Clues

"It's been three days."

"Why is there still no lead!"

"Tell me, why."

A roar pierced through the Central Hall.

Deafening.

The servants in the Prefectural Manor were silent as cicadas in winter, trembling with fear.

They didn't want to hear the Prefect's roar, because it meant someone else was about to die.

Three days.

Many people had already died.

There was only one crime: incompetence.

He didn't even need to fabricate charges, because the Prefect himself represented power and controlled the army.

And there were hundreds of Black Armored Cavalry.

The apparatus of violence could suppress all dissenting voices.

After his only son, Zhang Gui, died, Zhang Wan Long went mad.

Completely and utterly mad.

He didn't care about the lives of the common people, nor did he care about the Imperial Court's accountability. He only wanted to find the murderer.

He didn't dare to question the Young Immortal Master, so he could only search the entire city, hoping to find a clue.

The only clues were: a black banner, the ability to command Ghost Creatures, very young, and an Immortal Master.

Eight Directions City was a major city in a prefecture, with tens of thousands of residents. Searching like this was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"Someone!" Zhang Wan Long's exasperated voice rang out.

Two soldiers in black armor rushed into the Central Hall and lifted the long-robed scholar who was prostrate on the ground.

"Drag him out."

"Prefect, spare my life, spare my life..." Although he was called a long-robed scholar, he had only passed the Child Scholar examination.

Advisor Sun being found dead from suffocation also angered Zhang Wan Long.

His son was dead.

His right-hand man was dead.

He had lost his wife in his early years and his son in middle age.

Great Liang was in peril, and his future career held no promise.

So he had no reservations whatsoever.

He only wanted revenge.

If all else failed, he would search house by house. He was sure he could find a clue.

The Central Hall was silent.

The remaining two didn't dare to speak.

These two were also advisors to Prefect Zhang Wan Long, but they hadn't been highly regarded before.

Now that Advisor Sun was dead, they were receiving attention.

One of them was racking his brain, scratching his head.

The other middle-aged man in a green robe kept his eyes down, seemingly lost in thought over the cup of tea in front of him.

Zhang Wan Long was very displeased with the green-robed middle-aged man's attitude.

Rather, at a time like this, anyone who wasn't as irritable and agitated as he was, anyone who wasn't scratching their head, would provoke his anger.

If you couldn't empathize with him, then just die.

So he spoke, "Advisor Song, what are your insights?"

Advisor Song bowed, "My lord, I have thought about it for a long time after returning, and I realized that I still need you to provide clues."

"I wonder if there are any families in the Prefecture City with whom you have a grudge."

"Please calm down and recall carefully the murderer's appearance, demeanor, clothing, and what he said."

"Regarding his accent."

"It would be best to describe the scene of that day in every detail."

"Only then can we accurately identify the murderer."

Having just killed someone, Zhang Wan Long felt somewhat relieved.

Moreover, he should be the person who most wanted to find the murderer.

Therefore, Advisor Song's words immediately became a good remedy.

Zhang Wan Long also couldn't help but start pondering the scene from that day.

Advisor Song remained calm and composed, even taking a sip of tea on his own.

Although it was cold, it didn't affect the taste, because his mind wasn't on the tea at all.

Why hadn't he brought this up three days ago? This was the cleverness of Advisor Song.

At that time, Prefect Zhang was in the deepest throes of grief over the loss of his son. Even if the suggestion was correct, it would inevitably lead to blame.

He might even have followed Advisor Sun to the Yellow Springs.

Even if he didn't die, bringing it up later, making Prefect Zhang recall the scene from that day, wouldn't he still end up disgraced and gain nothing?

At that time, this suggestion could not be utilized to its maximum potential.

So he didn't bring it up.

Bringing it up today was just right.

After three days, Prefect Zhang had calmed down considerably and was more eager to find the murderer.

Although these suggestions seemed simple, they were very practical.

Zhang Wan Long recalled the scene from that day.

Sorrow welled up in his heart.

He suppressed the pain in his heart.

He carefully recalled if he had made any enemies.

Why did he kill Advisor Sun?

The appearance and voice of the murderer.

It was a pair of young eyes, about Five Feet Six Inches tall, wearing Night-Traveling Clothes and a mask.

He wielded a Soul Banner and had a Red-Haired Evil Ghost.

