Chapter 97: End of the Search

"Constable Xing, are you sure you really don't want to conduct a search?"

Seeing Xing Yong wanting to leave, Li Heng spoke indifferently.

This... Xing Yong was slightly stunned, unable to figure out what kind of medicine Li Heng was selling in his gourd; it was the first time he had encountered such a request.

"If Constable Xing conducts routine searches on everyone else, but makes an exception for me, wouldn't that make me seem very special? So, I must trouble Constable Xing to put in a little effort."

Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Xing Yong's forehead.

Indeed, he hadn't thought of that point. Although he didn't believe Li Heng was a suspect, if his special treatment were known by others, there was no guarantee they wouldn't report it to those above, causing big trouble.

"Many thanks for the reminder. May I ask your name, brother?"

Xing Yong gave an awkward smile, feeling somewhat grateful.

He was often squeezed out at the County Government, and the few bailiffs beside him were not his trusted aides; there was no guarantee they wouldn't report him for dereliction of duty after returning, making his situation even more embarrassing.

At that time, it would not only implicate Li Heng but also implicate him.

"Li Heng. Constable Xing, please proceed."

Li Heng nodded slightly, signaling for them to please enter and search as they pleased.

Having received permission, Xing Yong and his men did not delay, searching the courtyard directly and even going into the rooms to take a look. Of course, this was just for show, and they didn't expect to find anything.

"Alright, we have finished investigating, there are no problems."

After just a few glances, Xing Yong patted his chest to guarantee it.

"We are continuing to check the next house. Goodbye, Brother Li."

Having said that, the group left directly.

Li Heng looked on, speechless. This was truly formalism; the objects in the courtyard and rooms weren't even moved, was it really just putting on a show for others to see?

However, observing Xing Yong's expression, it wasn't strange.

He reckoned he didn't want to search in the first place.

Bailiffs from the County Government coming to search the Demon Suppression Division? Had Old Master Meng not opposed it, or rather, had he opposed it, but to no avail? Li Heng smiled faintly; it seemed the aristocratic families were truly like a dog jumping over a wall in desperation.

They were likely using all sorts of connections to apply pressure.

Soon, the search of the Demon Suppression Division was completed.

Xing Yong directly assembled his team and fled the place quickly. He was now leading bailiffs to search the Demon Suppression Division, which was practically trampling the faces of these Demon Exorcists into the ground; he didn't know how many people he had offended.

Now that the mission was over, if he didn't run, was he waiting to be beaten to death?

Meng Lingyun watched these bailiffs leave with a gloomy expression.

He could see it now; that Wang Xuanji didn't want to find anything in his Demon Suppression Division at all, he just wanted to give him a hard time and warn him to behave himself and not challenge his authority.

Otherwise, this so-called search might come again a few more times.

And the intensity might even become increasingly strict.

At the gate of the County Government, the "Mirror of Brightness" hung high, reflecting the light of the First Heaven Great Sun, looking brilliant and shining as if it were a small Sun.

Xing Yong led the group of bailiffs back here, his heart involuntarily stunned. What was going on? Wasn't the mirror above covered by dust and smoke? Why was it so bright now?

Did that bastard Ren Hai run up there and wipe off the dust?

He shook his head; it was truly a rare occurrence. As the thought passed, he crossed the high threshold—which an ordinary person would likely trip over if they weren't paying attention—and arrived inside the main hall to report his mission.

"Reporting to the Magistrate, no suspects were found at the Demon Suppression Division."

He looked toward Ren Hai, who was on the high seat, looking very leisurely and playing with two glass balls in his right hand, and reported as such.

Although he was very annoyed with Ren Bapi, he was his superior after all, and an official one rank higher could crush a person; he could curse in his heart, but he dared not show dissatisfaction on the surface.

"Alright, I know. You all go back and rest."

Ren Hai didn't even blink an eye.

"Magistrate, we are finished just like that?" Xing Yong couldn't help but be stunned. Wasn't it said that this case was a major one? Why were they resting now? Was it necessary to be so perfunctory?

"Why, are you so concerned? I advise you not to meddle blindly, lest you bring disaster upon yourself and implicate me. Go back and guard the city gate well; the matters that follow are not for us to manage."

Ren Hai waved his hand impatiently, directly dismissing Xing Yong.

Xing Yong's face turned bitter.

Even if this matter was dangerous, he was actually willing to investigate it. Because compared to the boring task of guarding the city gate, this was much more interesting.

Demon Suppression Division.

Li Heng finally finished drinking his wine and eating his food, and his Martial Technique deduction and fusion were also nearing completion; it was time to do some real work. Just as he was preparing to put away the dishes, the figure of Meng Lingyun appeared quietly.

He was slightly surprised, "Old Master, why have you come?"

"Why, can I not come to see you?"

"You didn't come at the right time; I just finished eating. If you had come a little earlier, perhaps you could have begged for a cup of wine to drink."

Li Heng smiled faintly.

"Good for you, kid. Do you think I, an old man, look like someone who would sponge off a drink?" Meng Lingyun said irritably.

"It's not a question of what you look like, but whether you are or not."

Li Heng's words sounded very serious.

"You... sigh, forget it, I can't be bothered to bicker with you. That group of bailiffs didn't make things difficult for you just now, did they?" Meng Lingyun changed the subject.

