Chapter 277: The Purification Office

Hundreds of malevolent spirits crowded tightly around the Fortune Gambling Den.

Anyone else would have been terrified, scalp prickling at the sight.

But Xu Yuan drew the Dragon-Slaying Sword again and roared like spring thunder: "Scatter!"

The malevolent spirits scattered in a panic, vanishing in an instant.

The spirits within the city "followed the rules," yet still retained their bloodthirsty, frenzied nature.

Such a major incident at the Fortune Gambling Den drew nearly all the malevolent spirits from nearby wards.

They converged, lurking at the periphery, hoping to snatch a share!

If the Purification Office failed to handle it, they would storm into the Fortune Gambling Den.

But now the Purification Office's masters had won— one shout, and they fled in haste.

Yet this greatly disrupted Xu Yuan's "Sight of Fate," and he could no longer sense that feeling of being watched, nor trace its origin.

Xu Yuan scanned again, found nothing, and reluctantly descended, silently furious.

Yu Yunhang and his men were preparing cleanup measures.

Besides "Abdominal Fire," the Purification Office had other methods to handle such scenes.

For instance, using highly corrosive chemicals to completely dissolve the flesh and wash it clean with water.

Or first suppressing it with a blessed artifact, then burning it all tomorrow without restraint.

Xu Yuan left it to his subordinates and prepared to return to the Nancheng patrol station.

Halfway there, he changed his mind and turned toward Shanhe Office.

Xu Yuan walked slowly to the entrance of Shanhe Office, just as he saw a sealed golden light, radiating fiercely, crash down from over ten zhang high with a BOOM.

All chaos ended.

Moments later, several Captains hurried out, muttering curses: "Our Shanhe Office has had terrible luck these past days— we've run out of medicinal pills even in the office, and now we have to go buy more."

"Luckily that thing was locked in the water dungeon— otherwise we wouldn't have made it until the Master of Law returned!"

"When did our mighty Shanhe Office sink to such a state?!"

Xu Yuan's expression grew even more solemn.

He came here to confirm whether the gambler locked in the water dungeon had undergone a strange transformation.

The one at the Fortune Gambling Den may have undergone a strange transformation due to stimulation during gambling, ignoring today's taboo.

If this one in the water dungeon also underwent a strange transformation, it must be due to contamination from their tomb-robbing!

As Xu Yuan pondered this, Behind Miao Yu stepped out of the office and spotted him immediately, feeling a sense of "kindred spirit."

Just now at the Fortune Gambling Den, the two of us worked in perfect harmony to clear the malevolent spirit.

Now we're thinking the same thing again.

This fellow is clearly my lord's born "partner"!

Behind Miao Yu grabbed Xu Yuan's arm: "Let's find a place to discuss."

Xu Yuan said: "What's there to discuss? Are there others among those who stole the tomb?"

"There are two more…"

"Go catch them now!"

Behind Miao Yu looked embarrassed: "I don't know where they are."

"At least you know their names?"

"I do." Behind Miao Yu spoke quickly, listing the identities of the entire gang— they'd been interrogated yesterday, but Shanhe Office had yet to apprehend them.

Xu Yuan strode back: "Come with me—I'll order my men to search the entire city!"

Behind Miao Yu hurried after him.

Behind him remained only those two confidants.

Xu Yuan couldn't help but snap: "Your City Occupation Office is a bunch of incompetents!"

Behind Miao Yu actually nodded in deep agreement!

…

Shanhe Office's primary duties lie along the canal; they're unfamiliar with the city.

And the real veteran investigators… all died in Yujing Village.

The only one still somewhat capable, Wu Qingzhao, was also gone yesterday.

But Master Xu firmly believes: if your Shanhe Office can't get things done, look within yourselves for the reasons!

Don't try to dump every failure onto my lord!

Finding a few gambling addicts in the city is actually simple.

Di Youzhi, with one arm in a sling, led his men on a circuit around Guanglan Street and quickly learned the two men's addresses and their usual gambling dens.

