Chapter 322: This Grudge Must Be Avenged (Three-in-One)

The Old Master Ma is right.

Xu Yuan suppressed his impulse.

Even if he returned an hour or two earlier, it would not help the case much.

In the stages of search and autopsy, Fu Jingyu and the others could do just as well.

The big guys in the Nancheng patrol station took Xu Yuan as their backbone; similarly, Xu Yuan unconsciously accepted that everyone was "my people."

When "my people" were killed, Xu Yuan was instantly furious.

The "Dragon Transformation Art" had also subtly influenced Xu Yuan's temperament.

At this moment, Xu Yuan was like someone who had touched the reverse scale.

But after condensing the magical object, it would undoubtedly cause Xu Yuan's strength to surge significantly.

If the murderer's strength was ordinary, it would be fine; but if the murderer was powerful, this step could be crucial.

Xu Yuan thought seriously and said to Old Master Ma: "You, sir, please convey a message to the Fu family for me: I want the Six-Eyed Eyed Minge Strange Pill from Mingcheng Xuan."

Comparing the two families, Xu Yuan naturally leaned more toward the house of the Eldest Young Master Fu.

So he specifically gave the Fu family such a "hint."

It should be called an "explicit statement."

The transaction for condensing a magical object cannot be faked; it cannot be a case where Xu Yuan or the other buyer clearly does not need the item, yet both parties agree to make the deal.

If both sides originally had no such need, it would be a fake.

Or, if an item clearly not worth that price is agreed upon by both parties to be traded.

This is also creating a fake transaction to complete the "ritual."

But when Xu Yuan and the two families discussed this, both sides had a need, and the price was fair.

This is a normal "transaction."

The Fu family was very supportive; they immediately notified the Song family that they need not trouble themselves—the two families were already close, and now a marriage alliance was even more likely.

Although the Song family felt it was a pity, they did not compete with the Fu family.

The Fu family managed to buy the "Six-Eyed Eyed Minge" Strange Pill; Xu Yuan used the Business Method to empower the nugget of gold, and under the witness of Old Master Yan, completed this transaction.

Xu Yuan obtained the "Six-Eyed Eyed Minge" Strange Pill.

The Fu family obtained the nugget of gold.

Then, under the witness of Ma Tianshou, the second transaction was completed.

In this second transaction, Xu Yuan held the initiative.

The Fu family was eager to enshrine a Fate Cultivator.

Thus, in this transaction, when Xu Yuan specifically demanded that nugget of gold, the Fu family naturally could not refuse—the transaction was successfully concluded.

The "treasure," the nugget of gold, now back in Xu Yuan's hands, began to slowly undergo changes.

Xu Yuan felt that his cultivation of the Business Method was continuously flowing into the nugget of gold.

Xu Yuan could no longer wait for the magical object to fully form.

"Old Master, I will return first."

Ma Tianshou nodded: "Go; if you need support from the Southern Office, send someone to deliver a message at any time."

"Good, we will not stand on ceremony with you, Old Master."

This "we" also included Fu Jingyu and Song Lu; others did not yet have the qualification to "not stand on ceremony with you, Old Master."

Xu Yuan swung onto his horse; Fu Jingyu's Fifth Uncle, along with Ma Tianshou, Old Master Yan, and Xiang Qinghuai, saw him off.

The Fifth Uncle said to Xu Yuan: "Little Xu, you have official duties, so we cannot keep you long.

Next time you come to Luocheng, remember to stay at our home; from now on, we will be considered one family."

Although this agreement held weak binding force for Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan would not be as intimately connected to the Fu family as Fate Cultivators kept within other great surnamed families.

But since he was an enshrined Fate Cultivator, in a sense, he truly was one family.

Prosperity for one is prosperity for all; ruin for one is ruin for all.

Not to mention the additional relationship with the Eldest Young Master Fu.

Xu Yuan nodded and said: "What Fifth Uncle says is correct."

The Fifth Uncle then told Xu Yuan the address of the Fu family's residence in Luocheng.

Xu Yuan was stunned; this location was not far from "Dragon Horn Market."

The result of Old Master Yan's calculation method... so that was what it meant?

But Xu Yuan felt that this explanation was somewhat "far-fetched."

The "calculation method" is not a street-corner fortune-teller.

Saying a few ambiguous words, then relying entirely on the fortune-teller's tongue; no matter how they speak or twist it, it can always be explained.

The calculation method will give a clear answer.

Xu Yuan thought of another possibility: Old Master Yan actually calculated incorrectly.

