Free Web NovelChapter 35: Chapter 35: Jingwu Bureau
"Sis, where is your mind going?" Chen Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Miss Liu... her family met with disaster, and I just happened to help her out. Sigh, anyway... my house is full of people and prying eyes, so it’s not convenient. Your place is quiet, so let her stay for a few days. If anyone asks, just say she’s a distant relative who’s come seeking refuge after a catastrophe."
Chen Yao was half-convinced, half-doubtful. She scrutinized Liu Yun again.
Hearing Chen Yao’s words, Liu Yun’s face instantly flushed crimson, and she lowered her head even further.
To Chen Yao, her aggrieved silence—too afraid to even offer a defense—was a dead giveaway.
"Is that really it?" Chen Yao eyed them suspiciously. "Li Zi, are you still hiding things from your big sister? This girl is a real beauty; it’s only normal you’d fall for her. Don’t worry, Sis will keep your secret. As for your wife, she doesn’t seem like the jealous type. You should just confess to her sooner rather than later and take this girl home. It’d be more proper."
Chen Li’s face darkened, and his tone grew stern. "Sis, stop with the wild guesses. I told you, I’m just helping her out. She’s all alone and has no one to rely on now. Just look after her a bit and stop scaring her with all your questions. And don’t you go asking about what happened to her family."
Seeing her younger brother was getting angry, Chen Yao knew he wasn’t joking.
She sheepishly reined in her gossiping, and looking again at Liu Yun’s pitiable appearance, as if on the verge of tears, her heart softened a little.
’Mistress or not, this girl really does look pitiful.’
"Alright, alright, Sis gets it."
Chen Yao waved her hand dismissively, walked over to Liu Yun, and put on a gentle smile. "Miss Liu, is it? Don’t be afraid. Since Li Zi entrusted you to me, you can rest easy and stay here. Just treat this place as your own home. If you need anything, just tell me."
She took Liu Yun’s cold hand and patted it. "A distant cousin... hmm, that’s a good cover. Don’t you worry. If anyone asks, that’s what I’ll tell them."
Feeling the warmth from Chen Yao’s palm, Liu Yun’s tense nerves relaxed slightly. She said in a low voice, "Thank you... thank you for taking me in, Madam."
"Ai, none of that ’Madam’ business. Just call me Sis."
Chen Yao agreed with a smile, then shot Chen Li a meaningful glance. "Li Zi, you can go now, rest assured. Miss Liu will be fine with me. I’ll make sure of it. Sis... understands."
Chen Li looked at his sister’s "I-know-everything" expression and knew she hadn’t bought his explanation at all, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He could only give her another serious reminder. "Sis, you must keep this a secret and take good care of her. I’ll be back in a few days to see you both." With that, he turned and left in a hurry.
Chen Yao turned back to the still-uneasy Liu Yun, sighed, and pulled her down to sit. "Sigh, my dear girl, just make yourself at home here with me, don’t be a stranger. Come on, I’ll go get a room ready for you."
With that, she pulled Liu Yun into one of the side rooms.
...
「One day later.」
An urgent dispatch was delivered to the Jingwu Bureau’s Government Office in the Commandery City.
"Jingshan County. Tu Sandao, Gang Leader of the San Dao Bang, a master of Blood Refining Great Success and Horizontal Hard Training, was killed by a single blow from a sharp weapon that pierced his heart in the backyard of a cloth mill... Suspected Jianghu vendetta..."
Chief Banner Officer Gu Qianzhang took the dispatch, his sharp gaze sweeping over the text.
’Since when did Jingshan produce a master of this caliber?’
Gu Qianzhang stared at the key information, his knuckles tapping a steady rhythm on the desk. TAP, TAP, TAP.
He had heard a little about this Tu Sandao. He’d been in Jingshan for years, with a long list of evil deeds to his name.
If his cases hadn’t fallen outside the scope of the Jianghu, Gu Qianzhang would have brought him to justice long ago.
But regardless, Tu Sandao’s strength was undeniable. With his Horizontal Training Skills and innate brute force, even someone like himself, already at Qi Realm Perfection, might not be able to guarantee a complete victory in a life-or-death battle.
The person who could kill him so easily was definitely no simple character.
’Could it be a passing expert?’
But he quickly shook his head. ’If it were really a passing expert, they could have just killed him outright. Why resort to assassination?’
’The opponent’s strength is likely only comparable to Tu Sandao’s.’
’And they’ve been in Jingshan for some time.’
Gu Qianzhang frowned. "A bully is dead, so he’s dead. Sun Ming, file it away for now."
