I Can Devour Spirits

Liu Shushan said, ”I’ve bought everything. I even checked them over again, nothing was missing.”

Duan Rong nodded and said, ”Shushan, make us some dinner. And while you’re at it, prepare provisions for three people for ten days.”

”Three people? Provisions for ten days?” Liu Shushan’s eyes flickered; the three people Duan Rong mentioned were obviously the three of them.

Duan Rong said, ”Let’s make tonight’s meal more abundant so we can have a good meal. If you want to drink, you can have a little. For the next ten days, we will probably only have dry food and clear water.”

Liu Shushan and Ximen Kankan exchanged a glance.

Living on dry food and clear water, what was that all about? Was it to imprison them instead of Shen Yanliu?

Since Duan Rong had spoken, Liu Shushan went to a restaurant and ordered a rather sumptuous dinner, along with a jug of good wine.

Although they had come to this secluded courtyard, because of the urgency, Liu Shushan hadn’t properly played the host. It was just the right opportunity for him to toast the two.

Under the cover of night, the three drank heartily and ate to their satisfaction.

Ximen Kankan patted his round belly, looked at Duan Rong, and asked, ”We’ve eaten, and we’ve drunk the wine, so what exactly are you planning to do? Can you tell us now?”

Duan Rong said, ”Sleep! We’ll meet here again at midnight.”

Having said that, Duan Rong really went off to his room to sleep.

The two looked at each other and could only go to sleep themselves.

After a comfortable sleep, Duan Rong walked into the hall again, where Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan were already waiting.

Glancing at them, Duan Rong walked over to a bulging burlap sack, pulled out two stacked wicker baskets from the bottom, and placed three short-handled iron shovels into the baskets.

Carrying the basket, Duan Rong looked at the two and said, ”Bring the provisions, follow me. Be careful on the way, don’t make any noise.”

Before the two could react, Duan Rong had already used his body technique and darted out.

Liu Shushan quickly strapped on the provisions from the table, used his body technique, and chased after him.

Duan Rong didn’t exert his full body technique. With his True Qi Realm Great Perfection, if he went all out, Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan wouldn’t be able to keep up with him.

Using his Divine Sense to lead the way, the three moved like phantoms, darting through the night.

As they went along, Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan were both filled with awe.

They had already crossed several prosperous streets in the Prefecture City, and Liu Shushan knew these streets were often patrolled at midnight.

Yet, as they moved along, they hardly paused. Several times, just as they reached a street corner, they saw only the backs of the patrol squads turning away.

If it happened once, it might still be considered normal.

But with this happening all the way, the two couldn’t help but feel suspicious. It seemed their luck was just too good.

Moreover, Liu Shushan quickly realized they were heading in the direction of the Prefecture City’s dungeon. Watching Duan Rong’s elusive silhouette ahead, he couldn’t help but feel a chill.

Since he’d met Duan Rong, the longer he knew him, the less he seemed to understand about him. Especially this afternoon, when he learned that an erotic painting hailed as a masterpiece was done by Duan Rong, he was almost shattered to pieces.

Duan Rong led them both, suddenly darting into a residential alley, where they flitted through the intertwining lanes.

It was late at night, near the new moon, with dim stars and moonlight. Every time Duan Rong turned a corner, he gave a slight cough to indicate his position to the two behind him.

Otherwise, even at such a short distance, in this pitch-black night, they might still lose him.

Duan Rong suddenly stopped in front of a residential house.

Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan turned the corner and saw a silhouette standing there in the darkness.

The two used their body techniques and stood by Duan Rong’s side.

Duan Rong whispered, ”This is it, come in with me.”

Having said this, Duan Rong drifted over the wall and landed in the sparsely weed-covered courtyard.

Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan also landed behind him.

Duan Rong led the two to the main room’s door, gave it a gentle push, and the door opened on its own. The three stepped in.

In the darkness, reaching out wouldn’t let you see your fingers. However, after adjusting for a moment, they could barely make things out.

Ximen Kankan asked, ”Why are we here?”

Duan Rong said, ”Your task is to help me move soil.”

