Chapter 29: Shadows Over Feilei City

Lei Chunlan… dead?

Si Mu Bai’s movements froze, and the jade-green tea in his cup even splashed a little.

He fixed his gaze on his trusted aide. “Lei Chunlan… wasn’t she supposed to be inside Jinhuang Pavilion? How could she be dead?”

“And wasn’t a guard perfected in Tendon Burst dispatched to protect her? Even in a crisis, could they not hold her for even a moment?”

Si Mu Bai’s expression darkened.

Lei Chunlan had come on behalf of the Lingying Sect to negotiate with him, and now… Lei Chunlan is dead!

She died just after finishing her discussion with him…

Between the pavilions, the atmosphere turned abruptly cold and grim. The raging currents and swirling snow all took on a razor-sharp edge.

Xu Beihu had planned to take his leave, but now he hesitated, his eyes flickering uncertainly while surprise stirred in his heart.

A peculiar thought began to take root in his mind.

Li Che had just seen Lei Chunlan…

Was Lei Chunlan killed the moment she turned away?

What a coincidence?!

How could such an extraordinary coincidence occur?!

Si Mu Bai stood, setting his cup down. “Old Guo, lead the way. Let’s go take a look.”

Guo Zhan, the battle-hardened warrior, clasped his fists in greeting and turned to lead the way ahead.

……

……

Before the incident, Li Che had left Jinhuang Pavilion, circled the winding roads of the Inner City several times to ensure no one was tailing him, and then returned to the alley where he had earlier stashed his clothes.

After shedding his black garb and restoring his vitality and true form, he changed into his own clothes.

He crumpled the Wooden Carving Mask to pieces and let out a long sigh.

The moment Lei Chunlan died, Li Che felt as if a massive weight had been lifted—though only briefly before that relief was drowned by unease. Raising his hand, his pure, jade-like palm stirred as wisps of energy coiled like small serpents, rapidly swirling.

“Divine nature…”

“The Spirit Infant Cult Leader’s divine nature?”

“The devoured divine nature is hidden within the Thousand Analysis Hand… but to what end?”

With the situation urgent, Li Che didn’t waste time pondering it.

After leaving the alley, he stopped by a shop to buy a box of Osmanthus Cake, then went to a restaurant to pack some fine wine and delicacies he had pre-ordered, and finally found an old coachman parked by the roadside, puffing on a pipe.

“Old man, it’s ready. Please take me back to my woodcarving shop…”

Li Che smiled as he handed over a small jar of yellow wine he had packed from the restaurant.

The coachman, visibly anxious, tried to decline, but failing that, he accepted it with a broad smile before deftly driving off.

Accompanied by the rhythmic clatter of hooves on bluestone pavement,

they shattered the bitter, drifting snow.

They steadily rode toward the Outer City.

……

……

In a small courtyard.

White snow stained red with blood, and a guard’s body severed in two lay mournfully beneath the falling flakes.

A heavy, pungent stench of blood hung in the air.

The rustling of snow broke the silence as Si Mu Bai and Xu Beihu stepped into the courtyard, crunching through the thick layer.

Draped in a crane cape, Si Mu Bai observed the grisly scene with a dark expression. “Crushed and killed—utterly helpless…”

“The culprit must be incredibly powerful—a guard perfected in Tendon Burst wouldn’t stand a chance. He couldn’t even send a signal. He’s no novice in Bone Tempering… perhaps even a master.”

Si Mu Bai’s keen eyes immediately gauged the overwhelming strength of the enemy the guard had faced.

“The wounds seem inflicted by a sharp instrument, yet they lack the typical marks of a blade…”

Guo Zhan, experienced in such matters, crouched by the corpse and said in a low, grim tone.

Draped in a fox cape, Xu Beihu studied the impeccably smooth cut on the guard’s body, a flicker of recognition stirring within him…

That wound… seems somehow familiar.

He couldn’t help but recall the manner of death of Sun Changbiao, the woodcarver from his Outer City woodcarving shop…

Could it be… that the murderer is the same person?

Si Mu Bai stepped past the guard’s corpse and entered the room, where the heat from burning coal mingled with the overpowering, nauseating stench of blood.

Meanwhile, Lei Chunlan’s body was nailed to the wooden floor—a death so tragic it defied description.

A Wanted Notice. A ghastly corpse.

Like a spectral demon from hell roaming the mortal world, exacting a ruthless judgment!

