Chapter 1009: Mysterious Disappearance

Shortly after Zu An left the room, a figure standing in the distance turned and walked towards him. "Greetings, Master Zu," the figure said. "I am Gong Pan. The madam mentioned you had something to ask me."

"Master Gong, you exaggerate," Zu An replied. "I merely have a few questions I'd like to consult you about." Zu An carefully observed the middle-aged man before him. He had a strong physique and sharp eyes, clearly indicating a high level of cultivation. With thick eyebrows and large eyes, his appearance suggested a mature and steady character. A dragon-like scar stretched from his chin to his neck, adding a fierce touch to his overall demeanor.

Noticing Zu An's prolonged gaze, Gong Pan instinctively touched the scar. "This was from an attack by a demon expert years ago," he explained. "If it had been half an inch closer, my bones would have long been cold."

"My apologies," Zu An said, feeling a bit contrite, as his gaze had indeed been impolite.

"It's fine," Gong Pan said with a generous smile. "Everyone who sees me for the first time looks there. This isn't a mark of shame for me; rather, it's a glorious reminder of a direct, bloody battle against the demon race."

"General Gong, to survive such a severe injury, you must be destined for good fortune after escaping such a disaster," Zu An remarked, feeling that the blow had indeed been incredibly close.

"I don't care about good fortune; I just wish the Duke was alright," Gong Pan said, his voice suddenly dropping. "Back then, it was thanks to the Duke pulling me aside by an inch that I avoided that fatal blow. It's a pity I'm still alive, but the Duke's fate is unknown."

Zu An's heart stirred, and he seized the opportunity to ask, "What exactly happened to your Duke?"

Local officials had previously investigated the case and submitted reports to the imperial court, but many details were vague and the logic was contradictory. Clearly, it was more useful to question those who had experienced it firsthand.

Gong Pan hesitated, then after a moment, said, "Since the madam sent me, it means Master Zu is trustworthy. Please follow me."

He led Zu An to a spacious courtyard where no one else was visibly nearby to overhear them. Gong Pan then began, "The Duke's disappearance was incredibly strange. At the time, the Duke was in seclusion, but when the day for his emergence arrived, there was no sign of him. Initially, no one thought much of it, as cultivators in seclusion aren't always precise with their timing."

"However, ten days later, there was still no activity from his seclusion chambers. That's when we tried to ask when the Duke would emerge, but there was no response at all."

"That's when everyone realized the door wasn't locked from the inside, and the chambers were empty."

"At first, everyone assumed the Duke had left seclusion early and gone elsewhere, as this had happened before. However, after several months, the Duke still hadn't returned, and that's when the household realized something might have happened."

"We dispatched many people to search everywhere the Duke might have gone, but unfortunately, we never found him. Throughout Yunzhong Commandery, and even the surrounding counties, although occasionally someone claimed to have seen the Duke, our investigations showed they were all fabrications to claim a reward."

"Another six months passed this way, and the Duke still didn't reappear. That's when everyone understood he had very likely met with misfortune."

As he spoke, his knuckles cracked audibly, clearly indicating his strong emotions.

Zu An asked in a low voice, "Who was the last person to see the Duke, and when was it?"

Gong Pan thought for a moment before replying, "Many people saw the Duke last. At that time, the Duke was hosting Second Master Jian for drinks at the manor. Many maids and servants were attending, and I was also present. We all saw him."

"You were all there the whole time? And you personally saw him enter seclusion right after drinking?" Zu An found this a bit strange. Who would enter seclusion immediately after drinking?

"Not exactly," Gong Pan answered. "Initially, we were nearby, but later the Duke wanted to discuss some confidential matters with Second Master Jian, so he told us to retreat to a distance outside. Although we didn't see them directly afterward, we could see their silhouettes clinking glasses through the window, and occasionally hear their conversations and laughter."

Zu An frowned. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, there was a lot of room for manipulation.

So many detective novels in his previous life featured similar murder cases.

"Is it possible the Duke had already met with misfortune by then, and the figures you saw and voices you heard were actually mimicked by others?" Zu An pressed.

"That's impossible!" Gong Pan immediately denied. "We are the Duke's most trusted confidants. No one knows his physique and voice better than us. If someone were impersonating him, we would definitely be able to tell."

Zu An furrowed his brow, feeling that Gong Pan's judgment was too hasty.

