Chapter 366: Director Xu, They Are Professionals

Xu Wenjun fell silent, and the expressions of everyone present turned somewhat strange.

A flicker of barely perceptible panic passed through the depths of Wangzhi's eyes.

That man had seen the Blood Hand Scholar leaving that night?

"The Blood Hand Scholar is the one who purchased the Fire Oil?"

Zhao Qing was slightly startled, finally understanding why Yang Ling wanted to combine the two cases into one investigation!

"Where's the evidence?"

Xu Wenjun said coolly.

Yang Ling smiled, "This subordinate is the witness, and this subordinate is willing to bear responsibility for every word spoken."

"You can't serve as a witness. You're the investigator. If you can't produce any evidence, take your people and go back."

Xu Wenjun waved his hand without the slightest courtesy.

Just then, the group of constables who had been leading large dogs around searching for traces returned one after another, their faces grave. They had found nothing.

"Ding Wei, are you certain you applied the Tracking Powder back then?"

Zhao Qing said in a deep voice.

Ding Wei subconsciously nodded.

"I did. I sprinkled it personally. There's absolutely no mistake."

Yet the Fire Oil barrels hadn't been found, which meant the other party had completely cleaned up the Fire Oil and moved it elsewhere!

At this rate, their visit to Wangzhi Medicinal Shop today was nothing short of making a fool of themselves.

"Using the hounds' sense of smell to track down Fire Oil coated with Tracking Powder..."

Xu Wenjun said with a faint smile. "Since you haven't found what you're looking for here, it shows Director Yang's speculation is completely off the mark."

Shi Xin cautiously glanced at Yang Ling, and seeing that he remained completely composed, a trace of doubt rose in his heart.

"Can't find the Fire Oil you're looking for?"

Wangzhi smiled. "Honored officials, you truly misunderstand. Our Wangzhi Medicinal Shop is in the medicinal herbs business.

We would never have any connection with some Blood Hand Scholar, nor would we ever purchase Fire Oil."

Yang Ling said gravely, "These hounds' noses are certainly sharp, but my nose is ten times sharper than theirs.

What they can't find, I can."

Shi Xin and Yun Ruo's bodies jolted!

How could they have forgotten about this!

Back in Changhe Prefectural Capital, they had witnessed Yang Ling's incredibly keen sense of smell!

"Director Xu, the evidence you want is right in the back courtyard. This subordinate will dig it out for you personally."

Yang Ling continued.

Wangzhi's smile stiffened slightly.

"Stop this nonsense."

Xu Wenjun waved his hand.

"Take your people back to the Ironclad Department and focus on handling the Kong Xinghu case."

"Your reasons and evidence for combining the cases are insufficient. It cannot stand."

Wangzhi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, his demeanor once again becoming calm and composed.

His son-in-law was the Director of the Third Division, Command Division at the Capital Ironclad Department. Couldn't he command these Ironclad agents?

"Director Yun, take this down."

Yang Ling turned his head and said.

Yun Ruo immediately produced paper and brush.

Yang Ling: "Today we discovered key information in the Kong Xinghu case, but encountered obstruction at Wangzhi Medicinal Shop.

Director Xu Wenjun of the Third Division, Command Division at the Capital Ironclad Department, ordered us to suspend our investigation of this case..."

Yun Ruo wrote quickly and neatly. By the time Yang Ling finished speaking, she had already finished writing.

Hong Ruohai and the others exchanged glances, looking at Yang Ling in disbelief.

Does this bastard want to die? What the hell is he doing?!

Xu Wenjun's face was expressionless as he silently watched Yang Ling.

"Director Xu, this is our work log. The rules demand it, so please don't take offense."

"Everything that happens here today, I will record word for word."

"It will then be submitted by the Inspection Department to the Department Head, and finally reviewed by His Majesty."

"Of course, even if this record goes missing or disappears, this subordinate will report every detail in person when I go to the Capital to answer for myself."

Yang Ling clasped his fists, then waved at his subordinates.

"Fall back!"

Zhao Qing was dumbfounded, muttering inwardly that you could actually do it this way.

"Director Yang, if you fail to find the so-called evidence in the back courtyard, then what?"

