Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 219 The Problematic Commander (8-word chapter)
The next morning, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong set off for Tianzhou.

Tianzhou, the most important of the eight states in the Qian Kingdom, is undoubtedly the number one state in the Qian Kingdom in terms of its vast territory, political culture, and martial prowess. The only exception is the economy, where Cangzhou has gradually surpassed Tianzhou in recent years due to its unique location and environment.

However, in reality, Cangzhou's economy only expanded in recent years because the imperial court opened its port and allowed trade with other countries. In terms of true foundation, it is definitely not as good as Tianzhou.

Tianzhou has a total of fourteen prefectures, and Gu Mo and Gu Chudong came to Linhai Prefecture, one of the fourteen prefectures. This trip was not easy, involving several detours by water and land, and it took more than half a month to arrive.

It has to be said that traveling far from home in this era is really not easy. Most people never even leave their county town in their entire lives. The fact that Gu Mo and his sister can travel around like this is purely due to their high skill and daring. On this one half-month journey, they encountered five or six robbers. Ordinary people would have to take detours and it would take at least three months to reach their destination.

When they arrived at the city of Linhai County, it was already mid-June, the hottest time of the year. As the name suggests, Linhai County is located by the sea, a place with heavy humidity, so the weather becomes very stuffy when it gets hot.

The city streets were deserted, with only a few pedestrians around.

Inside the shops along the street, the shop assistants were all listless, slumped or half-leaning against the counter, even their shouts were weak and feeble, and the whole city was sweltering in the heat.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong inquired their way through the city and finally arrived at the county government office.

The reason I came to the prefectural government office was because the clue about the wanted criminal Madam Liu that the Imperial Advisor Zhang Daoyi had given me included a letter of introduction, which introduced me to Pei Yuanzhen, the prefect of Linhai Prefecture.

Upon arriving at the gate of the yamen, Gu Chudong presented his visiting card and was not harassed by the gatekeeper. After all, although these gatekeepers were the most fond of extorting money and favors, they were also the most observant.

Although Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were not dressed extravagantly, they had an extraordinary air about them. Moreover, due to their cultivation of the Mingyu Gong, both Gu Mo and Gu Chudong had very fair and delicate skin, which was clearly not something that could be achieved by ordinary people.

Soon,
Several people emerged from the government office, led by a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue official robe, with half a mutton-fat jade pendant engraved with thunder seal script hanging from his waist. This man had slightly graying temples, which were casually tied back with a thick hemp rope, with a few stray hairs sticking to his forehead. The demeanor he exuded was less like that of a high-ranking official and more like that of a Taoist priest.

Gu Mo only sensed the Taoist internal energy emanating from this person, and knew that this person was Pei Yuanzhen, the prefect of Linhai County.

Previously at Chunyang Temple, Song Danyang had told Gu Mo that Pei Yuan was indeed from the Pei family, a prominent family in Tianzhou. This Pei family was not a martial arts family like the Lin family, but a true imperial family, a real prestigious family that had long since transcended the level of the martial arts world.

However, the Pei family was affiliated with Longhu Mountain, or more precisely, with the Taoist sect. This was a very normal phenomenon; there were many factions in the imperial court, and the Taoist sect, led by Longhu Mountain, was one of the largest, with many followers.

Pei Yuanzhen first entered Longhu Mountain to cultivate Taoism for more than ten years before descending the mountain to study and take the imperial examination. He became an official at the age of forty, and then rose through the ranks smoothly. Now, at only fifty, he is already the prefect of a prefecture. The secrets behind this are not worth mentioning!
at this time,

Outside the prefectural government office, Pei Yuanzhen saw Gu Mo and his sister and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, leaned forward slightly, and said respectfully, "Great Hero Gu and Heroine Gu, it is an honor to have you here. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly!"

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong both bowed respectfully. Gu Mo said, "Prefect Pei, we siblings are sorry to trouble you so much with our visit."

"No, no, no," Pei Yuanzhen quickly waved his hand and said, "My master has already sent me a message, asking me to fully cooperate with you, Master Gu. However, there is something I need to tell you first."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Please speak."

