Chapter 272 - 125: With a Cheat, Who Needs Deduction to Solve a Case?

Chapter 272: Chapter 125: With a Cheat, Who Needs Deduction to Solve a Case?

Zhao Ci curled his lip and spouted nonsense. "My Father Emperor is a master strategist. How could you possibly understand his thinking?"

"Son of a bitch!"

Cursing, Feng Kucha got to his feet and flipped Zhao Ci off.

Zhao Ci asked with a smile, "Where are you off to?"

Feng Kucha spat. "To take some responsibility!"

[Feng Kucha’s Current Wish]: To at least shoulder a responsibility equal to all the luxuries I’ve enjoyed and atone! Wish Completion Reward: Insight +1000, Heaven-Bearing Talisman x1.

Zhao Ci was speechless. "..."

Whoa!

’He’s transcended!’

’What is this light?’

’So blinding!’

Zhao Ci truly hadn’t expected Feng Kucha to have such an epiphany.

’But on second thought, it made sense. He had witnessed his mother being killed by a Mountain Demon as a child, yet he was spending money the Feng Family had earned by raising demons to bolster their influence. It was impossible for him not to feel some psychological burden.’

’Still...’

Zhao Ci asked, "So how exactly do you plan on taking responsibility?"

Feng Kucha walked to the corner and kicked the Crocodile Lady in the rear. "Pippi Crocodile, let’s go!"

Zhao Ci was speechless. "..."

...

「The next morning.」

Feng Kucha was fast asleep in the cabin, snoring away, while the Crocodile Lady lay sprawled on the floor, panting heavily.

She had spent the entire night swimming in the river, following the demonic aura and searching the whole waterway. All she could confirm was that a Water Demon was indeed causing trouble here—a Carp Spirit at or above the Physical Body Realm. Its malevolent aura was dense, which meant it had likely eaten many people.

But no matter what she did, she couldn’t find any trace of the Carp Spirit.

It was a clear case of cultivation suppression.

Zhao Ci gave Feng Kucha a kick. "I thought you were going to take responsibility? How can you be sleeping so soundly?"

"I... I..."

Feng Kucha was clearly not fully awake, slurring his words. "Dammit, I don’t have any skills besides healing! This is the best I can do!"

Zhao Ci was speechless. "..."

’To be fair...’

’He’s not wrong.’

’At least he did his part this time.’

’Even if the way he went about it wasn’t exactly pretty...’

’But you couldn’t say he was slacking off.’

Zhao Ci rubbed his head, a headache coming on. "Do you think the Carp Spirit has already fled?"

"Probably not!"

Feng Kucha rubbed his face and sat up. "That Carp Spirit can suppress the Crocodile Lady’s cultivation, which means it’s at least equivalent to the Divine Treasure Second Layer. If it started roaming around, it would cause disturbances in the waters, making it easier to expose."

"The Hanling County Government Office is already after it, so they’re definitely monitoring the nearby waters closely."

"It’s actually safer for it to find a place and hide."

"To find it, they’d have to send out a master at the Divine Treasure Third Layer who’s also skilled in the water."

"Otherwise, why do you think it’s always Water Demons that can cause trouble for so long?"

"I see!"

Zhao Ci nodded slightly, unable to resist praising him. "As expected of Brother Kucha, who’s had such... deep and meaningful exchanges with countless Banshees. When it comes to understanding demons, you’re the real expert!"

A corner of Feng Kucha’s mouth lifted. "But of course!"

Zhao Ci asked, "So, what’s our next move?"

Feng Kucha was speechless. "..."

Zhao Ci couldn’t take it anymore. "Didn’t you say you were going to take responsibility?"

Feng Kucha spread his hands. "What can I do if I’m not capable enough?"

Zhao Ci was speechless. "..."

’Can’t really argue with that.’

He rubbed his head. He felt that while he was reasonably intelligent, he really wasn’t cut out for solving cases.

’In my previous life, whenever I watched *Detective Conan*, I could never once guess who the killer was.’

’I’m starting to regret picking this case. I just saw the potential Insight reward and impulsively chose it.’

’I really should have picked one with a few clear suspects.’

’All I’d have to do is make a scene, and I’d be guaranteed to trigger some wishes.’

’The wrongly accused would definitely wish to clear their name.’

’The real culprit would surely wish, ’Don’t let me be discovered!’’

’Even without evidence, it’s always easier to work backward and fabricate the process when you already know the answer.’

’Damn it!’

’Greed really screwed me over.’

Feng Kucha looked conflicted. "I’ll give it a try in a bit. See if my name carries any weight. It’d be best if it works. If not... well, it’ll just be a little embarrassing at worst."

Zhao Ci was speechless. "..."

Just then, Chen Hui’s voice came from outside the cabin. "Your Highness, the Prefect and the people from the Cao Bang have arrived!"

"Mm!"

Hearing this, Zhao Ci quickly got up and left the cabin.

Sure enough, a large ship bearing the mark of the Cao Bang was slowly approaching.

As it drew closer, two Physical Body Realm masters threw out iron anchors, flinging them toward the cliff face.

After a teeth-grating CRUNCH of shattering rock, the anchors were firmly embedded in the cliff, and the large ship came to a steady halt in the river.

Then, a ladder flew over and landed securely on the ship Zhao Ci was on.

At the bow, an old man in the official robes of a Prefect stepped onto the ladder and quickly walked to the front of Zhao Ci’s ship. He gave Zhao Ci a formal bow. "Your Highness, I apologize for the wait. This humble official pays his respects."

[Xue Zhili’s Current Wish]: I don’t know how capable the Tenth Prince is, but he seems dedicated. I hope he can solve this case! Wish Completion Reward: Insight +100, Don’t Know How Talented Talisman x1.

His gaze was earnest, but his face was haggard.

He had clearly worried a great deal about this matter.

Zhao Ci smiled and helped him up. "Lord Xue, please, don’t. My official position is merely that of a Chief Constable. There’s no need for such ceremony!"

Behind him, a burly man with the Cao Bang’s insignia tattooed on his chest also stepped forward and bowed. "I am Liu Yang, a commoner and the Cao Bang’s foreman in Hanling. I pay my respects to Your Highness."

[Liu Yang’s Current Wish]: To make Zhao Ci and the little young master back off once they see how hard this is, so the two of them, who don’t know their own limits, stop messing with the Cao Bang. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +100, Retreat, Retreat, Retreat Talisman x1.

’Oh?’

’He’s pretty aggressive, isn’t he?’

Zhao Ci watched him with a thin smile. "I hear you’ve put in a great deal of effort helping Lord Xue search for the Water Demon."

His words carried a hidden meaning.

But Liu Yang seemed completely unaware of anything amiss, laughing heartily. "We may make our living on the water, but we all do so under the Court’s protection. When the Court has a need, how could we not help?"

"It’s just that we have limited strength and haven’t been of much help to the Court."