Chosen One, how did I end up as the villain?

noon

The sky was clear and the wind was gentle.

The sun hung high in the sky, still as red as fresh blood.

But whether it was an illusion or something else, the color seemed to have faded a bit, and the halo of light that poured down seemed to have a touch of warmth.

Is it a state of mind, or a change?

Nobody can say for sure.

The path remained deserted, but the sound of footsteps echoed clearly within it.

Tian Dafu kept his head down, looking like a wilted eggplant, and didn't say a word. Even when villagers passed by and greeted him, he didn't pay any attention.

The two women huddled together, whispering something to each other.

She occasionally chuckled, clearly in a good mood.

Qin Huaiyu finally had some peace and quiet. He didn't think about the case; after all, mental work also needs rest.

Even a brainless ox or a horse is still an ox or a horse; 996 is impossible for them.

He doesn't want to develop baldness at such a young age and lose his appearance for the sake of his intelligence.

However, while it's nice to clear your mind, it can be a bit too boring.

The Blood Spirit Insect King inside the body was teased time and time again, but still did not respond at all.

It looked like a plump, chubby worm, its belly facing up as it enjoyed the nourishment of the pearl.

Fortunately, the process didn't take long, and before we knew it, we had arrived at our accommodation.

The courtyard was bustling with activity.

Perhaps due to the time of day, the constables were all busy with their own tasks.

They might set up a table, place benches, or serve food.

Upon seeing the people come in, they quickly greeted them.

"adult"

At the same time, he stared at Tian Dafu behind him with great suspicion.

Qin Huaiyu nodded in acknowledgment, and then led his men into the hall.

I just stepped inside.

Pu Liugang immediately came forward with a look of eager anticipation.

"grown ups……"

He stopped mid-sentence, his expression suddenly stiffening, his gaze falling behind him, and said:

"Village Chief Tian, ​​what's going on?"

Tian Dafu looked dejected, cautiously glancing at Qin Huaiyu without daring to reply.

Pu Liu, being as shrewd as a shrew, could easily understand the meaning behind it. He glanced at himself, grinned, and turned his head away, saying:

"Sir, didn't you go to Fang Lie's residence? Why are you with Village Chief Tian?"

Well, Wang Shi confessed pretty quickly. He's a real old fox, managing to offend no one. It seems his advisor knows everything.

Qin Huaiyu considered for a moment and said:

"The case is progressing slowly, and we haven't found anything at the Shiming Village site. All we can investigate now is the destroyed main road, which the village chief is most familiar with. I specially invited him to be our guide."

"Main Road"

Pu Liu's smile faded, and he said:

"But I've seen that road; it's so badly damaged that it's impossible to pass through."

Qin Huaiyu's gaze darkened, and he said:

"If there's no way, find a way; if there's no road, forge one. Don't forget that every road is made by people walking on it."

"Can………"

Pu Liu was about to say something more when Qin Huaiyu waved his hand to stop him, saying:

"My mind is made up, there's no need to say more. Also, how's the matter I asked you to investigate?"

A higher-ranking official can crush you.

Pu Liu was unwilling, but there was nothing he could do. He glanced at Tian Dafu and said:

"The village has a large population. I asked Village Chief Tian for help, and we have checked most of the people in the village. We did not find anyone who collects minerals, nor did we find anything similar in the houses."

...Aren't you going to hide it?

Qin Huaiyu was a little unsure and turned to look at Tian Dafu.

Tian Dafu quickly nodded and said:

"What the advisor said is true; it was indeed the manpower I arranged to help."

Could it be that Pu Liugang had nothing to do with this matter? Otherwise, why would he have taken the initiative to confess?

Qin Huaiyu hadn't expected to gain anything from this mineral inspection, after all, what could someone who didn't even know what phosphorus was possibly find out?

This is nothing more than a test.

But it seems to have had little effect.

Forget it, let's take it slow!

"Master, pass on the message: after lunch, we will depart. Tell everyone to prepare, as we will be staying in the mountains tonight."

"Everyone?" Pu Liugang still held a sliver of hope.

Qin Huaiyu, on the other hand, extinguished his hope outright.

"Every single one, leave none behind."

"What about Fang Lie?"

Qin Huaiyu lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said:

"Take it with you!"

Ultimately, they are the parties involved; even if they go crazy, they can still be of great use.

Seeing that the decision was final and could not be changed, Pu Liu had no choice but to go and inform the others with a bitter face.

.........

Outside the courtyard, a fleeting figure flashed by.

Not far from where he left, a person appeared.

A smile played on his lips.

"This is getting more and more interesting, but something is amiss here. If we continue, we might make an unexpected discovery."

"That kid's senses are too sharp. If I hadn't had a treasure to conceal my presence, I would have been discovered long ago. It seems I still need to be careful."

...............

The meal ended quickly.

The group of constables set off on their journey with long faces and heavy hearts.

They looked as if they were heading to their execution, utterly despondent.

"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for? Do you want to drag this out until dark?" Pu Liugang snapped irritably.

The guards dared not speak out in their anger, and could only curse silently in their hearts.

Qin Huaiyu, following behind, could hardly fail to sense the resentment within the group.

Those who hold office are all prone to slacking off; diligence is a non-existent quality.

"You've angered everyone," Chu Yanxi teased from the side.

"Born a donkey, needs to be disciplined."

Qin Huaiyu, unconcerned, continued:

"Enjoying the convenience of being an employee without wanting to fulfill one's responsibilities? There's no such thing as a free lunch. Even women in the red-light district know to sell their bodies for money; they need to understand this principle even more."

"Flower Street?"

A look of bewilderment appeared on Chu Yanxi's beautiful face.

"Selling abalone?"

She knew about the red-light district, which was just a brothel, and she also knew about the abalone seller, but she didn't know what the two were combined.