Night at the Liu Manor, the Madam Knocks!

On the way there, Chen Mo had gained a rough understanding of the Liu Family situation from Head Constable Xing.

The Liu Family ancestors were second-rank palace guards, which could be considered a prestigious lineage, but after their fortunes declined, they moved to this Tongling County.

The late head of the family, Liu Yuan, was a seventh-rank martial artist known for his forthright nature and sense of justice, earning him a sterling reputation throughout the city.

The only thing people criticized him for was:

He was too obsessed with women.

Not satisfied with having taken seven concubines, he had set his sights on his own sister-in-law.

The girl had just passed her fifteenth year, and under Liu Yuan's mix of coercion and enticement, she had no choice but to compromise and agree to become his equal wife.

As it turned out, something went wrong on the very night of the grand wedding...

"My servants are dim-witted and failed to recognize a person of true status; I hope you will not take offense, my lord."

Madam Liu Qin walked up to him and curtsied gracefully. "This concubine, Madam Liu Qin, greets the Flag Officer."

Chen Mo raised his eyes to look her over.

Her full figure stretched her clothing taut, and she wore no makeup, her face bare; her slightly furrowed brows carried a faint trace of fragility and sorrow.

A "wife of another" physique combined with the "widow" status—the buffs were truly stacked to the max.

"Li Yuan, inspect the goods."

Chen Mo said indifferently.

Li Yuan was slightly stunned, but she reacted immediately.

Although she was quite dissatisfied with his bossy attitude, she held back, took a piece of pure white jade from her bosom, and walked up to Madam Liu Qin.

"Do not resist."

The jade touched the center of Madam Liu Qin's forehead.

There was no reaction at all.

This was the Mystic Jade, capable of sensing demonic aura.

With no reaction at such close range, it meant Madam Liu Qin had not been possessed by any demon or ghost.

Afterward, they called over everyone else in the manor, and after testing them one by one, they confirmed there were no issues.

Looking at the bevy of beauties before him, Chen Mo shook his head inwardly. This Master Liu was quite the romantic figure; eating big fish and meat every day, yet still thinking about having a side dish...

But it was strange to think that despite marrying so many wives and concubines, he hadn't produced a single son or daughter.

Could it be that he had the gun but no ammunition?

"Why don't I see your sister?"

Chen Mo scanned the crowd and asked.

Madam Liu Qin sighed and said, "Ever since that day, Ru Yan has been terrified; she has been hiding in her room and dares not come out."

"If you wish to test her, I am afraid I must trouble you, my lord, to go there yourself."

On her wedding day, she had lifted her veil only to find her husband beside her was nothing but an empty-headed corpse.

That would certainly leave a significant psychological trauma.

"Wan'er, you lead the way for the lord."

Madam Liu Qin said.

"My lord, please follow me."

A maid led them toward the backyard.

The moment they left, the previously somewhat noisy courtyard instantly fell silent, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Everyone stood expressionless, all staring in unison toward the direction of the backyard.

Arriving at a side chamber, the maid knocked on the door, but there was no response.

"The second young mistress might be resting..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Chen Mo pushed the door open and walked in.

The room was dim, with neither candles nor lamps lit. A thin, frail woman lay on her side on the bed. Her features bore a slight resemblance to Madam Liu Qin, but her face lacked color, and she looked sickly.

Seeing someone enter, she hurriedly sat up, her expression somewhat nervous.

"Don't be afraid, we are not bad people."

Li Yuan comforted her.

She walked up to her and took out the Mystic Jade, but there was no reaction.

Chen Mo frowned and said, "Are you sure this thing works? It wouldn't be a fake, would it?"

Li Yuan rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to respond, and turned to ask in a gentle voice:

"Sister Ru Yan, on the night the incident occurred, did you notice anything unusual?"

Qin Ruyan slowly shook her head, her face turning even paler as if she had recalled that terrifying scene once more.

Head Constable Xing whispered, "We have interrogated her several times, and there were no issues. Besides, all her friends and family were present when the incident occurred, so it shouldn't be her..."

Chen Mo looked at her pretty face and asked, "Liu Yuan forced you to be his wife; do you hate him in your heart?"

Qin Ruyan was silent for a moment, then said in a weak voice, "The Master has been very caring toward my sister and me. In these chaotic times, to have a place to settle down with food and clothing provided, what reason do I have to hold a grudge?"

Chen Mo nodded and said nothing more.

After everyone left, the room returned to silence.

"Sister, was my performance alright?"

Qin Ruyan tilted her head and said softly.

Her withered figure rapidly became plump, and in the blink of an eye, she was identical to Lady Liu!

Opening her mouth, a slightly more mature voice emerged:

"The two who came this time are a bit troublesome; we must find a way to get through tonight first."

"Only one last blood sacrifice remains before the work is complete. Once that is done, we won't have to be trapped in this wretched place anymore! The sky is vast, and the birds can fly where they please!"

Walking out of the backyard.

The sun was setting behind the western hills, and the sky was growing dim.

According to Head Constable Xing, if nothing went wrong, something was likely to go wrong tonight.

Li Yuan said, "Since there is no problem with the Liu Family, our next step is..."

Chen Mo said indifferently, "Who said there was no problem?"

Li Yuan frowned, and just as she was about to speak, Lady Liu swayed her waist as she walked over.

"Have you finished your investigation, My Lord?"

"It is getting late, and the city has not been peaceful lately. The manor must lock its doors, so I will not be able to host you any longer."

It was clearly an order to leave.

Chen Mo stood with his hands behind his back, looking solemn. "This official has a premonition that there may be demonic beings causing chaos in the Liu Manor tonight, so I have decided to stay here to protect you, Madam."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Head Constable Xing nearly choked on his own saliva.

These demons and ghosts only target men; Lady Liu is much safer than you are!

Li Yuan spat internally.

With that high-sounding pretense, he is clearly just lusting after her beauty and harboring evil intentions... I thought he was different from other men, but it turns out he is just as filthy!

Lady Liu was stunned and hesitated, "The manor is mostly occupied by female relatives, and I am still in mourning. Wouldn't this be inappropriate?"

Chen Mo's expression was serious. "In extraordinary times, one must adopt extraordinary measures. How can one care about trivial formalities?"

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Or are you saying that you are questioning this official's character?"

"I would not dare..."

Seeing this, Lady Liu had no choice but to say, "In that case, I will trouble you, My Lord. Someone, take the Lord to the east wing to rest."

"Arrange an empty room for me as well, right next to his."

Li Yuan stared at Chen Mo without blinking.

She wanted to see exactly what this guy was planning!

The gates of the Liu Manor were tightly shut.

Head Constable Xing stood outside the gate and sighed helplessly.

He had originally thought these two officials were here to solve the case, but he hadn't expected...

Watching the last rays of the sun fade from the horizon, fear welled up in his eyes. He wondered who would die tonight?

Inside the room, the candlelight was dim.

Chen Mo sat cross-legged, his true essence circulating within his body.

Threads of vital essence surged from his acupoints, constantly tempering his physique and nourishing his blood and qi.

Although the people in the Liu Manor seemed normal and lacked the aura of demons or ghosts, the vital essence within his body was somewhat restless, as if something here was particularly repulsive to it.

The system had gone silent after triggering the event.

This was the consistent style of Absolute Immortal; there were no mission requirements, and everything relied on one's own exploration.

Knock, knock, knock.

At this moment, the door was knocked, and Lady Liu's voice came through:

"My Lord, have you rested yet?"

Chen Mo opened his eyes, his gaze flickering.

"I haven't come to explore the Madam, yet the Madam has come to explore me?"