Although the Twenty Four Circuits of the Demon Suppression Monastery did not usually interact, Nan Zhi had coincidentally uncovered a major case of human trafficking involving beast craft sorcery. Since the case was far reaching and connected to this year's Zhongyuan Ghost Market, she did not need to find her own lodging.
This, for her, was a stroke of good luck.
"I have already sent a letter to Daoist Qinglong of the Northwest Circuit, requesting that you join me in the undercover investigation of the Ghost Market case."
Xu Zi introduced the place to Nan Zhi with a beaming smile. "There are two hundred and seven buildings in this monastery, each named after a star in the celestial palace. I have already informed everyone, so you can stay in Tianshu Tower with peace of mind for the next few days."
As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the oil paper umbrella in Nan Zhi's hand.
"However, you must be careful with what you carry... On the Demon Suppression Tower, there hangs a Xiezhi Mirror. It is carved with Xiezhi patterns, and no demon, evil spirit, or ghost can hide from it."
"Thank you for the warning, A Zi. I understand."
Nan Zhi understood immediately. Her companion had likely noticed Wanniang's presence long ago but had chosen not to point it out for some reason.
"I have one more thing I would like to ask. I heard that in front of the Kaifeng Prefecture, there is a Drum of Grievances. It is said that anyone in the world who has suffered an injustice can strike it to seek redress. Is that true?"
"There is indeed such a thing, but... since the founding of the Great Song, that drum has only been struck once."
"That was during the regency of Empress Mingsu. A top scholar falsely claimed to be unmarried, abandoned his wife, and remarried to become an imperial consort. He deceived the Empress Dowager and the Princess, betrayed his original wife, and even sent assassins to hunt down his wife and children across a thousand miles."
"Later, the woman brought her case to Bianjing and struck the Drum of Grievances, shaking the capital. It was Lord Bao of the Kaifeng Prefecture who took the case. He executed the unfaithful man and gave the woman justice."
"This case is very famous, and many people have turned it into operas and songs to be performed among the people."
Xu Zi's eyes darted around, her face filling with curiosity. "But... why are you asking about this?"
"You left your hometown for a reason. Others say you came to see the excitement of the Ghost Market, but I don't believe it. Do you also have a great injustice to report? Do you really have to strike the Drum of Grievances? Is our Demon Suppression Division somehow inferior to the Kaifeng Prefecture?"
Nan Zhi felt a slight movement from the oil paper umbrella and patted it gently to offer comfort. She then asked, "What if there was an old case from years ago?"
"What if a killer coveted his foster father's property and conspired with officials to harm the family, taking thirty seven lives, including the daughter's? And then, due to greed, he took more than a dozen more innocent lives?"
"Afterward, this killer changed his identity and transformed himself into a famous philanthropist. Now, although the victim is dead and the killer has returned to the Underworld, the truth of those years can no longer be easily investigated."
"The living relatives of the victim remain lonely and helpless, struggling to survive, while the killer's family still enjoys a good reputation and praise from everyone. His son has even passed the imperial exams and has a limitless future."
The oil paper umbrella began to tremble even more violently.
At this point, Nan Zhi paused to observe Xu Zi's reaction. "In such a case, would our Demon Suppression Division be willing to take it?"
Nan Zhi had deliberately omitted the fact that Wanniang had killed Wang Fugui. If Xu Zi showed even the slightest disapproval, she would immediately find an excuse to flee.
"Such a thing actually happened in this world?"
Xu Zi was first stunned, then she clenched her fists, clearly enraged to the extreme. "To harm so many lives just for the sake of greed... such a person deserves to be sent to Avici Hell and suffer the ultimate punishment for eternity!"
"Such an ungrateful and wicked person is even more hateful than an evil ghost or a fierce spirit! To let him die just like that... isn't that too easy on him?"
Having said that, Xu Zi looked at the oil paper umbrella, a look of realization appearing in her beautiful eyes.