Xu Beihu narrowed his eyes, a subtle look of realization crossing his rugged face as he concluded…

The killer of Lei Chunlan…

is none other than the one who also murdered Sun Changbiao!

The identical method—the telltale wooden arrow and the slit cuts as fine as threads—basically confirmed the killer’s identity.

“The criminal, Ogre…”

Xu Beihu exhaled deeply.

Just who is he?!

To commit murder in the Outer City, within a woodcarving shop guarded with utmost security…

yet to boldly slay someone inside the more heavily guarded, jointly operated Jinhuang Pavilion!

Arrogant… and enigmatic!

Who on earth is he?

Which clan does he belong to?

“Who is Ogre?”

Hearing Xu Beihu’s mutter, Si Mu Bai cast a cold glance his way.

Xu Beihu then briefly explained the situation.

“Ogre, huh? To dare commit a crime inside Jinhuang Pavilion—how audacious, showing no respect for us families of Feilei!”

Si Mu Bai’s clenched fist, hidden in his sleeve, tightened suddenly as he coldly, brimming with murderous intent, uttered a word.

In his eyes, ripples of divine energy spread, accompanied by a constant sound of wailing like ghostly laments.

Xu Beihu’s heart skipped a beat as he stole a glance at Si Mu Bai, noting the intensity of his divine power.

It seemed Si Mu Bai was nearing his Divine Foundation—his divine energy nearly uncontrollable.

Accompanied by approaching footsteps and a surge of raw energy, several figures emerged from outside the courtyard. At their head was a man clad in a black-red robe, a knife at his waist, his eyes sharp and commanding.

“Young Master Xu, Young Master Si, you’re both here.”

The newcomer clasped his fists, his voice deep and powerful.

“So, it’s Detective Zhang. Please, Detective, could you come with us?” Si Mu Bai’s expression normalized, though his anger partly gave way to a trace of weeping indignation.

Both Xu Beihu and Si Mu Bai greeted the newcomer cordially.

After all, this man was Detective Zhang Xiangyang, one of the three top detectives of the Feilei City Government Office, dispatched by the Imperial Court, whose martial prowess and divine cultivation were formidable.

Detectives earn their title because of the divine essence they cultivate—a power far beyond that of ordinary warriors.

With his hand resting on the hilt of his knife, Zhang Xiangyang slowly approached. Entering the room, he took in the sight of Lei Chunlan’s corpse and the Wanted Notice.

“Heh, so the deceased was a wanted criminal after all… Tsk, after the murder a Wanted Notice was issued. The killer fancies himself a hero, yet he has clearly broken the martial code.”

“Let’s first identify the culprit…”

Detective Zhang said that, and the next moment, he stepped forward.

Boom!!!

His hair bristled and a trace of gray shimmer flashed across his eyes—that was his cultivated divine essence…

A hint of fear immediately filled the air—a remnant of terror that had emanated from Lei Chunlan in life, now fully captured in Zhang Xiangyang’s eyes.

“A massive frame, over nine feet tall, wearing a conical hat and black attire, exuding formidable vitality, and sporting… an Ogre mask…”

The gray shimmer in Zhang Xiangyang’s eyes vanished as he refocused, murmuring, “The heinous criminal wanted in the Outer City looks just like this—it’s Ogre.”

“Crimes in the Outer City are one thing, but daring to commit murder in the Inner City? Ogre… must have quite the backing.”

Zhang Xiangyang sneered. Without powerful allies, how could one dare to kill in the Inner City?

The prominent families and the corrupt government offices are not to be trifled with.

“Detective Zhang’s ‘Fear Inducing Radiance’ divine power is growing ever stronger—soon, he’ll be the top detective of Feilei City.”

Si Mu Bai clapped his hands with a bittersweet laugh.

Zhang Xiangyang stole a glance at Si Mu Bai’s nearly uncontrollable divine energy and smiled, “Young Master Si, you’re the one on the verge of breaking through your Divine Foundation—congratulations!”

After his remark, Zhang Xiangyang turned to look at the few constables behind him.

“Let’s head back to the office to redraw the Wanted Notice for Ogre, upping the bounty to 300…”

Zhang Xiangyang recalled the overwhelming, oppressive image of Ogre he had seen through Lei Chunlan’s fear…

“Forget it—set the bounty at 500 taels instead!”

PS: Please continue reading. Check out the reading rankings at the final chapter! PK is underway. Many thanks, old Li!