The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 223. The Truth

Chapter 223: 223. The Truth

The next day, Tyler noticed an unusual bustle in town as groups of people streamed toward the chief’s office. He observed the crowd for a moment, sensing that something significant was happening, and decided to follow along.

As he joined the flow of townsfolk, the atmosphere grew heavier. The crowd led him to the entrance of the chief’s office, where two imposing warriors stood guard, preventing anyone from going inside. Near them was a wooden sign with a sheet of paper attached, covered in small, densely packed words. People clustered around it, leaning in to read, their faces grim and voices filled with murmurs.

Tyler frowned at the gathering. "Why so many people here?"

He knew that important announcements were usually posted outside the chief’s office. Given the crowd and the weighty expressions around him, he guessed the news must be serious, perhaps even connected to what he’d been investigating.

After some effort, Tyler managed to squeeze through the throng, finally reaching the sign. His eyes scanned the paper, and as he read, a knot of dread began to form in his stomach. Line by line, his expression darkened. He barely noticed the tense conversations and somber whispers from those around him.

"I heard it was a family of three... and now they’re gone, just like that," one man murmured, shaking his head.

"It happened so fast. I was in their shop a few days ago." Another person added, "At least they caught the culprit. Justice will be served."

Tyler’s brow furrowed. He felt the bitterness of doubt creeping in, sensing that the official story might not reveal the entire truth.

The notice detailed a disturbing incident: a gardener at Chief Liu’s mansion had reportedly seen Moeko, become infatuated, and eventually assaulted her. When Moeko went missing, her parents went searching, only to find her devastated and humiliated. Stricken by grief and shame, Moeko’s parents had allegedly taken their own lives, unable to bear the tragedy.

The notice stated that the gardener would be hanged in the town square the next day as punishment, marking a grim end to the affair. Tyler’s jaw tightened as he absorbed the words, feeling a deep unease settle within him. Amid the murmurs of sympathy and anger in the crowd, he spotted Veronica leaving, her face a mask of fury. But as she turned, he glimpsed someone behind her—Moeko, briefly visible, then gone. Tyler’s heart skipped a beat, surprise flickering in his eyes.

He recalled the words he’d overheard an officer saying to Veronica just days before: "In some matters... certain individuals cannot be touched. Sometimes, it’s best to let things lie."

"Were they really afraid of this gardener?" Tyler muttered, his voice laced with sarcasm. The explanation seemed too convenient, a cover that didn’t quite add up. With a heavy sigh, he turned and left the crowd, heading back to the inn. On his way, he passed Moeko’s family shop, its door now closed, the once lively atmosphere stilled. Outside, a small collection of flowers and candles had gathered on the steps, offerings from the townsfolk paying their respects. Tyler paused, adding his own bouquet and lighting a candle, quietly honoring the family.

"Why would Chief Liu’s gardener be blamed so readily?" Tyler wondered, suspicion curling in his mind as he turned toward his lodgings. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something darker lingered beneath the surface. It was unusual for such swift justice to be served in this town, and stranger still that Moeko’s family, who had seemed content just days before, would suddenly take their own lives.

As he walked back toward his inn, Tyler stopped his track.

He recalled another thing Moeko stepping into a luxury flying car just a few days ago, smiling.

"Her boyfriend." Tyler eyes turned sharp.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

"Your boyfriend?" Veronica asked, her voice laced with concern.

Moeko nodded, her eyes downcast. She had managed to regain her memory, but thankfully she hadn’t been reduced to a mindless spirit like others in her situation. Her memories returned vividly, along with the haunting details of what had happened.

"Yes, I had a boyfriend," Moeko whispered. "His name is Liu Feng."

Veronica’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Liu... could he be related to Chief Liu Long?"

Moeko nodded again, confirming what Veronica suspected. "Yes, he’s Chief Liu Long’s son."

