Gongyang Xuanming

The fire at the Underground Factory in the suburbs was no small matter. Even if someone had secretly suppressed it, there still had to be signed incident reports from the on-site investigators.

As long as he found the files on the Underground Factory fire and confirmed who had participated, there was a strong chance he could uncover the Demonic Path Cultivator's planted agents within the Police Station. Then Lu Yan would only need to follow the clues and investigate them one by one.

This approach was somewhat troublesome, but its impact was minimal.

If Lu Yan directly used the Vengeful Soul to intimidate and interrogate people, it would leave too many traces. Once the world underwent a Version Update, Information Mapping would leave behind hidden dangers.

Lu Yan was the only cultivator in the world in the Urban Version, but in the Xianxia Version, he was merely a minor figure who had just crossed the threshold of cultivation. Any effect from Information Mapping could bring him a fatal threat.

To prevent such things from happening, he had to keep a low profile.

After confirming the location of the Records Room, the Vengeful Soul easily passed through the door and entered.

Looking around, it saw all kinds of files neatly sorted across the surrounding shelves. In the upper-left corner of the room, a surveillance camera was operating.

With a light gesture from the Vengeful Soul, vast amounts of yin energy gathered into a hazy black mist that obscured the camera. It then began searching for files containing case records.

"North City Freezer Dismemberment Case, Adult Man Disappearance Case, Telecom Fraud Case, Luo City Serial Murder Case... Is this Luo City or Gotham?"

Using the Vengeful Soul to view the contents of the files, Lu Yan could not help but make a snide remark before beginning his search in chronological order.

Only after going back more than two months did Lu Yan find the file concerning the suburban fire.

The file itself was unremarkable. The closed-case report stated that the fire had been caused by abandoned electrical appliances accidentally catching fire.

It had been an abandoned factory to begin with, and there appeared to have been no casualties on the surface, so it had not drawn much attention.

On the on-site investigator's signature, the three characters Li Zhaoheng were written clearly.

Lu Yan's gaze narrowed slightly. He controlled the Vengeful Soul to search through the police personnel files and found Li Zhaoheng's name and home address.

After putting the moved files back in order, the Vengeful Soul withdrew the black mist and passed through the wall, leaving the Luo City Police Department without anyone noticing throughout the entire process.

At the hotel, Lu Yan recalled the Vengeful Soul into the Soul Banner and turned to leave.

After nightfall, Li Zhaoheng, reeking of alcohol, returned home.

Lying on the bed in his bedroom and recalling the promise he had received at the drinking table today, Li Zhaoheng could not hide the joy on his face.

"I've endured for so many years. I've finally waited for the day I rise!"

He was already forty-two this year and had languished in the position of police chief for thirteen years.

Thirteen years ago, he had solved several major cases in succession and become the youngest police chief in the Luo City Police Department. He had even earned the title of Luo City Detective.

Yet because, during one mission, he had refused an order from above to let one of the criminals go, he had been forcibly pinned to the position of police chief for a full thirteen years.

Only years later did he learn that the criminal had been the illegitimate son of a major figure above.

Thirteen years had worn away the young police chief's sharp edges. He gradually learned to bow his head and learned to wallow in the same mire.

Since he had lost all hope of promotion, he might as well seek more benefits for himself and live a better life.

Two months ago, a fire had broken out on the outskirts of Luo City. Li Zhaoheng was not supposed to be responsible for investigating the scene, but he had accidentally learned that behind the abandoned factory where the fire began stood a powerful figure in Myanmar who could cover the sky with one hand.

Li Zhaoheng thus took the initiative to apply for responsibility over the fire investigation. Using that opportunity, he made contact with that powerful figure and helped conceal information from the scene.

On the surface, it had been nothing more than an ordinary accidental fire. How the investigation results were determined was merely a matter of Li Zhaoheng saying the word.

It was not until Li Zhaoheng personally saw a group of people carrying dozens of charred corpses out from beneath that abandoned factory that he realized this matter was far from simple.

But since he had chosen to wade into this muddy water, Li Zhaoheng would not hesitate or dither.

After handling the matter, that powerful figure had immediately vanished without making Li Zhaoheng any promises.

It was not until today that the powerful figure reappeared in Luo City. One of his trusted subordinates arranged a gathering to entertain Li Zhaoheng.

At the banquet, Li Zhaoheng received a promise from that powerful figure. He would handle matters within the Luo City Police Department and raise Li Zhaoheng's position a little higher.

But there was a condition: Li Zhaoheng had to find someone named Lu Yan for that powerful figure.

After waiting bitterly in the position of police chief for thirteen years, he had finally encountered a turning point. Li Zhaoheng was beside himself with joy and agreed without hesitation.

Lying on the bed with a drunken look on his face, Li Zhaoheng recalled the task assigned by that powerful figure's confidant. He wished he could return to the Police Station right now to investigate information about Lu Yan.

Just then, the bedroom lights suddenly went out.

"A power outage?"

Li Zhaoheng instinctively looked at the extinguished light and prepared to get up to check the breaker.

But at that moment, a pitch-black figure appeared beside his bed, and an icy aura began spreading through the entire room.

"Who is it?"

Li Zhaoheng instinctively demanded, only to suddenly discover that he could not make any sound at all.

Only heavy breathing emerged from his opening and closing mouth. The bone-piercing chill and the scene before his eyes made him tremble uncontrollably.

"Why?"

The questioning voice arose from the black figure before him. That mournful, shrill sound seemed able to strike directly at the human soul, dragging his consciousness down until even his mind sank into chaos.

The next moment, a savage face emerged within the dark room.

That pale face seemed stitched together from several souls, filled with an unnaturally jarring discordance. Twisted terror erupted in a thunderous burst.

"We died such an unjust death!"

"My organs hurt! My eyes hurt!"

Bloody tears flowed from the pitch-black eye sockets, while the Vengeful Soul's wails continued.

"Why did you help them cover it up?"

"Why didn't you avenge me?"

"I'll gouge out your eyeballs, cut out your organs, and make you suffer the same pain as us!"

By now, Li Zhaoheng was scared out of his wits. He understood that the Vengeful Soul before him had been formed from the corpses in that abandoned factory and had come to claim his life!

He desperately worked his lips, trying to make a sound. Finally, just before the Vengeful Soul's palm touched him, his voice returned.

"It wasn't me! It wasn't me!"

"The one who harmed you was Gongyang Xuanming! Gongyang Xuanming!"

"It was Gongyang Xuanming's men who ordered me to conceal the truth about the fire scene. The one who killed you must have been him!"

The Vengeful Soul continued questioning in its shrill voice, "Who is Gongyang Xuanming?"

"He suddenly came to Luo City from Myanmar several years ago. They say he is the descendant of some powerful figure in Myanmar who can cover the sky with one hand, and he does border trade business in Luo City.

"Some say that in recent years, he has been selecting compatible organs for transplantation for Myanmar's upper ranks. The higher-ups investigated him before, but they never found any evidence.

"He is staying at the Maple Orchid Grand Hotel right now. If you go there, you will definitely find him and his men."

The Vengeful Soul fell silent, seemingly pondering the information about Gongyang Xuanming.

Seeing this, Li Zhaoheng gritted his teeth and continued:

"After this happened, Gongyang Xuanming immediately went to Myanmar and only recently returned to Luo City.

"Today, he even asked me to investigate someone. That person must be connected to this matter as well."

"That person is called Lu Yan!"