Demon Sword Sect's Undercover

"How did you do it? Can you recount everything? The Daoist Sect has never wronged a good person, nor has it ever spared a bad one!"

Old Meng split his mouth into what might have been a smile, but beneath the crevices on his face, people seemed to see a weathered stone crumbling.

"In the thirteenth year of Anhe Yuanhao, 1453 in the Jinxiu calendar, May, I poisoned the breakfast box of the Wu family's child, the main ingredients being mukuzi, dingqie, and star anise maple..."

The following year, November, I used burnt incense to suffocate Li family's child in the study, mixing mountain belladonna, nux vomica, and soil mustard herb...

"In the beginning of the fifteenth year of Anhe, I released a hundred marching bees during Duan family's child's martial training session, those I had encountered by chance while collecting herbs!"

All three were killed by this old man; the facts are clear, the evidence irrefutable. I did not speak earlier because there was still one person whose wish was unfulfilled..."

The young lords who traveled together two years ago were actually four in total; the last one was the highest-ranking mastermind, Young Master Wang. This was the so-called unfulfilled wish Old Meng spoke of!

The three victims all lived in Huangguo Town, which made it easier for Old Meng to act since he was familiar with all the aspects; only Young Master Wang was from Fufeng City, which was a stretch for this old medicine farmer, who had spent his life harvesting herbs and had scarcely ever entered the city.

Listening to this old man, who appeared to be a simple and honest medicine farmer, speak so blandly of his deeds, all the bystanders felt a chill rise in their hearts. There were far too many such people in Anhe Country!

What made Old Meng turn from a simple and honest medicine farmer into a ruthless murderer, everyone had their own measure in their heart.

Chong Ling was unmoved, "Do you have accomplices?"

Old Meng stood with his legs crossed, a short and thin old man, yet now many felt as if they were in the presence of a towering mountain,

"There are no accomplices; all is the result of a lifetime of learning by this old man alone. I dare not entrust it to others!"

Chong Ling's expression was stern. He felt, as someone learned in the ways of cultivation, that he was being somewhat overpowered in spirit by a mortal, which was very irksome to him.

"For what reason would you commit such madness?"

Old Meng's eyes filled with blood and tears, "For my granddaughter Sun Qiaolian, who was killed on Hebi Mountain..."

Chong Ling shouted, "Without evidence, how can you recklessly accuse others? If you had brought this to the Government, perhaps there might have been a day when your grievances were redressed. How could you just seek your own end and disregard the law?"

Old Meng resisted, "There is no evidence! But I know it was them!"

He closed his eyes, saying no more.

Chong Ling was somewhat depressed about dealing with such a blunt and obstinate old man from the countryside, knowing that if he refused to speak, unless force was used, nothing more could be asked.

The presiding official coughed lightly, "Daoist..."

Chong Ling, feeling annoyed, knew the official's intention. Now that the real culprit was revealed, it was not appropriate to drag unrelated issues into it and make everyone lose face.

"In that case, as the facts are clear and the connections evident, since it is a mortal affair, I would request the official to sign the judgment."

In Anhe Country, mortal matters were handled by the Government; cultivators generally did not interfere unnecessarily, for why should they invite causality upon themselves?

Since he had confessed, the rest was routine for these experienced officials. After some action, signing, and sealing, they put him in stocks to await reporting to the provincial Government for execution in the autumn.

A clerk embellished the case from start to finish, explaining it clearly for public display and reassuring the citizens. Under the ushering of the officials, the spectators began to slowly disperse, leaving only a crowd of constables, officials, and several victims who showed no intention of leaving.

This was a tacit understanding among the gentry class; they needed this opportunity to resolve a certain trouble, the arrival of the Wind Patrol Envoy was just the chance, otherwise, once this village passed, there would be no such shop.

Daoist Chong Ling sighed, swept his gaze across the hall, "Who is Hou Niao? Step forward!"

A young man took a step forward, standing erect like a javelin, neither humble nor arrogant, "Hou Niao is here, please instruct me."

Daoist Chong Ling's eyes narrowed, "You, as one of the Fufeng Criminal Investigation members, such unresolved cases as the serial murders in Huangguo Town are not difficult to resolve, so why have you repeatedly delayed for two years? Causing more human tragedies?"

There have been complaints against you for bending the law for personal gain, wasting lives, and even turning around to bite back, wanting to frame the innocent?

"What do you have to say, come speak in public!"

Hou Niao's gaze was stern, sweeping over the faces of those present, knowing that whatever he said would be useless, he had offended too many people in Fufeng with his harsh enforcement over the years, not just a few individuals but the entire social stratum.

This was an overt act of reprisal, of course, including his own breach of law known to others, and he was gripped by his vulnerabilities; he had nothing to say.

"Inadequate in solving the case, willing to accept punishment!"

A young man jumped out, it was none other than the companion of the three victims, Young Master Wang, given this chance, how could he possibly let it go?

"Hou Niao, this isn't merely about incompetence! It's about conspiring with Old Meng to murder the innocent!"

Hou Niao did not even glance at him, but instead fixed his gaze upon Daoist Chong Ling. As a fellow cultivator, even though he was just at the lowest, entry level, no mortal had the right to judge him, only the Daoist Sect could convict him.

Daoist Chong Ling frowned slightly, "In the name of Dao, did you conspire with Old Meng?"

Hou Niao did not hesitate, "Unacquainted!"

Daoist Chong Ling knew he was telling the truth, but this could not cover up his responsibilities as a member of the Criminal Investigation. As one of the six Daoists of the Criminal Investigation in Fufeng City, and the officer handling the serial murders of Huangguo Town, the death of Wu's son could not be blamed on him, but Li's son and Duan's son's deaths were indeed closely related to him. To call him an accomplice might be an overstatement, but being a tyrant's aider was undeniable and also a crime within the Daoist Sect.

He was hesitant, not willing to treat a Daoist according to the wishes of the mortals, yet not wanting to let the entire Fufeng City down, as he had many other affairs that required local support during this inspection.

While he was still hesitating, Hou Niao gave a faint smile and addressed the young man with a laugh:

"Young Master Wang, sorry for the trouble over the years, all due to misunderstandings, please allow me to apologize briefly!"

While speaking, he slowly advanced, his hand rummaging in his chest as if he intended to bring something out to pacify the Wang Family's wrath?

Wang Family in Fufeng City was indeed a big clan, with descendants spread across both the civil and commercial sectors, and even with members serving as officials abroad, even the City Lord dared not offend the Wang Family lightly, hence Hou Niao's demeanor was perfectly normal, as people do have their moments of submission, the key is to see who is standing before them!

Young Master Wang was full of pride, savoring the glory of the moment, yet knowing in his heart that he must not let this person off, otherwise there would be no good days ahead for all the nobility in town!

"Hou Niao, don't you dare bribe in public, we, the Fufeng Wang Family, are not a superficial family!"

Hou Niao smiled sincerely, drawing closer, the object in his chest began to reveal its true nature, but it was not gold or jewels, but a short blade!

Under the high-hanging bright mirror in the hall, who could have expected a Criminal Investigation member to dare such a bold move right in public?

Young Master Wang sensed trouble, too late to dodge, he was grabbed by Hou Niao by the collar, the short blade thrust forth, pierces right into his heart, and then twisted...

Turning around, he faced Daoist Chong Ling, offering a Daoist salute, "Now, I have conspired with Old Meng!"