Interrogation

In an instant, Li Chen Zhou was enveloped in black energy, a precursor to the activation of the Hell Soul Exchange Scripture.

He uttered a low growl, "Soul Capture Technique."

Gu Wen, who was meeting Li Chen Zhou's gaze, instantly became dazed and vacant.

"Who exactly are you?" Li Chen Zhou expended a great deal of energy to control him.

"My name is Zheng Ren, but they all call me The Skinner," Zheng Ren said blankly.

"Then why have you become Gu Wen?"

"It was a task assigned to me from above. I found Gu Wen, killed him, and put on his skin."

"Where is his body?"

"In the stove at his home."

"What is the purpose of doing this?"

"Gu Wen was a Tanhua. I'm using his skin to enter the imperial court."

"Then why were you walking with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel's son?"

"To use him to get close to the Minister of Personnel."

"And then?"

"To have him arrange for me to enter the Ministry of Revenue and eventually become one of the people in charge of this disaster relief effort."

"Your target is the disaster relief funds?"

"Yes."

Hearing this, Li Chen Zhou was filled with uncontrollable rage. He slammed his palm down on the interrogation room table, shattering it into pieces.

"The disaster relief funds are related to the lives of millions of disaster victims. For the Heavenly Desire Palace to dare to set its sights on this money is simply courting death."

Then, Li Chen Zhou's eyes blazed as he continued to ask, "Does Nangong Yue also know about this?"

"Yes, the Holy Maiden also... Ah..."

Li Chen Zhou wanted to continue asking questions, but a blood-colored lotus mark appeared on Zheng Ren's crown, causing him to fall unconscious.

Yan San, who was next to him, quickly asked, "Should we wake him up and continue?"

Li Chen Zhou shook his head. "No need, that's enough. Did you record everything he said?"

The person in charge of recording nodded. "Everything is recorded."

Ding... Congratulations to the host for completing The Skinner case, rewarding 5 years of inner strength cultivation.

Ding... Triggered quest: Investigate the truth behind the disaster relief funds incident. Reward: Heaven-Rank martial skill, Hundred-Hit Heart-Piercing Dragon Claw.

Nangong Manor

While Li Chen Zhou was interrogating Gu Wen, Nangong Yue of Nangong Manor was talking to a person wearing a half-silver mask.

"Zheng Ren has been captured by Li Chen Zhou." Nangong Yue, thinking of Li Chen Zhou's detestable face, crushed the celadon teacup with her jade fingers, creating a spiderweb of cracks.

"Is there a chance the plan has been leaked?" the silver-masked person asked.

"Probably not. There aren't many people in this world who can get information out of Zheng Ren's mouth," Nangong Yue replied after a moment of thought.

"Indeed. After suffering that kind of skinning pain, it's hard to imagine what torture could make him talk," the masked person nodded in agreement.

"Li Chen Zhou has changed a lot. When I fought him, I felt like I wasn't his match," Nangong Yue said with a serious expression, recalling the moment she fought Li Chen Zhou.

"Oh? This kid is hiding himself quite well. Should I go and warn him?" The silver-masked person suddenly had the idea of fighting Li Chen Zhou. The sound of bones shifting came from under the mask, and the black gold chains wrapped around his wrist moved on their own, despite the lack of wind.

"Don't move, lest we alert the enemy. Zheng Ren is currently posing as Tanhua Gu Wen. If he can't be interrogated for a reason, I want to see what he will do when hundreds of officials impeach him tomorrow?" Nangong Yue revealed a hint of cunning as she said this.

"Will the matter of him changing his skin be exposed?" the masked person continued to worry.

"You really underestimate Zheng Ren's skinning technique. He first peels off his own skin, then puts on Gu Wen's skin. After being soaked in a special medicinal solution, Gu Wen's skin has now become one with him," Nangong Yue said confidently.

The silver-masked person also smiled. "Then tomorrow will be a good show to watch."

The next day, all the officials gathered in the Tai Xuan Hall.

As soon as the court began, an official from the Ministry of Personnel stepped forward to impeach Li Chen Zhou.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Speak."

"I wish to impeach Wei Wuji of the Brocade Guard for failing to supervise his subordinates. His Banner Officer, Li Chen Zhou, has arrested Tanhua Gu Wen for no reason, imprisoning him in the Imperial Prison and subjecting him to torture."

