Questioning the Heart

"Could it be that the Teaching Master has forgotten about that Shuidu Order?"

Zeng Anmin's expression did not change as he met the Teaching Master's gaze.

The Shuidu Order!!

As soon as these words were spoken, the Teaching Master's scalp instantly went numb.

A sensation like an electric shock spread from the base of his spine all the way to his mind.

He stared at Zeng Anmin, momentarily unable to speak.

"The Shuidu Order..."

The Teaching Master fell silent for a long while, then raised his head with a complicated expression and said:

"If the murderer's target was the Shuidu Order... then logically, it does hold up."

To prevent theft, the academy's Library of Past Sages had specially invited a master from the Profound Formation Division in the capital to set up a formation.

To pass through this formation unscathed, one could only use the Shuidu Order as a key.

But precisely because of the formation's limitations, it was impossible to craft a unique Shuidu Order tailored to each individual...

So, in theory, as long as one carried a Shuidu Order, they could enter the Library of Past Sages at any time.

But Zhang Lun was a student of Shuidu Academy!

Who could have guessed that someone would risk everything, killing a man for the sake of a Shuidu Order?

This was no different from slapping the entire faculty and student body of Shuidu Academy across the face.

And on top of that, smearing a heap of dog shit right on the Dean's face.

Zeng Anmin looked at the corpse.

He noticed a detail.

By the corpse's hand was an unfinished drawing...

Though only a few strokes, it was very clear and unmistakable.

It was the emblem of the Xuanjing Division.

"This emblem..."

Zeng Anmin's brows knitted tightly together.

He could trace the threads and deduce the murderer's likeness, but this emblem alone left him momentarily unable to fathom Zhang Lun's intent.

Could the murderer be someone from the Xuanjing Division?

This thought was quickly dismissed by Zeng Anmin.

The disparity in status was far too great; there was simply no connection to be made.

"Zhang Lun was a man of noble character, never committing any crime or wrongdoing. To die unjustly at the hands of a bandit, he must have been unwilling. Drawing this emblem before his death was surely a plea for heaven's justice to shine bright, for the Xuanjing Division to solve the case swiftly and restore a clear world to him."

The Teaching Master saw the emblem, and Zhang Lun's eyes that refused to close in death. A pang of pain struck his heart without reason, and his voice grew hoarse.

This explanation was plausible enough.

Zeng Anmin nodded thoughtfully.

The Teaching Master's face was filled with grief. He bowed deeply to Wang Daoyuan, who stood nearby:

"Patrol Guard Wang, I implore you to bring the bandit to justice!"

"Teaching Master, you flatter me. I will do my utmost!"

Seeing the Teaching Master bow, Wang Daoyuan was flattered and quickly helped him up.

Then, a faint bitterness crept into his heart.

He had originally thought this was merely a revenge killing. Who could have imagined that after Zeng Anmin's analysis, it would instantly escalate to a matter of Shuidu Academy's face?

He could foresee that if this case went unsolved, the academy would put immense pressure on the yamen...

"What must be done now is to search the entire city. As long as we find the Shuidu Order, we can trace the thread back to the murderer."

The Teaching Master spoke gravely, his gaze fixed on Wang Daoyuan as he continued: "If there are difficulties, I still have some small influence with Commander Wang of the Xuanjing Division."

Wang Daoyuan's eyes lit up. If he could leverage Commander Wang's connections, it would make their work much easier.

"No need for such trouble."

Zeng Anmin spoke calmly.

Mm?

Wang Daoyuan and the Teaching Master both turned to look at Zeng Anmin.

"It has only been two days since Zhang Lun obtained the Shuidu Order. Aside from the students at the academy, this news absolutely could not have spread to the outside world."

Zeng Anmin's gaze fell on Wang Daoyuan and the Teaching Master:

"Moreover, Brother Tongyu is not one to flaunt things. Apart from those close to him, he would not mention this matter to anyone."

"So the first step is to investigate from two directions."

"Which two directions?"

Wang Daoyuan stared blankly at Zeng Anmin and asked instinctively.

"First, look into Brother Tongyu's close associates—see if he ever mentioned this matter to any of them."

"Second, examine the academy's students."

A sharp gleam flickered in Zeng Anmin's eyes:

"The focus of the investigation should be on those students who have martial artist guards."

Right to the point!

In just a few sentences, Zeng Anmin had condensed this extremely thorny unresolved case into a traceable, ordinary one.

Hearing this, Wang Daoyuan's eyes lit up.

He himself had originally been an officer of the Xuanjing Division.

He naturally had some foundation in handling cases and investigations.

Though he couldn't organize the clues as clearly as Zeng Anmin had on the spot, it was merely a matter of time—given a few days, he figured he could have reached the same conclusion.

Then, Wang Daoyuan abruptly turned to the Master and said:

"Let's do it that way! For now, we still need the Master's help."

The Master narrowed his eyes slightly. He first gave Zeng Anmin a deep look, then nodded and said in a low voice:

"If that's the case, I will personally ask the Dean to conduct the heart-interrogation."

"Thank you, Master!" Wang Daoyuan bowed directly.

In the Confucian lineage, upon reaching the Middle Three Ranks, one would gain an effect similar to "when the Master shouts."

By channeling Vast Righteous Qi and shouting at a person, those with an unsteady mind would spill out their transgressions like beans from a bamboo tube.

The higher one's Confucian cultivation realm, the deeper this technique became.

If Dean Qin Shouchang were to take action, this case would become much simpler.

"Good." Zeng Anmin slowly nodded.

"He never mentioned the matter of the Shuidu Order to any of his close associates."

Inside the academy dormitory.

Zeng Anmin listened to Wang Daoyuan's report without speaking.

He merely tapped his index finger lightly on the table, "tap tap."

Wang Daoyuan felt a bit at a loss. He rubbed his hands together, glancing around with his peripheral vision.

The Governor's Young Master, studying incognito at the academy—

this was the first time he'd encountered such a thing.

"Mm."

Zeng Anmin slowly raised his head: "Then we'll see what the Dean finds during the heart-interrogation."

Time passed quickly.

All one hundred and thirty-six students of the Shuidu Academy were gathered on a patch of grass.

Everyone looked up at the old man standing on the high platform.

The old man wore a long robe, his gaze dark and gloomy.

In his withered hand, he held a ruler, his eyes sweeping over each student one by one.

He was none other than the Dean of Shuidu Academy, Air Force Number One in the Xianxia World, Qin Shouchang.

By now, nearly all the students had received news of Zhang Lun's death.

They were all whispering among themselves below.

"Silence!"

Qin Shouchang used some unknown technique—the moment he opened his mouth, his voice exploded like thunder.

The entire venue fell silent instantly.

"You all must know what has happened."

Qin Shouchang's face was grim as he slowly descended from the high platform.

Yes.

Everyone knew it.

And now a sense of impending danger had taken hold.

Zhang Lun's death also reflected a problem from the sidelines.

Shuidu Academy, it seemed, was not as safe as legend claimed.

And this very fact had touched the academy's bottom line.

Thus, a fire of pent-up rage burned in Qin Shouchang's heart. His face expressionless, he continued:

"All of you must cooperate with me to root out the murderer."

"Anyone who resists will be deemed an accomplice!"

No one spoke.

Such a heinous act had united the students in shared outrage.

Someone even stepped forward first, facing Qin Shouchang and declaring loudly:

"Root out the murderer, and restore a clear and bright world for Brother Tongyu!!"

"Root out the murderer!!"

Everyone shouted in unison.

Seeing the students' fervor run so high, Qin Shouchang's expression softened slightly.