Chapter 217: Calamity Water Drawn East, Calling a Deer a Horse!

Boom—!

Like a fire dragon charging forth, the ground trembled and the sound of hooves thundered.

Accompanied by a long, unceasing whistle, the Crimson Flame Dragon Horse came to a stop less than a zhang away from Qin Shuo and the others.

"Subordinate greets the Inspector, sir!"

The three Demon Suppression Generals and the Cloud Dragon Colonels hurried forward to salute.

"Are you Qin Shuo?"

Wang Li Hu's expression was indifferent as he looked at Qin Shuo standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the three Demon Suppression Generals.

"Exactly."

Qin Shuo remained neither humble nor arrogant.

Although he knew the visitor came with ill intent, he felt no fear in his heart.

Even a cultivator who had forged the True Gang Furnace was strong, but he was not without support, so he would not be cowed by their status.

"What are you? A mere Cloud Dragon Colonel, daring to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with three generals?"

Wang Li Hu's gaze turned cold: "Could it be that Chief Fu trains you lot in military discipline like this?"

"What are you?"

Qin Shuo stepped forward, eyes locked: "I am the Cloud Dragon Colonel directly subordinate to the Chief of the Yun Prefecture Demon Suppression Office. In the Chief's absence I can relay military orders; my rank equals that of the generals—why can't we stand together?"

"Hah!"

Wang Li Hu gave a cold smile: "I am the Chief Inspector, responsible for overseeing discipline within the office. Just for your insolence toward this official, thirty strokes of the cane are warranted."

"You can try!"

Qin Shuo snorted coldly, his eyes lifting slightly as he pressed down lightly on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

He had imagined that this far‑away Inspector might make things difficult for him, but he never expected it to be for such a petty reason.

Although the Inspector's rank equals that of the local Chief, there is no way he could suppress me by virtue of that position alone.

"Lord Wang."

Seeing the two about to draw swords, the Mountain‑Moving General Chen Ao stepped forward to smooth things over:

"Colonel Qin's standing with us is permitted by the Chief and is entirely proper. Lord, you have traveled far; why not rest at the relay station first?"

"No need."

Wang Li Hu snorted.

He never imagined that a youth of barely twenty would be so stubborn as to dare confront him openly in the street.

This left him somewhat embarrassed, and his killing intent rose another notch.

He also knew that trying to pin a crime on a Cloud Dragon Colonel over such trivial matters was virtually impossible.

Therefore he stopped pressing and changed his tone:

"It's still early; first take this official to the Demon Suppression Office headquarters."

"I have received a report that someone is framing the Xiao family for colluding with demons, and I have come to investigate."

As he said this, Wang Li Hu's gaze fell once more on Qin Shuo, whose eyes were cold and unwavering, meeting his stare.

"Please, sir."

Chen Ao mounted his horse and led the way, while Qin Shuo, the remaining two Demon Suppression Generals, and the Cloud Dragon Colonels followed behind.

"Framing?"

Pang Tong's eyes darkened as he looked at the figure astride the Crimson Flame Dragon Horse and said quietly:

"Colonel Qin, this visitor comes with ill intent!"

The office of Inspector was established by the imperial court to oversee local Demon Suppression Offices,

lest local Demon Suppression Offices abuse their authority, wield the right to supervise all demons to interfere with court laws, nurture demons for self‑preservation, and bring harm to a region.

Its power is not to be underestimated.

In special circumstances it can even temporarily take over the local Demon Suppression Office and mobilize local forces to resist demons.

With such power and status, offending them is no easier than facing a powerful demon.

Moreover, the visitor immediately branded the Xiao family as victims of a frame‑up, seeking to overturn the case without any concealment.

"No problem."

Qin Shuo's expression remained calm; he took no offense.

He actually wanted to see how this Inspector from the Xuanbing Mountain Demon Suppression Office would go about clearing the Xiao family's name.

The procession mightily returned to the Demon Suppression Office headquarters.