"Chief," a sturdy man beside him reminded him in a low voice, "The Governor sent word. He wants it cleared up as soon as possible."
Gu Qianzhang paused, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Zhao Hu, Sun Ming, gather our men. We’re leaving for Jingshan County."
"Yes, sir!" the two Jingwu Bureau Junior Banner Officers acknowledged the order.
...
「The east gate of Jingshan County.」
Three fast horses shot through like arrows loosed from a bow, kicking up a cloud of dust as they galloped inside.
The leader, clad in the black uniform of the Jingwu Bureau with a face as grim as iron, was none other than Chief Banner Officer Gu Qianzhang.
Following closely behind were seven or eight capable subordinates in the same attire. Their stern and efficient aura made the bystanders on the side of the road quickly move out of the way.
Gu Qianzhang pulled on the reins, and his horse reared up in front of the County Magistrate’s Office with a loud neigh.
He dismounted with a clean, swift motion and strode directly into the Government Office’s main hall.
"Gu Zongqi, you’ve had a long journey. This humble subordinate has prepared some wine..."
County Captain Feng Zhan stepped forward to greet him with a smile.
"Lord Feng, there’s no need for pleasantries."
Gu Qianzhang cut off the County Captain’s courtesies. "Let’s investigate the case first. Please immediately bring out all the case files on Tu Sandao’s murder, including the crime scene investigation report, the forensic doctor’s examination record, and the statements of all relevant witnesses. Also, bring me all the files for homicides, brawls, and missing persons cases in the county town from the past month."
The smile on Feng Zhan’s face froze. Having made a fool of himself, he hurriedly ordered Chief He to see to it.
Soon, the case files were delivered.
Gu Qianzhang sat in the main seat. He accepted the hot tea offered by a government constable but didn’t touch it, his electric gaze rapidly flipping through the files.
Just then, Chief He, standing to the side, reported with a strange expression, "Gu Zongqi, this is a report we just received this morning. Three bodies were discovered. The deceased... was a minor leader under Tu Sandao. The manner of death... was quite gruesome."
Gu Qianzhang’s eyes narrowed. He took the report and scanned it quickly.
The forensic doctor’s preliminary judgment was that all three died last night. One had his skull crushed by a heavy object, another had his sternum shattered by a blunt instrument, causing his internal organs to rupture, and the third had both legs broken before his neck was snapped.
The methods were brutal, yet clean and efficient.
"We’ll handle this as a related case," Gu Qianzhang said, closing the file. "First, let’s go to the San Dao Bang headquarters."
...
「San Dao Bang headquarters.」
When Gu Qianzhang and his men arrived, the once-shut main gate was wide open. There wasn’t even a guard at the entrance.
Inside the courtyard, tables and chairs were overturned. Several hundred gang members were split into three groups, arguing loudly and red-faced about something.
"The position of Gang Leader should go to Vice Gang Leader Liu, based on seniority!"
"Boss Iron Hand went to jail for the gang! He’s contributed to the gang, everyone help out..."
"He just killed a government constable. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he killed the County Magistrate."
"Bullshit! What’s most important is strength. Boss Iron Hand has the most brothers under him. The position has to go to him."
In the courtyard, several of the gang’s original high-ranking members sat together, watching their subordinates argue like market shrews, spittle flying everywhere.
Gu Qianzhang stepped into the courtyard, his expression blank. Zhao Hu bellowed, "Jingwu Bureau business! Silence!"
The courtyard fell instantly silent. Everyone stared in astonishment at the group by the entrance.
Gu Qianzhang’s gaze swept over the crowd. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an invisible pressure. "Tu Sandao was just murdered, and you’re already here fighting over power, squabbling amongst yourselves?"
The faces of the gang’s leaders flushed in unison. One of them stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, "We weren’t aware you officers were coming. What is your business here?"
Gu Qianzhang asked directly, "Was there anything unusual about Tu Sandao recently? Who were his deepest enemies? Where did he go before he died? Who did he see?" freeweɓnovel.cøm
The men all looked at each other.
"The Gang Leader... didn’t seem to be acting strangely recently?"
"Enemies? He had tons of them. The pansy from the south side of town, the old asshole from the north..."
"Before he died, he was in the county town. Oh, right, he went to Lingxi Village. I think some rich hick invited him for drinks." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
The information was a chaotic mess, full of buck-passing and speculation.
Gu Qianzhang understood. ’It’s basically impossible to get any useful information from this motley crew.’
The possibility of an internal killing existed, but the motive seemed insufficient.
He asked no more questions and turned to leave, leaving behind a courtyard of gang members as silent as cicadas in winter.
