Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 396 The Holy Father Arrives
The driver and guards respectfully invited Xu Xuan to get into the carriage, and then they sped off to the dock.

After transferring to an official boat, they sped off again, covering more than 200 li in a single day—an unprecedented speed!

Xie Yu was also with him this time. After all, the powerful families were deeply intertwined, and Xu Xuan needed someone to help him handle some trivial matters.

At the same time, you also need a witty and reasonable straight man; these are all details.

Thinking back to the last case involving Master Li, where the two went down Nanshan together, and now it's the same combination again, it's quite a coincidence.

"Master Xu, are you confident?"

The Suzhou incident caused quite a stir, and as a member of the Xie family, I knew a lot of the inside story.

He believed that Master Xu could definitely uncover the truth, it was just a matter of time.
"I'm 70% sure."

Xie Yu is safe now, so let's go with the teacher to grind reputation.

Upon arriving at the Suzhou dock, we were greeted by Lu Dan, the Prefectural Governor of Yangzhou.

Born into the prominent Lu family of Wu County in Jiangnan, a descendant of the Marquis of Huating, he already held a high position in Yangzhou in his early thirties.

With the support of his family, he is expected to be able to return to the capital to take up his post in a few years, so the sudden and serious incident in Wu County is a matter of utmost urgency.

As the official ship approached, I was still marveling at Professor Sheng's incorruptibility; even when his most promising student came for help, he only sent people to assist in the investigation.

Of course, he also knew that he was no longer the young man who wanted to become a Legalist scholar.

People always grow, don't they?

Just then, a young man stepped off the ship; what a handsome and refined scholar he was.

His appearance was handsome and refined, his eyes clear and bright. He wore a black jade cap and a light blue robe.

Black checkered boots paired with dragon-patterned stockings, her face plain and unadorned. A dark, openwork belt cinched her waist, her bearing as steadfast as a cypress or a pine.

Its appearance alone has already won it three points of favor.

Even Xie Yu, who was following behind, was overshadowed and could only be seen when they got closer.

Although it is very unfair, physical appearance is one of the criteria for selecting officials.

If this is not the case, then something else must be brought out to make up for the deficiency, such as lineage, wealth, or outstanding talent.

Pang Tong, nicknamed "Young Phoenix," had such a bumpy road to officialdom, even having to change allegiances, precisely because he was not given important positions due to his ugly appearance.

Xu Hanwen has this advantage that allows him to become a famous pretty boy throughout history.

Orthodox cultivation is about making up for deficiencies and allowing one's essence, energy, and spirit to continuously evolve until one transcends them.

So in addition to his more handsome appearance, his temperament is also far superior to that of ordinary people.

He usually adjusts his aura to make himself appear less imposing, in order to achieve his goal of taking things by surprise.

The purpose of coming to Suzhou today is to investigate the murder case in a high-profile manner, so naturally, we must use every means to gain the attention of the authorities.

After all, the world was about to descend into chaos, and he had already made up for his shortcomings in scholarship and the connections he had made with the academy.

It's time to expand our influence.

At least Lu Dan looked at the young man in front of him with higher regard, and steadied himself before going to greet him.

"Mr. Xu, thank you for your hard work."

"The professor highly praised you as a leading expert in criminal law."

Even when he was in a hurry, Prefect Lu always maintained a calm and composed demeanor; this was the lesson the officialdom had taught him.

Don't show any weakness, or you'll be devoured by jackals.

As for the title, it was also very appropriate. Xu Xuan was an instructor at the academy with the position of academic administrator, but without a formal official title. However, he represented Professor Sheng in solving the mystery, so this title was just right.

Next, we'll go through the welcoming ceremony and find out what Professor Sheng really means.

He had seen Xu Hanwen's information, and he had also reviewed the files and records of merits and demerits that Song Youde had sent two years ago.

Normally, there would be no problem letting this young man investigate on his own, but now time is too tight.

No matter how handsome you are, it can't relieve your anxiety.

anxiety?

What a coincidence! I, Xu Hanwen, am here to relieve my anxiety.

"I have already witnessed Governor Lu's love for the people. As for the cases in Suzhou, I will not hide anything from you."

"I'm already 80% confident."

Xie Yu, weren't you only at 70% before you set off?
But Prefect Lu was overjoyed. Could it be that Professor Sheng already had a plan in mind, which is why he sent this teacher to Suzhou to resolve the matter?
This is better; compared to exerting influence in the Ministry of Justice, this direct approach is more appropriate.

I immediately expressed that everyone in Yangzhou would cooperate fully.

