Chu Ming hadn’t rested for a moment when Shen Yu ordered people to bring a lot of food.

After eating some, nearing noon, the group set off on the journey to Jingyan County.

To prevent any accidents, Shao Pengshu, Tan Hong, and other constables from the Criminal Defense Bureau accompanied as escorts.

Chu Ming sat in the carriage, feeling a slight pain in his chest; the final strike from Yan Huan, who claimed to be the Prince of Great Yan, was not to be underestimated.

He half-closed his eyes, connecting the clues in his mind.

Yan Huan emitted the Blood Evil Qi of the Blood Evil Technique, indicating that this person was definitely associated with the Blood Evil Sect.

This person had broken out from a hidden dungeon in the Black Wind Stronghold, where there was a dried corpse and broken chains.

The chain wasn’t just for show; though broken, it was clear it was used to restrain someone.

The dried corpse’s arms were missing, and its body was drained of blood, carrying gold bricks and a cultivation technique of the Meridian Unlocking Realm, with no sign of being the one chained.

But its bones had red patterns, seemingly having also cultivated the Blood Evil Technique, indicating a connection to the Blood Evil Sect.

Yan Huan, upon coming out, showed signs of death and serious injury, possibly the real person confined in the dungeon.

The Black Wind Stronghold connects Yan Huan and the Blood Evil Sect; the relationship between the three is somewhat complex.

One possibility could explain it.

Whether it’s the dried corpse, Yan Huan, or the Black Wind Stronghold, they all are members of the Blood Evil Sect.

However, some kind of conflict likely occurred between Yan Huan and the Blood Evil Sect, leading to his imprisonment in the Black Wind Stronghold’s dungeon.

Blood Evil Sect... Yan Huan... Great Yan Dynasty...

Perhaps the Blood Evil Sect is not trying to rebel but to restore the Great Yan Dynasty?

If so, that might explain everything.

And that Yan Hanling he received could be the source of Yan Huan’s conflict with the Blood Evil Sect.

"Yan Hanling..."

What is its purpose, after all?

Time is tight, and he has yet to consult any references.

But even if he does, he might not necessarily find anything.

"I’ll look into it first, if I find nothing, I’ll consult my master."

The true secrets wouldn’t be recorded in books.

Whether this hypothesis holds or not, one thing is confirmed.

Black Wind Stronghold is related to the Blood Evil Sect!

To put it simply, the murder incident used the Wan Family as a scapegoat, with the Blood Evil Sect as the manipulator behind the scenes.

...

Xirong County, Inspectorate.

An urgent letter was delivered from outside.

Inspector General Zhou Xi read the contents of the letter, a look of delight emerging on his face.

The letter came from the Commandery Mansion, personally penned by Xiao He, instructing the Inspectorate to arrest and investigate the Wan Family, Xingheng Martial Arts Hall, and Wind Traveling Escort Agency.

The charge was the murder of a commandery official.

The Wan Family is finished!

Zhou Xi lifted his gaze, looking at Captain Qiu Li who was kneeling on the ground, suppressing the delight in his heart, and said, "Captain Qiu, the Wan Family committed such a grave crime, you know what to do, right?"

"I understand." Qiu Li breathed a long sigh of relief, then respectfully said, "Sir, you are incredibly wise, maneuvering the Wan Family without revealing yourself at all."

"..." Flattery flowed continually from his mouth.

Qiu Li thought the Wan Family’s crimes were due to Inspector General Zhou Xi spreading rumors that Wan Lin, the son of the Wan Family, died at the hands of Chu Ming.

Zhou Xi sat comfortably in his chair.

"If the murder had succeeded..." Qiu Li continued the flattery.

"Shut up!" Zhou Xi interrupted, his smile slightly frozen, "Do what you need to do."

If the murder had succeeded, that would have been even better, but unfortunately, the Wan Family wasn’t competent.

Qiu Li bowed and withdrew.

Suddenly, a figure entered the hall.

Zhou Xi’s expression immediately changed upon seeing the newcomer, quickly standing up to greet at the door: "Lord An."

