She instinctively observed her surroundings with caution, and based on her previous investigation, she hadn't seen any signs of an ambush, making the situation even more suspicious. She then looked at the Qiankun Bag in her hand, realizing that someone might not only be waiting for someone to take the item out but also to see who would "miss" the item during the inspection and allow it to be taken away.
The more she thought about it, the colder she felt on her back. If Ba Yingshan had not informed her of the inside information, she would definitely have taken the item with her.
At that moment, it felt like holding a hot potato, so she immediately turned and stuffed the Qiankun Bag back into her brother's icy hands, scrutinized her surroundings again, and then quickly left.
It wasn't long before Ba Yingshan arrived with dozens of people, rushed to the scene, and investigated it. Besides several dead bodies, the focus was on digging through the collapsed mine tunnels.
They worked until dawn, and then Ba Yingshan took some people back to Zhixu City to report.
Afterward, on an empty piece of land inside the city, a group of people assembled the Dragon Bone taken from the Qiankun Bag right there. There was a saying that this set of Dragon Bone should be fixed in a coiling dragon posture and then left there as a landmark decoration for Zhixu City.
On the highest loft by the field, a man in violet gauze stood with his hands behind his back at a window, his gaze calm, watching the Dragon Bone being assembled below.
Beside him stood a robust man in green clothes, with a square face and big ears, his eyes fierce and brilliant, revealing his sharpness; it was Du Huoguan, the Prison Inspection Envoy from the Land of Exile.
Du Huoguan's accompaniment was clearly respectful, as the man he accompanied was the legendary overseer of Life Prison, known only by the single name "Nie" and called "Jail Head."
The two men watched the construction of the Dragon Bone without a word.
Ba Yingshan arrived with a few people at a guesthouse chamber and knocked on the door.
When the door opened, Qi Yueru appeared behind it, maintaining a smile as if nothing had happened, "City Lord Ba, did they find my brother?"
Ba Yingshan inwardly praised her, his expression solemn, he nodded slightly and gestured with his hand, "Lady Shen, please come with me."
Qi Yueru smiled in acquiescence and followed the group.
After turning a few corners to a house, when they were about to enter, Ba Yingshan stepped aside at the doorway and said gravely again, "Lady Shen, please restrain your grief."
Hearing this, Qi Yueru's face changed drastically, and she hurried into the room, where soon after her loud wailing could be heard.
Those who entered one after another saw Qi Yueru embracing her son's corpse, heartbroken. Each person sighed continuously, running here for inspection had been a good thing, but it turned into a funeral visit – truly unpredictable!
After waiting for a while, Ba Yingshan then said to the people behind him, "Parting in life and death is natural for humans; all of you leave now, let her vent a bit first."
The people complied and left.
With no outsiders around, Ba Yingshan approached Qi Yueru, and this time he sincerely advised, "Restrain your grief."
Although her son and brother were dead, his mood was somewhat lighter. No matter what she had done last night, it truly hadn't caused him any trouble. The bodies of her son and brother were left behind as well as the Qiankun Bag and the Dragon Bone at the scene. Seeing everything put together later had even made him break out in a cold sweat, but he felt this woman had acted sensibly.
The grief-stricken Qi Yueru choked up and asked, "Did you find out anything? Are there any clues about the murderer?"
Ba Yingshan glanced at the line of corpses, "Apart from those who died of poisoning in the mine and were buried, we are still cleaning up. About these five people, including your brother, all were beheaded. It's difficult to pinpoint the murderer based solely on this. But, after a close inspection of the wounds, we have a rough conclusion that their heads were most likely chopped off by a sword, and judging from the evidence, the skirmish didn't involve many people."
"Sword?" Qi Yueru, embracing her son's corpse, suddenly looked up, recalling something, "Chopped by a sword? I remember, my son had an enemy in East Nine Plain, someone who uses a sword."
Ba Yingshan somewhat helplessly said, "I know who you're talking about. Not long after you brought in those supplies, the people from East Nine Plain managed to get some as well. I took this matter to heart when you sought me out.
Frankly, it wasn't done by that local thug. From the scene investigation, your brother and his group used at least two third-grade immobilization charms, and they still couldn't immobilize the opponent, something a mere local thug from East Nine Plain cannot achieve.
Those who died in the mine, don't tell me you don't know what happened. People from East Nine Plain have almost left entirely, with the way your brother and his group were placed, tell me, how many wrong medicines would the local thug have to take to go after them? For that bunch of desperate people, to kill and then NOT take the treasures, do you think that's likely?"
Her reasoning sound, Qi Yueru fell into contemplation, soon her face wet with tears, "Please check where they were when it happened."
Ba Yingshan instinctively wanted to refuse, but facing her tear-streaked face and red, swollen eyes, knowing her emotions were unstable and fearing what she might do if provoked, he silently nodded in agreement, thinking to just go through the motions.
Yet the reality was, the results came back unexpectedly smooth, the people he secretly sent brought back reliable news by that afternoon.
