Chapter 224: Killing the Six Bandits of Huaihai

Early morning at Qingfeng Inn.

Gu Chuxia brought some food, and Gu Mo, having just finished washing up, sat down at the table to eat.

"Brother," Gu Chuxia said, handing chopsticks to Gu Mo, "it seems we might have misjudged Commander Wang earlier. He's probably just a bit arrogant, which explains his overreaction to your words a few days ago."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I hope so."

Gu Mo remained suspicious of Wang Mingxiu. Wang Mingxiu's previous reaction had indeed been overly aggressive, and combining that with Gu Mo's own deductions, it seemed highly probable that Wang Mingxiu had secretly helped Madam Liu fake her death. However, if that were the case, Madam Liu's sudden reappearance after faking her death would be difficult to explain. Therefore, for now, it seemed more logical that Wang Mingxiu had simply been deceived by Madam Liu. It also made sense that Madam Liu faked her death as a last resort to escape when Wang Mingxiu was pursuing her too closely, then waited for an opportunity to assassinate Mr. Dongjing. Despite this, Gu Mo still felt that something was off about Wang Mingxiu.

"Brother," Gu Chuxia said after taking a couple of bites of rice, "last night, I kept thinking about the child disappearance case Mr. Dongjing mentioned. I feel some parts of it are quite far-fetched."

"Which parts?" Gu Mo asked.

Gu Chuxia explained, "According to Mr. Dongjing, the Mu family's influence was limited to a large merchant guild in a single county, at most comparable to the Tang family's influence in Zhushan County. Could they really have kidnapped ten thousand children? Even during a natural disaster, it would be incredibly difficult to hide them for so long without being discovered.

Second, Mr. Dongjing stated that the children disappeared over several months to a year, yet when they were being tracked, those children were simultaneously being transported overseas. This defies logic. Did the Mu family gather and house all those kidnapped children for months or even a year? Such a massive expense couldn't be borne by a county merchant guild, could it? And how do you hide ten thousand people?

Third, in the end, Mr. Dongjing and his colleagues, unable to find evidence, decided to sacrifice their official careers to wipe out the Mu family. While this sounds heroic and suggests they spared no effort to advocate for the people, from another perspective, doesn't it imply the Mu family might have been genuinely wronged? Otherwise, for such a major case, would there truly be no evidence just because the pursuit failed?"

After listening, Gu Mo gave Gu Chuxia a thumbs-up. "Chuxia, you're getting smarter and smarter. You're even good enough for the Six Doors."

Gu Chuxia proudly held her head high. "I've been reading, you know! I even got two books on solving cases from Brother Zhuo!"

Gu Mo chuckled softly. "The points you've raised are indeed very suspicious. However, we aren't government officials, so we can't investigate to find the truth. Besides, nearly thirty years have passed, making it even more unlikely to uncover anything. Moreover, if you can easily spot these inconsistencies, couldn't the people who handled the case back then see them? Couldn't the Yunzhou prefectural yamen see them during their review? Couldn't the Grand Court of Judicial Review in the capital see them during their re-examination? Didn't they all choose to close the case? Even if there were real problems, that case wouldn't be overturned now."

Gu Chuxia shook her head. "I'm not trying to overturn any case. I'm not a government official; what right or reason do I have to reopen a case? I was just thinking about Madam Liu; she seems quite pathetic, single-mindedly focused on revenge."

Gu Mo chuckled. "In the jianghu, pity often doesn't apply. She might have a pitiful side, but she's responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. Are those people not pitiful? Do they deserve to be stepping stones on her path of revenge? In other words, if I were killed one day, would I be pitiful? I wouldn't need pity. There's no pity or lack thereof; everyone has their own karma. Those who kill will always be killed. Don't talk about right or wrong, or pity; only consider whether you are in the jianghu!"

"Bah, bah, bah!" Gu Chuxia spat several times. "Brother, don't say such unlucky things anymore. You won't die! You're going to be the strongest person in the world!"

Gu Mo chuckled. "Alright, enough talk. Let's eat!"

Soon, the siblings finished their meal. Gu Chuxia began clearing the dishes, preparing to take them to the inn's kitchen.

Just then, a flurry of footsteps approached the door, followed by Pei Yuanzhen's voice. "Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, Pei requests an audience!"

