Chapter 89: Cultivator Identity Exposed

Over a dozen Embroidered Uniform Guard officers charged into the rear courtyard, called out everyone from the mess hall and the dormitories, and then began searching each room one by one.

Hua Changxi stood with Manager Qin and the others, watching the guards ransack the rooms, tossing things around.

After searching for more than half an hour and finding nothing, the guards, with grim faces, walked over to Hua Changxi and the others and escorted them to the front courtyard.

In the front courtyard, all the female laborers from the Sixth Bureau stood against the wall, terrified. When Hua Changxi and the others arrived, they were shoved into the same line.

As they passed a ditch, Hua Changxi noticed a fluctuation of spiritual energy on the bank and her eyes flickered.

"Sir, we found nothing."

The guard who led the search in the rear courtyard approached a tall, middle-aged man, bowed, and reported the results of the search.

The middle-aged man swept a sharp gaze over Hua Changxi and the others, then paused. "Have them take out everything they have on them."

At his words, the guards immediately moved, urging the laborers to place all their belongings on the ground.

The female laborers of the Sixth Bureau had no choice but to obey.

"Ah, what are you doing?"

A female laborer screamed.

Everyone turned to look and saw a guard conducting a body search.

"Slap!"

The guard slapped her, knocking the female laborer to the ground.

Half of her face instantly swelled and reddened, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Trembling all over, she lay on the ground, afraid to make another sound.

Seeing her miserable state, the other female laborers could only clench their teeth in humiliation and dare not resist when it was their turn to be searched.

Watching this, Hua Changxi's face darkened. Just as another young female laborer was about to be searched, she stepped forward and grabbed the guard's hand.

"We are not criminals; we are only cooperating with your search. Please know when to stop."

Hua Changxi's intervention stunned all the guards.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard handled a case, even high-ranking court officials had to comply. How dare a mere laborer step forward to stop them? Had she grown a leopard's gall?

Hua Changxi turned to the middle-aged leader. "Sir, if you suspect that one of us has hidden something, you can simply find a woman to conduct the search. I imagine everyone here has mothers, wives, or daughters at home—why must you humiliate us like this?"

The middle-aged man, Yin Jianxiong, scrutinized Hua Changxi. Since becoming a Zhenfu, he had never encountered anyone daring enough to step forward and resist. Today he met one, and a young woman at that. He was unaccustomed to it.

He was curious—where did this little laborer get the nerve to defy the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Seeing that Yin Jianxiong remained silent, a guard eager to show off immediately barked at Hua Changxi: "You think you're some princess? What's the big deal about being searched? When the Embroidered Uniform Guard conducts an investigation, you have to take it!"

With that, he maliciously reached his hand toward Hua Changxi's chest.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi could no longer suppress the killing intent in her heart. She seized the guard's hand and twisted it.

"Crack—"

The sound of breaking bones rang out, followed by a scream like a pig being slaughtered, startling everyone.

Under the incredulous gaze of the other guards, Hua Changxi flung the guard aside, sending him flying several meters, then locked eyes with Yin Jianxiong.

"Sir, I have heard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's methods. But I am curious—without any restraint, aren’t you afraid that one day you’ll hit an iron plate?"

Hearing this threat-laden remark, Pang Shaoyu looked at Hua Changxi with admiration.

In all his life, this was the first time he had seen anyone dare to threaten his uncle-in-law to his face.

This young lady was something else!

Yin Jianxiong looked at his subordinate with the broken arm, then turned a more serious gaze on Hua Changxi. "I am also curious—aren't you afraid of being thrown into the imperial prison for offending the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Hua Changxi’s face was grim. "I have committed no crime. You have no right to arrest me."

Yin Jianxiong laughed heartily, as if he had heard a joke. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't need a reason to arrest someone."

Hua Changxi said coldly, "Is that so? On what grounds, then? Force? If that's all you rely on, you can't arrest me."

Yin Jianxiong narrowed his eyes. "I take it you're saying you're formidable. But even if you are, what can you do? The Embroidered Uniform Guard practices collective punishment."

At these words, Hua Changxi’s face turned completely dark. Killing intent surged within her heart, and she uttered, without a trace of warmth, "You have a family too."

If anyone else dared to threaten his family, Yin Jianxiong would have immediately drawn his sword, but at this moment, after directly feeling the killing intent emanating from Hua Changxi, he dared not speak.

Having spent years living on the edge of a blade, he was extremely sensitive to killing intent. He could quickly distinguish who he could fight and who he should avoid at all costs.

This little girl before him actually made him lack the courage to draw his sword.

This realization filled Yin Jianxiong with immense shock.

Just as Hua Changxi and Yin Jianxiong were locked in a silent standoff, hurried footsteps sounded outside the gate of the Sixth Bureau.

Before long, with Eunuch Jia leading, followed by Eunuch Lu and Manager Leng, more than ten people arrived in a grand procession.

"On the way here, I was wondering who could be making such a big fuss. So it's you, Vice Commissioner Yin."

