Interrogation

In an instant, black qi enveloped Li Chen Zhou's entire body—the precursor to activating the Hell Soul Exchange Scripture.

He gave a low shout. "Soul-Seizing Art."

Gu Wen, who met Li Chen Zhou's gaze, instantly became dazed and vacant-eyed.

"Who exactly are you?" Li Chen Zhou expended immense mental energy to control him.

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

"Then why did you become Gu Wen?"

"The task from above was to find Gu Wen, kill him, and put on his skin."

"Where is his corpse?"

"Inside the stove in his home."

"What was the purpose of doing this?"

"Gu Wen was the Third-Ranked Scholar. By borrowing his skin, I could infiltrate the imperial court."

"Then why were you associating with the second son of the Ministry of Personnel?"

"Using him, I could get close to the Minister of Personnel."

"And then?"

"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 goal was the disaster relief silver?"

"Yes."

Hearing this, Li Chen Zhou was beside himself with rage. He slammed his palm onto the interrogation room's table, shattering it into four pieces.

"The disaster relief silver concerns countless victims of the calamity. Heavenly Desire Palace actually dared set its sights on this money—they were simply courting death."

Then Li Chen Zhou's gaze blazed like torches as he continued, "Did Nangong Yue know as well?"

"Yes, the Saintess also... Aah..."

Li Chen Zhou still wanted to ask more, but a blood-colored lotus mark emerged on Zheng Ren's crown, sending him directly into unconsciousness.

Seeing this, Yan San hurriedly asked, "Should we wake him up and continue?"

Li Chen Zhou shook his head. "No need. We have enough already. Did you record everything he said just now?"

The person responsible for taking notes beside them nodded. "It's all recorded."

"Ding... Congratulations, Host, for solving The Skinner case. Reward: 5 years of internal cultivation."

"Ding... Mission triggered: investigate the truth behind the disaster relief silver incident. Reward: Heaven-tier martial skill, Hundred-Hit Heart-Piercing Dragon Claw."

Nangong Manor

While Li Chen Zhou was interrogating Gu Wen, Nangong Yue of Nangong Manor was speaking with someone wearing a half silver mask.

"Zheng Ren was captured by Li Chen Zhou." Thinking of Li Chen Zhou's hateful face, Nangong Yue's jade fingers squeezed the celadon teacup until spiderweb cracks spread across it.

"Could the plan have been exposed?" the silver-masked person asked.

"Probably not. There are not many people in this world who can pry information from Zheng Ren's mouth," Nangong Yue replied after a moment's thought.

"That's true. Someone who endured the pain of being skinned alive—it is difficult to imagine what torture device in this world could make him talk." The masked person nodded as well.

"That brat Li Chen Zhou has changed quite a bit. When I fought him, I felt that I was no match for him." Recalling their earlier exchange, Nangong Yue's expression turned grave.

"Oh? That brat really hid himself deeply. Should I go warn him a little?" The silver-masked person suddenly felt the urge to fight Li Chen Zhou. Cracking sounds of shifting bones came from beneath the mask, while the dark-gold chain wrapped around the person's wrist moved without wind.

"Don't move. We mustn't beat the grass and startle the snake. Zheng Ren is currently wearing the skin of Gu Wen, the Third-Ranked Scholar. If they cannot interrogate any answers out of him, I would like to see what Li Chen Zhou does tomorrow when the hundred officials impeach him." A crafty gleam appeared in Nangong Yue's eyes.

"Could the matter of his skin-changing be exposed?" the masked person asked worriedly.

"You truly underestimate Zheng Ren's skinning technique. He first peeled off his own skin, then put on Gu Wen's. After soaking it in a special medicinal solution, Gu Wen's skin has now fused with him as one." Nangong Yue spoke confidently.

The silver-masked person smiled as well. "Then there will be quite a show tomorrow."

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

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

"Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial to present."

"Speak."

"This subject wishes to impeach Wei Wuji of the Brocade Guard for failing to discipline his subordinates. His Banner Officer, Li Chen Zhou, arbitrarily arrested Gu Wen, the Third-Ranked Scholar, threw him into the Imperial Prison, and subjected him to torture."

The ivory tablet in the Grand Minister of Ceremonies' hand accidentally fell to the floor, its crisp clatter echoing through the hall.

