Futile Devices Scans

To think that he, a dignified elder of the Demonic Sect, had somehow been reduced to the role of a hired thug and household guard!

Old Tao was deeply displeased and said coolly, “Could Young Master Gu be thinking of knowingly breaking the law?”

Gu She said leisurely, “You would be the one taking action. What would it have to do with me?”

Tao Mo said, “You cannot put it that way. If Old Tao were to make a mistake, the consequences would be unimaginable.” Although he had long known what Gu She was like, hearing such cold and heartless words from his own mouth still left Tao Mo indescribably distressed. Besides, the person Gu She spoke of as though he were unrelated was precisely the person Tao Mo cared about most.

Seeing Tao Mo argue with Gu She on his behalf delighted Old Tao immensely. He no longer took offense at being underestimated and said with a smile, “It is not that we absolutely cannot break him out of prison. It is merely that matters have not yet reached that point. Young Master Gu is Master One-Hammer’s distinguished disciple, quick-witted and eloquent. If Young Master Gu were to step forward, overturning the verdict would presumably not be difficult.”

Gu She said, “I never appear in court.”

Old Tao feigned surprise. “If Young Master Gu never appears in court, why did you become Master One-Hammer’s disciple?”

Gu She said, “You possess peerless martial arts. Why, then, did you enter the Tao household?”

Old Tao’s eyes narrowed.

It seemed all of Gu She’s earlier provocations had been leading to this single question. Gu She was not someone who meddled in other people’s affairs. When Old Tao had taken Tao Mo to the inn, Gu She had not said much. Yet now, he was targeting Old Tao at every turn. Could it be that Old Tao’s display of martial arts had aroused his suspicion?

Old Tao secretly tried to fathom Gu She’s thoughts while replying evenly, “Master Tao once showed me great kindness. Could it be that Master One-Hammer also showed you kindness?”

Gu She said, “I admire Master One-Hammer’s talent.”

Both spoke without leaving the slightest opening, yet the exchange made everyone else tense.

Adviser Jin stepped forward to smooth things over. “Let us return to the matter at hand. We should think about how to help that woodcutter.”

Tao Mo asked in surprise, “Adviser Jin also agrees that we should help him?”

Adviser Jin smiled bitterly. “Now that matters have reached this point, can I still say no?” Tao Mo was his master. Since Tao Mo wanted to help, Adviser Jin could only follow. In truth, many people disliked advisers in government offices, believing they helped tyrants commit evil and abused their borrowed authority. What they did not understand was that advisers could only assist the tiger because the one seated inside was already a tiger. Whether an adviser was good or bad mostly depended on the county magistrate’s attitude. Of course, there were also advisers who reduced the county magistrate to a mere figurehead, but such cases were extremely rare.

Tao Mo said, “Then in Adviser Jin’s opinion, how should we overturn the verdict?”

Adviser Jin said, “Overturning the verdict is not necessarily difficult. Since this is a murder case, it must first be reported to the prefect, then specially submitted to the governor-general for review and memorial. Only if they both find no error will it be sent to the capital. The more people who examine it along the way, the more opportunities there will naturally be to overturn the verdict.”

Tao Mo said, “In that case, let us approach the prefect first.”

Gu She said, “No. You must approach the county magistrate first.”

Tao Mo stared blankly. “But the county magistrate has clearly already ruled on the case.”

Adviser Jin nodded. “The laws of our dynasty strictly prohibit bypassing levels of authority when lodging an appeal. To overturn the verdict, you must begin with the county magistrate. Only if his judgment is unjust may you appeal upward.”

Tao Mo listened in bewilderment. “Then what should we do now?”

Adviser Jin said, “Hire a litigation master and write a petition.”

Everyone looked toward Gu She. Although he did not appear in court himself, finding a fellow disciple to accept the case would not be difficult.

Gu She did not refuse and gave Gu Xiaojia several instructions.

Gu Xiaojia looked thoroughly unwilling. He pulled Sang Xiaotu aside and earnestly instructed him for a long time before finally leaving with lingering concern.

Tao Mo said, “Who knows when Gu Xiaojia will return with a litigation master? Why do we not rest for a while first?”

Adviser Jin said, “We cannot rest.”

“Why?” Tao Mo asked nervously. Could it be that they were already being watched?

Adviser Jin said, “Since Master intends to overturn the verdict, you must produce evidence with which to overturn it. Otherwise, no matter how eloquent the litigation master may be, it will be useless if the case cannot even enter the courtroom.”

Old Tao said, “You mean the county magistrate will refuse to hear the case?”

Adviser Jin nodded. “Unless there is new evidence or the prisoner retracts his confession, the county magistrate may refuse to accept it.”

