Chapter 53: The Golden Feather Gang

Demons hidden among the human race are difficult to distinguish from humans in daily life unless they display unusual traits.

Especially the members of the Demon race; unless they have undergone the corruption of darkness or entered a combat state, they are virtually impossible to detect.

"Yingbao, I remember you acted in spy thrillers. Even if you didn't act in one, you must have watched plenty. Don't you have any ideas at all?"

Zhao Liying curled her lips. "Can acting compare to reality?"

The two muttered back and forth in lowered voices. Li Xingyun and the others could neither hear clearly nor understand them, but he was in high spirits tonight and soon drank himself into a complete stupor!

However, just as they were preparing to return to the estate, the sounds of a fight suddenly echoed from outside the room. By the time everyone rushed out, one person was already lying in a pool of blood, and the killer had long since vanished.

Gao Wu frowned and stepped forward to investigate, discovering that the deceased was a Jianghu martial artist holding a saber, who had been killed by a sword thrust straight through his heart!

Just as Gao Wu was examining the body, Xiao Ruoruo and Xiao Buqi also hurried over, both wearing grim expressions. A murder in the establishment would inevitably harm the business of the Guixiang Restaurant.

"Young Master Gao, the body must be cleared away. It cannot affect the restaurant's business!"

Gao Wu gave Xiao Ruoruo a flat look. "If Miss Xiao disturbs the corpse, she will fall under suspicion of sheltering the murderer. I hope Miss Xiao thinks twice before acting!"

Yet Xiao Ruoruo seemed utterly determined. "Brawls among Jianghu wanderers are commonplace inside a restaurant. Now that the killer has fled, Young Master Gao should be out pursuing them instead!"

Gao Wu sneered. "I have heard that Miss Xiao is well-versed in the laws of the Great Zhou, yet you seem to forget that I am currently off-duty and have no authority to hunt down criminals; rather, I have an obligation to protect the crime scene!"

"Miss Xiao, it would be best to report the case promptly and let the yamen handle it."

Xiao Ruoruo gave Gao Wu a deep look before turning back to Manager Yang, nodding slightly.

Manager Yang understood and immediately went downstairs to find a waiter to report the crime.

Gao Wu walked into the private room where the deceased had previously stayed. The back window was open; it appeared the killer had escaped through here. Outside, pitch-black darkness shrouded everything, revealing nothing.

He called over Zhou Zhiruo. "The killer might be a Demon. Follow them and take a look, but mind your safety!"

"Understood!"

Zhou Zhiruo instantly leapt out through the back window, vanishing into the night.

"Ji Ruxue, you and Miaochengtian escort Brother Li back to the estate!"

"Yes!"

After seeing Li Xingyun off, Gao Wu turned his attention back to the Xiao siblings. "Who reserved this private room?"

"The Young Master of the Golden Feather Gang!"

Gao Wu looked at the deceased on the ground. "Was it him?"

"No!"

A jolt ran through Gao Wu's heart. Could this young master be the murderer?

The Golden Feather Gang was an organization composed of nightsoil collectors, with all its members specializing in cleaning up waste. These people were numerous and held a monopoly on the nightsoil collection industry in the East City.

There were still many such gangs in the capital, occupying a specific industry within a certain region and earning profits through monopolistic practices.

Tackling such a gang would be quite easy—after all, none of these people possessed high cultivation realms, and masters were rare among them. However, the consequences would be severe, easily paralyzing the normal daily life of an entire district.

The yamen officials quickly arrived at the scene, and Gao Wu handed the troublesome case over to them to handle. Although it would eventually be transferred to the Seven Star Tower, it was not guaranteed that their Chunfeng Hall would be the one to take it on.

The next day, as soon as Gao Wu arrived at the Seven Star Tower to report for duty, Cheng Qingfeng explicitly assigned him to handle the Guixiang Restaurant murder case!

Gao Wu could not help rubbing his forehead. After coming full circle, the matter had landed right back on his shoulders. Mishandling a case like this could easily trigger civil unrest!

Thinking of the information Zhou Zhiruo had brought back from her tracking the previous night, Gao Wu bit the bullet and said, "Brother Feng, can this case be handed to someone else? I've just arrived here, and I'm not yet familiar with the operations!"

