Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chapter 310: Chapter 304: Rules

After his arrival was announced, Zhao Yuanhong was led into the study.

Shen Wenju, the Inspector General of the Criminal Investigation Department, was a man in his fifties. Even dressed in plain clothes, he could not conceal the commanding presence he had cultivated from years in a high position.

He was at his desk, reading through case files by lamplight. When he saw Zhao Yuanhong enter with an unusual expression, he knew something important must have happened and waved his hand to dismiss his attendants.

"Yuanhong, what’s the urgent matter?"

Shen Wenju asked, setting down the case file.

With a grave expression, Zhao Yuanhong concisely reported the news: Governor He Mingyun of Liyang had died suddenly, and Governor Yan Wenlu had gone missing.

"What? Are you certain?!"

Even for a man like Shen Wenju, who had weathered decades of storms in the sea of officialdom, this news was a tremendous shock. He shot to his feet, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

The teacup in his hand landed heavily on the table with a sharp CLACK, splashing tea everywhere.

"I would not dare to jest about such matters."

Zhao Yuanhong affirmed, "Lord Shen, Liyang is now leaderless, and the situation is perilous. I have a duty to protect my jurisdiction and must return to the Commandery City immediately to maintain order and prevent any further incidents. I came to take my leave and report this to you."

Shen Wenju paced back and forth in the study, his expression shifting rapidly.

’The case in Jiangkou County is important, of course. The deaths of a Seventh Grade Dean from the Criminal Court and an Eighth Grade County Magistrate, involving the Celestial Sword Sect and the Cao Family, are certainly a major headache. But at the end of the day, it’s still just a local matter, a conflict within the Jianghu.’

’But for the Governor of Liyang County—the head of the entire commandery—to die at his post, and for the other Governor to be missing...’

’This isn’t a headache. This is a major case that will shake all of Jiangzhou, and possibly even the Imperial Court!’

’Compared to a few Officials dying in Jiangkou or some Jianghu Sects fighting amongst themselves, this is a hundred times more serious.’

’If this isn’t handled properly, all of Jiangzhou could be thrown into turmoil.’

’The Celestial Sword Sect’s Black Market was destroyed?’

’That’s just a Jianghu feud. As long as it doesn’t threaten the local peace, the Government Office has no need to get involved.’

’The Cao Family’s daughter was murdered?’

’Her family can handle the investigation and demand justice on their own.’

’Right now, there is nothing more important than stabilizing the situation in Liyang Commandery City.’

After instantly weighing the pros and cons, Shen Wenju made his decision.

He looked at Zhao Yuanhong, his tone decisive. "Yuanhong, you are absolutely right. Return to Liyang at once and do whatever it takes to stabilize the situation. I will immediately send a formal report to the State Governor’s Office detailing this incident."

He paused in thought for a moment before adding, "This matter is far too serious. I won’t be able to rest easy staying here. Tell you what, I’ll return to Liyang with you. We can leave a few men behind to keep an eye on things here in Jiangkou."

"As you command. Thank you, Lord Shen!"

Zhao Yuanhong felt a sense of relief. With an Inspector General like Shen Wenju accompanying him to Liyang to oversee the aftermath, he felt far more confident.

...

「Several days later, in Liyang Commandery City.」

Inside and outside the Governor’s Mansion, sentries were posted everywhere, and a grim, tense atmosphere hung in the air.

Officials of all ranks hurried about with grave expressions, and no one dared to speak above a whisper.

A large, stately procession of carriages with a formidable honor guard rolled slowly through the city gates, heading straight for the Governor’s Mansion.

The Jiangzhou Governor, Zhou Bo’an, had arrived in Liyang today.

With one Governor dead and another missing, a shocking case of this magnitude was beyond the authority of a single commandery to handle.

Not only had Zhou Bo’an come in person with his elite guard, but a large contingent of important officials from related Government Offices—such as the Jiangzhou Inspectorate, the Jingwu Bureau, the Household Department, and the Criminal Department—had also accompanied him.

The procession of carriages and horses stretched for over a mile, its fluttering banners a testament to the authority of a high Governor.

Zhou Bo’an did not rest for long. As soon as he was settled, he immediately summoned a group of officials to the very study that He Mingyun had used in life.

Inside the study.

Zhou Bo’an sat in the host’s seat. Without any pleasantries, he cut straight to the chase. "Wenju, what have you found out about the case?"

Shen Wenju took a deep breath and reported in a solemn tone, "Your Excellency, the Governor, after a careful examination and analysis by myself and the forensic doctor, we have reached a preliminary conclusion. Governor He had no external injuries, nor were there any signs of poisoning. However, his sea of consciousness showed signs of collapse, and the source of his Divine Soul has completely dissipated. He was killed when someone used an overwhelmingly strong Power of the Divine Soul to instantly shatter his Divine Thought."

He paused, his tone growing even heavier. "The perpetrator’s Cultivation is unfathomably deep. We deduce that they must be an expert at or above the level of a Divine Intent Grandmaster. The servants and guards on duty in the Governor’s Mansion that night died in the exact same way as Governor He—all killed with a single strike. The killer’s Cultivation Technique is so advanced that they erased all traces of their aura, making identification impossible for now."

Zhou Bo’an listened quietly. His expression was inscrutable, but his eyes grew increasingly sharp.

’A Divine Intent Grandmaster...’

’Figures of that caliber are few and far between in all of Jiangzhou, and every one of them is a prominent name. Why would any of them sneak into the Governor’s Mansion to assassinate a Governor?’

’It seems unlikely!’

’Could it have been a powerful expert who was just passing through?’

’But that’s even more unlikely!’

Zhou Bo’an considered this for a moment, then asked, "And what of Yan Wenlu?"

"Governor Yan’s whereabouts are still unknown."

Shen Wenju’s expression was troubled. "On the night of the incident, Governor He ordered him to leave the city to handle an urgent matter. After Governor Yan and his party departed, they vanished without a trace. I have already dispatched men to search multiple routes they might have taken, but so far, we have found no sign of Lord Yan or his entourage, nor have we found any bodies."

He looked up at Zhou Bo’an and offered his theory, "Considering Governor He’s assassination, I speculate that Lord Yan most likely met with foul play somewhere in the wilderness outside the city. He was probably killed and the evidence destroyed, which is why we have yet to find him."

Zhou Bo’an nodded slightly, unsurprised by this conclusion.

He fell silent for a moment before asking the most critical question. "Do you have any idea which faction, or which person, might be responsible for this?"

An extremely complicated look appeared on Shen Wenju’s face. He glanced quickly at the other officials in the room, looking as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!