This was a real rainstorm. Although the small city was built against the mountain, and the sloping ground made it easy to drain the water, the water in the city could not be drained in time after the heavy rain, so it was still knee-deep.
The shopkeeper was worried about the restaurant that was only half constructed. He didn't know if the heavy rain would damage the unfinished part of the restaurant, so he led his two waiters to the restaurant the moment the rain stopped. When they were about to reach the restaurant, the shopkeeper noticed that the knee-deep rainwater had turned milky white. He couldn't help but be curious.
One of the waiters said, "Shopkeeper, don't tell me our lime got soaked in the water?"
The shopkeeper scolded, "Shut your crow's mouth. Our lime is placed on a wooden shelf that's as tall as a person, how could it get soaked in the water? Aiyo, don't tell me the shed was washed away by the rain? "
The shopkeeper hurriedly quickened his pace. The further they went, the whiter the rainwater became. Furthermore, the water temperature was warmer. Wading through the water, his already cold legs felt especially comfortable.
"Shopkeeper, be careful. We'll reach the big pit in front."
The waiter hurriedly reminded the shopkeeper. At the same time, he felt an itch on his calf with his trousers rolled up. He thought it was a tree branch or something, so he impatiently raised his leg. However, he didn't expect that what he picked up from the murky rainwater was not a tree branch, but an arm.
Xu Lin was dead, Brother Xiang was dead, and the scoundrels that were released in the court that day were all dead without exception. Four of them had been stabbed, either through the back of the head or through the heart. They were all killed in one hit. Xu Lin, Brother Xiang, and the other three scoundrels died especially miserably. They were boiled to a pulp.
According to the coroner's analysis, someone must have subdued the three of them and thrown them into the big pit next to the restaurant. At that time, the rainwater was not yet full. Then, the murderer poured more than ten bags of lime stored under the shed into the pit. Although the pit was large and there was a lot of water, sixteen or seventeen bags of lime was enough to boil the rainwater in the pit, and the three of them were cooked alive.
There were very few people who knew that Xu Lin, Brother Xiang and the rest had committed the murder in Green Mountain Ravine. Most of them were Qi Mu's subordinates. The commoners did not know about the grudge between them and the Green Mountain Ravine's Hua Clan, so they instinctively linked it to Ye Xiaotian.
Some people said that Ai Dian Shi was actually a hidden martial arts master. Because the officials of Gourd County colluded with bandits, he couldn't redress the grievances of the people, so he acted out of anger to punish the evildoers. However, in the era of 'all things are inferior, only education is superior', a martial arts master's social status was actually not high, and people would always classify him as a hawk or a dog.
How could the 'Ai Dian Shi' who was deeply loved by the people of Gourd County have such an unskilled identity? Thus, the second theory quickly came into being and became the most mainstream legend in Gourd County. According to the legend, 'Ai Dian Shi' was a great scholar who had achieved two Jinshi status. He was the Imperial Envoy and the Inspector of the Eight Prefectures.
Because the officials of Gourd County colluded with the local tyrants, the Inspector of the Eight Prefectures was ordered by the Emperor to investigate. Of course, the Imperial Envoy couldn't be without bodyguards, so he had five masters by his side. Their configuration was basically the same as Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, Wang Chao, Ma Han, and Imperial Cat Zhan Zhao.
These experts were all hidden in the shadows, specifically following the imperial envoy's orders to eradicate evil and get rid of evil. Thus, there were people with richer imaginations who thought of Luo Daheng. Could it be that this tycoon who always stuck to the imperial envoy's side was a great personal expert like Imperial Cat Zhan Zhao? Although Law Tycoon was a local and they had always known each other, what if this damn fatty was hiding something?
The hidden master, Law Tycoon, had been running his grocery store these days because Ye Xiaotian needed to recuperate before leaving Gourd County to Shuixi to complain to the Disciplinary Bureau. Before he recovered, Law Tycoon had no excuse to escape, so he could only continue to run his grocery store.
After Hong Baichuan told his son to run his business, he really didn't seem to care about him anymore. He let him do whatever he wanted and didn't ask about any of the steps. Thus, Law Tycoon had three thousand taels of silver to spend. Five days later, when Niu Niu's mother took Niu Niu to the crossroads, she couldn't find the grocery store that she had been running for more than ten years. The entire grocery store had completely changed, and Niu Niu's mother couldn't recognize it at all.
As for Hua Yunfei, who had been hiding in the dark, as an outstanding hunter, he didn't stay in Gourd County after his successful attack. Instead, he quickly escaped and left Gourd County. An outstanding hunter wouldn't be stupid enough to stay in the same place and wait for his prey to counterattack.
He could leave, but he was sure that Qi Mu wouldn't leave, and couldn't leave. Qi Mu's family business was big, and this was the shell on Qi Mu's back. With such a heavy shell on his back, how could this snail leave?
As the instigator of the Green Mountain Ravine Massacre, Qi Mu obviously knew why Xu Lin, Brother Xiang, and the others died, so he knew very well who was coming to seek revenge.
