Training Ground.
The personnel have already assembled.
Five from the Ding Fire Department and five from the Gui Water Bureau, plus two Generals.
The dealings of the Sky Scale Guard were complicated with frequent occurrences of manpower shortages, it is not unusual for different bureaus to collaborate with each other.
However, this time the situation was a bit special...
The assistants from the Ding Fire Department looked at the tall figure with tense and fearful hearts.
They had personally witnessed Chen Mo's methods; if they carelessly angered this fierce god, they feared that the consequences would be particularly tragic!
Li Yuan stood quietly by, silent and seemingly deep in thought.
Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Mo mounted his horse.
"Depart."
"Yes!"
...
West Suburb.
To be precise, this area did not belong to the Capital City, but to subordinate prefectures and counties.
The place they were heading to was called Tongling County, not too far from the city area. Adding to this, the travel was sped up by the Crimson Steeds of the Sky Scale Guard which possessed the bloodline of Alien Beasts, approximately only an hour's journey.
Upon reaching the county city gate, the awaiting County Magistrate and several government officers greeted them.
Chen Mo and Li Yuan showed their waist badges.
Seeing that they were Commanders of the Sky Scale Guard, the crowd's demeanor grew even more respectful.
"Greetings to the two sirs."
A short and chubby county magistrate in a green official robe saluted, "This official, Li Minghan, has been eagerly waiting for both sires for quite a time."
In terms of official rank, he was a Seventh-Level Fate Officer of the court, the same rank as the two.
But their statuses were different.
The Sky Scale Guard was a special institution authorized by the Imperial Power, possessing enormous power and an infamous reputation, its harsh methods were chilling...
He, a rootless small County Magistrate, could hardly compare.
"This official has prepared some food and drinks, considering the day is not getting any younger. Everyone has been traveling hurriedly and must be exhausted. Why not first rest at the inn, wash away the journey's dust, and leave other matters for tomorrow?"
Li Minghan squeezed out a splendid smile.
An old arrest officer by the side frowned, seemingly wanting to say something, but seeing the County Magistrate quietly glaring at him, he reluctantly lowered his head.
This was not the first time officials had been sent here.
It was nothing more than going through the motions and casually dealing with the situation.
Moreover, these two were young; the man handsome and noble-looking, clearly a pampered young master, and the woman shouldering an extravagantly large saber... they hardly seemed like they were here to handle a case.
Catering well to them until they were sent off tomorrow was the plan.
"No need for rest, who can tell me the specifics of this case?"
Chen Mo cut straight to the point.
Li Minghan was stunned, wondering why this handsome young man wasn't playing by the usual rules?
Perhaps there were too many people present, unable to save face and wanting to put on a show?
Although disdainful in his thoughts, he dared not neglect and said, "Constable Xing, report the details to the sir."
"Yes."
The old arrest officer complied, summarizing the events.
Since three months ago, continual murders had occurred in the city.
Moreover, the manner of death was extremely similar:
All victims were male, dressed in red wedding robes, with eerie smiles on their faces.
Their skulls had been opened, the insides hollowed out as if something had eaten their brains.
Hearing this, Chen Mo and Li Yuan exchanged glances.
"If it was an Evil Cultivator, there would be no need to dress the victims in wedding robes, it's probably..."
"Demon Ghost!"
Both simultaneously confirmed the answer.
Only Demon Ghosts would conduct themselves in such a bizarre manner, their tactics enigmatic and beyond ordinary reasoning.
Although the Three Saint Sect had driven out most of the Demon Ghosts, inevitably some managed to slip through, causing strange turmoils intermittently.
Yet here was at the footsteps of the Emperor, under the clear and righteous sky, such frenzied actions persisted?
"How many have died so far?"
Chen Mo asked.
"Twenty-nine people."
Constable Xing said gravely.
"So many?"
Chen Mo raised his eyebrows, "Why was there such a delay in reporting?"
