I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 303 - 276: Entering the Mountains for Seclusion (Part 2)

Zhao Gang nodded and agreed deferentially, following Yang Zhen out of the Yuan Shun Escort Agency and into the County Government Office, directly entering the office of Jie Daohan.

Jie Daohan had not slept all night, his eyes were red like a rabbit’s.

Yang Zhen entered and cupped his fists, saying, "Chief Constable, I report that Zhao Gang, the steward from the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, is here."

Jie Daohan raised his head and waved at Yang Zhen.

Yang Zhen immediately went out, closing the door behind him.

Zhao Gang, seeing Jie Daohan’s appearance, couldn’t help but shiver. He had heard of this Chief Constable’s cruel methods of interrogation before.

Jie Daohan noticed Zhao Gang’s fear and said, "Steward Zhao, no need to panic! The case I’m pursuing is unrelated to you, I just need to discuss some matters with you."

Upon hearing words consistent with Yang Zhen’s earlier remarks, Zhao Gang finally felt relieved.

Looking at Zhao Gang, Jie Daohan asked straightforwardly, "Steward Zhao, I reviewed the report records from last April. You reported to the office about two missing miscellaneous workers from the Escort Agency."

Zhao Gang’s heart skipped a beat, surprised that Jie Daohan was asking about this matter.

The disappearance of Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng had been reported to Luan Jingfu and Xiao Zongting, and later Xiao Zongting instructed him to report it to the office.

However, when he filed the report, the constable who received him was rather rude, merely recorded it briefly, saying that missing persons were common and speculating whether they had been mistreated by the Escort Agency and forced to run away.

Zhao Gang didn’t argue with the constable either. The constable only wrote a simple note before dismissing Zhao Gang.

Every month, Jie Daohan would review the case records, and he had some impression of this particular record—two miscellaneous workers missing from the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, though the names of the missing weren’t even listed in the record, so he had skimmed through it when he saw it.

Zhao Gang had calmed down by now. He looked at Jie Daohan and responded, "Chief Constable Jie, there weren’t two miscellaneous workers. It was one miscellaneous worker and one Apprentice from the Escort Agency."

"Is that so?" Jie Daohan said, "What were the names of the missing persons?"

Zhao Gang replied, "Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng."

Jie Daohan’s expression didn’t change, but inside he felt turbulent waves. He continued asking, "I see your report date is mid-April. Did they go missing then?"

"Not exactly. There was a gap of over ten days between discovering their disappearance and reporting it." Zhao Gang recalled.

"Can Steward Zhao recall the precise time you discovered their disappearance?" Jie Daohan asked.

"Exact time, I’m really unsure about it. After all, it has been a long time. Even if it was the report date, without Chief Constable Jie’s reminder, I wouldn’t remember... However..."

Zhao Gang paused and suddenly his expression changed, "However, I remember when I found they were missing, the second lady of the Xiao Family was holding a memorial service!"

Upon hearing this, Jie Daohan stood up abruptly.

When Xiao Baijiao was holding a funeral, wasn’t it the time Jie Lei was killed?

At the city gate, because of Xiao Baijiao’s burial procession, he wanted to open the coffin for inspection and almost clashed with a group of Escort Masters from the Yuan Shun Escort Agency!

With over twenty years of experience in criminal cases, Jie Daohan could smell the connections within this matter instantly; this was definitely no coincidence. The disappearances of Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng and the death of Jie Lei must be connected in some way...

And that connection was evidently Duan Rong!

A complete story formed in Jie Daohan’s mind in an instant.

Duan Rong, from selling paintings on the street for ten silver coins apiece, quickly earned a considerable amount of silver coins.

Kong Bin, also in need of money, coveted these silver coins, and Kong Bin had gang affiliations.

With the Whale Tiger Gang destroyed and Zhou Shoushan having hidden for years, surely he was also in financial difficulty, making the two a perfect match!

This was clearly a financial scheme.

They plotted to kill Duan Rong but hadn’t expected his terrifying speed of cultivation; perhaps by then, he had already reached the Inner Breath Realm’s Second Level and, within their plot, counter-killed several of them.

During this process, Duan Rong obtained Corpse Rot Poison from Zhou Shoushan.

Jie Daohan was indeed an old hand at criminal cases!