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Hero Gu has come here specifically to capture the notorious thief Madam Liu. Putting aside the orders from your master, just for the sake of eliminating evil for the people, our Linhai County government should give it our full support. However, unfortunately, Hero Gu, you have arrived a little too late. Madam Liu was captured half a month ago."

Gu Mo was slightly taken aback and immediately checked the system page, but the system clearly showed that the wanted mission to capture Madam Liu had not expired.

According to the system's rules, if the wanted target is captured or killed, the mission will disappear and become invalid.

The fact that the mission is still going strong means that Madam Liu has not been brought to justice.

"Prefect Pei, could you please elaborate?"

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, I have just instructed someone to prepare a welcome banquet for you two. Why don't you come in and have some wine and we can chat at our leisure!"

"That's annoying."

"please!"

Soon, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong followed Pei Yuanzhen to the backyard of the government office, where a table of food and wine had been prepared. Although it was rather ordinary, it was still in accordance with the standards for a banquet hosted by a court official.

After everyone was seated, Pei Yuanzhen poured wine for Gu Mo and slowly said, "Madam Liu has been an evil person for many years and has been active in Linhai and Shanggu counties. For many years, our two counties have been doing their best to hunt her down, especially the Six Doors of Linhai County, because Madam Liu has committed the most crimes in Linhai County."

However, this man was skilled in disguise, martial arts, and poisons, and extremely cunning, so he had never been captured. Until half a month ago, our Six Doors of Linhai County received a tip, and Commander Wang Mingxiu, relying on his years of experience fighting Madam Liu, finally located his whereabouts, and he was ultimately captured by a combined effort of many experts from the Six Doors!

Gu Mo asked, "Then, is Madam Liu still alive?"

“She’s dead,” Pei Yuanzhen said. “That Madam Liu disguised herself as a widow and hid in a civilian house surrounded by many ordinary people. The Six Doors dared not relax their vigilance, fearing that she would take hostages, so they killed her on the spot. It was Qianhu Wang Mingxiu who personally killed her.”

"Has your identity been verified?" Gu Mo asked.

“Then they’ll definitely verify my identity,” Pei Yuanzhen said doubtfully. “Master Gu, do you perhaps have some suspicions?”

"That's not it," Gu Mo waved his hands repeatedly and said, "It's just that I've dealt with many evil masters who are skilled in disguise. These people are best at faking their death to escape, so I have this concern!"

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled and said, "I see. Master Gu travels the martial world, slaying demons and monsters. It is said that no wanted criminal can escape from your grasp. It seems that it is not only because of your unparalleled martial arts skills, but also because of your meticulousness!"

"It's just my friends in the martial arts world praising me and making me famous," Gu Mo said. "If I really had that much ability, I would have caught all the evil people in the world long ago and made a world peaceful and just."

"Great Hero Gu, your righteousness is truly admirable! I toast you!"

Pei Yuanzhen raised his glass and stood up to offer a toast, and Gu Mo also raised his glass and stood up to return the toast.

Gu Chudong, her mouth stuffed full, looked up, her lips bulging like a steamed bun, her face full of confusion. She had been so focused on eating that she had no idea why the two of them had started toasting each other.

Then, realizing that neither of them intended to pay attention to her, she continued eating by herself.

Gu Mo and Pei Yuanzhen started chatting away.

After a few rounds of drinks, Pei Yuanzhen said, "Master Gu, I know you hate evil and love to hunt down wanted criminals. Half a month ago, after Madam Liu was killed, I sent a message to you, but I learned that you had already set off and I couldn't contact you. So I kept thinking about how to make sure you didn't make a wasted trip. So I asked the Six Doors to inquire, and I actually found a clue about a wanted criminal, the assassin Ruan Hongqiao, known in the martial arts world as the 'Tail Needle'."

Gu Mo chuckled inwardly. Pei Yuanzhen was indeed a skilled official; he knew how to talk. Gu Mo could basically deduce that Ruan Hongqiao had recently committed a crime in Linhai County, and since Gu Mo had come, he wanted to ask Pei Yuanzhen for help. However, Pei Yuanzhen's words made it sound like he was a wanted criminal specifically looking for him.