It was not a problem with Old Master Yan's ability, but because Old Master Yan had been interfered with.

The sources of many arts within the Seven Great Gates originate from evil spirits.

The calculation method must be the same.

As long as it involves evil spirits, it will be affected by "Hundred No Taboos."

Xu Yuan bowed to everyone in farewell, took Zhou Leizi and Lang Xiao Ba with him, clamped his legs against the horse's flanks, and shouted: "Giddyup!"

Three fine horses galloped away.

After leaving the city, he slapped the calligraphy sheet against his thigh, increasing the speed even further.

……

The Lady, accompanied by her guards, had lain in ambush outside the Nancheng Patrol Station for most of the day—finally deducing from various signs that:

Xu Yuan was not in Zhan City!

The "morale" of the Lady's small squad plummeted visibly.

Last night, Duan He's corpse had been reassembled and deliberately placed in a conspicuous location.

To ensure it would be discovered early in the morning.

All to use this case to draw Xu Yuan out.

As long as he led the investigation, the Lady would find an opportunity to capture him.

But after all that effort, the target was nowhere to be found!

The Lady hadn't expected such a huge blunder—you can't expect me to run a calculation method on every single matter, can you?

My "calculation method" is too sinister to be used frequently.

The Lady, frustrated, spread the five long fingers of her left hand; a slender, sharp object over a span long, resembling both a small sword and a hairpin, skillfully spun and danced at her fingertips.

On the wider end, two bell-sized-no-larger-than-soybeans hung from a fine silver chain.

They occasionally emitted a crisp, tinkling sound.

Two more identical hairpins were also pinned in the Lady's hair bun.

The guards stood aside, waiting for the Lady's orders on the next move.

"Night travel is banned today," the Lady said. "We can only wait until tomorrow. If that boy still does not appear, we will go to the Old Market at Little West Temple again."

Just then, through the second-floor window of the inn, they saw three fine horses gallop swiftly into the street, heading straight for the Nancheng Patrol Station.

"My lord has returned!"

The Captains cheered!

Old Qin, leading more than a dozen Captains, came out to greet them and helped my lord dismount.

Xu Yuan flipped off his horse, twisting his waist with a feeling of unparalleled smoothness.

He landed steadily on the ground.

After practicing the Dragon Form Art, Xu Yuan's control over his own strength, flexibility, and balance had reached a new level.

This twisting dismount was like a dragon writhing and tumbling through the air.

"Let's speak inside."

"Yes!"

Once seated in the main hall, Xu Yuan called the roll: "Fu Jingyu, have you found anything?"

Fu Jingyu was diligent in his work; he was the one Xu Yuan trusted most to report.

Fu Jingyu stepped forward and first spread out a map of the city:

"After his shift ended yesterday, Duan He returned with Tao Qingwu and Lin Hua. They parted ways at Well Alley.

So Duan He was killed within this area."

Fu Jingyu circled a region with a red line.

"Additionally, we have examined the corpse."

"There are many suspicious points."

"Duan He's body was cut into sixteen pieces—each piece bore traces of being gnawed by different evil spirits."

"We judge that after the dismemberment, the pieces were thrown into different locations."

"Yet for some unknown reason, these body parts were reassembled and placed behind his door."

"And his courtyard gate was merely left ajar, deliberately leaving a crack, so that after dawn, his neighbors passing by discovered the corpse at a glance, as if..."

Fu Jingyu paused, then said, "as if it were meant to be found."

As Fu Jingyu spoke, the grief and indignation on the faces of the surrounding Captains grew ever stronger.

Duan He died too miserably.

Dismembered and fed to evil spirits.

Then reassembled and deliberately left for discovery—what does this mean? A challenge to the Evil-Exorcism Bureau?!

Just yesterday, during the day, they were all together, joking with each other, teasing a certain colleague to treat them to a meal, comparing whose techniques were more awesome...

Yet in a single night, they were separated by life and death forever.

If the corpse had undergone a strange transformation last night, the truth of Duan He's death would likely have been buried forever.

Xu Yuan asked, "Has the fatal wound been identified?"

"There is a wound on the neck, which should be the fatal injury. But due to the gnawing by evil spirits, we can only see that a large blood vessel in the neck was severed by a sharp weapon; we cannot determine the exact weapon used.

The perpetrator could be a Wu Xiu, or a Dan Xiu, or an Artisan Cultivator."

Xu Yuan silently nodded.

