Chapter 57

Xiaoming rushed back to the No. 1 Heavenly Cell like the wind. The prison warden was not there, and without the key, An Ruhai could not wait any longer. He reached out, twisted the iron door latch with a few clicks, and forcibly broke it, barging in. He grabbed Liu Zhen, who was still lying on the ground, and sternly demanded, "I ask you, during the days you were imprisoned last time, apart from Guo Jiuling and the Second Prince, who else came to see you?"

Liu Zhen opened his eyes, filled with despair, and looked at An Ruhai, "Apart from those two, there was one more person."

"Who, who was that person?" An Ruhai was both surprised and delighted, "Tell me, who was that person?"

"I don't know him!" Liu Zhen shook his head, "But he was wearing the uniform of your Internal Guard."

With a thud, An Ruhai released Liu Zhen, throwing him back onto the bed. He looked at him sternly, "Liu Zhen, you must know your current situation. If you want to live, you'd better answer all my questions honestly and not have any unrealistic thoughts."

"Commander An, at this point, what else can I think? I really don't know that person. The questions he asked were the same as those asked by Guo Jiuling and the Second Prince, nothing special."

An Ruhai nodded, not really expecting much from him. Disappointed, he turned around, but then sneered. There are no eternal secrets in this world. No matter how careful, a slip-up will still occur. Liu Zhen doesn't recognize the person, but there are others. The warden and guards of the No. 1 Heavenly Cell were carefully selected. He could still find clues from them, as long as the clues existed.

He strode out of the cell and saw the warden hurrying down the corridor. Seeing the warden's panicked expression, An Ruhai's heart sank.

"Commander, Commander, something's wrong, something's happened," the warden's voice trembled, and his body shook.

"Calm down, speak slowly. What happened?" An Ruhai barked.

"Di Qing is dead, his whole family is dead," the warden's face was pale. Even if he was dull, he knew something was seriously wrong. Commander An had just wanted to see this person, and now this person was dead.

"Di Qing is dead?" An Ruhai's mind buzzed as if struck by a heavy hammer, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

"Dead, his whole family was killed, all with one fatal blow, in broad daylight! When my men arrived, the blood hadn't even clotted yet," the warden said.

"What about Hu Xiaosi?" An Ruhai stepped out.

"Hu Xiaosi hasn't been found, no one is at his house."

"Find him. Right, what are Hu Xiaosi's hobbies, where does he often go?"

"Hu Xiaosi likes gambling, but he doesn't have much money. During his days off, he mostly frequents small gambling dens."

"Which gambling den?"

"Sir, I really don't know!" The warden's voice was tinged with a sob.

An Ruhai took a deep breath. What quick action. He had just started investigating by imperial order, and the other side immediately made a move. It seems there is indeed a big problem with the Internal Guard. The information leaked so quickly, and this spy must be of a high rank.

Stepping out of the prison, An Ruhai closed his eyes slightly. The bright sunlight, after the dimness of the prison, made him momentarily uncomfortable.

"Mobilize all available personnel to search the entire city for Hu Xiaosi," An Ruhai said. "Focus on all small gambling dens within ten miles of Hu Xiaosi's residence. Act quickly."

"Yes, sir!" Seeing the commander's grim face, the two Internal Guard members said nothing and turned to run.

"Take me to Di Qing's house," An Ruhai ordered, turning to look at the still trembling warden.

Di Qing's house was in a small alley less than five miles from the prison. Most of the residents here were not well-off. The long, narrow alley was filled with sewage, and piles of garbage were scattered about, with stray dogs and cats rummaging through them. When An Ruhai and his group approached, the animals immediately whimpered and hid in the corners. Even animals could sense the intense aura of death from these people.

There were still many pedestrians and children playing in the alley. Upon seeing these people, they immediately pressed themselves against the walls, giving them as much space as possible to walk.

Hu Xiaosi's living conditions looked very poor. An Ruhai was somewhat surprised. Working in the prison was quite lucrative, and even without additional income, the salary alone was equivalent to that of a seventh-rank official. How could Di Qing live in such a slum?

Inside and outside Di Qing's small courtyard, Internal Guard members were already gathered. Pushing open the gate, a strong smell of blood immediately hit him. A dead dog lay just five steps from the gate.

"Commander, all seven members of the family are dead, killed with one fatal blow. The murderer was efficient and left no clues. We have already questioned the neighbors, and they heard nothing," an Internal Guard member reported to An Ruhai in a low voice.

An Ruhai walked to the door of the main room with a stern face. The scene inside made his pupils constrict. Six bodies were arranged in a circle around a table, with food still on it. It seemed the family was eating when the murderer burst in.

"Weren't there seven people?"

"Di Qing's father has been bedridden for years and was also stabbed through the heart," the Internal Guard reported. "No survivors, not even the seven-year-old child. Truly a madman."

"This alley shouldn't have many strangers. If one came, it would have drawn attention," An Ruhai knelt beside the bodies, looking at Di Qing, whose throat had been cleanly cut. The force was well-controlled, indicating a skilled knife user. The knife was swift, and the people in the room did not scream or show signs of shock or pain. They were all killed in an instant. The attacker must have at least seventh-level martial arts skills.

To be able to command a seventh-level martial artist to act as a killer is truly remarkable. An Ruhai felt a chill. A seventh-level martial artist is already considered a top-notch fighter.

"Commander, the Internal Guard is questioning the residents of the alley. We should have results soon."

"Has the room been searched?"

"Not yet, we were afraid of disturbing the scene."

"Search it. There's nothing left to investigate," An Ruhai stood up and walked out. Now, he was worried that Hu Xiaosi might also be killed, which would eliminate the only clue they had just discovered.

"Commander, the neighbors confirmed that a stranger came this morning, but they couldn't describe any distinctive features. The only thing they remembered was that the person was wearing a cloak."

"Commander, we have also investigated Di Qing's daily routine. He was very regular, working ten days and resting ten days. He was kind but poor, with sick parents, especially his bedridden father, which was a significant medical expense. He also had three children, so he often made small trinkets for his wife to sell on the street, mostly handicrafts."

The Internal Guard members returned to the courtyard one after another, having quickly and thoroughly investigated Di Qing's life. Their efficiency was remarkable.

Now, in An Ruhai's mind, Di Qing had a clear image: honest, kind, hardworking, friendly, frugal, and poor.

The bodies had been collected and would soon be reduced to ashes in the crematorium outside the city. A whole family had silently disappeared.

"Commander, look!" An Internal Guard member brought a small box to An Ruhai, opened it, and a box full of silver ingots appeared before An Ruhai.

"Poor man, he had the means to earn but not to spend!" An Ruhai sighed.

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