However, Gu Mo was quite interested in this wanted criminal:

【New target detected】

[Wanted Target - Ruan Hongqiao]

[Mission Level—Three Stars]

[Quest Reward - Max Level White Rainbow Palm Power]

……

Gu Mo was very interested in the White Rainbow Palm Force. It was a unique skill of the Free and Unfettered Sect, a technique for controlling the direction of palm force. The force could bend or straighten at will, especially when it was launched in the form of a splitting palm. It seemed to be facing the enemy head-on, but in reality, the direction of the palm force was unpredictable, making it difficult for the opponent to detect.

The White Rainbow Palm technique is formless and intangible, its trajectory unpredictable. It is an extremely profound martial art that utilizes internal energy techniques to an exceptionally high level. Even at Gu Mo's current level, the techniques of the White Rainbow Palm technique are still of great help to him. Especially after he mastered the Four Illuminations Divine Skill, his control over true energy has become extremely precise. If he were to further master the techniques of the White Rainbow Palm technique, he could truly make this martial art incredibly versatile.

……

However, while I am interested,

However, Gu Mo had no interest in owing favors for nothing. After all, if he was the one who needed to help, then the other party should be indebted to him. It would be a fool to make him the one who owed the favor.

Gu Mo immediately said with difficulty, "I appreciate Prefect Pei's kindness. However, I'm afraid I don't have the time. Prefect Pei should know that I'm currently hunting down several wanted criminals, and Madam Liu is just one of them. I've asked many friends in the martial arts world to help me search for her. Now that Madam Liu has been captured, I have to rush to the next place immediately. I really don't have time to stay here any longer!"

Pei Yuanzhen quickly said, "It won't take too much time. This Ruan Hongqiao is an assassin. Our government has received confirmation that she is going to assassinate someone..."

At this point, Pei Yuanzhen noticed Gu Mo's ambiguous smile and immediately understood his meaning. He chuckled and said, "To be honest, Master Gu, I actually wanted to ask for your help on behalf of the Linhai County Government, but I was afraid you would refuse, so I asked to test your intentions. If you are willing to help, the Linhai County Government and I will remember your great kindness. In the future, if there is anything we can do to help you, please just let us know."

Gu Mo smiled slightly, not exposing Pei Yuanzhen's intention to gain a favor for free, and said, "Prefect Pei, please elaborate, and I'll see if I have time!"

Pei Yuanzhen poured Gu Mo a glass of wine and asked, "Hero Gu, have you ever heard of Master Dongjing of Bailu Academy?"

Gu Mo said, "I am not a member of the officialdom and am not familiar with Confucian scholars."

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Mr. Dongjing is the former dean of Bailu Academy and a great Confucian scholar of our time. He is highly respected in the official circles, and even His Majesty the current emperor has great respect for him."

"So, the person Ruan Hongqiao is trying to assassinate is this Mr. Dongjing?" Gu Mo asked.

Pei Yuanzhen nodded and said, "Mr. Dongjing is going to give a lecture at the prefectural academy in our Linhai County in three days."

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "Is he really just a pure scholar?"

"Really."

"Then why would anyone want to kill him?" Gu Mo asked.

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Because Mr. Dongjing advocates war."

"A war?" Gu Mo asked, puzzled.

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Master Gu has lived in the martial world for a long time and is not very familiar with national affairs. In the past two years, our Great Qian's relations with the Chu Kingdom have deteriorated sharply. In particular, after the Second Prince of Chu, who was a hostage in Chu, escaped and returned last year, the relations between the two countries deteriorated to an extreme point again."

The imperial court was divided into two factions: those advocating peace and those advocating war. Generally speaking, the peace faction was in the majority, while the war faction was in a weaker position. At this time, Mr. Dongjing used his influence in literary and official circles to lecture throughout the country, promoting the idea of ​​war, so…

"So, he threatened other people's interests and angered the peace faction, so they wanted to assassinate him," Gu Mo said.

