Although this is only a preliminary investigation, contradictions have already begun to appear in what is known. This puzzled Shen Hao greatly.

He reconstructed in his mind the scene when the dungeon was assaulted:

A few culprits, each with cultivation at least at Gathering Spirit Realm Second Layer, took advantage of the night to bypass the Xuanqing Guard Night Patrol Banner Battalion, sneaked into the Black Banner Battalion garrison, then infiltrated near the dungeon and used an illusion array to suppress all the sentries, both obvious and hidden, around the dungeon. Afterwards, they used the Mountain Stone Array to flatten the dungeon and simultaneously kill those inside.

At first glance, this was the general process of last night’s assault, but in fact there were many suspicious points.

"Where are those corpses stored now? Take me to see them."

Wang Jian nodded affirmatively and led the way to a storage chamber behind the garrison barracks. This place was originally used to store various training equipment, but now had been temporarily repurposed to store the corpses.

However, these are not the corpses of the Black Banner Battalion soldiers; they are still buried beneath the ruins of the dungeon.

There are three bodies in total. One had its head split in two, the body even dismembered into three pieces. Another was gutted, the entire chest ripped wide open. The last one looked relatively better, only its left eye was destroyed, there was a fist-sized hole in the back of its head, and its body bore several sword wounds.

Three corpses—though somewhat mutilated, their appearances could still be recognized.

First, these three were definitely not from the Li City Guard Station, and certainly not from the Xuanqing Guard.

Second, these people were definitely not killed by the dungeon defenders.

Third, the fact that these three sneaked to the dungeon at midnight clearly meant no good.

"General Flag, your subordinate investigated through the night, and according to the feedback from the Document Library over in Fengri City about an hour ago, the identities of these three are basically confirmed.

This one whose head was relocated is Lin Houyang, a loose cultivator, Gathering Spirit Fourth Layer. He is somewhat famous among loose cultivators, mainly due to his unique cultivation in a technique that blends pills and magic—a hybrid magic technique. The ’Blue Dream’ found in the dungeon ruins’ soil earlier is one of Lin Houyang’s skills. This magic is similar to confusing smoke, highly effective; even cultivators at the Gathering Spirit Realm cannot resist it for long.

The one gutted was Sun Xiang, also called Sun the Third, a loose cultivator, Gathering Spirit Fourth Layer, not well-known but very active. The original version of that Hundred Flowers Disc now sold on the black market was his invention. He is especially skilled in array inscription and array disc production.

The last is He Dongsheng, also a loose cultivator, Gathering Spirit Realm Seventh Layer, adept with dual sabers and the Leaping and Shifting Technique. He is known by the nickname ’Double Saber Swallow’, very famous among loose cultivators.

These three are rarely seen by ordinary cultivators, but Xuanqing Guard records note they repeatedly accepted commissions—some from the government office, some from noble families, some within the Dynasty and some beyond. No matter how dangerous, these three dared to take the jobs and their completion rate was very high.

Based on current information, Zhang Liao and I discussed and preliminarily determined that He Dongsheng and the other two came to the dungeon last night to rescue Wen Renhai within. The breakdown: Sun Xiang was in charge of suppressing people with the illusion array, Lin Houyang was responsible for using confusing smoke to clear internal obstacles, and He Dongsheng stood guard and joined the infiltration."

"Your analysis suggests that the purpose of these three was to rescue someone, not to kill anyone?"

"Yes. This is evident from Sun Xiang setting up the illusion array but not killing, and Lin Houyang’s magic includes more than just Blue Dream; one of his other skills is lethal, yet they did not use it." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Rescue?

Shen Hao agreed with Wang Jian and Zhang Liao’s analysis; he couldn’t find any obvious logical flaws for now. But just this segment of analysis was far from enough, since He Dongsheng failed to rescue the person and died himself.

"Any ideas about who killed them?"

"Not yet. But it is certain that when He Dongsheng and the others were about to succeed, they were killed, and taking into account the time gap in the Night Patrol Banner Battalion’s patrol schedule in the garrison, they should have been killed within the span of half a stick of incense."

Moreover, according to recollections of the prison chief and others, the illusion array was never interrupted, only once did it flicker for a moment. We judge this likely resulted from Sun Xiang being killed and his array disc being forcibly taken by someone else."

Based on traces left at the scene, we further deduced this group was likely five to six people, with cultivation between Gathering Spirit Fifth Layer and Ninth Layer, and must have possessed considerable offensive abilities. Otherwise, killing He Dongsheng and the other two in such a short time would be impossible."

Five to six experts at least at Gathering Spirit Realm Fifth Layer, possibly even at Gathering Spirit Realm Ninth Layer Perfection. This is no trivial matter; if such power stirred trouble in Li City, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Shen Hao frowned in silence.

Zhang Liao picked up Wang Jian’s words and continued: "Since last night at 3 a.m., Xuanqing Guard sounded the alarm, sealed the four gates, and placed the city under lockdown, but so far no suspicious cultivator has been found. Fengri City sent word this morning that, under Households Commander Jiang’s instructions, a group of experts would come to the garrison this afternoon for reinforcement."

The highest cultivation in Li City Guard Station is Tang Qingyuan, who is at Gathering Spirit Realm Eighth Layer. Facing enemies who might be Gathering Spirit Realm Ninth Layer, it is necessary for Fengri City to send stronger reinforcements.

However, this was discussed this morning in Jiang Cheng’s public office between Tang Qingyuan and Shen Hao. The reinforcements are ten of Jiang Cheng’s personal guards, providing martial force only, not interfering in the basic investigation of the assault.

Shen Hao tapped the table and said gravely, "Wang Jian, you handle the reinforcement interface. Zhang Liao, continue to coordinate with Garrison personnel for a city-wide sweep. Don’t just focus on cultivators; those entering and exiting Li City must have local contacts, and they can’t all be cultivators. Pay attention to families recently hosting visiting relatives, as well as inns and carriage and horse shops."

"Also, start writing the dossier. Use your analysis just now. Two groups were involved in last night’s dungeon assault: one tried to rescue Wen Renhai—this group is certainly linked to the Wen Family. The other tried to stop the rescue and kill Wen Renhai. The identity of the latter group is unclear, but we can be sure the forces behind them are not small."

Undoubtedly, any force capable of assembling five or six experts of at least Gathering Spirit Realm Fifth Layer is not to be underestimated. Plus, they dared to kill the Wen Family’s young master—such boldness proves they have no fear of the Wen Family.

But who were they? Why did they kill Wen Renhai? What benefit did killing Wen Renhai bring them?

There are quite a few who want Wen Renhai dead...

Shen Hao exited the storage chamber, dismissed his other attendants, and returned first to the public office with only Wang Jian and Zhang Liao. Then, avoiding attention, went to the interrogation chamber in the Black Banner Battalion garrison.

"Let Zhou Guangcai come back later and sit in the interrogation chamber. With him here, it’ll be easier for us to come and go, no need to sneak around so much."

"I didn’t consider that; I’ll bring Zhou Guangcai back immediately," Wang Jian said, pushing open the door to the interrogation chamber as he accepted Shen Hao’s instructions.