How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

Chapter 150 Murder in the Street

He stood before Zhou Wenju, his icy gaze filled with boundless hatred. The surrounding rain and mist made it feel as if one had stepped into a sudden, chilly spring.

Zhou Wenju smiled faintly: "I have already gone to the capital. Young Master He only found out today?"

"Before the Qingshan Literary Gathering, I dared not disturb His Majesty's great undertaking and therefore did not meet with you—"

"You talk like you can cause trouble!" Zhou Wenju interrupted directly.

Such a contemptuous tone, such a disdainful attitude, made the veins on He Liang's forehead bulge: "Zhou Wenju, you better remember one thing—"

Tell me about it!

"You destroyed my home and killed my loved ones in Qishan. If I don't avenge this, I'm not worthy of being a son!" He Liang took a deep breath. "You'll see for yourself in the officialdom. I'll make you understand that what you do deserves retribution!"

"What you've done deserves retribution! That's the answer to your question! Your He family's current predicament is all due to past sins!" Zhou Wenju said, "That's one point. Secondly, it's absurd that you made me wait for you in the officialdom. Does it mean that your He family has no one in the officialdom just because your son hasn't entered it? Wasn't your father incredibly powerful and influential in the officialdom? Why don't you let him try?"

He Liang's heart was burning with rage!

A furious shout rang out: "You, surnamed Zhou—!"

The sound suddenly stopped.

With a loud bang, his body suddenly exploded and shattered into pieces.

A head shot skyward.

The head was glaring with fury.

Chungpachi was standing to the side, quietly watching his friend utterly humiliate this ignorant young master, when suddenly, such an unexpected change occurred.

His heart suddenly started racing.

Xin Shisan suddenly raised his eyes, staring at the head tumbling down from the air, and his expression changed abruptly.

Zhou Wenju was also taken aback.

His insightful understanding of literature activated instantly, and his expression immediately changed—

"Ah—" More than a dozen family members around He Liang exclaimed in unison.

The umbrella fell to the ground silently.

The person holding the umbrella, their blank gaze shifting to the ground, to the head that had just stopped rolling, let out a scream that pierced the night sky—

From the surrounding restaurants, countless heads popped out, exclaiming in unison.

Above the brothel, countless women opened the windows, screaming loudly—

"What happened?" Several constables rushed over from the street, and were all stunned when they saw the scene in front of them.

A burst of fire shot into the sky, accompanied by a sharp whistle.

This was a signal when a major case occurred in Beijing.

A golden light suddenly appeared in Jingzhao Prefecture, ten miles away.

Three figures came flying through the air.

In the very center was none other than Qi Zhizhang, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture.

"What kind of case?" Qi Zhizhang landed in mid-air, his gaze fixed on the head on the ground.

"My lord!" More than ten servants knelt down at the same time: "It was Zhou Wenju! He—he committed murder in the street! He killed my young master!"

"My young master's surname is He, and his given name is Liang. He is the son of the Vice Minister of Rites!"

Qi Zhizhang's expression suddenly changed, and with a flick of his hand, the official seal sent a signal—

The onlookers were all shaken.

The son of the Vice Minister of Rites was murdered on the spot.

The unusualness and sensitivity of this matter are off the charts.

"To commit murder in the street, killing the son of a high-ranking official! How dare you!" Qi Zhizhang's gaze slowly shifted over and landed on Zhou Wenju's face.

At this moment, Zhou Wenju stared at a certain spot, his expression as still as water, seemingly not having heard Qi Zhizhang's words at all.

call!

A flash of golden light appeared in the sky, seemingly sweeping away the fine rain. A figure flew through the air, none other than He Fang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

He saw his son's head on the ground from the air.

Stumbling upon landing, Qi Zhizhang quickly steadied him: "Lord He, your son—"

He Fang flicked his hand lightly, and Qi Zhizhang's hand was flung away.

He Fang's sharp eyes were fixed on the head on the ground. His forehead was covered in disheveled hair, and his eyes were filled with utter grief.

After a long pause, he slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and said, word by word, "Who killed him?"

Pass!

More than ten family members knelt simultaneously in the rain: "Master, it's Zhou Wenju!"

"I failed in my duty as a guard; I deserve to die!"

He Fang's cold, hateful eyes were fixed on Zhou Wenju.

Chung-ba and Shin-ssan stepped forward, blocking him from Zhou Wenju. Chung-ba said, "Lord He, your son suffered a misfortune, which I witnessed throughout. There are suspicious circumstances surrounding this matter; it was not Lord Zhou who acted!"

"Bullshit!" One of the family members suddenly raised his finger, pointing angrily at Zhongba: "You're in cahoots with this scoundrel, of course you'll speak up for him! More than ten of us saw it with our own eyes, how could it be false? Young Master angrily denounced this scoundrel for slaughtering my entire He family in Qishan, and this scoundrel, enraged, killed Young Master in the street!"

Xin Shisan coldly replied, "I am Xin Shisan of the Xinzi Hall of the Dingchao Division. I was standing right beside Lord Zhou and didn't even see him make a move, yet you did? There's a right time to frame someone!"

