Unraveling the Threads

"No need. I'm already here." A man's voice suddenly rang out.

Wang Changsheng walked in, with Wang Qiusheng following behind him.

"This old man is Wang Qingyun, mayor of Wang Family Town. Greetings, Celestial Master." Wang Qingyun bowed deeply to Wang Changsheng and spoke respectfully.

"Greetings, Celestial Master."

Seeing this, the other members of the Wang Family also bowed in greeting.

"One brush cannot write two Wang characters. There is no need to stand on ceremony. Tell me what happened." Wang Changsheng waved a hand and said amiably.

Wang Qingyun nodded and looked toward Wang Qiusheng.

Wang Qiusheng understood Wang Qingyun's meaning and explained, "Third Uncle, as soon as Ninth Uncle-Grandfather learned that Wang Family Town was haunted, he did not even stop to eat before rushing here."

Wang Qingyun understood at once and respectfully said, "Ninth Uncle, this is what happened. Half a month ago, one of our clansmen was found dead in his home one morning. There was not the slightest wound on his body. At first, we thought it was a murder case, so this nephew had Tianlong and Tianhu hunt down the true culprit. But they never found any leads, and the case made no progress. Over the next half month, more clansmen were killed one after another. Only then did this nephew realize something was amiss and hurriedly sent someone to notify Ninth Uncle by carrier pigeon. I did not expect Ninth Uncle to arrive so quickly."

After hearing Wang Qingyun's account, Wang Changsheng frowned and asked gravely, "You said just now that clansmen were killed one after another? Were all the victims members of the Wang Family?"

This matter was even more serious than Wang Changsheng had imagined. A Ghost appearing in Wang Family Town was nothing much, but if someone was targeting the Wang Family, that was an entirely different matter.

"That is correct. So far, nine clansmen have been killed. Without exception, every victim was killed at night, all of them died in their own homes, and there was not the slightest wound on their bodies or any sign of a struggle. Only then did this nephew realize that the murderer was most likely a Ghost."

Wang Changsheng's brows drew tightly together. From Wang Qingyun's description, the culprit was undoubtedly a Ghost.

As far as he knew, Ghosts naturally enjoyed devouring the vital essence of living people to nourish themselves. If too much of a person's vital essence was consumed, their life would be in danger.

This Ghost might have been local, or it might have come from elsewhere. The former was fine; the latter would be Trouble.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Changsheng asked, "Is there a mass grave in Wang Family Town? Or have any especially strange things happened?"

"There is no mass grave in this town. Our ancestors produced Cultivators, and mass graves gather yin energy, making Ghosts very likely to appear. If anyone dies and no one buries them, this nephew sends people to burn the body. We absolutely do not allow random burials or mass graves. Nothing strange has happened recently either!" Wang Qingyun answered in full detail.

"That's not right, Third Granduncle. More than a month ago, Xiaofeng, the Tofu Beauty, disappeared." After hesitating slightly, the Short Fat Constable reminded him.

Wang Changsheng frowned and asked in a low voice, "She disappeared? Has she still not been found? What is this Tofu Beauty's background? Is she also a member of the Wang Family?"

"No, Ninth Uncle. Xiaofeng was not a member of the Wang Family. She was eighteen this year and quite pretty. At home, she had a blind mother. Xiaofeng made a living selling tofu, so people gave her the nickname Tofu Beauty. More than a month ago, Xiaofeng suddenly stopped setting up her stall. Since her mother was frail and often ill, and Xiaofeng had to care for her, it was not unusual for her to miss a day or two, so no one found it strange. Several days later, however, a foul stench came from Xiaofeng's home. Tianhu went to investigate and discovered that Xiaofeng's mother had died, but Xiaofeng was not at home. This nephew sent people to search for her for some time, but they could not find Xiaofeng, so we burned the body."

"How did Xiaofeng's mother die?"

"According to the coroner's examination, her mother starved to death. Xiaofeng and her mother had depended on each other since Xiaofeng was little. She could not possibly have abandoned her mother. This case was investigated for over a month without any leads, so it was eventually dropped. Not long after Xiaofeng's mother died, clansmen began to be killed."

"Third Granduncle, could Xiaofeng's mother have come back to take revenge on us? We never harmed her while she was alive! The year before last, when Xiaofeng's family could not even keep the pot boiling, I even brought her ten jin of white rice! Now that she is dead, she comes to harm us? Repaying kindness with enmity." Wang Tianhu said with some displeasure.

Wang Qingyun glared at Wang Tianhu and rebuked him without the slightest courtesy, "You still have the nerve to say that? You threatened Xiaofeng and wanted her to marry you. When she refused, didn't you take those ten jin of white rice back?"

"Did that happen?" Wang Changsheng looked at Wang Tianhu, his face full of doubt.

When Wang Tianhu saw Wang Changsheng looking at him, his expression tightened. He honestly said, "It did happen, but I did not pester Xiaofeng after that. She cannot have come back to take revenge on us over this, can she? Li Ermazi even peeped at Xiaofeng while she bathed! If her mother became a Ghost and returned for revenge, why has she not gone after Li Ermazi? Li Ermazi is still alive and well!"

"Li Ermazi? Send someone to bring him here. I have questions for him."

Wang Qingyun nodded and instructed the Middle-Aged Man beside him, "Qiuxian, go invite Li Ermazi here."

The Middle-Aged Man acknowledged and turned to leave.

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment, then continued asking:

"Before Xiaofeng disappeared, did anything strange happen? Or were there any signs?"

Wang Qingyun shook his head, looked at the others, and asked, "Do any of you know? If you do, tell Ninth Uncle. Anyone who dares conceal the truth will be severely punished."

"Don't know."

The Wang Family members present all shook their heads and answered in unison.

They had lives of their own. They could not possibly watch Xiaofeng every day.

Wang Changsheng looked at Wang Tianhu. "What about you? You liked Xiaofeng. Did you know anything?"

Wang Tianhu repeatedly shook his head and said seriously, "This grandson worked at the yamen every day. I could not possibly watch Xiaofeng every day. After my marriage proposal failed, my family arranged another marriage for me. I had only just gotten married, so how would I dare provoke Xiaofeng again?"

At that moment, Wang Qiuxian entered with a Middle-Aged Man whose face was covered in pockmarks.

The Middle-Aged Man had a long horse-like face and tiny eyes. Together with the pockmarks covering his face, he gave off a sleazy impression.

Wang Changsheng looked at the Middle-Aged Man and asked with a frown, "You are Li Ermazi? Did Xiaofeng's disappearance have anything to do with you?"

"Black Fatty has asked me several times already. Why are you still asking? I already said it had nothing to do with me. I did peep at her bathing, but her disappearance has jack shit to do with me." Li Ermazi bared a mouthful of yellow teeth, making others feel disgusted.

"Li Ermazi, watch your mouth. The man before you is my Ninth Uncle-Grandfather." Wang Qiuxian frowned and rebuked him without ceremony.

"Your Ninth Uncle-Grandfather isn't my Ninth Uncle-Grandfather. What the hell does it have to do with me?" Li Ermazi said dismissively.

Wang Tianhu's expression turned cold as he said darkly, "Li Ermazi, I advise you to watch your mouth. Answer whatever Ninth Great-Granduncle asks you honestly. If you want to eat prison food, just say so."

Hearing this, Li Ermazi said somewhat unwillingly, "Ask whatever you want. I guarantee I'll answer honestly."