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nLate at night, when the whole Tanyang was in a deathly hush, a sudden dismal screech emanated from the mansion of the Lu family in the southern part of the city.

n“A man was killed!”

n“Somebody help us! Burglars! Master was assassinated!”

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n“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

nBrass gongs were sounded, and the whole Tanyang was alarmed. At this late hour, bursts of crying issuing from the mansion of the Lu family sent chills down people’s spines.

n“Goodness me. How did this happen? Those bandits and burglars have already entered the city?”

n“Check the doors and windows. Make sure they’re all firmly locked. Move that cabinet here to block this door!”

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nSoon, the whole Tanyang was thrown into confusion and chaos. Many residents got up and, too concerned to light their candles or lamps, hurried to check their windows and doors, blocking the gates with heavy furniture.

nLing Zhang and Yuwen Tong, who were standing on the rooftop of a high pavilion in the backyard of the Lu family, could almost see three-quarter Tanyang. They could also faintly hear noises coming from all sides.

nLing Zhang felt a little guilty about frightening so many residents, but his sense of guilt lasted only a brief moment.

nThe clanging of gong indicated that the one sounding it was heading directly for the Prefecture Yamen. Before long, all Yamen runners on the night shift were dispatched. About eleven or twelve people rushed towards the mansion of the Lu family located in the southern part of the city.

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n“There.” Ling Zhang stared at a moving luminous spot in the distance. That was lighted torches held by Yamen runners.

nChildren of the Lu family were also woken up, crying out loud. They were totally unaware of what was really going on, and their heartache was real, which was why their weep sounded exceptionally heart-rending.

nStanding on the rooftop, Ling Zhang stared down at the chaotic situation in the Lu family, his eyes gradually growing thoughtful. Maybe on that night in his last incarnation, the Lu family was in even deeper confusion and horror as cacodemon-like bandits broke into their houses killing everybody on sight regardless of their age and gender.

n“They’re here.”

nYuwen Tong’s voice came into his ears. Ling Zhang, who was abruptly brought back from his recollection, gazed forward and found that staff members of the Prefecture Yamen had already arrived.

n“What happened?” the Yamen runner heading the team asked.

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n“Officer, a burglar intruded into our master’s study. Our master happened to be sleeping in the study and was killed by the burglar!” the butler of the Lu family hastily ran out and said in a tearful voice, weeping.

n“What? Lead us to the scene right now.” Shocked, Yamen runners strode towards the depths of the mansion of the Lu family.

nLu Kui’s study was in a mess with blood all over. Lu Kui was lying right on the floor. There were several saber wounds in his body. The fatal one was in his abdomen, which was caused by a saber that had gone straight through him.

nA Yamen runner put a finger before Lu Kui’s nostrils to check his breathing. Then with a frown, he stood up, his eyes sweeping around the study which had been rummaged.

n“Little Three, Little Four, go back and report this case to Lord Tao. Request him to issue an order to conduct a citywide hunt for the murderer immediately. In addition, send someone to inform Lord Ling.”

n“Yes, sir!”

nMrs. Lu nearly cried herself to faint. She was sitting on the ground against the door, weeping bitter tears of grief. Upon seeing that the Yamen runner confirmed Lu Kui’s ‘death’, she was secretly relieved and started crying even louder.

n“What a goddamn burglar! Why did you kill my husband? My darling, what a tragic fate you had!”