Veronica took a deep breath, her expression growing serious. Moeko, young and at the age where emotions could cloud reason, had been charmed by Liu Feng’s polished words and seemingly gentle demeanor. He had made her feel special, as though he saw something in her that no one else did.

Moeko said softly. "H- He said he would introduce me to his family, that his father would accept us..."

A few days ago, Liu Feng had invited Moeko to visit his home, promising that he would finally introduce her to his father. It had seemed like a significant step forward in their relationship, and Moeko had felt both excited and nervous. When she hesitated, he assured her with his usual charm, promising that everything would be fine. She had wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that their love could bridge the gap between their worlds.

So, with a heart full of hope, she had gone with him, imagining the possibilities for their future together.

Moeko didn’t remember what happened after that when she woke up she was already naked on the bed with bruises. There was Liu Feng along with two other men beside her. She was heartbroken and cried. But those men didn’t care about it and forced her again. She passed out again.

Veronica clenched her fist with frustration.

Moeko’s parents were worried about her and came to the Chief’s Mansion. Liu Feng saw Moeko’s mother and his lust flared up again.

When Moeko regained consciousness again, it made her heart broke. Her father was beaten up and tied down. Her mother was getting assaulted by Liu Feng and those Men.

A extreme pressure excluded from Veronica she is shaking in anger.

She unclenched her fist. Her teeth, which had been biting her lower lip, also loosened.

Her red lips regained their color.

She suddenly stood up and took off her white clothes, revealing her jade-like skin.

Her waist was as white as snow.

She took out the black clothes from the cabinet. Veronica slowly put them on and covered her face and head with a black cloth.

A moment later, her face was covered.

"Where are we going sister?" Moeko asked.

"Beast Hunting." Veronica replied with icy tone.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Later that Night

In his quiet room, Tyler took a deep breath, steeling himself for the night’s task. He picked up the Phantom Mask. With a single touch, he placed it over his face, activating its power.

His entire appearance transformed; his slender frame expanded, his posture grew straighter, and he stood now as a tall, imposing figure of nearly six feet—a man known only as Phantom Blackwood.

Tyler took a moment to adjust, glancing outside his window. The sky was shrouded with clouds, veiling the light of the three moons and casting the town into darkness.

With a single leap, he slipped out of his room and blended seamlessly into the shadows, his presence undetectable in the stillness of the night.

Meanwhile, Veronica had already arrived at the street near Chief Liu’s mansion. She moved quietly, her steps careful. Even at this hour, lamps fueled by prana stones burned brightly at the mansion gates, casting an eerie glow on the scene.

Two servants stood guard, appearing prepared for a long night’s watch.

Veronica assessed her surroundings from a distance. She had no intention of entering through the main gate; that would only draw attention. Instead, she veered off toward the far wall, where no one patrolled. It was secluded, silent, a perfect entry point.

From her cloak, Veronica pulled out a small seed and cupped it in her hand. Prana energy swirled around her palm, and the seed sprouted instantly, blooming into a small flower that glowed faintly, lighting her path.

Whispering a quiet incantation, she activated a charm to leap over the wall, her figure lifting effortlessly into the air.

Even cloaked in black with her face covered, Veronica’s movements were graceful. Her slim figure moved with elegance as she floated over the wall and descended gently into the Liu Residence grounds. As she touched down, her boots made barely a sound against the ground.

But she wasn’t alone.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Veronica heard a faint gasp. She turned, finding herself face-to-face with an unexpected figure.

Standing not far from her was a man in a ghostly mask, his silent presence both unsettling and mesmerizing. The night breeze stirred between them, and for a brief moment, they simply stared at each other, both equally surprised by the encounter.

The silence of the night surrounded them, with only the distant sound of a cat’s meow breaking the stillness. Despite her calm exterior, Veronica felt a flicker of unease. She couldn’t sense the power level of this masked figure, making him an enigma.

"Ahh, a ghost!" Moeko’s startled cry broke the silence, her voice a mix of shock and fear, though Veronica found the reaction somewhat amusing.

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