "They all have official status and are meritorious generals of the palace guards!

You killed more than ten of them at once, and it was on the street, making it known to everyone...

Look at how many people are outside the government office now, and how many of them are their family members and friends.

If your killing intent wasn't so heavy, only killing the evil leader and injuring the others, now you and I could both be much more relaxed."

He didn't say: It's also thanks to your reputation of "righteous and heaven-reaching," if it were an ordinary sword girl of the Red Sleeve Workshop, fleeing for her life would be the best choice right now.

Seeing that Xiao Yu was still full of dissatisfaction, Zhu Yiqun said again: "To tell you the truth, if you didn't have the reputation of 'righteous and heaven-reaching,' if you had been killed by them, this official would probably record their crimes and submit them to the Luodu court, and wouldn't hit them a single board.

Don't be dissatisfied.

Not to mention your identity is a bit awkward, even if it were my daughter, daring to kill official status as a commoner, killing so many, and all of them are the monarch's guards, she would inevitably have to take dozens of boards and be exiled for three thousand li.

You have a virtuous name, and 'righteous and heaven-reaching' can be considered well-deserved.

So this official handles it at my discretion, exempting the killing-power stick and the punishment of exile and military service."

Xiao Yu wanted to say more, but Zhu Yiqun gave a look to the Dianli on the side.

The Dianli left his seat, walked quickly to Xiao Yu, and whispered: "Standing and placing is a minor crime, equivalent to labor, which can be redeemed with silver. Commander Zhu is taking the blame for you. Now that you are judged for the crime of standing and placing, the Luodu monarch or any other court noble won't be able to define another crime for you."

Xiao Yu sighed secretly, bowed to Zhu Yiqun, and said: "I have no objections either."

As for Ye Xing, she wouldn't even bother to kill him if she wanted to.

As for the fat ghost Chi Miao, it's hard to say whether he is innocent or not, but he is indeed a bit unlucky.

No matter how Luodu disposes of Ye Xing, or how the Underworld disposes of Chi Miao, she doesn't care.

The people who should be killed had already been beheaded by her, and those left behind were just "human witnesses" helping to clean up the mess.

She didn't accept the crime of standing and placing because this kind of injustice made her thoughts not smooth.

But this is the operating rule of the current world, not to mention ancient times, even if it were modern times, her thoughts would be smoother.

—Justice is only within the limit of power!

She thought in her heart.

Moreover, the focus she needs to pay attention to has never been the group of losers like Ge Qing and Zhu Tong, but the talisman envoy and heavenly punishment.

She must end the assassination case early and go find the dog-meat Daoist immediately!

"Zhu Master, when can I leave?"

Zhu Yiqun said: "After signing and pressing your fingerprint with the Criminal Room, you can leave at any time."

After a pause, he said again: "For the past half month, don't leave the Red Sleeve Workshop.

Regarding the location and time of standing and placing, government office runners will go to your house to notify you."

After speaking, he pointed at Ye Xing, "Drag him outside so everyone can see. Thirty boards, only heavier, not lighter. If there is no blood within five boards, I will hit you."

Several government office runners came over, dragged him to the courtyard outside, and beat him to death.

Xiao Yu read the case document recorded by the Criminal Room carefully, and after confirming there was no problem, she signed and pressed her fingerprint.

Zhu Yiqun spent another half an hour copying the summary of the document again, stamped it with the official seal and private seal, and burned it into ashes in a copper basin.

Chi Miao bent down, reached into the fire basin, took out a brand new document, bowed to Zhu Yiqun, and ran out hurriedly.

He didn't disappear into black Qi until he ran out of the government office gate.

The neighbors outside still let out bursts of exclamations, "A fierce fat man just ran out, why did he suddenly disappear? In broad daylight, did he see a ghost!" ===== CHAPTER 150 =====