Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

After Di Renjie said that, Li Yuanfang suddenly realized: "That explains why He Yun insisted on coming to see you in person that night."

It seems his goal is to lure us into the underworld.

"You're right," Di Renjie replied, then fell into thought again.

Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something.

"Master Pang Jiu..."

"What did you say, sir?"

Di Renjie looked at the group and asked, "Do you remember that Pang Jiugong said he was actually a member of the Jiang clan?"

Was it only because of the fear and dread following the Jiang Family Village massacre decades ago that he changed his surname to Pang?

"Of course I remember..." Li Yuanfang and Zeng Tai nodded.

"That's right. We'll return to Enji Village later and stay there tonight." Before anyone could ask why, Di Renjie continued, "Besides us, He Yun also knew about this matter at the time."

Do you think he might unleash a headless vengeful ghost tonight to eliminate Pang Jiugong and his companion?

This makes us even more convinced of Yuwen Chengdu's vengeful ghost story.

I think it's very likely.

Di Chun stepped forward and confirmed Di Renjie's guess: "What you said is correct, sir."

What happened before only made you believe part of the truth.

If you don't fully believe it's a vengeful ghost, then He Yun went to all this trouble just to make you believe that those guards were killed by Yuwen Chengdu's vengeful ghost.

Therefore, I think he definitely won't let this opportunity slip by.

"Yes, Di Chun is right." Di Renjie affirmed, then said with some relief, "If we had solved this case two days later, Pang Jiugong and the other man would probably have been killed."

These two provided us with a lot of clues; it would be a shame if they were killed for no reason.

That would be such a terrible injustice.

"Your Excellency has the people at heart; you are truly a role model for students to learn from," Zeng Tai, the licking spirit, seized the opportunity to step forward, cup his hands, and flatter him.

Di Renjie smiled and waved his hand: "Zeng Tai, an official should be concerned about the people, otherwise what face does he have to be an official?"

"What my teacher said is absolutely right."

Then Di Renjie looked at Gao Rujin: "Gao Rujin, you will stay here for now and are not allowed to run around."

"Yes."

Di Renjie wasn't afraid that Gao Rujin would escape. He was over ninety years old, and given Di Renjie's personality, someone that old would have no capacity to commit a crime, or rather, the possibility of him committing a crime would be very low.

Under normal circumstances, he would not punish such people severely.

For example, Feng Wanchun in the Jiangzhou case, a river bandit, still killed so many people, yet he was spared by Di Renjie.

After giving instructions to Gao Rujin, Di Renjie led everyone to Enji Village.

It's already afternoon; headless ghosts usually come out at night.

Di Renjie was afraid that if it got too late, Pang Jiugong and the other man would have already been killed.

Therefore, they kept urging us to hurry up on the way.

When everyone arrived at Enji Village, it was just getting dark. Di Renjie got off the carriage, looked around, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, fortunately we made it in time."

With a flick of his robe, Di Renjie looked at Zeng Tai and said, "Have someone invite Pang Jiugong and that old man from before over here."

"Yes, my dear teacher."

Zeng Tai waved his hand, and a yamen runner immediately ran to fetch someone. He himself stepped forward and came to Di Renjie's side: "Master, I think we should stay at that wealthy family's house again tonight."

"Okay, you can arrange it."

In a short while, the yamen runners brought Pang Jiugong and another old man to the crowd.

"Sir, sir, is there anything else you need from me?"

"What this humble subject already knows, I have already said."

Pang Jiugong said tremblingly.

As a member of the Jiang clan, he was terrified of the headless ghost, fearing it would seek revenge.

Seeing this, Di Renjie stepped forward and said kindly, "Old man, don't worry, there are no evil spirits in this world."

That vengeful ghost was just a person in disguise.

"Hey, sir, you're talking nonsense again. It's okay if you don't believe in ghosts."

We common folk are very worried.

"I've said everything I needed to say, so please don't bother me anymore, okay?" Pang Jiugong looked terrified.

Seeing this, Di Renjie expressed his understanding, saying that even emperors were terrified of ghosts, let alone ordinary people.

I wanted to say something more, but seeing this, I had no choice but to give up.

"In that case, you two should go back now. We won't be looking for you again."

Pang Jiugong glanced at Zeng Tai before saying, "You'd better keep your word."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely keep my word."

"Then we're leaving." Pang Jiugong and the other man immediately helped each other leave.

After the two left, Di Renjie said, "Zeng Tai, tell that wealthy family to prepare a meal and eat first."

"Yes, my dear teacher."

"Di Chun, Yuan Fang."

"My lord." The two stepped forward.

"You two will have to work hard tonight."

They stood guard beside the residence of Pang Jiugong and that old man.

"Once the headless ghost appears, capture it immediately."

"Yes."

……

As night fell, a thunderous roar resounded.

It was as if it was to create an atmosphere.

Whenever the headless ghost appears, it is always accompanied by thunder and lightning and torrential rain.

Just after dinner, Di Chun and Li Yuanfang were preparing to go out to guard their respective homes when a bolt of lightning suddenly streaked across the night sky.

Immediately afterwards, a torrential downpour began.

The sky seemed to have been pierced, turning a deep, dark black, with dense rain pelting down, instantly weaving a white curtain of water.

The wind, carrying raindrops, lashed and crashed against the eaves, windows, and stone pavement, creating a deafening roar that drowned out all other sounds.

In the distance, the lights of other houses in Enjizhuang were blurred by the rain and mist, shimmering and breaking in the water before reappearing.

"This thunderstorm is really annoying." Di Renjie walked to the door, where raindrops slanted and pattered against his clothes.

A chill ran through me.

"Master, with such heavy rain, will that headless ghost still come?"

Before Di Renjie could answer, Di Chun said, "It will definitely happen."

He Yun was unaware that the master had returned to Enji Village, and thought that the master was still in Luoyang, the capital.

If I'm not mistaken, tonight, that headless vengeful ghost will kill one person first.

Then they lured the adults to Enji Village and killed the other person.

Even if it's pouring rain, it will come.

"Di Chun is right, the mastermind behind this has been planning for so long."

How could a little rain stop the headless ghost from moving?

If you were on the verge of achieving a goal, would you postpone it because of a little rain?

"I am ashamed, but it is certain that it will not be postponed."

"This is it." Di Renjie looked at Di Chun and Li Yuanfang, and said with some concern, "You must be careful."

The headless vengeful ghost was able to kill so many people, mostly because its appearance was too frightening, but its fighting ability was not necessarily low.

If things go wrong, your own safety should be the top priority.