Chapter 584: Killing to Silence

## Chapter 580: Silencing Witnesses

“After receiving your commission, I sent people to investigate. When they reached the village, they learned that the two brothers had died in the tall grass by the river. It was a raccoon-dog demon collecting fodder who discovered them. As for the fatal wounds, Chen Da was stabbed in the throat, and Chen Er in the back. Chen Da also had some other injuries, possibly scratches from struggling or from a struggle with the killer. Oh, the injury to his right arm exposed the bone.”

“Time of death?”

“The coroner sent by the authorities believes they likely died on the evening before last, which was the day after the inn explosion.”

He Lingchuan grunted, “Silencing witnesses.”

It was as he expected.

Old Ge asked for instructions, “Do you want me to continue the investigation?”

“If you continue, you’ll only find an intermediary at most, right?”

“Perhaps.” Old Ge didn't deny it. “Those nobles at the top don’t like to get their hands dirty, so they usually hire intermediaries. They’re all very experienced.”

He knew this system inside out, as he was an intermediary himself.

“Then there’s no need to investigate further. I have a good idea of what happened.”

Among He Lingchuan’s adversaries, the Grand Minister of Agriculture was likely a smart man; he wouldn't cause trouble for the Chiyan envoy over his already convicted son-in-law—that would be purely counterproductive. Although Lady Cen, Yao Xingning, was willful, she clearly understood that confronting the Chiyan Crown Prince at this critical juncture would in no way help her husband secure a chance to live. And poisoning someone didn’t seem like something the Commander of the Concord Guard would do.

So, the remaining options were only the Cen family or the Zhongsun family.

Given that Zhongsun Ce had just been relentlessly mocked by Fu Shanyue at Dunyuan a few days ago, He Lingchuan believed he was the most suspicious.

After the inn explosion, Zhongsun Ce must have been filled with deep regret. Since the Chen brothers had already been silenced, the Zhongsun family likely wouldn't dare to make another move anytime soon.

Everyone feared bringing trouble upon themselves.

However, He Lingchuan didn't plan to retaliate immediately.

As long as the true mastermind behind the Elixir of Immortality case could be uncovered, the Zhongsun family would probably not escape. So, if an opportunity arose later, he should ideally assist Bai Ziqi.

Having figured this out, He Lingchuan felt a sense of clarity. The donkey cart continued on, and he chatted casually with Old Ge along the way.

Old Ge’s attitude towards him was remarkably good, a stark contrast to how he acted when leading a tour group before. He patiently answered any questions He Lingchuan had, and when he smiled, his eyes would crinkle up.

He Lingchuan had initially thought that only humans were prone to being haughty first and then deferential. But this gibbon clearly understood this principle well.

He realized that aside from his aura as a Chiyan envoy, the main reason was his newfound fame in Lingxu City.

Being friends with a celebrity had its perks.

Through their conversation, he learned that Old Ge was from Shanyu Kingdom. Twenty years ago, he left his hometown and came to Lingxu, gradually building up his business. His main occupation was wholesale fish trading—He Lingchuan understood that he was likely the "fish overlord" of the local fish market—and his side business involved everything else.

If the Chen brothers hadn't died, Old Ge would have been happy to teach them a lesson, as long as He Lingchuan paid him.

A term He Lingchuan learned in another world perfectly described Old Ge:

Rogues and villains.

As they spoke, the donkey cart drove down a bustling street. The flow of people here was like a river, far more prosperous than the Nanli district, but He Lingchuan spotted a large expanse of charred rubble by the roadside.

A building spanning several hundred square meters had been burned to mere broken tiles and ruined walls, with only a few blackened pillars still precariously standing.

There weren't many people there, just a few coming and going, lazily clearing the debris.

“What is this place?” He Lingchuan vaguely guessed.

“Qingfu Temple,” Old Ge replied. Roadside construction caused traffic to jam ahead, and the donkey cart slowed down. “A fire broke out here a few days ago. In just over an hour, both the temple and everyone inside were burned to ashes.”

“This is Lingxu City. Didn’t anyone use fire-extinguishing spells?”

“It's said that fires broke out simultaneously in several places within the temple, and that night there was a north wind, so the fire spread rapidly with the wind,” Old Ge explained. “Residents nearby told me that the flames were reddish-blue, clearly not ordinary fire. The authorities sent water wagons and found many mages to cast spells, but it was useless!”

“So many buildings, all burned down within an hour?”

“Yes, completely burned down,” Old Ge shook his head. “By the time powerful figures rushed to the scene, Qingfu Temple was already gone.”

“How many people died?” He Lingchuan mused, “Heh heh, do the nobles of Lingxu City really like to silence people this much?”

“I don’t know the exact number, but probably seventy or eighty?” Old Ge scratched his head. “It used to be very popular here, with many people coming to offer incense, and tourists loved to visit too.”

“Which deity was worshipped here?”

“True Lord Tongming.”

“...” He Lingchuan couldn’t quite describe how he felt hearing the name of that celestial deity. He Chunhua was nearly executed with his entire family because the He family had been reported for worshipping True Lord Tongming.

Yet, here in Lingxu City, a temple dedicated to the deity stood prominently on the side of the busiest street, revered by all.

“This temple also seems to be involved in the Elixir of Immortality case,” He Lingchuan asked him. “Have you heard anything about it?”

“The Elixir of Immortality?” Old Ge didn’t even bat an eyelid. “Haven’t heard of it. Does that have anything to do with ordinary people?”

