Chapter 159 - 158: The Chess Player

Chapter 159: Chapter 158: The Chess Player

The Forensic Room was dimly lit.

Twenty-some bodies covered in white cloths were laid out on bamboo mats.

Hundred Households Zhou Chengkai stood before one of the stone tables, leaning over to carefully inspect something, his expression grim.

Zhang Heming forced a smile. "Lord Zhou, what brings you to my Mirror Mountain, and to such a foul place? If you had any instructions, you could have just had one of your subordinates send word."

According to the official ranks of the Jingwu Bureau, a Hundred Households was a Seventh Grade Official, the same rank as him.

However, the Jingwu Bureau was a directly reporting department, inherently a cut above the rest.

Zhou Chengkai straightened up, turned around, and said in a strictly business tone, "Lord Zhang, I received a report that a major homicide occurred in Jingshan County Town. The deceased are from the Jianghu and have significant statuses. As per Jingwu Bureau regulations, my Bureau will be taking over the investigation. Here is the official dispatch."

He signaled for a Junior Banner Officer beside him to hand the dispatch to Zhang Heming. "The County Magistrate is requested to immediately transfer all case files, the bodies, and the crime scene, and to cooperate with my Bureau’s investigation."

Zhang Heming’s expression darkened. He took the dispatch, but could only say, "As is proper. The Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office will cooperate fully with the investigation."

Just then, a Jingwu Bureau Junior Banner Officer hurried in from outside. He walked quickly to Zhou Chengkai’s side and reported something in a low, grave voice.

As Zhou Chengkai listened to the report, his expression turned incredibly grave, and his tone became unprecedentedly serious. "Magistrate Zhang, the woman who died with Jiang Chaoshan in the West City Courtyard—what is her identity? Have you determined it yet?"

Zhang Heming was flustered by the sudden question, but he forced himself to remain calm. "We haven’t fully identified her yet."

"Haven’t fully identified her?"

Zhou Chengkai glanced at Zhang Chengzong. "According to our Bureau’s investigation, the woman’s true identity is the Snow Fairy—a personal disciple of Elder Jian Dian of the Celestial Sword Sect, and one of their four great True Disciples known as Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon."

’The Celestial Sword Sect... Elder Jian Dian... a True Disciple?’

These words were like claps of thunder from the ninth heaven, exploding in the cold Forensic Room and striking Zhang Heming’s mind again and again.

His vision suddenly went black. His body swayed violently, and he staggered, nearly collapsing onto one of the cold stone tables nearby.

"County Magistrate?"

Steward Huang was startled and quickly steadied him.

Zhang Heming’s face turned ashen in an instant, and beads of cold sweat immediately covered his forehead.

He felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, leaving his limbs ice-cold.

The Celestial Sword Sect!

A first-rate Jianghu power that dominated Jiangzhou.

And Elder Jian Dian was a world-renowned Grandmaster Level figure, infamous for her explosive temper, extreme protectiveness of her own, and unreasonable, brutish nature.

’Her personal disciple had actually died in Jingshan County, and together with a young master of the Jiang Family, no less?’

Zhang Heming instantly realized this was no longer just a homicide case.

This was like lighting a fuse between two massive powder kegs.

The slightest mishandling would trigger a violent conflict between the Jiang Family and the Celestial Sword Sect, and could even ignite a storm of blood.

And he, the County Magistrate, would undoubtedly be the first one to be crushed to pieces.

Zhang Heming seemed to use all his strength just to stand firm. He forced another smile at Zhou Chengkai. "Lord Zhou, I caught a bit of a cold a few days ago and haven’t fully recovered. Being in this Forensic Room has made me dizzy. Please excuse me, I’ll be returning to rest."

Without waiting for Zhou Chengkai’s reply, he turned his head to Steward Huang and said, "Help me out."

Zhou Chengkai stood his ground, watching Zhang Heming’s almost panicked retreat. He glanced at the Snow Fairy’s body, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as a cold, almost imperceptible glint flashed within them.