Yin Jianxiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the arrival of Eunuch Jia and his entourage. He quickly averted his gaze from Hua Changxi and looked at Eunuch Jia.

"Elixir pills were lost on Second Street. Eunuch Jia knows about this, right?"

Eunuch Jia nodded: "I have heard of it."

Yin Jianxiong: "The trail of the thief disappears at the Chores Hall. That means either the thief is someone from the Chores Hall, or the elixir pills are hidden there."

"I am conducting a search by order. I never expected the Chores Hall to be so full of hidden talents that someone would dare to obstruct the Jinyiwei's investigation. Eunuch Jia, your subordinates are truly a talented bunch."

When Eunuch Jia entered, he saw Hua Changxi standing off against Yin Jianxiong.

He was not displeased by this. The tougher Hua Changxi acted, the more advantageous it was for him.

Seeing that Eunuch Jia did not respond and did not rebuke the female chores worker who had obstructed the Jinyiwei, Yin Jianxiong's eyes flickered.

Hua Changxi watched Eunuch Jia's reaction and became increasingly vigilant inside.

The more tolerance Eunuch Jia showed her, the greater his intentions were.

What exactly did he want to use her for?

Could it be that he knew she was a cultivator?

That shouldn't be the case.

Yin Jianxiong knew that Eunuch Jia had some background, so he couldn't overdo it. He stated the matter of needing to search the female chores workers of the Sixth Bureau.

Eunuch Jia immediately pointed at Manager Leng: "The Sixth Bureau is all women. It's indeed not appropriate to trouble the Jinyiwei. How about letting her conduct the search instead?"

"No need!"

Pang Shaoyu walked in leading a glossy black dog: "Sir, the neighboring courtyards have all been searched. Let Xiao Hei search this courtyard."

The black dogs raised by the Northern Brocade Guard were best at finding things. Manager Leng saw the black dog start sniffing around the courtyard, and anxiety flickered in her eyes.

Hua Changxi glanced at her, then quickly looked away, watching the black dog step by step approach the area where spiritual energy was leaking.

Pang Shaoyu had intended to pull the dog over to scare Hua Changxi, but the dog refused to go that way, much to his regret.

"Sir, found it!"

Yin Jianxiong saw the dog dig up a porcelain bottle from the edge of a ditch, and his face lit up with joy. He hurried over.

But Eunuch Jia's face instantly darkened.

"Why are there only three elixir pills?"

"The thief must have hidden them in separate places."

Yin Jianxiong looked at Eunuch Jia: "Eunuch Jia, the lost elixir pills were found in a courtyard under your jurisdiction. I'm afraid you'll need to see the Bureau Director. As for the female chores workers here, I will take them back to the Imperial Prison for interrogation."

Upon hearing that they would be taken to the Imperial Prison, many female chores workers' legs gave out and they slumped to the ground.

Eunuch Jia frowned deeply. Although he did not know what exactly the lost elixir pills were, the fact that the Bureau Director had ordered a lockdown, with the Medical Bureau now only allowing entry but no exit, told him that this was a serious matter.

"Commissioner Yin, it's not that I am unwilling to let you take these people away, but the higher-ups have ordered a batch of medicinal herbs to be cleaned. If you take them all away, there will be no one to clean these herbs."

As he spoke, he lowered his voice: "Those medicinal herbs are for use by the Heaven Division."

Yin Jianxiong's face darkened: "Eunuch Jia, are you trying to use the Heaven Division to pressure me?"

Eunuch Jia quickly smiled: "How would I dare? I am thinking for you, sir. If you arrest so many people, the Imperial Prison doesn't have that many cells to hold them, right?"

Yin Jianxiong snorted coldly: "That's none of your concern, Eunuch Jia." As he spoke, he waved his hand, ready to order the Jinyiwei to arrest the female chores workers.

The cruel tortures of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Imperial Prison were well known to many. The women laborers who had previously dared not resist, upon learning they were to be sent to the Imperial Prison, forgot their fear and cried out their innocence.

"We didn't steal the pills."

"Injustice!~"

Hua Changxi watched the Embroidered Uniform Guard forcibly arresting the women laborers, then glanced at Manager Leng, who was hiding behind Eunuch Lu, and spoke again: "I know who stole the pills."

At these words, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Hua Changxi looked at Manager Leng: "If you dare to do it, you must dare to face the consequences. There's no reason for innocent people to pay for the trouble you caused."

Everyone followed Hua Changxi's gaze and looked at Manager Leng.

Manager Leng stared at Hua Changxi with icy eyes, but on the surface she put on a pitiful look while hiding behind Eunuch Lu: "Hua Changxi, what have I ever done to offend you that you would frame me like this?"

Hua Changxi: "Even if you hid the pills outside the courtyard to give the Embroidered Uniform Guard no excuse to arrest anyone, I wouldn't have meddled and exposed you."

Manager Leng's expression froze. Seeing Eunuch Lu trembling nervously and trying to edge away from her, she dropped the act, shoved Eunuch Lu aside, and looked at Hua Changxi: "What makes you think I stole the pills?"