Old Tao pondered. “Actually, making the prisoner retract his confession would not be difficult.”

“Retracting the confession would indeed be easy, but the retraction would be useless,” Adviser Jin said. “Of all the cases I have handled, I have never seen a verdict overturned solely because a prisoner retracted his confession on his own word. People fear death, and prisoners are people too. No matter how readily they confess at first, as time passes, their fear of death grows deeper. Then they gradually begin devising every possible excuse to overturn their earlier confession. Under such circumstances, most county officials will not believe them.”

Tao Mo asked, “Then what sort of new evidence must we find?”

Adviser Jin said, “Naturally, finding another suspect would be best. If we cannot, then we must find proof that the woodcutter could not have committed the murder.”

Hao Guozi clapped his hands. “For example, evidence proving he was elsewhere at the time.”

Adviser Jin smiled. “Precisely.”

Tao Mo said, “Then… then let us find his two sons. Perhaps they can testify for him.”

Adviser Jin said, “We do need to find his sons, but it would be best to also find passersby who have no connection to him. After all, his sons are his blood relatives and might give false testimony out of filial devotion.”

Hao Guozi snorted coldly. “Their father is going to his death to repay their gambling debts, yet neither of them has shown his face from beginning to end. What filial devotion could anyone expect from people like that?”

Adviser Jin said, “Do not rush to a conclusion. We can judge the rights and wrongs after finding them.”

Old Tao said, “In that case, we will split into two groups.”

“Not two. Three,” Adviser Jin said. “You will search for evidence, while I search for someone.”

“Who?”

“Adviser Hou.” Adviser Jin sighed. “He already saw me in court. If I do not go greet him, I fear it will arouse his suspicions. Besides, I may be able to draw some information out of him.”

Old Tao said, “In that case, we will divide into three groups. Young Master, you…”

Tao Mo silently edged both feet closer to Gu She.

“You will come with me,” Old Tao continued, pretending not to notice. “Young Master Gu and Sang Xiaotu may form another group.”

Gu She said blandly, “When did I say I was going?”

Old Tao choked, then hardened his heart and said, “In that case, Young Master will go with Hao Guozi and make inquiries near the scene of the crime. I will go alone to find the woodcutter’s two sons.” He paused and glanced at Gu She. “Young Master Gu may remain at the inn and rest properly.”

Gu She neither agreed nor disagreed.

Adviser Jin and Old Tao left one after the other in a great hurry.

Tao Mo told Hao Guozi to inquire about the route first. Once they had obtained directions and were preparing to hire a carriage, they saw the Gu residence’s carriage leisurely stop before them. Sang Xiaotu was driving.

The carriage door opened. Gu She sat upright inside and crooked a finger at Tao Mo. “Get in.”

Tao Mo scrambled into the carriage using both hands and feet.

Hao Guozi had originally intended to enter the carriage compartment with Tao Mo, but Sang Xiaotu grabbed the hem of his clothes.

“I do not know the way,” Sang Xiaotu whispered.

Hao Guozi looked at the carriage compartment, then at him, and silently sighed before taking the reins.

Inside the carriage, Tao Mo hesitated between sitting beside Gu She and returning to his previous favored seat. In the end, he chose his old seat.

“Did you not say you were not going?”

Gu She replied unhurriedly, “When did I say that?”

Tao Mo thought about it. What Gu She had said seemed to have been, When did I say I was going? In other words, he had neither said he would go nor that he would not. Tao Mo looked at him, a faint happiness rippling through his heart. Lowering his head, he said softly, “I originally thought you were unwilling to involve yourself in this matter.”

“It is indeed a matter unrelated to me,” Gu She said.

Tao Mo raised his head to look at him. “Then why are you involving yourself?”

Gu She said, “When did I say I would?”

Tao Mo froze again. “But are you not now…”

“I am merely giving you a ride since it is on the way.”

Tao Mo sighed softly. “Actually, I should never have dragged you into this matter.”

Gu She remained silent.

“There may be danger,” Tao Mo said in a subdued voice. “That person was able to bribe the county magistrate, so he must possess enormous wealth and influence. The fact that he dared to kill Wan Feng shows how ruthless he is. If things truly come to violence, I fear you may be implicated.”

Gu She said, “Since that is so, why do you insist on involving yourself in this unrelated matter?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Tao Mo said, “I told you—I want to be a good official.”

“What you are doing now is not what a good official should do.”

“Perhaps not.” Tao Mo rested his head against the carriage wall, swaying lightly with the turning wheels. “No matter what, I want to save him.”

Silence descended inside the carriage.

Tao Mo felt drowsiness wash over him and was just about to fall asleep when, through the haze, he heard a cool male voice say, “I will help you.”

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