I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 258 - 145 Chain Reaction

A major case that shocked the Jin Sect occurred in Linhe last night.

The Jin Sect, which had dominated Linhai River Transport for many years, was utterly wiped out, all in one go!

When Zhao Zhonghe arrived, he saw nothing but chaos, with signs of a fierce battle and blood splatters everywhere.

But strangely, not a single body, not even a finger, was found.

The constables from the Patrol Office looked at each other in bewilderment until Zhao Yuan found several mentally distraught female servants in the damaged tower ship, revealing some details.

It turned out that a fierce man had come and annihilated the Jin Sect at the wharf.

"One person?"

Zhao Zhonghe pondered for a moment and shook his head, saying, "These words cannot be trusted. He might be able to kill so many, but to clean up and hide all the bodies by himself would be too difficult. There must be others assisting."

Beside him, Zhao Yuan continued, "If that’s the case, then it was premeditated. One person was responsible for the killings, while others handled the aftermath. To do it so cleanly, it seems like an act of professional assassins."

The uncle and nephew were chatting when County Captain Dong arrived with Master Tang, the forensic doctors, and several skilled clerks from the Civil Office.

Wang Lingyuan took the lead, with forensic doctors and Civil Office experts ready for action behind him.

But when they reached the wharf, everyone was dumbfounded.

In such a massive murder case, where were the bodies?

Where did all the bodies go?

County Captain Dong was equally puzzled. He called Zhao Zhonghe over, and after understanding the situation, he said with a headache, "No bodies, then examine the scene. As for recording the case files..."

Seeing County Captain Dong turn his gaze, the faces of the clerks turned bitter.

Without bodies, just collecting information on the many missing people would take a lot of work. Adding in scene analysis and various records, no one knew how long it might take.

County Captain Dong raised his eyebrows and said, "All clerks and constables on duty tonight will receive an additional two taels of silver. Once the case is resolved, rewards will be distributed."

Soldiers don’t fight without rewards, and generals aren’t fierce without benefits.

Upon hearing that they would get two taels of silver for a night, the officials present were instantly energized!

Looking at the Jin Sect’s remaining merchant ship goods, County Captain Dong’s eyes gleamed.

He understood that with such complex conditions and the chaotic situation at the wharf, some loss of goods from the Jin Sect’s merchant ships was inevitable.

County Captain Dong had not been at the wharf for long when Jin Sect’s leader and the infamous Judge of Death, Hong Baoyan, also arrived.

It was clear that someone from the government office had tipped off Master Hong; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come so quickly.

Hong Baoyan, around fifty, usually loved praying and chanting, always holding a string of relics in his hand, rumored to have been stolen from a temple.

They say a person who prays has a calm mind, but when he saw his carefully managed wharf devoid of any of his gang members, Master Hong’s hands started shaking with anger!

Coming to the partially submerged tower ship, Hong Baoyan roughly pushed aside the clerks examining the scene and grabbed the bewildered Lady Jin, demanding to know which enemy had destroyed his base.

Was it the Huainan Salt Gang or the Baijiang River Pirates? It couldn’t possibly be those weaklings from Linhe Broker...

Lady Jin’s skirt was already soaked, and she, paralyzed and incoherent, mumbled, "I’m not the wife of Master Jin. My husband owed a lot from gambling and made me accompany guests. I don’t know anything. That man said he was a Protector of Celestial Heart Sect, with many fierce ghosts. My ears hurt a lot..."

Hong Baoyan’s head throbbed. He asked bluntly:

"I ask you, what did the man look like?"

"Thick eyebrows, big eyes, looked like a farmer, wearing an opera costume, like a general from the stage, but I think he wasn’t human. Mr. Ling wasn’t human either; they must be ghosts, they’re definitely all ghosts!"

Lady Jin, fully deranged, sat on the ground, covering her ears, her head ringing, and it seemed like paper figures were floating before her eyes.

She felt like she had been targeted by a ghost...

Watching the terrified Lady Jin, who had already wet herself, Hong Baoyan only felt frustration.

If there really were ghosts, would you have survived until now?

Outside the tower ship, while Hong Baoyan was fuming, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly approached from not far away.

He turned to see men bearing the banner of Taian Escort Agency, all wielding weapons, clearly with hostile intent.

County Captain Dong frowned and was about to question and drive them away when another group of people approached.

It was Li Si from Linhe Broker, Master Huang Wu, and their men.

Clearly, they intended to strike while the iron was hot.

"What do you want to do with County Captain Dong here?"

Outnumbered, Hong Baoyan even saw many familiar faces, including Martial Masters from Linhe Martial Arts Hall.

The wealthy man who hired these Martial Masters was Lord Feng.

The wharf was a prime spot for Lord Feng, but more importantly, he valued rules deeply, especially in the Capital City circles.

County Captain Dong, about to scold, held back.

With him in the lead, the Linhe officials and constables silently stepped back, leaving space for the aftermath.