“That’s right,” Pei Yuanzhen said. “Since the first half of last year, Mr. Dongjing has traveled to eight prefectures and has been assassinated five times. However, Mr. Dongjing is not afraid and continues to do as he pleases.”

Gu Mo was ignorant of national affairs. He didn't know whether, given the current state of the Qian Kingdom, it was better to advocate war or peace. As a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world), he certainly didn't understand national affairs as well as the officials in the court.

However, this didn't stop him from thinking that this Mr. Dongjing was a scholar of great integrity. It's a matter of stance; those unaware of the inside story can't judge right or wrong, but someone who isn't afraid of power or death is certainly worthy of praise.

"This Ruan Hongqiao is the assassin who attempted to assassinate Mr. Dongjing. She is a top assassin from the Seven Absolutes Tower, a world-class assassin organization. In her seven years in the business, she has successfully completed thirty-two assassinations without a single failure. Her strength should not be underestimated."

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "Where did you get this information? Is it reliable?"

Pei Yuanzhen said, "The imperial court cannot ignore an organization like the Seven Absolutes Tower. It's just that they haven't found its exact stronghold yet, so they haven't taken action to eliminate it. Once the imperial court does take action, it will surely be met with thunderous wrath and vanish into thin air."

Gu Mo understood that there must be government spies or something similar in the Seven Absolutes Pavilion, but the timing wasn't right. Perhaps the spies hadn't yet reached the core, or there could be other reasons. After all, most powerful organizations in the martial arts world have incredibly complex and intricate networks behind them.

“Master Gu, Mr. Dongjing is currently under tight protection by the Six Doors,” Pei Yuanzhen said. “In three days, Mr. Dongjing will be giving a lecture at the prefectural school. That day will be the best opportunity for Ruan Hongqiao to make her move. It’s almost certain that she will strike on that day. She only has that one chance, because after that day, our prefectural government will send troops to escort Mr. Dongjing to the capital for protection, and Ruan Hongqiao will have no chance at all.”

"I wonder if you, Master Gu, would have the time to lend a hand that day? Of course, regardless of success or failure, regardless of whether Ruan Hongqiao appears or not, as long as you are willing to help, Master Gu, I will remember your kindness. If needed, I can utilize official channels and contact all the Zhuifeng Towers in Linhai County to help you find and arrest other wanted criminals."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "That's possible, but my personal suggestion is that if Prefect Pei trusts me, it would be best if I could stay with Mr. Dongjing for the next few days."

Pei Yuanzhen asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

“Everyone thinks the lecture in three days will be a good opportunity for Ruan Hongqiao. Does she really dare to make a move on that day?” Gu Mo said, “Everyone knows that there will be layers of guards and a tight net waiting for her that day. It would probably be easier to find a way to assassinate her in the next few days than to make a move on that day.”

"this?"

Pei Yuanzhen thought about it and felt that Gu Mo's words made a lot of sense, so he cupped his hands and said, "What Master Gu said makes sense. Well, Mr. Dongjing is currently staying in an inn. Although the Six Doors are protecting him closely, the level of security is definitely not as good as the lecture three days later. After all, because there were many people that day, I notified the garrison to enter the city."

Gu Mo put down his wine glass and said, "I think it's better to act sooner rather than later. Ruan Hongqiao could make a move at any time."

"Okay, okay, I'll arrange it right away."

Pei Yuanzhen hadn't thought much of it at first, but now, after hearing Gu Mo's words, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Ruan Hongqiao's attack on Mr. Dongjing in the next few days was indeed, as Gu Mo said, relatively easier to succeed than the lecture in three days. Gu Chudong asked doubtfully, "Since you knew someone was going to assassinate him, why didn't you just arrange for Mr. Dongjing to work in the Six Doors? Wouldn't that be safer?"

Pei Yuanzhen shook his head and said, "Master Dongjing came to lecture, not specifically to receive protection. If he were afraid of death, he wouldn't be running around like this. Wherever he goes, he openly accepts requests from local scholars to discuss philosophy and debate with them whether to advocate war or peace."

