"Could it be that you've forgotten about the Water Commander Order, Tutor?"
Zeng Anmin remained expressionless, holding the Tutor's gaze.
The Water Commander Order!
The moment these words were spoken, a chill ran down the Tutor's spine. A jolt like electricity shot up from his tailbone straight into his mind. He stared at Zeng Anmin, rendered utterly speechless for a moment.
"The Water Commander Order..." The Tutor fell silent for a long time before looking up with a complex expression. "If the killer's goal was the Water Commander Order... it does make logical sense."
To prevent theft, the academy's Holy Book Library of Past Sages had specifically invited an expert from the capital's Profound Array Department to set up an Array. The only way to pass through this Array safely was to use the Water Commander Order as a key. However, due to the restrictions of the Array itself, it was impossible to tailor a unique Water Commander Order for every individual. Therefore, theoretically speaking, as long as one possessed the Water Commander Order, they could enter the Holy Book Library at any time.
But Zhang Lun was a student of the Shuidu Academy!
Who could have expected that someone would take such a massive risk and murder a person just for a Water Commander Order? This was no different from viciously slapping the faces of all the teachers and students at the Shuidu Academy. It was practically smearing dog shit right on the Dean's face.
Zeng Anmin turned his attention back to the corpse. He noticed a specific detail—there was an unfinished pattern drawn near the body's hand. Although it consisted of only a few faint strokes, it was exceptionally clear and unmistakable.
It was the insignia of the Observation Department.
"This mark..." Zeng Anmin's brows furrowed tightly. He could deduce the killer's profile by following the clues, but this insignia was the one thing that made Zhang Lun's intentions difficult to grasp for now.
Was the killer someone from the Observation Department? He quickly dismissed this thought. The disparity in their status was simply too great; they couldn't possibly be connected.
"Zhang Lun was a man of noble character who never committed any crimes. Dying so unjustly at the hands of a villain, he must have been deeply unwilling to pass on," the Tutor said, his voice turning hoarse. Seeing the insignia and Zhang Lun's unclosed eyes brought an unprompted pang of pain to his heart. "Drawing this mark before he died... he must have been crying out for heavenly justice, hoping the Observation Department would solve the case quickly and bring the truth to light."
This explanation made sense. Zeng Anmin nodded thoughtfully.
With a sorrowful expression, the Tutor bowed deeply to Wang Daoyuan, who was standing nearby. "Patrol Guard Wang, please make absolutely sure this villain is brought to justice!"
"You humble me, Tutor! I will definitely do everything in my power!" Flattered and slightly panicked by the bow, Wang Daoyuan hurriedly helped him up.
Inwardly, however, he felt a trace of bitterness. Originally, he thought it was merely a revenge killing. Who could have imagined that Zeng Anmin's analysis would suddenly elevate the issue to the dignity and reputation of the Shuidu Academy? He could already foresee just how much pressure the academy would put on the Government Office if this case went unsolved.
"What we must do now is launch a city-wide search. As long as we can find the Water Commander Order, we can follow the trail to the killer," the Tutor said solemnly, keeping his eyes on Wang Daoyuan. "If you encounter any difficulties, my word still carries some weight with Commander Wang of the Observation Department!"
Wang Daoyuan's eyes lit up. Having a connection like Commander Wang would certainly make things much easier for them.
"There is no need for such trouble," Zeng Anmin said calmly.
Hmm? Both Wang Daoyuan and the Tutor looked at him simultaneously.
"It has barely been two days since Zhang Lun obtained the Water Commander Order. Aside from the students within the academy, there is no way the news could have spread to the outside world." Zeng Anmin's gaze swept over the two men. "Furthermore, Brother Tongyu was not the boastful type. He wouldn't have mentioned this to anyone except those closest to him. Therefore, what we need to do now is investigate from two directions."
"Which two directions?" Wang Daoyuan asked instinctively, staring at Zeng Anmin in a daze.
"First, we look into Brother Tongyu's close associates to see if he ever mentioned the matter to them.
"Second, we look into the students of the academy." A sharp glint flashed in Zeng Anmin's eyes. "The focal point of our investigation will be the students who have Martial Artist bodyguards at their side."
He had hit the nail on the head! In just a few short sentences, Zeng Anmin had managed to condense an incredibly thorny and mysterious case into an ordinary one with a traceable path.
Upon hearing this, Wang Daoyuan's eyes lit up. He himself used to be a Captain in the Observation Department, so he naturally possessed a certain level of skill in handling and investigating cases. While he couldn't immediately organize the clues as clearly as Zeng Anmin had, it was only a matter of time. He figured he would have come to the same conclusion in a few days.
Turning his head sharply, Wang Daoyuan looked at the Tutor. "We'll do exactly that! But right now, we still need your help, Tutor."
The Tutor narrowed his eyes slightly. He cast a deep glance at Zeng Anmin first, then nodded. "If that is the case, I will personally invite the Dean to come out and perform an Inquiry of the Heart."
"Thank you, Tutor!" Wang Daoyuan bowed deeply.
In the lineage of the Confucian Dao, once one's Cultivation reached the middle three grades, they acquired an ability akin to a sudden mental strike. By channeling their Vast Righteous Qi and shouting at a target, they could force anyone with a weak mind to confess their wrongdoings, spilling everything they knew without holding back.
The higher one's Confucian Cultivation, the more profound this technique became. If Dean Qin Shoucheng intervened personally, this case would become significantly easier.
"Good," Zeng Anmin nodded slowly.
Inside the academy's dormitories.
"He didn't mention the Water Commander Order to any of his close associates."
Zeng Anmin listened to Wang Daoyuan's report in silence, lightly tapping his index finger against the tabletop. TAP TAP.
For a moment, Wang Daoyuan felt a bit at a loss. He rubbed his hands together, glancing around with his peripheral vision. The young master of the Governor's family, studying incognito at the academy... This was the first time he had ever encountered such a situation.
"Mhm." Zeng Anmin slowly raised his head. "Then it all depends on the Dean's Inquiry of the Heart."
Time passed quickly.
All one hundred and thirty-six students of the Shuidu Academy were gathered on a grassy field. Everyone looked up at the elderly man standing on the high platform. The old man wore a long gown, his gaze exceptionally gloomy. Clutching a disciplinary ruler in his withered hand, he scrutinized the students one by one.
This was none other than the Dean of the Shuidu Academy, the "Air Force One" of the Immortal World, Qin Shoucheng.
By now, almost all the students had received the news of Zhang Lun's death, and they were all whispering among themselves down below.
"Silence!"
Using some unknown Technique, Qin Shoucheng's voice exploded like a crack of thunder the moment he opened his mouth. The entire field instantly fell dead silent.
"I assume you all know what has happened." His expression dark, Qin Shoucheng slowly descended from the high platform.
Yes. Everyone knew. In fact, a sense of panic and self-preservation had already begun to spread among them.
Zhang Lun's death indirectly reflected a serious issue: the Shuidu Academy was seemingly not as safe as the rumors made it out to be. And this had crossed the academy's bottom line.
Because of this, an unventable rage burned within Qin Shoucheng's heart. "All of you must cooperate with me to root out the killer," he continued expressionlessly. "If anyone resists, they will be treated as an accomplice and share the killer's guilt!"
No one spoke. Such a heinous act had united the students in shared hatred against a common enemy. Soon, someone stepped forward as the first to respond, declaring loudly to Qin Shoucheng, "Root out the killer and exact justice for Brother Tongyu!"
"Root out the killer!" everyone roared in unison.
Seeing the soaring passion of so many students, Qin Shoucheng's expression softened slightly.