Chapter 486 - 245: Ninety-Nine

Chapter 486: Chapter 245: Ninety-Nine

While Zheng Xiu and Yin Qingqing, a fine pair, were happily galloping away on horseback, off on a carefree jaunt to the Five Passes Temple...

In truth, Xi’er was secretly thrilled at the prospect of being alone with that young colt, Zheng Xiu. After all, he was incredibly handsome—who could possibly dislike that? The only problem was their destination: the Five Passes Temple, the very same one that had gotten Mo Kuang pregnant. The thought made Xi’er shudder with a lingering fear.

Best to just get on with the investigation.

The handover with the Government Office went exceptionally smoothly. When Xi’er presented her credentials from the Disaster Prevention Bureau to the Lu Town County Magistrate, he was practically moved to tears. After confirming her identity, he transferred the case to the Bureau without a second thought.

The sheer speed of it all made Xi’er marvel at the local County Magistrate’s swift, decisive, and bold efficiency.

After getting the list, Xi’er contacted Situ Yong, planning to visit the widows with him. When the Eternal World Painting connected, she was surprised to find Situ Yong examining the corpse of a recently deceased man.

When she asked, she learned that Situ Yong had used the spare hour to go to the morgue and perform an autopsy for the investigation.

"You know how to do a forensic doctor’s job, too?"

Xi’er was taken aback. What she didn’t understand was how Situ Yong could dabble in this and that without messing things up. ’Won’t dabbling around like this corrupt his Physician Path?’

"I know a thing or two. Ah, the burden of medical compassion."

Situ Yong was finished with his work.

The two met up in front of the inn.

"Hm? It’s pretty lively at the end of the street. What’s going on?"

Situ Yong and Xi’er were holding the list, preparing to visit the widows.

The street was bustling, and a crowd was gathered three deep around one particular spot.

They grabbed a local to ask and learned that an "Odd Person" from out of town was performing tricks.

"Damn it, since when can people just openly call someone an ’Odd Person’?"

Xi’er and Situ Yong exchanged a look. They didn’t need to guess who it was.

Sure enough, before they even pushed their way into the crowd, they heard a familiar, cheerful laugh.

Jun Buxiao had set up a small stage on the street. He was wearing a mask and performing tricks.

He would breathe fire that blossomed into a flower, then crush the flower in his palm and blow, transforming it into a flurry of snowflakes. The marvelous performance drew cheers from the crowd, and more and more people from Lu Town came, drawn by the spectacle.

Xi’er finally understood. The guy was using Miracle Techniques under the guise of performing "tricks."

"So this is another way to walk the Actor Path," Situ Yong mused.

The task Zheng Xiu had given Jun Buxiao before leaving was to gather information around town.

And Jun Buxiao certainly had his own methods.

It had to be said, Jun Buxiao’s performance was genuinely spectacular. Xi’er and Situ Yong watched for a good while, unable to resist applauding and cheering. Soon, it was time for the finale, "Shadow Puppetry." This was nothing new to Xi’er and Situ Yong, so they squeezed their way out of the crowd and left the stage area.

However, when the temporary duo of Xi’er and Situ Yong tried to pay a charitable visit to the widows, they hit an unexpected snag. The moment Xi’er announced they were from the Disaster Prevention Bureau to investigate the case, the widow’s face darkened. SLAM! The door was shut tight, leaving the two of them staring at the frame.

After this happened several more times, Xi’er realized something was wrong and was completely baffled.

’Logically, this shouldn’t be happening. I’m as beautiful as a flower and loved by all, not to mention the special Affinity I’ve cultivated from years of undercover work.’

Situ Yong hadn’t revealed his title as "The World’s Greatest Physician, the Living Dead." He had returned to Lu Town to perform a C-section... no, to investigate a case. Announcing his famous name would be too high-profile. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

"I believe our method of approach is somewhat... improper."

Stroking his beard in thought, Situ Yong felt his inner pocket—inside was a thick stack of silver notes, redeemable at any branch of Zheng’s Bank in the world.

"What’s improper about it?" Xi’er’s eyes widened.

Situ Yong pulled out a stack of silver notes and chuckled. "Do you remember the silver the Young Master casually stuffed into our hands before we left?"

At his words, Xi’er felt her own pocket. She had money, too. ’When you go out on business with the Zheng Family, you’re never short on cash.’ But what did that have to do with anything?

Situ Yong stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "What do you think the Young Master gave us this silver for?"

Xi’er had been quite sure of the answer—after all, this was just how Zheng Xiu operated—but Situ Yong’s attitude made her second-guess herself. Tentatively, she ventured, "For us to... spend?"

"Correct! And incorrect!"

Situ Yong straightened his black robes, adjusting the hem to hide the five menacing Great Treasure Sabers at his waist. He then walked to the nearest address on the "widow list" and knocked politely.

The door was opened by a slightly plump woman of about thirty-six. She wore no makeup, her features plain and unadorned, yet she possessed the simple beauty of a young matron. Her plain dress couldn’t quite hide her gently swelling belly. She cautiously opened the door a crack and peeked outside. Seeing an old man and a young woman, she relaxed her guard slightly and asked with a furrowed brow, "And you two are...?"

"I am Situ Yong, of the Dawn Department of the Disaster Prevention Bureau, in service to the Red King. I’ve come to investigate the Zhong Clan murder case. I hope Mrs. Li of the Zhong Clan will oblige us. We’ll just ask a couple of questions and be on our way."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li of the Zhong Clan’s face turned deathly pale. She shook her head in panic, her voice tinged with hysteria. "His death has nothing to do with me! The officials have already asked so many times! WAAAH!"

As soon as she heard their purpose, tears streamed down the woman’s face as she tried to force the door shut.

"Not so fast!" Situ Yong’s hand moved like a bolt of lightning. He pulled something from his robe and stuffed it through the crack in the door.

It was a thick stack of silver notes.

Xi’er was dumbstruck.

A moment later, the young widow invited them inside.

"Elder Divine Doctor, when did you learn the Prince’s move?"