Minglong

Chapter 105 Lawless and insane!

Songhe Bay.

The bamboo forest by the river was brightly lit, and nearly a hundred Chilin Guards were searching the surrounding area for clues.

The Zhou family mansion was already crowded with people, including the Chilin Guards and the Imperial Observatory, who were conducting inspections.

Li Gongpu stood in the study, looking up at the corpse hanging from the beam, his face livid as he asked:

"Such a big living person, hanged in the house for no apparent reason, and you didn't see any movement at all?"

Gongsun Duan was all confused because there were other people from the yamen present. He responded with sweat dripping down his face:
"I've been fishing with my subordinates by the river tonight, and I haven't noticed anything. Furthermore, after comparing my notes, I found that the letter of repentance was indeed written by Zhou Ming'an himself..."

Cao Huaian, the Pacification Commissioner of the Chilin Guard, was also startled. He took the letter of repentance written by Zhou Mingan, glanced at the dozens of names that had been blacked out, and nodded slightly:
"Before death, he was tactful enough to erase his name. This thing can't be fake..."

Gongsun Duan knew that Zhou Ming'an had deliberately destroyed the evidence, so he confirmed that his confession was true.

But this thing must be painted, after all, his name, Li Gongpu's name and even many dignitaries in the capital are on it. If this thing is sent to the emperor's desk, it will not be as simple as the death of Zhou Mingan.

The reason why it was not hidden directly was because Gongsun Duan had to let professionals distinguish the handwriting to determine whether it was written by Zhou Mingan.

However, after verification by the Imperial Observatory and the Red Lin Guard, it was confirmed that the letter of repentance was written by Zhou Ming'an himself. Even Li Gongpu, who was an excellent calligrapher, agreed with this statement.

Li Gongpu saw the resentment between the lines of Zhou Mingan's writing before his death, and now he also suspected that Zhou Mingan was too smart. He realized that he was being abandoned and had no way of surviving tonight, so he saved his life.

After careful consideration, Li Gongpu looked at the immortal officials, Monk Jingkong and Jing Wuniang, who had come to watch the fun.

"You two are practitioners. Do you have any method to find out the cause of death?"

Monk Jingkong shook his head and spoke as pleasantly as ever:
"People who died unjustly carry too much resentment, and after death, they transform into evil spirits in the mortal world. It's possible to find out something. But the conditions for becoming an evil spirit are too harsh. Most likely, they die at an inauspicious time and on an inauspicious day, in a very dangerous place.

"The feng shui of this place is excellent. If Lord Zhou had been able to complete the process quickly, he would have been born now. Even if he wasn't reborn into a wealthy family, he would have been reborn into a nest of birds and beasts, thus avoiding the intrigues of the human world and enjoying a peaceful life."

Birds and beasts are in the animal realm. Master Jingkong obviously understands everything, but he just doesn't say it explicitly.

Jing Wuniang, a Taoist priest from Xuanhu Temple, also nodded and said:

"When a person dies, it's like a light going out; when the breath stops, the soul dissipates. Even corpse witches and ghost witches use living people to refine their spirits. The dead can only serve as nourishment. If the dead could speak, there wouldn't be so many unjust cases in the world."

Seeing that Li Gongpu was unwilling to give up, Cao Huaian thought about it and said:
"Mr. Li, please don't be too suspicious. If Zhou Ming'an was truly murdered, Mr. Li shouldn't be worrying about catching the murderer, but about his own safety.

"If you hang here too, even if the Red Lin Guards want to investigate, they can't kill loyal officials without evidence."

Li Gongpu really wanted to pin the blame on Xie Jinhuan, but all the government offices ruled it a suicide and no trace of the murderer was found. It would be unreasonable to insist that Xie Jinhuan was the murderer.

After receiving a definite answer, Li Gongpu left the house in anger.

The retainer Du Mushan had been waiting outside. When Li Gongpu got on the carriage, he frowned and said:

"Mr. Li, in my opinion, Zhou Ming'an might have committed suicide. Even if Xie Jinhuan were extremely skilled, he couldn't have left traces so that no one could see anything wrong..."

Li Gongpu's eyes were filled with gloom:
"Isn't it clear to me what kind of person Zhou Ming'an is? Even when his family's lives were threatened, he still thought he could just live on.

“However, this situation really leaves Zhou Mingan no chance of survival. It is not ruled out that this bastard is too smart and is trying to save himself.

"Since we can't find any evidence, let's check Xie Jinhuan and see where he is tonight."

Du Mushan shook his head and sighed, "We're probably in Danwang Mansion. If we send people to Shizi Mansion to monitor them, we might be accused of 'plotting to assassinate the royal family'. With the ability Xie Jinhuan has shown, it won't be difficult to find the person who's following us..."

