She instinctively observed her surroundings with caution. Based on her previous investigation, there were no signs of ambush, which made it even more peculiar.
She looked at the Universe Bag in her hand again, realizing even more that someone might not only be waiting for someone to bring this item out, but also waiting to see who would “overlook” it during a release inspection, allowing it to be taken out.
The more she thought about it, the colder her back felt.
If Ba Yingshan hadn't told her the inside story, she would have definitely taken this item with her.
At this moment, it was naturally like holding a hot potato.
She immediately turned around and stuffed the Universe Bag back into her brother's cold hand, looked around again, and then quickly left.
It didn't take long before Ba Yingshan arrived with dozens of people, roaring their way to the scene of the incident.
They investigated the site, and needless to say, the focus was on excavating the collapsed mine tunnel.
Ba Yingshan didn't return to Zhixu City to report until dawn, taking only a portion of the people with him.
Afterward, in an open space in the inner city, a group of people assembled the Dragon Bones taken from the Universe Bag on the spot. Instructions from above stated that this set of Dragon Bones should be arranged and fixed in a coiled dragon shape, and would henceforth be placed there as a landmark decoration for Zhixu City.
By the side of the venue, on the tallest pavilion, the man cloaked in a violet gauze robe stood with his hands behind his back behind a window, his gaze calm as he stared at the skeletal dragon being set up on the ground below.
Beside him was a robust, well-built man with large ears, dressed in a green robe, whose eyes held the might of a tiger, revealing sharp gleams as they opened and closed.
This was none other than the Prison Inspector of the Land of Exile, Du Huoguan.
Du Huoguan’s respectful accompaniment was evident, simply because that man was the legendary master of the Living Prison, whose name was only a single character 'Nie', and who was known as the “Jailer”.
The two men stared at the assembly of the skeletal dragon without a word.
Ba Yingshan brought a few people to the guest courtyard wing and knocked on the door.
The door opened, and Qi Yueru appeared, looking as if nothing had happened, even with a smile on her face, “City Lord Ba, have my brother and the others been found?”
Ba Yingshan praised her silently in his heart, then nodded slightly with a solemn expression, extending his hand in an inviting gesture, “Madam Shen, please follow me.”
Qi Yueru smiled and agreed, following the group away.
After a winding journey, they arrived outside a house. As they were about to enter, Ba Yingshan stepped aside at the door to make way, and said gravely once more, “Madam Shen, please accept my condolences.”
Upon hearing this, Qi Yueru's face immediately changed drastically. She rushed into the room, and soon, her heart-wrenching wails echoed from within.
Those who entered sequentially, seeing Qi Yueru embracing her son's corpse, heartbroken, all sighed with pity. Coming to visit a prisoner was originally a good thing, but who knew it would turn into a funeral? Indeed, the world is unpredictable!
After waiting for a while, Ba Yingshan finally said to the people behind him, “Separation by life and death is human nature.
All of you may withdraw, let her vent her emotions first.”
Everyone acknowledged and left.
With no outsiders present, Ba Yingshan walked to Qi Yueru's side, this time genuinely offering comfort, “My condolences.”
Although her son and brother had died, he felt much lighter in spirit.
Regardless of how she had dealt with things last night, it certainly hadn't caused him any trouble. Not only did she leave the bodies of her son and brother, but also the Universe Bag and the Dragon Bones were left at the scene.
He broke out in a cold sweat when he realized what he was seeing at the scene, and felt that this woman was still sensible.
Overcome with grief, Qi Yueru choked out a question, “Have you found anything? Any clues about the killer?”
Ba Yingshan glanced at the row of corpses, “Excluding those poisoned and buried in the mine tunnel, which are still being cleared, only your brother and these five individuals were decapitated.
It's not easy to find the killer based solely on this. However, after careful examination of the wounds, we have a rough conclusion: all five of their heads were likely cut off with a knife, and overall, it could have been done by the same bladesman.
Traces at the scene also indicate that not many people were involved in the fight.”
“A knife?” Qi Yueru, who was slumped over her son's body, suddenly looked up, as if remembering something, “Cut by a knife? I remember now, my son seemed to have an enemy in East Nine Plains, and he used a knife.”
Ba Yingshan said somewhat helplessly, “I know who you're talking about. Not long after you brought in so many supplies, the people of East Nine Plains just happened to get a batch of supplies.
The grudge between your son and that local strongman, I took careful note of it when you came to me.
To be honest, it shouldn't have been that local strongman.
From the scene investigation, your brother and his group used at least two rank-three Immobilization Talismans but failed to immobilize the opponent. This is not something that the meager cultivation of that local strongman in East Nine Plains could achieve.
As for the people who died in the mine, don't tell me you don't know what happened. Most of the people from East Nine Plains are gone.
Given your brother's formation, tell me, how much 'medicine' would that local strongman have to take to go and kill your brother's group? Those crazy-poor guys, would they kill people and leave treasures behind without taking them? Do you think that's possible?”
What he said made sense, and Qi Yueru also fell into thought, then with tear-filled eyes, she said, “Help me investigate where they were when the incident occurred.”
Ba Yingshan instinctively wanted to refuse, but facing her tear-stained face and reddened eyes, he knew this woman was emotionally unstable, and didn't know what she might do if provoked.
He could only nod silently in agreement, thinking he would just go through the motions.
However, in reality, the results came surprisingly smoothly.
The people he secretly arranged to send brought back reliable news that very afternoon.
He hadn't expected Shen Youkun to have informants planted near the target's old lair.
His dispatched people just happened to discover them, and after apprehending and questioning them, they confessed everything. They could confirm that the only two remaining local strongmen in East Nine Plains had not left their lair when the incident occurred.
