Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 105 Interrogation
In the afternoon.

Chen Li was practicing his sword in the courtyard when suddenly there was a rapid knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Chen Li got up to open the door.

"It's me, Fellow Daoist Chen, open the door quickly." It was Zhang Yan's voice.

As soon as Chen Li opened the door, Zhang Yan, covered in sweat, squeezed in.

"Oh no, oh no!" he exclaimed in a panic.

Chen Li closed the door: "Trouble? What trouble? Tell me slowly!"

“I just heard news at the market… Someone from Green River Workshop killed an important figure in the Zhou family. It is said that the Zhou family patriarch is furious and wants to investigate those of us from Green River Workshop.”

Chen Li's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he feigned anger on his face: "What did you say? Who did such a big thing that has implicated us all?"

"Sigh, that's exactly what I was saying." Zhang Yan sighed, "The Zhou family, who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, are not so easy to mess with. Now there are people guarding the city gates, and everyone who comes in and out is checked and identified. Anyone who doesn't have a local accent is now prohibited from leaving. I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm afraid they'll take their anger out on us!"

……

Zhang Yan chatted for a few minutes, then left looking worried.

Chen Li lost all interest in practicing his swordplay and paced back and forth in the courtyard, his brow furrowed.

He realized he had overlooked two issues.

First, it's the accent!

The entire Changsheng Domain is too desolate, with almost no one living for thousands of miles. Not to mention mortals, even cultivators have very little mobility.

Unless there is an organized migration, it is rare for independent monks to go and live in another market town.

Although the origins of the independent cultivators in Green River Village are diverse and their accents vary, those who migrated from the vicinity of Luanluo City are obviously few and their accents are distinctly different from those of the locals.

Especially in a close-knit community like this, the sudden arrival of a group of outsiders is quite conspicuous. Zhao Lin and his companions' habitual accents betrayed their origins.

Second, this is a dog-eat-dog world ruled by the strong.

The lower classes are as lowly as grass, while the strong act with impunity. The Zhou family in Luanluo City is not only a Foundation Establishment family, but also a member of the ruling class. In particular, an important figure in the Zhou family has died. At this time, even the Longevity Sect can only turn a blind eye and let the investigation proceed.

After all, the Longevity Sect is no longer the Longevity Sect it once was.

Chen Li took a few steps and then stopped.

Instead of letting my imagination run wild here, I'd better go out and check things out.

He went inside, took off his robe, and put on an ordinary robe. He had several sets of such clothes in his storage bag, which was an old habit he had kept in Green River Workshop.

"Going out again?" Zhou Hong came in to straighten Chen Li's robes.

"Well, Zhang Yan told me that the Foundation Establishment Zhou family is going to investigate those of us from Green River Workshop. I'm going out to check it out," Chen Li said. This is something you can't even tell your spouse.

Firstly, it's futile and only adds to the worry.

Secondly, it is also easy to be exposed.

Chen Li repeated Zhang Yan's instructions, then said, "You'd better not go out these next few days. If anyone asks where I was last night, just say I've been home the whole time."

"Of course I know that. When they come to investigate, please don't act impulsively. Just bear with it and it will pass," Zhou Hong said worriedly.

"Yes, don't worry!" Chen Li said.

After a brief conversation, Chen Li left the house following Zhou Hong's instructions.

People everywhere on the street were talking about the Zhou family's affairs.

Luanluo City is too small; any slight disturbance will quickly become common knowledge.

Chen Li changed his appearance and walked towards the city gate.

Sure enough, there were five or six people standing at the city gate, holding several portraits, and inspecting and questioning passersby with fierce expressions.

"Where are you from?"

Do you recognize these three people?

Where were you last night?

Upon seeing the portrait, Chen Li felt much relieved.

The portrait is quite impressionistic.

Moreover, his image is quite different from that of Zhao Lin and others.

Some of them have a large birthmark on their face.

Some of them have full beards.

……

Don't even mention using this portrait to find someone.

Even if Zhao Lin were brought over for comparison, the resemblance would be at most three-tenths.

Indeed, disguise is almost an essential survival skill for independent cultivators in Green River Village.

In the marketplace of independent cultivators, especially when trading high-value items like magical artifacts over a long period, who wouldn't want to be seen in disguise? Given Zhao Lin and his companions' cautious nature, they naturally wouldn't show their true faces, otherwise they would have been reduced to ashes long ago.

"Obviously, those who saw Zhao Lin and the others in their true forms have all been killed by me, while the eyewitnesses and some who escaped the net saw them in disguise!" Chen Li thought to himself.

Suddenly, a dispute broke out at the city gate.

"What are you doing? Why won't you let me leave the city?" a rogue cultivator with a Green River Fang accent asked, suppressing his anger.

"Snapped!"

One of the Zhou family cultivators stepped forward and slapped him across the face:
"Leaving the city? Good. You, a resident of Green River Village, are thinking of leaving the city. I suspect you are one of the murderers. Take him away and interrogate him properly."

The rogue cultivator was dazed from the slap, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Before he could resist, he was quickly bound by a rope-like magical artifact. Unable to struggle, he had no choice but to surrender. After the magical artifact was taken from his body, he was quickly taken away.

Chen Li glanced at the group of people at the city gate.

Make these people a part of your memory.

Then he turned and left.

……

After returning home, he put the two storage bags along with his second-tier magic sword into the basement, then sealed the basement entrance with stone slabs and blocked it with cabinets.

Then he continued practicing swordsmanship and magic as usual.

The day passed peacefully.

The next day at noon, just after lunch, a commotion arose outside.

Hearing the noise, Chen Li opened the courtyard gate and stood at the entrance, where he saw a group of people walking towards him.

