Chapter 155: A Stab to the Mouth, a Stab to the Buttocks

Lin Yue City, Investigation Bureau.

Thousands of Embroidered Uniform Guard stood in neat formation at the gate of the Investigation Bureau, guarding it all night.

The gate of the Investigation Bureau opened slowly, and Heigou walked out, speaking loudly.

"Which one is Captain Lu Yun?"

The tall and slender Captain Lu Yun stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "It's me."

Heigou continued, "Captain Lu, come with me; our boss wants to see you."

Lu Yun nodded and followed behind Heigou.

Outside the gate, many Embroidered Uniform Guard began to whisper among themselves.

A chief approached the lieutenant beside him and said, "Lieutenant, what is the background of this tall and slender major? He seems to have only acquired cultivation; why is our captain so polite to him?"

The lieutenant stroked his small mustache, furrowed his brows, and said, "I actually have a clue."

"He seems to be Heigou."

"Heigou, who is Heigou?"

The lieutenant with the small mustache gave a mysterious smile and said, "Let you listen to more storytelling; since you don't, I'll tell you the gist."

"Recently, among the storytellers in Qingzhou, there's a hot story about our Qingzhou's new commander, Lord Shen Qing."

"Lord Shen Qing's alias is World-Passing Yama; you all know that, right?"

"Those around all nodded."

"However, this story isn't about Lord Shen Qing himself, but about those four people under him, known as the Four Great Evil Ghosts under Yama."

"The first of the four great evil ghosts is the Scholar; he is exceptionally quick-witted, essentially Lord Shen Qing's deputy, assisting him in managing the Embroidered Uniform Guard and also taking care of his food and clothing—calling him a chief steward is not an exaggeration."

"The second is Heigou; although his cultivation is not high, the character loyalty is embodied in him to the fullest."

"The third is Old Li; his methods of punishment are supernatural, and every so he can devise a punishment that shocks heaven and earth and makes ghosts and gods weep."

His words trailed off, and the chief beside him looked doubtful.

"Hey, Lieutenant, aren't they the Four Great Evil Ghosts? What about the last one? Isn't his name Lin Zikai? How is he?"

The lieutenant said, "Lin Zikai, he's formidable..."

"How formidable?"

The lieutenant hemmed and hawed for a while, then finally blurted out a sentence.

"He can team up with the other three to form the Four Great Evil Ghosts."

Just then, Captain Jinlu appeared behind several people and heavily knocked on the lieutenant's head.

"You're quite the talker, huh?"

Several people showed an embarrassed smile.

Jinlu glanced at them.

"Now that you know, don't spread it around; the commander doesn't want too many people to know of his arrival in Lin Yue City."

"If the commander's news leaks out from you lot, humph..."

Several people hurriedly spoke up, saying they keep their mouths shut.

Just then, Old Li opened the door and said, "Captain Jinlu, follow me."

Jinlu gave those people a fierce glare and then quickly caught up with Old Li.

Not long after, they heard sounds from the courtyard.

It was Lin Zikai who was asking.

"Captain Lu, regarding the interrogation of Sun Laoqian on the ninth day of the fifth month, do you still have any impression?"

Over the course of a night, the Scholar and others roughly browsed the recent files of the Lin Yue City Investigation Bureau and discovered some information about the Peace Society.

One Sun Laoqian was involved with the Peace Society, and his interrogation was conducted by Captain Lu Yun.

Lu Yun furrowed his brows and said, "I have a slight recollection; give me a moment to think."

Jinlu came before Shen Qing and said, "Jinlu pays his respects to Lord Shen Qing."

Shen Qing handed a piece of paper to Jinlu and said, "In the name of the Heaven Star City Investigation Bureau, send a letter to each of the other eight city Investigation Bureaus."

"Tell them I want all information related to the Peace Society."

Jinlu took the paper and said, "Understood."

Having said that, he hurried off to copy the letters.

The Scholar said, "Boss, won't such a big show alert the enemy?"

Shen Qing's eyes flashed with light: "Even an Investigation Commander has committed suicide by poison; they already know I'm investigating."

