Compared to the capitals of other nations, Xin’an City was not grand.

It couldn’t compare to the capital of Yong, nor even Dingwu City, the capital of Mo.

When Zhuang Chengqian, the Great Ancestor of Zhuang, established the capital in Hualin Prefecture, the nation was impoverished.

After generations of management, a small fortune was slowly accumulated, and repairs and expansions were made one after another. But this capital city could never shake off its provincial air.

Some ministers suggested tearing down and rebuilding the city, but Du Ruhui stopped them.

Du Ruhui advised: “The strength of the mountains and rivers, the importance of the nation, lies in the people, not the land; in the ruler, not the city.”

Zhuang Gaoxian gladly accepted, and declared that the capital would not be augmented by a single brick until the nation was strong.

As Lin Zhengren cautiously approached this city, he saw a sharp and assertive figure, sitting astride the city tower with a spear across his lap. Like a guardian deity, guarding Xin’an.

The torrential rain of the previous night had passed, and the morning sun was now rising.

The sunlight broke free from the long night, illuminating Zhu Weiwo so brightly.

He alone, with his spear, sat here to show that he was guarding the city, putting the people at ease.

No matter what opponent, no matter what enemy, could step into Xin’an City until his “Burning Life” spear was broken.

Lin Zhengren narrowed his eyes.

Too dazzling, he thought.

But he had to admit that seeing Zhu Weiwo with his spear on the city tower had dispelled his caution and unease.

Xin’an City was safe now. Zhu Weiwo could give people that feeling.

“Senior Brother Zhu!” he greeted, neither servile nor arrogant.

Zhu Weiwo only glanced at him, saying nothing.

Lin Zhengren’s expression was calm; he always knew that Zhu Weiwo looked down on him.

“By order of the Libationer, I have returned from the front lines to investigate the state of the capital.”

He still explained to Zhu Weiwo, then said to the guards standing tall before the city gate, “Where did Dong Xiang die? Take me to see the scene.”

The long street where the battle occurred had been completely sealed off, and all clues were preserved as much as possible. Because the strongest individuals of Zhuang were not in the capital, and the death of a Vice-Premier demanded a result, the scene could only be preserved, awaiting the return of those important figures.

The families on both sides of the long street could only enter and exit through the back doors until the lockdown was lifted.

Dong A’s head and limbs had been severed, and his body remained on the long street, untouched.

The two junior brothers who returned to Xin’an City with him were both pale.

Lin Zhengren was expressionless, carefully examining the details of Dong A’s body.

All items, including his storage box, remained untouched, with the Two-Worlds Ruler lying beside his severed hand.

A cyan jade pendant, not particularly valuable, lay on the chest, directly over the heart.

The cuts on the limbs and head were very smooth, indicating a sword, a very sharp sword, that had severed the body of a Spirit Illumination expert with almost no resistance.

The severed limbs and head had thin, small cuts, likely from needle-shaped magical artifacts, but thicker than ordinary needles…

Lin Zhengren observed very carefully, even examining Dong A’s hair strands several times, before rising to inspect the entire battle environment.

The sudden rain of the previous night had washed away many traces, but some could not be washed away by the heavy rain.

Such as shattered floor tiles, traces of various Dao techniques…

Lin Zhengren bent down, picked up a dull, lifeless object at his feet, rubbed it with his fingers, and confirmed it was a piece of rotten wood.

“You two return to send a message to the Libationer first,” he instructed his two junior brothers. “Dong Xiang was killed, the murderer was alone, and has already fled. Xin’an City is now safe with Senior Brother Zhu Weiwo guarding it. The rear is secure; please reassure them to fight with confidence on the front lines.”

With the military situation urgent, and Zhu Weiwo taking the lead on this matter, the two junior brothers from the National Academy hurriedly flew to the front lines.

Lin Zhengren was patient, walking back and forth from the beginning to the end of the street four times, ensuring he had not missed any details.

Finally, he walked up to the city tower, to Zhu Weiwo’s side.

“Senior Brother Zhu,” he greeted.

Zhu Weiwo turned to look at him, silently waiting for him to continue.

“I carefully observed Dong Xiang’s body. I found thin, small cuts on his severed limbs and head, caused by needle-shaped magical artifacts. I speculate that the effect of those artifacts should be to specifically counter Dong Xiang’s Evergreen Vitality ability.”

Lin Zhengren had already prepared his words and spoke slowly, “This is enough to show that the murderer was targeting Dong Xiang, very familiar with him, and prepared specifically for him.”

Zhu Weiwo still did not speak.

“From the battle traces at the scene, I found that both sides consciously controlled the range, without affecting the residents on either side,” Lin Zhengren continued. “Dong Xiang was the Vice-Premier of the nation, protecting the people is his duty, but what about the murderer?”

“I guess the murderer should also be a person of Zhuang. At least, once was a person of Zhuang,” he analyzed, even making a joke, “Or perhaps, the murderer is a great philanthropist.”

Zhu Weiwo was clearly not interested in his humor, with no expression on his face, he said indifferently, “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Before Lin Zhengren, Zhu Weiwo must have already inspected the scene of Dong A’s death, and he would not miss the details that Lin Zhengren could see.

Lin Zhengren was not angry at Zhu Weiwo’s impatience.

His expression only became serious: “Have you heard about the extermination of the Lin family?”

Zhu Weiwo’s eyes also changed: “Is it related to this matter?”

“That person was also a Spirit Illumination cultivator, indeed capable of killing Dong Xiang. And…”

Lin Zhengren said, “There is something that everyone may have overlooked at the time, or rather, didn’t pay much attention to, and I myself was the same. That person broke into the Wangjiang City Dao Academy and forcibly took a Dao technique from the Dao Academy Head, called ‘Rotting Wood’!”

Zhu Weiwo almost instantly connected it to the scene: “Are you sure it’s the same Dao technique?”

“The power is much stronger, but it is definitely from the same source. That kind of power… I am very familiar with it.”

Speaking of this, Lin Zhengren was also quite annoyed, why didn’t he pay attention to the Rotting Wood technique at the time? A Dao technique favored by a Spirit Illumination cultivator, how could it be simple? It must have potential that the Wangjiang City Dao Academy Head failed to unearth!

He continued, “Fu Baosong of the National Academy also cultivates this technique, and can confirm this matter.”

Zhu Weiwo’s voice was noticeably serious: “So what do you know about this person?”

“At the time, I was very strange, that person seemed to hate my younger brother Zhengli extremely, and was determined to put him to death. Moreover, he specifically chose to drown him. This reminds me that a Maplewood City Dao Academy disciple borrowed your ‘Burning Life’ spear to block the door of my Lin family estate.”

Zhu Weiwo was expressionless, but the air around him had become scorching.

Lin Zhengren’s heart was like a calm lake, unaffected by Zhu Weiwo’s attitude, still speaking slowly with his own unique rhythm, “My younger brother Lin Zhengli, is just a playboy from a small city. What common connection could he have with the highly respected Dong Xiang? I can only think of one point, one person, the young cultivator named Jiang Wang.”

“Perhaps not everyone in the Maplewood City region died back then. That Jiang Wang, has returned…”

“Only…”

Lin Zhengren looked puzzled: “If that person is Jiang Wang, why would he kill Dong Xiang? Wasn’t Dong Xiang his teacher at the time? Could it be that the Maplewood City region incident back then…”

He stopped there.

It was enough to say this much.

Too much would be worse than too little.