Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 345 - 330: What? Still Not Dead?

Chapter 345: Chapter 330: What? Still Not Dead?

Atop Shouyang Mountain, Zhang San was chatting with Wang Qi from the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture’s Government Office.

"Why are there so many women over there making a commotion? With that wailing, you’d think someone’s child had died."

By now, Shouyang Mountain, already completely surrounded by the Government Office of the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture and the forces of the Town Martial Office, was only accessible to those related to the current incident.

So, as Zhang San and Wang Qi discussed the clues of the formation patterns they had discovered, the constant crying and shouting of many women nearby was quite irritating.

Wang Qi sighed and said in a low voice, "Brother San, those women are the mothers of those who died right here on Shouyang Mountain."

Zhang San gave an awkward smile and said, "So that’s what’s going on. It’s a pity, all because of that damn Zheng Poyue. What was he thinking, killing Wen Rulie of the Wen Family for no good reason?"

Wang Qi nodded expressionlessly, like someone resigned to just watch the show.

After all, Zheng Poyue wasn’t a fool. Why would he kill Wen Rulie?

For all we know, once the investigation is done, everyone on this mountain might be claimed to have been killed by you, Zhang San!

Of course, these thoughts Wang Qi only dared to entertain in his mind; he certainly didn’t have the guts to say them out loud in Zhang San’s presence.

"By the way, if you at the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture’s Government Office find out the identities and backgrounds of those eight bodies, let me know immediately."

Wang Qi nodded right away, saying respectfully, "Don’t worry, Brother San, the Magistrate has already given orders regarding this matter."

Having taken care of the matters at hand, Zhang San prepared to descend the mountain.

But at that moment, he was blocked by several women who were wailing and shouting.

"Zhang San! You are the murderer!"

"That’s right, you’re the killer! A life for a life!"

"Murderer! Give me back my son’s life..."

Zhang San, looking at a few unreasonable women, gave a bitter smile and said with a gesture of his hand, "Ladies, I don’t know you, but I came here to hunt today, at the invitation of the eldest son of the former Minister of War, Pei Renwu. I didn’t come with any ulterior motives. If you are unsatisfied with this, you can seek justice at the Ministry of War."

Hearing that the invitation to Zhang San was from a big figure at the Ministry of War, the women immediately stepped back in fear.

"I am new to the Capital and unfamiliar with the nearby paths, which is why I got lost here and, by chance, met a beautiful woman who was also lost. I was entirely focused on the beauty riding beside me when I unexpectedly witnessed Zheng Poyue shoot Wen Rulie with an arrow! I am an important witness for the Wen Family to avenge their loss, are you smearing me because you don’t wish for the deceased of the Wen Family to be vindicated?"

The very angry women heard this and retreated a few more steps in fright.

"In the end, I pursued the murderer, Zheng Poyue, all the way here, and seriously wounded him. Then Zheng Poyue broke through the hollow stone at the peak of the mountain and was struck by lightning! I rushed over and discovered new clues to the murder case and immediately reported it. After all, I am investigating the Floating Corpse Case in the Capital by the order of Emperor Kaihuang, and the murder case just discovered here falls under the jurisdiction of the Floating Corpse Case. I believe you ladies, despite your deep love for your sons, would not want to defy Emperor Kaihuang’s order and stop me from investigating, right?"

When the women heard Emperor Kaihuang’s name, though they did not quite understand what Zhang San was talking about, they were scared enough to step back even further, no longer daring to obstruct him.

Zhang San beckoned to Hei, and the Black Chi Horse carrying Hu Xingxiang ran over. As Zhang San prepared to mount the horse, he heard the voice of a middle-aged man.

"Hold on a moment, young friend Zhang San."

Turning his head, Zhang San saw a richly dressed middle-aged man walking towards him, greeting him with a bow, his demeanor rather courteous.

However, Zhang San had never seen this person before.

But seeing the man’s bright eyes, shining like stars, Zhang San knew he was no ordinary person.

"I am Zhang San, may I ask who I am speaking to...?"

"Baili Tu of the Baili Family."

Zhang San couldn’t help but be startled, for Baili Tu was none other than the Family Head of the Baili Family.