The officials below were inwardly shocked. This colleague was rather bold—he even dared impeach the son of Duke Zhen's Estate.

"Hm? Did such a thing happen? Where is Wei Wuji?" The Emperor was delighted within. Another good show to watch.

"This subordinate is here." Wei Wuji strode forward.

"Did this happen?" The Emperor lowered his head slightly as he asked.

"It did. However, for the specific reasons, I ask Your Majesty to allow Li Chen Zhou to come forward and explain himself," Wei Wuji suggested with cupped hands.

"Summon Li Chen Zhou into the hall."

Outside the hall, Li Chen Zhou crossed through the ranks of civil and military officials with Nine Palace Steps. Even the lion-headed waist saber of a third-rank military official hummed within its sheath.

"Li Chen Zhou pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Explain. Why did you detain Scholar Gu?"

Li Chen Zhou explained, "Recently, a skinner has appeared in the martial world, taking pleasure in murdering people and flaying their skins. Many innocent commoners and respectable women have fallen victim to him."

At this point, the Ministry of Personnel official could no longer hold back and immediately stepped out to accuse him. "What does this have to do with Scholar Gu? Could it be that your Brocade Guard cannot catch the culprit, so you are using court officials to make up the numbers?"

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

"Sir, do not spit blood at people! This subordinate received intelligence that the skinner might be connected to Scholar Gu. That was why I arrested him."

The Ministry of Personnel official did not accept Wei Wuji's explanation. "Intelligence? Do you have evidence? This subject heard that at last night's poetry gathering at Nangong Manor, Banner Officer Li and the second son of the Minister of Personnel were at daggers drawn. Scholar Gu is his friend—could it be that Li's literary talent was inferior, so he sought public revenge for private grievances behind the scenes?"

"Evidence? I truly do have it. The Brocade Guard received word that there was a skinned corpse hidden inside the stove at Scholar Gu's home, so we rushed to his residence overnight. That corpse is currently lying in the Brocade Guard's morgue. Could that not count as evidence?" Wei Wuji wore an expression that said, I have evidence—what can you do about it?

The Ministry of Personnel official continued, "Even if there was a skinned corpse hidden in Scholar Gu's stove, that does not prove Scholar Gu did it."

"That is precisely why we only interrogated him and did not convict him," Li Chen Zhou shot back.

Seeing matters reach this point, the Emperor spoke. "Since human lives are involved, the matter should indeed be investigated. But remember: no more torture. If nothing is found in today's interrogation, release him."

"Your servant obeys the decree."

After court adjourned, Nangong Yue received the news at once.

Inside a secret chamber at Nangong Manor, Nangong Yue spoke with the masked person.

"How is that possible? How could Li Chen Zhou know that Gu Wen's corpse was inside the stove?" Nangong Yue's vigilance surged.

The masked person nodded as well. "That brat is indeed rather strange. Do you think he knows our plan?"

"Probably not. If he knew our plan, today's court session would have been his best opportunity." Nangong Yue still could not believe Zheng Ren would confess.

Nangong Yue's brows knit slightly. "It seems we must speed things up, lest a long night breed many dreams. How are the arrangements on the Ministry of Personnel side?"

"It has already been settled. Once Gu Wen gets out, he will immediately report to the Ministry of Revenue and take part in the disaster relief work. Then, through Zheng Ren's disguise techniques, they will all be replaced by our people," the masked person answered.

"Notify all sides to be especially careful recently." Nangong Yue still felt uneasy and warned again. "And do not let that brat Li Chen Zhou have any peace lately. Find something for him to do."

"Mm, I'll make the arrangements," the masked person replied.

Host: Li Chen Zhou

Martial Realm: Late Sixth Rank (mastery) (76/90)

Cultivation Methods: Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield (major accomplishment), Three Abyssal Slashes (major accomplishment), Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms (major accomplishment), Soaring Illusionary Steps (major accomplishment), Hell Soul Exchange Scripture (major accomplishment), Soul Absorption Art (major accomplishment). Divine-grade attribute unlock progress: 10%.

Internal Cultivation: 76 years (calculated based on an ordinary person cultivating a basic method for one year)

Lifespan: 32 years

Weapon: Blood Demon Blade