Mao Dabin could not hold back: "My lord, Duan He died terribly. His mother is in Luo City; he is her only son. We must avenge him!"

The Captains immediately could not contain themselves, shouting with passionate fervor: "Avenge him!"

"Avenge him!"

Xu Yuan, his face grim, pressed his hands down in the air, and everyone fell silent.

Xu Yuan spoke word by word: "Blood for blood!"

Xu Yuan pointed to the area Fu Jingyu had circled on the map: "Have you found anything?"

Fu Jingyu shook his head: "Nothing."

Either because overnight, the traces of the attack had been destroyed by the evil spirits of the night, or because the perpetrator was extremely experienced and their strength far exceeded Duan He's.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment; reassembling the corpse and placing it in a conspicuous location was indeed suspicious—but why would the killer do such a thing?

Xu Yuan was pondering, preparing to go personally into the Red Line zone once more before nightfall, when suddenly a clamor erupted from outside.

"Will you get out or not? If you don't, don't blame us for being impolite!"

The voice belonged to the hot-tempered Zhou Leizi.

"We are not here to cause trouble; we have important leads..."

Xu Yuan immediately rose and walked outside.

At the main gate, Zhou Leizi's eyes blazed with anger, his drawn sword pointing at a group below the steps.

Shen Qingpeng stood below, bowing repeatedly: "We dare not deceive you, my lords. Has Lord Xu returned? We truly have important leads to report."

Xu Yuan said coldly, "Let them in."

"You are Lord Xu..." Shen Qingpeng, having found a lifeline, rushed in swiftly.

More than a dozen subordinates behind him followed in a swarm, trying to enter.

Xu Yuan frowned: "Only three may enter."

Zhou Leizi blocked them with his sword; Shen Qingpeng quickly selected two men to enter with him.

In the main hall, Shen Qingpeng dropped to his knees with a thud and struck his head heavily on the floor: "Save me, my lord!"

Xu Yuan cut him off without ceremony: "I allowed you in because you claimed to have leads."

Shen Qingpeng nodded repeatedly: "I have leads. I am willing to tell you, my lord, provided you save my life."

Then, without waiting for Xu Yuan to speak further, Shen Qingpeng quickly recounted his situation, adding, "Besides that lead, I am willing to offer all my family's wealth, begging you to speak on my behalf to... your elders, to save my life."

Xu Yuan said coldly, "If I am unwilling to speak on your behalf, you will not tell me that lead, is that it?"

Shen Qingpeng bowed his head again, refusing to rise: "I beg you, my lord, save my life! I will surely reform and from now on be a Fire Master in the Third Lady Society, obeying all orders."

Xu Yuan sat with a stern face, saying nothing.

Everyone present, except Fu Jingyu and Song Lu, glared with murderous intent!

Qin Ze even spat directly, cursing, "What sort of creature are you, to dare bargain with the Purification Bureau?"

Shen Qingpeng was terrified, keeping his head bowed, too afraid to lift it.

But he feared death even more.

After a long while, Xu Yuan finally spoke slowly: "I can agree to your request."

Shen Qingpeng was overjoyed: "Thank you, my lord."

Qin Ze, Di Youzhi, and the others immediately felt humiliated: "My lord..."

Xu Yuan raised a hand to stop them: "No need to speak. The grievance of Brother Duan He must be avenged!"

The crowd felt both shame and gratitude.

They all knew the pride deep in their lord's bones; even his superior, He Youxing, could not make him compromise himself.

Yet, to avenge Duan He, their lord endured the blackmail of this villain before him!

It is all our fault for being incompetent, for failing to find leads...

Xu Yuan said to Shen Qingpeng, "Follow me."

Xu Yuan led Shen Qingpeng to the door of Aunt Wang's house and told him to wait outside.

Xu Yuan went inside and arranged matters with Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang, loving her child, agreed without hesitation to help stage a play.

Afterwards, Xu Yuan called out to those outside, "Come in."

Shen Qingpeng, like a servant, bent his body, lifted the front of his robe with both hands, scurried in with tiny steps, and dropped to his knees with a thud: "Disciple greets the Ancestral Grandmother."

Aunt Wang handed him a pill and a cultivation method: "Eat this, then cultivate according to this method; it will ensure your life is safe.

But you have already damaged your foundation; do not even dream of the Sixth Flow in this lifetime."

Shen Qingpeng felt both relief and melancholy.

He could finally live.

Yet the Sixth Flow he had pursued for over ten years... a flower in a mirror, a moon in the water, all for nothing!