"Moreover, I intend to come openly and tell them that the Embroidered Uniform Guard has set its sights on them."

This is also Shen Qing's deliberate intention.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the open blade, while the Shen Family Shadow Guard is the hidden blade.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's blade openly stabs the Peace Society's mouth, while the Shadow Guard's blade secretly stabs the Peace Society's buttocks.

One in front, one behind; one open, one hidden.

Shen Qing really wants to see how they will defend against it.

At that moment, Lu Yun seemed to recall something and slapped his thigh.

"I remember now—I interrogated that Sun Laoqian! But I had only just finished when the case was snatched away by Investigation Commander Wu."

"After not much time passed, when I saw Sun Laoqian again he was already dead in prison; though deaths in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's jail are common, I didn't think much of it at the time."

The Scholar and Lin Zikai exchanged a glance—"Was the person taken by Wu Lin?" Then it matched up.

"Continue—can you recall anything else?"

"My interrogation wasn't long, and my impression isn't deep, but as soon as you mentioned the Peace Society just now, I recalled that Sun Laoqian told me he wanted to report a Peace Society member to seek a reduction in his punishment."

Back then he reported the eldest son of the Southern Cang Bai Clan, Bai Qing, but I thought there were some problems at the time, so I didn't record this matter of the Bai family's eldest son in the file...

Shen Qing walked over and smiled: "Good thing you didn't put it in the file, otherwise you'd probably already have been planted like ginseng by the Peace and Tranquility Society."

Do you know how the Southern Cang Bai Clan will proceed?

Lu Yun nodded.

Shen Qing grabbed Lu Yun's shoulder and shot up into the sky: "Scholar, go to the Kirin Tavern and tell Su Jiudie and the others not to run around."

Half a day later, the Southern Cang Bai Clan.

The head of the Bai family, Bai Buzheng, and a person wearing a Xuanwu mask were discussing in a secret chamber.

This Xuanwu mask is one of the four altar masters of the Peace and Tranquility Society, whose nickname is Xuanwu.

Xuanwu spoke, his voice hoarse: "The Pacification Commissioner Wu Lin of Linyue City has already been exposed."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard over there has probably already noticed our Peace and Tranquility Society; now our activities are no longer as easy as before.

And your Bai family is the most active one; if the Embroidered Uniform Guard wants to investigate, it wouldn't be difficult for them to trace it back to you.

Bai Buzheng, head of the Bai family, said solemnly: "Then what should we do next? Any instructions from above?"

Xuanwu said: "The orders from above are for your Bai family to immediately go into hiding and operate covertly."

Bai Buzheng seemed somewhat hesitant.

Xuanwu continued: "Rest assured, the superiors also said that once the mission succeeds, they won't forget your Bai family."

Bai Buzheng nodded: "Alright, I'll notify right away to gather the assets and go into hiding."

Just then, the door of the secret chamber was knocked on, and Xuanwu immediately restrained his breath and hid in the shadows.

Bai Buzheng asked: "What is it?"

"Milord, someone outside is looking for the eldest son; it's Shen Qing, the Commander of the Azure Province Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Bai Buzheng's facial muscles twitched; he knew the Bai family would be exposed, but he wondered if this speed was a bit too fast.

However, seeing Xuanwu beside him, he still held his breath.

How many people did the Embroidered Uniform Guard send in total?

Just two: Commander Shen Qing and a Chiliarch.

Alright, I understand.

The person outside withdrew, and Xuanwu also spoke, taking something out from his bosom.

They came faster than I imagined, but he only said he was looking for Bai Qing, which shows your Bai family hasn't been fully exposed yet, so we still hold the initiative.

Then you go meet him; this poison is colorless and tasteless—put it in the tea Shen Qing is about to drink, and I'll lie in wait in the shadows to strike when the time comes.

Bai Buzheng nodded and walked toward the outside of the secret chamber.

Suddenly, Xuanwu spoke.

Oh, right, Shen Qing has always been temperamental; he says he'll make a move and then does.

Be careful.