He hadn't expected Shen Youkun to have actually placed informants near the target lair, and they happened to be discovered by the people he sent, who captured one and got everything out of them. They could prove that the last two local thugs from East Nine Plain hadn't left their lair during the incident, and were reportedly there the whole time cultivating.
Having a witness should have set Qi Yueru's mind at ease, but it only led to new doubts. With enough merit, why not leave the Land of Exile? Why hide in that godforsaken place with only two people left cultivating? Wasn't that suspicious?
City Lord Ba almost laughed upon hearing this, but, remembering that the person had just lost two close relatives, he contained himself and explained seriously, "It might be suspicious for others, but on that kid, it's normal. You might not know, but that kid has aspirations to climb the social ladder and has taken a fancy to Lan Qiaoyan's daughter. It's quite the joke in the city.
Lan Qiaoyan's daughter comes to town every three months to balance the accounts. That kid almost always comes to see her and likely wants to see her one more time before he leaves. The sixth day of the lunar month—she usually comes then. The day after tomorrow. That kid will probably come to town then."
Despite the reasonable explanation, the suspicion in Qi Yueru's eyes did not completely dissipate.
For her, several conditions were evident: East Nine Plain, holding a grudge against her son, and using a knife—no one fit better than the local gangsters.
The victims were her biological son and her own brother; facing these potential leads, she wouldn't easily let them go.
She had already made up her mind—whether it was them or not, she preferred to err on the side of killing than to let a suspect escape!
Moreover, it involved her son's sworn enemies from his life.
So, she asked City Lord Ba to keep watching them so that no one could escape. Before finishing off that local gangster, she was intent on interrogating first before digging out the real murderer, if it turned out not to be him!
City Lord Ba was internally annoyed. By status, position, and power, he outstripped Qi Yueru—it wasn't his place to be ordered around.
But what could he do? Somehow, the now-deceased Qi Ziru had found incriminating information on him regarding past favors to other prisoners and had used it to compel him. Left with no choice, he had to help.
With the compromising information in someone else's hands, he dared not retaliate and could only reluctantly agree to Qi Yueru's requests.
And because her son and brother had been killed, a family visit turned into a funeral, giving Qi Yueru a reason to stay longer in the city.
She already had a plan—if the local gangster left the Land of Exile on the sixth day, she too would leave on the sixth, accompanying them. Once outside, she would capture them without giving any chance to escape!
The sixth day, an auspicious day.
For some, a particularly lucky day.
The razor-sharp peaks, like axe-split pillars standing in the East Nine Plain, were precisely the stronghold of the gang.
The reason for choosing such terrain for their lair was security—it provided a long view and made it easier to spot strangers approaching, making it hard for outsiders to climb and hide.
At that moment, in a cave on the mountain, smoke billowed out early in the morning.
Inside the cave, when a large stone mortar was set up as a bathtub, with a fire lit beneath, a whole vat of hot water was heated up. Soaking in the water, completely naked and spreadeagled with his head propped up, looking completely relaxed, was Shi Chun.
Wu Jinliang, supporting his face with one hand, held a small razor in the other, carefully shaving him, muttering all the while, "What a waste, all this water just for this. It's just too much."
Water was precious here, usually obtained from deep underground, not easy to fetch. Storing large vats of water like this was not for casual use; an occasional wash was justifiable, but using it for a bath was almost unthinkable.
But then again, this really was too much. Once clean, they wouldn't stay here anymore. They really were about to leave this Land of Exile.
So, despite his complaints, his face and heart were actually joyful.
Shi Chun murmured, "Make it clean…"
Wu Jinliang sighed, "No matter how clean the wash, how sharp the shave, what can it change? Ah, Chun Tian, sometimes you seem indifferent, but you're actually someone with pride. I've kept some things from you before, afraid of hurting you, but since we're leaving, I'm not afraid to remind you.
Chun Tian, the gap in status is just too great. We're like ants compared to them, and there's no comparison. Miss Miao being polite to you is due to her good upbringing; don't read more into it. They don't look up to you, and literally can't see us in that way. Don't think that just because we're leaving, you can say whatever you want. If you meet her, be careful with your words, pushing too hard might embarrass yourself."
Wu Jinliang truly feared that Shi Chun, upon leaving, would act rashly.
Shi Chun opened one eye slightly, glancing at him and asked, "Is that it? You think I haven't heard that kind of talk before? You think it can hurt me?"
Wu Jinliang stopped his hand, looking anxious, "No, I mean, Chun Tian, you're usually a clever person. Her politeness contains a message for you to be self-aware. Can't you see that? Besides, she's already made it clear you're not suitable for each other. Is it worth hounding her like this?"
Shi Chun casually splashed some water on his neck, calmly saying, "You think I like being shameless, making others laugh at me? I have no choice. Who told us we had offended Shen Youkun? That bastard is still fixed on settling accounts, especially with his plan this time. There might be people arranged outside to block us.
I've noticed that every time Miss Miao finishes balancing accounts, a batch of collected goods is sent out. As long as we can get the cargo team to take us along, even Shen Youkun's people wouldn't dare to touch Bowan Building's delivery team. I've suffered all these years of ridicule just for today, to have an opening to escape."