Governor’s Office An Hengying’s expression was calm, but his eyes swept over like icy blades, making Zhou Xi feel a chill all over, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.

"Has the Wan Family been arrested?" An Hengying’s voice was as icy as well, making Zhou Xi’s heart tremble.

"I’ve already ordered them arrested."

"Hmph! This time, regarding the murder, I will personally interrogate. You have one time unit to bring every member of the Wan Family in front of me."

"Yes..." Zhou Xi bowed his head and backed out of the hall, his heart in shock.

Although the Inspectorate is under the jurisdiction of the Governor’s Office, this Governor rarely shows up, let alone intervenes in Inspectorate cases.

Why is the Governor personally visiting the Inspectorate today and wants to personally investigate the murder case?

Is it because of that person named Chu Ming, or is it because of Chief Clerk Shen?

Or perhaps, has a prince spoken up?

Zhou Xi secretly speculated.

"Sir, why are you?" Qiu Li, seeing the chasing Zhou Xi, immediately tensed up.

"Spare the chatter, gather the men, go to the Wan Family."

"Is the lord going personally?"

"..."

...

Several dozen officials wearing the Flying Fish Suit, armed with gleaming long knives, surrounded the Wan Family.

"What is the Wan Family guilty of, that the Inspectorate has come?"

"Who knows? They must have done something shady."

"..."

The commotion naturally drew much attention from the public.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Wan Family.

Inspector General Zhou Xi sat in the chair, visibly displeased; before him lay a corpse, covered with a white sheet.

"How did he die? When did he die?" he asked sternly.

"Reporting... reporting to Sir... he committed suicide by poison, the time of death was around this morning," Qiu Li replied in a low voice.

"Confirmed to be Wan Hai, the head of the Wan Family?"

"Confirmed."

"Who found him?"

"Sir, it was his brother, Wan Cheng."

"Take them away, seize them all!"

Zhou Xi’s tone grew increasingly irritable.

This old man apparently committed suicide out of guilt.

Couldn’t he have died a bit later? How can he explain this to the Governor?

After the Wan Family comes the Wind Traveling Escort Agency.

"Sir, we are innocent, is accepting escorts a crime?"

With righteous indignation, Chen Xuan seemed unaware of the murder by Chen Shuo and Wan Hai’s suicide.

"Hmph, Wind Traveling Escort Agency colluded with the Wan Family to murder a commandery official, you really dare to accept any escort matter."

The Imperial Examination Hall did not waste words; they left none behind, taking everyone.

At about the same time, everyone from Xingheng Martial Arts Hall was taken by the Imperial Examination Hall.

Within half a day, rumors, like the wind, spread throughout Xirong County about the arrests of the Wan Family, Wind Traveling Escort Agency, and Xingheng Martial Arts Hall.

"Have you heard, the Wan Family, along with Wind Traveling Escort Agency and Xingheng Martial Arts Hall, attacked a commandery official."

"Oh? Such a thing? Hasn’t the Wan Family always been on good terms with the officials, how could they commit such a crime?"

"That’s where you’re wrong, you know the new Chief Clerk?"

"Are you talking about Chu Ming, who’s known as the greatest talent in Xirong County in a century, the Chu Chief Clerk?"

"Exactly."

"The Wan Family assassinated Chu Chief Clerk?"

"Indeed, the Wan Family had deep animosity with Chu Chief Clerk."

"..."

Rumors and whispers spread everywhere.

...

Imperial Examination Hall.

Governor’s Office An Hengying sat on a high platform, in front of him was a large square.

At this time, over two hundred people knelt on the square, each with a plaque inscribed with the word ’execute’ hanging around their necks. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The square was already surrounded by people eager to witness the spectacle.

Some were puzzled, some sighed, some felt pity, and some were restless.

The Wan Family was a merchant family in Xirong County, involved in the business of cloth, grains, taverns, etc.; the downfall of the Wan Family meant that these resources would be redistributed.

The same applied to the Wind Traveling Escort Agency and Xingheng Martial Arts Hall.

On the platform.

"Sir, the time has come," Inspector General Zhou Xi looked at the sky and said.