Chapter 179

Buzheng Ward is located in the northeast corner of the former West Market.

There is the Qingming Canal to the southeast of the ward and the Yong'an Canal flowing from south to north to the west. It was once the stationing place for the Right Jin Wu Guard during the Tang Dynasty, and it was also inhabited by the Secretariat Chancellor and the Prince of Hejian.

Logically speaking, it should be a place favored by the city's wealthy.

However, very few people are willing to buy a residence here, all because the notorious Commandant's Office is located in this ward.

Suppressing and stabilizing the Jianghu is only one of the Commandant's Office's duties; patrolling on behalf of Heaven and monitoring all officials is their true focus.

There was a time when officials would turn pale at the mere mention of them.

Even after some court struggles, and with the current Emperor's extraordinary methods, the Commandant's Office dares not overstep its duties, but that bloody memory is buried deep in people's hearts and has never been erased.

Night falls, and the Shangyuan Festival lanterns remain.

Changancheng is too big. Even though a life was lost on Zhu Que Street, and even the leader of the famous Fire Bear Gang had his head twisted off, it was just one scene in the city, and the common people remained immersed in joy.

In a corner of the ward, high walls and large courtyards, lanterns dim.

Figures in black clothes walk back and forth constantly, eagles soaring and landing.

In the main hall, candlelight flickers, casting twisted shadows. The torture instruments around are of various shapes, emitting a ghostly glow in the dim light.

What a damn ghostly place!

Li Yan sniffed and cursed inwardly.

He could smell a faint, fishy stench permeating the air—the fishy smell of fear, tears, and blood intertwined.

A ghostly wind blew, and it seemed even the light and shadows wanted to flee this ominous place.

Slap!

In the hall, the gavel sounded with a boom, followed by a cold, stern voice, "Audacious Jianghu bandit, why don't you confess truthfully!"

The speaker was none other than the former Seal-Holding Battalion Commander, Guo Yuhuai.

As the saying goes, official status nourishes a person; many officials have an extraordinary bearing while in office, but once they fall from power, they immediately turn gray-haired and decrepit.

Guo Yuhuai was the same.

Just because Feng Feiyan escaped, although he couldn't be considered to have lost everything, he had been stripped of his seal-holding power. He no longer had that calm bearing; instead, his face was gloomy, and his features appeared somewhat ferocious.

Sitting beside him was a one-eyed man, who was none other than another Battalion Commander, Chang Xuan.

Hearing this, Chang Xuan frowned slightly and said indifferently, "The matter hasn't been clarified yet; isn't Battalion Commander Guo being a bit too arbitrary?"

On the night of the Shangyuan Festival, two people died on Zhu Que Street.

He didn't care about Xiong Baodong; he was just a thug in Changancheng, fawning over the powerful and walking between black and white. If needed, the Commandant's Office could make him disappear overnight...

Qiao Sanhu was even more irrelevant—a county lieutenant from a lower county who relied on someone behind him to bully the common people and harm the region. He was chopped into meat paste right before his eyes, and he couldn't even be bothered to look...

But the one who killed Qiao Sanhu used a firearm!

The Commandant's Office was stirred up because of this, and it was also his key target for investigation, so the entire Commandant's Office was like a hornet's nest that had been disturbed, instantly falling into chaos.

The person before him was related to his subordinate, Guan Wantche. He didn't care about Li Yan's life or death, but Guo Yuhuai's stance clearly aimed to solidify the case and then implicate him.

Hearing Chang Xuan's words, Guo Yuhuai's expression remained unchanged, and he said in a tone neither cold nor hot, "Battalion Commander Chang, this person is related to you; according to the rules, you should recuse yourself."

"So nervous, could it be you have a guilty conscience?"

Chang Xuan cast a cold glance, speaking without any courtesy, "Battalion Commander Guo, don't be too clever. Don't forget how you lost your seal-holding position!"

"Hmph!"

Guo Yuhuai snorted, but he also knew that with Chang Xuan watching, many things could only be done according to the rules. Looking at Li Yan, who stood with his hands behind his back and a calm expression below the hall, fire ignited in his heart:

"Audacious, a commoner seeing an official, why don't you kneel!"

Chang Xuan frowned but didn't speak.

According to the Great Xuan ritual system, this rule did exist, but many times, it wasn't that strict, and people would just bow and cup their hands as a greeting.