Across various thoughts tumbling through his mind, he already melded loose pieces of information into a coherent whole, connecting many details and key points.

Upon fully realizing the truth, Jie Daohan suddenly became calm, saying inwardly, "Duan Rong, it really is you! You hid very well, and had you not participated in the Talent Selection Conference, perhaps I would’ve never discovered you. What a pity! Rats should never run into the sunlight..."

Duan Rong, riding his Chestnut Horse, galloped along the official road. By late afternoon, he could already see the distant contours of the Wild Boar Mountain Range.

Duan Rong whipped the Chestnut Horse beneath him vigorously.

The Chestnut Horse, feeling the pain, snorted heavily and ran harder...

Approaching mid-afternoon, Duan Rong led the horse closer to the village at the foot of the Wild Boar Mountain Range.

The Chestnut Horse appeared fatigued due to labored breathing, frothing at the mouth, a sign that its lungs were injured, but it would be able to recover after resting for a few days.

Duan Rong looked at the village ahead.

This village was the one belonging to Qin Lao Han’s family.

The village that had been massacred.

Only half a year had passed, yet many people had already moved into this village.

Most of these people were destitute and evicted refugees, but this village had ready-built houses and cultivated fields.

The sound of chickens clucking, dogs barking, and children playing occasionally arose from the village...

The bloody scene of the massacre in Duan Rong’s mind was overshadowed by the pastoral idyll of the mundane farming household before him.

Duan Rong couldn’t help but feel contemplative.

A village too is a living entity; as long as it doesn’t die, it will recover bit by bit.

Duan Rong led his horse to the west end of the village, passing by many households that looked at him with wary eyes.

Duan Rong was an unfamiliar face, and he carried a sword at his waist.

Swordsmen had a terrible reputation in rural villages, akin to bandits who pillaged and plundered.

Duan Rong walked directly to the front of the house of Qin Lao Han’s family, stood before the fenced yard, and called, "Is anyone there?"

A middle-aged man came out, immediately picking up a rake leaned against the wall upon seeing Duan Rong and saying coldly, "Hero, go take a look elsewhere, there’s no grain here."

Duan Rong didn’t respond, tossing a piece of Broken Silver at his feet. "I’ll be in the mountains for a few days, take care of my horse!"

The middle-aged man, seeing the chunk of Broken Silver at his feet, worth more than two coins, noted Duan Rong’s attire, resembling that of an Escort Master, and overall demeanor, without any hint of thuggish nature!

The middle-aged man put down the rake, picked up the Broken Silver, and smiled, saying, "Rest assured, guest, I’ll take good care of the horse!"

Nearly two coins of Broken Silver, worth more than life itself during a famine.

Duan Rong handed over the horse to the middle-aged man, whose eyes flashed cunningly.

Duan Rong sighed inwardly. After all, he was dealing with refugees, not as simple-minded as mountain folk, and said, "The horse will rest in the cowshed, don’t use it for anything. If it hasn’t regained its strength when I return, I’ll twist your head off."

The middle-aged man seemed startled as if Duan Rong had exposed his true intentions, his face freezing, before smiling quickly, "Rest assured, I’ll treat this Chestnut Horse like my own kin, feeding it fresh fodder daily without letting it do any work..."

Before the middle-aged man had finished speaking, Duan Rong had already turned and left, having noticed that this person was only placating him.

After taking a few steps, Duan Rong suddenly paused; beside the fenced yard was a human head-sized rock placed against a fence post.

Duan Rong infused his Inner Breath into his foot, crushing the rock to powder with one step, saying, "This rock is really an eyesore!"

The pulverized rock dust was carried by the mountain wind, splashing across the middle-aged man’s face, fear finally overtaking his expression!

Only at this moment did he truly believe that if he didn’t look after the horse well, this seemingly harmless youth before him would definitely stomp his head like he crushed the rock!

Once inside Wild Boar Mountain, Duan Rong bolted through the wilderness, his form flashing!

By dusk, as the setting sun bathed the valley in a veil of shimmering red silk, Duan Rong stood atop a cliff.

The mountain breeze tousled his hair and filled his sleeves, as Duan Rong released his Divine Sense abruptly, surveying the cave along the cliff wall. Ensuring safety, his form flickered, leaping from the top of the cliff...