A rge group of people in luxurious clothing arrived at the scene, led by Bde-Wielding Guards. Following them was a Man in White on horseback. His face was gentle, his figure tall and slender, with broad brows and deep eyes, exuding a schorly aura.

  The crowd parted to make way, leading directly to Wen Chaoshen, who sat on the ground in a daze at the entrance. A guard frowned and shouted, but Wen Chaoshen ignored him, his gaze fixed on the corpse of Liu Jinshi.

  Seeing Wen Chaoshen's attire, the guard assumed he was a madman or beggar from the county city and was about to draw his sword. In the crowd, A Shui frowned, holding a small stone between her fingers. Just as the guard was about to warn Wen Chaoshen a second time, the Man in White suddenly spoke:

  "Do not harm him."

  "He’s blocking the way. Just drag him aside."

  The guard sheathed his sword immediately upon the Man in White's command, approached Wen Chaoshen, and dragged him away from the County Office entrance. Wen Chaoshen did not resist, his attention unwaveringly on Liu Jinshi's corpse, his gaze unsettlingly intense.

  The Man in White gnced at Wen Chaoshen, said nothing, and proceeded to the County Office entrance under the escort of the guards. Facing the constables in official attire, he retrieved a special iron badge from his chest, bearing the official seal of the Qi Kingdom.

  This seal was extremely difficult to counterfeit, and if discovered, not only was the forger sentenced to death, but their entire family would be implicated.

  It represented the unique authority of the Qi Kingdom's royal family.

  "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Chun Qiong, from the Langan Pavilion in the Royal City. I have come to Kuhai County with the official seal to repce the former Magistrate Liu Jinshi."

  "Liu Jinshi has managed the county city commendably over the years. He was supposed to hand over his authority and official seal to me and then proceed to the Royal City for rewards. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, everything is deyed. I must first investigate Liu Jinshi's cause of death. If you have no business here, please disperse. As for Liu Jinshi's matter... please give me some time to thoroughly investigate!"

  Chun Qiong's voice was clear and courteous as he csped his hands to the surrounding citizens. Seeing him speak, the crowd gradually dispersed. Though the locals enjoyed a spectacle, they were not foolish; the Man in White was an official, and they were commoners. They couldn't take advantage of his politeness.

  As the crowd thinned, the Man in White approached Wen Chaoshen, squatted down, and pced some scattered silver coins in front of him, patting him as he spoke:

  "Young man, please leave. We need to investigate the case, and your presence here will interfere."

  Wen Chaoshen did not accept the silver offered by Chun Qiong. Instead, he looked up and asked:

  "Are you the new magistrate of Kuhai County?"

  Chun Qiong nodded:

  "Yes."

  "Is there anything I can help you with, young man?"

  Wen Chaoshen spoke bluntly:

  "I want the identity of a Qi Kingdom citizen."

  Chun Qiong's eyes flickered:

  "You're not from Qi Kingdom?"

  Wen Chaoshen shook his head:

  "I'm a refugee."

  Chun Qiong was silent for a moment before saying:

  "Then I'm sorry, young man, but you might have to come with us."

  Wen Chaoshen's gaze suddenly sharpened.

  "Are you trying to pin Liu Jinshi's death on me?"

  Chun Qiong ughed:

  "Of course not. Once we confirm you're not the culprit, you'll be free to go. I'll also consider arranging a Qi Kingdom identity for you."

  Seeing Chun Qiong's gentle smile, Wen Chaoshen slowly moved his hand to his back.

  A hatchet was hidden at his waist.

  It had waited a long time, though its original target was gone, it remained sharp.

  Whenever Wen Chaoshen needed, it was ready to kill.

  "I've been outside the county for three years. Except for the third day of each month when I could enter the county city to apply for an identity with Liu Jinshi, I couldn't step into the city. If you really want to investigate me, you only need to confirm with the constables who were on duty."

  Chun Qiong shrugged, still smiling:

  "That's hard to say. What if they dozed off on duty... You cim you're not the culprit, but there must be a witness, right?"

  Seeing this, Wen Chaoshen realized he had no choice.

  He could gamble that the person before him was sincere.

  But he couldn't convince himself.

  Having lived two lives, his eyes were too discerning.

  No matter how well the other hid, Wen Chaoshen's gaze pierced through the facade, reaching the depths of their thoughts.

  Just as he was about to draw his bde, a calm and steady voice suddenly came from nearby.

  "He is not the culprit. I can vouch for him."

  Everyone turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered Man in Green Robe standing not far away, his gaze calm, the wind gently rustling his robe. Chun Qiong, squatting before Wen Chaoshen, narrowed his eyes and slowly stood up, asking the Man in Green Robe:

  "And you are...?"

  The Man in Green Robe approached slowly, gnced at Wen Chaoshen, and said:

  "My surname is Lü, Lü Zhiming. I've lived in Kuhai County for thirty years."

  "Yesterday, I went outside the county for a stroll and saw him."

  Chun Qiong stared at Lü Zhiming, then ughed and asked:

  "You watched him all night?"

  The Man in Green Robe lightly shook his sleeve, producing a gold leaf with his fingertips, which he handed to Chun Qiong.

  "If you believe it, then it is so."

  Chun Qiong weighed the gold leaf in his hand, not immediately accepting it. Instead, he held it up to the Man in Green Robe, speaking meaningfully:

  "A refugee isn't worth this much."

  "I believed him initially, but now that you've intervened, I'm starting to doubt."

  The Man in Green Robe's eyes remained calm as he smiled faintly:

  "It doesn't matter. If he's a Qi Kingdom citizen and stays here, you can arrest him anytime if there's an issue."

  Chun Qiong and the Man in Green Robe locked eyes briefly, then Chun Qiong rubbed the gold leaf with his fingers and finally accepted it.

  "No wonder Liu Jinshi didn't want to leave. Being a magistrate here... truly lucrative."

  He mused as he turned, casually brushing aside Liu Jinshi's hanging corpse, and entered the County Office alone without looking back.

  The Man in Green Robe bowed to his retreating figure, his voice loud:

  "Thank you, sir."

  The constables dared not touch Liu Jinshi's body, fearing they might leave evidence and be accused of a crime. It was Chun Qiong's retainers who took down Liu Jinshi's body and carried it inside.

  They all entered the County Office, closing the door behind them. Only then did A Shui approach the entrance, looking up at the rope and hook, her eyes glinting with thought...