Chapter 86: The Despicable Person

Li Lin found it somewhat absurd.

He did not know how other people felt when they were falsely accused, but he only wanted to laugh.

Hearing Huang Yan’s question, Li Lin said,

“Four days ago, I did indeed meet Chief Escort He and discuss the matter of going to Jin City with him. But afterward, I felt that the group traveling to Jin City was too small and not very safe, so I dropped the idea.”

“What did you intend to do in Jin City?” Huang Yan asked.

“I wanted to commission several women’s ornamental hairpins from the Goldworks Bureau.”

Everyone around them let out an understanding “Oh.”

Huang Yan smiled as well.

He felt he could already guess who those women’s ornaments were meant for, or rather, what preparations they were intended for.

He immediately looked at the kneeling Madam Guo, his expression turning cold.

“Based solely on your own words, you want to frame a Spirit Hunter? Are you being far too presumptuous? Do you think this official is a fool?”

Madam Guo knelt and repeatedly knocked her head against the floor.

This woman cried and pleaded,

“This common woman merely said that he might be connected to my husband’s disappearance. I did not deliberately frame him. This common woman is willing to spend every last coin of the family fortune, so long as Your Excellency will uphold justice for me.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Yan became even more furious.

He slammed the judge’s block heavily against the desk.

A tremendous crash echoed throughout the court hall.

Madam Guo shrank her neck in fright.

“You dare openly attempt to bribe this official in front of so many witnesses. Guards, apply the punishment.”

The moment Madam Guo heard those words, she was stunned.

Two yamen runners approached and lifted her hands, placing them into a finger-press torture device.

The kind specifically used to crush all ten fingers.

It was extremely cruel.

Madam Guo shouted loudly,

“County Magistrate, I truly am willing to scatter all my family wealth. I only wish to avenge my husband. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Excellency.”

Huang Yan snorted.

“Apply the punishment.”

The finger press tightened.

Madam Guo screamed as all ten fingers were crushed, her body writhing continuously.

Her blood vitality was clearly abundant, suggesting she possessed considerable martial skill, yet she did not dare resist.

The screams continued for quite some time before Huang Yan snorted.

“You should be ready to tell the truth now.”

Madam Guo had bitten her lips until they bled.

Trembling, she said,

“I beg Your Excellency... investigate thoroughly.”

“Continue the punishment.”

Madam Guo let out another scream and soon fainted.

Huang Yan snorted.

“Lock her up for the time being.”

Two yamen runners came over and dragged Madam Guo away.

The atmosphere in the court hall immediately improved considerably.

Su Huafang walked over and asked,

“How did you offend Madam Guo of the Longwind Escort Agency?”

Li Lin smiled bitterly.

“I’ve never even met her. How could I have offended her?”

Huang Yan stroked his long beard atop the court platform.

After pondering for a while, he said,

“This matter is highly suspicious.”

Not long afterward, a constable returned from outside with several yamen runners.

The constable cupped his fists and reported,

“County Magistrate, we have already investigated. Many escorts from the Longwind Escort Agency are missing. At the same time, Madam Guo’s two sons and one daughter have also disappeared.”

Huang Yan snorted.

“There is indeed something sinister behind this case. Constable Yan, quietly sound out Madam Guo in prison and see whether there are hidden circumstances. Everyone else will investigate the Longwind Escort Agency. The Spirit Hunters will come along as well. We should be able to find some clues.”

The group dispersed.

Soon a large crowd arrived at the escort agency.

The Longwind Escort Agency was extremely deserted.

Only a few escorts remained on guard.

They did not dare obstruct an official investigation and could only stand to the side, watching helplessly.

Everyone searched the premises once and found nothing unusual.

After thinking for a moment, Li Lin said,

“Wait here. I’ll be back shortly.”

With that, he used his lightness movement technique to leap and bound away, quickly returning to his new residence.

He retrieved his mask before rushing back to the Longwind Escort Agency.

He climbed onto the roof of the tallest building and put on the mask.

Very quickly, he noticed something wrong.

Jumping back down, he pointed toward a pond.

“There’s a trace of yin energy in there. Check whether there are any hidden mechanisms nearby.”

Several yamen runners and Spirit Hunters immediately began searching the area.

Now that they had a target, it was easy to identify suspicious locations.

A yamen runner quickly discovered a mechanism and pressed it.

Soon the pond water drained away, revealing an underground passage.

Before anyone could descend, a person suddenly flew out.

This person’s hair was disheveled and covered his face.

He was wearing an escort’s uniform.

Yet Su Huafang still recognized him and shouted,

“That Daoist...”

The Daoist landed some distance away, then brushed aside his hair.

A deathly pale green face, like that of a corpse, was revealed before everyone.

“I never expected you people to find this place so quickly.”

Then he looked at Li Lin and stared at the mask on his face.

“A ghostly artifact... Boy, I didn’t expect you to have some ability after all.”

By now everyone had already surrounded him.

Yet the Daoist was completely unhurried.

He snorted and laughed.

“You think you can capture me? You’re far from capable enough. Hahahaha!”

He laughed loudly.

Then his head and body separated once again.

The head flew away while the body remained where it was.

A moment later, the body collapsed stiffly to the ground.

Su Huafang threw out two copper bells attached to silk threads in an attempt to keep the head from escaping.

But he missed.

Li Lin formed hand seals.

However, before he was even halfway through, the head had already flown far away.

The speed of that technique was simply too fast.

He could only interrupt the spell and remove his mask.

At that moment, the constable walked over and said,

“Judging by the corpse spots on that headless body, it has been dead for at least two days. Furthermore, there are signs of stitching around the neck.”

Everyone returned to the court hall and reported the situation.

After thinking for a while, Huang Yan led Li Lin and the others to the prison.

Madam Guo was currently sitting in a corner with her head lowered and hair hanging loose.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head.

The moment she saw Huang Yan, she crawled over on both hands and feet and shouted,

“County Magistrate, I beg you, please avenge my husband...”

Huang Yan interrupted her.

“Patrol Hunter Li has already found that demonic man in the secret tunnel beneath your Longwind Escort Agency.”

Madam Guo froze.

A look of despair appeared on her face.

After a while, she slowly sat back down on the floor and continued sobbing.

After letting her cry for some time, Huang Yan asked,

“Do you have anything else to say now?”

“I beg the County Magistrate to grant me death.”

“Why?”

“You found that demonic man. My three children were already being held hostage by him. Now that his whereabouts have been exposed, they are no longer useful and will naturally be killed by him.”

Her words were filled with hopeless sorrow.

“My husband is gone, and now my children as well... What meaning is there in continuing to live alone in this world?”

Then she suddenly grabbed the prison bars and stared fixedly at Li Lin.

“It’s you, it’s all because of you! If you hadn’t provoked that accursed demonic man, if you hadn’t come to the Longwind Escort Agency to meet my husband a few days ago, how could my Guo family have attracted that demon’s attention and suffered the destruction of our household? You’re a walking disaster.”

Hearing this, Huang Yan could not help but angrily say,

“Utter nonsense.”

Li Lin laughed lightly.

“You’re quite interesting. The one who harmed your entire family was clearly that Daoist. Why insist on placing the blame on me? Is it because I look easier to talk to?”

Madam Guo ignored him completely and continued staring at Li Lin.

“It’s you. It’s you...”

She kept muttering the words, her voice filled with resentment and hatred.

“We’re leaving.”

Huang Yan snorted.

“An ignorant peasant woman. Speaking even one extra word to her is a waste of breath.”

Everyone left.

Only a half-crazed woman remained behind in the prison.