Chapter 426

Nightfall.

Chen Mu received another secret report sent by Tang Bin's men.

This time it was a smaller slip of paper, bearing only a few words.

"Investigation confirms: Yu has had no large unusual income recently. His contacts are mostly local merchants and regular patrons of brothels. However, half a month ago, he met secretly several times with a traveling merchant from 'Nanlin Prefecture,' 'Boss Jia.' The merchant has since left the city, whereabouts unknown. He has an ordinary face, with a black mole on his left ear. — Tang."

Nanlin Prefecture?

This "Boss Jia" is very likely the liaison between the Mo Sect and Yu Chengbang!

The black mole on the left ear — this detail is crucial.

Chen Mu burned the slip, his plan growing more refined.

……

The next day.

Within the Wu Long Prefecture's Martial Supervision Office, an unverified but vividly detailed rumor began to spread quietly.

It was said that during their loss assessment, the Juling Sect and the Mo Clan discovered that more than just the obvious heavenly treasures had gone missing — one extremely important item, a "token" or "key" tied to a major Mo Sect plan, was also lost.

This item may have been picked up by some obscure figure during the chaos, or it may have fallen into the hands of a Mo Sect mole.

High-level secret operatives have been dispatched from above, actively investigating in secret, focusing on screening all personnel who may have contacted the battlefield or related intelligence that day — especially internal staff.

This rumor, like a stone dropped into a still pond, produced only small ripples — yet it stirred unease in certain hearts.

Night descended once more.

Yu's residence, study.

Candlelight flickered, casting shadows over Yu Chengbang's slightly corpulent face, now dark and unsettled.

He held a wine cup in his hand, the liquid inside swaying, yet he did not drink.

The rumor he heard in the afternoon was a thorn lodged deep in his heart.

"Secret operatives," "secret investigation," "internal personnel," "token or key"…

Each word sent a chill through him.

Yu Chengbang had indeed colluded with the Mo Sect — more accurately, the Changsheng Sect.

At first, he had merely been blackmailed over his lustful habits, forced to provide trivial intelligence.

But one misstep led to another.

Under promises of great rewards — wealth, beauties, even assurances of helping him break through his primordial bottleneck and threats of death — he sank deeper and deeper: from revealing patrol schedules, to suppressing critical reports, to facilitating the Changsheng Sect's recent attack on the Mo Clan's caravan…

The filth on his hands could never be washed clean.

He had no idea what this so-called "token" or "key" even was.

But guilt made him paranoid — he constantly feared he had left behind some incriminating trace, or that something had gone wrong on the Changsheng Sect's side, implicating him.

"Boss Jia" had left; contact was severed.

Yu Chengbang now felt like a bird startled by the sound of a bowstring — every rustle made him restless and sleepless.

"No… I cannot sit here and wait to be caught."

Yu Chengbang downed the wine in one gulp, a flash of ruthlessness and panic crossing his eyes, "I must find out what they've uncovered! I must send word to them and ask what's going on!"

He thought of one person.

A distant cousin of his in the prefecture's execution chamber — perhaps he could glean some internal information.

Also, he needed to convey his current state of panic to the Changsheng Sect.

Though "Boss Jia" was gone, they must have other contact methods — just more dangerous…

As he wrestled with confusion, planning how to gather intelligence and send word, the study door was softly knocked.

"Master, an emissary from Lord Tang has come to summon you — urgent official business, asks you to go to the office immediately." The steward's voice came from outside.

Tang Bin?

Urgent official business?

At this hour?

Yu Chengbang's heart lurched; a dread premonition rose within him.

Had they already traced it back to him?

Or was it coincidence?

He forced calm, replied, "Understood."

He changed into his official robes and hurried toward the Martial Supervision Office, his heart heavy with unease.

Along the way, he constantly scanned his surroundings for ambushes or surveillance — but the night was deep, and all seemed normal.

Inside the office, lanterns burned brightly, yet the halls felt strangely empty.

The night guard bowed respectfully upon seeing him, "Lord Yu, Lord Tang awaits you in the back hall."

Yu Chengbang nodded and stepped toward the back hall, his palms already damp with sweat.

Inside the back hall, only Tang Bin sat behind his desk, his Solemn Countenance fixed on a Juan Sect document.

Seeing Yu Chengbang enter, he looked up, his eyes holding a complex expression Yu Chengbang could not decipher.

"Lord Tang, why summon me at this hour? What urgent official business?"

Yu Chengbang bowed, forcing his voice to remain steady.

Tang Bin set down the Juan Sect document, gestured for him to sit, sighed, and said, "Lord Yu, I've just received a secret order from the provincial office regarding the purge of internal elements and the hunt for possible Mo Sect moles. This matter is of grave importance — superiors are pressing hard."

Yu Chengbang's heart clenched; his facial muscles twitched involuntarily as he forced a thin smile, "Yes… yes, the Mo Sect is rampant — a thorough purge is indeed necessary. How should we assist?"

Tang Bin gazed at him deeply, then slowly said, "The secret order indicates that the Juling Sect appears to have obtained some leads pointing to… someone who may have abused their position to facilitate the Mo Sect's attack on the Mo Clan's caravan."

Yu Chengbang's heart jolted; he held his composure and asked, "Lord Tang, are these leads reliable? Who do they point to?"

"The leads are still being verified."

Tang Bin said gravely, "However, to avoid suspicion and facilitate the investigation, superiors recommend that several colleagues under suspicion temporarily cooperate with the inquiry, surrender part of their authority, and refrain from leaving Wulong Fucheng during this period, remaining available for questioning at any time."

Saying this, he pulled out a list and handed it to Yu Chengbang. "Master Yu, you'll see your name is on here too."

Yu Chengbang took the list, his fingers trembling slightly.

On it were seven or eight names—all mid-level officers of the Zhenwu Bureau—his own name clearly listed, with the reason noted: "Responsible for part of the outer patrol arrangements; his jurisdiction must be verified for possible oversights."

Temporarily surrender authority?

Cooperate with the investigation?

Do not leave the city?

This was clearly the precursor to house arrest and interrogation!

Yu Chengbang felt a chill surge from his soles straight to the crown of his head, his mind buzzing.

He could already see countless pieces of evidence converging, an invisible net tightening around him.

"Master Tang… Master Tang, is… is there some misunderstanding? Your subordinate has always been diligent—how could I possibly collude with the Mo Sect?" Yu Chengbang's voice was dry as he tried to defend himself.

"Master Yu, no need to be nervous."

Tang Bin waved his hand. "It's merely routine investigation—just cooperate. The pure will prove themselves pure, the corrupt will reveal themselves corrupt. This is also to protect you, preventing gossip. Starting tomorrow, your duties will be temporarily assumed by Officer Wang. Remain within your residence for a few days, awaiting summons."

"…"

Yu Chengbang opened his mouth to speak further, but met Tang Bin's gaze—and recalled the terrifying rumor and the list before him.

He knew any defense now would sound hollow, even risk deepening suspicion.

"…Yes, Your subordinate obeys."

Yu Chengbang bowed his head, his voice strained, his heart a tangled mess.

Stepping out of the Zhenwu Bureau's gate, the night wind struck him—he shuddered violently, realizing his back was soaked in cold sweat.

"No… I cannot just wait to be caught! They must have gathered something! Surrender authority? House arrest? Next comes arrest and interrogation!"

Fear, like a venomous snake, gnawed at Yu Chengbang's heart.

"I must flee! I must get word out! Have them find a way to save me—or else, do away with all restraint!"

A mad thought took root in his mind.