It was already a case involving six lives, making it a significant case, and with one more added, it became seven. If the criminal were subjected to rigorous interrogation, it’s quite possible that even more unsolved murders would be uncovered, and this would all amount to political achievements.
Upon hearing Wufu’s words, Wen Congrui immediately sent a squad of Yamen Runners to the home of the Coffin Guy in West City to see if the fox-like boy was telling the truth about a corpse being buried under the bed.
At once, a team went to the Mortuary while another headed to West City, creating such a large commotion that it stirred up the entire city of Huayang.
The common folks, seeing the Yamen Runners charging with such fierceness, grew somewhat afraid. Those with bolder spirits, leveraging a slight acquaintance with one of the Yamen Runners, managed to inquire about the matter. The word they got was that the Flower-Picking Thief had been found, and the criminal was none other than the Coffin Guy.
It was said that the Coffin Guy had also killed his wife and buried her in the Li Family’s home.
Everyone surged towards West City’s Chicken Head Alley, and when Madam Zhang’s body was unearthed after breaking into the Li Family’s house, someone shouted about a corpse buried under the bed, and the whole city erupted in shock.
Liu Jin tossed away a peach pit and also ran to West City to watch the excitement.
"I always knew he wasn’t any good bird; every time I saw him, I felt he brought bad luck," exclaimed the tea-selling matron at the tea shed in West City, spit flying, "I said it, didn’t I? A wife stealing away with a man, how could he let her off so easily? He really did kill her. Aiyo, I must go to Green Mountain Temple to pray."
As the Yamen Runners unearthed Madam Zhang’s bones, someone quickly rode to inform Wen Congrui, who was en route to the Mortuary.
After hearing the Yamen Runner’s message, Wen Congrui glanced at Wufu on her tall horse and gave him a slight bow.
No sooner had they reached the hillside than a Yamen Runner, his face pale, rushed down to report to Wen Congrui, "Sir, we’ve caught the Coffin Guy. Beneath the earthen statue in the tunnel, there’s a cellar full of human organs preserved in strong liquor."
Wen Congrui’s face turned ashen, yet a wave of inexplicable relief washed through him.
It seemed certain now that the Coffin Guy was the murderer beyond any doubt.
At the entrance of the Mortuary, some Yamen Runners, their faces pale, crouched in the doorway’s bushes, vomiting, while others carried out glass bottles one by one, revealing the contents inside, and the Coffin Guy, tightly bound, was pinned to the ground.
Wen Congrui, paying no attention to Wufu, urged his horse forward briskly, while Wufu also dismounted, handed her reins to one of the Yamen Runners, and stood back with her hands behind her back to watch from a distance.
The issue was resolved, and she had no further concern; after all, she had received her Reward. Why wait any longer?
Wufu turned and left swiftly.
Seeing Hoo Die, Wen Congrui asked, "Who are you?"
"I’m here to capture the Flower-Picking Thief, and this scoundrel is it!" Hoo Die kicked the Coffin Guy.
The Coffin Guy, already awake, hearing this, burst into wild laughter, "So what if I did it? They all deserved to die, all of them were whores."
Hoo Die kicked him in the mouth, "That’ll shut you up."
Wen Congrui glanced at Hoo Die and ordered the nearby officer, "Take him back to the prison, ensure strict supervision, and start the interrogation today."
Some people then took the Coffin Guy away.
Wen Congrui approached Hoo Die and looked him over, "This hero..."
But Hoo Die was already scanning the surroundings. What was going on; the kid hadn’t come back, had he?
"Sir, where is the informant?" Hoo Die suddenly felt something was amiss and hastily asked.
Wen Congrui turned around, "The person is..." Gone.
Realizing too late, Hoo Die asked, "Sir, did you give out the Reward?"
Wen Congrui looked somewhat bewildered and nodded.
"Damn his wily fox ways!" Hoo Die, with a tap of his foot, dashed down the mountain in several leaps.
By the time Wen Congrui grasped the situation, the man was nowhere in sight, his face ugly with displeasure.