Xu Wenjun said unhurriedly.

Yang Ling stopped in his tracks and looked at Xu Wenjun.

"Director Xu, evidence won't run away. If this subordinate says it's in the back courtyard, then it's in the back courtyard."

He paused, "And even if we don't find evidence, this subordinate hasn't committed any crime, has he? Surely Director Xu wouldn't want to make a bet with this subordinate?"

Xu Wenjun said nothing more. Betting publicly with a subordinate? He couldn't do something like that.

If he actually did, word would spread across the Capital by the next day, and he'd become a laughingstock.

...

At the back courtyard of Wangzhi Medicinal Shop, Yang Ling had already ordered Zhao Qing and the others to seal the area.

Everyone could only stand outside the cordon.

Even Xu Wenjun was personally stopped by Yang Ling.

Wangzhi kept glancing at Xu Wenjun, and seeing him unmoved, a hint of anxiety crept into his murky eyes.

"Director Yang, what do you mean by cordoning off this area?"

Xu Wenjun suddenly asked.

Yang Ling stomped his foot. "Director Xu, the Fire Oil is hidden right beneath here."

Shi Xin and Yun Ruo exchanged looks.

Zhao Qing's expression was somewhat odd as he lowered his head to examine the ground.

The bluestone bricks on the ground looked perfectly normal, with no movable sections.

Moreover, the hounds present hadn't picked up any scent of Tracking Powder, otherwise they would have been barking by now.

"So what do you plan to do? Dig three feet into the ground here?"

Xu Wenjun said with a mocking smile. "Aside from the pickaxe on your person, everyone else only carries an Official Saber.

Are you going to dig with your sabers?"

The moment those words landed, another group of people clad in Ironclad uniforms walked in.

But every single one of them carried a Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold Pickaxe in hand.

The ones arriving were Qin Mo and his men, who had been mining at the Blazing Gold Mine.

They were originally constables of the Ironclad Department anyway.

Zhao Qing recognized at a glance that these fellows were Yang Ling's trusted subordinates.

Seeing them armed with pickaxes and arriving at this precise moment, a sense of calm suddenly settled in his heart.

This had to be a premeditated plan! It was absolutely not an impulsive move!

"Start digging from here. Three zhang deep will be enough."

"Yes!"

Qin Mo and the others didn't hesitate, striking straight into the ground!

Their experience during this period had long since made them qualified miners.

And what are miners best at? Chiseling through rock, of course!

How to chisel with maximum efficiency and speed had long become their daily lesson.

"Director Xu, they are professionals."

Yang Ling clasped his fists toward Xu Wenjun.

"We merely wait for the results."

Xu Wenjun's expression remained indifferent. He didn't reply.

But Hong Ruohai and the other Ironclad agents could discern a clue from Yang Ling's arrangements.

It seemed the man had long determined the Fire Oil's hiding spot.

Wangzhi tried to speak several times, but was pressed back by Xu Wenjun's gaze each time.

Time ticked by, minute after minute.

Qin Mo and his men continued digging steadily and methodically.

Around an hour or so later.

The earth below suddenly collapsed, and the group, having been prepared, leaped up one after another.

Zhao Qing and the others were the first to peer down, and their faces instantly turned extremely grave.

Row upon row of Fire Oil barrels lay arranged in perfect order below.

A rough estimate put it at seven to eight hundred barrels at least, even more than the Ironclad Department's regular stockpile!

For some unknown reason, Zhao Qing suddenly felt relieved. If this was the case, then the Fire Oil used to burn those vagrants to death really might not have been the batch he had sold.

Hong Ruohai and the others also witnessed the sight, and for a moment, they were speechless. Wangzhi was their superior's father-in-law, and speaking up now would be asking for death.

Wangzhi and his son's faces turned ashen in an instant.

Wang Xingsu stood frozen like a wooden chicken, his eyes filled with utter shock.

"Three zhang deep, no wonder the hounds couldn't smell it."

Zhao Qing muttered, breaking the delicate atmosphere. He looked at Wangzhi.

"Big Shopkeeper Wangzhi, why would your Wangzhi Medicinal Shop stockpile this much Fire Oil... are you planning a rebellion?"