Chapter 100: A New Incident (Bonus chapter for Hall Master "Wu Jie Cao 001"!)

Fang Mu did not continue to infuse the eerie energy into other skills because, based on past experience, his current amount was insufficient to trigger a qualitative change. He planned to reserve these three strands of eerie energy for future use when he acquired more.

A Bai, lying on the table with a humanized gesture, rubbed his eyes. Moments ago, he even doubted his own sight—how could there suddenly be two masters?

Fang Mu was amused by A Bai’s expression and stepped forward to ruffle his head.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Fang Mu frowned. Who could be visiting at this hour?

Without much thought, he went to the door and opened it to find the head of the messenger office standing outside.

“There’s been an incident,” the head said bluntly as soon as the door was open. “Someone died in Shengge County.”

Fang Mu was taken aback for a moment before asking, “A death? Has the cause been determined?”

The head shook his head. “The Shengge County messenger office investigated and confirmed it’s related to something supernatural. But the messenger office’s strength is limited; it’ll be difficult to handle. They need you to come.”

After a brief explanation, the head handed Fang Mu a piece of paper and left.

The paper had the address of the Shengge County messenger office and contact information for Fang Mu once he arrived.

After reading the contents, Fang Mu slung the wooden box over his shoulder, took A Bai with him, and set off directly for Shengge County.

His heart stirred with excitement. Just when he was worried about finding eerie occurrences, someone was delivering them straight to him.

Shengge County was some distance from Dongfeng Prefecture. Fang Mu made no stops, traveling at full speed.

The speed of the Twin Shadow Escape technique was more than double that of the Earth Walking Technique. However, while traveling, Fang Mu noticed a problem—was the special effect of the Twin Shadow Escape a bit over the top?

Each time he moved, a phantom afterimage appeared behind him, making him feel like a firefly in the night sky.

Despite the exaggerated effect, using it was simply irresistible.

...

Upon arriving at Shengge County, Fang Mu headed straight to the local messenger office.

The office was situated in an alley, disguised as a liquor shop.

The shop was wide open, and a young man in simple cloth clothes stood at the counter, counting accounts.

Fang Mu walked in and approached the counter, observing the young man with interest.

He had to admit, the Messenger Bureau did a good job disguising themselves. Even with few people around, they still pretended to be busy with bookkeeping.

The young man looked up, puzzled. “Sir, are you here to buy some wine?”

Fang Mu got straight to the point and handed over a wooden plaque inscribed with the character "Wu."

The young man paused, then carefully examined the plaque before returning it and lowering his voice. “So you’re a forensic investigator. I’m Zhao Wuquan, head of the Shengge County messenger office. Please follow me.”

"Wu" was Fang Mu’s code name. Zhao Wuquan did not know his real name and could only address him by his title.

Fang Mu pocketed the plaque and followed Zhao Wuquan into the back room.

As soon as he stepped inside, Fang Mu’s professional instincts as a forensic investigator detected a faint metallic scent of blood.

Following the scent, they came upon a corpse lying on a straw mat.

Zhao Wuquan pointed at the body and forced a bitter smile. “Discovered during the day. The deceased was a night watchman. I came by earlier and used my connections with the Messenger Bureau to bring the body back.”

Fang Mu approached and saw the corpse was covered in dense bite marks. He frowned. “How did you determine this was the work of something supernatural?”

Zhao Wuquan stepped forward, raising his hand to emit a beam of light.

A black mist appeared over the corpse and quickly dissipated.

Zhao Wuquan explained, “Some mages have divine abilities to detect such things. Luckily, I’m one of them.”

Fang Mu nodded. “I need to conduct an autopsy. Please step outside.”

Zhao Wuquan was momentarily stunned. An autopsy?

Considering the code name of the man before him, a strange suspicion arose in his mind.

But Zhao Wuquan wisely kept silent. After all, the director himself had threatened to burn the ancestral graves of other department chiefs to appoint Fang Mu; Zhao dared not think too much and promptly left the inner room.

Once Zhao Wuquan departed, Fang Mu began his examination.

The exposed parts of the corpse were covered in dense bite marks, eyes wide open with terror frozen on his face.

[You touch the nameless corpse, gaining a trace of true energy.]

[You touch the nameless corpse, obtaining a clue—gong and drumstick; effect unknown.]

The prompts abruptly ceased, and in Fang Mu’s mind appeared images of a gong and a drumstick.

There was nothing else to find. The trail ended here.

Judging by the livor mortis and rigor mortis, the death occurred around the hours of the Chou (1-3 am).

Fang Mu exited the inner room just as Zhao Wuquan anxiously waited.

“Any findings?” Zhao inquired.

Fang Mu shook his head. “Tell me the exact location where this happened.”

Zhao thought for a moment, then organized his words. “The victim was a night watchman who mainly patrolled between Yinqiu Alley and Yuefeng Alley. The incident occurred at night; it was only discovered this morning in Yinqiu Alley.”

Nighttime, Yinqiu Alley?

Fang Mu stroked his chin. “Where is Yinqiu Alley?”

Zhao promptly pointed out its location.

Fang Mu nodded, said a few more words, then left the shop, heading toward Yinqiu Alley.

Zhao watched Fang Mu’s departing back, wisely asking no further questions.

...

Upon reaching Yinqiu Alley, Fang Mu saw the narrow lane was empty and dilapidated.

The surrounding houses were in a similar state of decay.

There was hardly anyone around, except at the alley’s far end.

There, an old woman crouched in a corner, burning yellow paper over a small fire pit.

Fang Mu approached and stood in front of her.

The old woman glanced up at the sound, eyes filled with suspicion.

“Grandmother, what are you doing?” Fang Mu frowned.

The woman sighed. “Someone died. Burning paper so their spirit can rest in peace. Young man, you should leave quickly. Don’t wander here at night.”

“Oh?” Fang Mu asked with interest, “Why is that?”

The old woman coughed and trembled slightly. “Because... ghosts appear at night.”

At that, she struggled to her feet. “Young man, could you escort me? I’m old and can’t walk far. I’m afraid I’ll get lost.”

Fang Mu smiled warmly. “Of course. Respecting the elderly is my duty.”

He reached out to support her arm.

But his hand passed effortlessly through her body.

“What’s wrong? Young man, why are you so distracted?” she coughed again.

Fang Mu’s smile grew wider. Without drawing his butcher’s cleaver, he delivered a straight punch.

“Don’t play these games with me. You can’t handle it.”