Xu Xuan then declined the welcome banquet, saying he needed to review the case files and verify some information first.

"Alright, alright, please get in the car."

Then he was taken to the archives.

The reason why people can't enter without an official position is simply because they lack the necessary authority. If the second-in-command of the prefecture says that entry is allowed, would the people in the prefectural government dare to stop them?

Lu Dan had no other choice but to follow along and see what this Instructor Xu was capable of. Inside the room, Xu didn't create any tree diagrams or mind maps; he simply reviewed the deceased's information and the location of death.

Then he started acting, his eyes still open as if he was thinking about something, and his expression was inscrutable.

In this era, to solve problems, even if you have built up a reputation, you still need a key skill: the ability to pretend.

Zhuge Liang already had the reputation of being a "Sleeping Dragon," yet he still refused Liu Bei's offer three times.

In the later stages of troop deployment, one sometimes needs to use clever tricks to increase authority.

The skills of the older generation are all based on sound reasoning.

Unfortunately, there's no beard to stroke, no fan to wave, and no big belly to touch.

Xu could only create an air of mystery using micro-expressions and a trivial white lotus appearance.

"Xie, what do you think?"

The advantage of having Yuanfang by your side is evident; it would be very awkward without someone to provide the straight man.

After careful consideration, Xie Yu offered his analysis: the lowest-ranking among these people were stewards of wealthy merchants, suggesting that the demons were targeting specific groups for revenge.

Everyone knows how well aristocratic families can incite hatred, so it's not surprising that they can drive someone to madness.

Lu Dan nodded; that was what they thought too.

Xu Xuan remained noncommittal.

"Let's go see the dead."

The group then went to the morgue and saw the few remaining corpses.

Although it's not theoretically possible to take it away before the case is closed, it's a privilege of aristocratic families, and who could bear to see their own child lying here?

Just as recorded in the official documents, the flesh, bones, and internal organs were all removed, leaving only a human skin.

Strangely, the remaining human skin was supported by the solidified mucus inside, making the body look exactly the same as it did when it was alive.

"Xie, what do you think?"

"Just like the three sorcerers who appeared in Qiantang, this time it should be the work of sorcerers again. It may be the effect of some ritual or some kind of evil magic."

Lu Dan nodded; that was what they thought too.

Xu Xuan neither nodded nor shook his head.

The group of people following behind were filled with doubt. Was something wrong?

But the more this is the case, the more hopeful it feels. After all, truly exceptional people definitely think differently from ordinary people.

Understanding and manipulating psychology is the Father's primary responsibility.

"Let's go and see for ourselves."

Escorted by the governor's guards, the two began to investigate the scene, but some locations were inside the courtyards of aristocratic families, which was not very convenient.

This is where Xie Yu and Lu Dan's roles come into play. They use their connections to those with whom they have a family relationship, and for those without, they use their titles as the Prefect of Yangzhou to communicate.

Sure enough, you need to show your face for these kinds of things.

Upon entering, Xu Xuan scanned the area with his divine sense and immediately understood why the person was so resistant.

It's a den of filth and corruption.
All kinds of negative energy and wronged spirits were suppressed by the treasure, unable to be reborn or be saved.

It's quite ironic that the family's heritage is used here; it seems they've suffered losses in the past.

But it doesn't matter, the Father is a kind-hearted person.

Of course, we should take care of the immediate matters first.

For example, the soil under the artificial hill was a bit loose, and the fishy, ​​pungent smell was also quite irritating.

When they moved the rocks aside, they discovered a hole the size of a bucket on the back, and the soil underneath was a different color from the rest of the area.

"Dig a hole? This..."

Everyone was somewhat surprised; it was a very unique method, and they even backfilled the soil.

"Xie, what do you think?"

Xie Yu was somewhat impressed; Master Xu truly lived up to his reputation. He had found the clues with seemingly effortless ease, even without knowing most of the information.

Lu Dan was overjoyed; it had only been half a day!

They found such crucial information in just half a day; those good-for-nothings in the prefectural governor's office really don't know what they're good for.

Xu Xuan still maintained his enigmatic demeanor.

Of course, he wouldn't mention that when he passed through Suzhou at the beginning of the year, he had met Miss Ruiyun because of the Five Gods and learned that a group of demons were lurking in the nearby mountains.

It goes without saying that Master Mao had already obtained some information from the rogue cultivators, such as the emergence of more multi-legged monsters with black scales in Suzhou.

Using information asymmetry to launch a devastating attack is naturally invincible.

"Now, let's go see Prefect Deng."

(End of this chapter)