"Then bribe the insider. I don't believe that everyone in Danwang Mansion is a loyal and brave warrior..."

……

As the two men talked in this way, the convoy slowly returned to the inner city mansion.

Li Gongpu walked up the stairs surrounded by his servants, thinking along the way how to kill this young dragon that was as slippery as a loach.

Du Mushan, as a personal bodyguard and advisor, was also thinking about how to deal with this. As a martial artist from the underworld, he finally proposed:

"Xie Jinhuan is too difficult to deal with. It's impossible to deal with him according to the rules. Otherwise, I have to use an unconventional method and directly..."

Wiped his neck.

Li Gongpu held his back with one hand and thought seriously:

"The capital isn't the Jianghu. We can't give people a chance to talk unless we have no other choice. If you can do things as cleanly as you did in Songhe Bay, you can get rid of this guy right now... this guy..."

squeak-

The servant walking in front opened the door first.

Li Gongpu stepped over the threshold and saw the bare house, and his words stopped abruptly.

???

Because the room was too unfamiliar, Li Gongpu first stepped out and looked around. After making sure that he had not walked into the wrong yard, he looked into the inner room with a confused look.

Du Mushan bowed and spoke to Li Gongpu. When he noticed something unusual, he looked into the house and his eyes turned into shock!

Li Gongpu's original study was so magnificent and lavishly decorated that he couldn't even count how many valuable ornaments were in it.

At this moment, the study was largely empty, with only four white walls and a large cabinet and desk that could not be moved.

As for the rest, not to mention the antiques, calligraphy and paintings, even the pen holders and pen stands were gone, leaving only the bare table next to the window.

"Eh? This...did someone clean the room just now?"

The doorman who was in charge of guarding the courtyard had just come closer and took a quick look inside the house. He was also stunned:
"No one cleaned it? How could this happen...was it robbed?"

Chirp chirp~~
The faint chirping of insects echoed in the huge courtyard, and the more than ten people surrounding it were all silent.

After all, the main courtyard of the private residence of a second-rank official was emptied out just by going out for a stroll!

This is probably the first time since the beginning of the world!
Li Gongpu glanced around the room, which only had large vases, empty shelves and empty tables. At first he thought that the Chilin Guards had come secretly to search the house!

After confirming that they had been packed up and taken away by the heroic warriors, Li Gongpu's left hand trembled slightly, his lips opened and closed several times, and finally his body softened and he fell straight back! "Eh? Li Gong? Li Gong?!"

"Call the doctor quickly..."

"Call your mother's doctor! Go and find it for me! If you can't find the calligraphy and painting bestowed by the emperor, I'll chop off your heads. You even took the old brush I used when I passed the imperial examination. How much is it worth? This is absolutely crazy and lawless! Go and find it..."

Li Gongpu beat his chest and stamped his feet, swore a few words, rolled his eyes, and fainted from anger.

The many retainers and guards, like blind cats whose tails had been stepped on, began to run around the house...

……
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At the same time, Xiaoyao Cave.

As the night deepened, more and more people from all walks of life began to crowd the chaotic streets.

Bu Hanying, the incense master of Queyue Villa, stood in front of the "New Moon River Scenery Picture" with a teacup in hand, as usual, and looked at it. He also felt a little more homesick for the poor and remote southern Xinjiang.

Although Southern Xinjiang is far less prosperous than the Central Plains, Queyue Villa is one of the leading figures in the entire Southern Wilderness. As the direct leader of the incense, he brings a row of lackeys with him when he goes out, so he can be considered a small elder.

But it is different in Luojing. As a witch cult demon who is hated by everyone, he can only hide during the day and come out at night. Anyone, whether human or ghost, dares to bully him. Even Xie Jinhuan, who is half a family member, comes to scare him. His life is really a bit fearful.

Just as Bu Hanying was thinking about this, before she finished her cup of tea, a hoarse voice suddenly sounded behind her:
"The vibrant colors are breathtaking, and the mountains and rivers he depicts are truly majestic. Is this a work personally created by the owner of Crescent Moon Villa?"

Bu Hanying's body froze, and even the teacup in his hand rippled a little. After a moment of silence, he didn't dare to look back.

"Indeed. Where are you from, Senior?"

thump~
Xie Jinhuan hid in the shadows wearing a bamboo hat and threw the huge package in his hand to the ground:

"The Thief Saint Bai Zhan. I just stole some small items and want to exchange them for some money."

"The Thief Saint...Bai Zhan?"

Bu Hanying had never heard of this name, but she understood what it meant - a gangster came to sell stolen goods.

His main task in the capital of Daqian is to develop disciples and sell some controlled drugs by the way, but he is not in this business.

But in the underworld business of selling stolen goods, as long as there are ways to spread the information, it is basically a sure profit.

Besides, they have already found out what’s behind my back. If I don’t dare to do this business, I’m afraid there will be no peace today.

