Chapter 85 A Deadly Trap Layed in the Dark

Qi Huan's expression froze instantly, and he nearly jumped up, but the movement tugged at his wounds, causing him to gasp in pain.

"I… I have to carry it? Chen Mu! Look at me! That damn Ghostly Creature tore me open until I could almost see my own intestines, and I just exerted my Qi again. You want me to carry this dead-weight corpse?"

Chen Mu looked at him, his face calm.

"Your injuries are in your chest and internal organs; your arms and legs aren't broken."

"Besides, you are wearing an official uniform and are a Banner Officer of the Prefecture. Head Constable Wang attacked you, and you killed him in self-defense. It is reasonable and appropriate for you to bring his corpse back; it will also better solidify the charges against him."

"As for me, I am the primary combatant and need to conserve my strength to deal with any emergencies. Liu Ziming has a broken leg, so he definitely can't do it. You are the only one here suitable for this kind of manual labor."

As he spoke, Chen Mu glanced at the pale-faced Liu Ziming.

Liu Ziming, leaning against the boundary marker, hurriedly waved his hands, his voice sounding weak and listless.

"Chief Qi… Chen Mu is right. My leg… it really can't take it…"

"You…"

Qi Huan stood in place, struggling internally for a good while. He looked at Chen Mu's cold, "my mind is made up" expression, then at Liu Ziming's face, which feigned helplessness but was actually trying hard to suppress a laugh—an infuriating look. A wave of grief, indignation, and helplessness instantly surged into his heart.

"Chen Mu… you damn… I'll carry it!"

No matter how much he gnashed his teeth, it could only turn into a low roar of resignation. He suddenly bent down, laboriously dragged Head Constable Wang's headless corpse up, and threw it onto his back.

The cold blood instantly soaked through his official uniform, and the stench of blood made Qi Huan feel nauseous.

He glanced at the severed head on the ground again, hesitated for a moment, then tore off a relatively clean piece of his undergarment. Enduring the disgust, he wrapped it up haphazardly and carried it in his hand.

The scene was truly… indescribable.

"Let's go."

Chen Mu briefly treated Liu Ziming's leg injury, draped one of his arms over his own shoulder, and half-supported him as he stood up. Without even looking at Qi Huan's disheveled state, he walked in the direction of Yunmeng.

Qi Huan carried the corpse, stumbling along behind them, each step taken with extreme difficulty.

In his heart, he cursed Chen Mu countless times, but he could only grit his teeth and persevere.

The horizon was already gradually turning a fish-belly white; this long and bloody night was finally coming to an end.

...

Yunmeng, rear hall of the county magistrate's office.

Xu Changze had not gone to sleep. He stood with his hands behind his back by the study window, seemingly admiring the late-blooming orchids in the courtyard, but his current mood was completely out of sync with the tranquil atmosphere.

Just a moment ago, he had received news from several waves of subordinates.

The situation at the Zhao residence was completely out of control. The main gate was left ajar, and the courtyard was deathly silent; apart from the thick stench of blood, there was no one there.

No Qi Huan, no Chen Mu.

That Ghostly Creature, which he had spent so much effort to summon and with which he had reached a delicate balance, had also vanished without a trace.

Was it killed by Chen Mu? Xu Changze's expression was dark and inscrutable.

He understood that Ghostly Creature's ability to shift between corporeal and incorporeal forms and to devour souls; even he himself would not dare to claim certain victory without prior preparation and specific methods.

How old was Chen Mu? How many days had it been since he joined the Demon Suppression Division? How did he manage to do it?

And that Qi Huan actually didn't die? And he was mixed up with Chen Mu?

On the other side, the news about Head Constable Wang was even worse. The trusted subordinates he sent had scrambled back, bringing news that Head Constable Wang had been killed on the spot by Qi Huan, and that Liu Ziming had been rescued by Chen Mu.

Those subordinates were unanimous in their account, painting Head Constable Wang as a rebel who attempted to attack his superior to cover up his crimes, and hailing Qi Huan as a great hero who eliminated a traitor.

This was simply handing a ready-made piece of leverage to Qi Huan!

However, the only thing to be thankful for was… his brother-in-law, who was more of a hindrance than a help, was truly dead.

Xu Changze's eyes were somewhat sinister.

While Head Constable Wang's death certainly made him feel pained and annoyed, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.

He knew too much, and his actions weren't meticulous enough. Now that he was dead, many leads were cut off.

At the very least, the matter of ordering him to kill Liu Ziming to silence him could be completely pushed off as his personal act of retaliation, having nothing to do with Magistrate Xu. Even many of the dirty, unspeakable deeds from before could all be pushed onto him.

Sometimes, a dead person is more useful than a living one.

However, what should be done next?

Chen Mu had already come into his own, and it was clear he was at odds with him. This Qi Huan was even more of a sharp blade sent by the Prefecture, hanging over his head.

He had originally thought he could use the Zhao residence's Ghostly Creature and the Yangu Pit to eliminate them all, but he hadn't expected that this attempt to steal a chicken would result in losing the rice—instead, it had caused them to band together and hold such deadly leverage over him.

Xu Changze sighed and paced back and forth in front of the window, his worried expression undiminished.

A head-on collision? The strength Chen Mu had displayed could not be underestimated. Added to that was the variable of Qi Huan, and those waste subordinates who had clearly defected—the risk of taking action openly was already too great.

Borrow a knife to kill? The knife from the Zhao residence had already broken, and the knife from the Yangu Pit hadn't hit its mark. In such a short time, where could he find another knife that was sharp and fast, and wouldn't implicate himself?

Leave them alone? Even worse. If these two were left alive, they would inevitably become a major threat.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind and were analyzed, only to be rejected in the end.

Finally, Xu Changze stopped his pacing and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

The initial alarm in his eyes was gradually replaced by deeper calculations.

He picked up the teacup that had gone cold and took a sip, his movements having already returned to his usual composure.

"Truly… heroes emerge from the young."

Xu Changze murmured lowly, a cold curve gradually forming at the corner of his mouth.

"Since you want to be heroes so badly, then this official… will fulfill your wish."

He hesitated no longer, turned around, and shouted in a deep voice towards the door: "Someone, come here!"

A man in green robes entered in response, standing with hands hanging down, awaiting orders.

Xu Changze beckoned with his finger, signaling the man to come over. His lips moved slightly, and he spoke rapidly in an extremely low voice, giving his instructions.

The man listened intently, a look of surprise appearing on his face, which then turned into gravity as he nodded repeatedly.

A moment later, Xu Changze sat back in his chair and waved his hand.

"Go. Handle the matter properly, and do not leave any evidence behind."

"Yes, sir."

The man in green bowed to accept the order, quickly exited the study, and gently closed the door.

Inside the study, only Xu Changze remained once again.

"Heroes… are not so easy to be."

"Since you have already waded into the waters of Yunmeng, be prepared… to drown in them."

Outside the window, the daylight was gradually brightening; a new day was about to begin.