Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 425 - 97: Bizarre Murder Case (2/2)

"A murder case?"

Yan Ling nodded slightly, his brows furrowed as he replied,

"Indeed, but this murder case is rather peculiar. No one knows who the victim is."

"Even identifying the murderer is difficult."

Wang Anfeng grew curious, but also understood why Yan Ling was there.

The Imperial Grandson had been in Fufeng for seven days now. Counting from that time, this murder case must have occurred at least ten days ago. In Great Qin customs, the deceased are respected, and even unclaimed bodies are only kept at the charity mortuary for a maximum of half a month.

After a half-month, even if the related case remains unresolved, they should be buried, allowing the deceased to rest in peace.

There likely wasn’t much time left.

No wonder Yan Ling was so anxious and had set out early.

Just then, Yan Ling spoke again,

"It’s also time to punish some of the patrol officers of this county city. They are incompetent, and to avoid leaving cases unresolved, which affects the annual assessment of officials, they have even pinned the murder on ’Yi Nanping.’"

"Do they really think we are fools?"

The young man’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, showing a touch of authority, no longer the naive youth of his earlier years.

Although surprised by Yan Ling’s words, Wang Anfeng asked,

"Yi Nanping?!"

He had not heard that name for quite some time.

Yan Ling glanced at him. Although the case had some dubious aspects, it involved no secrets, and given his long acquaintance with Wang Anfeng, he nodded and said,

"Yes, the very Yi Nanping who once caused significant troubles in our Great Qin’s Fufeng and the neighboring counties."

His voice bore no disgust.

Coming from a family rooted in legalism, although he disliked Martial Artists disrupting the order of Great Qin with their martial arts, he was aware of the vastness of the world, with seventy-two counties under Great Qin and countless officials.

Even with his confidence, he knew there must be officials who were negligent, bullying, and even breaking the law themselves.

Such corrupt officials, when he heard of the deeds of Yi Nanping, he could not help but admire them.

Of course, if Yi Nanping were to appear before him now, he would definitely invite this hero to the Ministry of Punishment for a tea.

His thoughts slightly wandered, and then he noticed a hint of confusion on the face of the young man in front of him, who said,

"But hasn’t Yi Nanping disappeared from the Jianghu for a long time?"

"I remember, it’s been over a year since I heard his name last."

Yan Ling nodded slightly, intending to hurry on his way, but Wang Anfeng’s mention of the case made him open his mouth again,

"Indeed, since Yi Nanping reappeared a year ago after a long absence, no one has spotted this person in our Fufeng territory. Commonly, it would be assumed that such a person, like other notorious criminals in the past, would change their name and flee far away."

Wang Anfeng felt somewhat guilty.

He remembered that two years ago, outside the Academy, he had met a relative of Tuoba Yue. To save his life, he had taken him into the world within the Buddha Beads and taught him a mental method of the Blood River Sect.

If the bearer of this Jade Plaque were treated as one of ’Yi Nanping,’

He would indeed be many miles away, and what Yan Ling said was not wrong.

However, that foreign youth was not like Gongsun Jing, whom he used to meet monthly. The last contact had been when he left the hidden place for cultivation. He did not know how he was faring in the Northern Plains during this time.

Wang Anfeng’s thoughts slightly scattered.

Because of the mention of the case, Yan Ling’s thoughts turned to several points of suspicion within the case, not noticing the change in Wang Anfeng’s expression, and continued,

"But it is because in this murder case, the method of murder was just too similar."

"The victim was stabbed through the throat with a sword, and at the scene of the crime, a green bamboo stick was left behind, with an iron Bi’an mask hanging from the sword. Perhaps it is for this reason that some patrol officers deemed the victim as deserving of their fate. The investigation of the case was not conducted with care, and even the report’s dossier was full of similar sentiments."

"The local County Magistrate even shirked responsibility, writing it off as lacking clues or as a killing by Yi Nanping."

"Law enforcers should be as impartial as water. Such conduct truly deserves punishment…"

Yan Ling’s voice was somewhat cold, clearly very dissatisfied with the level of case resolution by those local patrol officers. Glancing at Wang Anfeng, he paused, considering that chatting here more with Wang Anfeng wouldn’t hurt, but if they continued, it might take some time and delay the resolution of the case. So, he took the initiative to end the conversation, saying,

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

"I still have a case to deal with, let’s end our chat here…"

"If you are interested in these cases, the Wind Character Tower in the Academy has many case files open to the public, involving many techniques for examining crime scenes. Even if you are not working in the Ministry of Punishment, they would be very useful should you travel in Jianghu in the future. If you have some free time, consider having a look."

"Let’s part here, and we can talk more when I am back in Fufeng City in a few days."

