In the frigid lands, after my exile, I began to slay demons and monsters.

Chapter 59 The Alarm Bell Rings Again

After seeing Steward Liu off, Ning Xiaoxi still felt strange. "If there were wolves on such a nearby grassland, our caravan wouldn't have left the city so easily, would it?"

“The wolf packs on the grasslands have actually been driven at least a hundred miles away into the depths of the grasslands by the city lord and the Celestial Masters. There are also patrolling cavalry, so they shouldn’t be outside the city,” Ming Shoucheng said. “From the royal city to the border of Youzhou, Celestial Masters clear the roads and coordinate with the patrolling cavalry for defense. Lord Tiangang also inspects the barriers every year to ensure safety, which is why caravans within the dynasty can travel freely. We merchants dare to organize caravans to travel between the various states because we know this.”

Ming Shoucheng continued, "In addition, they encountered cliffs that shouldn't have been there, so we concluded that it was because a demon had appeared, a demon that could cause hallucinations. We reported it to the Celestial Master Pavilion the next day."

"So it seems the problem lies with the Celestial Master Pavilion." Ning Ziqing stroked the jade tablet in her hand, feeling the faint spiritual energy emanating from it.

"Brother, since we're here, let's go ask again. If we leave tomorrow, who knows what will happen? We can't just give up doing business, can we? We still want to expand our business to the border of Youzhou!"

Chang Qing looked at the brother and sister, somewhat puzzled. Hadn't they only walked for a short while?

After hearing their requests, he took them to a side room in the east wing of the office where the chief clerk worked, and told Chief Clerk Fang about what had happened outside the city.

Fang Changshi was also a little puzzled. He took out the record book from the past few days and checked it. He found that there was indeed a record of the matter being reported, and it indicated that a subordinate official had been dispatched with two guards to investigate. However, there was no record of the case being closed.

Chief Clerk Fang's expression turned serious. One subordinate official and two guards had only gone twenty miles to scout ahead; they shouldn't have been gone for three days. Something must have happened.

Chang Qing looked at Ning Xiaoxi and then asked Chief Secretary Fang, "Lord Fang, if possible, the three of us would like to go and take a look."

Fang Changshi nodded, got up and walked to the door, calling out, "Li Qiang, come here for a moment."

A very energetic-looking subordinate appeared briskly at the door, "Sir."

Has Jiang He returned?

"No, sir."

"Why wasn't it reported?"

"Qi led a group there this afternoon, and they haven't returned yet."

Chief Clerk Fang's expression darkened further. "Send a group of people to me. I'll go and take a look myself." With that, Chief Clerk Fang turned back. "Officer Chang, this is an internal matter of Muyun. There's no need to trouble you. Please go back. You'll receive news before you leave tomorrow morning."

Hearing what Chief Secretary Fang said, Chang Qing didn't know what to say. He glanced at Ning Xiaoxi and Ning Ziqing and nodded, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Chief Secretary."

As soon as the three of them reached the gate of the camp, they saw Chief Secretary Fang leading a group of people away in a hurry.

As Ning Xiaoxi watched the group of people walk away, she had a bad feeling.

【Dumpling?】

It's too far.

"Clang~ Clang~ Clang~"

In the middle of the night, Ning Xiaoxi was awakened by a siren. She quickly dressed and went out. Hearing the somewhat familiar siren and looking at the deep night, her heart churned. In an instant, she used her dragon-walking technique to leave Mingji Shop.

When Ning Ziqing came out, he only saw Ning Xiaoxi's back. After thinking for a moment, he said to Ning Shi and Ming Shoucheng, who had opened the door, "Father, Uncle, I'm going to go and take a look. You two don't need to come out." Ning Ziqing didn't expect that he could put the martial arts he learned from his sister into practice so quickly.

As Ning Xiaoxi crossed the main street, she saw patrolling soldiers reassuring people who had come out of their homes to check the situation, telling them to go back inside and not come out.

"Clang~ Clang~ Clang~"

The dull tolling of the bell continued, and Ning Xiaoxi's heart sank lower and lower. She had a constant feeling of unease, always afraid that some terrible scene would happen again.

