282 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

"Well, Cousin, you are currently on leave, aren't you? It seems you have no official duties to attend to, right, Lord Lú?" Rǎn Fányīn shot Ning Sōngwù a piercing glance as he followed Lú Jìn, stressing the word 'Cousin' with a hint of irritation on her face. It was supposed to be a day filled with excitement and noise, with crowds pushing and shoving to buy tickets by the side, bickering incessantly. But Rǎn Fányīn's cold, emotionless gaze spread a chill, making Ning Sōngwù and Lú Jìn feel as if they were sitting on pins and needles. "We're already here, Lord Níng, why don't you stay? I just remembered some official matters left unfinished yesterday," Lú Jìn said, clearly understanding the hidden meaning behind Rǎn Fányīn's words. He knew the two were not really cousins, but it was a ruse to avoid unnecessary trouble. Seeing Ning Sōngwù's pleading expression trailing behind him, Lú Jìn quickly added, "Lord Níng, please stay." Rǎn Fányīn whispered something to the young lady beside her and then went upstairs without a second glance. As she ascended, she said coldly without looking back at Ning Sōngwù, "You, follow me upstairs." From the second floor, Yún Niáng witnessed everything unfold from the man's provocation. Ning Sōngwù asked, "A stormy night?" Rǎn Fányīn continued, "It was the night three days ago, amidst a thunderstorm that caused the river flow to increase dramatically, speeding up the displacement of the body. Hence, the dumping site could not have been downstream at Li Village, which is why you found no clues along the riverbanks of Li Village. The crime scene is most likely between Li Village and Wǔ Village." Ning Sōngwù questioned, "Chén Village?" Rǎn Fányīn pondered briefly and replied, "It's too early to conclude; it's merely a deduction that needs to be verified on-site." Ning Sōngwù lit up with excitement, "Very reasonable! Madam, you truly are talented! We were fixated on the time of the victim's disappearance and overlooked the storm three days ago, missing the obvious. Your analysis has clarified the case significantly." "Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to the site," Rǎn Fányīn, feeling bored from her stay at the residence, wanted to get out for some fresh air. "It's the height of summer. Madam, it’s safer for you to stay indoors," Ning Sōngwù was concerned about Rǎn Fányīn enduring the heat and the propriety of her presence. Rǎn Fányīn retorted, "It's tiresome at the residence. I can manage the heat. Lend me a set of men's clothing, and I will accompany you." Having addressed his concerns, Ning Sōngwù couldn’t refuse further. Besides, having a talented woman like her at hand would expedite the case progress. * The next day, the two indeed discovered some clues along the downstream section of the Zǐmò River, by the shore of Chén Village. Under the willow trees, they found some broken branches as if cut by a sharp weapon. In the grass, on a river stone, they noticed blood marks that the rain had not completely washed away. Although the signs of struggle had been washed clean by the rain, a glaring reflective light caught Rǎn Fányīn's attention. Following the light, she found a piece of a waist tag chopped off by a sharp weapon in the inconspicuous grass. Rǎn Fányīn looked at the piece in her palm and said, "This? It looks like a waist tag." Ning Sōngwù took it, scrutinizing closely; the gold filigree was faintly visible, but the piece was too small to determine the original form of the tag. Jiāng Máng, a businessman, had calluses on his hands inconsistent with his profession. The discovery of the tag fragment raised further suspicion, indicating a complex case. [It smells awful.] [I didn't expect to trap her for long, but Jiāng Máng breaking through so quickly was a bit surprising.] [...Why not even spare her?] [Just waiting for this moment.] [Alright, the objective is achieved.] [Jiāng Máng, find a way to get all the information you know out there.] [Thank goodness, Jiāng Yuè is showing such lively emotions, she seems fine.] [Perhaps she used Jiāng Máng for initial experiments before targeting Jiāng Yuè.] [In any case, it's good that at least one remains unharmed.] [Fine, I'll get up, isn't that enough?] [Master, no, she'll surely take personal revenge.] [I heard that while we were in seclusion, she was trained harshly by Elder Hè Lán!] [Master, Master...] [Help me, Master!] [Truly cohorts in crime, the perfect pair...] [Fine, I’m ignoring Master today.] [...] Chapter 108: Depth (2) [Let’s deal with the main issue first.] [Master teases but doesn't follow through, owes me a kiss.] [No worries, many kisses owed over the years, all recorded.] Jiāng Máng was terrified; if it weren't for some special methods that could manage her, today, many might have been carried away. [I sense that unless this was done by someone very powerful, it couldn't happen.] [Thinking back to a thousand years ago, it’s amusing.] [Whether it was the famous battle of the Sword Immortal, Xiāo Wǎnchéng returning to the formation, or this Elder’s breakthrough, all occurred during that period.] [I can't believe there's no connection.] [Master, you're laughing...] "Don't worry, Madam. I have arranged for all counties to prepare defenses, timely clearing of garbage, burying animal carcasses, boiling daily water, and using wormwood to disinfect houses." Ning Sōngwù was somewhat surprised that Rǎn Fányīn knew such things, different from her sisters. Rǎn Fányīn reminded, "Remember, don't drink raw water directly. Boil it to kill germs before drinking." "Thank you for the reminder, Madam," Ning Sōngwù was somewhat impressed by Rǎn Fányīn's thoroughness in her thinking. * As fluffy clouds drifted and a gentle breeze caressed, the air carried the earthy fragrance left by the rain. Ning Sōngwù and his assistant Chálè led the bailiffs, rushing non-stop to Mòshàng Sāng. The disaster-struck Mòshàng Sāng was still recovering. As a nationally renowned silk weaving center, Ning Sōngwù understood its importance and didn't dare slack off. Though the houses along the streets had been gradually repaired, the mulberry groves and fields along the riverbanks were devastated by the flood. The sight was shocking for Ning Sōngwù. The once bustling town now lay in ruins, and he lamented the hardship of the people whose half-year labor had been destroyed in an instant.