With that, he pulled on the reins, leaping onto his horse.

The horse shook its tail and was about to step forward when Wang Anfeng suddenly raised his hand and firmly grasped one side of Yan Ling’s reins. His entire martial prowess was based on the Shaolin Golden Bell Shield, and though his stature wasn’t imposing, his strength was formidable. The horse, although extraordinary, was firmly held by him, unable to move a step.

Yan Ling lifted his gaze towards Wang Anfeng and said,

"What is it, Anfeng?"

Wang Anfeng pursed his lips and replied,

"Big Brother Yan, may I accompany you on this case today?"

"You wish to come with me? Why?"

Yan Ling’s eyebrows slightly raised, his mind was filled with considerations about the case, and almost instinctively, his eyes carried a trace of scrutiny as he looked at Wang Anfeng, subconsciously suspecting that the young man before him might have some connection to the case or perhaps knew something about it.

However, he quickly dismissed this thought.

In his heart, he even felt a hint of self-mockery; it seemed he had been slightly obsessed with this case lately. According to what he knew, Wang Anfeng had arrived in the Fufeng County City about eight days ago, and by that time, the case had already been handed over to the Ministry of Punishment in the county city, leaving Wang Anfeng with no time to be involved in it.

Moreover, he did not believe that the young man before him would commit such an act.

The scrutiny in Yan Ling’s eyes disappeared, reverting to their usual expression, and he shook his head with a gentle tone, comforting,

"This is ultimately a homicide case, Anfeng. You are not part of the Ministry of Punishment, and you cannot rashly get involved, understand?"

This was a refusal.

Yet Wang Anfeng did not back down, looking at Yan Ling, and said,

"But according to the regulations of the Great Qin’s Ministry of Punishment, such a case requires a field investigation, and Big Brother Yan, you must have two patrol officers accompany you. Yet here you are alone, presumably because the Imperial Grandson’s inspection in Fufeng has led to martial law in the Ministry, and they’re short-staffed. The usual patrol officers do not have the necessary martial skills, so you came alone."

Yan Ling frowned and asked,

"And so?"

Seeing that Yan Ling had not directly refused, Wang Anfeng felt somewhat reassured. He would not be so concerned under normal circumstances, but this case was clearly a murder disguised under the name ’Yi Nanping.’

Yan Ling probably just suspected this and was annoyed by the local patrol officers’ hasty decisions.

But he could confirm it with absolute certainty.

The real perpetrator was still standing here...

Using his name to commit murder and, after the act, leaving behind a green bamboo mask, leading the local county officials and people to believe the victim deserved his fate.

Considering what Yan Ling had just said, Wang Anfeng felt heavy and somewhat angry. Suppressing these emotions, he said,

"Big Brother Yan, you must also know the difficulty of a sword thrust through the throat without alerting anyone nearby, nor the county officials or patrol officers in the city. This case must involve Jianghu martial artists."

Yan Ling did not object, which was essentially an admission.

Wang Anfeng paused, then, in an attempt to persuade Yan Ling, deliberately exaggerated the seriousness of the situation,

"Moreover, the perpetrator might be a martial artist with formidable sword skills, or perhaps there were multiple accomplices. It’s not impossible. Big Brother Yan, going alone, you might encounter danger. If something were to happen to you before the case is solved, you could end up in a perilous situation. As a friend, I certainly cannot ignore this."

"Even if you, Big Brother Yan, do not care about your own safety, the clues in this case might be completely lost. How could I bear it if the deceased were not vindicated?"

Yan Ling chuckled and replied,

"Not bad at making a case."

"With that reasoning, it seems I have to take you with me..."

Wang Anfeng nodded calmly and answered,

"Yes."

Yan Ling’s expression became serious, he closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before he finally sighed,

"Then come along."

"You once served as a night patrol officer in Fufeng for a few days, so it’s not like you have no connection with my ministry. However, when we reach the crime scene, do not touch anything arbitrarily, refrain from acting recklessly, and do not disturb the balance of Heaven and Earth, causing anomalies, understand?"

Only then did Wang Anfeng feel relieved, nodding,

"Understood."

Yan Ling shook his head, lightly kicking his horse’s flank, while Wang Anfeng had already loosened his grip. With a long neigh, the horse dashed forwards.

Wang brushed up his movement technique, easily keeping up with the sprinting horse, then suddenly remembered something and asked,

"Big Brother Yan, how much time is left on this case?"

Yan Ling knew he was asking about the time until the body would be buried, his expression grew solemn, and he replied,

"Two days."

Meanwhile,

A carriage stopped in front of Fufeng Academy.

PS: Today’s second update...