Therefore, quite a few people come and go from where Mr. Dongjing lives every day.

Gu Chudong was speechless for a moment, then muttered, "I really don't understand what these people are thinking. They know there are assassins, but they don't hide!"

Pei Yuanzhen chuckled and said, "There's no way to hide. People who want to assassinate Mr. Dongjing aren't new. He can't keep hiding forever, can he? For him, this assassination attempt is just one of many he's faced in the past year. There's nothing special about it."

Gu Mo smiled and said, "That's normal. There will always be persistent people in this world who feel that what they are doing is very meaningful and valuable, even more important than life itself."

……

The inn where Mr. Dongjing stayed was called Qingfeng Inn, which was the most upscale inn in Linhai City. Unlike ordinary inns, Qingfeng Inn was a small manor, and those who could stay here were usually people who were not short of money.

However, since Mr. Dongjing was arranged to stay by the government, the Qingfeng Inn was naturally closed. Currently, the only guests inside were Mr. Dongjing, his disciples, and over a hundred Six Doors experts acting as guards.

The Six Doors attached great importance to Mr. Dongjing, and the second-in-command, Commander Wang Mingxiu, personally led a team to protect him.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong arrived at Qingfeng Inn under Pei Yuanzhen's guidance.

As soon as Gu Mo and his companions dismounted, several constables from the Six Doors came out of the inn. The leader was a middle-aged man of about forty years old. He was wearing a Six Doors official robe, embroidered with cloud patterns outlined in silver thread. The robe was simple yet exuded a sense of authority. The man had distinct facial features, dark and rough skin, and a steady gait. He was clearly a martial arts expert.

"Your humble servant Wang Mingxiu greets Prefect Pei!"

Wang Mingxiu stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Pei Yuanzhen, and asked, "Prefect Pei, is there anything you wish to do upon your sudden arrival?"

"Commander Wang, Master Dongjing is a great Confucian scholar of our time, and his safety is of utmost importance. It's not that I doubt the capabilities of your Six Doors, but Master Dongjing's safety is simply too crucial, and I'm truly worried. Therefore, I've gone to great lengths to bring you a helper." Pei Yuanzhen introduced Gu Mo to Wang Mingxiu, saying, "This is Gu Mo, the great hero of Yunzhou, the fifth-ranked of the Ten Grandmasters of Qian Kingdom, the number one swordsman in the world, and a man of unwavering righteousness and hatred for evil!" He then introduced Gu Chudong, saying, "This is Gu Chudong, the sister of the great hero Gu. These two are here to help protect Master Dongjing!"

Wang Mingxiu quickly cupped his hands and said, "So it's you, Master Gu and Lady Gu! My apologies for my disrespect!"

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Commander Wang, please make the arrangements. For the next few days, Hero Gu and Heroine Gu will stay at Qingfeng Inn!"

Wang Mingxiu hesitated for a moment, "Prefect Pei, the guards here have all been arranged properly. Adding more people at the last minute might be inconvenient..."

Pei Yuanzhen waved his hand and said, "Commander Wang, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, Master Gu is trustworthy. If Master Gu has any problems, I, Pei Yuanzhen, guarantee with my own head that Master Gu would never collude with assassins!"

Wang Mingxiu nodded and said, "Since Prefect Pei has said so, I will obey orders. I will make the arrangements and also inform Mr. Dongjing."

"it is good."

Pei Yuanzhen led Gu Mo and Gu Chudong into the inn's lobby to sit down and wait. Accompanying them were Pei Yuanzhen's advisor and the other guards, who waited outside.

Pei Yuanzhen poured Gu Mo a cup of tea and said, "Master Gu, this Commander Wang doesn't really doubt your character. He rose from the bottom of the Six Doors and has solved many wrongful cases over the years. He has seen too many unexpected people who were murderers, so he has developed a habit of not trusting anyone. It's not directed at you, so please don't take it to heart."

Gu Mo smiled slightly and said, "The Six Doors, well, it's like this. I have a friend named Zhuo Qingfeng, who is also a member of the Six Doors. I've spent a lot of time with him and know that people in the Six Doors are always suspicious of this and that. Only people like that can maintain order in this place. I admire people like Commander Wang very much."

