It couldn’t have been Provincial Administrator Song who died, as he had ample time to escape. There was no reason for him to wait for death at home.
The Dream Shaman killing to silence was unlikely, as it hadn’t reached that point yet. There was still enough time to retreat, with no need for extreme measures.
So why create the illusion of suicide out of guilt?
Xu Qi An had two theories: First, Provincial Administrator Song was also a scapegoat. Killing him to silence him would cut off the trail. Meanwhile, fabricating a suicide out of guilt would mislead Governor Zhang.
Second, Provincial Administrator Song was buying time.
Earlier, when discussing the case, Xu Qi An, Governor Zhang, and others had agreed that if the opponent was cornered, it would undoubtedly result in a bloodbath.
That’s why Governor Zhang conducted two surprise raids, breaking protocol to deny the enemy a chance to react.
But this time, it seemed the enemy had moved one step ahead.
“If it’s about buying time, then Provincial Administrator Song’s corpse must be fake. How could an experienced coroner not detect a disguise? Unless the coroner is a werewolf…”
Based on this speculation, the Governor was in danger.
At this moment, Governor Zhang only had the Tiger Warriors and Jiang Lu Zhong with him. Most of the Night Watchmen were guarding the post station. Although Jiang Lu Zhong was formidable, let’s not forget that the opponent also had a fourth-rank Dream Shaman.
If Jiang Lu Zhong was tied up by the Dream Shaman, how could the Tiger Warriors alone protect the Governor’s safety?
The physically powerful Silver and Bronze Gongs were the backbone of this guard detail.
Provincial Administrator Song had been entrenched in Baidi City for years. Yang Chuan Nan was now a prisoner, leaving him unchallenged. Although he couldn’t mobilize the garrison troops, the Five Cities Cavalry in the city took orders from the Provincial Administration Office…
Realizing this, Xu Qi An immediately summoned all the Night Watchmen in the post station and shared his speculations with them.
Upon hearing this, the Night Watchmen’s faces turned gravely serious. Although some remained skeptical, when it came to the Governor’s safety, it was better to err on the side of caution.
“Leave four people to guard the post station, the rest come with me,” a Silver Gong commanded.
He glanced at Xu Qi An: “Xu Ning Yan, you stay and guard the post station.”
Everyone knew Xu Qi An’s condition, unsuitable for high-intensity combat. Going along wouldn’t showcase his outstanding combat prowess.
Horses were brought, and over ten Night Watchmen galloped towards Provincial Administrator Song’s mansion.
…
“Ning Yan, why have things turned out like this?” Song Ting Feng’s face was grim, his eyes filled with unease and anxiety.
As a Bronze Gong, he didn’t have access to case secrets. To Song Ting Feng and the other Night Watchmen, the case progress seemed disjointed and leaping.
After returning from the inspection, Xu Qi An had solved the puzzle, and Governor Zhang had arrested Commandant Yang Chuan Nan.
After Li Miao Zhen visited the post station, the case seemed to have taken a turn, but they still didn’t know the specifics.
Then today, a group of escort agency guards brought in a cripple. After the Governor’s private interrogation, it turned out that Provincial Administrator Song was the mastermind behind it all.
It wasn’t until just now, when Xu Qi An told the Night Watchmen the general course of events, that they finally understood.
Song Ting Feng now knew the case’s progress and the current situation, but the sudden news still needed time to digest.
“There’s a saying that the battlefield changes in an instant. It’s the same with investigations. The enemy won’t wait for you to gather evidence step by step, prepare thoroughly, and then surrender,” Xu Qi An remained relatively calm, after all, there was the high-ranking martial artist Jiang Lu Zhong and a group of powerful Night Watchmen.
“Ting Feng, leave the city immediately and find Li Miao Zhen. Tell her what’s happening in the city.”
To be on the safe side, Xu Qi An decided to seek help from the Flying Swallow Army. Li Miao Zhen’s private army was extremely powerful, gathering martial arts experts from all over, with formidable fighting strength.
“Alright!”
Song Ting Feng got up to leave, then quickly returned, ran upstairs, and came back a few minutes later in ordinary civilian clothes.
Clever… Xu Qi An silently praised him, while self-reflecting, I didn’t even remind him to change into civilian clothes, has my sanity dropped so much?
Song Ting Feng mounted a small mare that wouldn’t get stuck in traffic and trotted away.
But half an hour later, he came galloping back, rushing into the post station with a grim face: “Ning Yan, the city gates are closed.”
…Xu Qi An silently looked at him, his heart sinking to the bottom.
“I feel like something bad is about to happen.”
Xu Qi An couldn’t sit still anymore and started pacing in the hall.
“What could happen? Golden Gong Jiang is a fourth-rank martial artist. In the jianghu, he’d be a local hegemon. Besides, the other colleagues have gone too,” Song Ting Feng comforted, also trying to reassure himself and boost his confidence.
Even with Great Zhou’s national strength, currently, only the Northern Border King was a third-rank martial artist. The fourth rank indeed allowed one to strut through the jianghu. Xu Qi An was used to seeing fourth-rank experts in the capital, but that was the capital, the core of Great Zhou.
Of course, the jianghu was deep, and there might be one or two-thousand-year-old tortoises hidden away.
“The other three city gates must be closed too. Provincial Administrator Song… or the Shaman God Cult behind him, clearly intends to trap us like rats,” Xu Qi An paced back and forth:
“Have you considered that they of course know Golden Gong Jiang is fourth-rank, yet they dare to do this? It means they’ve made ample preparations.
“Maybe they’ve been plotting since they dream-interrogated you and Guang Xiao. As long as we didn’t pin down Provincial Administrator Song, they could remain patient and bide their time.
