Chapter 60: Suspicious Case

Upon learning that the escort robbed from the Changfeng Security Bureau was the legendary Bloodtear Clam, Gu Mo instantly understood why the bureau had kept the escort's true nature a secret, even from its own guards, and why only Chief Escort Lin Zhenyue knew its destination.

The security deposit was an absurd 200,000 taels. However, compared to the Bloodtear Clam, this sum was far too conservative. That item was truly priceless. If it weren't in the hands of Invincible Blade Mo Qingxian at Lingyun Villa, but with a different top-tier power like the Tang family of Zhushan County, possessing such a treasure would surely lead to their downfall.

Mo Qingxian only revealed the Bloodtear Clam after he became famous. Even then, he faced many dangers. Fortunately, Mo Qingxian was a true martial arts master. With his blade, he not only protected the Bloodtear Clam but also established his formidable reputation and founded the renowned Lingyun Villa.

"Why would Lingyun Villa send the Bloodtear Clam away?" Gu Mo asked, puzzled.

Zhuo Qingfeng replied, "I've already investigated this at Lingyun Villa. It was being sent to save someone's life. Mo Qingxian has a close friend named Zuo Ze, who is the head of the Zuo family in Qingyang County. Recently, Zuo Ze was critically wounded in a duel, and the Zuo family sought help from Lingyun Villa. Unfortunately, Lingyun Villa had no spare Bloodtear Pearls. However, the Bloodtear Clam was about to produce new pearls. Waiting for the Bloodtear Clam to produce the pearls and then sending them to Qingyang County would take too long. So, Mo Qingxian decided to send the Bloodtear Clam directly to the Zuo family in Qingyang County. This way, as soon as the clam produced the Bloodtear Pearl, it could immediately be given to Zuo Ze to save his life."

Gu Mo then asked, "Such an important item, yet Mo Qingxian didn't deliver it himself, instead entrusting it to the Changfeng Security Bureau? That doesn't make sense, does it?"

"He couldn't deliver it," Zhuo Qingfeng said with a smile. "Didn't Mo Buyao, the young master of Lingyun Villa and Mo Qingxian's son, schedule a duel with Shen Bai of the Canglan Sword Sect recently? Have you heard about that?"

Gu Mo nodded. He was naturally aware of the matter. He had met Shen Bai at the Tang family estate in Zhushan County while hunting the wanted criminal Feilong. The two had hit it off immediately and conversed cheerfully. They had originally intended to exchange martial arts knowledge for a longer period, but Shen Bai had to leave after only three days because of his scheduled duel with Mo Buyao. Later, they exchanged letters twice. In his letters, Shen Bai expressed considerable regret and even complained that Mo Buyao, despite being the son of the renowned Invincible Blade Mo Qingxian and having a great reputation, possessed surprisingly ordinary martial arts skills. He felt their duel was pointless and a wasted trip.

"Does Mo Qingxian not escorting the Bloodtear Clam have anything to do with Shen Bai?" Gu Mo asked.

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded and continued, "Shen Bai and Mo Buyao are both talented young masters in the martial world. Shen Bai has a great reputation and is a disciple of a Grandmaster. However, Mo Buyao also has a considerable reputation and is recognized as a top-tier expert, having deeply inherited Mo Qingxian's true teachings. Initially, everyone expected an evenly matched battle. However, to everyone's surprise, Mo Buyao couldn't withstand more than three sword strikes from Shen Bai. Shen Bai himself hadn't anticipated Mo Buyao would be so weak; one sword strike nearly killed Mo Buyao.

"Fortunately, Shen Bai held back. Mo Buyao wasn't killed, but he was severely injured, his heart meridian almost severed. Lingyun Villa only produces one Bloodtear Pearl a year, and each one is ground into powder and refined into a Bloodtear Pill as soon as it's produced. There were no spares to treat Mo Buyao. While Bloodtear Pills are potent, they cannot bring the dead back to life or regrow flesh and bone. Left with no other choice, Mo Qingxian had to exhaust all his cultivation to protect Mo Buyao's heart meridian. As a result, Mo Qingxian is still recovering, which is why he couldn't personally escort the Bloodtear Clam. He expended too much energy saving Mo Buyao."

Gu Mo realized, "I see." In Linjiang City, although there were several security bureaus, Changfeng Security Bureau was widely recognized as the strongest. Therefore, it was natural for Lingyun Villa to choose Changfeng Security Bureau to escort the Bloodtear Clam.

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "Let me continue with the case details. The Changfeng Security Bureau accepted the escort from Lingyun Villa. Yang Fang, the owner of Changfeng Security Bureau, signed the entrustment agreement with Mo Qingxian at the yamen. The escort fee was 30,000 taels. Yang Fang mortgaged all his family assets and borrowed a significant amount of money to pay a security deposit of 200,000 taels at the yamen. Honestly, for the value of the Bloodtear Clam, 200,000 taels isn't that much.

"The Changfeng Security Bureau took this escort very seriously. They assigned eight escort leaders, over fifty guards, and more than thirty porters, all skilled professionals. Additionally, Chief Escort Lin Zhenyue, a renowned top-tier master in the martial world known as 'Invincible Divine Fist,' was on duty. His fists were not only incredibly fast but also immensely powerful. This escort was the Bloodtear Clam. Only Yang Fang, the owner, and Lin Zhenyue knew about its true nature. The entire escort route was kept secret. Under these circumstances, the escort was still robbed. Don't you think the possibility of an inside job is the highest?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

Zhuo Qingfeng continued, "The escort was robbed at the Fangxian County inn. According to the investigation by the Six-Doors Constabulary in Qingyang County, it was clearly an internal conflict. The scene showed that many of the deceased were killed off guard. Furthermore, for security, the Changfeng Security Bureau had prepared many carriages, disguising them as transporting various ceramics—a total of over a dozen carriages, with goods piled high in a warehouse. However, there were no signs of ransacking at the scene. This clearly indicates that the robbers knew the exact hidden location of the Bloodtear Clam."

Gu Mo asked, "Based on this alone, you concluded it was an inside job?"

"Of course not," Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "There were witnesses. Two servants at the inn that day personally saw the Changfeng Security Bureau personnel fighting and killing each other in the courtyard. Moreover, by the time the authorities received the news and arrived, the Bloodtear Clam was gone, and thirteen people, including Qu Heng, were missing. Under the urgent pursuit of the Six-Doors Constabulary in Qingyang County, they were found in a cave, about to escape Fangxian County. Afterward, the Six-Doors Constabulary in Qingyang County matched their weapons and martial arts styles with the wounds on the deceased. All matched perfectly. These are also pieces of evidence proving their involvement in the internal theft; it's an ironclad case!"

Gu Mo frowned deeply and asked, "Then... why haven't they been formally charged and convicted?"

Zhuo Qingfeng replied, "Because the Bloodtear Clam hasn't been found yet, and the mental state of those thirteen suspects is unusual. They deny any internal theft, all claiming in unison that the escort was robbed by a 'cat demon' – a cat as big as an ox!"