"Senior, did you get a good look at that figure with Qian Sen the other day?" Hu Li turned to Yu Qiu and asked.

Yu Qiu pondered for a moment before replying, "The rain was too heavy, and I couldn't see clearly. All I know is that the person was wearing all black and carrying a knife."

Another lead went cold. Hu Li stroked his chin and fell silent.

"Yu Qiu, keep an eye on Qian Sen's movements these days. If he does anything suspicious, report it to me immediately," Hu Li instructed.

Yu Qiu bowed and left through the main gate.

Once they were gone, Hu Li turned to Jiang Yu and said, "Although there are many clues pointing to Qian Sen, the mysterious figure in black who disappeared might be the key to this case."

"If the murderer isn't found, they'll pin it on you," Jiang Yu said nonchalantly, as if he had already put catching the killer out of his mind. He finished his tea before beckoning the waiter over again.

The waiter stumbled at the threshold, almost falling to his knees.

"Your boss was here earlier," Hu Li said.

The waiter's eyes darted nervously for a moment, then he composed himself and asked cautiously, "I've already transcribed the records for the yamen, but... when can I go back?"

"No need to rush. Your boss is still in Yanran City. Besides, he won't blame you for this," Hu Li reassured, patting the waiter's shoulder. "Mr. Jiang has a few questions for you."

Hu Li brought up Jiang Yu; this tactic was effective and necessary.

The waiter glanced at Jiang Yu but quickly averted his gaze, nodding obediently.

"Your boss stays at an inn outside the city every month," Hu Li observed the waiter's expression carefully, but the waiter kept his head down, burying his face in his collar. "Does he visit an old friend near Yiling Ridge?"

The waiter looked up suddenly, then nodded, saying, "Yes, our boss goes to Yiling Ridge every month. He says it's to visit an old friend he knew when he was young."

"Your boss is quite sentimental."

The waiter instinctively sensed there was more to Hu Li's words. Hu Li patted his back, forcing him to straighten his posture, and continued, "I know your boss isn't visiting an old friend but is going to Weishui near Yiling Ridge and crossing the river."

The waiter swallowed hard, never lifting his head again. After a moment, he said, "Our boss is just visiting an old friend."

After talking for a while, Hu Li didn't find any breakthroughs. The waiter was steadfast in protecting his employer and refused to say anything significant. Eventually, he had to dismiss him, but he wasn't allowed to return to the inn.

As the commotion died down, night fell. Hu Li finally sat down and had a refreshing glass of cold tea, soothing his sore throat.

At the hour of the Rooster, Hu Li had just finished a bowl of rice when there was a commotion outside. Hu Li pushed the door open and saw the Jinyiwei forming two lines, heading towards the yamen.

Jiang Yu walked at the front and disappeared in a blink. Hu Li closed the door and followed, catching the last one and asking, "What's going on?"

The Jinyiwei recognized Hu Li and replied, "A body was found in an abandoned temple to the east of the city."

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What body?

Just an ordinary body wouldn't prompt the Jinyiwei to act. There must be something special about this.

Hu Li's expression changed, and he fell silent, following the Jinyiwei to the abandoned temple to the east of the city.

The temple had been abandoned for many years, inhabited only by beggars who stayed there year-round and eunuchs who had been castrated but had no chance to enter the palace.

The Jinyiwei entered the temple.

No one was inside, the beggars and eunuchs had scattered like startled birds.

A person lay on the ground, emitting a foul stench.

"Make way for the gentleman." As soon as the words fell, the Jinyiwei cleared a path. The yamen's coroner stepped forward and carefully examined the body.

Jiang Yu frowned at the sight of the body, covering his mouth and nose with his hand.

Hu Li approached with the coroner and took a quick glance at the body.

The person was no more than thirty years old. His hands were clearly those of a fighter, calloused at the knuckles. He was tall and thin, with sunken cheeks. There were no visible external wounds due to his black attire, but blood stained his lips, possibly from internal injuries.

The coroner opened the black clothes and examined the front and back of the body, finding no injuries.

The nails were clean, with no signs of a struggle.

Then the coroner directed the Jinyiwei to lift the body, placing his hands on the person's cheeks and forcing his mouth open.

Blood gushed out of his mouth, staining his clothes.

After examining, the coroner stood up and stepped aside, saying, "Report to Lord Jiang, this man poisoned himself, and the poison was hidden in his mouth."

"A skilled suicide?" Hu Li crouched down beside the body.

This action made Jiang Yu frown. He covered his mouth and ordered, "Take the body back to the yamen. Coroner, what time did he die?"

