He didn't know how long he had been lost in the camphor forest.
This was the first time Yan Li had been lost. He had a strong sense of direction since he was young, but this was the first time he had been lost. This experience wasn't new or interesting. If it was a person with a weak heart, they would have been driven crazy by the oppressive dense forest in less than an hour.
Yan Li tried several methods but couldn't find the way out. He knew that this camphor forest must have been created by a metaphysical expert. He hadn't studied metaphysics. If he wanted to leave this place, he would have to fly.
However, he wasn't discouraged. He believed that when the sky brightened, this little maze wouldn't be able to stop him.
But now he could only wait.
Waiting was undoubtedly a long process.
Fortunately, cultivators could still meditate to pass time.
When Yan Li opened his eyes, the sky just happened to cast the first ray of light. He quickly climbed up a camphor tree and climbed to the top, where he could see a vast forest in all directions.
It seemed that his estimate was a bit optimistic.
But from the outside, the Zhang Estate didn't look very big. Even if all the other places except Zhang Huaibi's courtyard were used for planting, it wouldn't be to such an exaggerated extent.
Yan Li concluded that this was another smokescreen.
He was helpless when he encountered something he wasn't good at. He could only use the stupidest method, randomly choose a direction and walk forward.
But after walking for a long time, he still went around the same place because he had already circled back to the marked tree more than ten times.
"Benefactor … Benefactor …"
At this moment, a voice came from an unknown direction. He really couldn't tell north from south.
Turning in that direction, he saw a glimmer of light shining in the vast forest. His heart moved and he rushed in that direction. Not long after, he saw Li Rulong carrying a white lantern and looking around anxiously. He was overjoyed when he saw Yan Li. "Benefactor, you really are here. I've been looking for you for so long …"
"Why did you come in …"
Li Rulong smiled. "Benefactor, don't worry. I've long heard of the strangeness of this forest, so I came in with a rope …"
Yan Li then realized that he was tied with a red rope.
He followed Li Rulong outside and suddenly noticed that his face was serious. He couldn't help but ask, "What happened outside?"
Li Rulong forced a smile. "Someone died again."
"Who died?" Yan Li asked.
"Steward Hu is dead," Li Rulong said.
Yan Li raised his eyebrows and quickened his pace.
After leaving the Camphor Wood Forest, he saw that there were many officials in the yard. Rong City was different from the Wushen Fortress. The military and the government were not integrated. Strictly speaking, murder cases were under the jurisdiction of the government. The military could not intervene.
Of course, Yan Li was appointed by the Emperor himself, so he was naturally outside the system.
At this moment, a middle-aged man who looked like a constable walked over and said bluntly, "I'm Sun Bo, the chief of detectives of Rong City. Are you Yan Li? Where were you last night when Steward Hu died? "
Yan Li glanced at him. This person was unkempt and had stubble all over his face. His constable uniform looked very dirty, and his tone was very lazy. This kind of person was usually a casual person, but he had interrogated him as a suspect. It was clear that he did not have a good impression of him at all.
"Where is Steward Hu's body?" Of course, Yan Li would not be polite to him.
"How dare you speak to our chief of detectives like this!" A constable walked over and reprimanded him.
Yan Li's face darkened. "Where is Steward Hu's body!"
"Over there, over there …" The constable's heart trembled. He pointed to the yard next door and said.
"Wait!" Sun Bo suddenly reached out to stop Yan Li.
His sleeves were stained with some sort of vegetable juice. It looked oily, muddy, and disgusting.
Yan Li was disgusted to be blocked by such a sleeve, but he was not willing to back down. He said coldly, "What do you want?"
Sun Bo smiled and said, "You are an expert on the Heavenly Son Ranking. What can a constable like me do to you? But please answer my question. Where were you last night when Steward Hu died? "
Yan Li said, "What if I don't answer?"
Sun Bo withdrew his hand and shrugged. He said, "You are a Guardian of Golden Insignia appointed by His Majesty. What can I do to you?"
Yan Li frowned slightly. He did not say anything and strode to the yard next door.
When he arrived, several servants and maids were crying around the body. What surprised him was that Shen Liuyun was also there.
Seeing Yan Li coming in, Shen Liuyun bit her teeth and her eyes were red. "I remember when I was a child, when the Zhang family was still in Yongling, Steward Hu and Uncle Zhang used to hug me. But now …"
When Yan Li saw the body, he was a little surprised. The cause of death was not a cut throat, but a decapitation.
Yan Li wanted to comfort her, but he did not know what to say. He thought for a while and said, "When did the former master of the Zhang family die? What was the cause of death? "
Shen Liuyun said, "He died of illness three years ago. Uncle Zhang's health had always been poor. He needed camphor to control the pain. "
"Camphor?" Yan Li's heart skipped a beat.
Shen Liuyun nodded. "Special spices are added to camphor to make people hallucinate and get rid of physical pain."
