Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 68 Ten Directions of Ghosts
Zhan Zhao returned to the Six Doors headquarters, where Ding Yi delivered a new list of candidates for internal review.

More than thirty constables and clerks have been found guilty of accepting bribes.

This was a number that could have shaken morale.

But after the birthday celebration, it temporarily becomes irrelevant.

Because in the short term, the external enemy will not dare to make a move.

Zhan Zhao's choice was to first deal with external threats and then pacify internal strife.

Hit a punch to avoid a hundred punches.

Seeing the outcome of the Luo family's birthday banquet, those forces that had been stirring after learning of Su Wuqing's disappearance will once again lie dormant.

Only in this way can we focus on investigating the case.

After suppressing external enemies and establishing prestige, the direction of the investigation was also adjusted, becoming extremely clear and bold.

Chasu is ruthless!

Zhan Zhao immediately summoned Zhao Wujiu: "Was it the last time you saw Su Shenbu before he disappeared that night?"

Zhao Wujiu thought for a moment and said, "It should be."

Zhan Zhao asked, "What was Constable Su doing at that time?"

Zhao Wujiu said, "My elder brother is looking through old case files, but he didn't tell me what they are."

"Since it's an old case file, it couldn't have been Detective Su who personally moved it out, could it? Who delivered the case file to the torture chamber?"

Soon, the head constable Pang Wen was summoned. After hearing Zhan Zhao's question, he immediately replied, "The chief steward has been having me search for files about the 'Ten Directions Ghosts' in the old shelving for the past few nights."

"'Ten Directions of Ghosts'?"

Zhan Zhao asked, "And what is this?"

Zhao Wujiu explained, "This is a mysterious Jianghu force from more than 20 years ago. Its members are said to come from all over the country. Some come from powerful and wealthy families, some from major Jianghu sects, and some are just idle people on the street. They include all sorts of people."

Zhan Zhao keenly grasped a word: "It is said?"

"That's just hearsay."

Zhao Wujiu said, "Because when members of this force gather, they all wear masks, and their specific identities can only be guessed. They are known as 'standing with their faces covered, where no distinction between superiors and inferiors is made, and even kings and nobles sit at the same table as beggars.'"

Zhan Zhao understood, but then asked curiously, "The initial intention was good, so why do you call yourselves the Ghost Clan?"

Zhao Wujiu said, "In fact, this organization was originally called 'Shifang Zhong' (Ten Directions Clan). It was once very prosperous and had hundreds of members. Although their identities were different and their social status was completely disregarded, those who could join this organization were not easy people."

"Later, the 'Shifangzhong' suddenly had an internal conflict and many people died. At that time, people in the imperial court and the martial arts world suddenly disappeared, and they were suspected to be members of the 'Shifangzhong'."

Zhan Zhao asked, "Why is that?"

Pang Man-tao: "According to the case file, it was suspected that a member had committed a bad deed, his identity was exposed, and he was threatened. In order to cover up this disgraceful experience, he began to sow discord, which eventually led to distrust and infighting among the members."

Zhao Wujiu said, "From then on, people called them 'the ghosts of the ten directions,' which was not without a hint of sarcasm!"

Both of them spoke in a detached tone, simply recounting their story.

After all, this was just an absurd and cruel farce from twenty years ago, so what does it have to do with them?

After a moment's thought, Zhan Zhao slowly said, "'Ten Directions of Ghosts'... 'Zhong Kui Catches Ghosts'... Do you two think there's a connection between Su Shenbu's review of old case files at this juncture?"

"what?"

Pang Wen's eyes widened suddenly, his expression changing: "Are these two 'ghosts' the same person?"

Zhao Wujiu immediately added, "Does Zhan Shenbu mean that the five ghosts captured by 'Zhong Kui' came from the 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan' of the past?"

Zhan Zhao wouldn't normally be directly associated with this.

However, based on various clues, Su Wuqing's disappearance was not a simple abduction, and the old case that this person was concerned about last also has another value: "This is just a pure association, but if it is correct, wouldn't it explain why the footprints of 'Zhong Kui catching ghosts' have spread all over the country and to all major sects?"

Zhao Wujiu looked at Pang Wen: "Where are the files? Do they contain any crucial clues?"

"No."

Pang Wen shook his head blankly: "'Ten Directions Ghost Clan' was extremely mysterious back then. There was a fire in the archives before, which destroyed a lot of old case files. The Grand Master didn't actually see many files. The files were based on speculations about the missing people at the time, and it was suspected that those people were members of 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan', but in the end, it could not be confirmed and the matter was left unresolved."

"Isn't that very similar to the current situation? We can also use the missing persons to deduce..." Zhan Zhao said, "The first four missing persons are Qingcheng Sect Elder Yu Xuzi, Canglang Fortress Third Master Helian Jue, Iron Sword Sect Vice Master Ye Canglang, and Yunxi Manor Master Yun Heming. Can we preliminarily determine that they are members of the 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan'?"

Zhao Wujiu's expression changed: "These four are one thing, but do you really think my elder brother is also...?"

