The cemetery was eventually dug open, and what they found was indeed an empty coffin.
Gu Susu's body had vanished without a trace. Most likely, just as Uncle Ma.0 had speculated, someone had taken her corpse to perform a sacrificial refinement, in order to seize control of the Heart-Devouring Gu inside Old Wang.
The two of them quickly reburied Gu Susu's grave before leaving.
Uncle Ma.0's expression, however, grew increasingly grave. "Xiao Luo, do you know? I actually wouldn't be surprised if Old Wang used his authority to seek some personal benefits. After all, power is useless if you don't use it."
Xiao Luo Si R said, "Uncle Ma, are you saying there's something suspicious about the branch chief being the leader of the East District's criminal forces?"
Uncle Ma.0 shook his head. "I've never believed Old Wang was the leader of those criminal forces... Think about it. Old Wang is married into the Wang family, and he has the Wang family behind him. As long as they're willing to support him, and Iron Rakshasa is willing to promote him... sooner or later, Old Wang could become the top officer of the Huoyun Police Force and rise through the ranks. Wouldn't that be better than the money he made through illegal activities?"
"You suspect the branch chief was being threatened, don't you?"
"Let's make an assumption." Uncle Ma.0's expression turned solemn. "Suppose someone knew Gu Susu's origins, and also knew that a Heart-Devouring Gu had been planted in Old Wang... and this person happened to possess the ability to seize control of the Gu worm. What do you think this person would be like?"
"Perhaps someone from the Styx Ancient Kingdom." Xiao Luo Si R offered that guess based on Uncle Ma.0's deduction.
"If Old Wang really had no choice