A ghost face was embroidered on the Soul Banner.

The accent was definitely from Eight Directions Prefecture.

What did he say?

Zhang Wan Long suddenly looked up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He remembered.

The murderer had indeed spoken before acting.

Advisor Song narrowed his eyes, a smile playing on his lips. It seemed the Prefect had really thought of something.

Looking at it now, he, Song Wen Lue, was still superior.

"Old Sun, you can rest in peace."

"Your position, I'll take it."

Advisor Song glanced at his colleague sitting stiffly, a mocking expression flashing across his face. In the instant he lowered his head, his expression was back to normal.

Zhang Wan Long got up and went straight out of the Prefectural Manor's Central Hall.

As he walked out of the Central Hall, the elderly steward of the household walked up to Zhang Wan Long and whispered, "Master."

"Go and investigate the families of those four people."

The steward, of course, knew who the four people Zhang Wan Long was referring to were.

Just as he was about to leave, Zhang Wan Long stopped him again: "Also thoroughly investigate the people who were friendly with those four, and their families."

"Better to kill by mistake than to let one go!"

"Yes."

The steward did not try to dissuade Zhang Wan Long.

It was useless to persuade; Zhang Wan Long no longer cared at all.

He was also someone who had watched Young Master Zhang Gui grow up.

Zhang Wan Long's heart was filled with grief, and his own heart was not feeling well either.

After instructing the steward to do this, Zhang Wan Long went to the residence of the Young Immortal Master.

It was a Taoist temple.

Five Directions Temple.

A place of purity.

Five Directions Temple was a Taoist temple established by the Five Spirits Sect in the secular world.

It could be seen as a relay station or a separate courtyard.

It was basically used to accommodate Five Spirits Sect disciples newly stationed in the Prefecture City.

Of course, if other Five Spirits Sect disciples entered the secular world, they could also come to Five Directions Temple to stay.

"How are the Immortal Master's injuries?"

"Reporting to the Prefect, the Immortal Master is fine now."

"That's a relief."

Zhang Wan Long let out a long breath.

He was no match for that black-clothed figure.

Neither were his soldiers.

Even forming a battle formation wouldn't stop that fierce ghost.

Only the Immortal Master could deal with that person.

So, anyone else could have a problem, but there absolutely couldn't be any issues with the Immortal Master.

Zhang Wan Long got into his ox cart, glanced at the temple with a complicated expression, and finally lowered the curtain of the cart. "Back to the Prefectural Manor."

Three days passed quickly.

Li Qing Feng spent his days meditating and cultivating at the Mountain God Temple, and his nights searching everywhere for Yin Soul Ghost Creatures.

He had already visited the mass grave at the foot of the mountain two or three times, returning empty-handed each time.

He had consumed three black Yin Soul Pills.

The refined magic power condensed into mist.

One Yin Soul Pill was equivalent to over a month of his previous hard work, demonstrating rapid progress.

Originally, advancing to the Qi Condensation Second Layer would have taken at least over a year, but now it seemed the time had been significantly shortened.

Li Qing Feng felt that continuing like this wasn't a solution.

After thinking it over, he still felt that the suggestion the Master Soul Evil Ghost had given him in his dream two days ago was better.

The Master Soul Evil Ghost had told him that since those bandits were only harming people by staying alive, it would be better to eliminate them and turn them into part of his strength.

Li Qing Feng decided to consider it, as it involved human lives and needed to be treated with caution.

His injuries hadn't fully recovered, and he also needed time to heal.

Thinking of the notices about the bandits posted in the Prefecture City and the people who had left the city and never returned, Li Qing Feng ultimately decided to suppress the bandits.

Li Qing Feng smiled helplessly. "I always feel like I'm getting further and further away from the Orthodox Path hero I originally envisioned."

Tu Shan Jun didn't think so. Regardless of the reasons why the bandits couldn't survive, those who kill must be prepared to be killed.

Besides, suppressing bandits was also an act of chivalry and justice.

Children of this age who were educated and sensible were simply more sentimental, so Tu Shan Jun didn't argue.

If they encountered someone completely unreasonable, they would instead go forward with excitement.

However, as long as the final result was good, there was no need to question the process.

For Tu Shan Jun, the best outcome was being able to gain power.