Yan Li nodded and said, "I know. Teacher, take care of yourself. "With that, he turned around and left.
Shen Liuyun looked at his back with pain and conflict in her eyes. She hesitated for a while and finally said, "Wait!"
Yan Li stopped.
"If, if there is anything you need help with, I will do my best," Shen Liuyun said.
"Thank you." Yan Li said and left.
Hearing these two words and looking at Yan Li's back that did not stop, Shen Liuyun only felt bitter.
…
After leaving the Zhang family, as soon as he returned to his residence, someone rushed in before he could even sit down. "Yan Li, bad news …"
Yan Li recognized it was a student from the Outer Yard. He said calmly, "What's wrong with me?"
The student's face was full of anxiety. "No, it's not you, it's Ruan. Teacher Ruan is dead. His Majesty wants you to go over immediately."
Yan Li's hand that was holding a cup of water stopped immediately. He then slowly put the bowl on the table and said, "How did he die?"
The student sighed and said, "Just like Zhang Huaibi …"
"Lead the way."
Yan Li had never been to the temporary official residence of the Jin Wu Guards. As the Jin Wu Guard, he was appointed by His Majesty. Yet, he could not even live in the official residence. It was really cold.
The official residence was located in the south of the city. It was a big house with three entrances under a big banyan tree.
When the two arrived, they saw an old man selling sesame seed cakes on a cart. The old man shouted from afar, "Brother, buy a sesame seed cake to eat. The sesame seed cake I make is well known. I'm honest with young and old …"
The two of them were feeling hungry, so they bought two sesame seed cakes and ate them with the plain water the old man gave them.
"I've heard of Ruan Tianhe. He's a very strong Rank-1 martial artist. I didn't expect him to be assassinated," Li Rulong said.
Yan Li said, "Zhang Huaibi is dead. Ruan Tianhe is nothing. If the assassin's murderous nature was unleashed, all of us would have died."
Li Rulong said, "What do you think the assassin's goal is, Sir Benefactor?"
Yan Li said, "It's all about fame and fortune."
The student said anxiously, "Hurry up and eat. His Majesty is waiting for you."
Yan Li said, "When was the body discovered?"
The student said, "When His Majesty summoned everyone this morning, Teacher Ruan didn't come. So, I went to his room to look for him. I didn't expect him to be dead."
"Let's go take a look."
Ji Zhiyuan was outside Ruan Tianhe's room. When he saw Yan Li coming over, he said, "We can't let any more people die. Can you decipher the killer's intentions?"
Yan Li shook his head and walked into Ruan Tianhe's room. He discovered that Ruan Tianhe had also died sitting on a chair. When he died, he looked like he had discovered something horrifying. Half of his face was contorted, and the bloody hole in his neck was identical to Ye Qing and Zhang Huaibi's. It was clear that the killer's control over his strength had reached a pinnacle.
Ruan Tianhe was one of the best among the Rank-1 martial artists. He did not expect to die here. He taught assassination techniques in the Academy. Perhaps he did not expect that he would be assassinated one day.
Ji Zhiyuan walked in, anger written all over her pretty face. "What is the killer trying to do?"
Yan Li suddenly sniffed and said with a frown, "Do you smell alcohol?"
Ji Zhiyuan took a whiff. Indeed, there was.
At this moment, Li Rulong said awkwardly, "Lord Benefactor, Your Majesty, the smell of alcohol is on my lower body …"
Yan Li looked at his trousers and shook his head with a sigh. "I thought I found a clue."
Ji Zhiyuan said, "I can't figure out why he would want to kill Ruan Tianhe."
"He's sending a signal," Yan Li said.
Ji Zhiyuan said, "What signal?"
Yan Li said, "I'm omnipotent. You have to fulfill my wish."
Ji Zhiyuan said, "What does he want?"
Yan Li said, "Unless he's crazy, killing must be accompanied by benefits. Be it Ruan Tianhe or Zhang Huaibi, they're just one of the sacrifices."
Ji Zhiyuan said, "What does he want?"
Yan Li shook his head. "There are many things I can't be sure of. When I find concrete evidence, I'll know the killer's motive."
Ji Zhiyuan said, "You still have one and a half days." Then, he turned and left.
Yan Li spent another hour but still couldn't find any clues.
When he left, he met Sun Bo again. He walked over from afar and pinched his nose. "You two should change your clothes …"
Yan Li just remembered that it had been eight days since he last took a bath. He went to buy a set of clothes and returned to his residence to take a bath.
Of course, he had to take off his clothes. While he was taking off his clothes, a piece of paper suddenly fell.
He picked it up and saw that it was a folded square piece of paper with faint handwriting.
When did this piece of paper come?
Thinking back, he had been on the move ever since he returned to Rong City. During this period, he had come into contact with many people, but the only person who had the chance to put a piece of paper in his pocket was Sun Bo.
It was probably Sun Bo who had secretly let it in when he reached out to stop him.
Why did he do that? Couldn't he have just given it to him?
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