Pei Yuanzhen said, "Commander Wang is indeed an admirable person. He is very serious and meticulous in his work. To be honest, he was still newly married, but as soon as he heard that the Six Doors had a mission, he immediately returned."

"Newlyweds?" Gu Chudong asked in surprise, "I think Commander Wang is quite old, how come he's only just getting married?"

"Take a concubine," Pei Yuanzhen said.

Gu Chudong suddenly realized what was happening and didn't say anything more.

In this era, it was quite normal for wealthy and powerful men to have multiple wives and concubines. Not to mention that Wang Mingxiu was still in his prime, it was common for men in their seventies or eighties to continue taking concubines.

After a while

Wang Mingxiu returned and bowed to Pei Yuanzhen, saying, "Prefect Pei, I have already explained the situation to Mr. Dongjing. Hero Gu and Heroine Gu can check into Qingfeng Inn at any time." He then bowed to Gu Mo and asked, "Do Hero Gu and Heroine Gu have any taboos or accommodation requirements?"

"No," Gu Mo said, cupping his hands in greeting. "Commander Wang can arrange whatever you like, as long as there's enough room."

“Alright,” Wang Mingxiu said, “If Master Gu has any needs at that time, he can just send someone to inform me.”

"Then thank you very much, Commander Wang." Gu Mo bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Wang Mingxiu replied, "It's my duty. I must express my gratitude to Master Gu for coming to help."

The two exchanged a few polite words back and forth.

Gu Mo could clearly sense that Wang Mingxiu was deliberately distancing himself from him. Although he was very polite in his words, there was a clear sense of distance and no enthusiasm whatsoever.

However, Gu Mo could understand that this was the normal attitude of most government officials towards people from the martial arts world: they would keep their distance with respect. In fact, if the people from the martial arts world were of a slightly lower level, the officials would only keep their distance and not show any respect.

“By the way, Commander Wang,” Pei Yuanzhen said, “Hero Gu would like to ask you about the details of your killing of the notorious bandit Madam Liu. Are you not busy right now? If you are, you can tell Hero Gu about it.”

Wang Mingxiu frowned and asked suspiciously, "Does Master Gu have any doubts about the case I'm handling?"

Gu Mo quickly said, "Commander Wang, please don't misunderstand. I trust the Six Doors to handle things. The reason I want to know is because I was entrusted to arrest Madam Liu. Although Madam Liu has been brought to justice, I still want to understand the details so I can go back and tell the person who commissioned me. As you know, Madam Liu is extremely vicious. Many people have been ruined by her, and she has many enemies."

Wang Mingxiu nodded slightly and said, "I also heard that Master Gu is investigating Madam Liu. I thought you had a grudge against him."

Gu Mo smiled and said, "No, I was just asked to do it, a ghostwriter, you know!"

Wang Mingxiu pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, the matter is quite simple. I have been investigating Madam Liu for several years and am very familiar with her methods of handling cases. I have dealt with her many times. Some time ago, she reappeared, and I was able to pinpoint her whereabouts based on my past experience."

Then we laid a trap, and with the help of many colleagues from the Six Doors, we killed her. That Madam Liu was quite powerful; seven or eight of us were injured at the time, but fortunately, we successfully tracked her down and killed her.

Gu Mo asked, "I heard that you, Commander Wang, killed him yourself."

“Yes,” Wang Mingxiu said, “That Madam Liu’s lightness skill was quite good, and she almost escaped. Fortunately, I was prepared and shot her down with a knife when she took off.”

Gu Mo exclaimed, "Commander Wang led by example, eliminating harm for the people; he is truly admirable."

"It's just my duty!"

……

Gu Mo and Wang Mingxiu didn't exchange more than a few words before Wang Mingxiu left on official business. Seeing this, Pei Yuanzhen said, "If Master Gu is interested in the matter of Madam Liu's execution, I can retrieve the case file for you."

"Then thank you very much, Prefect Pei," Gu Mo said.