Gu Mo, sipping tea, said softly, "Please come in."

Pei Yuanzhen immediately entered, cupping his hands. "Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, I had wanted to express my gratitude in person last night, but I arrived too late and presumed you two were already resting, so I didn't wish to disturb you!"

Gu Mo poured Pei Yuanzhen a cup of tea. "Prefect Pei, you're too kind."

Pei Yuanzhen took the teacup. "If not for you two last night, Mr. Dongjing would have been in grave danger."

Gu Mo waved his hand. "This was something I promised you, my duty."

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Regardless, we owe everything to you two last night. No one expected there to be another Madam Liu. She's incredibly cunning; she faked her death to deceive Commander Wang a while ago, then exploited his fondness for his newly acquired concubine to lure him away."

"Wasn't Commander Wang's concubine involved in a backyard rivalry?" Gu Chuxia asked.

Pei Yuanzhen shook his head. "It's been clarified. Yesterday, the poison used to disfigure Commander Wang's concubine was Madam Liu's most common poison. Furthermore, the maid who attacked the concubine was poisoned by Madam Liu and then had her mind ensnared by Madam Liu's illusionary art, which gave her the audacity to viciously attack Commander Wang's concubine."

"No wonder that maid was so bold," Gu Chuxia remarked. "So, Madam Liu intentionally lured Commander Wang away."

"Exactly," Pei Yuanzhen confirmed. "Shortly after Commander Wang left, the Seven Absolutes Tower made its move. Madam Liu, in the chaos, disguised herself as Commander Wang. Few people would have noticed. It was a chain of tricks, truly impossible to guard against."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. Last night had indeed been perilous, though the danger was for Mr. Dongjing, not him. He hadn't initially recognized the fake Wang Mingxiu, but because he was already suspicious of Wang Mingxiu, he specifically told Gu Chuxia to keep a close eye on him when he went to pursue Ruan Hongqiao. It turned out to be a lucky coincidence that they kept tabs on the fake Wang Mingxiu.

"Prefect Pei," Gu Chuxia asked, "are you familiar with the Mu family annihilation case from thirty years ago?"

Pei Yuanzhen paused slightly. "Heroine Gu, are you interested in that case?"

"No," Gu Chuxia replied, "I just heard Mr. Dongjing mention it last night and became a bit curious."

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled. "You probably find that case from back then full of holes, with many illogical aspects, don't you?"

Gu Chuxia blinked, puzzled. "Prefect Pei, do you also find it illogical?"

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Based on the publicly available information from that time, it's certainly illogical. Ten thousand children, with their daily needs, were simply beyond what the Mu family could afford or conceal."

Gu Chuxia quickly asked, "So, are you implying there's more to this matter?"

Pei Yuanzhen nodded. "To be frank, the reason I was transferred here to Linhai Commandery as prefect was precisely to investigate that case."

"To overturn the Mu family's case?" Gu Chuxia asked.

"Not exactly." Pei Yuanzhen explained, "The Mu family's annihilation was well-deserved. The original case lost its leads due to special circumstances and was forcibly suspended. Now, it's about to be reopened."

Gu Chuxia quickly asked, "What happened, Prefect..."

"Chuxia." Gu Mo waved his hand, interrupting Gu Chuxia, and cupped his hands to Pei Yuanzhen. "Prefect Pei, the inner details might involve secrets. Please don't feel pressured to reveal anything you shouldn't."

Pei Yuanzhen waved his hand. "My Grandmaster mentioned in a letter recently that while this case is top secret to others, it is not for Hero Gu. If Hero Gu is interested, I can tell you everything truthfully."

"Why?" Gu Mo asked, puzzled.

Pei Yuanzhen explained, "It concerns a top-tier fugitive, and it's widely known that no fugitive can escape from your grasp. My Grandmaster firmly believes this; he thinks you possess some elements of destiny and mystic arts."

Gu Mo's mouth twitched. "Your Grandmaster is the third greatest master in the world, and he believes these jianghu rumors?"

"He doesn't believe jianghu rumors, but he believes in fate," Pei Yuanzhen said. "Hero Gu, we from Dragon Tiger Mountain practice Taoism, and my Grandmaster is the contemporary Celestial Master. If immortals truly exist, he would be the closest person to one. He believes in destiny more than anyone."

