36: Chapter 36 The Strange Corpse

Everyone looked toward the sound, only to see Chen Shanzhi walking out with a calm expression.

Li Hu turned his head abruptly and stared fixedly at Chen Shanzhi, gritting his teeth as he spoke:

"Commander Chen, since you were here, why did you let them kill the Supervising Officer?"

"Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"The Supervising Officer's body isn't even cold yet, and you're already thinking of speaking up for the murderer?"

"Could it be... you had a hand in this too?"

Chen Shanzhi glanced at him and sneered:

"General Li, a brain is a good thing to have; it's a pity you don't seem to possess one."

"If I wanted to kill someone, why would I choose such a conspicuous place?"

"Furthermore, if Sang Ji truly wanted to kill him,"

"He would have simply tossed the body into the depths of the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes. Under the gnawing of ten thousand snakes, not even a shard of bone would remain."

"Why would he leave such a complete skeleton, waiting for you to come knocking with a Soul Slip?"

Chen Shanzhi pointed at the skeleton on the ground and sneered:

"This corpse was clearly left behind on purpose."

"On the other hand, Lord Li, you said you saw Sang Ji bringing the Supervising Officer here."

"As the Supervising Officer's confidant, why didn't you follow them?"

"Instead, as soon as the Supervising Officer died, you immediately rushed over and were so certain that Sang Ji was the killer."

"For a confidant, you are truly being very 'responsible'."

Hearing Chen Shanzhi's words, a flash of panic crossed Li Hu's eyes, but it was quickly masked by a look of ruthlessness:

"Commander Chen! What is the meaning of this?"

"The Supervising Officer was killed by this barbarian. Not only are you not helping to seek justice, you're actually speaking for the killer?"

"Are you trying to rebel?"

"Rebel?"

Chen Shanzhi acted as if he had heard a joke. He straightened his back and walked toward Zhao Hu step by step.

He was half a head taller than Zhao Hu, and at this moment, he looked down at him from above, saying:

"You say Sang Ji killed the Supervising Officer. Where is the evidence?"

"The evidence is right before our eyes! This skeleton is right here!" Zhao Hu roared.

"A skeleton?"

Chen Shanzhi suddenly moved, grabbing a leg bone from the ground.

Crack!

With just a little force, that seemingly hard leg bone actually turned directly into fine powder, sifting through the gaps between his fingers.

Everyone's eyes widened as they watched this scene.

"Do you see this, Lord Li?"

Chen Shanzhi clapped his hands and fixed his gaze on Li Hu:

"Lord Li, you are also a Martial Artist of the Life Fire Realm."

"You should know that if the Supervising Officer had been killed by someone, or devoured by Gu insects,"

"How could these bones be fragile to such an extent?"

"This was clearly the result of some evil technique; the essence of his entire body was drained in an instant."

"I believe the Clan Chief would not allow a future Divine Shaman to Cultivate such evil techniques."

"Therefore, I believe there is something fishy about this matter, and we cannot reach a conclusion so arbitrarily."

"Lord Li, don't forget our official business here in the Wu Clan."

Li Hu's face was dark, but he knew Chen Shanzhi's words were reasonable.

Furthermore, with the Supervising Officer dead, the supreme command of this diplomatic mission had fallen entirely into Chen Shanzhi's hands.

He could only give a cold snort and say nothing.

Miao Yunzhan gave Chen Shanzhi a deep look, not expecting this young commander from the Great Zhou to be able to analyze things so calmly.

"The death of the Supervising Officer is indeed filled with suspicious points."

"I ask Commander Chen and General Li to give our Wu Clan some time."

"We will naturally investigate the truth and give you an explanation."

"As for Sang Ji..." Miao Yunzhan glanced at Sang Ji and said coldly:

"Before the truth is uncovered, you remain the most suspicious person."

"Men! Take Sang Ji away and lock him in the Forbidden Land Grotto."

"Without my order, no one is allowed to visit!"

This appeared to be a punishment, but everyone present could see that it was actually a way to protect Sang Ji.

