Night falls.
Song Family Castle.
Hundreds of people stood in front of a residential building like quails, their expressions fearful.
Around them, more than twenty ard guards stood watch.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just the people within the periter who were frightened; even the guards encircling them were anxious.
Captain Guan is dead.
He died in this ordinary residential building.
It is said that the manner of his death was horrific, most likely a murder.
He was a mber of the Guan Family, which speaks volus. If that Awakener noble knew that his younger brother died under mysterious circumstances here...
What would happen then?
Wouldn’t he bury the whole Song Family Castle with him? Who would dare to say anything against it?
On the third floor, in a room, lay two corpses, one male and one female. The bodies were already decayed, the stench so strong it could make soone vomit bile.
Cheng Lei looked at the male corpse’s face, his own visage pale.
Although the body had decayed, he could still recognize at a glance that this was Guan Dexi.
Two or three days ago, a subordinate ca with docunts for his signature, ntioning that Captain Guan was missing. Cheng Lei had inquired a bit and learned that after Guan Dexi returned, he went to the residential area and allowed no followers. He didn’t think much of it.
He assud Guan might be engaging in so personal activities, which was normal.
But as the second day passed, and then the third, without any sight of Guan Dexi, his unease grew. He began sending people to search the fortress.
Just then, news ca from a residential building about the stench of corpses. He imdiately led a team there, and upon seeing the scene, felt the world spinning.
Guan Dexi, dead?
And died in such a bizarre manner.
It was like the scene before them: a man and a woman, alone in a room, both dead.
Who could the killer be?
Why did he or she do this?
"Captain."
At this mont, a man wearing rectangular glasses and white gloves walked over, pointing at the woman’s corpse on the ground. "She was likely killed by Captain Guan; there are Guan’s fingerprints on her neck. As for Captain Guan, he must have been killed by a third party.
Before killing Captain Guan, the murderer likely interrogated him. This can be concluded from Guan’s broken leg and severed fingers. Finally, the murderer must have gotten the answers they wanted before silencing him."
"Moreover, Captain Guan’s belongings are all missing. From the few marks on the table, it seems the murderer placed the items there first, then took everything away. It must be said, the murderer was very cautious."
"So, you’re saying the murderer’s motive was robbery?" Cheng Lei’s pupils contracted.
But sothing about it didn’t sit right with him.
"From the scene, it appears that way. But we can’t rule out other possibilities."
The man replied cautiously.
Those around them were both angry and terrified.
Angry because: why target Guan Dexi of all people?
Terrified because: The Awakener in Anshan City, if he learns of his younger brother’s grueso death, who knows how furious he would be.
"Thud, thud, thud."
A series of footsteps sounded.
"Captain," another guard entered, holding so papers, with a strange expression. "The family information for this household is out, take a look."
Cheng Lei took the file.
Instantly, his pupils dilated.
Head: Yang Mu.
Younger Brother: Yang Xiaochun
Wife: Chang Juan
These nas sounded vaguely familiar, as if he had heard them sowhere before.
Yes!
This Yang Xiaochun was a mber of the Guard Team, wasn’t he? It was said he witnessed a group killing bandits and, desiring those mounts, called so n to rob them. He left and never returned.
mories flashed through Cheng Lei’s mind like a slide show.
The person who inford him was Wang Xin. He said a woman told him about it. This woman?
He suddenly looked at the female corpse, a flash of inspiration in his mind.
"It’s her!"
"Captain, what’s wrong?"
"Did you find sothing?"
Those around him, seeing this, eagerly asked.
At this point, only by finding the murderer could they calm that person’s fury.
If the captain knew sothing, that would be ideal.
Cheng Lei furrowed his brows, as if he hadn’t heard them.
Even though he figured out these people’s identities, what did this have to do with Guan Dexi? Why was he here?
"Could it be?"
A hypothesis ford in his mind.
What if, after being rejected by Cheng Lei, Wang Xin turned to Guan Dexi?
Considering his greedy nature, it was possible.
"Bring Wang Xin to ."
He ordered.
"Yes."
The man with the file ran out. Shortly after, he returned, looking confused. "Captain, Wang Xin has already left the Guard Team."
"What?"
Cheng Lei was stunned.
