I Possess a Scroll of Demon-Subduing Records

I hope you can take care of me more in the future. After all, we're relatives, and we can stay closer by visiting each other more often.

Xiao Se also realized that he had made a mistake by accusing a woman of adultery without any evidence. If Xie Shi really died, he would also be held responsible.

Having been so focused on "unraveling the mystery" that he hadn't considered the consequences, Xiao Se began to regret his actions. He looked at Xie Shi and was about to bow his head in apology.

Lin Yi stopped him, saying, "Don't rush to apologize; it might not be necessary."

What does this mean?

Wang Qian was already quite dissatisfied with Lin Yi. Not to mention that he stood her up yesterday, stole Wang Jinxuan's heart, and just now he didn't even give him face.

Now, without any basis, yet in order to protect his subordinates, he continues to accuse the Xie family without any evidence. Wang Qian can no longer sit idly by.

"Naturally, it's about finding the murderer. Yesterday, the deceased reported to the Jingye Division that he had been bewitched by a fox demon. Last night, I killed the fox demon. This morning, I came here and encountered a murder case."

"Since this has happened, it should be considered that evil spirits are causing the trouble!"

Some demons can indeed take the initiative to kill, and then seek revenge. Perhaps Bai Xiao's death was triggered by Lin Yi killing the fox demon, which led to the fox demon's subsequent attack on Bai Xiao.

It makes sense both emotionally and logically.

However, Lin Yi had a cheat code; he saw Xin San Niang's memories and could confirm that Xin San Niang really hadn't done anything to Bai Xiao, but Bai Xiao still died, and it seemed to be related to a fox demon.

Lin Yi deduced in reverse order that Bai Xiao's death was a deliberate act, but who knew the fox demon had died last night?

Mr. Liu and Wu De.

Both the human and the demon were very well hidden. It's a pity that the Demon-Slaying Manual doesn't have a location function. It can only show Mr. Liu's status, not his specific address. Otherwise, Lin Yi could have just gone there and killed him, which would have saved a lot of trouble.

Faced with Wang Qian's questioning, Lin Yi said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "We must rely on evidence when handling cases. We cannot make subjective assumptions. We must rely on evidence. Madam Bai has also said that she drove Bai Xiao to the study. Why would Bai Xiao die in the hall?"

Did he walk out on his own, or was he forced out?

Lin Yi looked at Xiao Se, who knew this was another test. He carefully observed Bai Xiao's feet, which were barefoot and covered in mud.

He followed the muddy tracks on the ground and found several more distinct footprints in the muddy area outside.

"He left the room on his own. Perhaps he saw something and rushed out of the room without even having time to put on his shoes. He was discovered by the murderer in the lobby and was unfortunately killed."

"So, what could make a man rush out like that?"

"Your wife ran off with someone else?"

Xiao Se's answer wasn't entirely certain, but everyone still turned to look at Wang Liang...

Chapter 87 Sorcery

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Wang Liang realized how important a good reputation was.

For example, in the current situation, no one would even glance at Wang Qian; they would all be looking at him.

"Brother, you know me. How could I deny what I've done?"

Wang Liang looked at Wang Qian with a wronged expression. Wang Qian thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "It seems so."

Even though he was beaten every time, Wang Liang would still frankly admit who he had seduced, how far things had progressed, and what methods he had used...

"But there's always the possibility that you might recruit half and hide the other half, so we have to be wary of that."

Wang Liang: "..."

Trust between people can be so fragile.

He then looked at Wang Jinxuan, but Wang Jinxuan stared intently at Lin Yi, seemingly anticipating his next performance, such as how to convict her brother.

At this point, the only person Wang Liang could still hope for was Lin Yi.

Lin Yi did not disappoint him, once again denying Xiao Se's conclusion.

"The study with muddy footprints is on the right, the master bedroom is on the left, and the main hall is in the middle. If it were really as you say, Madam Bai would have to go around to the outside of the study with her lover before returning to the main hall. Unless she has a special hobby, such a thing is not so exaggerated."

Xiao Se: "..."

For some reason, he developed a slight interest in this "special hobby".

