Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 528: Two More to Go!

Mo Ya hastily said, "There were only two of us, the mayor and myself. Please, Arbiter Zhao, rest assured, we have always been pursuing the murderer and have alibis. We can confirm that the murderer is not from Sangju City."

"Is that so?" Zhao Cheng shrugged his shoulders, his eyes narrowing. "Then tell me about these nine victims. Among them are three True Immortals and six Yang Immortals, none of whom are weak or mere common folk."

Mo Ya lifted his head, somewhat puzzled, and pointed at Yun Xiao. "Arbiter Zhao, the files of these nine victims are clearly written in the scroll. If I recount them, I might miss something. Perhaps you'd like to read the scroll yourself?"

After hearing this, Zhao Cheng rolled his eyes and gestured towards Yun Xiao, saying sternly, "What are you standing there for? Think you're on vacation? Bring the scroll here!"

Yun Xiao held the scroll and glanced at Zhao Cheng, asking, "Are you the squad leader, or am I?"

Zhao Cheng's expression chilled, and through clenched teeth, he said, "Brat, with a major case before us, you have no experience to help. Instead, you’re causing trouble?"

"You can go and ask Lu Changfeng who’s causing the trouble," Yun Xiao responded calmly.

"Well, he's not here right now. So, my words take precedence!" Zhao Cheng suddenly advanced to snatch the scroll from Yun Xiao’s hands, barking, "Don’t make me cripple you!"

"Stop bickering." Chi Yu, Gu Yuan, and Sun Xiaoqi hurriedly squeezed between the two men to separate them.

"Both of you are esteemed Arbiters. Let's not become laughingstocks in this city because of petty squabbling," Chi Yu said with sarcasm.

"Indeed." Gu Yuan pursed her lips, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"You all support this useless punk? He’s 27 years old and not even a True Immortal. He's just here to mess around. What good can he do?" Zhao Cheng scoffed coldly.

"He’s connected. If you have a problem, why not take it up with Deputy Changfeng?" Chi Yu shrugged.

Zhao Cheng scoffed again before calming down. His family had some standing in Sky Soaring City, and he was accustomed to being haughty in the Skyruler Immortal Manor.

Now out of his element, he indeed felt uncomfortable.

"Let's focus on finding the murderer, shall we?" Sun Xiaoqi said timidly.

"Does the squad leader have any brilliant ideas?" Zhao Cheng raised an eyebrow.

Ignoring him, Yun Xiao stared at the scroll again, then pointing at a female corpse in the middle, he asked Mo Ya, "Is this woman named Lu Jiao? Is she the mayor Lu Qian's younger sister?"

With a mournful look, Mo Ya replied, "Yes, she died last night, right in the mayor's residence. It was after Lu Jiao's death that the mayor, in great sorrow, sought help from the Skyruler Immortal Manor..."

"Even the city magistrate's own sister is dead..." Sun Xiaoqi clicked her tongue, "The murderer is brazen indeed."

Chi Yu glanced at Zhao Cheng and asked, "How do you propose we catch the murderer?"

Seeing Yun Xiao silent, Zhao Cheng replied, "Let's not complicate things. I bet the killer, bold as he is, will dare to hang more bodies at the city gates tonight."

"With all the commotion we've caused today, you think he'd still go?" Sun Xiaoqi questioned.

"If he doesn't dare, at least he's not harming anyone for now," Zhao Cheng stated.

"But he could still kill and hang the bodies somewhere else, continuing to provoke us," Yun Xiao suddenly spoke up.

"So what do you suggest?" Zhao Cheng asked.

They all knew that if the culprit was a bandit from outside the city, the only option was to set a trap and capture him.

Yun Xiao immediately said, "Make three arrangements. First, set a trap at the city gate. Second, patrol the entire city. Third, use local forces to check for outsiders."

"Arbiter, we've already checked several times. If a True Immortal wants to hide, they won't be caught," Mo Ya interjected.

"No matter, follow my orders and continue the search," Yun Xiao insisted.

"Yes..." Mo Ya could only nod.

Zhao Cheng scoffed, "Naive!"

"If you have a better idea, speak up," Yun Xiao challenged.

"We're only five people. To set a trap and patrol the entire city? Do you think we have three heads and six arms? If the murderer slips past us, the honor of the Skyruler Immortal Manor will be lost," Zhao Cheng retorted.

The other three remained silent.

Ignoring Zhao Cheng, Yun Xiao turned to Chi Yu and the others, "You three, go set the trap at the city gate now and do not leave until dawn."

Three True Immortals setting a trap would cover each other, and no couples were separated.

All three of them agreed to this task.