”Move soil?”

As Duan Rong spoke, he handed the basket in his hand to the two.

Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan each took a basket and a short-handled iron shovel.

Duan Rong said: ”Pile the excavated earth in this main room and the two side rooms, but don’t pile it in the courtyard.”

The reason Duan Rong chose this private residence was because the house was spacious enough to store the earth. Piling the earth in the courtyard posed a risk of exposure.

After speaking, Duan Rong gripped the short-handled iron shovel, infused his arm with True Qi, and suddenly dug at the center of the main room’s floor.

One scoop went down as if cutting through tofu, slicing off a large chunk of earth.

Duan Rong focused intently, one scoop after another, digging deeper.

At this moment, Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan understood that Duan Rong was digging a tunnel.

In the darkness, Liu Shushan’s eyes flickered.

Though this place wasn’t far from the Prefecture City’s dungeon by walking, if tunneling, the distance was excessively long.

In such a long underground distance, how does one judge direction and position?

Who can guarantee not to dig askew?

Even if you manage not to dig crooked, who can assure you won’t dig into the dungeon’s fortress?

To Liu Shushan, this method seemed practically useless.

If Duan Rong’s proposed plan was indeed this method, Liu Shushan would truly be disappointed.

Liu Shushan chose his words carefully and asked, ”Brother Duan, are you planning to tunnel to the dungeon? Isn’t this somewhat unreasonable?”

Actually, Ximen Kankan had similar thoughts, but Duan Rong’s previous case-solving was so impressive that he hesitated to question him.

Duan Rong paused his shovel swing and said: ”Shushan, rest assured, I know what I’m doing.”

After speaking, Duan Rong continued digging.

Although Liu Shushan was still hesitant, Ximen Kankan began helping Duan Rong move the waste soil, choosing to trust him.

Seeing Ximen Kankan already at work, Liu Shushan sighed and also started working.

By evening, in a study room in the back courtyard of the Prefecture Government Office.

Chen Xun leaned against a Grandmaster’s Chair covered in animal hide, having worked all day, he sat there for a moment’s nap to restore his energy.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking came from the door.

Chen Xun flinched slightly, sighed, and said: ”Come in!”

The door opened, Li Hong slipped in, glanced cautiously at Chen Xun, knowing well that Chen Xun rested at this hour and wouldn’t accept interruptions unless it was important.

Chen Xun looked at Li Hong and asked gravely: ”What happened?”

Li Hong said: ”Sir, has Shen Mizi returned to handle the case again?”

Hearing this, Chen Xun’s formerly lazy body immediately sat up straight. ”Is the news certain? When did this happen?”

Li Hong replied: ”A message just came from the office over there. She arrived at the inn last night and reported to the office first thing this morning.”

Chen Xun stroked the smooth handle of the Grandmaster’s Chair thoughtfully, murmuring: ”There’s a problem. Definitely a problem.”

Chen Xun raised his eyes toward Li Hong and asked: ”What do you think about this?”

”I’m also uncertain. Her father is in the dungeon and may be executed at any moment, yet she has the mind to handle other cases. It’s somewhat contrary to human decency!” Li Hong pondered deeply and added: ”Unless...”

”Unless what?”

”Unless their father-daughter relationship was never good. Shen Yanliu is power-hungry, and Ma Chunmin is a stepmother; such a family might be... might be...”

Chen Xun asked: ”Is there a way to investigate their father-daughter relationship?”

Li Hong replied: ”When the Shen Mansion was raided, a batch of maidservants, servants, and hospital guards were captured. I recall a maid seemed to be Shen Mizi’s close maid, having grown up with her. She should know something.”

”Go investigate.” Chen Xun said with a heavy expression. ”I want detailed information.”

”Yes, Sir.” Li Hong got up and left the study.

Chen Xun sipped Ginseng Tea on the table, feeling a hint of unrest because he disliked the feeling of things slipping out of his control.

He had many such experiences, where any minor sign of losing control might hide enormous risks.

Like bubbles suddenly emerging on the swamp’s surface, perhaps a lurking beast is breathing...