Chapter 9

Snap!

Lightning sliced through the sky, and the rain began to fall.

A young constable in a black soapberry robe stepped out of the courtyard, opened his umbrella, and shielded the rain from the towering middle-aged man.

"Chief Wang, there are two victims. The man is named Wang Liu, a street thug, and the woman is named Wang Yunhua, his mistress."

The young constable succinctly reported the case details:

"The perpetrator must have had martial arts training. The woman's neck was slashed diagonally, and the man's head was cut off from behind…

The weapon used was likely a short knife…"

Wang Fobao's expression was stern and he remained silent, quickly walking into the courtyard. Several constables carefully searched for clues, while the coroner examined the bodies.

"Chief Wang, the perpetrator was very cautious. With the sudden rain, there are no traces left in the courtyard… The perpetrator is likely an experienced hand, with a ruthless and extremely brutal method."

Another constable came forward to report: "The victims' bodies were searched, and the house was ransacked. Perhaps it was for money?"

"No."

Wang Fobao glanced around the courtyard and pointed to the only footprint not washed away by the rain, saying:

"The perpetrator must have used this spot to force open the wooden door. Judging by the figure, they should be somewhat slender, with some martial arts training, but not very skilled."

The other constables also looked at the footprint in the courtyard.

"The wounds on the bodies appear to be caused by a short knife, but the shape is more like the standard issue saber of the yamen. The appearance of a short knife could also be…"

Wang Fobao stopped speaking, but a ripple of thought crossed his eyes.

"Find someone to collect the bodies. If there are no relatives, wrap them in a mat and throw them on West Mountain."

Taking the oiled paper umbrella from a subordinate, Wang Fobao left without another word, walking into the wind and rain.

"Well, we'll have to spend money on another mat."

Seeing Wang Fobao leave, the constables exchanged glances, all feeling a bit uneasy.

Before they arrived, they had already investigated thoroughly.

These two were a widower and a widow, renting a courtyard from someone else, and had been thoroughly searched. Even if they had relatives, it was unlikely anyone would come to collect their bodies.

That would cost money…

…

Swing!

Swing!

Swing!

In the Cauldron of Gluttony, Yang Yu was completely absorbed, swinging a broken blade with such intensity that it formed an impenetrable barrier. He was fully immersed in his practice, venting the fear and agitation that had built up after the killing.

Ding~

After an unknown amount of time, when the progress bar on the cauldron wall changed again, he slowly stopped swinging the blade.

Opening his eyes, he looked at the familiar ceiling, feeling a bit dazed.

After a night of venting, his mind had calmed, but he still felt a bit out of sorts.

This was not the fear of having killed, but the panic of overturning the worldview he had built over twenty years in his previous life.

I was always a law-abiding person…

"Was Wei He just an executioner, or…"

Sitting up in his clothes, Yang Yu was still a bit dazed.

Recalling Wei He's casual attitude towards human life, he still felt at a loss.

Knock knock knock~

A moderate knocking sound came from the door.

A strong voice from outside the door said, "Sister-in-law, are you home? It's me, Fobao."

Fobao?

Constable Wang!

Yang Yu's heart tightened, a chill ran down his spine, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

Since he worked at the yamen, he naturally knew Wang Fobao.

This constable was known for his stern and ruthless nature, skilled in capturing criminals, and was a famous harsh official in Black Mountain City, even more well-known than the county magistrate 'Three-Zhang Liu,' who might only hold court once a month.

"Didn't they say he was seriously injured while escorting prisoners to Qingzhou? Is he already recovered?"

Just after killing someone, this harsh official comes to the door, Yang Yu couldn't help but feel a bit panicked.

Yang Grandma had already opened the door, wiped her hands, and took the wine and meat offered: "You came, why bring anything?"

"It's getting cold, remember to add a layer of clothing, Sister-in-law."

Wang Fobao entered the courtyard with his umbrella, exchanging pleasantries with Yang Grandma while his cold, sharp gaze pierced through the window and landed on Yang Yu.

"What a piercing gaze…"

Yang Yu's heart trembled, but he kept his face calm, though his back hair stood on end.

"Remember, I remember."

Yang Grandma forced a smile, mentioning that she would be handling the funeral for her old man the next day and asked him to come.

"Brother Yang…"

Wang Fobao's tone softened, a hint of guilt in his eyes: "Brother Yang is only missing…"

Seeing the old woman, who looked much more haggard than before, Wang Fobao's voice choked, and he couldn't continue.

A jailer was not supposed to escort prisoners, but due to the many casualties, he had taken Yang Yu along on the mission.

He never expected…

"Even if he's missing, setting up a memorial tablet would at least give you some comfort. If he doesn't return…"

The old woman's expression was bleak, but she forced herself to invite Wang Fobao into the room and went to the kitchen to prepare a meal.

"Constable Wang."

Yang Yu suppressed his panic, greeted him, and thanked him for approving his leave for the past few days.

"You did quite a big thing."

Glancing at the almost empty house, which had been almost sold out, Wang Fobao's tone was cold and stern:

"Your knife skills are not bad, but they are too immature."

"Huh?"

Yang Yu looked bewildered, as if he didn't understand: "Constable Wang, did something big happen in the city?"

Killing might have been a moment of anger, or a request from Old Wei.

But Yang Yu wasn't a fool. He had covered his face and avoided any possible discovery, and quickly cleaned up after the killing.

He believed that even if he had a motive, without evidence, the yamen couldn't do anything to him.

"Two people died in the west of the city. Coincidentally, one was Wang Yunhua, who came to your door before, and the other was Wang Liu, who tried to intercept you at the city gate."

"Even more coincidentally, both were killed with a broken knife, and the angle of the wounds suggests the perpetrator's height and build are similar to yours."

Wang Fobao gazed deeply at Yang Yu: "Isn't that a coincidence?"

"Huh? Wang Liu was killed?"

Yang Yu was tense inside, but his face showed anger: "Good! Wang Liu terrorized the streets, oppressing many people. He might have been killed by a passing hero who eliminated evil!"

People react differently under pressure.

Some become incoherent, while others become more calm and collected.

Yang Yu was the latter.

While he responded, he recalled his actions from the previous night, believing he had left no traces.

So, he would deny it to the end!

"Wang Liu deserved to die."

Wang Fobao nodded, seemingly in agreement.

Yang Yu was slightly stunned, then saw the stern official walk to the window and pick up the broken knife from the windowsill.

"You cleaned it well, but the bloodstains aren't so easy to wash away."

Facing away from Yang Yu, Wang Fobao looked out at the rain, as if deep in thought:

"Someone like Wang Liu might truly deserve to die. But if everyone in the world acted like you, what kind of world would it be?"

With that, Wang Fobao flicked his wrist, and the broken knife 'hummed' as it plunged into the muddy ground, handle deep in the earth.

"This is Brother Yang's compensation. Take your grandmother and find a place to live in the inner city!"

Wang Fobao took out a cloth bag from his pocket and slapped it on the windowsill.

Turning, he opened his umbrella, and left.

Yang Yu stood there, watching the figure in the rain gradually disappear, the words still echoing in his ears:

"Take care of yourself!"