Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 10 Investigation

The small leather pouch was crafted with a deceptive design. When Li Shiming attempted to unfasten it, he discovered the opening was merely decorative; there was no physical way to pry it open.

This anomaly immediately signaled to him that the pouch was likely a tool used for Cultivation. With a swift thought, he transferred the leather item into his mechanical room space.

"Greetings, Young Master. This area is extremely hazardous. Please step back, and we will provide a full report once the inspection is complete!" Guard Zhang and his squad arrived on the scene, rushing forward to address Li Shiming after finding him there first.

"Very well, I shall go check on my father," Li Shiming replied with a nod.

The investigation of this site would be a complex affair, requiring constables from the government office to conduct a formal inquiry and document everything for the official records.

Li WenYuan was occupied at the government office when the blast occurred. Upon hearing the explosion, his first concern was Li Shiming's safety; he only felt a sense of relief after receiving word that his son was unharmed.

He refrained from going to the scene immediately, knowing that the inspection required professional handling and that his presence would only draw a distracting crowd that might ruin the evidence.

When Li Shiming reached the government office, he found Li WenYuan pacing the room, his expression clouded with worry.

"Shiming, that must have been quite a shock for you, wasn't it?" Li WenYuan asked, forcing a smile as his son entered.

"Father, I personally inspected the scene. The level of destruction was far beyond the capabilities of ordinary men," Li Shiming said solemnly, offering a respectful bow.

While Li WenYuan admired Li Shiming's calm demeanor, he disapproved of his son exposing himself to such danger.

"A man of status should not place himself beneath a crumbling wall. In these situations, you should let the subordinates clear the area and only approach when safety is guaranteed," Li WenYuan lectured sternly.

"I understand, father," Li Shiming replied.

"Since the damage exceeds human limits, it implies the involvement of someone who practices Cultivation. I simply cannot fathom why they would cause such a disturbance within the family garden," Li WenYuan remarked.

"How does the government intend to handle this?" Li Shiming asked, curious about the official protocol regarding those who seek the Dao.

"An urgent report has already been dispatched to the Central Capital. Affairs concerning Cultivation are within their jurisdiction. It is actually a blessing that this involves immortals; otherwise, I would be facing significant political backlash," Li WenYuan said, shaking his head as he contemplated the situation.

As the Magistrate of Nanling Prefecture, having over thirty deaths occur under his watch—including an incident at the government office—was a serious matter.

A rigorous investigation could easily cost him his position as Magistrate.

However, matters involving immortals were a different story. Since practitioners were beyond the reach of mortal law and power, the local government could not be held responsible for failing to stop them.

"Will the Central Capital send immortals to investigate?" Li Shiming inquired.

"Immortals are not pawns for the Central Capital to command. We have never dealt with this specific scenario, so who can say?" Li WenYuan admitted his uncertainty.

The two sat together in silence until Chief Zheng arrived.

"Greetings, Lord Magistrate, and Young Master!" Chief Zheng paused at the entrance, bowing deeply to both.

Li WenYuan acknowledged him with a nod, while Li Shiming returned the gesture with a formal Confucian salute.

This was Li Shiming’s first proper encounter with Chief Zheng, the most renowned expert in Nanling Prefecture.

Chief Zheng radiated an oppressive aura that made Li Shiming feel quite uneasy. Noticing the young man's discomfort, Chief Zheng quickly reined in his presence.

He had been frustrated by the chaos in the backyard, and his anger had caused his aura to leak out momentarily.

"Chief Zheng, have any leads been uncovered?" Li WenYuan asked sharply.

"My lord, I have come to report exactly that. At the site, the forensic experts discovered remnants of shattered flesh and bone, along with fragments of a white cloth with a most unusual texture," Chief Zheng explained, presenting a small scrap of white fabric.

Li WenYuan inspected the palm-sized piece of cloth. It had charred, blackened edges as if it had been through a fire, yet it looked like a common white textile.

"What makes this fabric so noteworthy?" Li WenYuan asked, trusting the judgment of his experts.

"With your permission, I would like to demonstrate with a blade," Chief Zheng requested, bowing for authorization.

As this was the Magistrate's office, drawing a weapon without explicit permission was forbidden.

"Proceed," Li WenYuan permitted with a wave of his hand.

Chief Zheng unsheathed his waist-saber and pressed the edge against the fabric, applying pressure. The blade pushed the cloth down, but it failed to leave even a scratch.

Li WenYuan's face grew grave before Chief Zheng could even speak.

While Chief Zheng's saber wasn't a legendary artifact, it was a high-quality weapon. Even without a heavy strike, it should have sliced through ordinary cloth like butter.

This seemingly mundane white fabric possessed incredible defensive properties.

"We believe these fragments belong to the individual in white from the Tianxiang Building. Furthermore, my examination of the flesh at the scene revealed that the blood contains a strange energy, unlike anything found in martial artists. This confirms my theory," Chief Zheng added.

Li Shiming felt a surge of respect for the experts of Nanling Prefecture. They had pieced the puzzle together with remarkable speed, coming very close to the actual truth.

"Are you suggesting that someone within our garden managed to kill that person in white?" Li WenYuan asked, staring at the cloth in disbelief.

He found it hard to swallow, firmly believing the person in white was an immortal. How could such a powerful figure be killed so easily?

After all, the seven leaders of the Weiyuan Escort Agency and Chief Escort Wang—a man with the power of a grandmaster—had been utterly helpless against that individual.

"My lord, that is the conclusion reached by the forensic doctor and myself. A formal written report will follow," Chief Zheng replied with conviction.

"Could it have been an enemy of the person in white? Is there another immortal lurking in Nanling Prefecture?" Li WenYuan pondered aloud, confused.

Li Shiming kept his mouth shut. The truth involved too many secrets that he could never reveal to his father.

He also remembered Chief Escort Wang’s body and realized he needed to find a way to dispose of it soon; keeping a corpse in his mechanical room space was becoming quite unpleasant.

Though he had obtained the "Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique," the "Introduction to Runes," and a wooden sword, he had stayed away from them until now.

His hesitation stemmed from the fear that meddling with items related to Cultivation might draw the attention of other practitioners.

However, now that the immortal was dead, he felt it was finally time to study his spoils once he returned home.

"Shiming, the estate will be chaotic for the next few days. I will ensure the investigators stay away from your courtyard so you can focus on your studies. You look exhausted; go and get some rest," Li WenYuan said, assuming his son was merely shaken by the events.

Li Shiming took the chance to excuse himself. Now that the death of the immortal was documented, the immediate danger had passed.

The explosion had sent ripples through all of Nanling City. Officials were dispatched to calm the populace, and soldiers were deployed to patrol the streets as the city was placed under strict martial law.