At this time, Qi Mu was cursing at home, "Motherf * cker, I just kicked that Ai Dian Shi who doesn't know what's good for him, and now there's this Hua Yunfei! Go and find him, he won't stop after killing Xu Lin, Brother Xiang, and the others. He will definitely come to find me, drag him out for me! "
One of the thugs reported in fear and trepidation, "Sir, our brothers have already turned the entire Gourd County upside down. Even a mouse in the gutter won't be able to escape our eyes, but … there's no news of Hua Yunfei, not even a little bit."
"Then go and find him!"
Qi Mu coldly ordered, "If he's alive, I want to see him. If he's dead, I want to see his corpse. Find him for me!"
"Yes!"
The thugs retreated in a panic. Another person who looked like a counselor came up to him, "Sir, the truth of the Green Mountain Ravine Massacre is now spreading in the city. I'm afraid that within three days, the whole Gourd County will know about this."
Qi Mu was startled, "How can that be? That bastard with the surname Ai wants to find fault with me again. If this matter spreads, won't it give him an excuse? "
Even Qi Mu himself did not notice that by saying this, he was actually admitting that Ye Xiaotian could cause trouble for him. Although it was not to the extent that he was afraid of Ye Xiaotian, this kind of attitude was unprecedented for the arrogant Qi Mu.
Moreover, in his heart, Ye Xiaotian was more of a headache than the violent Hua Yunfei. Qi Mu used violence to rise to power. Although Hua Yunfei was vigilant and brave, he was not afraid of Qi Mu, who knew how to use violence and had a large number of thugs and lackeys. What really made him feel troublesome was this official Ai Dian Shi.
Qi Mu was displeased, "Hua Yunfei will not go to the government to complain. How did this matter spread?"
The counselor said, "It is said that a villager came to the city to sell his mountain products and heard about the massacre at the restaurant. He insisted that this must be Hua Yunfei's son who came to avenge his father."
Qi Mu suddenly turned around and looked at County Magistrate Meng, "You settle this matter."
County Magistrate Meng frowned, "What did Brother Qi do in the Green Mountain Ravine?"
Qi Mu coldly said: "Nothing much, just killed two old pigs and dogs who don't know what's good for them."
County Magistrate Meng helplessly said, "Then what does Brother Qi want me to do?"
Qi Mu said, "Although that Hua Yunfei is not a threat, he is still hiding in the dark. He is still a problem. I need to find him as soon as possible. Ai Dian Shi cannot cause any more trouble now. This case must be closed as soon as possible. Once the case is closed, Ai Dian Shi will not be able to make a fuss anymore."
County Magistrate Meng frowned, "Hua Yunfei came to seek revenge and killed many people. With so many lives on his back, he will not go to the government to complain. What is Brother Qi worried about?"
Qi Mu angrily said, "Nonsense! Didn't that Ai Dian Shi say that such a big case can be tried without a plaintiff? You can settle this case first. I don't want to go to court with that bastard Ai Dian anymore. "
County Magistrate Meng said, "Then … I will use this as an excuse to go to the Green Mountain Ravine personally. I will conclude that the Hua couple was killed by wild beasts and settle this case as soon as possible. Hua Yunfei, the victim, is not here. Those mountain people will not do anything and Ai Dian Shi will not be able to cause any trouble. "
"No!"
Qi Mu sneered, "Won't this show that I am afraid of them? You can conclude that the couple was stirring the lime and accidentally fell into the pit. Then they will boil themselves to death. "
County Magistrate Meng was stunned, "Won't this attract suspicion? How can two couples fall into the lime pit at the same time and not even have the chance to climb out? This does not make sense. "
Qi Mu said, "That's right! This is the result I want. I won't admit that I killed them, but I still have to let everyone know that I killed them. Do you understand? "
County Magistrate Meng was enraged. It was not because Qi Mu was making things difficult for him, but he felt that Qi Mu's thinking was not normal. For the past few years, Qi Mu's business had been smooth sailing. He gradually became the biggest business in Hulu County. He seemed to be getting carried away.
But County Magistrate Meng was already on the same boat with him. He was used to obeying Qi Mu and did not dare to refute. County Magistrate Meng endured it and said, "Brother Qi, it is hard to say if that Ai Dian Shi will not make a fuss."
Qi Mu rolled his eyes and sneered, "Then let's find some trouble for him. Let's first suspend him from his position."
County Magistrate Meng was startled and said, "His reputation in this county is like the sun in the sky. What reason can we find to suspend him?"
Qi Mu glanced at him and said, "He insisted on dealing with Xu Lin and the others. In the end, those people were killed as soon as they were released. Is he not a suspect?"
Magistrate Meng said in a daze, "Ah … Ah … Brother Qi, you're brilliant!"
County Magistrate Meng cupped his hands at Qi Mu and said, "Brother Qi, I will go back now and deal with this matter immediately."
Qi Mu nodded slightly and Meng Qingwei quickly walked out.
At this time, Ye Xiaotian, accompanied by Monitor Zhou, had just arrived in front of a courtyard with three entrances. Both of them were using crutches, one on the left and the other on the right. Both of them had bruises all over their faces. It was a typical example of brothers in hardship. Ye Xiaotian raised his head and looked at the neat and tidy courtyard. Although it was not luxurious, it was still elegant. He said in a deep voice, "Go and knock on the door!"
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