Translator: CinderTL
As Jiang Cheng and the others entered, before they could fully take in the courtyard's layout, a loud "bang" echoed behind them.
Crippled Liu slammed the gate shut with great force and swiftly secured the bolt.
After sizing them up, Crippled Liu began limping toward the interior, gesturing for them to follow. "Since Director Qiao sent you, you should know the rules. I won't say more."
"Once you're in Feng Manor, you must abide by our customs."
As he spoke, Crippled Liu, who had been leading the way, suddenly turned around, his single eye fixed on them. Fatty nearly jumped out of his skin, startled by the unexpected move. "What are you doing?"
Crippled Liu didn't answer, but instead scanned them one by one with his gaze. After a moment, he turned back, leaving them with a peculiar silhouette.
They first passed through a winding corridor, then crossed a garden before arriving at a three-story building.
The building, though also three stories tall, was far less grand and luxurious than the one they had seen from outside the gate.
"You can stay here for now. Someone will bring your meals when it's time. The mansion is in a bit of a mess right now, so please don't wander around unless you have to." With that, Crippled Liu turned to leave.
But Jiang Cheng quickly stepped forward to stop him. "Brother Liu," he said, "Director Qiao sent us here to investigate this case. Given the dire situation in your mansion, how could we bear to just sit here and watch?"
A flicker of something strange crossed Crippled Liu's eyes, though he quickly masked it. Still, everyone noticed. "You want to go now?" he asked.
His voice made everyone uncomfortable, especially when paired with his unsettling face.
"We thought it best to get started as soon as possible," Jiang Cheng replied, lowering his voice. "That's what Director Qiao wants too."
After all, they only had seven days, and it was clear from the outset that this case was no ordinary matter—it was bound to be exceptionally tricky.
Crippled Liu pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Follow me, but don't speak unless spoken to, and don't look around."
"Or else," Crippled Liu said, his face grim, "you might provoke something you shouldn't. If that happens, no one can save you."
"Provoke what?" Pi Ruan looked around nervously, swallowed hard, and whispered, "What kind of thing?"
Crippled Liu didn't answer. He just gave Pi Ruan a meaningful look that shut him up.
"Follow me."
This time, after passing through another gate, their view opened up. The three-story Western-style mansion stood not far ahead.
Several black sedans were parked on the gravel road leading to the mansion.
This alone showed the Feng Family's wealth and status in Grey Stone Town. At least they hadn't seen anyone at the police station with a car.
But something was strange. As they walked through most of the Feng Family estate, they hadn't seen a single living person besides Crippled Liu, their guide.
How could this be?
Had most of the Feng family died? Or had they all fled to safety?
Surely some servants must have remained.
As Fatty craned his neck to look around, a cold voice suddenly cut through the air. "What are you staring at?"
When Fatty finally came to his senses, he found himself staring into Crippled Liu's icy, murderous gaze. His massive frame immediately wilted. "I... I wasn't looking at anything."
"Didn't I tell you not to look around?!" Crippled Liu's voice rose sharply, grating on the ears.
"Enough," Jiang Cheng said, his expression as calm as ever.
But for some reason, Crippled Liu, who had been so aggressive just moments before, actually began to cool down slowly after meeting Jiang Cheng's gaze.
"Brother Liu, the investigation is the priority," Jiang Cheng continued.
Crippled Liu glared at Fatty for a few seconds. Fatty lowered his head, feeling the man's gaze like a steel blade scraping across his body.
"The Feng Family's main residence isn't convenient for outsiders to enter," Crippled Liu said. "You can go to the ritual altar set up by the Celestial Master Daoist. That's where we found his body this morning."
Wu Dali, their guide, had mentioned the Celestial Master Daoist earlier, likely a charlatan. Fatty hadn't expected to encounter a real ghost this time, only for the Daoist to lose his life.
"Very well," Jiang Cheng said. "We'll trouble you then."
After a few seconds, Crippled Liu's voice finally came. He raised his cane and gestured vaguely toward a cluster of buildings ahead, their aged appearance suggesting a long history.
"That's the place," Crippled Liu rasped. "I have something else to attend to, so I won't accompany you. I'll come pick you up later."
As if still uneasy, he cautioned, "Don't wander around. Stay within that area. If anything happens, don't blame me for not warning you."
"Understood," everyone replied in unison, feigning compliance.
Crippled Liu limped away. Despite his awkward gait, he moved with surprising speed, no slower than an ordinary person.
After watching him leave, the group headed toward the buildings. "There's something strange about Crippled Liu," Huai Yi whispered. "And we can't trust Director Qiao either."
"Do you remember their conversation when we first arrived?" Chen Qiang chimed in. "Crippled Liu actually asked Wu Dali if we were people Director Qiao had sent."
The word "sent" sent a chill down everyone's spines.
What kind of people are "sent" like cargo?
They weren't goods.
(End of the Chapter)
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