I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

Page 290

"Yes Yes."

The three men hired several sedan chair carriers, who carried the sedan chair towards the fire.

Meanwhile, Kal'tsit and Bai Zhi had also arrived at the fire scene.

"Quickly, clean up the place where Magistrate Gu's body lies."

"Here!"

Bai Zhi's Originium Arts involve manipulating the wind; as long as the force is controlled properly, it can clean up dust even better than a broom.

Kal'tsit then picked up a door panel and placed incense, candles, paper money, fruits, and wine cups on it to disguise the items.

"Sir, the cleaning is complete."

In just over ten breaths, Bai Zhi returned.

"Okay. Go and keep watch. If they come, stop them."

“If they come, I will say that the imperial envoy is here to pay respects to his friend and that he must not disturb them, and I will stop them.”

"That's settled then, go quickly."

Bai Zhi went to keep watch, while Kal'tsit brought wine and vinegar to the place where Gu Liangchen lay dead.

First, cover the ground with strong vinegar, then pour strong liquor on it, and the blood buried in the ground will become visible.

"..."

Kal'tsit withdrew her fingertip and flicked away the blood-stained soil.

"Angelica dahurica!"

"The subordinate is here!"

The tiger cub came running at the sound.

"My lord... what is this?"

Bai Zhi spotted the blood-stained land at a glance.

"Blood."

"Ah, then isn't that evidence?"

Bai Zhi's face lit up with joy, but Kal'tsit quickly dashed her hopes.

"Although it is evidence, no one witnessed it before it disappeared. We cannot retrieve it."

Or rather, even if it were extracted, it wouldn't be usable as evidence given the technological level here.

"Then we've wasted our time, haven't we?"

Bai Zhi was unwilling to accept this.

Buying wine and vinegar, sweeping and running around—precious time and money were wasted like this.

"uncertain."

Kal'tsit stood up, looked around, and said:

"At least it proves that Magistrate Gu was murdered first, and then his body was burned."

"……Ugh."

Looking at the pool of blood and dirt, Bai Zhi sighed.

What a fine young man, what a pity.

"But your verification technique is truly amazing."

With just a bottle of wine and a bottle of vinegar, the bloodstains of someone who has been dead for almost half a month can be brought back to life. This is much more useful than Originium Arts!

"Ok?"

An unusual response came from the wind. Bai Zhi straightened up and looked into the distance. In the blurry distance, someone was running towards them.

The return to the thirtieth is shrouded in mystery.

“Brother Gu, I never imagined that our parting in Shendu would become our final farewell.”

The lynx picked up the wine and poured it on the ground, letting out a sigh of lament.

"Lord Kai...why are you doing this?"

Clerk Walper leaned closer and whispered words of advice.

"Hmm? I've come to pay respects to my deceased friend. Do you dare say why I'm doing this?"

His emerald vertical pupils glanced at him sideways, and the terrifying, predatory aura emanating from him sent a chill down the spine of Clerk Volper. He quickly offered his explanation:

“I mean, the mourning hall is set up in the county government office… Look at this… this…”

He pointed to the pile of charcoal in front of him, his words conveying a sense of concern for you.

Kal'tsit stood up, holding the bowl that had been refilled with wine, and as she poured the wine onto the ground, she paced forward, saying:

"My old friend died here, and I want to call his spirit back home. If I don't come here, where else can I go?"

"Uh...but...you've placed the offering in the wrong place."

"Ok?"

Kal'tsit, holding the empty bowl, raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

"Didn't you say this was the one?"

"But the main room is inside."

Clerk Walper's expression grew increasingly humble, and a sense of grievance permeated his words.

"..."

This time, Kal'tsit glared at Bai Zhi, who was leaning closer.

"Uh... it seems you've misremembered, sir. It is indeed this one."

She was pointing to that spot inside.

Why didn't you say so sooner?

As if angered, the lynx threw the earthenware bowl in its hand to the ground, the shards striking the stone with a crisp sound.

"It's burned to this state, I can't even tell which room is the main room and which is the servant's room."

The little tiger is quite the actress; she speaks while putting on a pitiful expression, and with her pretty face, anyone who sees her would feel soft-hearted.

"Lord Kai."

Clerk Walper added:

"The Prefect has important matters to discuss with you. Your sedan chair is ready. Please come in."

"Very well. Let's go and see the prefect first."

After saying that, Kal'tsit put her hands behind her back and walked in the direction pointed out by Clerk Volper. Bai Zhi immediately regained her composure and followed.

"..."

After the two left, Clerk Walper dropped his obsequious demeanor, straightened his back, and turned his gaze to the spot where Gu Liangchen lay dead.

But what you see is still a mess.

Nothing was found?

He walked in step by step, his eyes carefully scanning his surroundings.

"Wine jars..."

Clerk Walper raised an eyebrow, squatted down, picked up a piece of charcoal, and sniffed it.

The strong smell of alcohol made my nose hurt.

"Huadiao wine... what a waste of this fine wine, it's been used to toast the dead... what a pity."

The fat man who came over also saw the empty wine jar and complained regretfully.

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[Prefectural Government Office, Inner Hall]