The city lord's mansion at the end of the main street was brightly lit, yet deserted.

"Who goes there? Halt!" A patrol of soldiers stood guard at the entrance to the main street leading to the Celestial Master Pavilion's residence.

Ning Xiaoxi took out her jade token and showed it to the squad leader blocking her way, saying, "Heavenly Secrets Official."

The squad leader gestured for the soldiers to put away their weapons and respectfully made way for them, saying, "Please, sir."

Ning Xiaoxi vanished from her spot in a flash, and Ning Ziqing reappeared, also showing his jade token.

When Ning Xiaoxi saw the gate of the encampment, she felt waves of pressure. Several dense vortexes of spiritual energy were swirling in the courtyard, one of which was as sharp as a knife.

"Clang~ Clang~ Clang~"

Ning Xiaoxi followed the sound of the bell and stepped onto the steps in front of the door, entering through the gate.

The courtyard was filled with guards and officials. Lord Di Jie of Muyun Mountain City, accompanied by his strategist, stood in front of the main house. The chief clerk, the clerk, and the registrar stood at the bottom of the steps, where a row of five corpses covered with black cloth were placed in front of the steps.

Several officials from out of town stood by the door. Ning Xiaoxi gently leaned over and stood next to Chang Qing. Ning Ziqing also came in at this time and stood next to her.

“These days, no one is allowed to go out on missions unless it is an urgent imperial edict,” Di Jie said in a deep voice. “Wait for your respective subordinates to make arrangements.” After saying that, he turned and went into the room.

"Disperse, everyone. Return to your posts as instructed by the strategist and be ready to respond at any time." The strategist waved to the crowd.

The chief clerk, the clerk, and the registrar followed him into the main room. The other officials and guards slowly dispersed.

Ning Xiaoxi stared blankly at the corpses. She could sense the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from them. "This... this is just left here?"

“When someone dies in the line of duty, the usual procedure is to bury them. But since their deaths were not natural, the murderers must be apprehended and a memorial service must be held before they can be buried,” Chang Qing said softly.

"It seems that Chief Secretary Fang is not in good condition. Did he say anything specific?"

"No. You are the one who suffered the most, perhaps you could go and ask them."

Ning Xiaoxi glanced at Chang Qing. Judging from the current situation, it seemed that the Celestial Master Pavilion did not have a coroner position. "Brother Chang, have you examined the body?"

Chang Qing looked at Ning Xiaoxi with suspicion, "What do you mean by examining the bodies? They're already dead, why do we need to examine them?"

Ning Xiaoxi understood. Although she didn't know anything about autopsies, she could sense the spiritual energy fluctuations on the corpses. She wanted to give it a try, so she turned to Ning Ziqing and told him, "Brother, wait for me here. I'm going to take a look."

Ning Xiaoxi slowly walked to the corpses and bowed to them, but she felt the spiritual crystal in her heart lake pound violently.

"The Ning family's daughter." The strategist didn't follow her inside; he remained standing on the steps.

"My lord strategist, may I check on the condition of you all?"

The strategist glanced at Ning Xiaoxi with some curiosity, sensing that this young lady from the Ning family had a strange focus. What was so interesting about a corpse?

"Let her see." Di Jie appeared again at some point and stood behind the strategist.

Ning Xiaoxi bowed to Di Jie and said, "Thank you, sir."

Di Jie sized up the girl before him. She seemed quite ordinary, around twelve or thirteen years old, not very tall, somewhat thin, with delicate features and clear, bright eyes. She wasn't a stunning beauty, but rather the kind of girl whose appearance was pleasing and easy to look at. She wore clean and neat cotton clothes, and comfortable cotton shoes with thick soles. She wore no extravagant accessories, except for a thin, somewhat delicate bracelet on her left wrist.

Ning Ziqing saw Di Jie scrutinizing her younger sister and lowered her head slightly to hide her displeasure. Her sister was no longer a criminal and should not be scrutinized for no reason.

Ning Xiaoxi took a deep breath to calm herself. She had already witnessed such a horrific scene in Panhou Mountain City; a few corpses wouldn't affect her mood. With that thought, she bent down and gently lifted the black cloth covering the corpse in front of her.