Hua Changxi: "You came to the Sixth Division today for no reason, but you rarely come here on normal days."

At these words, the women laborers of the Sixth Division chimed in agreement.

Manager Leng sneered: "Just because I came to the Sixth Division, I'm the one who stole the pills? If you're going to say that, then I could just as well say you're the thief!"

As she spoke, she smiled at Yin Jianxiong and the other Embroidered Uniform Guards.

"I think you all must have noticed that this woman laborer in front of you is no ordinary person. Someone who knows martial arts and is no less skilled in alchemy than the Nine Streets Pharmacists—why would she insist on staying in the Laborer Hall as a mere laborer?"

"Hua Changxi, dare you say you have no other purpose for staying in the Laborer Hall?"

"If we're talking about who in the entire Laborer Hall is hiding the most, isn't it you, Hua Changxi?"

Hua Changxi wasn't led astray by her question and said directly: "Actually, finding the person who stole the pills is very simple. The pills were separated, which means someone touched them. Anyone who touched the pills would definitely have the pill's fragrance on them."

Saying this, she looked at the black dog held by Pang Shaoyu.

"Your black dog is very good at finding things, isn't it? Let it sniff the pills, and it will naturally find the thief."

Hearing this, Manager Leng's expression changed, and she stared at Hua Changxi as if looking at a dead person.

The next moment, everyone watched in horror as the water in the ditch flew up, turning into countless sharp arrows, which then shot violently toward everyone.

At the same time, Manager Leng struck at Yin Jianxiong, trying to snatch the pills from his hand.

Seeing the water arrows coming, Hua Changxi quickly pulled several leafy medicinal herbs from a nearby cart. With a flick of her hand, all the leaves flew out, forming a hard shield that intercepted all the water arrows.

On the other side, Yin Jianxiong, a Grandmaster who had never been suppressed in battle for over a decade, was this time completely overwhelmed.

If Hua Changxi hadn't intercepted the water arrows and made Manager Leng hesitate for a moment, giving him a chance to escape, he might have ended up dead here today.

"It's you!"

Manager Leng stared at Hua Changxi in shock. When Hua Changxi didn't use spiritual power, no one could detect the spiritual energy fluctuations on her, but once she used it, she couldn't hide anymore.

Realizing that Hua Changxi was the mysterious cultivator she had been looking for, Manager Leng didn't waste another word. She abandoned the pills and fled by flying away.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi didn't give chase.

"What are you standing there for? Go after that thief!" Yin Jianxiong shouted urgently.

Hua Changxi looked at him calmly: "Capturing criminals is your responsibility."

Yin Jianxiong choked, was silent for a moment, then asked: "You and that thief are cultivators?"

As the Chief of the Northern Command Office, he was aware of cultivators, though he had never encountered them before. He hadn't expected to see two of them today.

Hua Changxi didn't respond. She signaled the women laborers with a glance for them to leave quickly, then looked at Eunuch Jia: "Eunuch, if there's nothing else, we'll take our leave."

Eunuch Jia smiled and nodded, making no move to stop them.

He was shocked that Hua Changxi was a cultivator, but then he remembered that her younger sister was the direct disciple of the Taixu Sect's Sect Leader, so it no longer seemed strange.

Yin Jianxiong didn't stop them either. When the women laborers had dispersed, he walked over to Eunuch Jia: "Eunuch Jia, what exactly is the background of that woman laborer?"

Eunuch Jia knew that if he didn't give an explanation, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would surely use the Manager Leng incident to make trouble for him. So he said quietly: "The Taixu Sect's Sect Leader has a direct disciple named Hua Changxin."

Having said that, Eunuch Jia said no more.

Yin Jianxiong didn't ask further. He didn't know who Hua Changxin was, but he knew the master of Taisu Palace.

Hua Changxi, who hadn't gone far, paused in his steps, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

Eunuch Jia was using him—and it was all because of Shiniang!

Taisu Palace...

Hua Changxi didn't know much about these sects, but judging from Eunuch Jia's demeanor, the imperial court seemed to value Taisu Palace quite highly.

Thinking of the elixir Shiniang had taken out to create a spirit vein for home, Hua Changxi curled his lips: "Looks like Shiniang is doing pretty well at Taisu Palace."

Returning to his residence, he saw Duruo looking at him with a complicated expression. Hua Changxi only nodded, then sat cross-legged on the bed, activated his cultivation technique, and sank his consciousness into his dantian.

Seeing that the black flame beneath his inner core seemed to have grown a bit larger, Hua Changxi fell into contemplation—was the black flame fueling his killing urge?

Hua Changxi reflected on today's events. His identity as a cultivator had been exposed—was that good or bad?

But if such a situation happened again, he seriously thought it over—he would still do the same.

What was the purpose of his cultivation? Wasn't it to be able to act freely and be himself? If he turned a blind eye to the oppression of the Brocade Guard, then what was the use of his cultivation?

Yet the growth of the black flame also jolted him awake—he had to control his killing urge and not be influenced by it.