Heaven's Silence

Chapter 64 – Two clues

A Shui didn't hold back after hearing this. The two of them helped to pull down Liu Jinshi's undergarments, and she made a precise cut, hitting the target accurately. With a couple of swift movements, Liu Jinshi's backside was sliced open.

Since the body had been cleaned beforehand, there was no filth. After searching for a while and not finding what they were looking for, Wen Chaoshen instructed A Shui to continue, beginning to dissect Liu Jinshi's throat and nose.

The small knife danced like a butterfly in A Shui's hands, as if she was exceptionally familiar with human anatomy. Her cuts were smooth and precise, like a master butcher carving an ox.

Soon, A Shui let out a surprised "Huh."

"There's something here."

Seeing this, Wen Chaoshen reached in and carefully extracted a small sealed wooden tube and a protruding stone from below Liu Jinshi's throat, just before it entered the stomach.

There was a long scratch on the wall of Liu Jinshi's esophagus.

Witnessing this, Chun Qiong was stunned into silence, and Wen Chaoshen remarked:

"What a ruthless guy!"

He had no fondness for Liu Jinshi at all. If he could, he would have gladly killed this bastard himself.

But at this moment, seeing what Liu Jinshi had done, Wen Chaoshen realized he had underestimated Liu Jinshi's determination to take revenge on the big shot in the Royal City.

Swallowing this thing and lodging it in the esophagus would undoubtedly cause intense pain and discomfort.

"There's something in the nasal cavity too."

A Shui examined it closely, then took another small knife from the side, using the two knives as tweezers to gently extract another waterproof leather pouch.

"…You can hide things in the nasopharynx too?"

Chun Qiong's mouth was slightly agape, his right eyelid twitching incessantly.

He had examined the body before, but only searched the abdominal cavity, hair, and armpits. Seeing no external injuries on Liu Jinshi's body, he hadn't thought much of it, never imagining Liu Jinshi would hide things in such… unexpected places.

Wen Chaoshen searched carefully once more and, after confirming there were no omissions, said to Chun Qiong:

"Lord Chun, was I wrong?"

Chun Qiong was silent for a while, then, disregarding the disgust, spread out the items they found.

Liu Jinshi had left behind two pieces of paper of different sizes.

The larger paper had "Xingwang Mountain" written on it, along with a drawing that seemed to depict a certain place in the north of Xingwang Mountain, annotated with the words "Rainy Foggy Day."

The smaller paper had the words "Langan Pavilion, Xu Yizhi."

In the brightly lit room, the three of them stared at the two pieces of paper in silence. After a long time, Wen Chaoshen put away the larger paper, leaving the smaller one for Chun Qiong.

As he did so, he asked Chun Qiong seriously:

"Lord Chun, can the Liu Jinshi case be delayed any longer?"

Chun Qiong also put away the paper and shook his head:

"It's already been delayed too long. The city guards of Guanghan City keep urging, and my prolonged delay might have aroused their suspicion, or perhaps the White Dragon Guards are meddling… In any case, their people will arrive tomorrow."

"By then, it won't be up to me to decide whether to hand over the person."

After speaking, he looked at Wen Chaoshen's grave expression and curiously asked:

"Haven't we found everything? Why do we need to keep delaying?"

"Are you worried something might be missed?"

Wen Chaoshen shook his head.

"There's no omission, but once this case is closed… Lord Chun, your situation will become dangerous."

Chun Qiong was taken aback, recalling what Wen Chaoshen had told him during the day.

The latter's face was somber, the candlelight casting flickering shadows on his face as he continued:

"If I were that big shot in the Royal City, once the Liu Jinshi case is settled, the first thing I'd do is silence you."

Chun Qiong waved his hand:

"Impossible!"

He sneered:

"Wen Chaoshen, I admit you have some eloquence, but stop fearmongering here!"

"Liu Jinshi just died, and now another magistrate… Do you really think the officials of Qi Kingdom are just sitting around doing nothing?"

"If I were to die suddenly, it would immediately alarm many people, and then many troublesome eyes would turn to Kuhai County…"

Wen Chaoshen turned to look at him, speaking each word deliberately:

"That's exactly the problem."

"Liu Jinshi had a big secret that could directly threaten that big shot in the Royal City, but you don't."

"Investigating Liu Jinshi might indeed uncover some troublesome matters, but investigating you… what could they find?"

Chun Qiong's expression froze.

Wen Chaoshen continued to persuade:

"Even if, in the end, it's discovered that the big shot really sent someone to kill you, then what?"

"Does it affect him?"

"A simple case of a common person's death has very little impact on that big shot in the Royal City. I believe you understand this better than I do, Lord Chun."

"To that big shot, your mouth is a bigger threat than your life."

"If you want to survive… you can't just be a dog; you need to show your value. This value doesn't necessarily have to be a connection to that big shot's interests; it can also be a threat to him!"

"If you learn from Liu Jinshi, you will surely get what you wish for and become the next Liu Jinshi!"

"That's all I have to say, Lord Chun. The night is long, think carefully about my words…"

With that, Wen Chaoshen exchanged a glance with A Shui. She tossed the knife she was holding next to Liu Jinshi's body and left the room with Wen Chaoshen, leaving Chun Qiong standing alone in the center of the candlelight, lost in thought.

It was unclear how much time had passed when the sky outside turned completely dark. A shadow appeared at the door, knocking and saying:

"Master, there's a man named Lu Chuan outside the County Office asking to see you."

Upon hearing this, Chun Qiong's heart instinctively tightened.

After hesitating for a moment, he said:

"Let him in."

Before long, Lu Chuan pushed the door open and entered, his red brocade robe particularly eye-catching.

He was still accompanied by Qian Lv, whose massive black iron blade reflected a cold gleam in the candlelight.

As soon as Lu Chuan entered, he saw Liu Jinshi's dissected body, but the surroundings were very clean, with only two knives used for the dissection.

"Working late, Lord Chun still examining the body?"

Lu Chuan's eyes flashed as he smiled and approached Chun Qiong, briefly examining the body.

"Did you find anything, my lord?"

Faced with Lu Chuan's inquiry, Chun Qiong deliberately paused for a moment and did not answer, instead asking in return:

"What brings you to see me so late?"

Lu Chuan smiled and said slowly:

"Did Lord Chun grant Qi Kingdom citizenship to a refugee from outside the county a few days ago?"

Chun Qiong stood with his hands behind his back, staring at Liu Jinshi's body in a daze.

"Wen Chaoshen?"

Lu Chuan nodded.

"Yes, that's him."

"Lord Chun, I don't know if I should say this, but with the recent events in Wind City, and the current tense situation between Zhao Kingdom and Qi Kingdom, allowing a refugee into Qi Kingdom at this critical moment… isn't it inappropriate?"

Chun Qiong replied calmly:

"I've investigated this person. He has no past, having lived outside the county for the past three years, and he has no martial skills, not even considered part of the martial world. This year, the snow in Qi Kingdom came too quickly and heavily. I found him pitiful, so I gave him an identity."

Lu Chuan paced by his side, tilting his head and stretching his neck, sighing:

"You have a kind heart, but if this person accidentally disrupts the big shot's plans or causes trouble for him… can you bear that responsibility?"

Chun Qiong squinted and asked:

"What trouble could a refugee cause for the big shot?"

Lu Chuan took out a letter he had obtained from Wen Chaoshen and waved it.

"Believe it or not, trouble has already arisen."

"This person's identity was granted by you, so please handle it yourself."

"After all, our lives aren't cheap, and it would be a shame to die for such a person."