The air felt heavy.

Whether it was people at the scene or those who had just poked their heads out of the window, everyone was a little confused for a moment, wondering if it was this man surnamed Zhou who had killed them.

Qi Zhizhang spoke up: "You're saying that the He family killed their young master to frame the Zhou family?"

Xin Shisan could not answer.

The atmosphere in the room was deathly oppressive.

High up in the building, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

It makes no sense that someone would kill one of their own important figures just to frame someone else.

Qi Zhizhang turned his gaze to Zhong Ba: "Both of you are from the Dingchao Division, so you should know the laws of the land and the endless methods of killing. Zhou is a master of literary arts, using words to kill. If you really witnessed it with your own eyes, then where does the unpredictability of his literary methods come from?"

Chung-hachi's heart pounded wildly.

Even he was unsure now.

Zhou Wenju was a man who repeatedly created literary miracles.

His methods are unpredictable and mysterious.

Moreover, he is someone who dares to think and act, and doesn't follow any rules.

Could it really have been him?

Is their purpose to establish their authority?

Let the world know that if you dare to target me, I will target you. Even if I kill you in the street, no one will be able to find any evidence!

Thinking about it this way, he realized that he wasn't really that determined.

Zhou Wenju finally turned his gaze away from the distance: "Lord Qi, I, Zhou Wenju, am absolutely not the one who killed He Liang!"

This statement clearly indicates their stance.

"Take him to the Jingzhao Prefecture, and you'll have your turn to speak!" Qi Zhizhang waved his hand, and the chains in the hands of the two high-ranking constables suddenly trembled, as if an iron chain cage had appeared in the air in an instant.

Zhou Wen raised his hand, and a stream of literary light appeared out of thin air. With a soft hiss, the iron chain cage seemed to become a world of its own.

Two high-ranking constables, whose cultivation had reached the Dao Heart Realm and who could easily seize people with iron chains as if taking candy from a bag, could not reach Zhou Wenju's side even though the iron chains were positioned in the void.

Inside the restaurant, everyone's eyes lit up.

"High-level literary cultivation, this is the combat power of a high-level literary cultivator!"

"Such literary style may truly be able to kill without leaving a trace—"

Now, almost everyone around believed that Zhou Wenju really had done it.

Because he has the ability.

And he was the only one with this motive.

His feud with the He family was a blood feud of annihilation; it would be normal for either of them to kill the other.

If a person possesses the ability to "kill without lifting a finger or raising a foot, killing without leaving a trace," it would not be surprising if they could kill their enemy in public.

Beneath the chains, Zhou Wen bowed and said, "Your Excellency, taking me to the Jingzhao Prefecture would be a waste of time! Therefore, please give me some time to solve this case on the spot, how about that?"

Zhong Ba's heart skipped a beat: "Lord Qi, how about giving Lord Zhou this opportunity?"

Qi Zhizhang's face darkened: "With such clear facts, how can you talk about solving the case? Are you trying to use this opportunity to cause trouble and create unnecessary complications? Arrest them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an official seal in his palm shot upwards through the air—

The official seal of a third-rank official appeared out of nowhere, and an irresistible force descended from the sky, carrying the aura of the imperial dynasty and the great trend of the heavens.

Chung-hachi's expression changed!

In the capital, the official seal was the most powerful thing.

Zhou Wenju's expression also changed. He had caught a glimpse of something, but the third-rank prefect in front of him didn't give him a chance at all.

Under the oppressive power of the official seal, his literary and moral defenses crumbled.

Without the resistance of Wen Dao's great power, the chains fell upon him, binding him tightly from the first touch.

Suddenly, a voice came from the alley behind: "Young Master Zhou says he wants to solve the case on the spot, so let's give him that chance!"

All eyes turned to a small green felt sedan chair emerging from the rain and mist.

A lantern hangs on the sedan chair.

Above the lantern is a single word: Xiang!

Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion!

The Prime Minister's daughter naturally carries a heavy weight.

The prime minister is the head of all officials; the prime minister's gatekeeper is a seventh-rank official. These phrases are used to describe the power and influence of the prime minister.

Therefore, when the daughter of the Prime Minister speaks, most people will give her some face.

However, these two are clearly an exception.

It's true that they were trying to curry favor with the Prime Minister's family, but in front of everyone, in the face of a murder case, how could the Prime Minister's daughter have any say?

Qi Zhizhang, the prefect of Jingzhao, frowned: "Take him away!"

They completely ignored the advice given inside the sedan chair.

The iron chain suddenly tightened, and Zhou Wenju was lifted off the ground, about to be carried into the air.

Suddenly, a jade seal rose into the air from inside the sedan chair!

As soon as the jade seal appeared, a unique aura of imperial power surged into the sky, rendering the third-rank official seal of the Jingzhao Prefecture ineffective. Zhou Wenju's entire body trembled, and the iron chains that had bound him were broken.

All eyes were drawn to the suddenly appearing jade seal.

Within the jade seal, a golden dragon faintly lurks.