’A Spirit Realm expert claiming to have caught a cold? Not even a ghost would believe that!’

’The fact that he’s this scared means this County Magistrate knows the whole story.’

’He wouldn’t have lost his composure like that otherwise!’

...

Supported by Steward Huang, Zhang Heming staggered back to the rear hall of the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office.

He collapsed into a Grandmaster’s Chair, panting heavily. His face was still pale, and the cold sweat on his forehead reappeared as soon as it was wiped away.

Steward Huang cautiously presented a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, saying in a low voice, "County Magistrate, have some tea..."

Zhang Heming took the teacup mechanically. His fingertips were so cold they trembled slightly, and even the scalding cup couldn’t dispel the chill in his heart.

An unknown amount of time passed.

A gentle breeze brushed across his face, carrying the fresh scent of the plants in the courtyard.

He suddenly jolted. His muddled eyes snapped into focus, and a strange light flickered within them.

’Wait!’

’I feel like I’ve missed something!’

’The Celestial Sword Sect... the Jiang Family...’

He shot upright, his fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on the warm teacup.

A thought struck his mind like a bolt of lightning.

’The Jiang Family is powerful, and the Celestial Sword Sect is formidable. If these two were to clash over the deaths of the Snow Fairy and Jiang Chaoshan...’

’...how much energy would they have left to hold me, the County Magistrate, responsible?’

’By then, all their anger and accusations would be directed at each other.’

’I might actually be thrown from the center of the vortex into a relatively safe zone.’

At this thought, an uncharacteristic, excited flush appeared on Zhang Heming’s pale face, and his breathing grew heavy.

But a second later, another, colder question extinguished his excitement.

’The Jingwu Bureau!’

’Why did Zhou Chengkai arrive so quickly?’

’How did they intervene in this matter as if they could predict the future?’

’This couldn’t be explained away by them simply being well-informed.’

’This was clearly the work of an unseen hand manipulating everything from behind the scenes. It was even possible that... he, Zhang Heming, the Jiang Family, and even the Celestial Sword Sect had all been played.’

Thinking of this, Zhang Heming felt an even deeper chill shoot up from his tailbone and spread throughout his entire body.

He had originally thought that as the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County, he was the one playing the game of chess in Mirror Mountain.

But now, he realized that he had, at some unknown point, gone from being the player to being a pawn on someone else’s board, and he hadn’t even noticed.

’What should I do?’

Zhang Heming fell into deep thought.

’The current situation hinges on two key points.’

’First, I must find a way to convince both the Jiang Family and the Celestial Sword Sect that the other side is at fault, inciting them to fight.’

’But Jiang Chaoshan and the Snow Fairy... two people who couldn’t be more unrelated... how did they end up together?’

The idea that Jiang Chaoshan kidnapped the Snow Fairy and planned to force himself on her... Zhang Heming absolutely didn’t believe it.

’So what happened between them? I don’t know the crucial reason for any of this. How am I supposed to set up this scheme? I have no idea where to even start!’

’Second, the Jingwu Bureau’s investigation must be stopped here.’

’At the very least, I absolutely cannot let them dig any deeper. Otherwise, even if I escape the wrath of the Jiang Family and the Celestial Sword Sect, my official career will be completely finished!’

’How do I solve this puzzle?’

Zhang Heming’s footsteps suddenly halted, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

’No!’

’It’s not unsolvable!’

’This seemingly intricate and hopeless situation has only one root cause.’

’And that is Chen Li!’

’Only by finding out what truly happened that night can I solve this deadly predicament and fight for a slim chance of survival.’

With this thought, Zhang Heming hesitated no longer. A measure of composure returned to his face as he abruptly turned to Steward Huang and ordered in a deep voice, "Steward Huang, go to the Punishment Room now and tell Liu Wende to come see me."

"Yes, sir." Seeing Zhang Heming regain his composure, Steward Huang felt a little relieved. He quickly acknowledged the order and trotted out.