Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 227 The Blood Mist Arrives

Tao Shangshan was stunned; he never expected this answer.

"So you're saying that I and His Highness the King of Chu are ugly?"

Zhou Zhao was taken aback. She looked Tao Shangshan up and down. "Lord Tao, you still care about this?"

“I’m wearing a straw hat,” Liu Huang, who had been standing in the farthest corner from Tao Shangshan since he came in, suddenly said.

Tao Shangshan felt his teeth start to ache. He must have been secretly eating too much maltose, which had used up all the sweetness in his life. Otherwise, how could he feel that every moment with this person was more bitter than eating bitter melon?

Zhou Zhao nodded. "Ah Huang's face is not visible."

Tao Shangshan: How bitter! His life is so bitter! He was stabbed again and again; even being slowly sliced ​​to death is no better than this.

Fortunately, Zhou Zhao's humanity had not been completely extinguished, and he was still thinking about important matters at the moment. "Among the missing persons we know, Wei Ruo is a woman from a noble family with an extraordinary temperament; Bai Jiu Niang goes without saying, she is a courtesan; as for Li Nai, his appearance is unknown."

As for that recent scholar, when the coroner Bai mentioned him, he said that he was handsome and that his sword dance under the moon attracted young ladies to throw flowers at him...

Of the four, three were exceptionally handsome. And then there was Chen Jiyuan…”

A ridiculous thought suddenly occurred to Tao Shangshan: "Was Li Youzhi killed because he was ugly? The good-looking ones are kidnapped, and the ugly ones are killed?"

Tao Shangshan suddenly felt an overwhelming longing for the Court of Justice. What a madhouse this Micheng was! At least in Chang'an, he was only cursed as half-dead, not killed for being ugly. It was utterly absurd.

Zhou Zhao shook his head. "He's an exception."

"Chen Jiyuan was fair-skinned and youthful, especially his eyes, which were very striking. He was very pleasing to the eye. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have asked him to pretend to be a beauty to lure the murderer into a trap."

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked at Tao Shangshan opposite him, "Now, do you understand why Li Youzhi asked the people from Duobaoge about the brothels and entertainment venues in Micheng?"

Tao Shangshan shuddered, recalling Zhou Zhao's question at the Treasure Pavilion.

Did Zhou Zhao already guess these things back then? Did Li Youzhi also guess that the commonality among the victims was their beauty?
"What Li Youzhi wanted to ask was clearly not some ordinary brothel. Because with Bai Jiuniang's reputation as the top courtesan, if she opened her doors to customers in the Lost City, how could no one know? It was precisely because Li Youzhi found out about her that he was murdered, since he didn't have any beauty to be used."

Tao Shangshan fell silent, unsure whether to say that beauty or ugliness was more pitiful.

"Of course, this is just my current speculation about Li Youzhi."

Having handled cases for many years, the adults naturally realized that when the murderer's method of committing the crime suddenly changed, it meant that the person was different from the murderer.

Or someone might be imitating the murderer in an attempt to get away with it.

I didn't mention the second possibility because when Li Youzhi died, a blood mist also appeared, making the second possibility less likely.

What Zhou Zhao didn't say was that if He Tingshi was the mole, although there were yamen runners lying in ambush in the streets and alleys, he was the only one by Li Youzhi's side. He could have easily killed Li Youzhi and then claimed that he saw the blood mist, thus getting away with it.

The reason she said it was only him was because she didn't believe that Li Youzhi would set up an ambush to lure the murderer into a trap, and that an ordinary passerby would appear next to him.

Because He Tingshi was also an official of the Court of Justice, Li Youdao, Li Youzhi's father, never thought of this.

After all, who would randomly suspect that there's a "ghost" hiding next to them?
Of course, if He Tingshi was not the mole, then this second possibility is invalid.

As Zhou Zhao spoke, he looked solemnly at Tao Shangshan before him, "Now I've been chosen as the next missing person..." Zhou Zhao paused, "or perhaps the next Li Youzhi. To prevent me from bathing and changing clothes, the murderer should appear soon to take me away. I will go to rescue Chen Jiyuan, please remember what I just said about the case, sir."

If I don't come back... please tell Su Changying what I said, and he will know how to search for us.

Lord Tao might consider Li Youzhi's words: "Where are these beauties, whose beauty cannot be revealed, most useful?"

Tao Shangshan's expression hardened. "Young Master Zhou, it's best if you don't put yourself in danger. Better safe than sorry. Why don't we go directly to General Su and have him send someone to search the entire Lost City? Or ask the manager of the Treasure Pavilion?"

Zhou Zhao looked out the window. "The manager of Duobao Pavilion probably doesn't know, otherwise he wouldn't have mentioned that Li Youzhi asked about brothels. I'm worried that Chen Jiyuan will be in danger when the Northern Army searches the area."

As she spoke, she smiled at Tao Shangshan, "If Ah Huang and I can both come back alive from Tianying City, then Micheng will be fine too."

Moreover, she did more than just save Chen Jiyuan.

She also needs to use herself as bait to lure out two fish. The first is the real culprit in the disappearance case of the Blood Mist in the Lost City, and the second is the mole hiding in the Court of Justice who will kill her this time.

The thought of fighting against fate and destiny made her tremble with excitement.

How can one break free from the life-or-death predicament when they are not on the verge of death?

Zhou Zhao wasn't afraid at all; in fact, she was eager to try.

She thought for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Liu Huang. The two of them lightly leaped into the thick white fog.

“Ah Huang, let’s go to the South Street Third Alley where Li Youzhi had his accident. There might be something strange about that place.”

The two of them couldn't just wander aimlessly through the streets. After all, in this foggy weather, taking a stroll would be too deliberate, like waiting for someone to come and grab her.

Liu Huang gave a soft "hmm." He didn't talk much, but he was Zhou Zhao's best listener.

"There's something I don't understand. Why make it so complicated? The fog and the poisonous insects are just making things mysterious. It would be better to just kidnap or tie them up."

If the murderer only wanted some "special" beauties, such as young ladies from noble families, courtesans, or officials from the Court of Justice... why go through so many tricks? Couldn't they just sneak in at night, knock them unconscious, and carry them away quietly?

The murderer must have had a compelling reason to do this.

She just hadn't thought of that reason yet.

As Zhou Zhao pondered, without waiting for Liu Huang's response, she suddenly felt a slight vibration. Her intuition told her that something was approaching.

coming!

Zhou Zhao gently touched Liu Huang's little finger.

Liu Huang's heart jumped into his throat. He paused for a moment, letting Zhou Zhao walk half a step ahead of him. At that moment, he felt a crimson light in his vision, as if blood had flowed into his eyes and blurred his entire vision. The white mist in front of him turned red in an instant.

Blood mist!
"Ah Zhao!" Liu Huang exclaimed in surprise. Even though he remembered Zhou Zhao's instructions, he was still extremely nervous. He suppressed the urge to cleave through the blood mist with his sword and leaped up to chase after it.

Zhou Zhao also disappeared into the blood mist.