Chapter 194

On the long street, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Many were unsure what had just occurred; all they knew was that Xiao Changgong's arrow, strong enough to split mountains and rend stone, had been blocked by the black‑clad youth.

But how could that be possible?

Could it be that another monster, worthy of matching Chief Fu of the Demon Suppression Office, has appeared within the Office?

Though not yet twenty, he could clash head‑on with the Xiao family patriarch, who had forged his True Gang into a furnace, and this genuinely shook many people's minds.

"Brother, that Qin …"

At the forefront of the Demon Suppression Office's column, Yang Jing stared, his eyes wide, feeling only a dry mouth and parched tongue.

Had that arrow struck him, he would probably have been split in two right now, but the Qin youth not only came away unharmed, he didn't even retreat half a step.

With such ability, it's no surprise he could replace his elder brother and become the main force of this search.

"Boss, what should we do next?"

Another Golden Eagle Colonel also broke into a sweat, realizing they had kicked an iron plate this time.

Regardless of what means the boy used, being able to hard‑block Xiao Changgong's arrow gave him strength on par with a Demon Suppression General.

No wonder the Chief trusts this kid so much; it turns out he really has such skill.

What's there to panic about?

Yang Si lowered his voice and barked.

Although Qin Shu's revealed tactics far surpassed his expectations, he was a battle‑hardened veteran who had climbed from an ordinary Yunwen Colonel to his present rank, his temperament already as steadfast as stone.

He reviewed his own actions along the way; besides intentionally keeping his distance from the opponent and forming a vague isolation, there was nothing substantial that could be held against him.

As long as he adjusts his attitude and cooperates going forward, even if the other party later reports him to the Chief, it won't be a serious offense—at most he'll receive a few rebukes.

Having considered this, Yang Si already had a resolve.

Just then, the lone youth who had stormed into the Xiao manor spoke again:

"Yang Si, what are you standing there for?"

The Xiao family has colluded with the Demon‑Ghost Mother Sect, obstructed the Demon Suppression Office's law enforcement, and tried to shoot its officers—arrest them all!

Although he had decided to cooperate, hearing himself publicly summoned left Yang Si feeling extremely resentful.

But upon recalling the opponent's Four Symbols True Gang, he ultimately decided to grit his teeth and cooperate, leading the Demon Suppression Office's officers in a charge into the Xiao estate.

You're spouting bloody nonsense!

Xiao Changgong's face was icy, yet the thought of the opponent's Four Symbols True Gang involuntarily sparked a surge of dread in his heart.

Old scoundrel Nie Jinfeng, when did he collude with the Demon Suppression Office?

Could it be that the recent investigation of Wind‑Thunder Valley was merely a charade between the two families?

Was Chief Fu Lingyin's true target from the outset the four great clans of the inner city?

But that Qin, on that day he cut down more than ten mountain‑guard disciples of Wind‑Thunder Valley with a single blow—something witnessed by many martial artists, undeniable.

If so, why would Nie Jinfeng shield that boy with a wisp of True Gang?

Xiao Changgong's mind was in a tangled mess.

He began to suspect that today's search might be a collusion between Wind‑Thunder Valley and the Demon Suppression Office, aimed at their Xiao family.

In a flash of thought, he lowered his bow, flicked his sleeve, stuck out his chin and said, "Officer Qin, since you've come on orders, please proceed."

Having spoken, he didn't wait for Qin Shu's reply and strode away directly.

Seeing Xiao Changgong retreat, Qin Shu's face showed no ripple; he coldly ordered the Demon Suppression officers behind him: "Search!"

Upon hearing that, Yang Si led the way into the depths of the Xiao manor, the other officers following closely.

Qin Shu wasn't in a hurry, walking leisurely at the rear of the troop, using his Heavenly Wolf Divine Sense to sense the Xiao family's interior while employing Prime Magnetic True Qi to probe the surroundings, missing no suspicious spot.

As one of the four great clans of Yun Prefecture, the Xiao estate was naturally vast.

But every Demon Suppression Officer was a cultivator of accomplished inner strength; after Xiao Changgong withdrew and had warned the Xiao family, the subsequent search went extremely smoothly, encountering hardly any obstruction.

