Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

Fang Zheng turned around and led his men to find the scholar Chen Moxuan.

Chen Moxuan's house was in a quiet alley in the east of the city. Before Fang Zheng even reached the door, he saw several servants standing outside, looking flustered and whispering to each other.

He strode forward, and an old gatekeeper recognized him and quickly bowed, saying, "Lord Fang, you've finally arrived!"

My husband is missing!

"What's going on?" Fang Zheng's face darkened.

The old doorman rubbed his hands together, sweating profusely with anxiety.

"Early this morning, the master received a letter from Master Du, the wine connoisseur, inviting him to a banquet at Hanxiang Pavilion outside the city. He said it was the fifth anniversary of the Hanxiang Gathering and that he wanted to catch up with the old friends."

The master changed his clothes and went. But it's been almost half a day, and he hasn't seen a trace of him.

I sent men to search Hanxiang Pavilion, but it was completely empty; there wasn't a single hair to be seen!

Fang Zheng's heart skipped a beat.

Hanxiang Pavilion is where the Five Friends of Winter gathered five years ago.

What good could possibly come of Du Kang tricking Shu Weng into going there?

Fang Zheng didn't ask any more questions, turned around and left, his mind constantly going over the map.

If all the people in the painting "Cold Fragrance Gathering" died because of Du Kang, then the scholar Chen Moxuan is the last surviving prey.

Du Kang had clearly taken the old man to a place where no one could find him, to perform that evil ritual.

That place had to be secluded and closely connected to him.

Du Kang's stronghold should be related to the Bloodthirsty Grass.

After all, the cultivation of Bloodthirsty Grass requires careful consideration of the feng shui environment.

Fang Zheng mentally reviewed the location where he had previously discovered the Bloodthirsty Grass.

We've searched the He family's old house several times, but there's nothing there.

The Cao family well is where Liu Qingyu threw himself into the well and became a ghost. The scent of the Blood-Thirsting Grass first came from there.

There's also the Tiger Demon Cave in the back mountain of Anping Town, where Bloodthirsty Grass grows.

"There's no time to lose."

Fang Zheng turned to Guan Tieyi and said, "Let's take some men to the Cao family first and go down to the well."

If that doesn't work, I'll take some men to the back mountain of Anping Town.

Guan Tieyi responded, selected a few men, and rode straight to the Cao family's residence.

.......

The main gate of the Cao family mansion in the south of the city was tightly closed, with the two vermilion wooden doors fitting together perfectly.

Fang Zheng dismounted, took a few steps up the steps, and banged on the door.

His hand slammed onto the door, making a loud thud, but no one responded.

"Break down the door."

He said something in a deep voice, turned his head, and gestured with his chin toward the person behind him.

Two yamen runners stepped forward, braced their shoulders against the door, and rammed it with their heads, causing the bolt to crack with a snap.

At this moment, Steward Cao suddenly appeared from behind the door, his face pale, and he spread his arms to block the corridor.

What are you doing?

This is the Cao family's private residence. No one is allowed to enter without the master's permission...

Before he could finish speaking, Fang Zheng raised his hand and pushed Cao, causing him to stagger backward, his back hitting a pillar and landing hard on his backside.

He tried to stand up, leaning on a pillar, but as soon as he straightened up, he saw Fang Zheng stride across the threshold, followed by Guan Tieyi and seven or eight yamen runners.

"Stop them!"

Butler Cao shouted in a shrill voice.

Soon, a dozen or so guards from the Cao family poured out from the side rooms, each carrying a short stick, forming a semicircle.

Fang Zheng glanced at them, somewhat dazed.

About two months ago, he was beaten like this by several servants ordered by the young master of the Cao family, and was eventually seriously injured and fell into a coma.

Afterwards, Liu Qingyu was also abducted and forced to commit suicide by jumping into a well.

In less than three months, the once arrogant Cao family had become like grasshoppers in autumn in his eyes, unable to hop around for much longer.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Fang Zheng sneered: "When the supervisors investigate a case, those who obstruct their path shall die!"