Pei Yuanzhen smiled, wanting to say something, but then swallowed her words and bid farewell to Gu Mo.

Pei Yuanzhen walked out of the inn, mounted his horse, and said to the clerk who had been following him, "Go to the yamen and retrieve the case file of Madam Liu's murder and give it to Master Gu."

The advisor said, "Master, it seems that Master Gu's interest in that case goes beyond simply wanting to know the inside story."

Pei Yuanzhen nodded and said, "Although he kept claiming that it was to give his client an explanation, it is clear that he does not trust the Six Doors' handling of cases and is doubting the authenticity of the cases."

The clerk laughed and said, "He just offended Commander Wang. This case was handled by Commander Wang himself. Suspecting the case is the same as suspecting Commander Wang."

“So what if we’ve offended him?” Pei Yuanzhen said. “Gu Mo isn’t traveling around Linhai County, so it won’t have much of an impact. As long as the two of them don’t break off relations and start fighting, it’ll be fine.”

The two left while talking.

At this time,
Led by a constable from the Six Doors, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong entered the manor behind Qingfeng Inn. It was quite lively inside. When they passed the central courtyard, a dozen or so scholars were gathered under the shade of the trees, discussing philosophy, with their voices rising and falling.

Mr. Dongjing, though over sixty years old, was in excellent spirits and was debating scriptures with a young student.

According to the constable, those scholars were all local celebrities. In the past few days, many celebrities had come to visit Mr. Dongjing every day. Some supported Mr. Dongjing, while others opposed him.

The debate on site was very heated.

However, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong had no interest and left directly, settling down in a small courtyard.

"Brother, that Commander Wang didn't look too good just now," Gu Chudong said.

Gu Mo smiled and said, "There's nothing I can do. I have doubts about Madam Liu's case, but it was Wang Qianhu who handled it. If I say that, it's like I don't trust his ability to handle cases. No wonder he's not happy."

Gu Chudong thought for a moment and said, "Brother, how can you be so sure that there's something wrong with Madam Liu's case?"

“Intuition,” Gu Mo said.

"Huh? That's it?" Gu Chudong asked in surprise.

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "In early winter, you should trust the intuition of an internal energy master who has reached the realm of oneness with heaven and man. This is the connection between heaven and man!"

"Really? That's amazing, brother. Will I ever have the chance to do what you did?" Gu Chudong asked.

Gu Mo: ...

Actually, I can't do it either.

“That Commander Wang is definitely suspicious,” Gu Mo said, changing the subject.

Gu Chudong asked in confusion, "What's the problem?"

“He was very aggressive towards me,” Gu Mo said. “From the moment we met, I could feel that he was very hostile towards me.”

"Really?" Gu Chudong said, "I didn't sense anything unusual. It's normal for government officials to keep their distance from us martial arts people."

"The interaction between Heaven and Man," Gu Mo said.

“Oh, then it must be because my cultivation level is too low, and I can’t sense it,” Gu Chudong said.

"When Prefect Pei said I wanted to know the specific details of the killing of Madam Liu, Wang Mingxiu's reaction was also very strange," Gu Mo said. "A normal person would be wondering why I wanted to know the specific details, rather than angrily accusing me of suspecting him. Wang Mingxiu's reaction was a bit excessive."

Gu Chudong gave a thumbs up, saying admiringly, "Brother, you're amazing now! You can even analyze the flaws in a simple answer. You're incredible!"

Gu Mo touched his nose and said, "Not really..."

"Well, what is that?"

Gu Mo said, "It mainly relies on perception. When Pei Yuanzhen said that I wanted to know the specific details of Madam Liu's execution, I clearly felt that Wang Mingxiu had a brief moment of panic with a rapid heartbeat and slightly rapid breathing. Although it was very brief, I could sense it. So, when I analyzed it from the other side, I felt that there was a problem with his answer."

Gu Chudong: "Hmm... Brother, although you didn't figure it out, it's still impressive. Having profound internal strength is a skill, isn't it? What are you planning to do now?"

"Let's wait for Pei Yuanzhen to bring the files over!"

(End of this chapter)