Bu Hanying pondered for a moment, then put down the teacup and walked over to the cloth bag without looking up at the person in the shadows.

"Queyue Villa does have some connections. Since you're interested...hiss——?!"

Before he could finish his words, Bu Hanying took a breath.

After all, in the bundle, Bu Hanying estimated that the price of the more conspicuous seven-colored glass lamp alone was at least three thousand taels of silver, and it must have come from a prominent family in the capital.

He checked other items again and found that half of the bundle was calligraphy and paintings, antiques, and the four treasures of the study, etc. The glass cups placed in it were even inconspicuous and cheap items.

The most expensive item among them should be the Bodhi bead bracelet.

This item is made from seeds taken from the Bodhi tree in Tiantai Temple. Each of the thirty-six Bodhi seeds can be made into a magic tool to suppress ghosts. This string is made of unprocessed raw materials with perfect quality. It can be made into a bracelet as an ornament directly. It is so luxurious that it can make people who practice Buddhism vomit blood. If it is put in the Jinlou for appraisal, it is estimated to be worth one thousand taels each.

Even though Bu Hanying came from a wealthy and powerful family and had been traveling the martial arts world for many years, it was the first time he had seen so many rare treasures gathered together. He was in disbelief.

"You're worthy of calling yourself the King of Thieves! Did you empty the Imperial Study?!"

Xie Jinhuan responded hoarsely, "Not really. Do you dare to accept the things from Li Gongpu's study?"

"Li Gongpu..."

Bu Hanying was a little skeptical, but after careful examination, he found that there was also a "Luo Jing Fu" in it, which was a copy of the work of Shuangsheng Ye Ci by Fan Li, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College. Although its value was far lower than the original work of Ye Ci, Fan Li's calligraphy attainments were well-known and its collection value was also very high.

The origin of this calligraphy is that Li Gongpu liked calligraphy and asked Fan Li for a calligraphy, but Fan Li refused. After the emperor heard about it, he rewarded Li Gongpu with a calligraphy by Fan Li.

This matter had caused some public outcry in the capital, and Bu Hanying had heard about it. Since this calligraphy was also among them, it was most likely moved from Li Gongpu's study.

Li Gongpu loved money like his life, and relied on the emperor's favor to make money everywhere. This was almost known to everyone, but when it came to his background, Li Gongpu only had the emperor as his background, and he had no foundation in spiritual practice. The Danyang Li family was just a branch of a wealthy family.

Li Gongpu lost a huge amount of property that the people could hardly imagine. In order not to cause too much public opinion and lead the upright officials in the court to seize the opportunity to add insult to injury, he certainly did not dare to produce a list of items. With Li Gongpu's power, he could not issue an order to annihilate all religions.

Therefore, these things were not too hot to handle. Bu Hanying thought about it for a moment and responded:
"You are indeed quite capable. Since you run a business, there's no reason why you wouldn't accept it. However, your goods are a bit difficult to handle. Um... for bulk goods on the black market, they are usually charged 30% of the market price."

"Those are common items. They're easy to sell and a sure win. If I take 60% of the market price, if I'm not happy, I'll go find Chilong Cave. They'll definitely take them."

"Sixty percent..."

Bu Hanying felt that the price was too high. After all, this was contraband. Even if they took it to other places and sold it at the market price, they would still have to bear the risks, shipping costs, etc., and they could only make a maximum of 20% profit.

But 20% profit is not a small amount, and it doesn’t matter whether he makes money or not. The important thing is not to let the friendly competitor Chilong Cave take advantage of him!
Seeing this gentleman's tough tone, Bu Hanying thought for a moment and smiled bitterly:
"Since you're here, and this is your first time doing business, I'd be happy to offer you some assistance. However, the amount is too large, and I can't gather enough cash at the moment. I'll have to wait and see for a few days to find out the specific source of these items..."

"That's fine. I'll leave the stuff here with you. You can go and sell the goods first. I'll come back in a few days to get the money."

"what?"

Bu Hanying was stunned and looked at the package full of treasures:

"Is Hero Bai so confident?"

Xie Jinhuan kept the girl with glasses by his side, so why would he be afraid that Queyue Villa would run away? He responded:
"The monk may escape, but the temple cannot. Queyue Villa is the overlord of Southern Xinjiang. They won't break their promise for such a small amount of silver."

When Bu Hanying saw this, he knew that this gentleman who sold goods was either trying to frame him or was not afraid at all that Queyue Villa would bully its customers.

No matter which of the two options, he had to get this gentleman away alive first. He nodded slightly:

"Master Bai is indeed a straightforward man. I will find a way to raise the payment for the goods within five days, and you can come and collect the money then."

Xie Jinhuan didn't say much and quietly disappeared into the darkness...

……
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(End of this chapter)