Gu Mo was speechless. "Which fugitive?" he asked.

Pei Yuanzhen replied, "The Leader of the Seven Absolutes Tower, known in the jianghu as the Grand Steward."

Just then, a system notification sounded in Gu Mo's mind:

"New target detected.Wanted Target: The Grand StewardMission Level: Six-starMission Reward: Heavenly Devil Zither, with complimentary max-level Eight Sounds of the Celestial Dragon."

Upon seeing the system notification, Gu Mo's interest was immediately piqued. This was his second six-star fugitive, and the reward was equally fitting for a six-star mission.

The Heavenly Devil Zither was a formidable instrument. When played, it could instantly cause landslides and ground fissures, possessing immense power that could change landscapes and deliver indiscriminate attacks. It was a perfect match for the Eight Sounds of the Celestial Dragon. Theoretically, its power could only be fully unleashed, and its backlash avoided, when combined with the Eight Sounds of the Celestial Dragon.

The Eight Sounds of the Celestial Dragon were based on eight tones: "Adhere, Kill, Seize, Capture, Lead, Pull, Spin, and Hammer." Through the Heavenly Devil Zither, different sound waves would be emitted to attack enemies. Each tone could contain multiple variations and attack methods, leading to different moves.

Once the Heavenly Devil Zither was combined with the Eight Sounds of the Celestial Dragon, it not only boasted powerful single-target attacks but also allowed for wide-area devastation, with outstanding group attack capabilities. As a sonic attack, it could largely bypass most defenses, directly affecting targets at different levels, such as their bones, meridians, and souls. For instance, the "Spinning Sound" could shatter protective True Qi, and the "Capturing Sound" could break through mental barriers.

"Hero Gu, are you interested in this Grand Steward?" Pei Yuanzhen asked.

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "I'm interested in any fugitive in the world."

Pei Yuanzhen's heart swelled with delight. "The Seven Absolutes Tower, established about ten years ago, has now become one of the top assassin organizations in all the lands. Its leader, the Grand Steward, is also one of the most mysterious figures in the jianghu. No one knows who he truly is, only his codename. Not even the assassins of the Seven Absolutes Tower have seen his true face. The child disappearance case from nearly thirty years ago is actually connected to the Seven Absolutes Tower.

The Seven Absolutes Tower is not just a simple assassin organization. It originated from the seven shadow guards of the deposed Crown Prince Li Yong, from the Jiawen era over a century ago: Yin-Yang, Wind-Thunder, Heaven, Earth, Mountain, Fire, and Water.

Over a hundred years ago, the deposed Crown Prince Li Yong's rebellion failed. The leaders of his seven shadow guards fled with his descendants. These seven elite guards were all Qi cultivators from Penglai Island, fellow disciples, each mastering a unique peerless martial art. When their seven lineages unite, they form the unparalleled 'Sevenfold Slaughter Tribute to the Abyss of Silence,' a legendary feat. It is said that once the seven slaughters unite, they can become invincible."

Gu Mo chuckled lightly. "Invincible in the world" again. He had heard of many divine martial arts that claimed to grant invincibility upon mastery.

However, it was also normal. The more powerful a person became, the more confident they grew. The further one walked the path of martial arts, the lonelier it became, and the more likely they were to develop a mindset of looking down upon all other heroes. Just like him now, he had a feeling that once his Reversion System was established and he achieved the Limitless Reversion Qi, he too would feel invincible.

He had already decided to name his Reversion System the Limitless Reversion Qi, taken from the Tao Te Ching: "Know the white, keep to the black, and be a pattern to the world. To be a pattern to the world is to have unvarying virtue, and return to the boundless." This referred to the origin of all things in the universe, being formless, shapeless, soundless, colorless, without beginning or end. Simply put, it meant limitless. He always felt that the Limitless Reversion Qi could be invincible. After all, it could not only merge required internal energy but also retain the unique characteristics of each martial art, making it flawless in a sense. He was very confident.

Therefore, he could understand why those who created divine martial arts always loved to boast that their techniques, once fully mastered, would grant invincibility.

Pei Yuanzhen continued, "The seven shadow guards — Yin-Yang, Wind-Thunder, Heaven, Earth, Mountain, Fire, and Water — vanished after fleeing with the deposed Crown Prince's descendants. For decades, the imperial court pursued them without a single lead. In reality, they hadn't fled far at all; they were hiding within Tianzhou territory.