Guo Yuhuai knew Li Yan was a Jianghu person but still used official authority to suppress him; he was likely looking for an excuse to use the rod to kill his spirit.

It was both to teach Li Yan a lesson and to humiliate him.

Li Yan heard this, his expression didn't change, his heart didn't skip a beat, and he was even too lazy to cup his hands. He said indifferently, "Coincidentally, I am also an official. To make me kneel, you don't have the qualifications yet!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was stunned.

Guan Wantche and Feng Han were also there; they were the personal aides of the two Battalion Commanders. Tracking down the firearm perpetrator was something other Company Commanders would do.

Hearing Li Yan's words, Guan Wantche was expressionless, but he cursed inwardly. This kid didn't know what kind of place the Commandant's Office was, daring to spout nonsense; if things went wrong, he might even lose his life today.

Guo Yuhuai laughed, "An official?"

"I'd like to hear what kind of official you are. A Jianghu bandit daring to impersonate an imperial official—today I can beat you to death in this hall!"

Li Yan looked at everyone, unhooked his Goudie (official credential) from his waist, and blinked, "Do you recognize this?"

Seeing Li Yan so calm, Guo Yuhuai's heart skipped a beat. Could this person really be a secret agent sent by the Imperial Court?

He knew that the Imperial Court didn't rely entirely on their Commandant's Office; there were other secret offices whose names had never even been revealed.

But he had never seen that plaque before...

Thinking of this, Guo Yuhuai narrowed his eyes, and his tone became much milder, "This official doesn't recognize it. Please speak clearly, which office do you come from?"

"Who said only the Great Xuan Dynasty has officials?"

Li Yan revealed a trace of mockery at the corner of his mouth, "This is called a Goudie. I am running errands for the Yin Office. Have you heard of the Si Lianwan Office of the Heavenly Palace?"

Guo Yuhuai heard this, and blood rushed to his head, "Audacious, daring to mock this official! Someone, come..."

Before he could finish, Feng Han beside him seemed to think of something. His expression shifted, and he whispered something in Guo Yuhuai's ear.

Guo Yuhuai frowned upon hearing this and looked at Li Yan again.

"You are a living Yin messenger?"

"Exactly."

Li Yan nodded, standing straight.

He could have left in the chaos, but firstly, he didn't want to be like Feng Feiyan, having dirty water splashed on him, and secondly, he wanted to stir up the situation so Lu San could escape smoothly.

Coming to this Commandant's Office, he really wasn't afraid.

Imperial power? Official authority? This little display couldn't scare him. If he were really pushed to the limit, he would just release the Yin soldiers to slaughter his way out.

Kneeling to parents and teachers is fine,

But a dog official wanting him to kneel?

He'd rather kill and wander the Jianghu!

Seeing him like this, Guo Yuhuai was even angrier and sneered, "The affairs of the Yin Office are hard to judge in the dark. Who knows if you're just a Jianghu sorcerer pretending to be a god or ghost, causing trouble here!"

Li Yan laughed, "Human hearts can be deceived, but gods and ghosts are hard to fool. If you don't believe me, the Grand Void Gate can naturally help me verify it."

"Of course, if you still feel I must kneel, why not come with me to the Yin Office on Mount Luo Feng and ask the Great Emperor of the Northern Yin Fengdu himself—does this Yin Office errand-runner need to kneel to you, an official of the Yang world?"

"You..."

Guo Yuhuai was so angry he could barely speak.

Pfft!

Chang Xuan beside him was amused.

Guo Yuhuai gritted his teeth but didn't pursue the matter further.

To be honest, he was also feeling insecure in his heart. Human dynasties rise and fall, lasting at most a few hundred years, but the Yin Office has always been there.

If he really violated some taboo, this official robe really wouldn't be able to protect him.

Thinking of this, Guo Yuhuai began to question him normally.

"What is your relationship with that thief?"

"Which thief is the official talking about? Xiong Baodong? That man was full of evil, and it was a life-and-death duel with me; everyone at the scene can..."

"This official is talking about the person who used the firearm!"

"The official is joking. I was in a life-and-death duel; how could I have time to look around? I didn't see who used the firearm at all."

"What grudge do you have with Qiao Sanhu?"

"This... who is Qiao Sanhu?"

"He is the deceased!"