"Baili Family Head has come to see me, probably to inquire about something. Please ask, what I know I will surely tell! After all, it’s said that the Baili Family will soon join the Town Martial Office, so we will all be family."

Baili Tu gave a slight smile, but inwardly he scoffed.

These young people from the Capital who had never seen true intrigue thought they could compete with Zhang San.

Having barely exchanged a few words with Zhang San, Zhang San was already trying to leverage the fact that the Baili Family would soon be joining the Town Martial Office to press him.

Just this courage and intellect alone, there are probably few among the younger generation in the Capital who could match up.

"I’ve come to ask you just one question, did any member of the Baili Family die by your hand today?"

Zhang San looked into Baili Tu’s eyes, staring for a while before sighing.

Although Zhang San believed his deception skills could fool many, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Baili Tu would see through him the moment he lied.

Despite not knowing why, Zhang San just had this sensation that Baili Tu’s eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything.

So, Zhang San took a piece of paper from his Gluttonous Bag and handed it to Baili Tu with both hands before turning to leave.

Once Baili Tu unfolded the paper, he discovered it was a note covertly given to Zhang San by someone sent by Baili Chengfeng.

The message informed Zhang San that many young members of the Baili Family intended to join forces with the Wen Family and Zheng Family to kill him, seeking wealth and status.

Putting away the note, Baili Tu glanced at Zhang San, who was riding down the mountain with a beauty.

Although Zhang San didn’t reply, this note had already answered for him.

At that moment, many of the Baili Family also gathered around, including the two women who had just stopped Zhang San.

"Family Head, you must stand up for my child! From childhood, he was always honest and never caused trouble, yet today he was shot dead—"

"This Zhang San is clearly up to no good! Family Head, you must take this to the Emperor Kaihuang himself, and not let him off!"

Baili Tu glanced at the people of the Baili Family and asked, "How many in our family died today?"

"Six, all young and promising individuals."

Baili Tu snorted coldly.

"On normal days, when there are significant issues in our family, not one of them can be counted on. Now that they’re dead, they’re suddenly called the ’promising individuals’. Take the members of these six families to the family shrine."

Upon hearing they were to be taken to the shrine, a person asked curiously, "Family Head, are you planning to—"

"Strip the members of the six families of their childhood innocence, and regardless of age, flog them forty times each! Then have them kneel in the shrine until I come back from seeing Emperor Kaihuang to decide their fate!"

Having said this, Baili Tu ignored the clamor of the women around him, turned and descended the mountain, heading straight for the Imperial Palace.

Meanwhile, Zhang San, escorting Hu Xingxiang down the mountain, had just reached Phoenix Mountain when they encountered Pei Shouqi and Wang Ziteng.

"Brother Zhang San, are you alright?"

Pei Shouqi was very worried about Zhang San, but as soon as he saw him on the horse, holding a cute and unfamiliar beauty in his arms, he was reassured.

"It seems Brother Zhang San is fine. However..."

Pei Shouqi spoke, continuously turning his head and making faces in the direction behind him as if to warn Zhang San that something extremely dangerous was about to approach from behind.

Wang Ziteng also looked shocked.

Weren’t you going to kill someone?

How did you end up bringing back a "trophy"!

If I had known about this great deal, I would have followed you no matter what!

"Brother San, I have one piece of bad news and another piece of bad news, which do you want to hear first?"

Zhang San just glared at Wang Ziteng without saying a word.

"The bad news is, Zheng Poyue didn’t die. I heard that when Zheng Family’s people came to carry him off the mountain, he rolled down the mountain road for quite a distance and then rolled back to life."

Zhang San grinned, having been preoccupied with those eight corpses and the case earlier, forgetting to extinguish Zheng Poyue’s soul, a pity indeed.

"What’s the other piece of bad news?"

Zhang San couldn’t imagine anything worse than Zheng Poyue not being dead.

Wang Ziteng glanced behind him and whispered, "Ximen Jinxing is coming!"

Zhang San looked puzzled, as today was the day he had happened to meet Hu Xingxiang, and he could introduce her to Ximen Jinxing, helping her make another friend.

So why would the arrival of Ximen Jinxing be bad news?