"Not at all, they were quite orderly and polite."

"It seems that kid Xing Yong still understands some rules." Hearing this, Meng Lingyun nodded slightly, and the anger in his heart eased a little.

"So what exactly happened that there would be bailiffs from the County Government coming to our Demon Suppression Division to search? Given their status, it seems they don't have that authority."

Li, the culprit, asked while knowing the answer.

"It's nothing major, I just asked clearly. An aristocratic family member was assassinated on the street, and they couldn't find the murderer, so the family went crazy and searched everywhere."

Meng Lingyun waved his hand, unimpressed.

"Heh, in my opinion, it's better that they died. There is a saying: 'Carriage, boat, inn, porter, and tooth-broker, even if innocent, deserve to be killed.' The aristocratic families are the same kind of trash."

As he spoke, Meng Lingyun was filled with killing intent.

Li Heng listened, speechless; good heavens, it seemed the old man was truly enraged, speaking without even using his brain. Had he forgotten that their ultimate superior, the Great Li Emperor, was also from a noble family?

However, at this moment, he could not be bothered to undermine Meng Lingyun.

Having grown up in society, he had no particular reverence for imperial power.

"Even if that were the case, they wouldn't search the Demon Suppression Division, would they?" This was the point that puzzled Li Heng; when he killed that member of the Ye Family, he had covered up every trace.

The Great Sun True Fire had even incinerated the aura of their existence.

Meng Lingyun looked somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.

"This matter... actually, it's somewhat my fault." He wore a rare, bitter smile and told Li Heng exactly what had happened; in any case, it was not a confidential matter.

Li Heng suddenly realized; so that was it.

"It seems you aren't old yet, old man; you still know how to 'indulge in the wildness of youth'?" he teased, finally feeling at ease in his heart.

Just a moment ago, he had been speculating whether the noble families had used thunderous means, employing some method of Causality calculation, to find their way to the Demon Suppression Division.

Now it seemed he had been overthinking.

"You brat, starting to tease me again." Meng Lingyun laughed and scolded, but he immediately calmed down. "I was indeed a bit impulsive about this, but being impulsive isn't necessarily a bad thing. Because the helper I invited is arriving soon, and I don't fear that Wang Xuanji."

Li Heng nodded slightly.

Even if the helper Meng Lingyun mentioned didn't come, and the monk and Daoist didn't act, he still had ways to deal with that Wang Xuanji; with one thousand points of Source Power, he could bury him just by piling it on.

But if that happened, his previous plan would be ruined.

"Aren't you even a little curious about who that helper is?"

Meng Lingyun spoke, his tone suddenly changing.

"Why would I be curious? Given the look on your face earlier, old man, even a fool could guess." Li Heng curled his lips.

"Then what did you guess?"

"Then what do you think I guessed? Or rather, old man, why are you saying this to me and asking what I guessed? What is your true purpose in coming here?"

Li Heng smiled slightly.

Meng Lingyun's expression stiffened; this brat was truly clever. He couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a bit emotional. "Forget it, forget it, no need to be busy; I suppose you've already guessed. Actually, that helper is a woman."

Li Heng nodded; wasn't that stating the obvious?

"This helper is a woman, and she has a deep relationship with you, old man. For example..." He suddenly took over Meng Lingyun's words, wanting to state his guess directly.

This old man was strangely awkward; it was better to just expose it quickly.

But he was suddenly interrupted by Meng Lingyun reaching out a hand.

"Wait, don't speak, and don't guess."

"I came here just to ask you: among young people today, what gifts should one give and what should one say to ease a relationship!"

The old man blurted this out, speaking very quickly.

Li Heng realized; good heavens, he had come to him for relationship advice? He couldn't help but shake his head, not intending to expose him, and casually suggested a few things and gifts, just to dismiss the old man.

"Are these things and actions really useful?"

Meng Lingyun listened, stunned and hesitant. He deeply suspected that Li Heng was setting him up. If these things and actions didn't work, his old face would be completely disgraced.

Li Heng was not annoyed and explained the various reasons and merits to him.

This old man was already at such an age, yet he didn't know about such things? Even he, a single man, knew what to do! In his youth, how on earth did he manage to form such relationships with others?

After hearing Li Heng's advice, Meng Lingyun nodded, as if he had seen the gate to a new century, sighing in his heart that it was brilliant, truly brilliant.

"Many thanks, many thanks; if it succeeds later, I will give you a grand gift." Joy filled his face, as if he were experiencing a second spring, and then he hurried away, intending to prepare the gifts.

Li Heng watched Meng Lingyun leave, lost in thought.

He vaguely felt that this matter was not the primary reason Meng Lingyun had come here. However, it seemed that halfway through the conversation, the old man had decided not to bring up the most important matter after all.

Instead, he used this kind of problem as a cover?

He shook his head and couldn't help but chuckle.

Forget it, let it be.

If he didn't want to say it, then so be it; when the time was right, perhaps he would say it. In any case, he didn't care, even if it involved some heaven-sent opportunity.

With a movement of his mind, the Data Panel appeared once again.

At this moment, the progress of the Martial Technique fusion and deduction was nearly full, reaching ninety-nine percent; this was his true great opportunity!