Lin Yi stopped keeping him in suspense and continued, "For Bai Xiao to rush out like this, it's not necessarily because he saw something, but more likely because he heard something, such as his beloved wife's cries for help. That's why he panicked and wanted to rush over to check the situation. He didn't even bother to put on his shoes. In the dark of night, he kicked a stone and broke his toenail, but he didn't even care to check. The only things that could make a man so concerned are his parents, wife, and children!"

Hearing Lin Yi's words, everyone looked at Bai Xiao's left foot. The nail of her big toe was indeed flipped over. Wang Jinxuan had also kicked over nails when he was naughty before. Now, the pain seemed to be contagious. She shivered and couldn't help but look at Xie Shi and whispered, "If you know anything, just say it. You can't beat him."

Wang Jinxuan trusted Lin Yi implicitly. Since Lin Yi so confidently stated in front of everyone that this was not a demonic calamity but a human act, he must have solid evidence. Continuing to resist would likely result in being proven wrong.

Wang Qian looked at his younger siblings with a headache. One of them had sided with someone else, and the other, who had been watching the show, had become a criminal suspect. There wasn't a single one of them who was easy to deal with.

He had no choice but to defend Xie, saying, "Even so, it's possible that the demons were bewitching people, impersonating my cousin's voice to lure Bai Xiao out to kill her. The demons' methods are unpredictable, and my cousin is just an ordinary woman, so it's understandable that she didn't notice."

"Young Master Wang is right."

This is the difficulty of criminal investigation work in a world with mysterious powers.

In many places, a simple phrase like "demonic methods" is enough to cover it up. Without witnesses, whether or not a crime can be committed depends on the attitude of the official in charge.

The truth is not something many people care about.

Lin Yi was certainly not willing to let things slide like this. After giving Wang Qian a perfunctory reply, he looked intently at Xie Shi, who was still in tears but remained gentle and silent.

"Mrs. Bai, could you tell me about what happened last night?"

Lin Yi looked into Xie's eyes, his gaze flashing as if he were sending a lightning bolt.

Wang Jinxuan, who was standing relatively close, felt a tingling sensation run through his body. Xie Shi blushed instantly, her eyes becoming hazy, and she appeared exceptionally shy and timid as she asked, "What do you want to ask?"

"Who killed your husband last night?"

“I don’t know who he is. He has never shown his true face when he meets me; he always wears a mask.”

Everyone present changed their expressions, especially Wang Qian.

He had defended Xie for so long, but she confessed on her own.

It's not hard to see that Lin Yi used underhanded tactics.

This made him feel like he was being slapped in the face, and he wanted to interrupt Lin Yi's spell on the spot, but reason prevailed and he endured the anger in his heart and listened on.

Lin Yi then asked, "Do you know what his name is?"

His name is...

At first, Xie's expression remained alluring, but as she was about to utter the name, the dazed look on her face suddenly vanished, her eyes widened in fear, her breathing became rapid, and she began to cough violently.

Lin Yi immediately realized something was wrong and rushed over to try to save her, but as soon as he touched Xie Shi, he saw that her expression had frozen and her body had suddenly become stiff and cold, as if she had been dead for a long time.

Lin Yi was not skilled in treatment and was at a loss. Moreover, the person died in just a few breaths, and Lin Yi did not even know where the murderer had made his move, so he had no way to do anything about it.

Xiao Se said in a solemn tone, "This is witchcraft. She has probably been cursed. As long as she says that person's name, she will die."

"That's really weird?"

Lin Yi was startled and immediately felt very insecure. He had thought that with his improved cultivation and a few reliable friends, he should be able to establish himself firmly. Now it seemed that the world was more dangerous than he had ever known.

Based on the limited information revealed by Xie, Lin Yi had already confirmed his guess: it must be Wu De, the masked man who was hanging out with Mr. Liu. Xin San Niang also remembered his name, but he hadn't shown any ability. Lin Yi was quite surprised by his sudden move.

Seeing that Lin Yi seemed afraid, Xiao Se subconsciously comforted him, "Don't panic. Although witchcraft is mysterious and strange, it also has many limitations. The caster must know the recipient's birth date and time and have a personal item for it to work. Moreover, the higher a person's cultivation level, the more abundant their essence, energy and spirit, the less afraid they are of such unorthodox methods."

"You misunderstand. Why would I be afraid? I'm just worried about what kind of conspiracy is behind this. Even now, I still can't figure out his motive for killing Bai Xiao."