After an hour.

Yang Si returned with two Golden Eagle Colonels to make his report.

"Officer Qin, we've searched everywhere and found no suspicious traces."

Although he felt a thousand reluctances, Yang Si had to admit that if it weren't for Qin Shu's Four Symbols True Gang frightening Xiao Changgong away, even if he himself had taken the lead, the search might not have gone so smoothly.

"You've confirmed everything was searched?" Qin Shu raised an eyebrow.

It wasn't that he distrusted Yang Si; rather, he suddenly recalled that when Pang Tong led a search of the Songyang prefectural governor's residence, they too came up empty‑handed.

The result was that Shao HanShang had sealed the mountain ghost in a box and sunk it to the lake bottom.

This shows that these major powers are quite familiar with the Demon Suppression Office's procedures and methods for searching out mountain ghosts.

Therefore, if the Xiao family truly colluded with the Demon‑Ghost Mother Sect, upon learning of the Demon Suppression Office's operation they would certainly have made preparations.

Moreover, just now when Xiao Changgong blocked him in the front courtyard, not a single other Xiao family member appeared, which naturally aroused Qin Shu's suspicion.

"Besides the Xiao ancestral hall, we've searched every other suspicious place," Yang Si reported truthfully.

"Oh? The ancestral hall?"

Qin Shu's eyes lit up: "Take me to have a look."

During that hour, Qin Shu wasn't idle either; he had roughly inspected every courtyard of the Xiao estate and indeed found nothing abnormal.

But the rear‑court ancestral hall, he simply hadn't had a chance to examine yet.

"Officer Qin, the ancestral hall is a core clan precinct, always off‑limits to outsiders; if we were to force our way in…"

Yang Si wanted to speak but held back.

The Demon Suppression Office may act forcefully, but it is not completely unreasonable.

Unless there is solid evidence and the other party truly is suspected of colluding with demons,

otherwise, for places like the ancestral hall they usually just stand outside, take a glance, and sniff the air.

After all, even the Xiao family, such a prestigious great clan, has an ancestral hall that isn't large.

With the skill of the Demon Suppression Office colonels in tracking demon traces, if a mountain ghost were truly hidden inside, they could tell just by a glance and a sniff at the door.

Unless, like Shao Han Shang, they sink the mountain ghost to the lake bottom, only then could they block its scent and avoid detection by the Demon Suppression Office colonels.

One could say that, after years of training, the Demon Suppression Office colonels' noses have reached an extremely terrifying level in discerning demonic odors.

"How? Colonel Yang, are you afraid?" Qin Shuo said with a half-smile.

"Afraid?"

Yang Si's eyes darkened, and he snorted coldly:

"In these years at the Demon Suppression Office, what blades and fire have I not walked through? How could I fear a mere Xiao family ancestral hall?"

"However, one should show mercy where possible."

"Even if the Xiao family were utterly depraved, they would not go so far as to hide such a filthy thing as a mountain ghost in their own ancestral hall."

"Furthermore, I have searched the surroundings of the ancestral hall and found no trace of a mountain ghost."

"Could it be that Colonel Qin does not trust me, Yang Si?"

Qin Shuo smiled and said nothing.

Those who raise humans to feed demons and concoct hundred‑person and thousand‑person pills, those heretical demonic cultists, would hardly care whether the important ancestral hall is defiled by evil spirits.

Qin Shuo's arrival undoubtedly stirred the nerves of the Xiao clan's elders.

Not only Xiao Changgong, but several frail, trembling elders also leaned on their canes, forming a human wall to block the ancestral hall's entrance.

Their posture was such that anyone who dared to enter the ancestral hall would have to fight them to the death.

Besides them, the Xiao clan's able‑bodied youths looked at him with indifference, gloom, scrutiny, or curiosity.

Of course, even more so, it was undisguised malice, even killing intent.

"Colonel Qin, don't push your luck!"

Xiao Changgong's expression was icy as he stood before the Xiao clan's elders.

"Although the Demon Suppression Office has the authority to monitor demons across the world, my Xiao family is no minor household."

"If you dare to forcibly break into my Xiao family's ancestral hall, then today we will have a feud unto death."