These seven shadow guards lived under assumed identities, changing their appearances, and secretly established forces across Tianzhou to support the deposed Crown Prince's descendants, who were hidden on a secluded island overseas. They developed for decades, and the descendants of these seven shadow guards also upheld their ancestral instructions, continuously sending supplies, money, and provisions overseas with the intention of rebellion.

However, rebellion requires not just money, but also people and an army. The deposed Crown Prince's descendants, isolated on an island, were completely insufficient to raise an army. Although the descendants of the seven shadow guards had continuously kidnapped people and sent them overseas, it was only enough to ensure the deposed Crown Prince's lineage had servants.

Then, a natural disaster struck. The four commanderies of Huaihai suffered greatly, especially Linhai Commandery, where countless people were displaced. The descendants of the seven shadow guards and the deposed Crown Prince's lineage saw an opportunity and, in a fit of madness, went all out to kidnap children.

The outrageous part was that many officials in Linhai Commandery's government at the time had been infiltrated by members of the seven shadow guard divisions. Under their cover, and exploiting the characteristics of a year of natural disaster, the truth remained hidden until after the disaster had passed.

The Mu family was among the descendants of the Yin-Yang division of the seven shadow guards. They operated under the guise of the Mu Merchant Guild, but in reality, they had long been working for the deposed Crown Prince's descendants overseas.

When the seven shadow guard forces realized something was amiss, they decisively retreated. The Mu family, in order to cover for the other six divisions, voluntarily stayed behind to create confusion and influence the government's judgment at the time. By the time the government reacted, they only managed to track down the last hundred or so children. In the end, among the seven shadow guard divisions, only the Mu family, representing the Yin-Yang division, was apprehended."

Gu Chuxia asked skeptically, "Then why were they directly annihilated? Why wasn't the truth of the matter made public? And why wasn't the investigation continued afterwards? Even if they went overseas, they could still be investigated, couldn't they?"

"No, they couldn't be investigated," Pei Yuanzhen stated. "The deposed Crown Prince's descendants were hidden among the perilous and numerous islands of the Tiansha Archipelago, making it difficult to investigate. But that's not the main point. The crucial part is that the area is very special; it has always been a contentious border between our Qian Dynasty and Southern Jin, with constant conflicts.

At that time, the situation was particularly delicate. Our Great Qian was at a disadvantage in a war with Chu and was seeking Southern Jin's assistance—a very sensitive period. If we had sent troops to search the Tiansha Archipelago then, it could have easily led to a tense and broken relationship with Southern Jin, potentially risking the downfall of our nation.

Therefore, Mr. Dongjing, who was then the prefect of Linhai Commandery, after much deliberation, decided to abandon those children. He publicly announced that during the pursuit, all the children had been drowned at sea. This was to prevent the children's parents and relatives from causing an uproar. Because if those parents and relatives knew their children might still be alive, they would undoubtedly pressure the government, or even launch search parties to the Tiansha Archipelago, which could jeopardize the alliance between Great Qian and Southern Jin. The Tiansha Archipelago was too sensitive, and the deposed Crown Prince's descendants chose to hide there after careful consideration.

As for why the Mu family wasn't publicly tried but directly annihilated, the reason wasn't a lack of evidence. It was because it involved a scandal of the Great Qian imperial family, which would have severely damaged the royal reputation. So, Mr. Dongjing chose to use extralegal means and directly wiped out the Mu family.

Initially, Mr. Dongjing and seven other officials were stripped of their positions not for using private execution to annihilate the Mu family, but actually for lax oversight. After all, it was over ten thousand children, and the seven shadow guards had been hidden in Linhai Commandery for so many years without detection. Those eight powerful officials were undeniably responsible."

After listening to Pei Yuanzhen's account, Gu Chuxia suddenly understood. "So that's how it was! Last night, listening to Mr. Dongjing's full-of-holes explanation, I thought..."

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled. "You thought Mr. Dongjing was covering up a scandal for some high-ranking official in the imperial court, making the Mu family scapegoats, and that's why they were annihilated, and then he gained the favor of a noble patron and rose rapidly through the ranks, right?"

