"Where?"
Less than the time it took an incense stick to burn after Shen Mu left, a nearby neighbor led two middle-aged men in constables' uniforms toward Shen Hong's residence at a brisk pace.
"My lords, it's this house."
"The violent fighting just now came from inside this courtyard."
When the two constables saw the house number, their expressions changed.
"If I remember correctly, this should be Shen Hong's home, shouldn't it?"
One of the constables spoke, his eyes showing uncertainty.
"Come on, let's hurry inside and take a look."
The other constable rested a hand on the hilt at his waist and spoke with a grave expression.
"Creak."
The courtyard gate swung open, and a thick stench of blood rushed straight into their nostrils.
The neighbor craned his neck for a look. The courtyard, smeared with blood, and the Shen family lying dead in the sitting room turned his face pale. His stomach began to churn.
"Ugh!"
The neighbor bent over and retched repeatedly.
The two constables, however, warily scanned the courtyard, looking to see whether the killer was still at the scene.
After confirming that no one was there, they exchanged a glance, stepped through the gate, and hurried into the sitting room.
"It really is Shen Hong."
After identifying the deceased, one of the constables quickly said, "Kang Ze, go find Constable Wang at once. I'll guard the crime scene."
"Understood."
The constable named Kang Ze nodded and hurried away.
"What a vicious hand."
Looking at Shen Hong, whose eyes remained open as if he refused to rest in peace, the constable left behind couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
His former colleague had been brutally killed in his own home. Even his wife and child had been slain with a single stroke. The killer's