“But once we knew Provincial Administrator Song was the mastermind, they would overturn the chessboard without hesitation.”
“Then what?” Song Ting Feng’s voice trembled slightly: “Even if they kill the Governor, aren’t they afraid of the court sending troops to suppress them?”
“Isn’t this exactly what the Qi faction and Shaman God Cult have been planning for years?” Xu Qi An looked at him, “If not for rebellion, why would they cause so much trouble?”
Song Ting Feng felt a bit panicked, but as a seasoned Night Watchman who had seen his share of storms, he wasn’t completely at a loss.
“We must find a way to get the information out and mobilize the garrison troops,” he said.
“The Governor originally planned to have Golden Gong Jiang kill Commander Xu Hu Chen and other leaders tonight. They can count themselves lucky to have escaped that fate,” Xu Qi An responded before falling into deep thought.
Old Song had a point; they needed to get the message out.
Yunzhou ultimately didn’t belong to the Song family, otherwise the Qi faction and Shaman God Cult wouldn’t need to be so secretive. Leaving aside the various counties, at least in Baidi City, the garrison led by Yang Chuan Nan could challenge Provincial Administrator Song’s authority.
Provincial Administrator Song framing Yang Chuan Nan might not have been without the intention of eliminating opposition. Misfortune might be a blessing in disguise… Xu Qi An couldn’t help but think of this possibility.
But Yang Chuan Nan was currently a prisoner, not yet cleared of suspicion. Moreover, even if Xu Qi An wanted to use him, the severely injured old Yang couldn’t leave the city.
“How about fighting our way out of the city?” Zhu Guang Xiao, who had been silent for a long time, said in a muffled voice.
This path was dangerous, but it was the only solution he could think of.
“There are only four Bronze Gongs in the post station now, facing hundreds of city defense troops, or even more… it’s very risky,” Song Ting Feng shook his head, rejecting the proposal.
The city defense troops weren’t a motley crew; they were well-equipped with bows and firearms. There must be several skilled fighters among them. Relying on just the four of them, even if they could fight their way out of the city, it would take considerable effort.
By the time they reached the military camp and notified the Flying Swallow Army, then fought their way back… the turmoil in Baidi City might already be over.
There’s another way!
Xu Qi An touched the small jade mirror in his pocket, lamenting: I don’t want to face social death.
“I have a way to notify the Flying Swallow Army,” Xu Qi An said, then quickly waved his hand: “You don’t need to ask more. Ting Feng, and Guang Xiao, you two stay at the post station to guard Yang Chuan Nan and Liang You Ping. If either of them makes any suspicious moves, execute them on the spot!”
“What do you mean by that?” Song Ting Feng was stunned.
“I need to rush to the Governor’s side… I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling,” Xu Qi An said in a low voice.
With that, he left the post station, took a horse, and headed towards Provincial Administrator Song’s mansion.
The streets were bustling with people, citizens going about their daily lives, completely unaware that a dramatic change was about to unfold.
However, this had little to do with them. Whether Yunzhou changed hands or not, they would continue living as usual.
Xu Qi An held the reins with one hand and took out the jade fragment with the other. He didn’t directly message Number Two, but first @’ed Daoist Jin Lian.
[Three: Daoist Jin Lian, has your injury healed?]
He estimated that Daoist Jin Lian’s injury should have healed by now. The last time he asked for medicine from Luo Yu Heng on his behalf was almost a month ago. If the injury hadn’t healed by now, that would be pushing it.
[Nine: Thanks for your concern, I’ve been fully recovered for some time.]
“Phew…” Xu Qi An breathed a sigh of relief. At least that was a silver lining in this unfortunate situation.
[Three: Please block the others for me. I have important matters to discuss with Number Two.]
What business does Number Three have with Number Two that’s so secretive?
The “Heaven and Earth Society” members scattered across the land stared at the mirror’s message, their chests filled with curiosity.
But after waiting for a long time, they realized that no more messages were coming through the Earth book fragments. They understood that their fragments had been temporarily blocked, unable to receive any more information.
This secret technique was only mastered by Earth Sect Daoists. Back then, the Daoist Zi Lian had used the same method to block all of them.
“This secret technique is infuriating…” The little barbarian girl from the Southern Frontier angrily threw her jade mirror to the ground. With a “boom,” the ground shook violently, and the jade mirror was embedded in the earth.
[Nine: Number Three, you can speak now. Besides me and Number Two, no one can see your messages.]
They’ve been disconnected… Daoist, actually I don’t want you to see my messages either. Although you’ve always been a cold observer of my actions when it comes to social death, the fewer witnesses, the better… Xu Qi An complained internally while slowing down his horse. Using his finger as a pen, he wrote:
[Number Two, can you see this?]
Li Miao Zhen, who had been waiting, instantly replied: [What do you want to discuss with me?]
Relying on a woman’s sixth sense, she felt that what Number Three was about to say might be related to his cousin, Xu Qi An.
Otherwise, with one in the Cloud Deer Academy in the capital and the other in Baidi City of Yunzhou, separated by tens of thousands of miles, what could they possibly have to discuss?
[Nine: Do you need me to withdraw?]
[Three: Yes, thank you, Daoist.]
[Nine: Heh, it seems to be an extremely important matter. Don’t worry, this poor Daoist won’t disclose it.]
…You! Xu Qi An’s face froze.
Daoist, do you still have that habit of liking cats? If so, you must maintain it. In the future, I’ll expose you… Xu Qi An took a deep breath and wrote:
[Number Two, what I’m about to say is very important. Don’t hesitate or question, just listen to me and act immediately after I finish.]
Also, don’t pay too much attention to my social death. This Xu values his face, you know.