Shanhe Office personnel weren't unaware of this method— it's just that these underworld factions are naturally slippery.

In the past, they had no "connections" with us; suddenly showing up to ask for information, even if you paid them, they might not tell you.

Underworld factions are naturally wary of officers— seven-tenths cautious from the start.

Officers can't fully trust them; they feel the same way.

Dealing with these gamblers is within the Purification Office's duties.

Though Xu Yuan was anxious about the strange theft case, he couldn't ignore these two gamblers.

Don't forget—the precedent of the Fortune Gambling Den is right before your eyes!

After obtaining the addresses, Xu Yuan and Behind Miao Yu each took one: "We split up!"

"Fine." Behind Miao Yu turned and left; Xu Yuan saw his two tiny followers behind him, shook his head, and called Mao Dabin: "Take your men and follow Master Miao."

"... Yes, my lord." Mao Dabin was deeply reluctant.

Miao Yu clasped his hands toward Xu Yuan and said, "Thank you!"

The one Xu Yuan was assigned was named "Rotten Eye Wan," who had suffered from an eye disease for over ten years; his eyelids had rotted away, yet he refused to spend money to treat it.

As soon as he got a bit of silver, he would go gamble a few rounds.

He lived in a shack at the base of the Nancheng city wall.

Xu Yuan, accompanied by Di Youzhi and a squad of brothers, arrived nearby and quickly split into two groups.

They moved to encircle the area along both sides of the city wall.

The two groups advanced rapidly; once they could see that dilapidated shack, their eyes slowly widened...

Strange maggots were slowly crawling out from inside the shack!

Each one was about the size of a loach.

Their bodies were milky white, with rows of bloody red blood vessels bursting beneath the skin.

They crawled out slowly from beneath the door curtain, and through the gaps in the bamboo poles and leaves.

Their numbers grew ever larger, and the speed at which they emerged increased steadily.

"Hold the line! Do not let these things escape!"

Xu Yuan barked the order, then drew Fu Chongjiu's long blade.

One could not use Fu Zhong Huo to face such a vast number of evil spirits; only the power of the Longzhu Waidan could be used.

Xu Yuan strode forward with the blade in hand—after just two steps, the shack exploded with a boom!

Beneath the shack, a massive, rotting eyeball swelled up!

Those maggots were rapidly burrowing out from the rot!

Xu Yuan let out a mighty roar and swung his long blade through the air!

Splash-splash-splash...

Countless raindrops surged outward toward the faces—Face-Soaking Rain.

Within the rainwater, the power of "Water" from the Longzhu Waidan was drawn forth.

Soon, the surroundings became a vast ocean.

Today's Prohibition: Near the River!

The evil spirits were utterly delighted in the water!

Those maggots swam and charged toward Xu Yuan all at once.

The head of each one split open like flower petals, revealing sharp, pointed teeth within!

The people of the Quhui Si retreated thirty zhang in panic, deeply worried for their my lord.

Xu Yuan felt the "Hundred No Prohibitions" fate pattern surge greatly!

This water had been drawn by himself from the Longzhu.

Although some cold, sinister power was stirring restlessly within the water, it was all suppressed.

Xu Yuan nodded inwardly; this official's prediction was correct.

Then he stepped forward once more and swung his blade down again—

Crack!

Lightning flashed, instantly making the water's surface so dazzling it could not be looked at directly.

Xu Yuan unleashed lightning four times in succession before sheathing his blade and retreating.

On the water's surface floated a thick layer of maggots!

All had been electrocuted to death.

Yet that massive, rotting eyeball still bobbed up and down in the water.

It could not swim, but this lightning was not yet enough to kill it.

Xu Yuan raised his blade and advanced once more, stepping across the water surface and closing in on the rotting eyeball, which was over a zhang in size—when suddenly his nose twitched, catching the scent of a woman's fragrance.

Xu Yuan frowned; this fragrance... was Xiang Yu Zhi!

(End of this chapter)