A person's physique could easily be distorted when viewed through a window, and as for voices, with so many extraordinary individuals in the world, it was hard to guarantee there wasn't someone skilled in vocal mimicry.

The book *A Thousand Faces, One Persona* that he had acquired earlier detailed how to perfectly imitate a target's voice.

However, he then thought that such a secret manual must be extremely rare. After all, even as an Embroidered Envoy, he had never heard of anyone capable of such a feat.

At that moment, Gong Pan continued, "Even if we consider the remote possibility that the person was an impostor, how could they have done it? The Duke's cultivation had reached the peak of the Grandmaster realm, making him one of the top experts of his generation. Who could have subdued and replaced him so quickly and silently without us outside noticing?"

"What if Second Master Jian assisted him?" Zu An asked, staring directly into Gong Pan's eyes.

Gong Pan's expression changed, but he still replied, "Impossible. Although Second Master Jian's cultivation is high, it's still far inferior to the Duke's. The Duke could easily defeat him with one hand tied behind his back, let alone with us waiting outside."

Zu An fell silent. He could suspect someone used vocal mimicry for impersonation, but cultivation was a tangible reality.

While it was possible Jian Yanyou was caught off guard and ambushed by his own brother, with his cultivation level, he couldn't have been subdued silently. The moment he spoke, the guards outside would have entered.

Had he been wrong from the very beginning?

Zu An remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What was the relationship between your madam and the Duke?"

"The madam?" Gong Pan's expression suddenly changed. "You're not suspecting her, are you?"

Zu An waved his hand. "I am a friend of your madam. How could I suspect her? I was just curious because I heard her mention that she didn't live with the Duke?"

Gong Pan hesitated, then replied, "That's right, the madam and the Duke were indeed living separately. However, that was because the madam had to manage various affairs for the Yu clan, while the Duke was responsible for the safety of Yunzhong Commandery and defending against demon invasions. They spent little time together, which is why they lived apart."

"Nevertheless, their relationship was very good; they always treated each other with mutual respect."

"'Treated each other with mutual respect,' huh." Zu An raised an eyebrow. This phrase could be interpreted in two ways: either the couple's relationship was truly harmonious, or it implied a lack of genuine affection, where they merely fulfilled their duties without much warmth...

"One impertinent question," Zu An said, observing him curiously, "Why did you come to the Yu clan? Logically, you should be with the Duke's manor."

Gong Pan's expression immediately became downcast. "After the Duke disappeared, everyone was quite united at first, but as we continuously failed to find his whereabouts, many things began to change."

"But that's normal. Many people need to support their families, and some want to advance their careers, so they naturally seek new patrons."

"Are you referring to Second Master Jian as the new patron?" Zu An probed.

Gong Pan nodded. "Exactly. He is the Duke's younger brother and was originally the second-in-command of the Viceroy's Residence. He also had a group of trusted followers. After the Duke's incident, it was only natural for him to take over all affairs. Many people might not have initially intended to pledge allegiance to him, but by working under him, they gradually became his people over time."

"However, I don't have such ambitions. I've been waiting for the Duke to return, and staying there now feels like an inconvenience. So, I came to the madam's side, as she is the Duke's wife. Some others who shared my sentiments also came here to be with the madam."

Zu An nodded inwardly. This was understandable. Others could pledge allegiance to Jian Taiding, but for Gong Pan, who was the former Duke's chief guard and confidant, joining the other side would mean he wouldn't be heavily relied upon. His decision to come to Yu Yanluo's side was wise; at the very least, he could earn a reputation for loyalty and righteousness.

"From your tone, I don't sense any hatred towards Second Master Jian," Zu An observed curiously.

Gong Pan looked north, his expression calm. "Unless the Duke's disappearance is connected to Second Master Jian, why would I hate him? It's human nature for him to recruit the Duke's former subordinates. Even if I were in his position, I would likely do the same."

"Furthermore, the Viceroy's Residence is crucial to the safety of Yunzhong Commandery and must defend against repeated incursions by the demon race. After the Duke's disappearance, a strong leader was naturally needed to stabilize the situation. A capable and ambitious person is far better than an incompetent one."

"General Gong is indeed a man of great integrity; such magnanimity is rare," Zu An said, feeling a surge of admiration. He then asked Gong Pan a few more questions about the Duke's manor, and Gong Pan answered each one.

Finally, as he was about to leave, Zu An suddenly turned as if remembering something. "Oh, by the way, could you give me a list of the Duke's personal guard unit?"