Constable Xing shook his head, "Two months ago, this matter had already been reported to the Capital City Government. They sent a government officer here, led by a Seventh-Level Warrior, but he tragically died the very night, his death exactly like the others."
"Afterwards, your Sky Scale Guard sent someone again..."
"Cough, cough!"
At this moment, Li Minghan coughed loudly, and Constable Xing quickly shut his mouth.
A Seventh-Level Warrior died?
No wonder they mobilized two generals for this case.
Chen Mo thought for a moment and asked, "Who did the Sky Scale Guard send last time?"
Constable Xing hesitated and whispered, "It was a Mr. Yan from the Ding Fire Department. He wandered around the city for a bit and then declared that the case was closed. He returned to the Capital City the next day."
He even drank ten jars of top-grade wine and took two hundred taels of patterned silver for travel expenses!
Li Minghan silently added in his heart.
Sucking the marrow from the bones, getting kickbacks and bribes, if the Sky Scale Guard keeps coming like this, the county government might be stripped bare!
Hearing this, the faces of the Ding Fire Department looked somewhat unnatural.
A cold glint flashed in Li Yuan's eyes.
It's one thing to be unclean; yet so many died and he still glossed it over—at what point does that differ from trampling on human lives?
Chen Mo should have chopped him down with one strike that day!
"According to the regular pattern of the murder cases, every three days, one person dies."
"It has been exactly three days since the last death, I fear tonight..."
Constable Xing spoke slowly.
Everyone's faces showed fear, and the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
It was like a guillotine hanging over their heads, not knowing who among them would be next.
"Let's go, let's enter the city and see."
Chen Mo led the way and entered the city gates.
It's not yet 5 p.m., and the streets are already deserted; every household tightly closed their doors and windows, some even sealing them shut with wooden boards.
A panic-like atmosphere spread throughout the city.
"Which household was the first to encounter this incident?"
Chen Mo asked.
"West side of the city, the Liu Family."
"Mr. Liu was getting a secondary wife; they were having a big celebratory feast that evening, but when they went to the bridal chamber, they discovered the person was already dead…"
Constable Xing replied.
"Take me to the Liu Mansion."
"Others, go to the previous victims' houses to investigate. If anything unusual is found, signal with a dart."
"Meet up at the county government before 9 p.m."
Chen Mo instructed methodically.
"Yes!"
The Assistant Officers quickly dispersed, and under the lead of the arrest officers, they headed to various places within the city.
Li Minghan and Constable Xing looked at each other, realizing that this young master might not have come here to just idle around...
As for Li Yuan, who was usually dominant in demeanor, he remained silent and followed silently behind Chen Mo.
...
Liu Mansion.
The mansion was quite luxurious and spacious, with high walls and deep courtyards, and the gates were tightly closed.
Constable Xing stepped forward, knocking on the door ring, and loudly said, "I am Constable Xing from the county government, heav..."
Before he finished, an impatient voice came from inside: "The lady of the house has ordered that we do not see guests, please come back another day, Constable."
Constable Xing wanted to say something more, but Chen Mo directly kicked the door.
Bang!
The latch broke, and the heavy solid wood door collapsed, knocking the doorkeeper to the ground.
Covering his red forehead, he pointed at Chen Mo and shouted angrily, "How dare you barge into a private residence? Do you know where this is..."
"Presumptuous!"
"This man is a Commander of the Sky Scale Guard!"
Constable Xing said sternly.
"Sky, Sky Scale Guard?!"
Hearing these three words, the doorkeeper nearly lost his soul.
He quickly got up, knelt down, and said tremblingly, "I have eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, I beg for your forgiveness, sir!"
Ignoring him, Chen Mo stepped into the courtyard.
Just then, a woman dressed in plain clothes walked out of the hall.
Graceful and voluptuous, her waist swaying like a ripe peach as she moved.
At the same time, a hint flashed in front of Chen Mo:
[Trigger special event: Liu Family Widow.]
"Looks like we really came to the right place."
Chen Mo's lips slightly curved in a smile.