The coroner replied, "Around midnight."

Hu Li picked up the knife next to the body and carefully examined the blade.

"See anything?" Jiang Yu asked, standing with a furrowed brow.

"This is a blade that can kill," Hu Li turned the knife over and added, "it's the type of blade that could have slit the throats of the Shi and Ji families in one stroke."

Leaving the abandoned temple, the night breeze was gentle. The two walked slowly along Changhong Street.

"Is this the assassin from the Crescent Moon Pavilion?" Hu Li frowned. "Doesn't the court have some information on the Crescent Moon Pavilion?"

"The Crescent Moon Pavilion is elusive," Jiang Yu shook his head. "Despite all these years, they've never caught a shadow. Apart from recognizing their assassination token, we know nothing."

"There are things in this world that even the court can't grasp," Hu Li sighed, glancing at the sky. The weather was good, with stars scattered across the sky. The lights on Changhong Street were bright, with red lanterns hanging high, stretching from one end of the street to the other and into the winding alleys.

"Be it the court, the martial world, the officialdom, or the business world," Jiang Yu paused. "Everyone is human, not divine."

"I heard that assassins in the killing organization, if they fail a mission, have to commit suicide by poison. Maybe there was a target he didn't reach, so he died," Hu Li pondered for a moment and said, "But this time there's no evidence. Sigh."

What Hu Li said was not wrong.

The person was already dead, all the clues were laid out, and it was suicide, so the killer was brought right to them. It was consistent with their previous speculations.

"Wait a minute..." Hu Li suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Was Yu Qiu in the temple just now?"

"Summon Yu Qiu and the waiter. It's not a lack of evidence; there are clearly eyewitnesses," Hu Li chuckled, feeling relieved.

The two quickened their pace. At the same time, Yu Qiu returned to the yamen.

After hearing Hu Li's account, Yu Qiu nodded.

The white cloth was lifted, and the waiter glanced briefly before confirming, "This is the person I saw that day in black. He had a fierce face, I remember clearly."

"Assistant Yu, come and identify," Hu Li instructed.

Yu Qiu hesitated, "It was raining that day..."

"Assistant Yu, come and see if this is another guest you saw at the inn," Hu Li interrupted him. Yu Qiu pursed his lips, unable to refuse, and approached to take a look. After a moment, he nodded to Hu Li, "I saw this person at the inn, but I'm not sure if he's the one who killed in the rain."

"Alright, I got it." Hu Li covered the body with the white cloth, clapped his hands, and then turned to Jiang Yu, "Mr. Jiang, I'm done questioning."

Jiang Yu waved his hand, dismissing everyone in the room. Hu Li sat down on a chair, saying, "They really didn't let anything slip. If the waiter was manipulated, then what about Assistant Yu? If Assistant Yu wasn't lying, then the waiter's testimony must be true. True when true, false when false..."

Hu Li tapped his temple and suddenly glanced at Jiang Yu. "It couldn't be you, could it, Lord Jiang?"

Jiang Yu smirked at Hu Li.

Hu Li shushed him. "Now I suspect everyone. Don't blame me, Lord Jiang."

After half an hour, the busy yamen official wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief before stepping into the room.

The yamen official had his men uncover the white cloth, gave the body a quick glance from a distance of eight yards, and then waved his hand in disgust, having someone cover the body again.

"Is this the killer?"

"The injuries match the fatal wound," Hu Li folded his arms and paused before continuing, "the testimonies from the waiter and Assistant Yu also match."

Both witness and physical evidence matched.

Now that another person was dead, the case was directly closed, and there was no need for further investigation.

The yamen official naturally hoped to turn a big case into a small one, feeling relieved that it would save a lot of trouble. He flattered Jiang Yu without reservation, "Mr. Jiang, you are truly outstanding. No wonder you are highly valued by the Emperor and have risen so rapidly in court."

Hu Li watched as the yamen official flattered Jiang Yu and then left with a pleased expression. When the news reached the capital tomorrow, the group of people involved in the murder case could finally go their separate ways.

"I still feel something's not right," Hu Li hugged the long knife to his chest, arms crossed, and after a moment, he hugged his arms and held the knife in front of him, "That night, only Qian Sen returned to Yanran City. With such high walls, if someone could leap over them, there's hardly anyone in the world they couldn't kill. If so, why commit suicide? Afraid of the court's investigation?"

Hu Li paced in place, but then he contradicted himself, "If they were afraid of the court, this murder wouldn't have happened."

There were no clues at all, and once this night passed, the case would be closed.

"Mr. Jiang, shall we go and see Qian's innkeeper together?"