"Wasn't he Xiong Baodong's subordinate?"

"He was the County Lieutenant of Fengyang!" "Oh, I understand!"

"Speak quickly!"

"How could a County Lieutenant of Fengyang get mixed up with a Jianghu scoundrel of Chang'an? There must be something fishy. As far as I know, Xiong Baodong is backed by officials from the Regional Military Commissioner's Office; they must be helping him accumulate wealth!"

"Isn't the Commandant's Office specialized in investigating corrupt officials? The official should go arrest them quickly; it would be a great achievement!"

Bang!

Guo Yuhuai's eyes were gloomy, and he slammed the table fiercely, but he had nothing to say.

Li Yan's identity as a living Yin messenger made him somewhat wary. He had no place to vent his official authority, and he couldn't use his methods; it was truly frustrating.

And to go to the Regional Military Commissioner's Office to arrest people...

This kid was truly looking for trouble on purpose!

Seeing Guo Yuhuai's eyes burning with fire, Chang Xuan felt happy in his heart, but he still spoke sternly, "Li Li Shaoxia, we don't need to beat around the bush."

"Regarding the firearm, this official will not let it go easily. If you know anything, please tell the truth."

Chang Xuan spoke politely, and Li Yan naturally didn't quibble, nodding, "I am a commoner of the Jianghu; I really don't know about the affairs of the Imperial Court. If I hear any wind of it, I will definitely come to inform you."

!.

Hearing Li Yan's words, Chang Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He looked at him calmly for a while, then suddenly laughed, "Very well. Li Li Shaoxia, if you discover anything, please tell the truth. This official thanks you in advance."

"Official Chang is too polite."

"Someone, send Li Li Shaoxia away."

"Farewell."

Li Yan didn't waste words, directly cupped his hands, turned, and left.

After he left, the atmosphere in the hall became stifling.

"Report!"

A spy from the Commandant's Office entered the hall, knelt on one knee, and cupped his hands, "Reporting to the Battalion Commander, several groups of men were sent to investigate, but all have lost their tracks."

"Today is the Shangyuan Festival; the crowd is mixed, and there are many medicine-activated puppets. The smell of smoke is hard to distinguish, and the mountain-guarding spirit dogs couldn't track them either."

"Trash!"

Guo Yuhuai snorted coldly, stood up, and said, "Battalion Commander Chang, the loss of the firearm happened first, and now there's a firearm murder case on the Shangyuan Festival. The new Seal-Holding Battalion Commander will take office in a few days; you can explain it to him yourself!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left with Feng Han.

"Official!"

Guan Wantche saw this, his eyes burning with fire, but just as he was about to say something, he was stopped by Chang Xuan's wave.

Chang Xuan took a document from his bosom and said indifferently, "Guo Yuhuai is in a rush to claim credit and in a rush to distance himself, but he knows nothing about firearms. No need to pay attention to him."

"I have already sent people to investigate. The projectile that killed Qiao Sanhu used new-style gunpowder, but it was crudely made, and the power was insufficient. It wasn't a Divine Fire Gun, but the one Fire Ghost threw."

"It was chaotic at the time; someone must have been watching from the side, stole it, and used it to kill on this Shangyuan Festival."

"Qiao Sanhu caused harm to the region and offended many Jianghu people. Investigating along this line should yield results, but there's no need to waste manpower."

"Also, recall some of the people tracking Bai Ruoxu; keep some strength to deal with Chang'an."

"Official?"

Guan Wantche was stunned, finding it hard to believe.

Chang Xuan sighed slightly, shook his head, and whispered, "News came today that something big happened in the capital. Someone in the Ministry of Works was bewitched, and the formulas for the Divine Fire Gun and the new-style gunpowder have been leaked."

"The Emperor was furious. The Regional Military Commissioner Situ Bo was beaten to death in court, and the Regional Military Commissioner Wei also knelt outside the palace walls for an entire night."

"Compared to this, our loss of a gun isn't so conspicuous."

"What?!"

Guan Wantche heard this and found it simply unbelievable.

Chang Xuan sighed, stood up slowly, looked at the fireworks in the night sky outside the door, and sighed, "This official felt it was unbelievable when I first heard it, but later I figured it out. The Great Xuan Dynasty has been established for a hundred years; under the prosperity, there are already surging undercurrents. Who knows how many big fish are hidden."

