Chen Jie declared with finality.
Upon hearing this, Qian Shun seemed to make up his mind and blurted out, "It’s..."
A crossbow arrow whistled through the air, surprising Chen Jie, who turned and made a defensive gesture, but in the next instant, the crossbow arrow shot straight through Qian Shun’s throat!
Qian Shun, with an arrow through his throat, clutched his neck, widened his eyes, and displayed a face filled with disbelief.
Chen Jie roared angrily, and at that moment, he spotted a skinny figure among a group of mining workers nearby, retracting a crossbow, shouldering a bamboo basket, and turning to run.
Seeing this, Chen Jie said, "Don’t run."
With the Eagle Guard in tow, he gave chase, but the skinny figure was extremely familiar with the terrain and after a few twists and turns, disappeared without a trace!
Peng Shizhong sat stern-faced at the head of the hall, with his three adoptive sons sitting below him.
Feng Xuan, Zheng Chuan, Lu Rong.
Uncle Fu was in charge of guarding the surroundings.
No one was allowed to approach within a hundred steps of the hall.
Seeing how serious Peng Shizhong was, Feng Xuan and the others were perplexed, not understanding what matter today warranted such solemnity.
Peng Shizhong said, "Alright, everyone is here."
"You all see, no one can approach the White Tiger Hall within a hundred steps today, so we can have a heart-to-heart."
"Which of you killed Fourth Brother!"
Upon hearing this, all three were dumbfounded.
They then looked at Peng Shizhong in unison and said, "Father, are you saying Fourth Brother was killed by us?"
Peng Shizhong said expressionlessly, "Today, Hua Chi’s Mansion summoned us, saying someone privately sold ironware to the rebel Zoroastrian Sect, seeking personal gain, akin to conspiracy."
"They want our two guilds to investigate ourselves. Nan Batian and Elder Liu of Beggar Sect both said that nothing of the sort happened in their Ore Mine."
"They must be lying!"
Lu Rong interjected upon hearing this.
Peng Shizhong glanced at him and asked, "Third Brother, what are you trying to say?"
"Nan Batian and Elder Liu would love nothing more than to swallow up our White Tiger Hall; how could there be truth in their mouths? I think they are lying."
Peng Shizhong scolded angrily, causing Lu Rong to sit down.
Then Peng Shizhong continued, "Foolish things, let me continue. Although I don’t know whether they’re lying, I feel there’s a problem within us."
"Who killed Fourth Brother? I initially thought it was the work of Beggar Sect, but it wasn’t. After Fifth Brother’s investigation, we found out that Fourth Brother was looking into the iron mine issue before he died."
"Someone sold ironware to Zoroastrian Sect in secret, and Fourth Brother died because of his investigation into the iron mine. Does such a coincidence exist in this world?"
"Eldest, what do you have to say?"
Peng Shizhong looked at Feng Xuan.
Feng Xuan replied, "What you said makes perfect sense, Father. Such coincidences don’t just happen; surely there’s a problem. But Father, you have always been in charge of the iron mine, and the accounts are free of discrepancies. Where did the other party get this iron from?"
"Jiu Si, you’re suggesting that this traitor mixed the good iron with scrap iron and sold it all as scrap?"
Zhou Chu looked at Chen Jie, who was examining Qian Shun’s body, and nodded in affirmation.
Back in White Tiger Hall, Feng Xuan continued, "Second, even if they found a way to get the iron, how would they transport it out? The Iron Ore Mine is guarded by the sentries appointed personally by you, Father."
"Jiu Si, you mean that someone bribed Qian Shun with money, and then Qian Shun used money to bribe the guards to turn a blind eye?"
At this moment, Chen Jie pulled out a silver note from Qian Shun’s chest, inscribed with: one thousand taels.
"Money can work miracles."
Chen Jie shook the silver note.
Feng Xuan carried on, "Thirdly, if this traitor has been dealing with the Zoroastrian Sect for a long time, why was it only exposed today?"
"So, we need to use what you’ve mentioned, a ’white glove’?"
"Exactly, find a middleman to take care of it, never getting involved directly, and naturally, it’s hard for anyone to detect."
Chen Jie told Zhou Chu, and then found a note in Qian Shun’s pocket, which read: two thousand catties of iron.
"The whole process only required passing a note."
Chen Jie said, before looking at the note and exclaiming, "Eh, there’s a stamp, Tongyuan Line."
"Old Zhou, check this Tongyuan Line out!"
Zhou Chu immediately stood up to investigate this Tongyuan Line.
Sounded like the name of a business firm.
Meanwhile, inside White Tiger Hall.
"So, Father, pulling off such a deed would be really difficult, I don’t think it’s necessarily one of our brothers doing."
"Moreover, Father, you’ve always taught us brothers to live in harmony. To tell us that we sold iron to the Zoroastrian Sect in secret, it’s possible we could do such a thing, but to kill Fourth Brother, that we would never do. Otherwise, how would we differ from beasts, right, Second Brother?"
Zheng Chuan answered, "Eldest is right, Father, I swear on my life, this matter has nothing to do with us brothers. Just like Eldest said, selling iron in secret, maybe, but killing Fourth Brother, never. Otherwise, wouldn’t we be no better than animals?"
"Third Brother, what do you think?"
Zheng Chuan looked at Lu Rong, who said, "Yeah, Father, the four of us brothers would never hurt each other!"
Peng Shizhong listened without taking a position and just looked at them and said, "Hmm, what you say makes sense, but I want to tell you, it’s not just me who wants to investigate this matter, Darugachi Mansion is involved now. We must present the murderer within three days."
"I don’t know if any of you are so heartlessly twisted, but I know that to harm your brother is a father’s failure. If you come clean now, as your father, I’ll risk my life to spare yours. I’ll plead for you with Darugachi, and as for our guild, I’ll also spare your life!"