"When did this happen?"
"Two or three days ago."
"Do you know where he lives? Bring him to ."
"Yes."
The man left again.
"Captain, have you discovered sothing?"
Soone nearby couldn’t help but ask.
"Not clear yet."
Cheng Lei shook his head.
The whole situation felt increasingly mysterious.
The atmosphere in the room was tense.
Until a series of urgent footsteps approached.
Cheng Lei quickly turned his head toward the door, expecting news from his earlier dispatched team, but it wasn’t them. Another group appeared at the door.
"Cousin."
Cheng Lei imdiately walked over.
The short, slightly plump man leading them was the Fortress Lord of Song Family Castle, Song Hailong.
Song Hailong’s eyes were also filled with panic as he asked, "Cousin, the dead person, is it really?"
"Yes."
Cheng Lei nodded reluctantly.
Song Hailong’s face turned pale. He walked into the room, up to a body, and suddenly froze. Then, he began trembling uncontrollably.
"Who! Who did this!"
His teeth clenched so hard they made a sound.
Rather than anger, it was mostly fear.
He could imagine; if he took this body to Guan Dehua, the latter might rip his heart out.
"Useless, a bunch of useless people!"
Song Hailong turned, glaring at the others, cursing, "What were you doing? How could you let a murderer kill within the fortress? And kill Guan Dexi, of all people? Today! You must find the murderer today, or none of you will go back ho!"
The people in the room all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.
Find the killer? Where to even start?
No one would be stupid enough to stay here after committing murder; the killer was probably long gone.
The world is so vast, where would they even begin to search?
"This is so infuriating, you useless people."
Song Hailong kept cursing.
Cheng Lei furrowed his brow, feeling increasingly agitated.
He couldn’t comprehend why Guan Dexi would be there.
He had a feeling that understanding this point might unravel the whole mystery.
At this mont, more footsteps sounded from outside.
The room fell silent.
"Captain, Fortress Lord!"
The newcor was startled to see Song Hailong.
Song was about to explode, but Cheng Lei motioned for him to stop, then asked, "Well, did you find him?"
The man swallowed and shook his head, "We went to Wang Xin’s house, but no one was there. The neighbors said he hadn’t been seen for two or three days."
"What?"
Cheng Lei was stunned.
"Two or three days ago? That’s when he left the Guard Team. Where did he go after that?"
The man looked puzzled.
"Wait." Cheng Lei realized sothing. "Who processed Wang Xin’s departure from the Guard Team?"
As he spoke, he already knew the answer.
"It was Captain Guan." The man glanced at the corpse on the ground. "Captain Guan processed it."
Cheng Lei’s eyes widened.
"Cousin, did you discover sothing?" Song Hailong asked urgently, noticing Cheng’s reaction.
Those around them looked expectant too.
Cheng Lei took a deep breath.
"Cousin, I think I know what happened." Cheng Lei began.
"Oh? Tell quickly!"
Song Hailong was anxious. "If we don’t find the murderer, I can’t answer to Anshan City. Not only , but you will be implicated too."
"I understand, Cousin."
Cheng Lei said, noting the crowd around them. "You all, step out first."
"Didn’t you hear? Get out!"
Song Hailong roared.
The crowd hurriedly left.
Only Cheng Lei, Song Hailong, and the two corpses remained.
"Cousin," Cheng Lei glanced at the female corpse. "If I’m not mistaken, Wang Xin didn’t leave the stronghold but was killed by Guan Dexi, just like this woman."
"???"
Song Hailong was perplexed.
"Cousin, don’t worry. Let explain."
Cheng Lei recounted the entire series of events.
Song Hailong grew increasingly alard as he listened.
"Cousin, did you notice? All the deceased share a common factor."
"What common factor?"
Song Hailong asked, astonished.
"They all knew about the bandits."
Cheng Lei’s eyes glead with a cold light.
"Yang Mu and Yang Xiaochun learned about the bandits and went to the Chen Family Stronghold, where they disappeared. Likely, they died.
Chang Juan and Wang Xin also knew about the bandits and died. Guan Dexi killed them. If Guan Dexi hadn’t died, I would think he killed Yang Mu and Yang Xiaochun too. But Guan died, so who killed him?"
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