Chapter 2: The Wronged Spirit of the Black Pot Stretches Out

  Zhan Zhao took the black basin and flew directly to Kaifeng Prefecture, crossing over the main gate, jumping in from the back door, and then arrived at Bao Gong's study!

  Bao Zheng was talking to Gong Sun Ce when he saw Zhan Zhao come in, and smiled slightly. "What brings the Guard Commander here, and what's with the black bowl? Is something going on?"

  "Lord Bao!" Zhang Zhao said, carefully placing the black tray, "Lord Bao, I have come for a reason that lies on this very black tray!"

  "Oh?" Bao Gong and Gong Sun Ce exchanged a smile, Gong Sun Ce twirled his mustache with a smile, "Is it that Zhan Huwei is preparing to buy an urn for Lord Bao?"

  Zhan Zhao helplessly rolled his eyes and directly said to Wu Pen, "Wu Pen, you speak!"

  Gongsun Ce was taken aback, and Bao Daren furrowed his brow. Both of them looked at Zhan Zhao in surprise, wondering if he had gone mad from a high fever!

  However, upon hearing Zhan Zhao's words, a wisp of white mist slowly rose from the black pot, floating and drifting around it in a circle before gradually taking shape in mid-air. In no time at all, it formed into a person's shadow. This person had three strands of black whiskers, disheveled hair, and wore a white robe; however, his facial features and body were indistinct and seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mist.

  Zhan Zhao felt a sudden jolt, and his heart couldn't tell whether it was fear or excitement - had he really seen a ghost for the first time?

  Are there really such things as ghosts in this world?

  The black pot moved quietly, and both Bao Daren and Gong Sun Xiansheng were shocked, exchanging a glance. After a pause, Bao Daren shouted in a cold voice, "What vengeful spirit or evil ghost is this?"

  Zhan Zhao was stunned, this old Bao and Gong Sun are too bold, they don't even have a frightened expression, alas, I was looking forward to seeing the surprised look on Old Bao and Gong Sun's faces...

  The ghost heard Mr. Bao's words and immediately fell to the ground, sobbing: "Sir, I have a grievance to air!"

  However, seeing the ghost's words and actions were sorrowful and not like those of an evil spirit, Old Bao and Mr. Gong Sun exchanged a glance, and Mr. Gong Sun subtly nodded his head. Lord Bao then asked in a loud voice: "You say you have grievances to redress? But according to what this official has seen, I am afraid it is not the way of the world. Why come to the mortal realm to seek justice instead of going to Yanluo to make your complaint?"

  The ghost heard this and burst into loud wailing, crying as he spoke, "Sir, the commoner has always wanted to, but the commoner cannot enter the underworld!"

  Bao Da and Gong Sun Ce were shocked, and asked: "Why is it so?"

  The ghost wailed again: "Because the common people were killed by others, their bodies were burned to ashes, and a strand of vengeful spirit was sealed inside, unable to escape. They cannot go down to the underworld or up to heaven, so how can they go to Yanluo Temple to file a complaint?"

  Bao Zheng and Gong Sun Ce listened to the words, and they were extremely angry. Bao Zheng loudly shouted, "How can such a thing happen? Quickly tell me the whole story from beginning to end."

  The ghost immediately showed a joyful expression, knocked his head to thank him, and then began to speak in detail: "My humble surname is Liu, my name is Shichang, and I live in the outer city of Dongdu. My family has a wife and a son. I do jewelry business. One day, I rode a donkey back home with heavy luggage. That evening, I stayed at a pottery brother's house. Unexpectedly, his brother was ruthless and killed me to get my money. He then burned my flesh and blood into this black pot with mud. Now I am trapped in this black pot, abandoned by my wife and son, and cannot see them. I only ask the adults to help me clarify this injustice before Bao Da, avenge my death, and even if my resentful soul is buried under the nine springs, I will be grateful."

  Everyone who heard this felt a surge of sympathy and couldn't stop sighing.

  Zhan Zhao was taken aback, "Brother?" No, that's not right. In any version of Judge Bao, they weren't brothers. One version had him called Ding something and his neighbor, another version had them as a married couple. Good heavens, stop playing tricks on me! Why can't you just play by the rules? Do I have to go investigate the case myself again?

  Alas, I thought I had memories of my past life, and in this world wrapped in blue sky, I could swim like a fish, but why don't you follow the plot for me...

  Bao Zheng sank into thought for a moment, then furrowed his brow and said: "Liu Shichang, if what you say is true, this court will certainly investigate the matter until the truth is revealed and justice is served."

