Emerging from the forest, he said softly to Hu Laoqi, "This brat is just a petty henchman. Killing him would be of little use. It's better to hand him over to Chen Xiaobei. We can earn some goodwill."
Upon hearing this, Hu Laoqi's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Second Master is right. This kid is as good as dead anyway. If he can earn us some favor before he dies, it's worth it."
Yang Zhi nodded, "Go stuff this kid's mouth shut, tie him up securely, and then go back to find Chen Xiaobei. Tell him we've caught a witness to the murder on the mountain and that he should come quickly to pick him up."
The reason he didn't have Hu Laoqi escort the captive back was the concern of what if this kid had accomplices.
Hu Laoqi stepped forward, took off one of the kid's smelly socks, and stuffed it into his mouth. He then retied the ropes, ensuring that Shi Gang couldn't break free. Only then did he leave the woods and head towards Hetou Village.
At this point, Chen Xiaobei had already accompanied He Dali and Chen Xiaobo out of the village.
Not long after they had started, they saw Hu Laoqi approaching with a beaming smile, blocking Chen Xiaobei's donkey cart.
"Village Chief Xiaobei, may I have a word?"
Chen Xiaobei, not knowing the reason, reined in the donkey cart and walked a few steps aside with Hu Laoqi, "What's going on? So secretive."
Hu Laoqi grinned, "My Second Master has a gift for you."
Chen Xiaobei became even more bewildered, "What do you mean?"
"Are you going to Xiaojia Town to investigate the murder case in Qingniu Mountain?"
Chen Xiaobei nodded, "It seems everyone knows about this now. It's caused quite a stir."
"Walk five li forward. There's a patch of woods on your right. There's a person tied up inside who will tell you the answer."
With that, Hu Laoqi clasped his hands in a salute and left without looking back. He returned directly to Si Mu Di.
Chen Xiaobei understood that the reason Hu Laoqi didn't lead him there was likely to avoid too much interaction with He Dali.
However, without clear confirmation of whether the information was true, he couldn't say much to He Dali.
"My apologies, Constable He, for keeping you waiting. Let's go."
Chen Xiaobei urged the donkey cart forward, calculating the distance. In a short while, they reached the five-li mark.
Indeed, there was a small patch of woods on the right.
Chen Xiaobei reined in the donkey cart again, "You all go ahead. I need to relieve myself over there."
Without waiting for their reaction, he jumped off the cart and rushed towards the woods, appearing very eager.
Seeing this, He Dali stopped with a sigh, shaking his head and frowning.
As the saying goes, a lazy donkey takes its time to defecate and urinate. They had only traveled a few li out of the village, stopping to chat with someone, then dashing off to the woods to relieve himself. At this pace, when would they ever reach Xiaojia Town?
Chen Xiaobei rushed into the woods and looked up. There he was, a person tied up ahead, looking at him with anticipation.
Chen Xiaobei stepped forward and pulled the stinking sock from the young man's mouth, "Who are you?"
As soon as he spoke, he realized with a shock that this was the young man who had gone with Shi Yan to find him earlier!
The young man became very excited upon seeing Chen Xiaobei, "Village Chief Xiaobei, it's me! I'm Shi Gang! Didn't I go with Brother Shi Yan to find you just now?"
Several thoughts flashed through Chen Xiaobei's mind. Hu Laoqi had said this was a gift from Yang Zhi, and it would reveal the truth about Chen Ping's murder.
So, he asked a couple of preliminary questions, "Right, I heard you know why Chen Ping was murdered?"
Shi Gang looked at Chen Xiaobei with surprise, "How did you know?"
Chen Xiaobei smiled, "Never mind how I know. First, tell me who killed Chen Ping?"
Shi Gang fell silent for a moment, "Brother Xiaobei, you'd better not ask about this. I..."
Before he could finish, Chen Xiaobei immediately stuffed the smelly sock back into his mouth.
"Since you won't talk, you can fend for yourself here."
He turned to leave. He was certain that without giving this kind of person a hard time, he would never yield. This was his nature.
Indeed, seeing Chen Xiaobei turn to leave, the young man started mumbling and shouting.
Although his mouth was stuffed, Chen Xiaobei knew the person was shouting for him to stay. He thought, *If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?*
Chen Xiaobei turned back and pulled out the sock again. Shi Gang took a few deep breaths, "I'll talk. I'll talk. It was Sun Gui and Sun Qing. They've already left Xiaojia Town and fled overnight to Cangying Mountain."
"Then why did they kill Chen Ping?"
Shi Gang genuinely didn't know the answer to this question. After all, it was a secret arrangement by Sun Jian.
"I really don't know. If I knew, I'd definitely tell you. By the way, why don't you go ask Brother Sun Jian?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei was confused. Chen Ping was just working at an inn in Xiaojia Town. What deep-seated hatred could he have with Sun Qing and Sun Gui?
But as Shi Gang said, perhaps Sun Jian could give him an answer.
"If I take you to see Sun Jian, do you dare to repeat what you just said?" Chen Xiaobei asked tentatively. He wasn't entirely sure if Shi Gang would dare to betray his elder brother's two direct siblings in front of him.
But Shi Gang didn't think that way. He knew Chen Xiaobei had no martial arts skills, so he'd agree to anything, just to get himself untied, and then find a chance to kill Chen Xiaobei himself. Wasn't that enough?
"I dare. What's there not to dare? I'll go with you now," Shi Gang said resolutely.
Chen Xiaobei nodded, "Alright, I'll untie you now."
Shi Gang rejoiced inwardly. *As soon as he unties me, I'll kill him and send him to accompany Chen Ping in the underworld.*
But before the thought was even complete, he saw Chen Xiaobei shout towards the outside of the woods, "Constable He, could you please come over here for a moment?"
What?
Shi Gang was stunned. There was someone else outside, and it was an official?
He Dali, hearing the shout, didn't understand the reason but patiently walked over.
Upon seeing another person tied up, he looked bewildered, "Brother, what is the meaning of this?"
"Constable He, he says he knows where the true culprit behind Chen Ping's murder is. So I've brought him in to question him thoroughly."
Shi Gang felt a chill. *You, Chen Xiaobei, look harmless, but you're playing mind games with me.*
After cursing Chen Xiaobei, he secretly found it laughable. He had followed Sun Jian all over the country for years. First, he fell for Yang Zhi's trap, and now he was being played by Chen Xiaobei. He was the most pitiful one.
But since it had started, he couldn't backtrack. He had no choice but to repeat to He Dali everything he had said to Chen Xiaobei.
After listening, He Dali was very pleased. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. He had thought this case would remain unsolved, but unexpectedly, it was solved so easily and happily.
He once again looked at Chen Xiaobei with admiration.
Yes, it was true. All of this was Chen Xiaobei's doing.
Only now did He Dali realize that Chen Xiaobei's claim to go into the woods to relieve himself wasn't for convenience at all. He was clearly heading for Shi Gang.