As long as he was locked in the Forbidden Ground, even if the Great Zhou side wanted to cause trouble, they would have no way.

After all, Sang Ji was the next Divine Shaman; it was impossible to just hand him over to the Great Zhou.

Sang Ji wanted to speak further, but he was glared back into silence by a stern look from the Divine Shaman.

"Thank you for your trust, Commander Chen, and for not immediately turning against our Wu Clan after the incident occurred."

Miao Yunzhan cupped his hands toward Chen Shanzhi in gratitude.

Chen Shanzhi returned the gesture and smiled, "I believe in the Clan Chief's character."

Watching Sang Ji being taken away, although Li Hu's face was still full of resentment, he also knew that acting out now would bring no benefit.

He could only resentfully sheathe his blade and have his men collect Wang Yuanhua's remains.

"Commander Chen, I will definitely report this matter truthfully to the Imperial Court!"

Li Hu spat out those words viciously. Holding that pile of white bones and the official robes, he led his men away in a rage.

Miao Yunzhan sighed and said to Tang Xiaowu:

"A-Man, go with the Divine Shaman and properly investigate the residual aura on this corpse."

"We must drag the true killer out!"

After saying that, Miao Yunzhan waved his hand and led the crowd out of the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes in a grand procession.

The originally clamorous valley returned once again to a dead silence.

...

At the same time.

Outside the Valley of Ten Thousand Snakes, in a hidden forest.

Four Wu Clan guards responsible for watching the perimeter were leaning against tree trunks, chatting idly out of boredom.

"Hey, what was that commotion inside just now? All that crying and shouting."

A young guard craned his neck, peering toward the valley entrance.

"It seems like that Supervising Officer from Great Zhou died."

Another older guard said in a lowered voice:

"Just now, the Clan Chief and the Divine Shaman both rushed over in a hurry. It looks like it's no small matter."

"Dead? How did he die?"

"Who knows? Probably bitten to death by the snakes in our valley."

"Those people from the Central Plains have such delicate skin; how could they withstand the venomous creatures here?"

The few of them were just chatting.

Suddenly, an eerie, sinister wind swept through the forest without warning.

Leaves rustled loudly, and the temperature plummeted.

"Hiss... why did it suddenly get so cold?"

The young guard shivered and rubbed his arms.

He subconsciously looked up at the companion opposite him.

"Hey, Old Zhang, you..."

Before he could finish, his voice got stuck in his throat.

He saw that on Old Zhang opposite him, the originally rough and dark skin of his face was now rippling violently like water.

His features began to twist and reorganize.

It was as if countless insects were frantically burrowing beneath the flesh.

"Old Zhang... your face..."

The young guard backed away in terror, wanting to draw his blade, only to find that his limbs no longer obeyed him.

"Hehe..."

From Old Zhang's throat came a strange, feminine laugh.

Immediately after, that rippling skin finally stopped changing.

An unfamiliar face surfaced on the countenance of that rugged Wu Clan man.

That was...

Wang Yuanhua!

Wang Yuanhua, the Supervising Officer who had clearly turned into white bones!

The "Old Zhang" wearing Wang Yuanhua's face raised a hand to touch his cheek.

In his eyes was a hair-raising sense of intoxication.

"This skin, although a bit rough, is barely usable."

"You... you..."

The young guard's eyes widened in horror, wanting to scream.

But he found with dread that his vision was also starting to blur.

A tearing, agonizing pain came from the skin on his face.

It was as if something was about to burrow out from within.

It wasn't just him.

The other two guards nearby were also frozen in place.

Their faces were undergoing the same bizarre transformation.

A moment later.

The four Wu Clan guards, who originally had distinct appearances, were all wearing the face of Wang Yuanhua!

These four faces simultaneously revealed a stiff smile, their movements perfectly synchronized to a point of extreme eeriness.

"Alright, time to get to business."

One of the "Wang Yuanhuas" spoke, his voice cold and shadow-like:

"We split up and proceed according to plan."

The four "Wang Yuanhuas" looked at each other, turned, and disappeared into the forest with swift strides.