Chapter 24: Pulling

Late night.

Xu Bingkun was summoned to the Huo residence by Huo Yu.

"How are you acting as a City Lord!" Just after walking in, Huo Yu angrily smashed a cup. "The person is right here in your Xiazhou, and he’s a cripple with limited mobility! As the City Lord, you haven't been able to find a cripple for a whole day. What are you doing for a living!"

Xu Bingkun was expressionless.

While he had secretly leaned toward the Huo family to be supported in this City Lord position, he also had his own little schemes. He wasn't some loyal subject; secretly raising demons was his own little plan.

Of course, with a fool like Huo Yu, he could easily borrow his influence to suppress the Demon Suppression Division, and even make Sheng Yuanyao a commander in name only, unable to do anything, let alone investigate his case. So he still had to flatter this fool.

He took a deep breath and put on a smile. "Sixth Young Master, our local government office runners have very low cultivation. The opponent is a powerhouse who can easily kill even a sixth-grade Wu Xiu. If they are determined to hide their tracks, the runners really don't have the ability. The local experts are mainly concentrated in the Demon Suppression Division, but we can't command the Demon Suppression Division..."

Huo Yu remembered Sheng Yuanyao’s attitude, fearing she was truly in collusion with Huo Shang, and felt even more annoyed. "A stupid woman who can't distinguish good from bad, does she really think that bastard can gain any influence? The Demon Suppression Division isn't for her alone to decide. Go call those deputy commanders; I have my own plans!"

Xu Bingkun revealed a trace of a smile. "Young Master is wise. Sheng Yuanyao is young and inexperienced, thinking she commands a town, and her heart is high. If she lets her know that no one listens to her, the gap will be large, and then she will naturally bow to the Young Master. Maybe she can even..."

Huo Yu was also somewhat expectant, nodding. "Go call them."

A group of Demon Suppression Division deputy commanders and even middle-level officials were summoned to the Huo residence for a secret meeting. At this time, Sheng Yuanyao didn't rely on these people at all. Taking advantage of everyone’s eyes being on the Huo residence and searching for Lu Xingzhou, she was just doing her own thing.

In the dead of night, Sheng Yuanyao quietly went to the Xiazhou prison alone.

She even abandoned the "find an excuse" plan she had originally intended. Sheng Yuanyao directly sacrificed a bell and shook it gently.

Those in this line of work always have some treasures. This soul-bewitching bell can make people briefly confused, originally for interrogation, but it was also very suitable for stealthy investigation.

Soon, the prison guards’ eyes became dazed. Sheng Yuanyao walked over swaggeringly, took the keys from the jailer’s waist, and went straight through the door.

If there was really something fishy here, the guards were likely all Xu Bingkun’s people. Any excuse would be met with alertness, so it was better to be direct.

Sure enough, after wandering around inside, Sheng Yuanyao noticed something wrong.

According to the files she had reviewed, there should be at least nearly thirty death row inmates here, but most of the cells along the way were empty. No matter how she counted, there were only a dozen or so; most were gone.

The death row inmates were handled privately...

Sheng Yuanyao’s face was as heavy as water. She took out a small mirror to detect in various cells, looking for recent traces of living people. Then she followed the traces and followed them all the way out.

This trick was useless against high-level powerhouses who could restrain their breath, but it was just right for checking half-dead death row inmates. The heat reaction of living people would be clearly revealed.

After leaving the death row prison and following for a while, not far ahead was... the City Lord’s Mansion.

Sheng Yuanyao took a deep breath, her expression extremely ugly. Sure enough, it was true. The death row inmates were really brought into the City Lord’s Mansion privately... There was no other explanation. Lu Xingzhou didn't lie. The City Lord was actually secretly raising demons and feeding them human flesh! What was he trying to do!

The situation was very troublesome now. Originally, the case pointing to the City Lord was already a very troublesome matter. Relying solely on the Xiazhou Demon Suppression Division couldn't flip the table; it had to be reported secretly, letting the superiors lead the siege. But to report such a thing, one couldn't rely solely on the current clues; more solid evidence was needed. How could this be investigated?

At this time of the Huo family’s arrival, Sheng Yuanyao found that she had no one to trust and no one to use!

Even if she reported it to the prefecture and let people come to investigate, she couldn't be sure if the person who received the news would sell her out.

Sheng Yuanyao did believe that the Huo family wouldn't dare to raise demons, but to go directly to tell Huo Yu, "Are your people raising demons?" This was also a huge scandal for the Huo family. To cover it up, they might even make her disappear.

Lu Xingzhou’s shadow flashed in her mind inadvertently... Sheng Yuanyao herself felt it was ridiculous. At this time, the only person she could trust was this perpetrator...

But he was in the center of the storm now. How could she bother him at this time? Besides, she didn't know where he was hiding now and couldn't contact him.

Right... investigating the death row inmates was also Dugu Qingli’s hint. She should be trustworthy and could be discussed.

Sheng Yuanyao didn't hesitate and flew toward the Shen Clan Trading Firm.

Unable to wait for the guards to report, Sheng Yuanyao jumped over the wall and entered. Just as she landed, she saw Dugu Qingli pushing Shen Tang’s wheelchair, standing quietly in front of her, watching her.

Sheng Yuanyao greeted her somewhat awkwardly. "Two, I have something urgent to find you."

Shen Tang smiled. "I thought you were here to find Lu Xingzhou. He’s not here."

Sheng Yuanyao exploded. "Why would I come to find Lu Xingzhou in the middle of the night!"

"How would we know..."

"I..." Sheng Yuanyao swallowed her anger. "Miss Dugu, the matter you reminded me to investigate last time has results."

