After about half an hour, the yamen became lively. The bailiffs escorted a group of people back to the government office from outside.

More than twenty people crowded the courtyard of the government office, with the bailiffs standing aside and the group of people in the middle.

Huli stood next to Jiang Yu, scanning all these people. Most of them were vagrants from the streets, having no connection to the case. These people seemed to have no martial arts skills and couldn't even defeat a single person from the Hundred Wells Gang.

"Is the magistrate planning to accommodate all the vagrants in Yanran City?" Huli said, arching his hand to express his admiration for the magistrate's righteousness.

A tall hat was placed on the magistrate's head, and in front of Jiang Yu, the magistrate didn't even need to consider whether to accept or refuse. Logically speaking, the case in Yanran City was none of the Jinyiwei's business, but upon second thought, Jiang Yu's visit this time was not only about the traitor's matter.

After the case was resolved, Jiang Yu would still need to stay in Yanran City for a few days, not to mention the person who came from the capital... it would be offensive to ignore.

The magistrate tugged at the corner of his mouth and smiled after a while, "It's the right thing to do."

Huli didn't admire the magistrate's sycophantic appearance. He whispered to Jiang Yu's ear, "Leaving the inn last night, there were two directions: one towards the hills, the other towards Yanran. Everything is normal in the hills, and we only stayed at the inn for less than half a day. The murderer is most likely still in Yanran City. Since the magistrate has stirred up Yanran City into troubled waters, Jiang Yu can take advantage of it and put all the blame on the magistrate."

Jiang Yu glanced at Huli, who smirked, watching the magistrate busy with the vagrants and ignoring them both. Then he said, "The magistrate understands righteousness and cares for the country and the people. He definitely won't blame me."

Jiang Yu beckoned his subordinates, "Search every possible hiding place in the city. Keep an eye on anyone suspicious. Don't let your guard down regarding Qian Sen."

His subordinates nodded and immediately left the Yanran government office.

"Vice Captain Yu, when will you arrive in Yanran?" asked Huli.

"In about two more hours," Jiang Yu said, taking the embroidered spring knife in his hand. "Let's go take a look at the city gate."

The sun was setting as Huli and Jiang Yu appeared at the Yanran city gate.

The guards on duty at the city gate yesterday were still there. One of them scratched his forehead, a bit embarrassed. Obviously, the guards stationed at the Yanran city gate had not seen such a high-ranking person from the capital before, especially one from the Jinyiwei.

Moreover, this person was from the Jinyiwei.

The guard at the city gate caught sight of the knife in Jiang Yu's hand, adjusted his hat that hadn't gone askew, and carefully recalled the events of last night before confirming, "I remember clearly, only one person entered and exited Yanran City."

Huli found it somewhat strange.

All the clues now pointed to Qian Lao Ban. Although Qian Lao Ban had some background and was quite prominent in the Jianghu, he was ultimately a businessman. He opened a small inn on the official road leading to the border between the Hu people and the Ming Dynasty, mainly to conceal his activities and do business with the Hu people.

As a profit-driven businessman, although he was bold, if he killed the Shi family for the Liangwang map, the benefits involved were like swallowing a huge elephant, making him highly suspicious. Moreover, there was no benefit in killing the Ji family. Qian Sen was always an early riser for profit; it wasn't his style. Not to mention, Qian Sen's martial arts skills probably couldn't allow him to kill someone without making a sound.

"Only one person indeed?" Huli asked.

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"Indeed, only Qian Lao Ban. It was during the ugly hours, I remember it clearly," the guard replied.

A man rode towards the city gate, covered in dust, his brows furrowed. Huli looked closely and recognized him as Vice Captain Yu.

Yu stopped his horse, handed the clearance document to the gate guard, then dismounted and respectfully saluted Jiang Yu.

"Back already?" Jiang Yu asked.

"Yes, the traitor has been sent to the hills, and I came back to Yanran City without stopping," Yu replied eagerly, showing his loyalty.

Yu was still wearing the same clothes as the day they first met. The sand on his robes had piled up because of the hurried journey, and he didn't even have time to shake it off.

Jiang Yu nodded without saying much.

"Vice Captain, I thought you might need my testimony for the case, so I didn't want to delay," Yu continued.

"Do you remember the events of the evening before last? If we ask an artist to draw a portrait, can we do it?" Huli seized the opportunity to speak, as Jiang Yu nodded without saying a word, so he had to speak for him.

Yu didn't have a deep impression of Huli. When they met that day, the situation was unusual, and all his thoughts were focused on the Ji family and Jiang Yu. He simply thought Huli was someone helping to drive the carriage. Now Huli was standing next to Jiang Yu.

"Who is this... young master?" Yu asked, puzzled.

Yu had risen to his current position mainly because of his excellent swordsmanship, and he had encountered very few people as arrogant as these. Meeting someone suddenly standing next to Jiang Yu, he felt irritated and eager to show off.

"I am Huli, from Yanran," Huli smiled and bowed, "I am a disciple of Master Xu Ji of Wu Xiang Chan Dou."

Wu Xiang Chan Dou was something Yu had never heard of, and he frowned slightly.

