Chapter 230: Again, Someone Died!

Zhang Tieli, having gained Chen Mu's "favor" at Zui Xian Pavilion, returned to the Yangyang Gang's outpost in the state capital, his heart still thrumming with excitement.

His primary duty within the Yangyang Gang was external diplomacy.

Interacting with all manner of factions.

Especially for a gang like theirs, to grow powerful, they must establish ties with the imperial court.

The Zhenwu Bureau was an institution they could not avoid.

Chen Mu's identity as an Inspector naturally put him at odds with members of the Zhenwu Bureau.

If they could win over Chen Mu, the Yangyang Gang wouldn't need to fear being deliberately targeted by the Zhenwu Bureau—even if they couldn't expect open doors in Zhen Province.

Thinking of this,

Zhang Tieli promptly pulled out a "Tongxin Bamboo" sliver and established contact with Yang Qin, the Yangyang Gang's leader, stationed at the headquarters in the subordinate prefecture of Zhen Province.

Light shimmered across the bamboo sliver, revealing the written messages between them.

Zhang Tieli reported in detail the banquet's events, especially how Chen Mu had shown him unusual "appreciation."

【My Lord, this Inspector Chen's background is likely not simple, and he seems to hold our gang in high regard. I believe we should strike while the iron is hot and send another generous gift to deepen this "friendship."】

Far away in Wulong Fucheng, Yang Qin stared at the characters glowing on the bamboo sliver, paused in thought, then replied.

【Agreed. Choose a gift of great value—ensure he is satisfied. Old Zhang, stay in the state capital and cultivate more contact with this Inspector Chen. If you can forge a connection, it will greatly benefit our Yangyang Gang.】

【Understood!】

Having gained his leader's approval, Zhang Tieli was brimming with energy.

Over the next three days, he concocted endless excuses to visit Chen Mu—inviting him to taste newly arrived fine liquor, or feigning requests for martial advice, lavishing him with flattery.

Chen Mu granted him one courtesy, attending one banquet, but declined the other two with the excuse of "prior engagements."

Zhang Tieli was not discouraged; he took it as normal social exchange and was already planning his fourth invitation.

Yet, on the fourth morning, as Chen Mu stepped into the Zhenwu Bureau's compound, he saw Yu Shoujiang leading a squad of bureau guards, hurrying out in haste.

"Lord Yu, what's the rush?" Chen Mu asked casually.

Yu Shoujiang halted upon seeing Chen Mu, his expression solemn as he bowed, "Report to the Inspector: an incident has occurred. Last night, the Yangyang Gang's outpost within the city was wiped out. All sixty-seven members—including the deputy leader, Zhang Tieli—perished without survivors!"

Chen Mu's heart jolted—Zhang Tieli?

That Zhang Tieli who had just days ago flattered him, invited him to meals?

His face remained impassive, but Chen Mu furrowed his brow slightly. "Is this true? Let's go—I'll accompany you to the scene."

"My Lord, please!"

Yu Shoujiang led the way.

The group exited the Zhenwu Bureau's gates and swiftly arrived at the Yangyang Gang's outpost within the city.

【Found corpses. Retrieve?】

"Yes!"

The card appeared in hand; Chen Mu moved closer without showing emotion.

Outside the outpost's gate, a crowd of curious civilians and martial artists had gathered, held back by bureau guards.

Chen Mu followed Yu Shoujiang into the courtyard. A thick stench of blood immediately assaulted his senses. Corpses lay scattered everywhere, each dead in a different manner, but most with faces twisted in agony—clearly having suffered greatly before death.

The bureau's coroner had already been working at the scene for hours.

Seeing Yu Shoujiang and Chen Mu enter, the lead coroner hurried forward to report. Yu Shoujiang raised a hand. "Report to Inspector Chen."

The coroner immediately turned to Chen Mu and bowed deeply. "Your Excellency, I have completed my preliminary examination. All victims were poisoned by a rare toxin. This poison paralyzes the limbs, impedes the flow of true qi, and corrodes the mind, inducing confusion and hallucinations. They were first poisoned, losing most of their ability to resist, before being killed."

Yu Shoujiang blurted out, "Could it be 'Luan Hun San'?"

The coroner nodded. "Your Lordship is perceptive. The symptoms match 'Luan Hun San' extremely closely."

Luan Hun San?

Chen Mu murmured the name, his gaze sweeping over the corpses, finally settling on Zhang Tieli's body lying before the main house.

The deputy leader, whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Primordial Stage, now had a deep palm imprint sunken into his chest, his face as pale as paper, utterly devoid of blood—as if all his essence had been drained away.

The signs of struggle in the courtyard were minimal, confirming the coroner's claim that they were poisoned first, then killed.

"It must be the work of the Yangyang Gang's enemies."

Yu Shoujiang scanned the scene, then told Chen Mu, "Inspector, you may not know: the territory the Yangyang Gang now controls was seized by force from several other factions. They have many enemies. Such brutal methods are not surprising."

Listening to Yu Shoujiang's analysis and observing the scene, Chen Mu found it entirely plausible.

Martial sect vendettas were commonplace.

"Your Lordship's analysis is sound. This matter is under your full authority," Chen Mu said coolly.

"Understood!"

Yu Shoujiang bowed and accepted the order.

Chen Mu lingered briefly at the scene, then returned to the Zhenwu Bureau.

Sitting in his office, he did not, as usual, peruse the Juan Sect's case files while slowly warming and purifying his "Xian Long Jian" with his own true qi.

Instead, he examined the cards he had retrieved!

After checking, he confirmed three True Qi cards!

One of them contained one year and six months of true qi!

Seventeen Internal Power cards, three Cultivation cards, five Strength cards, three Cultivation cards, two Memory cards, two Equipment cards.

The rest were either Energy cards or Stamina cards.

He stored all True Qi and Internal Power cards away.

He used the Strength cards one by one, receiving a faint enhancement to his physical body.

He used the Memory cards in sequence, reviewing the deceased's final "memories."

Zhang Tieli's death was suspicious. If the Memory cards revealed the killer, it might prove helpful.

Unfortunately, the two memory cards were those of a maid and an ordinary member.

Both died the moment they were poisoned.

They had no idea what had happened at the encampment last night.

Seeing this, Chen Mu had to suppress his curiosity.

He put away the cards, gripped the "Sunken Dragon Sword," and continued the Qi purification, sensing with his spirit.

One day passed quickly.

As night fell, the "Heart-to-Heart Bamboo Shard" in Chen Mu's arms suddenly stirred with spiritual energy.

There's news!

The "Heart-to-Heart Bamboo Shard" was given by Zhao Fuzhou, to facilitate communication between them.

Zhao Fuzhou had not shown himself in days since they entered the city.

No one knew what he was doing.

Chen Mu pulled out the bamboo shard, infused it with Qi, and the message appeared; when he saw its content, his gaze froze.

On the shard, Zhao Fuzhou had sent a brief message.

【The Rising Sun Gang's encampment was wiped out; this was likely no ordinary vendetta. Zhang Tieli's death may be connected to the Jing'an Wang Fu】

Jing'an Wang Fu?

Did the Rising Sun Gang have a grudge against the Jing'an Wang Fu?

Chen Mu frowned, surged his Qi, input a reply, and sent it out.

The bamboo shard flashed with a streak of light.

A new message arrived.

【The Rising Sun Gang's leader, Yang Qin, was seen entering the Jing'an Wang Fu】

What does this mean?