The scorching air seemed to solidify, warping the light. The tables and chairs in the sitting room dried out, as if they might catch fire at any moment.
Zhang Baili, a Grandmaster, radiated an imposing presence. Meng Qi, however, acted as though he hadn't noticed. Not only did he make no attempt to clash auras, he seemed to bask in a spring breeze, his own presence deeply concealed. Smiling, he said, "Minister Zhang, I don't suspect your Zhang Clan. But since Feng Zheng died here, it's my duty to investigate, isn't it?"
Zhang Baili felt as if his opponent were as insubstantial as empty air. His aura struck nothing, leaving him indescribably uncomfortable. A sudden realization dawned on him: Mad Saber truly stood at the level of a Great Grandmaster. He had surpassed ordinary Grandmasters like himself by an entire tier.
With his aura checked and no moral high ground to stand on, Zhang Baili didn't dare force Meng Qi out, lest he become a target of every other clan. He could only put on a stern face and say:
"Then please investigate the case as soon as possible, Chief Constable Su, and clear the name of our Longnan Zhang Clan."
Seeing this, Liu Shengming withdrew from the sitting room and summoned the nearby informants, including some who had been embedded in the Zhang Clan. After this, they would be reassigned.
Meng Qi's gaze settled on Zhang Yu. "Bring over Feng Zheng's body and the Zhang Clan elder you mentioned."
The alarm on Zhang Yu's face seemed genuine. He answered meekly, "Please wait a moment, Chief Constable."
After Zhang Yu left the room, Meng Qi clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the window. He gazed at the pond, its surface covered with dead carp, his eyes deep