Lin Yi tried to save face, but Xiao Se didn't think much of it and calmly analyzed, "The murderer must have had a close relationship with her, but she probably never imagined that she was secretly cursed."

"Alright, death is a serious matter. You two should give the deceased some dignity and refrain from making unfounded speculations."

Wang Qian, his face dark, interrupted their conversation and said in a deep voice, "My cousin and her husband have been harmed by villains. I beg Chief Constable Lin to investigate thoroughly, clarify the evidence, and give them justice! I will repay you handsomely in the future."

Lin Yi also stopped Xiao Se, who still wanted to argue, and smiled at Wang Qian, saying, "Young Master Wang, rest assured, I will try my best to find the real culprit, clear Madam Bai's name, and give Young Master Bai justice."

"Thank you for your trouble. This is the scene of the incident, so my siblings and I will not disturb you any longer. I will visit you again another day. Goodbye."

Wang Qian bowed to Lin Yi, glared at Wang Jinxuan and Wang Liang, and left first.

Wang Shi, who had been silently observing the whole time without daring to make a sound, quickly gave Lin Yi a smile and said, "Since the Jingye Division has already taken over this case, I won't disturb you any longer. Brothers, let's go."

Wang Shi had taken away all the people from the prefectural government office, and now only a few stewards and servants from the Bai family remained in the main hall.

Xiao Se then said unhappily, "That guy surnamed Wang is clearly trying to use his status to intimidate you. It's obviously adultery and murder. How can you clear his cousin's name?"

The servants present all pretended to be dead, each one silent and trembling with fear. The death of their master had already cost them their livelihood, and now this scandalous affair made their future even more difficult. If the prefectural governor's office were to hold a grudge against them, they would have no way to survive.

They dared not provoke Lin Yi and Xiao Se, so they pretended to be dead.

Lin Yi listened to Xiao Se's complaints and smiled indifferently: "The person isn't dead, so his pressure on me is useless. The person is dead, but there's no need to argue with him. Our enemy is hiding in the shadows, so why be impulsive? If you want to live a happy life, you have to learn not to argue with fools. As long as it doesn't involve a conflict of interest, I will always say 'you are right'."

"Wouldn't you be living such a stifled life? How could you possibly be truly happy like that?"

"you're right."

Xiao Se: "???"

Chapter 88 You've Successfully Caught My Attention

When they returned to the Jingye Division, Xiao Se still had a cold face and didn't speak to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi was just being cheeky, but he didn't expect this guy to get so angry, like a little girl.

It's most likely a woman dressed as a man!

Lin Yi saw through it, but dared not say it. When the two of them were not on good terms before, he had used this topic to tease Xiao Se several times. Before, Xiao Se was rude to him, and he had offended him in return. Now that they had a foundation of friendship, he could not offend him again.

"Alright, don't be angry. I know you're trying to stand up for the wronged, but the prefect's family is incredibly powerful in Xingsha City. Besides, all they want is a little face, which isn't excessive."

Lin Yi wasn't so intolerant of any wrongdoing. At first, when Wang Qian obstructed his investigation, Lin Yi didn't intend to compromise. But now that the key people were dead and he had obtained the information he needed, there was no need to completely block him.

When Xie was seducing him, what she said was not enough to prove that she had committed adultery with that person. Without solid evidence, the prefectural government, which was trying to cover up the truth, could not prove this matter.

Now that there's no way to verify the truth, we can only leave it at that for now, but it's a pity for Bai Xiao, the aggrieved party.

"A mere prefect has scared you like this? You're such a coward."

Xiao Se said disdainfully, completely unaware that he had exposed his information again. Lin Yi had no idea why he had come to Jingye Division. Was he really just on a private visit?

"Whether I'm a coward or not, solving a case ultimately depends on evidence, not speculation."

"You say you want to see evidence, but where have you presented any evidence? It's all just guesswork!"

Speaking of this, Xiao Se also got angry. Although his speculation was indeed not as in-depth and comprehensive as Lin Yi's, Lin Yi kept talking about evidence, but in the end, he still got some information by resorting to underhanded means. Where did he get any evidence?

“I’m different from you. I make bold assumptions, carefully verify them, and only draw conclusions at the end. Unlike you, you just give the conclusion directly. In the future, when you encounter this kind of thing, you should be more careful before you speak, because trouble can come from what you say.”