Chapter 424: Face-to-Face Probe!

Night deepened, and lanterns flickered to life.

At the entrance of the Wu Long Prefecture's Zhenwu Office, guards stood rigidly at attention.

Moments later, Tang Bin, clad in deep blue official robes, his face square and his aura steady, stepped out through the main gate.

He gave a few instructions to the guards at the entrance, then walked toward his residence, his steps carrying a trace of fatigue from finished duties.

Just as he turned a corner and entered a quieter alley, his steps suddenly halted.

The next instant, he whirled around, his sharp gaze piercing the shadows to his right, and barked out a command.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

From the shadows, a calm, unshaken voice replied, "Lord Tang, please come inside for a word."

As the words echoed, a stream of black-gold light glided out from the shadows—not as an attack, but drifting slowly toward Tang Bin.

Tang Bin's eyes narrowed; his internal Qi instantly surged outward, forming a soft yet resilient barrier before him, carefully enveloping the approaching object and drawing it to his sight.

It felt slightly heavy, cold to the touch.

Under the faint ambient light from the alley's mouth and the glow of distant lanterns, he made out what lay in his palm—

The Inspection Commissioner's Token!

Tang Bin's expression changed instantly.

He verified the token's authenticity and the unique forbidden aura embedded within—no deception.

Without hesitation, he drew a deep breath, waved his hand to signal the patrol team nearby—now alerted—to stand down, then vanished in a flash, stepping into the dark alley.

Deep within the alley, shadows were thick.

Only after focusing his vision did Tang Bin make out a man standing there—dressed in a plain blue robe, young and handsome of face, yet with an aura as deep as the ocean.

He did not approach immediately; instead, using Qi to levitate the token, he respectfully returned it to the man's hand, then clasped his fists and bowed deeply, "Tang Bin, head of Wu Long Prefecture's Zhenwu Office, pays his respects to the Inspection Commissioner! May I ask who you are…?"

Chen Mu reclaimed the token, his expression serene, and spoke two quiet words.

"Chen Mu."

"So you're Chen… what?!"

Tang Bin repeated it instinctively, then suddenly realized—his voice shot up in disbelief and shock.

"You… You're Lord Chen Mu?!"

He snapped his head up, eyes wide, straining to make out the unnaturally youthful face in the dim light.

His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest!

Chen Mu!

The prodigy who shook the Great Zhou Empire, ranked sixtieth on the Master List at nineteen!

The most legendary young Inspection Commissioner in the Zhenwu Office system!

And he… he was here—in Wu Long Prefecture?!

And he met me like this—in a dark alley at midnight?!

A chill rose from Tang Bin's feet, racing through his body, making him shiver violently.

Shock, fear, confusion, and a strange thrill churned within him.

Chen Mu activated his "Night Vision," while his spiritual sense spread like an invisible net, silently enveloping Tang Bin, sensing every subtle shift in his expression, muscle tension, breath rhythm, even blood flow and heartbeat frequency.

He was observing. Judging.

What was this Zhenwu Office chief's true reaction upon learning his identity?

Pure shock and reverence?

Or mixed with fear and guilt?

Was he connected to Yu Chengbang?

…

"Huh~"

Tang Bin snapped out of his shock, realizing his earlier lapse, and quickly steadied his mind, bowing again—this time with solemnity, even a touch of excitement.

"I had no idea Lord Chen had arrived in Wu Long Prefecture! Your humble servant failed to greet you properly—please forgive me!"

His tone carried the proper respect, but also an unmistakable trace of admiration and envy.

Sixtieth on the Master List at nineteen.

The youngest Inspection Commissioner—either title alone was enough to make any peer look up in awe.

And Chen Mu's reputation wasn't built on talent alone—it was forged in the Dragon's Nest Rankings, in Zhenwu Office missions, and in the recent events of Yuanlong Dao City.

Chen Mu's spiritual sense, like the finest probe, sensed every micro-response from Tang Bin.

His heartbeat, after its initial surge, quickly stabilized; blood flow was normal; his breath, though slightly stirred by excitement, showed no irregularity or stagnation.

His eyes clearly revealed shock, reverence, and admiration—but not a single flicker of evasion, fear, or guilt.

"It seems this Chief Tang has no connection to Yu Chengbang's collusion with the Mo Sect."

Chen Mu made his preliminary judgment.

He raised a hand in a silent gesture of dismissal, his voice still calm, "Chief Tang, no need for such formalities. I sought you out privately to ask one question."

"Ask, Lord! Your servant will answer without reservation!"

Tang Bin straightened instantly, his expression solemn, though his mind raced.

Chen Mu's secret midnight summons—this question must be of grave importance.

"How much do you know about Yu Chengbang?"

Chen Mu did not name it outright, but asked indirectly, his gaze steady on Tang Bin.

"Yu Chengbang?"

Tang Bin froze, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes.

He hadn't expected Chen Mu to suddenly ask about his deputy.

Had Yu Chengbang done something wrong, drawing the attention of this inspector?

His heart skipped a beat; he dared not delay, carefully recalled, and chose his words with caution: "My lord, Master Yu is a local, has served over ten years in the Wu Long Prefecture's Martial Guard Office, rising from a Iron Staff Guard to his current position as deputy chief. His cultivation is at the Peak of Primordial, and he is fairly diligent. But…"

He hesitated, as if weighing whether to speak.

Yet faced with Chen Mu's calm gaze, which seemed to pierce straight into his soul, he chose to report truthfully: "But Master Yu has a fondness for women; he has taken several concubines into his household, and rumors of his amorous escapades abroad have occasionally surfaced."

"For this, I have privately warned him to mind his reputation. Aside from this, his other conduct has been acceptable—he handles official duties competently and gets along reasonably well with his colleagues. My lord, is there something… about Yu Chengbang?"

Tang Bin probed cautiously.

A fondness for women might be trivial in an ordinary cultivator, but for a deputy chief of the Martial Guard Office, it indeed tarnishes official standing and invites gossip.

He feared Chen Mu had heard whispers and had come to investigate.

"Fondness for women, is it?"

Chen Mu repeated softly, his tone unreadable.

Tang Bin lowered his head, not daring to respond.

He could not gauge Chen Mu's stance, and his heart grew uneasy.

After all, Yu Chengbang was his deputy—if true trouble had arisen, he as the chief officer could not escape blame.

The alley's atmosphere grew slightly solemn because of this topic.

After a moment, Chen Mu's voice sounded again, calm and unrippled, each word clear as it reached Tang Bin's ears.

"I received a piece of information."

Tang Bin's heart tightened; he instinctively held his breath and looked up at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu's gaze, like two unsheathed swords, locked firmly onto Tang Bin's eyes, as if piercing straight into the depths of his soul.

"Yu Chengbang has conspired with the Mo Sect."

Boom!

Like a thunderclap exploding beside his ear.

Tang Bin shuddered violently, his pupils shrinking to needle-points, his face draining of color in an instant.

He even doubted whether he had misheard!