I Can Devour Spirits-Chapter 99: Strange Dream
The funeral procession! Solemn! Majestic!
Amidst the wailing cries, it departed grandly from the Yuan Shun Escort Agency!
At the very front were five or six rows of Xiao family juniors dressed in mourning attire, holding white streamers!
Behind the group holding the streamers was Xiao Baijiaoโs coffin!
Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi led the way in front of the coffin procession, with Xiao Yu holding Xiao Baijiaoโs memorial tablet in her arms!
Behind the coffin were the musicians playing mournful tunes!
Further back was the group of mourners in mourning attire!
At the very end were the people accompanying the funeral!
This last group was the largest, tightly packed together; Xiao Zongting was also supported by others, squeezed inside, weeping openly against the wind!
Ruan Fengshan and Luan Jingfu also brought their families, following behind the procession!
This long procession moved along West Main Street, heading straight for the west city gate! ๐ป๐ณโฏโฏ๐คโฏ๐ท๐ฏโด๐โฏ๐ญ.๐โด๐
People watching along the way crowded the streets and alleys...
Duan Rong, amid the procession, couldnโt help but be amazed at the grandeur of Xiao Baijiaoโs mourning!
To manage such an arrangement and have so many people participate shows the character of Xiao Zongting and Xiao Yu, this father and daughter!
Duan Rong suddenly noticed that Zhao Mu, who was carrying the coffin in front of him, was frequently glancing sideways at Zhu Xiaoqiโs back.
"This guy... even at this time canโt help but sneak a peek..."
In the morning, Ruan Fengshan personally went to the County Office, met Shen Yanliu face to face, and informed him about the funeral!
Marriage, funerals, and family celebrations are major life events, and now itโs getting hotter by the day, making bodies difficult to preserve for long! Investigating a case is certainly important, but you canโt let bodies rot at home just for the sake of the investigation.
Shen Yanliu often interacted with Ruan Fengshan and had some camaraderie, so he agreed right away.
He asked Ruan Fengshan to make a list, which Shen Yanliu signed, and Qin Shuban stamped with the County Government Office seal, delivering it to the guard at the west city gate! Qin Shuban personally instructed the guards to verify and allow passage according to the list at the afternoon hour!
The front part of the procession was all listed by name, but for the last group accompanying the funeral, Ruan Fengshan only listed about twenty people.
Looking at it now, even though this funeral procession seems grand, most can only accompany it to the city gate, unable to leave the city.
Just as the funeral procession reached the city gate, Ruan Fengshan at the very end sensed something wasnโt right.
At the city gate, beyond the original group of government constables, there were unexpectedly several constables present!
Among them, a senior constable was evidently speaking with the head of the guards at the city gate!
Suddenly, a constable rushed away on horseback, galloping down the street!
Ruan Fengshan touched the sparse chin of his goatee, fearing there might be a turn of events!
"Why are there suddenly a group of constables other than just the guards at the west city gate?"
Immediately, Ruan Fengshan squeezed out of the funeral procession, slowly walked past the long line, and headed to the city gate. He wanted to ask the constables a few questions to probe for information.
Just as Ruan Fengshan was about to speak, there was a sudden neigh of a horse, and a black steed stopped at the city gate, with a figure jumping off it, standing at the entrance.
The newcomer was none other than the Chief Constable of the County Government Office, Jie Daohan!
Seeing Jie Daohan, Ruan Fengshan walked over, smiling and clasping his fists in greeting: "Chief Constable Jie, long time no see!"
Jie Daohan returned the gesture, raising his brows: "Ah, Shopkeeper Ruan! How have you been!"
The two had been quite close some years back, but over the years, the relationship had grown a bit distant.
Ruan Fengshan glanced at Jie Daohan, noticing although he bore a smile, his expression was fierce, his eyes bloodshot, as if he had just cried.
Seeing Jie Daohanโs appearance, Ruan Fengshanโs heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he said solemnly: "Chief Constable Jie! Regarding the funeral! I personally consulted with the County Magistrate! The list was made, and the seal was affixed by the County Magistrate. The list should be in the hands of the guards here!"
Jie Daohan, hearing this, turned to look at the head of the guards and asked: "Whereโs the list?"
The person immediately retrieved a large sheet of paper stamped with the countyโs seal: "It was delivered by Clerk Qin at noon!"
Jie Daohan took it, glanced at the list, detailing the names under the categories of stream holders, coffin carriers, musicians, mourners, and funeral attendees, with the countyโs seal prominently at the bottom!
Jie Daohan immediately furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat troubled.
Speaking of this morning, at the County Government Officeโs roll call, Jie Lei didnโt show up!
At the time, Jie Daohan found it odd; he knew his nephew very well, reserved and somewhat cautious in his interactions.
Yet he was a highly disciplined person, and after being a constable for five or six years, he had never been late even once.
Jie Daohan assumed he was overwhelmed by the pressure of the recent investigation, perhaps overslept, so he sent someone to call him from his home!
The person returned saying they knocked on the door for a long time with no response, indicating he was likely not at home.
By noon, with still no sign of Jie Lei, Jie Daohan grew anxious and dispatched several people to search for him.
After lunch, as he reclined in the Grandmasterโs Chair for a nap, he suddenly dreamed of a tree!
The tree was quite eerie, with a trunk and branches pure black, like some kind of dark metal...
But its leaves and flowers were blood-red, continuously dripping with blood...
Jie Daohan woke abruptly, his brow jumping uncontrollably, seized by waves of panic!
By then, the people sent to find Jie Lei had returned, saying they went to the places Jie Lei often visited, like casinos and restaurants, but no one had seen him!
Feeling a chill all over, Jie Daohan saw the ominous tree from his dream as a warning!
He immediately set aside his work and rushed to Jie Leiโs home!
Upon entering the courtyard, Jie Daohanโs heart skipped again, the main hallโs door was wide open...
He knew Jie Leiโs cautious nature, if he were not home, he would certainly lock the door!
"Did something happen suddenly, leaving him no time to lock the door?"
Jie Daohan inspected the rooms thoroughly, finding everything in order, no signs of struggle!
He then checked the storage room and kitchen!
Jie Lei barely cooked at home, the kitchenโs surfaces were dusty, and the stove contained only remnants of cold ash!
A wave of melancholy swept over Jie Daohan as he realized that he always thought, despite his brother being gone, he provided plenty of care for Jie Lei.
Now, he suddenly felt he hadnโt done enough. This place where Jie Lei lived seemed unfamiliar to him!
"LeiโEr, Uncle wonโt let anything happen to you!"
Saying this, Jie Daohan wandered to the well, initially not paying it any attention, but suddenly noticing its dryness, the soil around it even cracked!
If it were a water well, with years of drawing water, it should be moist!
Standing at the wellโs edge, Jie Daohan faintly detected a foul odor...
Having dealt with cases for years, Jie Daohan was highly sensitive to such odors!
Leaning into the well, he swiftly leaped inside like a large bird!
Landing at the bottom, Jie Daohan struggled to adjust from the bright sky above to the dim light within!
From inside his coat, Jie Daohan took out a flint, flicked it open, and blew it at the edge, a weak flame emerged. Using the faint glow, Jie Daohan saw a tunnel entrance at the bottom of the well.
Worried about Jie Lei, he entered the tunnel without hesitation!
Crawling a short distance, Jie Daohan stood up, using the light from the flint, he saw a very short passage ahead.
His brow pounding wildly, upon entering the passage, Jie Daohan inhaled a strong foul odor mixed with a metallic blood scent, forming a nauseating stench!
