Wang Hu

The man who arrived was none other than Wang Long's younger brother, the leader of the Iron Tiger Gang and an expert in Dark Energy, Wang Hu!

Compared to the fleshy, coarse-featured Wang Long, Wang Hu appeared much more "refined."

He looked to be in his thirties and could be described as handsome, though he possessed a pair of tiger-like eyes that burned with a piercing intensity, exuding a palpable sense of oppression.

At this moment, his expression was grim, his presence even more imposing.

Behind him followed a group of men with equally unpleasant expressions, numbering over a dozen, each radiating a formidable aura.

Upon entering the courtyard, he caught sight of Wang Long's corpse on the ground. His footsteps faltered for a brief moment before he continued forward.

He remained expressionless, looking down at Wang Long's body in silence for a long time.

Finally, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. In that instant, one could see the fury and terrifying murderous intent hidden deep within his gaze.

When he opened his eyes again, they had returned to a cold, grim state. He turned his head toward Zhao Xing and Zhou Xing, took a deep breath, and cupped his hands. "Chief Zhao, Chief Zhou, you have... worked hard for this. Have you discovered anything?"

Zhao Xing waved a hand, his tone indifferent. "It is official business; no need for thanks. As for discoveries... there is nothing of value yet."

Zhou Xing remained silent.

Seeing Zhao Xing's lukewarm attitude, Wang Hu did not take offense. He nodded slightly and asked, "If there is any way we can be of assistance, please let us know, Chiefs. Regardless of the cost, I must trouble you both to find the murderer and clear my brother's name."

"It is our duty, no need for more words." Zhao Xing remained as cold as before.

"However, there are indeed a few questions I must ask you." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"I will answer everything I know," Wang Hu said calmly.

"Has Wang Long offended anyone recently?" Zhao Xing asked, raising an eyebrow.

Wang Hu paused, then replied calmly, "My brother was usually charitable and kind-hearted; he shouldn't have offended anyone."

"Wang Long? Kind-hearted?" Zhao Xing let out a scoff.

Wang Hu said nothing.

Zhao Xing paused before adding, "This is clearly a vendetta. The perpetrator came specifically to kill Wang Long and his men. If we don't know the reason, it will be very difficult for us to continue the investigation."

Wang Hu frowned, falling into deep thought.

The scene remained silent.

After a long moment, Wang Hu said calmly, "Since that is the case... I must trouble you both to investigate carefully and see if my brother truly offended anyone inadvertently."

It was clear that Wang Hu was unwilling to say more.

Zhao Xing looked at him, then nodded. "In that case... very well."

He glanced around and said, "We have checked enough for now. We will leave it at this for today. If there are any further discoveries, I will come to find you... Let's pack up."

At his command, the men from the yamen began to clear the scene, bringing out two stretchers to transport the deceased back to the office.

But Wang Hu stopped them.

"My brother has already passed; there is no need to trouble you, Chief Zhao. Let him be laid to rest in peace."

Wang Hu said this calmly.

"The bodies from a homicide must be brought back to the yamen for examination. We might find some clues, so they cannot be buried yet," Zhao Xing said, frowning.

"Then please, Chief Zhou, examine him here... My sister-in-law and nephew are just outside. I cannot let them see my brother in this state." Wang Hu shook his head gently.

Zhao Xing turned his head and only then noticed that when this group arrived, they had already brought a coffin, which was currently parked at the gate.

Zhao Xing frowned and instinctively looked at Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing said calmly, "There is nothing left to examine on the body. I have already checked what needed to be checked."

Zhao Xing frowned upon hearing this, but ultimately said nothing more. He waved his hand, and the yamen runners carrying the stretchers abandoned the idea of taking Wang Long away.

Still feeling somewhat indignant, Zhao Xing let out a cold, faint snort. "Wang Hu, those who commit many injustices are doomed to destruction... As for your Iron Tiger Gang... take care of yourselves."

Wang Hu's expression remained unchanged as he bowed. "Many thanks for the advice, Chief Zhao."

Zhao Xing took one last deep look at Wang Hu, said nothing more, and waved his hand as the yamen runners departed.