Gu Chuxia grinned.

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Over ten thousand children involved thousands of families across the four Huaihai commanderies, tens of thousands, even over a hundred thousand people. What kind of immense power would it take to suppress that? Was it just an explanation? It would require all the imperial officials to keep silent and turn a blind eye to be overlooked. No one could possibly achieve that. If not for the impending national war at the time, and our Great Qian's urgent need for Southern Jin's assistance, making us wary of offending Southern Jin, how could the matter have simply faded away like that?"

"You mentioned the Seven Absolutes Tower is linked to the seven shadow guards from back then. How so?" Gu Mo asked.

Pei Yuanzhen explained, "Thirty years ago, after the Mu family's annihilation, the seven shadow guards and the deposed Crown Prince's descendants never reappeared. Then, ten years ago, a mysterious assassin organization called the Seven Absolutes Tower emerged in the Tianzhou jianghu. In just a few years, it became one of the top assassin organizations in the world.

This organization is extremely secretive. The imperial court has been investigating, but with minimal success. It wasn't until the last year or two that the court gradually discovered some of the techniques used by Seven Absolutes Tower assassins bore resemblance to the 'Sevenfold Slaughter Tribute to the Abyss of Silence.' From this, they deduced that the Seven Absolutes Tower was the seven shadow guards from back then, resurfacing, especially active in the four Huaihai commanderies. That's why I was transferred here to serve as prefect, with the primary mission of investigating the Seven Absolutes Tower and following the clues to find the deposed Crown Prince's descendants."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "So, are there any leads?"

Pei Yuanzhen became vigilant, looking left and right, then leaned in and whispered, "Yes."

Gu Mo rubbed his nose. "Um... Prefect Pei, you don't need to be so close. Rest assured, with me here, no one should be able to overhear our conversation."

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled awkwardly. "The Seven Absolutes Tower is very cautious. The assassins they send are all suicidal, making them difficult to track. We've never had many useful leads, at most managing to plant a few low-level informants who can't reach the Grand Steward or find where the deposed Crown Prince's descendants are hiding. But last night, there was a major breakthrough: Madam Liu is actually a descendant of the Mu family!"

Gu Mo frowned. "But Madam Liu is dead?"

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Even a dead person can be valuable. Madam Liu's appearance last night, on the surface, seemed like Wang Mingxiu's previous incompetence and deception were revealed. Then, she used Wang Mingxiu's concubine to lure Wang Mingxiu away, and then she disguised herself as Wang Mingxiu to assassinate Mr. Dongjing. It was a series of interconnected schemes, making it impossible to guard against."

"Is there a problem with that?" Gu Mo asked.

"That's the official story," Pei Yuanzhen explained. "I said the same thing when I first came in because, at that time, I didn't know if Hero Gu had any interest in the Grand Steward of the Seven Absolutes Tower. If you weren't interested, I would have stuck to that narrative until the truth of the case was uncovered. However, since you have now clearly expressed interest in the Grand Steward, and I very much hope to receive your assistance, I will naturally no longer withhold anything from you.

Madam Liu's appearance and death last night, and the eventual revelation of her identity, all seemed logical. But there's a fundamental question: how could she have deceived Wang Mingxiu under the elaborate net he had set up?

Going back to the beginning, Madam Liu was killed by Wang Mingxiu, and that case was closed. A few days ago, after your arrival, Hero Gu, you expressed doubts that Madam Liu was dead. At the time, I didn't take it seriously, because if Madam Liu wasn't dead, it would mean that Wang Mingxiu, a distinguished Commander of the Six Doors, was colluding with a notorious bandit. This is the essence. We cannot ignore Wang Mingxiu's suspicious aspects simply because Madam Liu's later appearance seemed very reasonable.

When I realized Wang Mingxiu was problematic, everything started to make sense. Because you suspected Madam Liu wasn't dead, and your reputation, Hero Gu, truly puts pressure on fugitives. Madam Liu's appearance and assassination attempt last night, theoretically, could both serve her revenge and help Wang Mingxiu create a perfect cover, perfectly concealing his identity. And coincidentally, Madam Liu cultivates Extreme Yin True Qi, while Wang Mingxiu practices an Extreme Yang martial art. Together, they strongly resemble the Yin-Yang Secret Manual of the Mu family being cultivated separately."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "That deduction is very reasonable."