Only Sun Xiaoqi playfully stuck out her tongue.

"And you two?" Chi Yu asked, arms crossed.

"I'll patrol the eastern district, and Zhao Cheng will take the west," Yun Xiao declared.

"Fine!" Zhao Cheng laughed, "Lu Yao, you act as if you alone hold authority, but we'll do as you say. Just remember, if anything goes wrong, you're responsible!"

"Whatever," Yun Xiao responded.

After the discussion, Chi Yu and the others headed to the city gates to find a good spot for the ambush.

Stepping out of the city hall, Chi Yu couldn't help but chuckle. "Those two fools, fighting like dogs. They're quite the spectacle."

"Zhao Cheng has just been appointed as a full Arbiter. So, he's eager to prove himself. Lu Yao is a fool too, taking this investigation so seriously, acting as if he's something special," Gu Yuan said with a laugh.

"They're all talents with a divine mission!" Chi Yu joked.

Gu Yuan glanced outside and, clinging to Chi Yu's arm, cooed, "Darling, I hear everything's cheap in this little city. Let's go shopping, shall we?"

"Isn't that inappropriate?" Chi Yu questioned.

"What's the harm? We ditch these Arbiter robes, and who'll recognize us?" Gu Yuan pouted.

"Alright, alright," Chi Yu chuckled and agreed.

"Um..." Sun Xiaoqi watched them ready to leave and hurriedly asked, "What about me?"

Gu Yuan gave her a stern look. "Go to the city gate and find a spot to set up the trap. You think you're coming with us? How annoying!"

"Oh! Right." Sun Xiaoqi's face turned red with embarrassment. After they left, she clenched her fists and muttered under her breath, "Damn it, one day, I'll fall in love too!"

?ι══????????══ι?

The day had been busy, and soon night fell.

The small city, cloaked by a dark sky, seemed even darker.

Due to the frequent murders, the usually lively nights in Sangju City were nearly deserted this evening.

Only the mayor's patrol teams continued their search through every household.

On a dimly lit long street, the tall and burly Arbiter Zhao Cheng, not wearing his Arbiter armor, emerged from a brothel, his face flushed as he laughed, "The girls from small places are the best—cheap and cheerful!"

After speaking, he clasped his hands in the air, slightly tipsy, and chuckled again, "This place, I could come back often."

"Zhao Cheng!"

Suddenly, a cold voice called out from his left.

Zhao Cheng paused, turning to look. He saw a young man in platinum armor standing in the darkness, his face expressionless, as he began to walk towards him.

"Yun Xiao?" Zhao Cheng shrugged with a disdainful smile as he gazed at Yun Xiao.

"I assigned you to patrol the western district, and here you are, lost in dreams in a brothel?" Yun Xiao stood before Zhao Cheng, fury etched across his face.

"Yeah?" Zhao Cheng scoffed, leisurely slipping on his Arbiter armor and raising an eyebrow. "What about it? You're just an Arbiter Initiate. What are you going to do? Punish me?"

"You!" Yun Xiao glared at him intensely.

"Ha, what a little weasel!" The drunk Zhao Cheng grabbed Yun Xiao by the collar, his laugh scornful. "Oh revered descendant of martyrs, do you dare to touch me?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yun Xiao's hand clasped an azure Sword Soul, thrusting it into Zhao Cheng’s left eye with the speed of lightning!

The blade burst out from the back of Zhao Cheng’s head. The strike was swift and vicious, like a bolt of lightning in broad daylight, instantly fatal.

Zhao Cheng's head was pierced through, his remaining eye widened in a grotesque mixture of horror, astonishment, and agony. His lips, tongue, and the hand clutching Yun Xiao’s collar trembled.

With a squelch, Yun Xiao pulled out the Sword Soul, clutching Zhao Cheng's neck and sneered coldly, "You really thought I was here to investigate? Sorry, I became an Arbiter for one reason only—to make money!"

With that, Yun Xiao's sword pierced Zhao Cheng’s right eye.

Zhao Cheng fell to his knees, his face and the back of his head oozing a grisly mix of red and white. His body twitched a few times before it stilled. Yun Xiao rummaged through his robes, pulling out a hefty Bag of Holding and peeked inside.

"Looks like you collected quite a tribute today, huh?"

Yun Xiao pocketed the Bag of Holding and then produced a thick hemp rope, fastening it around Zhao Cheng’s neck.

Dragging Zhao Cheng’s body towards the city gate, he muttered into the dark night, "The murderer plans to hang three at the city gates tonight? Tonight, I'll do it for him."

Glancing back at Zhao Cheng’s still-dripping eyes, he smirked. "Two more to go."

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