Hong Baoyan, both angry and fearful, yelled, "County Captain Dong, I am a citizen of Linhe, and you are an Imperial Court official. These rogues brazenly bully in front of you; how can you ignore it?"

County Captain Dong glanced at Hong Baoyan, thinking, How can you say such a thing?

Considering the crimes your Jin Sect committed, aren’t you the least bit hypocritical?

Now that the tables have turned, you suddenly value justice?

Seeing County Captain Dong and his men standing aside, chatting and watching like spectators, Hong Baoyan felt stifled.

"Brothers, let’s talk, no need for knives or guns..."

Before Hong Baoyan could finish, Xie Yunyan, the young master of Taian Escort Agency, brandished his spear and charged with the escort masters.

As the fight neared its end, Zhao Zhonghe remarked, "Well, now there are bodies, Lingyuan didn’t come in vain."

Beside him, County Captain Dong worried, "Let’s hope these people don’t start another feud over the wharf. Chief Zhao, quickly summon Martial Master Wu and his soldiers for assistance..."

That night, all forces in Linhe, big and small, were busy. Meanwhile, the instigator wandered the streets as usual.

...

At five in the morning, as the Golden Rooster crowed thrice.

In the early morning light, the outlines of the market buildings were visible.

In the Vegetable Market street, shopkeepers and clerks opened their stores, some sweeping outside, others setting up tables and chairs, while food vendors busily cleaned their counters.

Xu Qing weighed some glutinous rice for Golden Simurgh and bought two gourds of scorpions and centipedes from the herbal medicine vendor from Xijing Mountain.

These venomous insects were of ordinary quality, unsuitable for refining Thousand Insect Gu. To nurture a true Gu King, he needed highly toxic or special capabilities insects.

Such as the Ice Crystal Silkworm from the Northern Domain, Heart-Sealing Insect, Bone-Eroding Worm and Black Blood Bat from the Southwest, and the Dream-Catching Spider and Corpse-Eating Turtle from the ancient Yin River Dao.

These insects, even the thought of them frightened Xu Qing.

After buying Golden Simurgh’s food, Xu Qing bought fried small fishes for Xuan Yu and a dozen tea eggs for Huang Xiaoliu.

Those who labored hard would also buy some snacks to bring home for their families.

As the head of Cat Immortal Hall, now back from his work outside, naturally Xu Qing had to follow suit.

...

Meanwhile.

Outside Luojing City, at the Celestial Master’s Mansion on Jingshi Mountain.

At dawn, the subtle Earth Qi made it the best time for cultivators to meditate.

Thus, every day at this time, the disciples of the Celestial Master’s Mansion would get up early to welcome the clear Qi.

Today was a spiritual food day; as the bell rang in the mansion, the current Celestial Master performed incense burning and fasting rituals in the main hall.

However, upon arriving at the Celestial Longevity Hall, the Celestial Master found the Palace Guard snoring loudly at his desk.

The Elder Celestial Master frowned and looked up at the altar, noticing that one long-life lamp had extinguished.

On the lamp’s plaque was the name of the 32nd generation celestial child, Ling Yangzi.

The Elder Celestial Master was startled, hurriedly waking the Palace Guard, "How could you sleep so deeply? Tell me, when did Ling Yangzi’s life lamp go out?"

Wide awake, the Palace Guard stammered, "I didn’t notice. Ling Yangzi’s life lamp was fine yesterday..."

The Elder Celestial Master, frustrated, left immediately, "From today, chant for three months for Ling Yangzi to assist his rebirth."

The Elder Celestial Master, chanting softly, arrived at the main hall and retrieved a treasure mirror from the first Celestial Master’s statue.

"Taiyin Illuminates the Dark, Profound Yin Soul Capture, with Metal and Wood as bones, Water and Fire shapes, Eight Directions Mighty Gods, Imperial Decree Manifestation—"

With his hand gestures and incantation, the treasure mirror began to hum and vibrate, cracking like a spiderweb.

In the cracks, green light streamed out, and soon the mirror turned into a useless, shabby piece.

The Elder Celestial Master’s eyelids twitched, painfully looking at the treasured mirror.

This Bright Mirror passed down for generations was destroyed in his hands.

The Elder Celestial Master put away the broken mirror, then took out a Vermillion Talisman Brush and wrote Ling Yangzi’s birth chart on talisman paper, followed by a divination symbol for tracking the murderer.

Once finished, he pointed at the talisman paper, igniting a ghostly green flame.

After the talisman paper burned, the desk held a line of text.

"Heavenly secrets must not be revealed!"

The Elder Celestial Master frowned, reflecting on the words when thick clouds gathered above the mansion.

"..."

The Elder Celestial Master looked up, and a bolt of lightning struck down, piercing the main hall, directly striking him!

Thunder echoed through Jingshi Mountain and the Capital City.

When the thunder ceased, the hall, left with a huge hole, reeked of burnt paper money...

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