"..." Mu Anxiao watched the ghost messenger's remorseful expression and stopped provoking him. "So, he's no longer under your jurisdiction."
Ghost Messenger: "Yes, but speaking of which, he... why is he with you?"
Mu Anxiao looked at the ghost messenger's curious expression and, considering his unimpressive abilities, told him the truth, "He's the old man who was killed by Guan Mian."
"What?" the ghost messenger exclaimed, looking at the elder, "Did you take fake medicine?"
The elder nodded slightly.
The ghost messenger had always believed this would be a very complicated matter and didn't even believe Mu Anxiao could complete it smoothly, let alone find the victimized old man.
Now, seeing the situation, he regarded Mu Anxiao with newfound respect.
"So, you've already started?" he asked Mu Anxiao again.
Mu Anxiao smiled, "Yes, I've already started, so you can leave now." She was still worried the ghost messenger might take the elder away and wanted him to leave quickly.
The ghost messenger also understood Mu Anxiao's intention to dismiss him. He said, "Actually, I don't have anything else to do right now. If it's possible, I can help you." After speaking, he glanced at the wolf demon.
The wolf demon merely smiled and said nothing.
Mu Anxiao glanced at the two who seemed to be getting along harmoniously, then looked back at the still tightly shut shop door. Thinking about the names stored in her mind and the pressing time, she thought they might be able to help her.
However, when she considered the efficiency of the wolf demon and the ghost messenger, she immediately abandoned her fleeting thought.
"You should go do what you need to do. The elder and I are fine."
"They can't see him anyway," the ghost messenger pointed at the elder.
The elder felt nothing and stood quietly behind Mu Anxiao. xxs1
Mu Anxiao curled her lips, "That still has nothing to do with you. You should focus on finding the real killer, so you don't end up accomplishing nothing."
Hearing the word "killer," the ghost messenger thought of the time and compromised, "Alright, we'll go guard the ruined temple."
The wolf demon glanced at the ghost messenger, then at Mu Anxiao, "I'll give you one chance. Do you need me?"
Mu Anxiao shook her head, "No."
"Fine, we're leaving." After speaking, the wolf demon turned and left first.
The ghost messenger had intended to leave gracefully, but now the wolf demon had taken the lead.
So, he gave Mu Anxiao an awkward smile and turned to leave.
Mu Anxiao calmly watched their receding figures, sighed, and turned back to the elder, "Don't worry, I won't let them take you away until I know the situation with your wife."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Mu Anxiao shook her head and continued knocking on the door.
The door was opened almost immediately.
Following that, a fierce-looking woman appeared opposite Mu Anxiao, "What do you want? Can't people sleep?"
Mu Anxiao suppressed her annoyance, "Are you Wang Wu's daughter?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm from the government, just arrived here..."
"The government? Who are you kidding?"
"I really am from the government." As she spoke, Mu Anxiao took out a magically forged identification badge from her pocket and handed it to the woman, "See for yourself."
The woman took the badge and glanced at it briefly, asking, "Are you really from the government?" She handed the badge back to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao took the badge and, from her sleeve, produced the ink pad, brush, and paper with writing, which she had prepared specifically for this matter. "Your father ate fake medicine before he died. The criminal has been apprehended by us, so we need to collect signatures and fingerprints from your family."
"Signatures..." the woman frowned upon hearing this, "My father... died of old age, it had nothing to do with fake medicine."
"Nothing to do with it." Mu Anxiao had feared some family members would say this, and sure enough, she had encountered one. Her heart tightened, and she deliberately said, "In that case, forget it. Originally, it was said that after this case is closed, compensation would be given to the families. Since that's not the case, then... I'll be going."
"You said compensation?" the woman exclaimed excitedly.
Mu Anxiao nodded, "Yes. Since your elder died of old age and it had nothing to do with fake medicine, then I... won't spout nonsense." With that, she turned around.
Immediately, the woman rushed forward and grabbed Mu Anxiao's arm, "My father did die from fake medicine, but none of us in the family wanted to admit it, because no matter what, we were the ones who bought the medicine."
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao felt a surge of joy. She turned back to the woman, who now had a sorrowful expression, and said, "You can't say that either. Every child wishes their parents a long life. When they're sick, they naturally need medicine for a complete cure. The blame lies with that damn fellow who sold fake medicine, so don't blame yourself."
"..." The woman cried, "All this time, no one understood me. They all said I caused my father's death, woo woo woo." As she spoke, she lowered her head and clutched Mu Anxiao's arm tightly.
Mu Anxiao looked down at the heartbroken woman, then glanced at the elder beside her, who was also looking down at the woman. She said, "Alright, sign and give your fingerprint."
"Mmm," the woman nodded, released her grip, and raised her arm to wipe away her tears.
Thus, Mu Anxiao successfully obtained the first family member's testimony.
Subsequently, the kind woman helped Mu Anxiao call eight other family members.
Of course, Mu Anxiao knew that among these people, only a portion were there for their relatives; the rest were there for the money.
Setting aside her moral compass, this was a good thing for Mu Anxiao.
"When can we get the money?"
Hearing the question, Mu Anxiao looked up at the man who had just finished imprinting his fingerprint and said without thinking, "It's a matter of a few days."
"How much money?" the man asked again.
Mu Anxiao replied, "Five taels of silver per person." She felt this amount should satisfy them.
Unexpectedly, half of them put on stern faces the moment Mu Anxiao stated the amount.
The youngest daughter of one of the elders said unhappily, "Five taels of silver, what can that do? Even a set of rouge and powder costs six taels of silver."
"..." Mu Anxiao looked at the youngest daughter of a certain elder, swallowed, and asked, "Then how much do you want? I'll speak to my superiors."
"Do you keep your word?" the young daughter asked, looking at the other greedy family members beside her.
Mu Anxiao forced a smile, "Of course. Just tell me how much you want, and I'll convey it to my superiors after gathering everyone's opinions."
"Eight taels..." the young daughter began, then felt it was still too little. After a moment's hesitation, she blurted out, "Twenty taels of silver."
"..." Mu Anxiao's face turned cold.
Seeing Mu Anxiao's sudden stern expression, the young daughter was startled, "You asked me to say it, are you not satisfied with the amount I stated?"