Chapter 187 - 7: Fengman Building, White Bone Banner

Chapter 187: Chapter 7: Fengman Building, White Bone Banner

"I searched the entire Drunken Spring Building, inside and out—the girls, the pimps, the staff, everyone. I used the Demon Slayer Department’s Magical Artifacts to scan them all, and I found jack shit!"

"There was nothing unusual at all. It was as clean as a freshly swept room."

"How is that possible?" Chen Ye frowned.

’If it was really the work of Demon Ghosts, it’s impossible that they wouldn’t leave a single trace.’

Cong Bo slapped his thigh, his voice filled with frustration.

"Tell me about it! And what’s even fucking weirder is that there’s been no movement from the City God Temple!"

"Logically, with a high-level evil spirit like this harming people in the city, the City God should have sent a warning long ago. But the old man’s been silent, as if he’s fast asleep."

Chen Ye’s heart sank as he listened.

The City God was the official deity of a region’s Underworld, responsible for monitoring the Demon Ghosts in the city and protecting the local land and its people.

’For even the City God Temple to show no reaction... this whole affair is truly bizarre.’

"I’ve tried every method I could think of, overt investigations and covert inquiries, but I’m still getting nowhere."

Cong Bo’s voice was filled with helplessness.

"But the death toll over there keeps rising. Another one died this morning."

At this, Cong Bo’s expression turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

"The one who died was the only son of Chief Clerk Qian from the County Yamen. Now, all the pressure is on me."

Chen Ye was starting to understand.

’This case is a hot potato. There are no leads, and the pressure is immense. No wonder Cong Bo is so agitated.’

"That’s why I thought of asking you to step in." Cong Bo looked at Chen Ye, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

"You’re a meticulous and ruthless kid. If I send you to investigate covertly, you might just find something unexpected."

In truth, Cong Bo wasn’t telling the whole story. He hadn’t initially thought of asking Chen Ye. It was only after news from Black Wind Stronghold came back that he had the idea. He realized Chen Ye was a talented individual, while he himself had hit a dead end. If he couldn’t crack this case soon, he’d have to pack his bags and leave sooner or later.

So he decided to take a gamble. If it paid off, great.

If it didn’t, it wouldn’t make things much worse.

He was in a desperate situation anyway. This was his last resort.

After speaking, Cong Bo stared intently at Chen Ye, waiting for his answer.

Chen Ye said nothing, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop as his mind raced, weighing the pros and cons.

’The case certainly sounds strange, but if it’s just an investigation, there doesn’t seem to be any direct danger.’

’The crucial thing is that this Cong Bo seems like a decent person. He even took the initiative to bail me out this time. Building a good relationship with him would be beneficial for my future.’

Chen Ye pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Lord Cong, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Since you’ve already determined that all these deaths are connected to the Drunken Spring Building, why not just shut it down for now?"

Chen Ye felt this was the most direct and effective solution.

No matter what was causing the trouble, cutting off its hunting ground would, at the very least, temporarily stop more murders from happening, even if they couldn’t root it out.

To his surprise, a bitter smile appeared on Cong Bo’s face when he heard this.

He picked up his teacup, downed it in one gulp, and then let out a long sigh.

"Brother, you think I haven’t thought of that? But it’s not that simple."

"To be frank with you, the owner behind this Drunken Spring Building is none other than our own Yu Huo County’s County Magistrate, Lord Huang."

"The County Magistrate?"

Chen Ye’s frown deepened.

"That’s right."

Cong Bo nodded, his face full of resignation.

"The Demon Slayer Department, in name, isn’t under the jurisdiction of the County Yamen. We answer directly to our superiors."

"But you know how things are these days. The Court is short on funds everywhere, and the budget allocated to us from above is cut year after year."

"As a result, nearly half of our Demon Slayer Department’s expenses have to be covered by allocations from the County Yamen."

At this point, a self-mocking tone entered Cong Bo’s voice. "You can’t bite the hand that feeds you. Right now, my men and I depend on the County Yamen to eat. How do you expect me to shut down the County Magistrate’s business?"

After hearing this, Chen Ye fell completely silent.

He finally understood. This wasn’t a simple Demon Ghost case; it was entangled in the complex relationships and conflicting interests of officialdom.

The Demon Slayer Department seemed all-powerful, but in reality, it had its own difficulties.

That was why Cong Bo was now caught between a rock and a hard place, as if being roasted over a fire.

Chen Ye was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to see the body first."

He wasn’t an impulsive person and wouldn’t make a decision rashly without understanding the full situation.

"Good, I’ll take you there right now!"

Hearing this, Cong Bo’s spirits lifted. He immediately stood up and led Chen Ye out of the Fengman Building, heading straight for Chief Clerk Qian’s residence.

A Chief Clerk was a person of some standing in the County Yamen. While the residence wasn’t large, it was still impressive.

But at this moment, the entire residence was shrouded in a gloomy fog of sorrow. A white funeral banner hung by the entrance, and the faint sound of crying could be heard from within.

Cong Bo had clearly given them advance notice, as the two were led unimpeded to the side room where the body was being kept.

A faint smell of medicinal herbs and a barely perceptible rank odor filled the room.

The son of Chief Clerk Qian lay stiffly on a wooden plank, his body covered by a white cloth.

A man in his fifties, wearing an Official Uniform and a grief-stricken expression, stood to the side. It was Chief Clerk Qian.

"Lord Cong."

Seeing Cong Bo, Chief Clerk Qian cupped his hands in a salute, his voice hoarse.

Cong Bo nodded. "My condolences, Lord Qian. I’d like to examine the body again."

"Sigh... Go ahead, look." Chief Clerk Qian sighed, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, his face etched with sorrow.

Cong Bo walked over to the body and gently lifted the white cloth.

Chen Ye’s gaze fell upon it. The deceased Young Master Qian had a pallid, bluish complexion, sunken eyes, and a slightly open mouth. A strange expression lingered on his face, as if from a moment of extreme ecstasy.

But what was most striking was the area below his waist.

Even though it had been cleaned, that area was still abnormally swollen and emitted a foul, un-washable odor mixed with bodily fluids.

Chen Ye crouched down to observe it carefully.

He even activated his Bloody Vision, but as far as he could see, there was no residual Energy, only the normal signs of dissipating Life Force.

No Yin Qi, no Demon Qi, nothing.

It was as if this person had truly fucked himself to death.