Pei Yuanzhen said, "If Wang Mingxiu is a member of the Mu family, then the Seven Absolutes Tower will definitely try to contact him. So, now I just need to keep a close eye on Wang Mingxiu, and it's highly likely I'll be able to track down the Seven Absolutes Tower."

"But what if the Seven Absolutes Tower doesn't contact Wang Mingxiu?" Gu Mo asked.

"The chances of contact are high," Pei Yuanzhen said. "The 'Sevenfold Slaughter Tribute to the Abyss of Silence' claims invincibility when all seven slaughters are united. Missing even one component makes it incomplete, and that's a huge temptation. I just need to subtly reveal a small hint to the Seven Absolutes Tower that Wang Mingxiu might be a descendant of the Mu family, just like Madam Liu. The Seven Absolutes Tower will definitely investigate, and with their methods, they'll surely discover if Wang Mingxiu is a Mu descendant. If he is, they will certainly contact him.

If Wang Mingxiu is not a Mu descendant, or if the Seven Absolutes Tower can resist the temptation of uniting the seven slaughters, then there's nothing more we can do. I would then have to continue with my previous plan, investigating step by step, and that would even more so require your help, Hero Gu."

"I can help with fights," Gu Mo said, nodding.

Gu Chuxia quickly interjected, "But, Prefect Pei, my brother's fees are very expensive! Helping you protect Mr. Dongjing this time was purely a favor!"

Pei Yuanzhen said, "The bounty on the Grand Steward is very high; it's the highest tier of government bounty, a full ten thousand taels."

Gu Chuxia blinked her eyes, staring intently at Pei Yuanzhen, and asked, "And then? That's the imperial court's bounty, of course. We're helping *you*, Prefect Pei."

Pei Yuanzhen was speechless.

Gu Mo quickly interjected, "Prefect Pei, I apologize. My sister is young and ignorant, please don't take it to heart. As for this Grand Steward... let's just say I voluntarily accepted the imperial court's bounty, even though I hadn't planned on pursuing this person before..."

Pei Yuanzhen's mouth twitched, and his eyes were filled with resentment.

"Hero Gu, one thing at a time," Pei Yuanzhen said. "The imperial bounty is the imperial bounty, and your help to me is your help to me. However, my salary is not much, and you, Hero Gu, are truly righteous and noble. To offer mere silver and vulgar money would be an insult to you. How about this, Hero Gu? Our Dragon Tiger Mountain has an Ascension Platform, a rare blessed land in this world, a place of enlightenment sought after by jianghu practitioners. It would surely be of little use to someone of your cultivation, but Heroine Gu might find it beneficial..."

"Deal," Gu Mo stated decisively.

"Right, one more question," Gu Mo asked. "Thirty years ago, out of concern for Southern Jin, you couldn't go to the Tiansha Archipelago. Can you go now?"

Pei Yuanzhen explained, "The situation has changed. Now it is Southern Jin that needs Great Qian's help; they are the ones worried about breaking the alliance. As long as we have a legitimate reason to go to the Tiansha Archipelago, they will have nothing to say!"

"Surely the imperial court isn't trying to seize the Tiansha Archipelago while they're at it, are they?"

Pei Yuanzhen replied, "I don't know..."

After agreeing to help Pei Yuanzhen deal with the Grand Steward, Gu Mo temporarily shelved his plans to return to Yunzhou. Instead, he relaxed and settled into Qingfeng Inn. Perhaps it was because Madam Liu was dead and no one was paying for assassinations, or perhaps Ruan Hongqiao's death had made the Seven Absolutes Tower retreat, but for the next few days, Mr. Dongjing encountered no further assassination attempts.

Mr. Dongjing's lectures at the prefectural academy also proceeded smoothly. For three consecutive days, Gu Mo and Gu Chuxia gained significant insight as Mr. Dongjing, single-handedly, engaged in shouting matches with numerous prominent scholars from Linhai Commandery. He debated from morning till night for three whole days. At his peak, Mr. Dongjing could verbally spar with ten people at once, lambasting them so severely they were left utterly humiliated.

Of course, when scholars cursed at each other, it wasn't called cursing; it was called debating scripture!

Gu Mo felt a bit bewildered. Martial arts grandmasters fought their way to the top, but literary grandmasters debated their way there?