Outside the gate, they ran into Wang Long's middle-aged, plump wife.

At this moment, she stood there blankly, clutching her child, lost in her own thoughts.

"Brother Hu."

After the yamen officials left, the men around Wang Hu spoke in low voices.

Wang Hu's face was cold and grim as he looked at Wang Long's corpse. After a moment, he asked calmly, "With such a commotion, did truly no one hear anything last night?"

"The neighbors next door all heard it."

Someone whispered, "But they didn't dare to show their faces."

Wang Long was dead, and the yamen had arrived, which naturally had already alarmed the neighbors.

During this process, someone had told the truth to the neighbors next door... they had all heard the commotion last night.

However...

"That Wang Long was a member of the Iron Tiger Gang; who knows who he offended? How could I dare to go out? I didn't expect that something would actually happen..."

In this day and age, it is better to avoid trouble than to invite it.

Wang Hu said indifferently, his expression numb, "I want to know everything he heard yesterday."

"And then?" his subordinate asked in a low voice.

"And then?... He didn't show his face when my brother died, so there's no need for him to show it ever again."

Wang Hu looked at the corpse of Wang Long and spoke coldly.

A cold glint flashed in the subordinate's eyes. After bowing to acknowledge the order, he took a few men and left.

Wang Hu stared at the corpse of Wang Long, saying nothing.

"Could it have been the Four Seas Gang?" someone beside Wang Hu whispered, offering a guess.

"If it were Cao Zhen, he wouldn't have gone to such trouble... Qiu Jin said that man once killed someone in Lan Gui Fang and escaped using a bitter ruse; that doesn't sound like Cao Zhen's style." Wang Hu shook his head slightly.

"Then..."

The crowd frowned, at a complete loss.

"Investigate and see what my brother has been up to lately," Wang Hu said in a deep voice, closing his eyes.

Although Wang Long was his brother, his cultivation had failed to keep pace, so Wang Hu generally did not involve him in the important affairs of the gang.

Therefore, Wang Hu really did not know much about what Wang Long usually did.

"And that Scar-Head Li... what is his background? Investigate him for me as well."

Wang Hu looked at the corpse of Wang Long, "He died at the entrance of the alley, also killed by a throwing dart; it is clear that he is likely connected to this matter."

"Yes."

The people at the yamen were unaware of the movements on Wang Hu's side.

After they withdrew and returned to the duty room, Zhao Xing instructed everyone to organize the various files for this case, while he himself headed into the yamen, intending to report to the Magistrate.

...Eight lives. Although they were all ruffians or even gang members, eight lives were still eight lives. In normal times, this would absolutely be a shocking and major case.

However... there had been far too many cases in True Martial County lately.

The wave of rioting refugees had resulted in at least hundreds of deaths, and things were still in complete disarray.

But regardless, such a major case had occurred, and the Magistrate had to be informed.

Zhao Xing left to find the Magistrate.

Zhou Xing remained with the other yamen runners to continue sorting through case materials, evidence, and filling out autopsy reports...

But before long, Zhao Xing returned, his brows locked in a tight frown.

Zhou Xing looked up, saw his expression, and was stunned for a moment before frowning and asking in a low voice, "Not there again?"

Zhao Xing let out a soft sigh and nodded slightly.

"The people from above are likely arriving soon; the Magistrate is probably out trying to find a way... Sigh, I don't know if the Magistrate can escape accountability this time."

Zhao Xing said with some worry.

The Magistrate he referred to was, naturally, Yang Zhenwu.

The situation in True Martial County this time was too massive; the relief grain had been burned, and the refugees had rebelled... This was a matter that reached the highest levels.

As the Magistrate of True Martial, Yang Zhenwu bore the brunt of it.

Although it was rumored that his background was not small... the matter was simply too grave, and it was hard to say if he could emerge unscathed.

Now that word had it the rebelling refugees had been suppressed, the reckoning was likely coming.

The imperial envoy could arrive in True Martial at any moment...

Yang Zhenwu had been elusive lately, likely out trying to pull strings.