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nWith his eyebrows knitted, a Yamen runner flicked a glance at Mrs. Lu and said, “I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Lu. Please go outside and have a rest. I promise we’ll find clues, bring the murderer to justice and avenge Lord Lu’s death.”

nCrying uncontrollably, Mrs. Lu was guided out of the room by her handmaids.

nThe Yamen runner performed an intensive search in the study, which took him quite a long time. Then he queried the servant responsible for routine cleaning of the study. After confirming the stolen valuables in general terms, he came to a conclusion.

n“All stolen things were expensive carvings made of either gold or jade. It seems that the burglar intruded into the study to steal but was spotted by Lord Lu who was sleeping inside, so he killed him.”

n“Guys, search the whole mansion carefully, in case the murderer is still hiding here.”

n“Yes, sir!”

n“Old Master Lu, please tell your family members not to walk around lest they encounter that murderer.”

nLu Kui’s father, Lu Fengnian, nodded in deep grief and said, “Thank you for kindly reminding us of this.”

nWith Lu Fengnian’s presence, all members of the Lu family soon gathered together. Servants also collected, trembling, too afraid to go anywhere alone.

nBefore long, Tao Feng and Ling Zhaowen arrived, bringing half a dozen Yamen runners with them.

nThe search lasted until daybreak, Yamen runners checked everywhere in the mansion of the Lu family, but other than bloodstained footprints on the wall of the backyard, they didn’t find anything suspicious. Following the string of footprints, they went outside and checked the perimeter but there was no other trace.

nDue to this horrific murder, Tao Feng’s face was extremely sullen. He ordered a four-hour delay in opening the city gate and a citywide hunt for the murderer.

nAll residents of Tanyang were jittery, discussions on the matter of the Lu family everywhere.

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nNaturally, people of the Jia family also heard the news. At first, Jia Zhong was stunned, but then he burst into laugh. “This is great news! With his death, I got one fewer enemy standing in my way! What a divine intervention!” Having had enough laugh, he said with a regretful look, “It’s a pity. Why wasn’t it Ling Zhaowen who was killed?”

n“My lord, Lu Kui’s death means that you got a chance to compete for the position of the Right Tongzhi. Though Ling Zhaowen is still alive, will it not be easy for you to finish him after you take office?”

n“Humph! It seems that I have to let Ling Zhaowen live for a few more days. He’s such a lucky dog!”

nFour hours later, there was still no clue to the whereabouts of the burglar who committed the murder, but Tao Feng had no choice but to give the order to open the city gate.

nHowever, the citywide hunt was unaffected by this. There were also ten Yamen runners in the Lu family on duty in case the burglar returned.

nWhen the news reached Zhang Chong, it was accompanied by Tao Feng’s request.

n“Lu Kui was killed? How did it happen?” His bodyguards standing beside him were astounded.

nZhang Chong’s face was dark with rage. “He could have died either earlier or later, but he stupidly died right at this time! Damn it!”

n“I wonder which gang that burglar belongs to. This is so unruly.”

n“I don’t care which gang he belongs to. Have your men send word out. Tell them to find that guy. I’ll skin him alive!”

nZhang Chong angrily smacked his fist down onto the table which instantly broke apart.

nThe bodyguard’s eyelids twitched with fear. He unnoticeably drew back a little further away and said, “Yes. I’ll do it right off.”

n“Captain, take a hundred man and follow me to the city.”

nAfter his anger subsided, with a sepulchral look on his face, Zhang Chong stood up and walked outside. After a 100-men team was formed, he quickly led the team out of the encampment, heading directly for Tanyang.

nPeople of the Lu family had already built a mourning hall, in which the coffin containing Lu Kui’s body was placed.

nWhen Zhang Chong arrived, Ling Zhang, as the eldest son of the Ling family, was condoling with members of the Lu family in the hall along with his uncle.

n“Commander Zhang, please make sure the murderer gets his just deserts and our master’s death is avenged!” the butler of the Lu family cried.

nUpon hearing this, Mrs. Lu, who was weeping with her head down in the hall, briefly moved her eyes sideways, then turned around to face Zhang Chong and knelt down before him, saying, “Commander Zhang, please help us get justice!”

nLing Zhang and Ling Zhaowen exchanged glances and then both of them quietly drew back to the side.

nZhang Chong, who had already put on a sorrowful face, said, “Rest assured, Mrs. Lu. As Commander of Prefecture Guard, I promise I’ll bring the murderer to justice and avenge Lord Lu’s death!”