Huli didn't mind at all. He then shamelessly mentioned his uncle, "Vice Captain may not have heard of it. But Master Bai Huai Shui is my uncle, and we are from the same sect."

Sure enough, Yu recognized Bai Huai Shui, and the haze between his eyebrows disappeared instantly. He said, "So you are Master Bai's nephew. Indeed, a talented youth."

Huli didn't think he had any resemblance to a talented youth or someone who had achieved something at a young age.

If being constantly targeted was considered an achievement.

Moreover, what kind of person was his peacock-like uncle in the capital? Did he get into trouble to be so familiar with these Jinyiwei people?

Huli quickly labeled Bai Huai Shui as someone who looked good on the surface but liked to stir up trouble. He sarcastically criticized his uncle from head to toe in his mind before letting it go.

"Vice Captain is indeed young to have become a deputy," Huli said.

The two of them exchanged words, but they didn't hold any grudges against each other.

Last night, only Qian Sen passed through the city gate. The black-clad person mentioned by the innkeeper disappeared into thin air, with hopes now resting on the Jinyiwei, who were searching all over the city. Meanwhile, there was still no news from Qian Sen, the person indicated by another clue.

The three of them returned to the yamen together and summoned Qian Sen. Soon, the Jinyiwei brought Qian Sen over.

The doors and windows of the yamen hall were tightly closed, with several Jinyiwei guards stationed outside.

Qian Sen wore a purple silk robe, short and stout, with the cunning look common to businessmen between his eyebrows, and there was a touch of Jianghu's aura in his gestures.

When he was taken under control by the Jinyiwei, he was still enjoying himself in his own wine shop. With just a gesture from Jiang Yu, the Jinyiwei near the wine shop started moving.

Jiang Yu glanced at Huli. At first, Huli wanted to pretend not to see it. Jiang Yu truly lived up to his words, always using himself as a target to kick out first.

But one must lower their head when under someone else's roof.

Huli cleared his throat. "Qian Boss, did you rush back to Yanran City today at the ugly hour?"

"Yes," Qian Sen admitted frankly.

"Then yesterday evening, were you outside your own inn, but didn't enter?"

"Yes, that's right," Qian Sen said. "I just wanted to stay at the inn for a night to get some sleep. There were guards at the door, indicating something big had happened. I couldn't sleep a wink if I went in, so I rushed back to Yanran overnight."

"Hmm," Huli stood up from his seat, walked around Qian Sen in a half circle, and said, "What Qian Boss said matches what your waiter said."

"So, can I leave now?" Qian Sen glanced at Huli. He didn't understand why a young kid like him had to assess the situation at the yamen. He had lived to this age and had seen all kinds of ups and downs. Being lectured by a kid like this made him even more unhappy.

"It's too early for Qian Boss to say that. Huli hasn't finished questioning yet, so don't be impatient," Huli said, calmly accepting Qian Sen's disdainful snort and continued, "What were you doing on the official road, Qian Boss? It couldn't have been just to rest at the inn, right?"

As Huli spoke, the magistrate couldn't sit still anymore. He moved slightly in his seat and cleared his throat.

"I was just visiting an old friend," Qian Sen replied confidently. "The guards at the Yanran city gate all know that I leave Yanran once a month and return within three days."

Huli glanced back at the magistrate. The magistrate straightened up, ignoring the gaze thrown his way by Huli, decisively keeping his mouth shut.

Leaving the city once a month was something everyone in Yanran City knew but didn't speak about.

Huli initially wanted to use the private sale of weapons to the Hu people to scare Qian Sen and then lead to the murder case. But with the magistrate keeping silent, and Qian Sen insisting he was visiting an old friend, without any concrete evidence, neither of them would confess.

These two fat and old grasshoppers tied together on a rope.

"In that case, Qian Boss, please leave. If Jiang Yu needs you again in the future, he will send someone to invite you," Huli said.

Qian Sen was about to curse this young kid.

Jiang Yu casually took over the conversation, "Qian Boss, don't leave your house to see old friends for the next few days."

Implicit in his words was a warning for Qian Sen to stay in his own wine shop and not take advantage of the situation. Otherwise, he might get into trouble. Qian Sen naturally understood Jiang Yu's implicit warning, snorted, and left in a huff.

As Qian Sen left, three Jinyiwei followed behind him.

The magistrate saw Qian Sen leaving and discreetly touched his forehead.

"Only Qian Sen entered and exited Yanran City last night, and the inn on the official road also happens to be Qian Sen's private property. Moreover, it was just a coincidence that the night the murderer killed someone, the Jinyiwei found Qian Sen around the inn. With so many coincidences put together, is it still a coincidence?"

The magistrate pursed his lips and put down his teacup with a forced smile, "Alright, I have some matters to attend to at home. Jiang Yu, I'll take my leave."

After speaking, he hurriedly left.

Huli noticed that his expression wasn't very good and immediately smiled.

"Why scare him?" Jiang Yu asked.

"The magistrate doesn't know. Qian Sen is a cunning person. Without getting hold of something concrete, he won't open his mouth. Unlike our esteemed magistrate in Yanran, although he loves money, he's always been timid. So he hasn't done anything harmful to the country. Scaring him a few more times will make him speak up," Huli said.