Chapter 32: Seven Dried Corpses, Love the Trade You Are In (Seeking Monthly Votes)

County Magistrate Wang was not trying to give the Holy Son Kaiyang a show of force.

He truly could not get away.

Because at noon, he received a report from the head constable that a murder case had occurred; an old Cultivated Talent's family of seven in Wangjiawan outside the city had been wiped out, it was confirmed to be the work of a Martial Artist, and a handkerchief embroidered with the totem of the Xuanhuang Sect was found at the scene.

Logically, since it had already been confirmed that a Martial Artist had done it, he could just transfer the case directly to the Jing'an Guard.

But because the crime occurred in Tongzhou and might involve the Xuanhuang Sect, County Magistrate Wang, who was the Helmsman of the Tongzhou Branch of the Xuanhuang Sect, could not sit still and went to the scene in person.

Even though he was accustomed to life and death, such a tragic scene still dealt a great psychological blow to County Magistrate Wang.

Seven fresh dried corpses were laid out neatly in the courtyard; their blue-gray skin, clinging tightly to their ribs, was covered in cracks, their eye sockets were deeply sunken, and their eyeballs had become almost translucent vesicles interspersed with wisps of blood.

From the faces of the different corpses, one could still vaguely discern various emotions such as terror, despair, and anger.

"My Lord, the deceased have no external injuries, and no bloodstains were found in the house or the courtyard, yet every drop of blood in their bodies is gone. Additionally, the old Cultivated Talent's daughter-in-law and ten-year-old granddaughter both had their clothes half-undone, suspected of having been violated before death," Head Constable Chen reported on the case.

County Magistrate Wang's face was as gloomy as water; the victims' blood had clearly been drained by some evil art or evil object.

If the murderer left that handkerchief just to frame the Holy Sect, he would be very angry; but if the murderer really was a disciple of the Holy Sect, he would be even angrier.

"If this thief is not executed, heaven will not tolerate it," he said in a deep voice, then turned and left, "Guard the scene well."

"Yes!" Head Constable Chen cupped his hands and replied.

County Magistrate Wang had completely cast the Holy Son Kaiyang to the back of his mind, and upon returning to the city, he headed straight for the Jing'an Guard Hundred-Household Office.

Chen Zhongyi happened to bump into him as he was leaving; he was stunned for a moment, then greeted him with sarcasm.

"Yo, what wind blew County Magistrate Wang here?"

County Magistrate Wang ignored him entirely, brushing past him with a dark face, leaving the stranded Chen Zhongyi feeling extremely awkward, and he spat at his back.

"Acting all high and mighty, you two-faced maggot."

When Pei Shaoqing saw County Magistrate Wang, he also said, "What wind blew you here today?"

"A demonic wind, an evil wind," County Magistrate Wang said coldly.

Pei Shaoqing saw that the other party's mood was off, waved for Song Youcai, who had brought him in, to leave first, and then asked, "What is it, has something happened?"

County Magistrate Wang sat down heavily, picked up the teapot on the table, and gulped down a mouthful; only then was the raging fire in his heart somewhat extinguished, but he still gritted his teeth when mentioning the case.

"A murder occurred in Wangjiawan outside the city. The family of seven of the old Cultivated Talent who ran a school was wiped out. It seems they were drained of all their blood by an evil art or evil object. The state of their deaths is bizarre, and the daughter-in-law and granddaughter were violated before death. There was a handkerchief embroidered with our Holy Sect's totem at the scene."

"Shocking," Pei Shaoqing frowned and asked, "Are you suspecting that someone deliberately framed you?"

County Magistrate Wang said in a muffled voice, "That is only one possibility."

"You are afraid that no one framed you," Pei Shaoqing was startled and suddenly realized, then added, "The Xuan Sect disciples in Tongzhou are all under you, the Helmsman..."

"It is absolutely not the work of my people!" County Magistrate Wang interrupted him decisively, saying in a deep voice, "Even if it really was done by a disciple of our Holy Sect, it must be some scum of the sect passing through here. I know my own people."

Pei Shaoqing was noncommittal about this and asked straightforwardly, "Then what is your request in seeking me out?"

"I hope Young Master Pei can catch this maniac. I will help you, but before the truth comes to light, please do not reveal to the outside world that this case is related to my Holy Sect," County Magistrate Wang sighed helplessly.