"So, the victim you mentioned is this red clothed vengeful ghost hidden in the umbrella? You traveled a thousand miles to Bianjing just to seek justice for a ghost?"
"Wanniang is my dear friend, and she has suffered a monstrous injustice. I once promised to clear the Qu family's name and seek justice for her. How could I break my word?"
Nan Zhi guessed that she had made the right move. She patted the oil paper umbrella at her waist, signaling for Wanniang to appear.
"A Zi, you are clever. Although we have only known each other for half a day, I can see that you are not someone with a heart full of prejudice."
"This is my dear friend, Wanniang. She is also from Dingyuan and is the victim I spoke of. Wanniang of the Qu family, Officer Xu Zi of the Demon Suppression Monastery is before you. Why don't you appear and tell your grievances one by one?"
The oil paper umbrella snapped open with a pop. Wanniang, her eyes filled with tears, bowed gracefully to Xu Zi.
"Qu Wan greets you, Officer Xu."
Having listened for so long, Wanniang could no longer restrain herself. Before Xu Zi could reply, she recounted every evil deed Wang Fugui had committed.
Every detail, whether it was framing the Qu family with poisoned wine or sinking Wanniang's bones into a wine vat, was appalling and chilling to the heart.
"Too wicked! Such a person... calling him a pig or a dog would be an insult to animals. Even if he were turned into a turtle or a loach in his next life, it would still be too good for him!"
Xu Zi had clearly never heard of such a cold blooded and insane matter. For a moment, her eyes were filled with sympathy. She repeatedly took Wanniang's hand and promised solemnly.
"Rest assured, Nan Zhi is one of our Demon Suppression Division. Her business is my business, and her friend is my friend. Leave this case to me—"
"Hmm... let me think."
"Seeking revenge is easy. I just need to take a few demon suppressors and smash that Wang Family Distillery to pieces. But if you want to reopen the case... it's a case from over thirty years ago. Not to mention that officials have been promoted or moved on over the years, the main problem is that Wang Fugui is dead. Doesn't that mean there is no witness or defendant left to testify?"
You must know that raw strength could not solve everything.
The Great Song had never handled a case where both the victim and the killer were already dead.
A case ends with the death of the parties. Wang Fugui's soul had already gone to the Underworld, so how could he be the defendant in a trial?
However, if Wanniang only wanted her enemies dead and the Wang family to pay with their lives, no one in the Wang household—not just the young master and the manager, but even the servants and maids—would have escaped that day.
It was common for a vengeful ghost seeking revenge to leave a household in ruins, with everyone inside dead.
Not to mention the things Wang Fugui had done. If she were Qu Wanniang, she would never have stopped after killing only one person.
Xu Zi stole a glance at Nan Zhi, knowing that her presence must have played a part in this.
Otherwise, how could a red clothed vengeful ghost, blinded by rage, have spared the rest of the household?
Unless Wanniang sought true justice.
Unless Nan Zhi had stopped Wanniang that night, Dingyuan would have seen a bloodbath.
So she had gone through all that trouble, bringing two burdens with her on a thousand mile journey to Bianjing.
First, to seek justice for the Qu family; and second, to prove to the Demon Suppression Division that Wanniang was not a ghost burdened by heavy killing karma.
All for a promise worth a thousand gold. The person before her was actually willing to go this far for Wanniang.
Thinking of this, Xu Zi suddenly had an epiphany.
No wonder she always felt that Nan Zhi bore a resemblance to Lord Bao of the Kaifeng Prefecture.
It was that aura about her—that calm confidence in the existence of true justice and the belief that the truth would always come to light. Was that not exactly like Lord Bao?
Xu Zi blinked and immediately made a decision.
"The Demon Suppression Division really cannot solve this case; we cannot give you the heavenly justice you seek. So, how do you want me to help?"
"Really?"
Nan Zhi saw that there was hope and quickly spoke up. "A Zi, are you familiar with any officials in the Bureau of Judicial Commissioners? Could we find the case files for the old Qu family case, or find out who was in charge of it back then?"
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