Having just taken his seat, Wang Li Hu ordered the seized documents of the Xiao family to be brought out for careful examination.

After half an hour, he gave Qin Shuo a half‑smile and said:

"Colonel Qin, according to the records, it was you who discovered the presence of the Wood Sprite Spirit and split the Xiao family ancestral hall with a single blade, thereby forcing the Son of the Ghost Mother to appear, is that not so?"

"Yes."

Qin Shuo replied coldly.

He was curious to see what tricks this Demon Suppression Office Inspector would play.

"Before you, Colonel Yang had already searched the Xiao family ancestral hall and found no trace of the Wood Sprite Spirit."

"But Colonel Qin insisted, disregarding Colonel Yang's advice, he split the Xiao family ancestral hall and summoned the Wood Sprite Spirit, is that not so?"

"Yes."

"How dare you ask Colonel Qin: Colonel Yang has spent over ten years hunting demons and still could not find a trace of the Wood Sprite Spirit.

You have been in the Demon Suppression Office for less than a month—how did you discover that the Wood Sprite Spirit is inside the Xiao family ancestral hall?"

Wang Li Hu's eyes narrowed, his tone hostile, as if interrogating an utterly heinous criminal.

"Sir, what do you mean by this?"

"Moving Mountain General Chen Ao furrowed his brows: 'Could it be that you, Sir, suspect that the wood spirit was planted as evidence by Lieutenant Qin to frame the Xiao family?'"

"As soon as he said that, everyone present's faces changed."

"They all knew General Wang Liehu's purpose in coming this time, yet they never expected that, in order to clear the Xiao family's name, he would stop at nothing to frame his comrades."

"This angered the three Demon-Subduing Generals present and many Yunlong Lieutenants."

"They have lived and died for the Demon-Subduing Office, to eradicate demons they do not hesitate to offend aristocratic clans, placing life and death aside."

"Yet the other side, based solely on a baseless accusation letter, here doubts Qin Shuo, who acts alongside them—this is truly chilling and infuriating."

"The most unacceptable part is Yang Si, who initially searched the Xiao residence together with Qin Shuo."

"He is naturally hot-tempered; upon hearing that General Wang Liehu seemed intent on framing Qin Shuo, he immediately stood up and loudly explained for Qin Shuo:"

"Sir, I was present at the Xiao residence that day and can testify for Lieutenant Qin: that wood spirit was definitely raised by the Xiao family."

"We even dug up human bones and livestock that the Xiao family used to feed the spirit beneath the old locust tree in the Xiao family's backyard."

"In that case, it means Lieutenant Yang either neglected his duties or deliberately covered for the Xiao family, intentionally failing to notice the wood spirit, only to be exposed by Lieutenant Qin, right?"

"General Wang Liehu gave a half-smile."

"He knew very well that the existence of the wood spirit was already irrefutable evidence."

"To clear the Xiao family's name, the only way is to divert blame and frame another."

"And the natural scapegoat is none other than Qin Shuo, who was responsible for searching the Xiao residence that day."

"However, to make him confess and be executed, the first step is to sow discord between him and the other lieutenants who searched the Xiao residence that day, so they dare not speak up for him, leaving him isolated and helpless."

"Thus he can abuse his authority to call a deer a horse and forcibly convict anyone surnamed Qin."

"You…"

"Yang Si trembled with rage all over."

"He never imagined that the other side would even suspect him."

"General Wang, the wood spirit differs from ordinary mountain ghosts; it lacks the demonic stench and murderous aura, so it is normal for Lieutenant Yang not to detect it during a search."

"Moving Mountain General Chen Ao suppressed his anger and defended Yang Si."

"After all, Yang Si was his protégé; he naturally would not stand by and watch him be framed for no reason."

"If that's the case, how did Lieutenant Qin notice it?"

"Could his demon-hunting ability be superior to Lieutenant Yang's, who has hunted demons for over a decade?"

"General Wang Liehu pressed step by step, not letting go of any opportunity to turn the case around and convict Qin Shuo."