Pei Shaoqing asked with great interest, "What if it is finally verified that it was the work of a Xuanhuang Sect disciple?"

"Naturally, you shall dispose of them," County Magistrate Wang replied.

Pei Shaoqing laughed, "I thought you would ask me to help cover it up to protect the reputation of the Xuanhuang Sect."

"If that were the case, how would our Holy Sect be any different from those imperial hounds? There are many ways to maintain a reputation—building bridges and paving roads, bestowing kindness upon the people—but it never includes turning black into white," County Magistrate Wang said candidly.

Pei Shaoqing shook his head, "You cursed me too."

"My apologies," County Magistrate Wang said with sincerity.

Pei Shaoqing suddenly felt that although the Xuanhuang Sect had never achieved anything, it had also never been defeated; perhaps it was because there had always been a group of people like County Magistrate Wang.

Although the Xuanhuang Sect was tattered.

There were always some people mending it.

Just as this world was the same.

"Fine, I promise you. Committing crimes on my turf is not giving me face, and for those who do not give me face, I usually do not give them a way to live."

Pei Shaoqing hated two types of people the most: one was those who made him give them face, and the other was those who did not give him face.

County Magistrate Wang stood up and bowed solemnly, "Many thanks."

Pei Shaoqing nodded and picked up his teacup.

Seeing this, County Magistrate Wang stood up, took his leave, and departed.

"Someone," Pei Shaoqing sipped his tea and called out.

Song Youcai immediately trotted in, "My Lord."

"Take a few men and come with me," Pei Shaoqing put down the teacup and ordered in a calm tone.

When he was a mountain bandit, he was dedicated to robbing.

Now that he was an official, he was dedicated to solving cases.

Only by loving the trade one is in can one become an elite in that field and eventually reach the pinnacle of life.

After arriving at the scene and looking at those seven horrific dried corpses, Pei Shaoqing felt inferior.

The murderer was even worse than him.

He asked casually, "Where is the evidence?"

"My Lord," Head Constable Chen handed over a handkerchief.

The material of the handkerchief was fine silk, and the embroidery of a bright sun was exquisite; anyone willing to use top-grade silk to make such a handkerchief must be either rich or noble.

"Search every corner carefully and question the villagers one by one," Pei Shaoqing ordered.

Song Youcai replied, "Yes!"

…………………………

After returning to the County Government, County Magistrate Wang did not rush to see the Holy Son Kaiyang, but instead met with the Vice Branch Master, Shopkeeper Ma.

"Helmsman, because you didn't go to welcome him, the Holy Son Kaiyang is very dissatisfied and thinks you don't hold him in any regard. Xiao Wu just said one extra word and was beaten to the point of vomiting blood on the spot," Shopkeeper Ma complained as soon as they met.

"To be this overbearing?" Wang Xianling frowned after hearing this. Although he had yet to meet him, his favorable impression of this Holy Son had already dropped to freezing point.

Shopkeeper Ma wore a bitter expression, "Is 'overbearing' even enough to describe this person? When out and about, he demands the best for his food, clothing, housing, and transportation. He even complained that I didn't arrange beautiful maidservants to wait on him. If I may say something treasonous in your presence, even though our Holy Sect has yet to succeed in its uprising, he already acts as if he were a prince."

Having seen so many of these bizarre high-ranking members in the sect.

He deeply understood how good his superior, Wang Xianling, was.

"He is the Sect Leader's beloved disciple after all. As long as it doesn't involve bottom-line matters like trampling on human life, try your best to satisfy him." Wang Xianling sighed and added, "Has he revealed the reason for his visit to Tongzhou?"

"The Holy Son claims he is here to hunt down a sect traitor named Zhou Shunqing." Shopkeeper Ma looked puzzled as he spoke of this, raising his doubts, "But why did he send word to us days in advance? Surely he couldn't have predicted that the traitor would run to our Tongzhou? If he had foreseen it, why not order us to intercept him beforehand?"

"Perhaps it involves sect secrets that he cannot easily disclose." Wang Xianling speculated, then thought of the murder case in Wangjiawan. Could it be the work of that traitorous thief Zhou Shunqing? He then said, "Take me to see the Holy Son."

Seeking monthly votes! Seeking follow-up reads, brothers.





(End of this chapter)