Chapter 32: Demon God Crosses Realms

About fourteen hours later, Yun Ye finished his magical cultivation just as the final hour ended.

He reopened the chat group; new messages had piled up to 99+.

Yun Ye was surprised and browsed through the messages he’d missed, discovering most revolved around Su Haoming.

In short, since Su Haoming’s return, the Chang’an Black Tea case had made leapfrog progress.

First, the missing brides case: just as Su Wuming had predicted, the corpses of the missing brides were indeed buried at specific locations.

He casually pointed at a spot on the map, and the county office dug up eight corpses; the officers were awestruck, regarding him as a divine figure, and no longer resisted his orders as they once had.

At the same time, Lu Lingfeng’s investigation into the Ghost Market was exposed, causing many nobles who drank Chang’an Black Tea to grow dissatisfied.

Crown Prince Li Longji and the Princess of Chang’an were locked in fierce rivalry and did not wish to offend these nobles, so they blamed Lu Lingfeng, charging him with dereliction of duty for Yin Shiyang’s death and ordering him to remain at home in self-reflection.

Lu Lingfeng felt bitter but had no choice but to stay home, drowning his sorrows in wine.

Seizing this opportunity, Su Wuming visited again, probing Lu Lingfeng about the daughter of Vice Minister Pei Jian.

Pei Jian’s daughter, named Pei Xijun, was a talented painter who had fallen for General Xiao Bozhao and was betrothed to him; but recently, General Xiao died heroically in the Western Regions. When the news reached the capital, Miss Pei was heartbroken, sinking into perpetual gloom, her sorrow no secret in the capital—Su Wuming had long heard of it.

Yet when he visited the Pei household, he discovered to his shock that the portrait Miss Pei had painted of her beloved was not General Xiao Bozhao, but Lu Lingfeng, Captain of the Gold Guard.

Su Wuming realized a misunderstanding had occurred and tested Lu Lingfeng with a provocation.

Emboldened by wine and anger, Lu Lingfeng finally revealed the full truth.

He and Xiao Bozhao were cousins; when Xiao was appointed General of Bright Might and led troops to the Western Regions, Miss Pei decided to host a farewell banquet for her betrothed. But Xiao was drunk at a courtesan’s house and refused to leave, so he shamelessly begged his cousin Lu Lingfeng to go in his place.

Lu Lingfeng had always disliked his cousin and intended to expose him the moment they met, so Miss Pei could see his true nature.

But he unexpectedly fell in love with Miss Pei at first sight and, unwilling to see her heartbroken, went along with the deception.

Learning the truth, Su Wuming had a sudden idea and staged a midnight resurrection ruse to unravel the misunderstanding between them.

Lu Lingfeng finally learned that Miss Pei had also fallen for him at first sight, and Miss Pei finally understood that the man she had truly loved was not the dead General Xiao Bozhao, but Captain Lu Lingfeng of the Gold Guard.

Their romantic entanglement aside for now.

In any case, after this incident, the relationship between Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng improved.

Fortunately, Su Wuming persuaded the Chang'an constables to prepare for another expedition into the Ghost Market, but since he was a clean and honest official with meager salary, he couldn’t afford the lavish rewards he had promised, so he turned to the wealthy Lu Lingfeng.

Although Lu Lingfeng was currently confined to his residence, he did not wish to remain a passive bystander.

Under Su Wuming’s persuasion, he finally made his decision—since he could not openly mobilize the Jinwu Guard, he would take only three trusted aides and join Su Wuming and the Chang'an constables for another expedition into the Ghost Market!

Yun Ye scrolled to the bottom just as the second exploration of the Ghost Market was being live-streamed.

【Su Haoming: Here they come! My brother’s group has arrived!】

【Yun Ye: So you’re not beside Su Wuming?】

【Fan Xian: Oh?】

【Fan Xian: Old Yun finally showed up!】

【Fan Xian: How’s your cultivation progress?】

【Yun Ye: Still Qi Cultivation Level One, but my magical power has grown—I can now cast about four basic spells.】

【Su Haoming: Four?!】

【Su Haoming: You only stayed half a day longer and improved this much?】

【Lin Yu: Of course. I told you, this place is a celestial paradise.】

【Lin Yu: If little Ye hadn’t wasted so much time on spells, his progress would’ve been even greater.】

【Fan Xian: …】

【Fan Xian: What do I do? I’m already regretting it.】

【Lin Yu: @Fan Xian, no problem—feel free to change your mind anytime!】

【Yun Ye: Don’t talk about me—what’s going on with Old Su?】

【Su Haoming: What else? My brother’s leading a second expedition into the Ghost Market—he’s brought nineteen Chang’an officers and Lu Lingfeng with three Gold Guards, but refuses to let me come along.】

【Su Haoming: No choice—I’m following secretly to assist.】

【Yun Ye: Haven’t they noticed you?】

【Su Haoming: No, I used the Wind Film spell.】

【Yun Ye: I see.】

【Fan Xian: What do you mean, “I see”?】

【Yun Ye: Wind Film is a sustained spell. Once cast, it forms a millimeter-thin layer of wind over the body, weakening and blocking most physical attacks, lightening the body, and blurring one’s silhouette.】

【Su Haoming: The Ghost Market lies underground. I arrived early and used the dim surroundings to hide easily.】

【Fan Xian: … Is this really a basic spell?】

【Su Haoming: Yes and no.】

【Su Haoming: More accurately, it’s a growth-type spell. At my current level, it can only deflect attacks to a limited degree—if the opponent has Lu Lingfeng’s martial strength, breaking through the Wind Film is no problem.】

【Su Haoming: Enough about that—my cousin’s group is about to reach shore.】

Unlike the last time they explored the Ghost Market, this time Su Wuming had many men; using the hidden tunnel entrance would risk ambush, so they chose the water route, entering the Ghost Market via an underground river.

Seven or eight small boats silently docked at the shore, carrying Su Wuming and twenty-four others.

About thirty meters from shore, Su Haoming, enveloped in a hazy Wind Film, hid in the shadows of the cavern wall, silently watching his cousin’s every move.

According to Brother Lin, the mastermind behind the Chang’an Black Tea case is none other than the County Magistrate of Chang’an, Yuan Lai.

Besides Yin Shiyang, he commands numerous death-soldiers and assassins—including the infamous Four Ghosts of Youli, who once infiltrated the palace to assassinate the Emperor.

The Four Ghosts of Youli are extraordinary—they are among the very few surviving Youli clan members, each possessing invulnerable cultivation techniques.

During the Yonglong era, they joined forces to attempt the Emperor’s assassination. After failing, they fled into Chang’an County and were eventually captured alive after being surrounded by countless martial experts, then imprisoned in the Chang’an County jail.

At that time, Yuan Lai was already County Magistrate. Using his position, he corrupted the Four Ghosts and turned them into his enforcers.

From Brother Lin’s description, their invulnerable techniques are truly exceptional—truly impervious to blades and bullets.

In the original story, even when the Four Ghosts appeared in pairs, they were already formidable. If they all appear together, can I truly protect my cousin from them?

Su Haoming felt uncertain. After brief thought, he decided to add one more safeguard.

【Su Haoming: @Lin Yu, by the way, Brother Lin!】

【Su Haoming: After two days of lurking in the group, I’ve just saved up 100 points—would you… care to come take a look?】

(End of Chapter)