He led the constables forward at a moderate pace.

The guards, holding short sticks, looked at each other, and none of them stepped forward to stop them.

As Fang Zheng passed by, they involuntarily parted to the sides, allowing him to drive straight in.

Butler Cao got up from the ground and stood on the porch, his lips trembling, but he didn't dare to shout again.

According to Liu Qingyu's recollection, the well in the backyard was next to the artificial hill in a corner of the garden.

Fang Zheng walked to the well and looked down. He saw that the well opening had been filled with sand and gravel, covered with fresh soil, trampled down, and sprinkled with gravel.

He squatted down and pressed down on the soil; it was so firm that his fingers couldn't sink in.

He stood up, turned his head to look at Butler Cao: "When was the well sealed?"

Steward Cao leaned against a pillar, one hand pressed to his chest, his voice weak: "It's our own well. We can seal it up whenever we want. What business is it of the government when they want to fill it in?"

Fang Zheng didn't reply. He waved his hand, and several yamen runners came over.

He pointed to the well opening: "Dig."

The constables brought shovels and picks and began digging.

Fang Zheng looked at Steward Cao again, "You'd better pray there's nothing at the bottom of this well."

If you actually dig something up, you'll be sleeping in the prison cell tonight.

Butler Cao remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line, his knuckles clenched until they turned white.

Fang Zheng turned his head and whispered to Guan Tieyi beside him, "Brother Guan, let's split up into two groups."

"You stay here and keep watch, I'll take some men to check the back mountain of Anping Town."

Guan Tieyi nodded. "Don't worry, I'll send someone to let you know as soon as I find anything."

be safe!"

Fang Zheng patted Guan Tieyi on the shoulder, called a few constables to leave the Cao family, and rode his horse at full speed towards Anping Town.

Upon arriving at the back mountain of Anping Town, Fang Zheng easily found his way to the depths of the Tiger Demon Cave, where the familiar, sweet and pungent smell returned.

He squatted down, rummaged around on the ground for a while, and found a few withered blood-thirsty grasses with their roots still embedded in the soil.

Fang Zheng summoned three ink soldiers to dig down the roots. They dug less than two feet before they heard the sound of water.

Underground river.

Fang Zheng's spirits lifted, and he took out the Judge's Pen, channeling his energy to draw a squid in the air.

Once the cuttlefish takes shape, it falls into the underground river and swims downstream with the current.

Fang Zheng closed his eyes, his consciousness connected with the squid, and its vision appeared in his mind.

This is also a clever use of the "Finishing Touch" card.

The waterway was dark, with narrow stone walls and a rapid current, its destination unknown.

The cuttlefish swam for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before a light appeared ahead.

The waterway widened, and overhead was a wooden dome with people on it.

Fang Zheng suddenly opened his eyes: "Found it."

He led his men along the course of the underground river and found the exit behind an abandoned manor outside the city.

The manor is small, surrounded by water on all sides, and connected to the outside world by only one stone bridge.

The gate was tightly shut, the courtyard wall was high, and it was quiet inside; no human voice could be heard.

Fang Zheng lay prone in the grass, glanced at the manor from afar, and whispered to the person beside him, "Go and inform Lord Lü and Lord Lu, and have them bring their men to surround it."

"Be quick, don't alert them."

The messenger quietly left.

.........

At this moment, inside the manor, there was a stone table and two stone chairs.

Du Kang, the wine connoisseur, and Chen Moxuan, the scholar, sat facing each other. Chen Moxuan's face was pale, and his hands and feet seemed to be not quite under his control. His hands trembled violently when he picked up the wine cup.

"Brother Du, this wine..." Chen Moxuan frowned, "Something about it doesn't taste right."

Du Kang smiled, a gentle smile like a spring breeze.

"Something's not right."

This is a fine wine that I've been aging in my cellar for twenty years, and I've always been reluctant to drink it.

"I invited Brother Chen here today to share this wine and reminisce about the old days."