Chapter 408

"Mourning?" Chen Mu raised an eyebrow in confusion, looking at the other man. "Xie Laoge is perfectly fine—why mourn him?"

"Huh? You didn't know?"

The cultivator stared in shock, then suddenly realized. "Brother Qin, you weren't in the city yesterday? Xie Antu… Brother Xie… he was killed at the Xicheng gate yesterday evening!"

"What?"

Chen Mu's face showed just the right amount of astonishment. "Xie Laoge is dead? Who killed him? What happened?"

The cultivator glanced around, lowered his voice further, and briefly recounted what had occurred at the West Gate the previous evening. He ended with a sigh. "The killer used a tree branch and killed Brother Xie from far away—definitely an Innate Realm expert. The authorities took the body back, but they still haven't caught the killer."

"Sigh, with everything going on right now, the authorities probably can't spare the attention. Better to avoid trouble."

After listening, Chen Mu frowned deeply and fell silent.

Xie Antu is dead?

Though the two had only met by chance, drinking and chatting at Hero Pavilion, their bond wasn't deep—but still, they had known each other, and Xie Antu had been cheerful and likable, a decent drinking companion.

Hearing of his death in such a manner, Chen Mu couldn't help but feel a ripple of emotion.

"Thank you for telling me."

Chen Mu bowed slightly to the cultivator, solemnly saying, "Xie Laoge treated me well when he was alive. Since he met with misfortune, out of duty and feeling, I must pay my respects."

Saying this, he rose and left Hero Pavilion without further delay.

Following the address Xie Antu had casually mentioned during their earlier chat, Chen Mu quickly found the Xie household in a modest alley in the eastern part of the city.

It was an old brick-and-tile courtyard, its gate wide open, white cloth hanging at the entrance, and faint sounds of weeping and hushed conversation drifting from within.

Xie Antu had no children, no wife—only a distant nephew helping with the funeral arrangements.

A simple altar had been set up in the courtyard, holding a thin coffin, before which stood an incense burner and a few humble Sacrifices.

The number of mourners was not small—mostly Xie Antu's former drinking companions, neighbors, and lower-tier warriors and merchants who had dealings at Hero Pavilion.

Even two young men in the low-ranking uniform of the Zhenwu Bureau stood nearby helping maintain order; clearly, Xie Antu had been well-liked.

【Body discovered. Retrieve?】

"Yes!"

The card in hand, Chen Mu's step paused, almost imperceptibly.

Then he resumed naturally, entered the courtyard, silently took three incense sticks, lit them, bowed three times toward the coffin, and placed them in the incense burner.

He felt a faint regret for the fate of this cheerful man—but nothing more.

The martial world is perilous; life and death are unpredictable. He had seen too much already.

Then, without drawing attention, he walked to a corner beneath an old locust tree, out of sight, and examined the card.

Memory Card!

Xie Antu's memories?

A flash of sharp light appeared in Chen Mu's eyes.

This might unravel the mystery of Xie Antu's murder!

He was about to immediately use the card—to "browse" what Xie Antu had experienced and seen before death, perhaps revealing the killer's identity and motive.

Just then—

A steady footstep approached from afar and stopped beside Chen Mu.

Chen Mu calmed his mind and looked up.

Before him stood a young Zhenwu Bureau officer in standard combat attire, a badge on his chest, sharp features, piercing eyes, seemingly in his early twenties. His face held hesitation and inquiry, his gaze fixed tightly on Chen Mu's disguised face.

The young officer seemed to confirm something, took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and asked tentatively, with a tone uncertain yet subtly certain.

"Chen Mu… Chen my lord?"

The young officer's voice was low, carrying a barely perceptible tension and respect—but Chen Mu heard every word clearly.

He had spoken "Chen Mu," not "Qin Shuang."

Chen Mu's expression remained unchanged. He met the officer's probing gaze calmly, neither confirming nor denying, only replying softly.

"Who are you?"

This calm reaction only strengthened the young officer's certainty.

He quickly bowed, slightly lowering his body, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Subordinate Zhang Fang, serving as a Bronze-Rank Officer of the Wulong Prefecture Zhenwu Bureau. I once served a rotation at the Zhenzhou Zhenwu Bureau headquarters in Jiangnan Dao and had the honor of seeing you from afar."

"Just now, seeing you pay respects to Xie Antu, though… though your face is different, your build, bearing, especially your eyes, resemble the Chen my lord I remember… so I dared to ask."

So he had seen me in Jiangnan Dao.

Chen Mu understood.

His recent disguises only altered face and figure—but deeper qualities, habitual gestures, and the subtle essence in his eyes, hard to fully conceal, could leave an impression on those who had carefully observed him.

Zhang Fang recognizing him under these circumstances showed considerable perceptiveness.

"So you're Officer Zhang."

Chen Mu gave a slight nod, tacitly acknowledging his identity.

Since he'd been recognized, denying it would only seem suspicious—and besides, the man was a Zhenwu Bureau colleague with respectful demeanor.

"I am in Wulong Prefecture on private inquiry. I do not wish to draw attention. Since you've recognized me, treat it as if you know nothing."

"Yes! I understand! I would never reveal your whereabouts!" Zhang Fang immediately replied solemnly, a flash of excitement in his eyes.

To recognize and interact with this young Inspector, renowned within the Zhenwu Bureau and ranked on the latest Master List, was both an honor and a responsibility.

He hesitated, glanced toward the altar, then whispered again. "Chen my lord also came to mourn Xie Antu? This man… I've dealt with him several times. He was generous and righteous, well-liked among free cultivators."

"The incident at the Xicheng gate yesterday was highly suspicious. The killer is powerful, ruthless, and chose to eliminate Xie Antu publicly at the city gate—this is no ordinary vendetta."

"The authorities have found no leads yet, and with the Shishen Sect appearing and the entire city under lockdown, their resources are stretched thin… If you have doubts about this case, I may offer minor assistance."

Zhang Fang's words were skillfully phrased: he highlighted the suspicious nature of Xie Antu's death, offered help, yet avoided overstepping or prying into his superior's private affairs.

Chen Mu glanced at him, and his appreciation for the man's tact and restraint deepened.

After a brief pause, he spoke.

"Xie Antu and I have met several times at the Hero Pavilion; we are somewhat friends. His death is mysterious and suspicious. Zhang Siwei, you just said you had dealings with him—do you know if he had any unusual behavior recently? Or did he make any enemies?"