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Zeng Liang sat down, and to everyone's surprise, the horse seemed to genuinely lead the way, guiding the group in circles until it finally stopped in front of a grand and luxurious tavern. Zeng Liang laughed as he jumped off the horse, giving it a pat on the rear and saying, "Go on, find something to eat for yourself."
Strangely enough, the horse seemed to understand Zeng Liang's words, swishing its tail as it trotted off toward the stables behind the tavern, leaving a group of Bounty Hunters staring in disbelief at its retreating backside.
Zeng Liang took the lead and stepped into " Hero Gathering Pavilion." Behind him, Wang Long paused for a moment before instructing a few Bounty Hunters to stay outside for backup while he brought two others inside with him.
Once inside the tavern, Zeng Liang found a spot with a wide view and sat down. A young waiter in blue rushed over to serve him. Zeng Liang ordered a pot of wine and dismissed the waiter.
Wang Long also entered the tavern, glancing around before sitting next to Zeng Liang. Unable to contain his curiosity, he finally asked, " Constable Zeng, do you really think that horse has some understanding? Did it truly bring us here? Is there really a murderer here?"
Zeng Liang poured himself a cup of tea and chuckled, "You actually believe such nonsense?"
After the waiter brought their drinks and left, Zeng Liang said, "Have a drink."
Wang Long's face turned red as he replied, "I... I can't drink; I get drunk too easily."
Zeng Liang laughed and said, "That's fine; you don't have to drink. Just smell it."
Wang Long was puzzled but took the cup and held it up to his nose. A sweet and fragrant aroma wafted into his senses.
As he inhaled more deeply, he realized that this scent felt oddly familiar. Confused, he muttered, "This wine... seems like I've smelled it somewhere before."
Zeng Liang's eyes sparkled with approval as he nodded. "You wouldn't know since you don't drink. This wine is called ' Drunken Immortal,' the signature drink of ' Hero Gathering Pavilion.' Its flavor is unique—rich and sweet—going down like nectar. Just earlier, by the corpse, I caught a faint whiff of ' Drunken Immortal' amidst the stench of blood, which is why I came here."
Wang Long finally understood and admired, "So it wasn't just an old horse leading us; it was the Drunken Immortal."
Zeng Liang smiled and said, "No matter how clever a horse may be, it is still just a horse. It certainly won't help us find the murderer; I'm merely looking for an excuse to come to Hero Gathering Pavilion. I imagine the man in white must have drunk quite a bit here, and drinking alone is rather dull. Perhaps he sought some company to share a drink."
At that moment, two figures descended from upstairs.
The first was dressed in a purple robe, with a fist-sized piece of white jade hanging at his waist. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes, with a glint of intelligence occasionally shining through his gaze. Beside him was another man in a plain white long shirt, his appearance unremarkable, with a gaunt face resembling dried orange peel.
The man in white glanced down and suddenly spotted Zeng Liang and Wang Long, who were drinking below. He paused for a moment, stopping in his tracks.
The man in purple tightened his expression and tugged at the sleeve of the man in white, stepping down the stairs. From a distance, he put on a broad smile and said, "Haha, Constable Zeng arrives quite early! Shall we stick to the old routine?"
Zeng Liang recognized him immediately; this purple-robed man was none other than the innkeeper of Hero Gathering Pavilion and also the innkeeper catering to gambling in the southern part of the city—a prominent figure in Mou Shui city —Deng Gang.
However, the man in white beside Deng Gang had been avoiding Zeng Liang's gaze, and Zeng Liang had never seen him before.
Wang Long leaned closer to Zeng Liang's ear and whispered, "His name is Li Changjiang. He comes from a once-prosperous but now fallen family. They used to be well-off, but he has squandered most of it away, leaving only two houses on the outskirts."
Zeng Liang's eyes flickered slightly as he watched Deng Gang and Li Changjiang approach him. He slowly raised his cup and smiled back, saying, "Life is inherently dull; one must seize joy when they can! Haha!"
With that, Zeng Liang tilted his head back and downed his drink in one go, exclaiming, "Good wine!"
Deng Gang stood tall before Zeng Liang, nodding repeatedly as he said, " Constable Zeng is indeed carefree! Well said! Someone, bring another jug of Drunken Immortal for Constable Zeng —consider it my treat!"
Zeng Liang slightly cupped his hands in gratitude and replied, "Thank you."
Deng Gang nodded and stepped back, saying, " Constable Zeng, enjoy your drinks. I have some matters to attend to; I shall take my leave now."
Deng Gang spoke as he exchanged a glance with Li Changjiang and walked towards the inner hall.
However, Zeng Liang suddenly called out to him, saying, “Hold on a moment, shookeeper Deng. I have something I want to show you.”
“Oh? What does Constable Zeng want to show me?” Deng Gang turned around with a welcoming smile.
Zeng Liang beamed brightly, clapping his hands. A Bounty Hunter rushed in from outside, carrying a Purple Wooden Box, which he placed on the table.
Zeng Liang gestured towards the box with a smile, saying, “ shookeeper Deng, please.”
Deng Gang approached the purple box, a hint of suspicion crossing his face as he asked, “What’s inside?”
Zeng Liang maintained his calm smile and replied, “Why don’t you open it and see for yourself?”
Deng Gang glanced back at Li Changjiang not far behind him before slowly lifting the lid of the purple box.
As soon as the lid was opened, a foul odor assaulted his senses, causing Deng Gang to furrow his brow.
Looking inside the box, Deng Gang's face turned pale in an instant. His hand trembled, and the lid fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Meanwhile, Li Changjiang stretched his neck to see what was inside the purple box—only to find a severed human head staring back at him.
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