A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 310: Su Ran

Two Green Phoenix Guards slowly pushed open the door of Ecstasy Palace.

The first thing that caught their eye was the red carpet, the shimmering pools on both sides, and the huge screen with The Ascension of the Heavenly Preceptor painted on it.

At this time, the musical formation in the hall had stopped, so the sound coming from behind the screen was very clear.

It was a sound that the Green Phoenix Guards were very familiar with, as they often heard it when interrogating prisoners. However, that sound was often accompanied by the prisoners’ screams, wails, and pleas for mercy. This sound was different. There were no screams or wails. They could only hear the suppressed moans of a woman on the verge of release.

Qi Xuansu was the first to step forward, and the others followed behind him. When everyone walked around the screen, they were immediately shocked by the scene in front of them.

A naked woman was hung up, her complexion red with a hint of blue. However, her expression was as if she was about to reach the pinnacle of bliss.

This scene was similar to Hua Qi’s death, except this woman had not yet had her heart ripped out.

A naked man in front of her was holding a barbed leather whip, beating the beautiful body in front of him.

That man was Liu Futong, the superintendent of Ecstasy Paradise.

Su Ran turned around and quickly covered Liu Hu’s eyes with her hands.

The Daoist priests who came with Su Ran looked embarrassed. Some even gloated over Liu Futong’s impending fall.

The rest of the Green Phoenix Guards looked at each other in confusion. They were at least an assistant major, so they had seen their fair share of debauchery. If this was just a man and a woman having sex, they would not have been shocked. What startled them was this Daoist priest's sadistic play, which was beyond their imagination.

Eighth Tianyang had heard about such things, but this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes.

Qi Xuansu was also shocked by the scene in front of him. For a moment, he did not know what to say.

At this time, Liu Futong was fully immersed in his “play,” unaware of the group’s arrival.

Finally, Qi Xuansu broke the silence. “Superintendent Liu!”

Liu Futong stopped whipping the woman and abruptly turned around.

When he saw this group of people, he suddenly became weak in the knees. It was as if someone had poured a bucket of ice-cold water over him. His panic was evident, as his erected member shrank at an amusing speed.

Su Ran, who had her back to Liu Futong, said calmly, “Superintendent Liu, I think you owe us an explanation.”

Liu Futong’s face was pale, and his lips were trembling. He was utterly speechless.

The moral standards of Daoists were extremely high on the surface. The Daoist Order had abolished slavery, human trafficking, polygamy, keeping concubines, and torture. Jade Capital was not allowed to have sexual establishments, as they strived to be the model of the entire Daoist community by setting the highest moral precepts.

As such, most Daoists were proud of Jade Capital and despised the Imperial Capital for all its debauchery, privately calling the latter a barbaric place.

In this context, some things could not be done out in the open, as they bore heavy consequences.

It was like the time a third-rank Youyi Daoist master was caught abusing his servants. He was immediately ordered to resign from all positions and demoted to the fourth rank.

What Liu Futong did today, regardless of Yue Lian’s consent, was detrimental to his career and reputation. At the very least, he would not be able to keep his position as the superintendent of Ecstasy Paradise.

Qi Xuansu picked up the scattered clothes on the ground and threw them to Liu Futong.

Eighth Tianyang shot his guards a look. Two guards immediately stepped forward to release the woman who was about to suffocate to death.

Only then did Su Ran turn around to look at Liu Futong, who got dressed in a panic.

She was calm, as she had seen many bodies of men and women while she was working at Huasheng Hall. To her, they were just a pile of rotten flesh after death. However, because of Huasheng Hall’s business, she had to condone and aid in the normal sexual interests of men and women.

Earlier, Su Ran only turned around to give Liu Futong some privacy, not because of shyness.

After Liu Futong put on his middle garment, Su Ran looked at Yue Lian, who was covered in bruises, and said, “Superintendent Liu, I finally know why you took 9,000 Taiping coins worth of scar removal medicine from Huasheng Hall.”

Liu Futong was speechless.

If someone was injured on the job, Huasheng Hall would provide free medical treatment.

However, if the injury was not due to work, Huasheng Hall would charge a fee to cover the costs so as not to cause a deficit. At the same time, discounts and exemptions would be provided according to one’s rank.