Cheng Qingfeng simply smiled and refused. "I believe this case requires none other than you. Young Hero Gao, you'll just have to put in some hard work!"

"Right, once the case is settled, remember to see the Hall Master. The Hall Master has summoned you!"

"Huh? Then why not go now?"

"We cannot. The Hall Master always places public business before personal matters. Solving the case takes priority!"

"Alright then." Reluctantly, Gao Wu continued to investigate the previous night's murder.

The case was actually quite simple: two people disagreed on something, a fierce fight broke out, and one party—the killer—used excessive force and directly stabbed the other to death.

However, if it involved a Demon and the Golden Feather Gang, the matter was no longer so straightforward.

When Gao Wu went to investigate, he did not bring anyone from Chunfeng Hall, but rather Zhao Liying.

The two did not return to Guixiang Restaurant, but instead headed straight for the Golden Feather Gang. Before even reaching the secluded courtyard, an unspeakable stench drifted out from within!

Liang Dahai, the leader of the Golden Feather Gang, had been waiting at the entrance for quite some time!

"Greetings, Milords. Please, step inside!"

Liang Dahai wore a smiling face, looking every bit the upright businessman. But the discerning eyes of Gao Wu and Zhao Liying had long since surpassed ordinary mortals; at a glance, they could tell this man was a genuine martial artist whose realm was not low—at least at the Qi-Guiding stage, and possibly even reaching the Qi-Ocean stage.

"Gang Leader Liang, is your esteemed son present?"

"He is, he is waiting at home inside!"

"Milords, this is my unworthy son, Liang Xiaolong!"

Ah, what a fine name they had given him. But what was going on with him lying flat on a wooden board?

"This is...?"

"Oh, Milords might not know, but yesterday my unfilial son booked a spot at Guixiang Restaurant for his drinking buddies, only for someone to end up dead there, landing us in an unwarranted lawsuit. So I just gave him a light disciplinary lesson!"

An honest, folksy smile hung on Liang Dahai's face, making him appear completely harmless.

Lying flat on the wooden board, Liang Xiaolong offered a difficult bow. "Greetings, Milords!"

Not only was this fellow beaten black and blue, but his leg was also wrapped in a cast, presenting a truly miserable sight!

"The Young Gang Leader did not go to Guixiang Restaurant yesterday?"

"No, thank goodness I didn't go, otherwise..."

Liang Dahai shook his head as he spoke. Clearly, he knew that had Liang Xiaolong actually gone to Guixiang Restaurant, it wouldn't just be a matter of lying at home right now—he'd likely be sitting in a prison cell.

"Whom did you book the private room for yesterday? Was it the deceased?"

"It was indeed the deceased, Zhao Mingjian," Liang Xiaolong said, lying on the board with a hint of agitation. "Brother Zhao was upright and open-hearted, and his 'Desolate Saber' technique made him quite well-known in our circles. It's such a pity for Brother Zhao..."

"You don't know whom he had an appointment with?"

"I don't!" Liang Xiaolong looked so exasperated he wanted to slap his own head, but the moment he raised his arm, he winced in pain, baring his teeth.

Had the trail run cold here once again?

Gao Wu detected no signs of lying from Liang Xiaolong, and the fellow truly had not visited Guixiang Restaurant, otherwise the people there would not have missed it.

It seemed they would have to make another trip to Guixiang Restaurant!

On the way, Zhao Liying suddenly spoke up. "Gao Wu, Sister Yuanyuan's state has been extremely abnormal lately!"

It took Gao Wu a moment to react before he realized Zhao Liying was referring to Gao Yuanyuan. Ever since she was summoned, she seemed to have remained deeply immersed in the role of Zhou Zhiruo.

"Her cultivation technique is overly gloomy, causing an excess of Yin energy within her. She needs Yang energy to neutralize it!" Zhao Liying's tone was mysterious, carrying a hint of enticement.

"What do you mean?"

Zhao Liying looked at Gao Wu with surprise. "You possess the Dragon Roaring Nine Heavens Art, the Nine Suns Art, and the Withered-Prosperous True Qi, all of which are supreme, blazing Yang techniques. If you don't harmonize Yin and Yang, you will sooner or later meet the same fate as Sister Yuanyuan!"

"What on earth are you talking about? Harmonize Yin and Yang?"