Zhong Lihe carefully flipped through the pages, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
"Chen Mo led the team, thwarted the Gu God Sect's conspiracy, helped the townspeople expel the Gu Poison Worms, saving nearly twenty thousand lives, and destroyed their base at Nine-headed Mountain, killing hundreds of cult mbers…"
"Are you sure this content is true?"
Kuang Jie replied solemnly, "I stake my life on it—there's not a single false word."
Zhong Lihe swallowed.
Chen Mo had only arrived in Fengmu County yesterday, and in less than two days, he managed to handle such a significant case?
What surprised him even more was that the Gu God Sect, which he had personally eradicated, had resurfaced so quickly!
And it seed they returned with great montum and ambition!
"Ultimately, it all cos down to Yin Tiankou."
"Since he escaped from my grasp, it is naturally my duty to end this matter."
Cold determination flickered in Zhong Lihe's eyes as he asked, "Do you know where Chen Mo and his party are now?"
Not daring to conceal anything, Kuang Jie replied truthfully, "When I separated from Mr. Chen, he was still in the county town, likely heading to Bailu City next."
"Then let's first take a look at Fengmu County."
Having made up his mind, Zhong Lihe stood up and said, "Today's conversation between you and is confidential. Don't let a third party know about it."
Kuang Jie nodded repeatedly, "I understand, sir. I'll pretend you never ca."
"Good." Zhong Lihe's figure flickered and suddenly disappeared.
Kuang Jie glanced around, and after confirming that no one was there, he breathed a sigh of relief and sank powerless into his chair.
"First, there were two household officials, then a Royal Tributor, just to eliminate the remnants of the Demon Sect. Is it really worth such a fuss?"
"Wait a minute..."
"The Inner Palace Expert who once tead up with the Divine Strategy Army to annihilate the Gu God Sect was nad Zhong Lihe?!"
Kuang Jie swallowed hard.
This man dared to kill even a Prefect!
It seems the Southern Border is about to change again!
...
...
Fengmu County.
The sky was gradually darkening, and the moon hung high.
Inside the public hall, the candlelight flickered dimly. Ji Weifeng leaned wearily against the chair and asked, "Has everything outside been arranged properly?"
Beside him, the Master bowed and replied, "I have double-checked. There are a total of nineteen thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven people affected by the Gu Poison, all accounted for. The worms expelled from their bodies have all been gathered and destroyed by fire."
"That's good." Ji Weifeng rubbed his temples.
The events of the past two days had a profound impact on him, leaving his head still buzzing.
What he couldn't understand the most was: in all his dealings with the Li Family, how had he not spotted anything amiss?
In hindsight, there had been more than one governnt official with unusual symptoms, their bodies quickly wasting away, as if they had a serious illness. Yet, he had subconsciously ignored these signs.
"What exactly is going on?"
Ji Weifeng pondered to himself.
Having mingled in the Southern Border officialdom for many years, he shouldn't be this careless...
"Enough, dwelling on it won't help now that it's over."
"This ti, it was thanks to Mr. Chen's help, otherwise, it would have been a disaster!"
"Unfortunately, Mr. Chen left too hastily, I didn't even get a chance to express my gratitude."
Ji Weifeng shook his head. Even if he was in a hurry to handle the case, he surely had ti for a al, didn't he?
The strange feeling grew even stronger.
"Sir, is there anything else you'd like to instruct?" the Master inquired.
Ji Weifeng waved his hand, "It's fine now. The brothers in the governnt office have been exhausted these past two days, let them rest early."
"Yes, you too should not stay up too late, it's important to take care of your health."
"Alright, you may go."
After the Master left, the public hall fell silent.
Ji Weifeng picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, hesitated for a mont, then began to write on the silk paper.
As a local official, all matters except treason must be reported step by step. First submitted to the State Mansion for review, then the State Mansion decides whether to report to the Ministry of Personnel.
This ans the version the court finally sees has long been altered beyond recognition, with superiors washing their hands of responsibility...
And in the end, the burden falls back on them.
If the sky falls, the tallest ones will never stand it, but have the short ones take the bla.
This is why few County Magistrates complete their terms...
"Fortunately, Mr. Chen personally handled this case. The State Mansion shouldn't dare to ss with it."
About the ti it takes an incense stick to burn later, Ji Weifeng finished writing the docunt and was about to place it in a wooden box, sealing it with wax.
Suddenly, the main door was pushed open with a "bang," a gust of night wind blew in, extinguishing the lamp on the table, plunging the room into darkness.
"Who is it?"
Ji Weifeng looked up to see a figure standing at the door.
By the moonlight, he vaguely recognized the official robe, appearing to be the Master.
"Didn't I tell you to go rest? Why are you back?" Ji Weifeng asked with a frown.
The Master hung his head low, silent, and in the breeze, there seed to be a faint scent of blood.
Realizing sothing was amiss, Ji Weifeng hurriedly fetched a fire starter from beneath the table, relit the lamp, and ignited the candle again.
Seeing what lay before him, his heart quivered in fear—
The Master, whom he had just spoken with, was now shriveled, eyes bulging, looking like a mummified corpse, with a black rope looped around his neck, the other end tied to the door fra, swaying gently with the night wind.
"So-soone co..."
Ji Weifeng's face turned ghostly pale, his legs softened as he was about to cry for help, when a hoarse voice ca from behind: "Don't shout, they're all fast asleep."
Turning abruptly, he saw a tall figure draped in a blood-red robe step out slowly from the shadows of the corner.
"Who are you?!" Ji Weifeng retreated, drawing the sword hanging on the wall, swinging it wildly, "I tell you, Mr. Chen hasn't gone far yet, he could co back at any mont, you'd better leave while you can!"
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