In truth, Yang Zhenwu was innocent; after all, it was obvious that someone was working in the shadows.

But those above would not care about such things... they only looked at the results.

And the final result was... the relief grain sent to True Martial was burned, leading to the rebellion of tens of thousands of refugees.

As the primary person responsible, Yang Zhenwu would likely find it hard to escape the blame.

Hearing this, Zhou Xing also sighed softly and could only say, "Good people have their own heaven-sent luck... one can only hope nothing major happens."

For a matter of this magnitude, small figures like him and Zhao Xing naturally could not be of any help.

They could only pray.

"Sigh, forget it, let's put it aside for now. In any case, it doesn't look like Wang Hu has any intention of having us investigate... Let them bite each other like dogs. Alright, alright, we've been busy all morning, let's go, let's go eat."

Zhao Xing simply gave up.

The runners, who had been busy all morning, immediately perked up upon hearing they were going to eat and quickly tidied up.

Just as they were about to head out.

"Master Zhou, Master Zhou..."

Suddenly, a bailiff appeared at the doorway. He poked his head into the duty room and caught sight of the group just about to head out. He froze for a moment before beckoning to Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing was taken aback when he saw who it was, but he quickly realized something and broke into a smile. "You're here? We were just heading out to eat, want to join? We can talk while we eat."

"No, no, I can't." The bailiff waved his hands hurriedly, then lowered his voice. "Master Zhou, could we step aside for a moment..."

Seeing the look on the bailiff's face, Zhou Xing paused, his brows knitting together. Realizing there might be bad news, he nodded and said to Zhao Xing, "You all go ahead, I have something to take care of here."

Zhao Xing was momentarily stunned. He naturally recognized this bailiff... he was a clerk from the Household Department.

Although he was curious about what business Zhou Xing could have with the Household Department, Zhao Xing was a smart man and knew better than to pry. He nodded and said, "Don't take too long, we'll be at the usual spot."

"Got it."

As Zhao Xing and the other yamen runners left to grab a meal, Zhou Xing and the Household Department clerk stepped outside the duty room.

The clerk rubbed his hands together, let out a soft sigh, and whispered, "Master Zhou, my apologies. The matter you entrusted me with last time... I'm afraid it can't be done for the time being."

As expected.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing's brows furrowed tightly.

"What's going on? It's just arranging for a refugee to register their household... is there some sort of difficulty?"

"This... it's the intention of Head An... you know as well as I do that all household registrations require his nod. But Head An said that since the aftershocks of the refugee rebellion haven't fully settled, we must be extra cautious with registrations to prevent rebels from using this to escape justice. So..."

The Household Department clerk spread his hands helplessly.

"An Changyu?"

Zhou Xing's brows immediately locked together.

"Head Zhou, you know I can't go against Head An's wishes... so... I'm sorry. Since the matter wasn't completed, I really can't bring myself to keep your favor, this..."

As the clerk spoke, he pulled a household registration document and a few taels of silver from his robes, attempting to return them to Zhou Xing.

Zhou Xing exhaled softly and pressed his hand down. "What are you doing? It's not your fault the matter didn't go through... I've seen how you've been running around for this lately. Just keep it as a small token for some wine."

"This..." The clerk looked embarrassed.

Zhou Xing offered a few words of comfort with a smile. Finally, the clerk whispered, "About this, I think you'll have to speak to Head An yourself... or have the Magistrate give the order... Well, Head Zhou, you go ahead and get busy. I still have official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

"Mm, thank you for your hard work."

"It's no trouble at all..."

The Household Department clerk left.

Zhou Xing stood there with his brows tightly knit, staring at the slightly grimy registration document in his hand.

His expression gradually turned sour.

He hadn't expected that the one task his master had finally entrusted to him would end in failure.

"An Changyu..."

His brows remained tightly locked.

A moment later, he exhaled and turned to head out of the yamen gates.

Since the matter wasn't settled, he had to inform his master.

He first bought two jin of wine and had a few jin of yellow beef sliced before heading toward his master's place.

Shortly after, he walked into Spring Return Hall.