Xu Yuan said, "Now speak of your lead."

Shen Qingpeng straightened his expression and said, "These past few days I have waited outside the yamen for you, my lord. My subordinates are quite capable; yesterday they discovered that besides us, another group was lurking outside the yamen, secretly monitoring the Nancheng Patrol Office."

"One of my subordinates secretly tracked one of them and discovered they are staying in the westernmost rooms on the second floor of the Rongxing Inn."

"I suspect the death of that Captain was mostly likely committed by these people."

"Moreover, they have not left today; they are still in the inn!"

Xu Yuan nodded; this was indeed an important lead.

"Wait inside the yamen; I will go verify the truth of your intelligence."

But after Xu Yuan came out, taking Fu Jingyu and others with him, he passed the entrance of the Rongxing Inn without entering, instead heading toward the area circled by the Red Line.

The Lady and the guards, watching from the upper floor of the inn, saw everything.

"Lady, he has come out."

The Lady revealed a triumphant smile.

Xu Yuan carefully inspected that entire area, especially the stretch from the Well Alley entrance to Duan He's home.

"The killer is very experienced," Xu Yuan said. "Even if the night's evil spirits had disturbed the scene, it could not be this clean."

"This indicates the killer left no traces at all."

Xu Yuan's judgment matched that of Fu Jingyu and the others.

"Duan He had a clean record; he would not have provoked such a formidable enemy."

"Therefore... the killer's goal was certainly not as simple as killing Duan He."

Xu Yuan glanced at the sky; there was still time.

"Go to Xie Liu Lane."

The crowd was baffled: when handling a case, what business was there going to such a pleasure quarter?

Does my lord still have the mood for this?

Xu Yuan headed straight for Bai Yue Hall.

By the lotus pond, he met the Bai Hu sisters again.

During the two days Xu Yuan was away from the city, the sisters were overjoyed.

Yet happy days always pass swiftly; this calamity star had returned so quickly!

Xu Yuan, his face grim, said, "I am not looking for you. Where is Bai Hu?"

The sisters were delighted: "We shall go and announce your arrival."

Neither wanted to stay and keep Xu Yuan company; the two little foxes ran off together.

Not long after, Bai Hu came out.

Xu Yuan got straight to the point: "I wish to see the master of Yin Yang Zhai."

Bai Hu laughed coquettishly: "Yin Yang Zhai? This humble one has never heard of such a place..."

Xu Yuan pressed forward, looking ready to tear up the truce: "One of my subordinates, a Captain, has died; his corpse was devoured by a malevolent spirit!

If the culprit cannot be found, then all the malevolent spirits in the city are the culprits.

Your Bai Yue Hall hides three foxes; the operation to apprehend the culprit shall begin right here in your Bai Yue Hall!"

Bai Hu said coldly, "My lord, what a display of official power! Do you truly think a weak woman like me is easy to bully?"

"I have no display of official power, nor do I believe I can casually trample on a thousand-year-old fox! But from me down, the Nancheng Patrol Office has eighty-four people in total, and we have a resolve to fight to the death!

From now on, we will come to inspect Bai Yue Hall every day. Even if we cannot kill you, we will absolutely not let you conduct business peacefully!"

"You—" Bai Hu was speechless with rage.

After a long while, she said gloomily, "If Yin Yang Ruan knew I had revealed its secret, it would not let me go."

"No one knows our secret relationship. I will not tell it, so how would it know you were the one who leaked the information?"

Bai Hu gritted her silver teeth and said, "This information is worth three thousand taels of silver."

Xu Yuan nodded without hesitation: "I will pay!"

"The corner of the southwest city wall, Sen Luo Lin."

Xu Yuan stood up and left: "Later, I will order someone to bring the silver over."

After Xu Yuan left, Bai Hu's eyes shifted as she muttered to herself, "This young man... his emotions are quite off. Just one Captain died; is it worth such a display of anger?

Or does this young man suspect something?"

The name Sen Luo Lin is frightening, but in reality, malevolent spirits rarely appear in Lin Zi.

Lin Zi is gloomy and eerie; by all rights, in such an era, this kind of place would be the favorite hiding spot for malevolent spirits.

Xu Yuan quickly figured it out: because a true great malevolent spirit lives here.

Other malevolent spirits dare not set foot on this territory.

Arriving outside Sen Luo Lin, Xu Yuan ordered his subordinates: "Wait outside for me."

Xu Yuan entered the forest alone, reached the central position, and shouted loudly, "The owner of Yin Yang Zhai, I have come to pay. Bring out the remaining two treasures."