The ivory tablet of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices fell to the ground, the crisp sound echoing through the hall.

The officials below were shocked. This colleague was brave enough to impeach the son of Duke Zhen's Estate.

"Hmm? Is this true? Where is Wei Wuji?" The Emperor was overjoyed: Another show to watch.

"This humble servant is here." Wei Wuji strode forward.

"Is this true?" the Emperor asked, lowering his head slightly.

"It is indeed true, but please allow Li Chen Zhou to come up and explain the specific reasons himself," Wei Wuji suggested, cupping his fist.

"Summon Li Chen Zhou to the hall."

Outside the hall, Li Chen Zhou, stepping with the Nine Palaces Steps, passed through the civil and military officials. The lion-patterned saber of the third-rank military officer hummed in its scabbard.

"Li Chen Zhou greets Your Majesty."

"Tell me, why is the Tanhua Gu Wen detained?"

Li Chen Zhou explained, "Recently, a skinner who enjoys killing and flaying people has appeared in the jianghu. Many innocent people and women from good families have suffered at his hands."

At this time, the official from the Ministry of Personnel wouldn't let it go and immediately came out to accuse, "What does this have to do with Tanhua Gu Wen? Are you Brocade Guards so incompetent that you're just using officials from the court to make up the numbers?"

The emperor on the dragon throne quietly watched the two sides confront each other.

"This official should not make slanderous accusations! This humble servant received information that the Skinner may be related to Tanhua Gu Wen. That's why we arrested him."

Faced with Wei Wuji's explanation, the official from the Ministry of Personnel didn't buy it. "Information? Is there any evidence? I heard that last night, at Nangong Manor's poetry gathering, Banner Officer Li clashed with the second son of the Minister of Personnel, and this Tanhua Gu Wen is a close friend of his. Could it be that he's using his position to take revenge because he can't match his literary talent?"

"Evidence? We really do have it. The Brocade Guard received information that there was a flayed corpse in Tanhua Gu Wen's stove, so we rushed to Gu Wen's house overnight. The corpse is now lying in the Brocade Guard's morgue. Isn't that enough evidence?" Wei Wuji had an expression that said, I have evidence, what can you do to me?

The official from the Ministry of Personnel continued, "Even if there is a flayed corpse hidden in Tanhua Gu Wen's stove, it doesn't necessarily mean that Gu Wen is the one who did it."

"That's precisely why it's just an interrogation, not a conviction," Li Chen Zhou retorted.

Seeing that things had reached this point, the emperor began to speak, "Since that's the case, since it involves human life, the questioning should still proceed, but remember, do not use torture again. If no results are obtained today, then release the person."

"Understood."

After the court session was dismissed, Nangong Yue received the news immediately.

In a secret room of Nangong Manor, Nangong Yue was talking to a masked person.

"How is that possible? How could Li Chen Zhou know that Gu Wen's corpse was in the stove?" Nangong Yue's heart was filled with vigilance.

The masked person also nodded, "That kid is indeed a bit strange. Do you think he knows our plan?"

"It shouldn't be possible. If he knew our plan, today's court session would have been his best opportunity," Nangong Yue still didn't believe that Zheng Ren would confess.

Nangong Yue frowned slightly, "It seems we have to speed up the process to avoid complications. How are the arrangements with the Ministry of Personnel going?"

"It's been settled. After Gu Wen comes out, he will immediately report to the Ministry of Revenue to participate in disaster relief work. At that time, through Zheng Ren's disguise, they will all be replaced with our people," the masked person replied.

"Notify everyone to be careful in their actions recently." Nangong Yue felt uneasy and instructed again, "Don't let that kid Li Chen Zhou have any peace recently. Find something for him to do."

"Okay, I'll make arrangements," the masked person responded.

Host: Li Chen Zhou

Martial Arts Realm: Sixth Rank Late Stage (Masterful) (76/90)

Techniques: Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield (Great Accomplishment), Three Abyssal Slashes (Great Accomplishment), Thousand Faces (Great Accomplishment), Soaring Illusionary Steps (Great Accomplishment), Hell Soul Exchange Scripture (Great Accomplishment), Soul Absorption Art (Great Accomplishment). Divine Attribute Unlocked: 10%.

Inner Strength Cultivation: 76 years (calculated based on an ordinary person practicing basic techniques for one year)

Lifespan: 32 years

Weapon: Blood Demon Blade