  Liu Shichang listened and knocked his head again, loudly thanking him.

  Mr. Gong Sun turned around and said to Bao Daren, "Sir, according to what Liu Shichang said, the two brothers who committed murder are indeed ruthless and must be arrested as soon as possible."

  Bao Daida nodded and asked again: "Liu Shichang, this official asks you, do you know the surname and name of the two brothers who killed your younger brother?"

  Liu Shichang hesitated for a long time before saying in a low voice: "Your Honor, I don't know."

  Bao Da Ren was taken aback and said: "Those two are the murderers who killed you, why don't you even know their names?"

  Liu Shichang cried: "Your Honor, I, a humble commoner, unfortunately died and my soul was sealed in this black pot. I don't know how many days have passed, relying only on a strand of resentment to condense my spirit. Many things, I, the humble commoner, can no longer remember."

  Bao Da Ren listened and frowned: "Then can you remember where those two live?"

  "The common people can't remember clearly, but vaguely recall it was on a mountain."

  "Uh..." Bao Daren shifted his gaze towards Mr. Gong Sun.

  Mr. Gong Sun also asked: "Liu Shichang, what else do you remember?"

  "The common people remember the appearance and voice of those two."

  Everyone was at a loss for words upon hearing this.

  Zhan Zhaohui thought to himself, "You're really useless, ghost. You can't even remember who killed you? How frustrating. It looks like we'll have to investigate after all."

  Zhan Zhao stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency doesn't have to be so troubled. When I brought the black bowl back, I had Zhang Long and Zhao Hu go investigate where it came from. As long as we find out where the black bowl came from, then we can know who killed Liu Shi-chang!"

  Bao Daren's eyes sparkled with a hint of a smile, "Zhānhù Wèi is indeed clever. Once we know where the wok came from, we can determine who made it, and thus, who killed Liu Shichang! However, evidence is needed - human testimony, or rather, ghostly testimony from Liu Shichang, but what about physical evidence? We still need to find that murder weapon!"

  Zhan Zhao smiled and suddenly remembered something. He looked at Liu Shichang's ghost and asked, "You said you were sealed in the wok for how long?"

  "It's been half a year already!" Liu Shichang's ghost said respectfully!

  Zhan Zhao was stunned and speechless, Bao Zheng covered his forehead with his hand, and Gong Sun Ce let out a faint sigh!

  "This...," Mr. Gong Sun hesitated: "It's been half a year since the incident, and if the murderer has escaped, there's really no way to start investigating, unless we issue a wanted notice, but those two brothers haven't even been convicted yet, so how can we issue a wanted notice?"

  Zhan Zhao was speechless because he knew that Lao Bao had no chance this time, as he was too focused on the law and evidence.

  Bao Daren listened, also frowning and not speaking. After a while, Bao Daren finally raised his head and asked: "Half a year, calculating the time, it should be around New Year's Day, Liu Shichang, this official asks you, you were killed before or after New Year's Day, Wu Pen can speak again, but why did you come to report the case only now?"

  "Sir, I don't know either. My soul was sealed in the black pot and couldn't speak, but after being struck by Lord Zhang, I can now speak, so I came to report the case."

  As soon as this was said, everyone in the room turned their gaze to Zhan Zhao. Zhan Zhao furrowed his brow and suddenly thought of when he had knocked on the black pot earlier - the silver ornament on his chest had suddenly become scorching hot, and his forehead had also produced a similar scorching sensation at that instant. Jiang Sige had previously speculated that this silver ornament might be an immortal's object; could it be because of this silver ornament?

  Mr. Gong Sun thought for a moment and said, "In that case, Zhan Huwei must have been born with an extraordinary talent and possessed the ability to communicate with spirits."

  Zhan Zhao raised the corner of his mouth, hey, Mr. Gong Sun, food can be eaten casually, but words can't be spoken casually, maybe it's probably because of that silver ornament, okay? Don't make wild guesses, okay?

  Bao Zheng sighed and said, "Zhao Heng Wei, after Zhang Long and Zhao Hu return, I hope you can hurry up and investigate. It's been half a year now, and the trail may be gone, the suspect may have escaped, if so, we won't be able to help Liu Shi Chang get justice. Thank you, Zhao Heng Wei!"

  He rolled his eyes and said, "Here we go again!"

  "Don't worry, sir! I, Zhan Xian, will definitely investigate and find the relevant clues to clear Liu Shichang's name as soon as possible!" Zhan Zhao said with a fist bump.