He Lingchuan chuckled, “Of course not.”

Old Ge bared his teeth slightly. “I only bring tourists here to offer incense. I don’t know anything else, really.”

He was a clever gibbon, well aware of what he could get involved in and what he should avoid at all costs.

The donkey cart soon stopped at a small square.

He Lingchuan needed to change vehicles here, taking a deer carriage with other passengers to Xushan.

Xushan was the top priority of his trip to Lingxu City; no matter how much trouble he was currently embroiled in, he had to investigate it personally.

Two reindeers had filled their bellies with fodder and were now standing tall, full of energy. After more than ten passengers boarded the carriage, they trotted along, chewing their cud leisurely.

This level of travel was like a leisurely stroll for them, not interfering with their meal.

Looking at the tourists' attire, they came from all corners of the world.

The two strong baboons He Lingchuan had seen on his previous tour group were the last to board. One passenger, looking at them, weakly asked, “Who are these two?”

With their fierce faces, they certainly didn't look like friendly monkeys.

“They are your escorts,” Old Ge said with a friendly smile. “Hired at great expense to protect you.”

The passenger became even more apprehensive. “Is Xushan unsafe, or is the road unsafe?”

“Both are safe,” Old Ge replied generously. “We can’t discard security just because things have always been safe. If someone were to lose their footing while climbing, these two would come in handy!”

On the deer carriage, two men, barely past twenty, were chatting uninhibitedly. One had a broad face and large ears, while the other had a handsome appearance. He Lingchuan noticed they were together and dressed similarly, so they likely came from the same place.

On closer inspection, they looked familiar.

There weren't many empty seats left on the carriage, so He Lingchuan sat with them.

The handsome man, observing He Lingchuan’s dignified bearing and unique demeanor, immediately clasped his hands and smiled, “Oh, haven’t we met at the Dunyuan auction?”

He Lingchuan returned the gesture, “I thought you looked familiar! So it’s you two.”

These were the guests who had purchased the peculiar unknown item that the Divine Bone Necklace had singled out at the Dunyuan auction.

“Did you manage to get that horn-like object identified after you bought it?”

Both men shook their heads. “No, it was stolen.”

“Stolen…?” He Lingchuan repeated. “What happened? Did you report it?”

“The day after we left Dunyuan, just as we were looking for experts in Lingxu City to identify it, the item disappeared without a trace. I remember clearly putting it in my storage ring before I went to sleep, but it was gone when I woke up the next morning,” the handsome man said. “I’ve already reported it to the local authorities, but after all these days, there’s been no response.”

He Lingchuan exclaimed, “You were probably targeted a long time ago.” The item wasn’t even expensive; why would someone interested in it not bid at the auction but resort to theft afterward?

“What’s the point of that?”

A thought struck He Lingchuan. At the auction, by the display cabinet, the Soul-Devouring Mirror had alerted him that several people were staking it out. But after he left the cabinet, those people didn’t follow him.

So, were they actually watching these unknown artifacts? Were they trying to find out who the buyers were?

“Never mind, never mind. It wasn’t expensive anyway, just consider it a loss to ward off disaster.” Guests invited to Dunyuan were at least not commoners, and the man became more enthusiastic. “Come, let’s reintroduce ourselves. My name is Jiang Tao, and this is Gao Jilin. We are from Zhig Kingdom. And how should I address you, sir?”

“He,” He Lingchuan blinked. “My given name is Yun, and I’m from Fu Kingdom.”

He had randomly made up an alias because Jiang Tao was so talkative. If he gave his real name, he probably wouldn't have any peace throughout the journey.

Fu Kingdom was a small place. Jiang Tao responded with a couple of “ohs,” and though he still smiled, his enthusiasm noticeably diminished.

“I remember Fu Kingdom seems to produce a type of fragrant wood, with a clear scent and preservative properties. I always keep some at home.”

He Lingchuan acknowledged, “Cloud Scent Wood.”

“Yes, yes. Where do you hold a high position, Brother He?”

He Lingchuan vaguely replied, “I haven’t found a position yet. I’ll see after this journey.”

Jiang Tao “ohed” twice more, his enthusiasm further decreasing.

It turned out he was just a wandering scholar, from a family with some wealth and connections. Coming to Lingxu City for study would add to his resume, and in a small place like Fu Kingdom, with a little networking, he could easily secure a good public office.

He Lingchuan returned the question and learned that these two were scholars sent by Zhig Kingdom to Lingxu City for observation and study, and they were sons of high officials in their own country.

So, they were government-sponsored students abroad.

Lingxu City was home to a large number of foreign students. They studied at the academy, observing the local customs, laws, and social practices of Lingxu City, and some of the outstanding ones even managed to serve as officials in the royal court.

Zhig Kingdom was a small country in the northeastern part of Beijia, with a population of less than five million—even smaller than Lingxu City itself. However, it was located on the coast with two natural deep-water harbors that didn't freeze in winter. Relying on its waterways, it prospered through trade and freight.

Jiang Tao was talkative, continuously recounting his experiences in Lingxu City. Even if no one else spoke, he could carry on a monologue by himself.

He expressed endless admiration and respect for Lingxu City, providing countless examples to illustrate his points.

The baboon sitting in the back kept picking at its ears, finding it a bit unbearable.

Old Ge also rolled his eyes a few times. This guy was too chatty; his voice was all that could be heard along the way. Old Ge, who originally intended to provide some commentary during the journey, now couldn't be bothered to open his mouth.

(End of Chapter)