Just as the debates and lectures were in full swing, a major case occurred in Linhai Commandery: the Huaihai Six Bandits, who had been missing for several years, reappeared. They committed another bloody crime, directly wiping out an entire family of over thirty people.

"Our opponent has made a move!" Upon hearing the news of the Huaihai Six Bandits, Pei Yuanzhen immediately sought out Gu Mo. "I've had people watching Wang Mingxiu recently. A few days ago, Wang Mingxiu reviewed a large number of Six Doors' dossiers, and one of them was about the Huaihai Six Bandits. This is a ploy to lure you away."

Gu Mo said gravely, "Are you saying Wang Mingxiu has already made contact with the Seven Absolutes Tower?"

Pei Yuanzhen said gravely, "Highly likely."

"So, what do you want me to do now?" Gu Mo asked.

"Naturally, we cooperate," Pei Yuanzhen said. "Whether it's Wang Mingxiu or the Seven Absolutes Tower, to catch them, they need to actively expose more clues. Luring you away most likely means they intend to make a second attempt on Mr. Dongjing. Wang Mingxiu certainly can't achieve this alone; it's highly probable the Seven Absolutes Tower is involved."

Gu Mo thought for a moment. "Aren't you afraid that if I leave, they'll harm Mr. Dongjing?"

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled lightly. "They can't harm Mr. Dongjing. Four imperial masters arrived yesterday without alarming anyone."

"How skilled are they?" Gu Mo asked curiously.

Pei Yuanzhen explained, "All four are martial arts grandmasters. They also possess combined attack techniques. When they work together, they can certainly unleash combat power comparable to the top ranks of the Qian Dynasty's Celestial Ranking. Moreover, they are in the shadows, while the Linhai Commandery government also has its own masters operating openly."

The next morning, Gu Mo and Gu Chuxia set out, accompanied by Duan Fei, a Six Doors Vice Commander, and a group of Six Doors constables, heading to Yanluo County, where the Huaihai Six Bandits were suspected to have appeared.

Just as Gu Mo's group arrived in Yanluo County, the Six Doors Captain who came to greet them informed them that the Huaihai Six Bandits had struck again, wiping out another entire family. Immediately, Duan Fei ordered them to the scene.

This time, the family annihilated was named Luo. They were not ordinary people but a martial arts family in Yanluo County, with over twenty members, all skilled in martial arts, even the children knew a few moves. The family head was a renowned master in Yanluo County, considered a top-tier expert even in the wider jianghu, and he ran Yanluo County's largest martial arts school. But at this moment, the Luo family courtyard was a scene of hell on earth. Bodies lay strewn everywhere, dismembered, and several young women clearly showed signs of having been desecrated before their deaths.

Duan Fei arrived at the scene and identified himself. The Six Doors Captain from Yanluo County quickly stepped forward, saluting. "Commander Duan, it's just like the Liu family annihilation case three days ago. There are six culprits, specializing in legs, palms, fists, claws, blades, and poison. The details are almost identical to how the Huaihai Six Bandits committed crimes back then. They first use poison, wait for the victims to lose their combat ability, and then reveal themselves."

"Almost identical?" Duan Fei queried.

The Captain replied, "The details are only about eighty percent similar, but their arrogance remains the same. After killing, they left six bloody handprints, and all valuables inside the house were completely looted."

Duan Fei's pupils contracted slightly. "Eighty percent similar is correct. If it were completely identical, it might be fake. After all, several years have passed; how could they maintain the exact same methods?"

The Captain quickly said, "You are right, sir."

Duan Fei asked, "Are there any other leads?"

"None for now," the Captain replied. "However, I've ordered a search, particularly focusing on pawn shops dealing in gold and silver jewelry."

Duan Fei nodded, then asked Gu Mo, "Hero Gu, what are your insights?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly. He wasn't good at solving cases, and he had little interest in this one because he knew deep down that it was the Seven Absolutes Tower impersonating the Huaihai Six Bandits, not the real ones. Therefore, focusing on the Huaihai Six Bandits would inevitably yield few results.

Gu Chuxia, however, was very enthusiastic. She observed the courtyard for a while, then went outside to join the Six Doors constables in asking the surrounding residents for clues about the time of the incident. But