Zhan Zhao asked, "How old is Detective Su?"

Zhao Wujiu paused for a moment, then his expression softened: "That's right! It couldn't be my elder brother!"

"Yep!"

Pang Wen thought for a moment and understood: "Yu Xuzi, Helian Jue, Ye Canglang, and Yun Heming are all in their forties or fifties. More than twenty years ago, they were in their prime. But the Grand Hall Master is only thirty years old now. More than twenty years ago, he was just a child. Of course, he couldn't be one of the 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan'!"

Zhao Wujiu still felt something was amiss: "If that's the case, wouldn't Zhong Kui's capture of people be against the rules? The first four were 'Ten Directions Ghosts,' but the fifth became the eldest brother. Why is that?"

"Not urgent."

Zhan Zhao's approach was to proceed step by step: "Do you still have the case files that Detective Su looked at before he disappeared? Let me see them!"

Before long, Pang Wen came to us carrying a stack of files that wasn't very tall.

This time, Zhan Zhao summoned Lian Caiyun, Shen Lan, and Lin Yuxian, and whispered, "I would like to trouble the three of you to take a look at these case files and recall if there are any details that match your master's records over the years."

Lian Caiyun and the other two were initially confused, but after reading the general contents of the dossier, their expressions changed drastically: "'Ten Directions Ghost Clan'?"

Zhan Zhao looked at them.

To be honest, if it were someone else, they might have already turned hostile.

Isn't this digging up one's own master's dark history?
However, it can be seen from previous interactions that Qi Yun has a better relationship with her master Yun Heming, but not so much with him. She is also closer to her master's wife now.
The two Zhan Zhaos hold different weight in their hearts now. Seeing that the case is showing signs of improvement and their senior brother's case is progressing, they are naturally unwilling to give up halfway.

As expected, Lian Caiyun immediately opened the file, and Shen Lan and Lin Yuxian hesitated for a moment before also beginning to read it.

There weren't many files, and with three people reading them, they quickly finished reading theirs and then exchanged them.

Lian Caiyun and Shen Lan looked around and tried to recall what they had seen, but they didn't gain anything.

Lin Yuxian, however, suddenly focused her gaze and said, "I just remembered something. Do you all remember? Master particularly hated Nuo opera!"

Lian Caiyun and Shen Lan were taken aback at first, then nodded in unison: "Yes!"

Nuo opera was very popular in those days for exorcising evil spirits and warding off disasters. Not only did ordinary people believe in it, but royal officials also firmly believed in it, and even martial arts sects would sometimes invite Nuo opera troupes to perform.

In comparison, this kind of trend is more prevalent in the Jiangnan region.

As expected, Lin Yuxian said, "The Nuo opera in Liangzhe is mainly based on Zhong Kui. Often, even poor beggars can dress up as Zhong Kui and the Kitchen God, beat gongs and drums to welcome people to the street, and chase away the plague from door to door. Those few days are the most lively time in the city."

"Yes! We wanted to go see it, but when Master found out, he scolded us for a long time!"

Lian Caiyun added, "Not only are the Nuo operas in the city forbidden to be watched, but my master also forbids the Zhong Kui dance at temple fairs. He particularly dislikes these things."

"No! What Master dislikes might not be Nuo opera..."

Lin Yuxian slowly said, "It's Nuo masks!"

Zhan Zhao, who had been listening in, realized the key point when he heard this and immediately asked, "What do you mean?"

Lin Yuxian said, “The Nuo opera in the city is very lively, but Master doesn’t allow us to go to see it, so I thought I’d make my own clothes and a Nuo mask. I used peach wood and painted it, but it was actually quite rough. However, when Master saw it, he was furious and smashed the Nuo mask on the ground, shattering it into pieces!”

Lian Caiyun's face darkened: "I remember! I remember! If it weren't for Senior Brother protecting Senior Sister, it wouldn't just have been the Nuo mask that was smashed, she would definitely have been beaten..."

Zhao Wujiu, who was also listening in, had changed his expression: "The members of the 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan' all wore masks when they gathered back then, which led to their eventual annihilation. Apart from those who died, whose identities can be confirmed, the identities of the rest remain a mystery!"

"Now that Yun Heming despises Nuo masks and dislikes Zhong Kui opera, it's no coincidence that he was kidnapped by a murderer who calls himself 'Zhong Kui'!"

Constable Pang Wen said excitedly, "The analysis by the Grand Master and Constable Zhan was indeed correct. It seems that Yun Heming may very well be a member of the former 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan'!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Caiyun and the other two all looked rather grim.

They may not have been close to that master, but they were still master and disciple. Now that he has disappeared and all sorts of unsavory things have been discovered, the reputation of Yunqi Manor in the martial arts world will plummet!

The three of them gritted their teeth and endured the thought of avenging their senior brother.

However, after a moment of contemplation, Zhan Zhao's next question caused Zhao Wujiu and Pang Wen's expressions to change drastically: "Do you think there were any members of the Six Doors among the 'Ten Directions Ghost Clan' back then?"

(End of this chapter)