"New-style firearms will definitely stir up the sediment. Who knows what kind of demons and monsters will pop up. Bai Ruoxu is not worth mentioning."

"Those are our true opportunities..."

"Young Brother Yan!"

Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan were waiting outside the Commandant's Office gate. Seeing Li Yan come out, they breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly stepped forward.

Before the two could ask, Li Yan smiled, "No worries, they just asked for some testimony. Hurry, Shopkeeper Wan should have arrived!"

As he spoke, his right hand made a gesture.

Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan understood immediately, didn't ask further, and followed Li Yan from Buzheng Ward toward the Chenghuangmiao.

Buzheng Ward and Guangde Ward, where the Chenghuangmiao is located, are only one ward apart. Li Yan didn't spend much time in the Commandant's Office, so when they arrived, the Dharma ritual hadn't ended yet.

They saw that outside the Chenghuangmiao, flagpoles had been erected, seemingly laid out according to the positions of the stars, and several high Dharma altars had been set up in the courtyard.

Old Daoists wearing gorgeous purple Dharma robes stood on the altars, waving Dharma swords and stepping on the "Gang" steps. The visible ash of yellow paper swirled into a whirlwind, rising two zhang high.

Seeing this, Li Yan was secretly shocked.

He could clearly smell that the entire Chenghuangmiao was shrouded in a rich scent of incense, like a famous mountain or great river, and there were dense flashes of divine energy intentions, as if gods were residing in the mountain.

That oppressive feeling made it difficult for him to breathe.

In this situation, Li Yan didn't dare use his Goudie to communicate with the gods, and even his sense of smell ability had been closed to avoid injury to his mind.

Outside the Chenghuangmiao, five teams had gathered, coming from Ezhou, Jinzhou, Xiangchu, Nanyue, and Shanzhou—because of the Fire Bear Gang's mischief, only Shopkeeper Wan's team remained.

At this moment, he was holding twelve Dharma flags, somewhat at a loss.

Twenty-four spots in total, and half of them were in his hands!

Seeing Li Yan appear, he breathed a sigh of relief, but just as he was about to say something, a row of old Daoists walked out of the Chenghuangmiao, flicking their whisks lightly:

"Offer the flags, sacrifice to the gods!"

At the order, all the team leaders carried the Dharma flags in their hands, walked forward quickly, placed them respectfully on wooden trays, and were carried into the Chenghuangmiao by several Law Enforcement Hall Daoists.

Li Yan frowned and hurriedly retreated.

He could feel that as the Dharma flags entered, the momentum of the Chenghuangmiao rose abruptly, and strands of cold, murderous intent fell from the sky.

Even with his abilities closed, it made his hair stand on end.

And inside the main hall of the Chenghuangmiao.

The demon-catchers all stood on the outside, their faces pale, eyes full of tension.

A bronze ancient coffin was placed in the main hall, surrounded by dense lotus lamps, all pasted with yellow talismans.

The coffin was even more wrapped in red ropes and paper talismans.

Bang bang bang!

The bronze ancient coffin kept making sounds, the paper talismans burned one by one, and the lotus lamps outside went out one by one.

A ghostly wind rose in the main hall, and the originally somewhat damp ground instantly became dry and spread outward.

Just then, the Dharma ritual was finally completed. Li Yan perceived strands of murderous power falling from the sky, and the bronze coffin no longer trembled.

All the Daoists breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, and looked at each other, their eyes full of lingering fear.

"Quick, set off overnight, transport it to Huashan!"

Outside the Chenghuangmiao, the common people saw the Dharma ritual end, all burned incense and prayed, their faces full of smiles, hoping for good weather for the crops in the coming year.

Shopkeeper Wan walked over with twelve tokens, took out ten of them, and smiled bitterly at Li Yan, "Young Brother Li, this thing is hot to the touch. I really can't hold onto it. How to deal with it, you decide..."

Li Yan didn't stand on ceremony, took the tokens, felt the strange gazes around him, and suddenly remembered someone, suddenly saying:

"Everyone, if you want tokens, go to Fengyi Ward and find the Night-Crying Lang!"

Southeast of the city, Tongji Ward.

In the dilapidated and dark street, the black-robed man looked at the fireworks in the night sky in the distance and turned to continue walking.

Behind him, dense swarms of rats followed......

(End of chapter)