258: Passing on Responsibilities_1
Lu Hui’s corpse was first sent to the Taoist Court in Tongxian City, where an Enforcement Leader went to report to Court Leader Zhou.
Upon hearing the news, Court Leader Zhou furrowed her brows, and upon seeing Lu Hui’s body, she furrowed them even more, unable to resist saying,
“Zhang Lan, that kid, has caused me trouble again.”
This Court Leader Lu came to Tongxian City intact, but after entering a mountain with Zhang Lan, he turned into a corpse in the blink of an eye.
Moreover, missing arms and legs, he did not even die a whole corpse.
How was she supposed to explain this to the people in Qingxuan City?
Could this matter be unrelated to Zhang Lan? Who would believe that if it were said aloud?
Court Leader Zhou asked the Enforcement Leader, “What exactly happened?”
The Enforcement Leader bowed and said, “According to Court Leader Zhang, Court Leader Lu was pursuing Bald Tuo and was ambushed by him, sustaining severe injuries. On the way to transport Bald Tuo, they encountered Monster Beasts and, unfortunately, Lu died at the jaws of the beasts, dying in the line of duty.”
“Dying in the line of duty?” Court Leader Zhou scoffed, “He sure clears himself neatly. The man died in an undignified manner but found himself a dignified excuse.”
“But does he take everyone else for fools? With the body right here, how can any discerning person not see how Lu really died?”
Court Leader Zhou thought to herself, shook her head, and took another look at Lu Hui’s body, her Divine Sense scanning it briefly, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
That technique… quite clean.
There were only two fatal wounds on Lu Hui’s body.
One was caused by a Cultivator, with faint white traces of Wind-System Spiritual Power residue at the wound.
The person who wounded him was clearly Bald Tuo.
Wind-based Spiritual Roots are quite rare, and in their Taoist Court, they could not find a single Cultivator with such a Spiritual Root.
Nor did any of the Cultivators on this mission have Wind-based Spiritual Roots. This kind of Spiritual Power couldn’t be faked.
The other was the bite marks of Monster Beasts.
At the wounds were the residual stench of the beasts’ saliva, as well as crimson demonic power, he was indeed killed by Monster Beasts.
This was even less fakeable.
Court Leader Zhou felt reassured and began to see Zhang Lan as someone who could be taught.
Some things he could do, but he should not leave any traces, nor should he cause trouble for the Taoist Court.
If he turned a blind eye, as if nothing had happened, there would be an explanation for the outside world.
Since there was an explanation and no more trouble, Court Leader Zhou felt relieved.
She took another look at Lu Hui’s body and thought to herself, “Died well!”
The Taoist Court in Qingxuan City… from top to bottom, foul and murky, all corrupt? What are they really?
Court Leader Zhou didn’t voice it, but in her heart, she held them in utmost contempt.
Although she couldn’t claim to be paragon of virtue, she did have some conscience. At most, she took some kickbacks but never went so far as to bleed people dry, bones and all.
However, she was only the Court Leader of Tongxian City and could only manage matters within her own jurisdiction; she had no say in Qingxuan City’s affairs.
Court Leader Zhou sighed, then felt something odd.
How exactly did Zhang Lan manage to kill Lu Hui?
Looking at Lu Hui’s injuries, they were indeed inflicted by Bald Tuo and then by Monster Beasts.
But things surely weren’t that simple.
Court Leader Lu was full of tricks; he couldn’t have been that foolish…
Lu Hui was at the Qi Refining Ninth Level, and so was Zhang Lan; his strength was a bit higher, but it wasn’t possible for him to have killed Lu Hui without leaving any traces.
There must have been someone who helped.
Court Leader Zhou silently pondered.
Those who entered the mountain with Zhang Lan, Mo Shan and Ji Qingbai, were likely to lend a hand.
Who else could there be?
In her mind, the sly look in Mo Hua’s eyes flashed by.
Court Leader Zhou’s action of stroking her beard halted, and she paused, slightly startled, “Could it be that kid Mo Hua took action as well…”
The more Court Leader Zhou thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
After getting to know Mo Hua, she realized that despite his youth, he could not be judged by common standards.
Meticulous in thought, moving after planning, his methods clean, leaving no traces.
Court Leader Zhou nodded her head and looked at Lu Hui again, expressing her approval:
“Well killed!”
At that moment, Mo Hua, Zhang Lan, and others were still in the valley where the Sin Cultivators hid.
This valley served as Bald Tuo and his accomplices’ refuge, a place to dwell and hide their ill-gotten gains.