Two large golden characters pierced the night sky: Princess!

Below is a small print: Seven!

"Seventh Princess—" Qi Zhizhang was taken aback and knelt down abruptly, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

He Fang, whose face was filled with rage, was also startled and bowed deeply: "Your Highness!"

The expressions of everyone in the surrounding restaurants, brothels, and countless onlookers changed.

Sitting in the sedan chair of the Prime Minister's residence, the person inside was none other than the Seventh Princess of the Imperial Dynasty!

The daughter of the Prime Minister's family and a princess of the imperial dynasty—their status is not insignificant.

This is a world of difference!

Even though the prime minister is a first-rank official and the head of all officials, he is still a subject.

No matter how insignificant a princess may seem, she is still a mistress.

Who would have thought that the person sitting in the sedan chair of the Prime Minister's residence was actually a princess?

The young lady of the Prime Minister's residence couldn't say much in this kind of situation.

But a princess can!

Zhou Wenju was also slightly startled. His Wen Dao Hui Eyes could vaguely see the person inside through the sedan curtain, but the face was not clearly visible due to the obstruction of the curtain. After all, his Wen Dao Hui Eyes did not have the ability to see through objects.

But this chest—

Tall, firm, and slightly trembling, her fullness and luxury were beyond compare.

Is this the Seventh Princess?

Was she the princess whom the Mohists sought to marry at the Nanyang Poetry Gathering that day? Was she also the unconventional princess my sister described as someone who "uttered wild and lewd words as soon as she left the palace"?

"I am very concerned about tonight's murder!" the Seventh Princess said in a deep voice. "Don't rush to arrest anyone. I'd like to hear..."

Listen to how Young Master Zhou solves cases!

"Your Highness!" Qi Zhizhang said, "Such a serious case under the very nose of the dynasty has a huge impact and is extremely egregious. It involves the laws of the court and cannot be handled hastily. I implore Your Highness to allow this old minister to bring the culprit back to the Jingzhao Prefecture for trial. I will report the results to Your Highness on a separate day—what do you say?"

"You yourself said we can't be hasty! Then let's investigate thoroughly on the spot!" The Seventh Princess said coldly, "Young Master Zhou, what are your thoughts? Speak them now!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhou Wenju stepped forward. "When investigating a case, the Prefect should first determine the cause of death and the murder weapon. How about I find this murder weapon for you?"

After hearing this, no matter how unwilling Qi Zhizhang was, he could no longer take him away.

Because he was looking for a murder weapon!

In a murder case, the murder weapon is one of the most crucial pieces of physical evidence.

"Do you know what a murder weapon is?" Qi Zhizhang frowned.

"Your Excellency, please take a look." Zhou Wenju stepped forward, gently pointing in a direction with his finger.

That was a tree by the roadside.

There was a small bloodstain on the tree.

All eyes were on that spot —

I didn't understand for a moment.

Zhou Wenju said, "I am under suspicion and it is not convenient for me to go to that place. Your Excellency, why don't you take out what is under the bark yourself?"

The prefect slowly approached.

Xin Shisan followed suit.

Under their gaze, they saw a small hole in the tree, as if something had been thrown into it.

Xin Shisan spoke up: "I'll do it!"

The prefect nodded slightly.

With a gentle flick of his finger, Xin Shisan caused a small piece of gravel to float up from the tiny hole.

All of this was witnessed by everyone.

The pebbles did indeed come out of the tree hole.

There was blood on the stone.

Zhong Ba's eyes flickered slightly: "Does Lord Zhou mean that a highly skilled cultivator could use this stone to kill someone with the ability to pluck leaves and flowers?"

"He Liang?"

"Brother Zhong, you are a literary genius. Why don't you take a look at this pebble? Does it feel familiar?" Zhou Wenju said.

Chung-hachi's heart skipped a beat. He took the blood-stained white stone, his expression suddenly changing: "This is no ordinary stone; it's a chess piece, and there are remnants of the power of literature on it!"

Everyone was shocked.

With the power of literature and the Way, a single chess piece can kill!

Zhou Wenju said, "That's exactly right! This chess piece is the real culprit behind He Liang's death! The method used was inconceivable; first, the chess piece was placed in He Liang's arms, and then, using literary means, it was detonated remotely!"

"The Way of Chess: A Thousand Miles of Killing?" Zhongba suddenly raised his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.

Qi Zhizhang's face darkened: "Solving a case requires evidence! Do you really think you can escape punishment with just a broken chess piece? On the contrary, in my opinion, the fact that you were able to find such a well-hidden murder weapon only deepens the suspicion against you. Who but the murderer himself could have discovered such a secret?"

This statement is extremely convincing!

He Fang spoke up: "Your Excellency, please do not waste time; apprehend the culprit immediately!"

He was a third-rank official.

The Prefect is also a third-rank official.

However, his rank of third grade was a high-ranking official position in the imperial court, which was above that of the Prefect of the Capital.

Moreover, he was the victim's biological father. As a family member of the victim, he naturally had certain privileges, so when he spoke, it was an order!