"This family is from Green River Workshop," one of them said, pointing to Zhang Yan's house and addressing the Zhou family cultivator. "Bang bang bang, open the door! Open the door now!"

Zhang Yan opened the door in a panic, repeatedly bowing and saying, "Fellow Daoists, this matter has nothing to do with us."

"Who said we're fellow Daoists? Don't try to get close to me. Hey, whether we're related or not isn't up to you to decide."

Before Zhang Yan could reply, he was rudely pushed through the door, and a group of people filed in.

"Looks like you're in trouble." Bai Jinwang also came out to watch the commotion and said with a smile, "You people from Green River Village are really plagued by misfortune. I don't think there will be many more incidents like this in the future."

"What's it to you? Mind your own business," Chen Li said irritably.

"I was just being kind and concerned about you!"

Chen Li snorted and ignored Bai Jinwang.

Perhaps because he had no hope of finding a way out, or perhaps because they had become acquainted, the old man always spoke with a strange, sarcastic tone.

A series of clanging and banging sounds came from Zhang Yan's house, as if they were searching for something.
A full quarter of an hour later.

A group of people walked out of Zhang Yan's house.

He walked towards Chen Li.

"This one too." The rogue cultivator living nearby pointed at Chen Lidao, a little embarrassed on his face.

Chen Li hurriedly greeted them with a smile, skillfully handing a golden talisman to the leading Zhou family cultivator: "Those people truly deserve to die, they are not worthy of our pity. They have implicated innocent people like us. We are all honest and hardworking people who came to Luanluo City only to beg for our lives. Please understand!"

The leading Zhou family cultivator glanced down, a hint of satisfaction flashing across his cold face, before quickly retracting his sleeve: "Stop talking nonsense. We'll only know if we interrogate you. Go inside and behave yourself!"

That's what they said, but their attitude has improved considerably.

Chen Li readily agreed, and with a smile on his face, invited the person into his home. Zhou Hong quickly came over and stayed by Chen Li's side with a worried expression.

Some people ransacked the place.

Another group interrogated Chen Li and Zhou Hong separately.

Do you know these people?

Where were you the night before?

"What did you do?"

"Behave yourself! Do you have any suspicious targets?"

……

Several Zhou family cultivators took turns interrogating him, their tone stern, constantly threatening and intimidating him.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong.

Even Zhou Hong, who had some suspicions about Chen Li's outing the night before, remained calm and covered for her husband.

After the interrogation yielded no results.

Soon, the Zhou family cultivators quickly left.

After all, there are quite a few independent cultivators in the Green River Pavilion of Luanluo City.

Chen Li and Zhou Hong both breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the messy house.

This hurdle is finally over for now.

"You pack first, I'll go check on Zhang Yan."

Chen Li went outside and knocked on Zhang Yan's door: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, are you alright?"

"I'm fine! It's really inconvenient right now, so I won't invite you in. Let's talk tomorrow or the day after." Zhang Yan's muffled voice came from inside.

They must have suffered a lot, but I don't know how serious the injury is.

"Shuniang, what's wrong with your father?" Chen Li asked.

"Uncle, those people are so mean. My dad was slapped several times, and his face is all swollen. Waaah..." Zhang Shuniang said, her voice trembling with tears.

Chen Li didn't know what to say.

Don’t hit people in the face!

Sigh, it's all because of him that I've been dragged down.

"Shuniang, open the door quickly, I'm here to treat your father."

"Oh, it's just a minor injury, no need to trouble you, fellow Daoist. I'll be fine in a couple of days," Zhang Yan quickly replied.

……

night.

afterwards!

Chen Li looked at the roof beams, frowning and thinking hard: "No, the danger is not over yet. The Zhou family probably won't give up so easily. There are only two or three hundred people in Luanluo City, including the people living in Green River Village at the foot of the mountain. Moreover, because of their different accents and the fact that they are newcomers, these people are quite conspicuous. You can easily find out their identities with just a few questions."

A survey can be conducted in a short time.

Zhao Lin and his three companions happened to disappear the night before, making them prime suspects.

And once the investigation into Zhao Lin and his three companions begins...

I too will come to light; my relationship with Zhao Lin and the other three cannot escape the eyes of those who are interested!

Zhou Hong nestled in Chen Li's arms, noticing that Chen Li was preoccupied, his brows furrowed, and he hesitated several times before finally saying nothing. Even if he got the answer, what difference would it make? He must have his own unavoidable difficulties. Husband and wife are of one mind, why bother asking for clarification?

She sighed almost imperceptibly, then hugged Chen Li, offering silent comfort.

Chen Li sensed Zhou Hong's unusual behavior, came to his senses, and comforted her, "Don't worry, it's alright. At worst, we can leave here and go to another market."

The tunnel, which took more than a month to dig, was prepared for this kind of situation; people can leave whenever they want.

"As long as you're safe and sound, you can go anywhere!" Zhou Hong said softly.

Although Chen Li said he was leaving, his eyes grew colder and colder.

Hey, Foundation Establishment family.

He was indeed wary of Foundation Establishment families.

However, the fear was only directed at the Foundation Establishment cultivator. No matter how strong he was, he was still just one person. As for the other cultivators of the Zhou family, they were nothing but clay chickens and earthenware dogs.

The Zhou family is now keeping a close eye on the independent cultivators of Green River Workshop and investigating them relentlessly.

Let him shift his focus, muddy the waters, and make it impossible for him to investigate further!

With so many Foundation Establishment families and behemoths like the Longevity Sect in Luanluo City, and so many suspects, why is the Zhou family so fixated on the people of Green River Workshop?

(End of this chapter)