Сhарtеr 196: Тhe Midnight Вridе 2
"I'm аlrеаdy out," Pаn Сhi said irritablу from the sidе. "Аt lеаst уоu have sоme consciencе—it wаs me whо pullеd уоu uр."
Pаn Сhi thоught Du Хiаowаn was referring tо him, but shе shoоk her head rеpeаtedly. "Nо, nоt уоu. Тhеrе was anоthеr onе."
Неaring this, еverуоne reаlizеd somеthing was wrong. Shen Du turnеd a questioning gаzе tоward Рan Chi.
Pаn Сhi lоokеd innосеnt. "It wаs sо dark dоwn thеre. I оnly sаw her figure mоving; I didn't notiсе аnyоnе еlsе."
Only then did Shеn Du turn away with a huff, addrеssing the arriving grouр. "Lower thе roре to rеscue them."
"Yes, sir!" Several Inner Guard brothers quickly lowered the rope, calling into the well opening, but there was no response.
Pan Chi also stopped his angry tirade, furrowing his brows as he peered into the well. When he had fallen in earlier—no, when Shen Du had kicked him in—it had been pitch black, and he couldn't see anyone clearly, only a hazy figure.
Seeing the figure move, he hadn't thought much of it and simply pushed the person up. During that process, he hadn't sensed anyone else's presence or seen any other figures.
Even if someone was incapacitated, they should have said something when they saw someone coming down, but he hadn't heard a single sound.
The brothers called into the well a few more times but received no response at all, which was very strange.
"Is there really someone else?" Shen Du also grew suspicious, looking at Du Xiaowan beside him.
Du Xiaowan nodded firmly. "There definitely was another one."
Shen Du threw the lantern held by someone nearby into the well. With the candlelight illuminating the space, everyone could see the situation inside the well cellar.
There was indeed another person, but that person might already be dead—covered in blood and motionless. Everyone's hearts sank.
"This..." Pan Chi was also shocked. No wonder there hadn't been a single sound—it was a dead person. And it had been too dark earlier; he hadn't noticed at all.
Shen Du glanced at Pan Chi, seeing his expression of surprise and confusion, and took advantage of his distraction to kick him down again.
The onlookers were stunned but didn't dare say anything. They were already grateful that Grand Commander Shen hadn't kicked them down; they were counting their blessings.
Falling into the well again, Pan Chi seemed to have expected it. He didn't make a sound, his eyes burning with anger as he looked at the corpse on the ground.
Shen Du was definitely messing with him on purpose. Once he got the chance, he'd make him pay.
Without a word, Pan Chi hauled the dead body up. Seeing the awkward expressions on everyone's faces, he casually tossed the corpse right into Shen Du's arms.
Shen Du was covered in filth, his brow furrowed, but he said nothing more and handed the body to someone beside him.
Pan Chi never dreamed that a refined young gentleman like him would be reduced to being bullied by Shen Du like this.
It was truly humiliating. If it weren't for the case and his own thoughts on the matter, he wouldn't be putting up with such treatment here.
After everything was settled and everyone was preparing to leave, Shen Du suddenly sensed something amiss. He had a vague feeling that a pair of eyes was watching them, making him uneasy.
He turned to look at the cellar well again. The candle inside hadn't burned out yet, and the flickering light made it hard to see the situation clearly. He then turned his gaze back to Pan Chi.Pan Chi immediately guessed his thoughts, pointing a finger and saying seriously, "Don't touch me again. If you do, I'll really lose my temper."
Seeing Pan Chi's earnest expression, Shen Du said nothing more. Instead, he glanced at the person beside him and ordered, "Go down and check if there's anything else amiss inside."
"Yes, sir." The subordinate obeyed and descended, but after searching the well thoroughly, found nothing.
Shen Du frowned deeply and looked at Pan Chi once more. Pan Chi snorted coldly at him and turned his head away.
This guy is in a fit of anger right now. Trying to talk to him at this moment likely won't yield honest answers. Better to let it go.
"Leave a few people to secure the scene. The rest, follow me to investigate the surroundings."
"Yes, sir."
The well-trained members of the Inner Guard quickly split into two groups and carried out the orders as instructed.
Pan Chi, still fuming, curled his lip and sat down on a nearby stone block, ignoring everything.
"You caught the suspect, and you discovered the clues. If you manage to catch the murderer too, you'd truly be the hero of this case," Shen Du remarked sarcastically as he led the team in examining the area. "If you want to give up, I won't try to persuade you."
Hearing this, Pan Chi felt deeply displeased. Though the words were harsh, they held some truth.
If he didn't participate now, wouldn't all his previous efforts go to waste once Shen Du caught the murderer?
"Didn't we catch someone on the way here? Are you so sure he isn't the culprit?"
Shen Du shook his head slightly. "I can't say for certain he isn't the murderer, but my intuition tells me this matter isn't as simple as it appears. If you don't believe me, just sit there."
"You, the Great Pavilion Commander, rely on intuition to solve cases?" Pan Chi's tone was laced with sarcasm, his expression full of disdain. "If there's no solid evidence, and we end up wasting all this time with you, how will you make up for it?"
Only then did Shen Du cast a meaningful glance at him. "If you don't believe me, sit there and keep quiet. Don't disturb us."
With that, Shen Du said no more. Pan Chi, suppressing the urge to spit blood, abruptly stood up and walked over to Shen Du. "What's your intuition? Tell me, and I'll help you search."
"Someone is watching us from the shadows. Let's search while keeping an eye out for any other discoveries."
After speaking, Shen Du walked away, and a trace of seriousness appeared on Pan Chi's face.
His gaze turned cold as he scanned the surroundings. Under the hazy moonlight, everything was eerily silent.
In such conditions, even if someone were watching them, it would be extremely difficult to catch them.
After completing the investigation, Shen Du ordered Du Xiaowan and the corpse to be taken back together.
On the way back, Pan Chi suddenly seemed to remember something. He walked up to Shen Du's side and asked mysteriously, "I heard that on your wedding day, the Great Pavilion Commander set 'three delusions' for his wife. Is that true?"
Hearing this question, Shen Du's expression instantly darkened, and he offered no response.
Pan Chi chuckled lightly. "The Great Pavilion Commander's silence means you admit it. If that's really the case, it seems rather petty-minded."
Only then did Shen Du give him a cold look. "Matters between my wife and me are none of your concern.""Ah..." Pan Chi sighed with full lament, shaking his head as he looked at Shen Du. "If you don't love her, then please let her go. Why chain an innocent person to your own feelings?"
"Just focus on your own duties and worry less about other matters," Shen Du said gravely, adding a warning, "Especially matters between my wife and me—I don't want to hear you ask about them again."
"Heh..." Pan Chi chuckled lightly, showing no fear. "I have few hobbies, but standing up for justice is one of them. If you refuse to let her go, I will see this through to the end. That is chivalry."
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