The villagers said the rumor originated from the neighboring village.
When the soldiers went to inquire at the neighboring village, the villagers there claimed the rumor came from another village: "Officer, we all heard it from the people of Old Shigou. You should go investigate there."
The soldiers, frustrated to the point of madness, made their way to Old Shigou, only to be told by the villagers there: "We are innocent, Officer. It wasn't us who spread it; we were just repeating what the people from Daniu Village said. You should go ask them."
The soldiers were on the brink of insanity, unable to uncover anything at all.
Not only did they find nothing, but Chief Commander Hu was also assassinated.
His death was similar to Vice General Ye's; both of their heads were severed and hung on the city gates.
The soldiers guarding the gates were terrified, and within two hours, rumors spread through Yongcheng Prefecture that a malevolent ghost was targeting the Kangrong Soldiers.