nHis words sounded earnest, but his fierce-looking face ruined the ‘grief’ he affected, making him seem somewhat hideous.

n“Commander Zhang, I’m relieved to hear your promise.” Lu Fengnian also walked out.

n“Old Master Lu, I’m sorry for your loss. You can trust me with the hunt for the murderer.” Zhang Chong said to Lu Fengnian.

n“Alas. Tanyang had been in peace all along under the protection of Prefecture Guards. Nobody could have expected that a ruffian would intrude into the Lu family to steal, and he even took Lord Lu’s life.”

n“That’s true. Isn’t this a great humiliation for the Prefecture Guards?”

nA guest, who had come here to express his condolences, mumbled. The look on Zhang Chong’s face went colder and colder.

n“May I check Lord Lu’s body?”

n“Please go ahead, Commander Zhang. A post-mortem examiner came here and performed an autopsy this morning. He said that the murderer slashed my son four times in a row, and then stabbed him after seeing that he was still alive…” Lu Fengnian was unable to continue, his face full of deep grief.

nAfter making a comforting remark, Zhang Chong walked up to the coffin, stooped down to check Lu Kui’s body and didn’t stop until he confirmed that the wounds in Lu Kui matched Lu Fengnian’s description.

n“Old Master Lu, would you mind if I take a look at Lord Lu’s study?”

n“Of course not. Let me show you the way, Commander Zhang.”

nLu Fengnian led Zhang Chong out of the mourning hall. While leaving the hall, Zhang Chong flicked a glance at Ling Zhang and Ling Zhaowen.

nLing Zhang calmly made eye contact with him, while Ling Zhaowen ignored him.

nThe look in Zhang Chong’s eyes went cold and with that he followed Lu Fengnian and left.

nYuwen Tong’s guards had put some efforts into faking the murder scene, so Zhang Chong didn’t find any questionable points in the study. The blood on the floor hadn’t been cleaned yet, and the smell of it was still lingering in the air.

n“What did the burglar steal?”

nLu Fengnian named five valuable items.

n“So he came here for money?”

n“Yes. By some unlucky chance, my son kept reading and commenting on documents in this study until very late last night, and he chose to sleep right here. Otherwise he wouldn’t have encountered that ruffian.”

n“Who know about these valuables in this study?”

n“Well, the existence of these things in this room was never a secret. Apart from people living in this mansion, those who have visited us also know it.”

nThe range of possible suspects was too wide, which made it difficult to investigate.

nIf there was a mole in the Lu family, the burglar definitely would have been informed that Lu Kui would sleep in the study that night.

nWith a frown, Zhang Chong left. Having failed to find any clue, he appeared very angry.

nOthers mistakenly believed that he was angry at the murderer, but Ling Zhang was well aware of the reason for his anger. He slightly lowered his eyes to conceal the cold look in them.

nLu Kui was a county magistrate and his death mattered much. Even Zhang Chong didn’t dare to close the case in a careless manner, since public indignation might be aroused if he did so. As a result, he had no choice but to dispatch some soldiers of the Prefecture Guards to the city to perform the citywide murder hunt with Yamen runners as well as patrol the streets at night and enforce the curfew.

n“It’s done,” Ling Zhang said to Yuwen Tong after they returned to the Ling family. “Currently, Zhang Chong has to do it this way. Since his plan has already been delayed till this day, even if he wants to carry it out, he won’t be able to find the chance.”

n“Incidentally, how did you make Uncle Lu’s body cold? Even Zhang Chong failed to see it through.”

nLing Zhang asked Yuwen Tong out of curiosity. Back then when Zhang Chong stretched his hand into the coffin, he was so worried Zhang Chong might find out the truth that his heart nearly stopped beating, but it turned out that Zhang Chong didn’t find anything. He had to admit that the skills of Yuwen Tong’s subordinates were so amazing.

n“This is an occult skill. Yao Yi and his men were masters of it. If you’re interested, I can have them teach you, but it’s not something that could be mastered in a short time. Do you want to learn it?”

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