Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 60: Is Zhong Kui Righteous?

"Chief Constable Pei, do you have anything to say?"

Despite the gazes of the crowd, Pei Handeng remained expressionless.

Only when Zhan Zhao continued to ask questions did he slowly shake his head and say firmly, "In my life, I have never acted against Heaven or man, and I have never violated morality. I have always been loyal to the Six Doors. If I go against this, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

The surroundings fell silent once more.

The ancients took oaths very seriously, and even the most vicious people generally wouldn't dare to utter such words.

Not to mention Pei Handeng, whose hair and beard stood on end, his voice full of righteous indignation, without the slightest hesitation or shame.

The previously suspicious glances were withdrawn, and the senior executives breathed a sigh of relief.

Pei Handeng was the oldest and most senior, but when he first entered the Six Doors, it was usually a master-apprentice model.

While he may not be everyone's mentor, he did receive some form of instruction from him when he was younger.

They simply couldn't accept that the old constable who had dedicated his entire life to the Six Doors could be a traitor.

"Don't try to change the subject!"

But just then, a crisp female voice rang out again: "Just tell me directly, do you have any shady relationship with 'Zhong Kui'?"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to look, and they discovered that the speaker was none other than Lian Caiyun.

Previously, it was Lian Caiyun who brought up the hierarchy and rules of the Six Doors, leaving Pei Handeng speechless.

It's still her now, pointing straight to the core.

Pei Handeng's face darkened: "I won't bother with a little girl like you!"

"Your Excellency is old enough to be my grandfather. This young lady should not have been so aggressive and disrespectful to a senior like you..."

Lian Caiyun said, "But since you say that you have acted with a clear conscience and dare to swear to heaven, then answer my question—are you completely unrelated to 'Zhong Kui'? As for my senior brother's case, are you completely transparent and unaware of it?"

Pei Handeng slowly opened his mouth: "This old man..."

Lian Caiyun added, "Please swear in the name of the Chief Constable of the Six Doors that what I say next is absolutely true!"

Shen Lan stepped forward: "Please make an oath!"

Lin Yuxian stepped forward: "Please make an oath!"

It was something you just swore to God.

We didn't force them.

Pei Handeng paused, remained silent for a moment, then shook his head without saying a word.

The senior management of the Six Doors were stunned.

Zhou Wuxin asked anxiously, "Elder Pei, what do you mean by this?"

Zhao Wujiu asked impatiently, "Elder Pei, is it true or not?"

Pei Handeng simply closed his eyes and stood there without saying a word.

"I think I understand what he means."

Zhan Zhao suddenly spoke.

Everyone put on a listening posture.

Zhan Zhao said, "Chief Constable Pei's oath just now was very interesting. He did not deny the suspicions and accusations, but only said that he had a clear conscience, did not violate morality, and had not betrayed the Six Doors."

"Isn't there a possibility—"

"In Chief Constable Pei's view, what 'Zhong Kui' did was righteous, right?"

Pei Handeng remained silent with his eyes closed, but his hand, hidden in his sleeve, trembled violently.

'It seems he truly believes that Zhong Kui is doing something righteous.'

'For this, someone who dedicated his entire life to the Six Doors didn't hesitate to assist the other side and capture two top constables?'

Zhan Zhao had found the answer in his heart.

The other high-ranking members of the Six Doors were furious, crowding around and bombarding them with questions:
"Elder Pei, 'Zhong Kui' took away my eldest and second brothers; he must be a wicked villain!"

"Elder Pei, 'Zhong Kui' is committing crimes everywhere, causing widespread panic and fear throughout the land!"

"Old Pei, say something!"

No matter what they asked, Pei Handeng refused to speak to them. Seeing no other option, Zhou Wuxin turned to ask for instructions, his attitude mirroring his previous one towards Su Wuqing: "Detective Zhan, what should we do next?"

"Take Pei Handeng back to the cell and keep a close watch on him."

Zhan Zhao hesitated for a moment, then changed his focus: "Where is Feng Buyu, the deputy head of the Xuanji Hall?"

This person told the Dharma-teaching monk Dingjue that his family had been harmed by a karmic monk. Dingjue was filled with grief and indignation, and his long-standing hatred led him to commit the extreme act of poisoning.

Prior to this, Abbot Chihong of Dizang Temple had already informed Su Wuqing of this matter.

As expected, Zhou Wuxin replied, "Master Feng has gone out on my elder brother's orders and is not at the main office."

Zhan Zhao asked, "The secret stronghold of Xuanji Hall?"

"Not bad!"

Zhou Wuxin replied without hesitation: "If Constable Zhan wants to go, we'll lead the way!"

This statement came out.

They truly opened up the core secrets of the Six Doors to this person.

"I don't need to go."

Instead of eagerly inspecting the territory, Zhan Zhao instructed, "Have Feng Buyu return to the main office to see me."

"Let me take a trip!"

Zhao Wujiu, the fastest runner, took the task and turned to leave. Pei Handeng, who remained silent, was taken away. Lian Caiyun and the other two volunteered to join the guard team.

Meanwhile, Dingyi was receiving a string of good news.

Following Xie Changwei and Meng Jiang, constables from Zhenyue Hall, one after another, members of the Six Doors who had been bribed by the Luo family were exposed.

From constables on duty to clerks at headquarters, all were involved in collusion.

Another explanation led to the involvement of two or three others.

In just over two hours, the number of people exceeded ten.

"Damn it! Damn it!!"

Zhou Wuxin was shocked by what he saw. These bribed disciples were generally not of high status, but they were still important.

Let alone showing leniency in the Six Doors' law enforcement, even turning a blind eye or missing certain clues and intelligence could cause their efforts to solve cases and catch criminals to fail at the last minute!
But looking at the testimony, Zhou Wuxin felt a surge of powerlessness.

Because rather than directly bribing them with money, the Luo family now focuses more on winning over the people around the constables.

Even if the constables themselves could be honest and upright and not accept bribes, in a bustling place like the capital, temptations came from all directions.

Will my family members get sick?

Are family members greedy for money?

Do children need a future?
Such things are impossible to guard against.

The internal reorganization had barely begun when Constable Pang Wen rushed in, holding a note in his hand, his expression grave: "Something's wrong! The Luo family has sent someone with a note!"

Zhou Wuxin took it: "This scoundrel, he still dares to come here and provoke us?"

'It is precisely at this critical juncture, with Su Wuqing's disappearance, that the Six Doors' enemies will come knocking, ready to kick him while he's down.'

Zhan Zhao wasn't surprised, but he still found it extremely annoying.

Anyone who wants to concentrate on investigating a case doesn't like such an obstructive person, so he asked, "What did you write?"

Zhou Wuxin opened the post, scanned it, and gritted his teeth, saying, "This 'Golden-Faced Yama' is celebrating his birthday and claims to have received a threatening letter from 'Zhong Kui,' demanding that we send people to protect his safety! The threatening letter is a pretense; he wants to keep us busy while he infiltrates and humiliates us!"

"Ok?"

Zhan Zhao's eyes flickered: "You just said that this person has connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world. His criminal gang consists of desperados who commit numerous illegal acts. But who in the legitimate world is backing him up, daring to have the Six Doors protect him?"

Zhou Wuxin took a deep breath: "Luo Shijun himself is just a declining military family. His current official position was bought. Calling his residence the Luo Mansion is an overreach. But his sister is the wife of a virtuous official and has great power!"

Zhan Zhao asked, "Which wise minister?"

Zhou Wuxin sighed: "The current Junior Tutor, Pang Ji!"

Zhan Zhao raised an eyebrow: "Who are you talking about?"

(End of this chapter)