Dugu Qingli was stunned for a moment.

She only remembered that Lu Xingzhou had always called her Miss Qingli, so she felt very strange and unaccustomed to the title "Miss Dugu."

"So there really are demons?"

"Hmm, in the City Lord’s Mansion."

"What does Commander Sheng mean by coming to me?"

Sheng Yuanyao explained the current situation slightly and added, "This kind of thing cannot be delayed. Every day it is delayed, the demon might grow stronger. By then, no one knows what kind of thing will be raised. But now I dare not trust others for the time being, and Lu Xingzhou is in the vortex..."

Shen Tang suddenly interrupted. "Are you sure it’s in the City Lord’s Mansion?"

"Hmm, eight or nine out of ten."

Shen Tang smiled slightly. "Lu Xingzhou is short of manpower. He will need a chaos in the city to involve official forces. Originally, I was still considering how to find an entry point to help him. Isn't this ready-made? Killing two birds with one stone."

Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a long time before realizing what she meant. "You... you don't want to go directly to the City Lord’s Mansion, do you?"

"Why not?" Shen Tang pushed her wheelchair straight out of the gate. "Xu Bingkun and his confidants are all at the Huo residence now. Isn't this the most suitable time? Hesitating, what can be accomplished?"

Dugu Qingli also pushed her without a word. Sheng Yuanyao was stunned for a long time, stomped her foot, and flew to follow.

Just as they arrived outside the City Lord’s Mansion, they heard a weak voice from the corner. "Why are you here?"

The three turned to look. A-Nuo was curled up in the shadow of the corner, holding a Burning Flame Talisman, staring at them blankly.

Shen Tang’s gaze fell on the talisman in her hand, her expression equally strange. "You wouldn't be here to set fire to the City Lord’s Mansion, would you?"

A-Nuo nodded blankly. "I’ll set a fire to make a mess and then go back to help Master."

"You go, I’ll take it from here." Shen Tang took the talisman from her hand, smiling with her eyes curved. "It seems we are in step with your master. Go back and tell him, there’s nothing to cut off."

Even Dugu Qingli said, "If we had joined forces earlier, Huo Yu’s strength wouldn't be enough for us to kill. Pretending."

A-Nuo was silent for a moment and sighed. "He didn't want to implicate you, not just for this battle. What is Huo Yu? Not even as good as a sweet potato. Sister, you underestimated our master and apprentice."

Shen Tang said, "Then what is it?"

"Master didn't want you to be remembered by the Huo family in the future. We can leave after this job, and no one will find us in the vast world. But you still have to establish yourself in Xiazhou and develop the sect. You can't run away from the temple, so Master had to leave you a recipe..."

Speaking of this, A-Nuo paused, raised her head, and a cute smile appeared on her round face. "Since sisters have already gotten involved, then we can only... let Huo Yu’s people, all not be able to go back."

…………

While Huo Yu was gathering people from the Demon Suppression Division for a secret meeting, planning how to search for Lu Xingzhou the next day, Lu Xingzhou sent Huo Yu another big gift.

"Young Master, Young Master!" A guard from the Huo residence stumbled into the hall. "Old Steward Huo has been sent back, just thrown outside the door."

Soon, two people followed behind, carrying the unconscious Old Steward Huo inside.

There were blood characters on the steward’s clothes, the handwriting very clear: "Sixth Young Master, just this?"

The officials in the hall looked at their noses and hearts, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

Huo Yu’s face turned purple, and he slapped the table and stood up. "Where are the people who sent him?"

"Only a black shadow sitting in a wheelchair went toward Mount Danxia..."

"Then what are you waiting for! All of you, chase! How far can he go in a wheelchair?" Huo Yu jumped angrily. "It just so happens that so many of you are here, seal the mountain for me, search!"

"Young Master, calm down." The guard behind finally said, "Our brothers can just go out and chase... We didn't dare to leave without authorization before, fearing it was a diversion. Now that so many people are here, it’s just right to protect the Young Master. We’ll be back soon."

These two fifth-grade guards were named Huo Lei and Huo Ting, guards trained by the Huo family since childhood. They had even seen Huo Shang back then.

Of course, they had also bullied him.

Huo Yu took a few deep breaths and nodded. "Also... I only sent Uncle Fu out before, I underestimated that bastard and harmed Uncle Fu. This time you both go together, I don't believe that cripple can still fly!"

Huo Lei and Huo Ting bowed and suddenly disappeared.

Following the direction of Mount Danxia, one could indeed feel the traces of spiritual energy explosion and escape along the way, and the strength was quite strong.

But after chasing for a long time, they had already reached the foot of Mount Danxia, and they still couldn't catch a shadow of anyone.

Huo Lei whispered to his brother, "I’m thinking, either Lu Xingzhou has accomplices, or his so-called wheelchair is fake, he’s not disabled at all, just pretending to be weak to lower others’ vigilance."

Huo Ting agreed with his brother’s judgment. "Yes, these two times kidnapping the steward and sending him back, coming and going without a trace, it’s impossible for a cripple to do it. And this style, I feel a bit familiar..."

Huo Lei felt a chill in his heart. "Does it feel a bit like the Yama Hall? At least this skill of hiding tracks is very similar."

"And it’s the strictly planned Yama Hall style from a few years ago, all kinds of pulling and diverting, letting the opponent reveal flaws and then killing with one blow by the strongest. In recent years, it seems the Yama Hall hasn't fought such a game..."

A cackling laugh suddenly came from mid-air. "It seems our Yama Hall has some reputation, the Huo family has even studied it specifically..."

The two brothers were horrified.