A first-rank Tianzhen Daoist master would have all fees waived, while a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master would be charged 30% of the fees.

In addition to the fixed reductions based on rank, there were additional discounts. The amount of discount would be greater if the injuries were more serious and life-threatening. However, there were no reductions for aesthetic treatments.

Liu Futong was a fourth-rank priest, and scar removal was classified as an aesthetic treatment. Therefore, it was expensive. Strictly speaking, the Huasheng Hall branch was only controlled by the third-rank Youyi Daoist master who had not been around Purple Immortal Mountain for many years. So, Su Ran and Liu Futong were on the same level. Liu Futong also had no authority over the Huasheng Hall staff, so if he wanted medicine, he had to collect it in person.

His records of collection were also recorded by Huasheng Hall.

Su Ran continued, “Superintendent Liu, since you have nothing to say, I will assume that you have acquiesced in this matter. Are you the serial killer we’ve been looking for?”

Liu Futong’s expression changed dramatically. “What do you mean by this?”

Su Ran took out the note with Yue Lian’s name written on it and explained, “This was found on Hua Qi’s body. Yue Lian is the killer’s next target, which is why we are here. We walked in on you abusing Yue Lian, so you owe us an explanation.”

“No! This is a false accusation!” The color drained from Liu Futong’s face. But out of habit, his voice was still loud, reverberating in the hall.

Eighth Tianyang warned, “Superintendent Liu, you leave us with no choice but to suspect you because of your repeated obstruction of the investigation.”

Liu Futong habitually turned his gaze to glare at Eighth Tianyang, but as their eyes met, Liu Futong immediately deflated.

That was because Eighth Tianyang had a group of people behind him, and Liu Futong knew that he was no match for so many people since he was alone.

Liu Futong could only turn his gaze to Qi Xuansu. “Mage Wei, you promised to solve the case. That’s why I gave you the badge. You should know that I was wronged!”

Qi Xuansu did not confirm Su Ran and Eighth Tianyang’s statement, but he did not defend Liu Futong either. He suggested, “Let’s listen to what Superintendent Liu has to say before coming to a conclusion.”

Eighth Tianyang sensed something unusual in Qi Xuansu’s attitude and nodded. “That’s fine.”

When Su Ran saw that Qi Xuansu and Eighth Tianyang were on the same page, she did not insist on her opinion. “Then please enlighten us, Superintendent Liu.”

Liu Futong took a deep breath. “I admit that Yue Lian and I have an unusual relationship, but I didn’t intend to kill Yue Lian. I didn’t kill the rest either. I’m unjustly accused!”

“Why do you think so?” Qi Xuansu asked.

Liu Futong had calmed down by now. “The murderer left a note saying that Yue Lian is the next target. That’s why you came here looking for her. If I were the murderer, I would have brought Yue Lian somewhere else or taken the opportunity to kill others. Why would I stay here to get caught? It’s clear that the murderer has deliberately led you here.

“Furthermore, what good will it do me to kill these people? I will be the first to bear the consequences if the higher-ups investigate this. At the very least, I will be dismissed from my position. I will also get interrogated by Fengxian Hall. Why would I dig my own grave?”

Su Ran said calmly, “Maybe you’re doing the opposite of what is logical so as to get away with your crimes.”

Liu Futong looked at Su Ran sharply. “Superintendent Su, we are both Daoist disciples, so why are you stabbing me in the back?”

“Stab you in the back?!” Su Ran’s tone turned cold. “If you hadn’t done these scandalous things, no one can accuse you of anything!”

Liu Futong turned away from Su Ran. “I’m telling the truth. I’ll leave it to you all to be the judge. Mage Wei, I hope that you can defend me.”

Having said this, he looked at Qi Xuansu again.

Qi Xuansu did not glance at Liu Futong. Instead, he turned to look at Su Ran. “Superintendent Su, what Superintendent Liu said is reasonable. There are a lot of things that don’t match up. I think he’s not the murderer. For now, it’s better to keep Superintendent Liu under arrest and make a long-term plan.”

Su Ran slowly looked at Qi Xuansu. “Alright.”