The forest was silent.

But in reality, the sky was nearly dark, and the power of the malevolent spirits began to constantly strengthen.

The instant Xu Yuan stepped into Lin Zi, Yin Yang Ruan detected him.

But Yin Yang Ruan did not wish to deal with him.

No reason; it just disliked this fellow.

Whoever it was, bursting into its shop and forcibly demanding to buy three "store treasures."

And the price was squeezed down to a ridiculously low level...

No owner would ever like a customer like that.

Xu Yuan was not polite either: "I have arrived within the agreed time. If you do not give me the items, it is you who breached the contract!

Breaching the contract means taking responsibility!"

Yin Yang Ruan still made no move.

Xu Yuan realized force would not work, so he tried softness: "I know you are here. Come out; I have some questions for you. I will not ask for free; I will pay.

If you answer my questions, I can forgo those two treasures."

Yin Yang Ruan's four eyes lit up, and it swiftly slithered out of the cave.

At the position of Sen Luo Lin leaning against the city wall, there was a hole in the ground.

Yin Yang Ruan stuck its head out from inside; it was the face of an unparalleled handsome man.

It actually did not live in Sen Luo Lin, but lived inside the city wall.

The interior of this section of the city wall had already been hollowed out by it.

"You are an official; your words must be kept."

"Kept!" Xu Yuan answered without hesitation, though inwardly he thought, Don't you know the character for 'official' has two mouths?

"What do you ask? How much money?"

Xu Yuan took out the piece of bone burned by the Yin Gong Gui Bian.

Xu Yuan himself could not clearly state the value of this thing.

But the level of Yin Gong Gui Bian was not high; it should not be considered precious.

If the Yin-Yang Python refuses, then give it a bit more—after all, Master Xu currently has very little to offer.

But the Yin-Yang Python, upon seeing those "spell marks," nodded: "Ask."

Xu Yuan silently cursed—this official may have been cheated…

"Who strange came to the city these past days?"

The Yin-Yang Python glared at him: "I am a malevolent spirit—why ask me about humans?"

Xu Yuan had to ask again: "Before dark yesterday, a murder occurred near Water Well Alley. Did any of your minor malevolent spirits see it?"

The Yin-Yang Python said: "Wait."

It retracted into its cave.

Xu Yuan waited in the forest. Soon night fell; a sudden wind rose through Senluo Forest, its sounds terrifying—as if countless little ghosts wailed.

Yet Xu Yuan stood firm, showing not the slightest fear.

After an hour, the Yin-Yang Python returned.

Today's curfew was in effect; after dark, the Yin-Yang Python was clearly more vicious—its eyes blood-red, four long, curved fangs grown from its mouth, drool dripping unconsciously as it stared at Xu Yuan.

"The killer is a Craft Cultivator."

"After killing, he went to Rongxing Inn."

Upon hearing the name "Rongxing Inn," Xu Yuan's heart stirred.

"But soon he came out again, picked up the body parts, and reassembled them."

"Then he returned to the inn and stayed there until this morning."

"We know nothing of what happened during the day."

Xu Yuan tossed the withered bone over; the Yin-Yang Python snatched it in one bite, then growled: "Get out!"

"If you dare covet my treasures again, I'll swallow you whole!"

Xu Yuan turned and left.

This malevolent spirit is at least fifth-tier; during curfew, its power surges even further.

A true man avoids trouble he cannot win!

As for your two treasures… who said they were yours? They are clearly my ancestral relics lost abroad!

Xu Yuan, with his subordinates, cut through several minor malevolent spirits that could not hold back, returning safely to the Nancheng Patrol Station.

Along the way, Xu Yuan quietly instructed Lang Xiao Ba to visit Shanhe Office and deliver a note to Behind Miao Yu.

…

"Send Shen Qingpeng here." Master Xu ordered as he entered.

Soon, Shen Qingpeng was brought in.

Xu Yuan said: "I have a task for you. If you agree, I will return all your family property."

Shen Qingpeng rejoiced, but then thought: Such a high price—this task must be extremely dangerous…

Yet his family wealth amounted to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver!

To lose one's life but keep one's money is utter sorrow.

But to keep one's life and lose one's money—life becomes unbearable.

Master Xu subtly manipulated the "Eight-Sided Harmful Star" destiny pattern.

Shen Qingpeng's greed, already dominant in his heart, could no longer be restrained: "Your humble servant… will serve my lord!"

(End of Chapter)