They were reportedly staying in their lair to cultivate.
Logically, with witnesses, Qi Yueru should have been reassured.
However, she had new doubts. If they had accumulated enough Merit, why didn't they leave the Land of Exile? With only two people left, why were they still hiding and cultivating in that godforsaken place? Wasn't that suspicious?
Ba Yingshan almost burst out laughing after hearing this, but remembering that she had just lost two close relatives, he managed to hold back and explained seriously, “It might be suspicious for others, but for that kid, it's normal.
You probably don't know, but that kid wants to climb the social ladder and has fallen for Lan Qiaoyan’s daughter. This matter is quite a joke in the city.
Lan Qiaoyan's daughter comes to this city every three months to audit accounts. That kid basically rushes over to see her every time.
Before leaving, he probably wants to see her one more time. The sixth day of the lunar month, Lan Qiaoyan's daughter usually comes on the sixth.
Calculating the time, it's just the day after tomorrow. That kid should enter the city the day after tomorrow.”
Despite the reasonable explanation, the doubt in Qi Yueru's eyes did not completely fade.
For her, several conditions were obvious: East Nine Plains, an enemy of her son's, and someone who used a knife.
It seemed there was no one who matched better than that local strongman.
Her own son and brother had died.
Faced with a possible lead, it would be strange if she let it go easily.
She had already made up her mind: whether it was him or not, she would rather kill the wrong person than let anyone go! Especially since it was her son's enemy from when he was alive.
So, she asked Ba Yingshan to continue watching to prevent anyone from escaping. Before killing that local strongman, she would definitely interrogate him first.
If it was confirmed that he didn't do it, she would have to find a way to dig out the real killer!
Ba Yingshan was annoyed. In terms of identity, status, and strength, he was above Qi Yueru, and it wasn't her place to order him around.
But there was nothing he could do. He didn't know where the deceased Qi Ziru had gotten hold of the leverage he had used to provide convenience to other prisoners in the past.
With this blackmail, what could he do? It led to him having to help.
With leverage in her hands, he dared not turn hostile, so he could only perfunctorily agree to Qi Yueru.
And because her son and brother were killed, the family visit turned into a funeral, giving Qi Yueru a reason to temporarily stay in the city.
She had already planned that if that local strongman left the Land of Exile on the sixth day of the lunar month, she would also leave on the sixth, together.
As soon as they were out, she would apprehend him directly, giving him not even a sliver of a chance to escape!
On the sixth day of the lunar month, an auspicious day.
For some people's usual routine, it was indeed an auspicious day.
The stone mountain, towering like pillars, hewn by knives and axes, was the lair of the group entrenched in East Nine Plains.
The reason for choosing such a terrain for their lair was for safety.
They could see far, easily spot strangers approaching, and it was difficult for outsiders to climb and hide.
Inside a cave on the mountain at this time, cooking smoke rose early in the morning.
Inside the cave, a large stone mortar, acting as a water tank, was set up, with a fire burning beneath it, heating a large tank of hot water. A naked person was soaking in the hot water, splayed out, head resting, looking like he was enjoying himself with closed eyes.
It was Shi Chun.
Wu Jinliang held his face, a small knife in his hand, and was shaving his beard.
As he shaved, he grumbled, “What a waste, a whole tank of water just ruined like this. This is really too much.”
Water was very precious to the people here. Usually, it had to be fetched from very deep underground, and a round trip was not easy.
In the past, stored water like this in tanks would not be used indiscriminately. Occasionally wiping oneself clean was acceptable, but using it for a full bath was almost impossible.
Then again, this time it really was 'too much'. After getting clean, they wouldn't be staying here anymore; they were truly leaving the Land of Exile.
So, even though he complained verbally, his face and heart were filled with joy.
Shi Chun muttered, “Shave it cleaner…”
“What's the point of being cleaner, or shaved cleaner? Alas, Chuntian, you, sometimes you look indifferent, but in reality, you're a person with drive and ambition.
Some things were hard to say before, for fear of hurting you, but now that we're leaving, I'm not afraid to give you a reminder.
Chuntian, the status gap is really too big.
We are like ants; there's no possibility of comparing ourselves to them. If Miss Miao is polite to you, it's because of her good upbringing.
Don't think too much about anything else. She doesn't look down on you, nor is it possible for her to look favorably on people like us.
Don't think that just because you're leaving, you can speak without restraint. When you see her later, be careful with your words.
Pushing too hard will only make yourself embarrassed.”
Wu Jinliang was genuinely afraid that this fellow would do something impulsive when he was about to leave.
Shi Chun opened one eye, glanced at him faintly, and asked, “That's it? Do you think I haven't heard words like these before? This can hurt me?”
Wu Jinliang stopped his work, slightly anxious, “No, I mean, Chuntian, you're usually so shrewd. Her politeness to you already implies a desire for you to be self-respecting.
Don't you really see that at all? Besides, she made it clear long ago that you two aren't suitable. Is it worth being so persistent?”
Shi Chun casually splashed some water to wipe his neck, and calmly said, “Do you think I want to be so shameless and be ridiculed? There's no other way.
Who told us to offend Shen Youkun back then? That dog is dead set on settling scores, especially with his current arrangement. It's very likely he has people waiting at the entrance outside to block us.
I've observed that after Miss Miao finishes auditing accounts each time, a batch of collected goods is sent out. As long as we can get the delivery team to give us a ride, Shen Youkun's people, no matter how bold, wouldn't dare to touch the Far-Gazing Tower's delivery team.
Being ridiculed for a few years, it's all just for a chance to speak up when we leave today.”