Chapter 89: Cultivator Identity Exposed

More than ten members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushed into the rear courtyard, summoned everyone from the dining hall and the dormitories, and then began searching the rooms one by one.

Hua Changxi stood together with Steward Qin and the others, watching the guards rummage through boxes and cabinets inside the rooms, smashing things in chaos.

After searching for over half an hour, the guards, having found nothing, approached Hua Changxi and the others with grim faces and escorted them to the front courtyard.

In the front courtyard, all the female laborers of the Sixth Bureau stood huddled against the wall in terror; when Hua Changxi and her group arrived, they too were shoved over to join the line.

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

"My lord, we found nothing."

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

The middle-aged man swept his sharp gaze over Hua Changxi and the others, then fell silent for a moment before saying, "Order them to take out everything they are carrying."

At these words, the guards immediately sprang into action, urgently demanding that the laborers 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 in fright.

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

"Slap!"

The guard slapped the woman, knocking her straight to the ground.

Half of the laborer's face instantly swelled red, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and she lay trembling on the ground, daring not to make another sound.

Seeing her miserable state, the other female laborers could only bite their lips in humiliation as they were searched, daring not to offer any resistance.

Witnessing this scene, Hua Changxi's face darkened immediately; just as another young female laborer was about to be searched, she stepped forward and grabbed the guard's wrist.

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

Hua Changxi's intervention left all the guards stunned.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard handled a case, even high court officials had to obey without question; how dare a mere laborer step out to obstruct them? Had she eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?

Hua Changxi looked at the middle-aged leader and said, "If my lord suspects that someone among us is hiding something, you could easily find a woman to conduct the search. Surely, everyone present has mothers, wives, or daughters at home; why must you humiliate us so?"

Yin Jianxiong examined Hua Changxi with a scrutinizing gaze; since becoming a Town Protector, he had never encountered anyone daring to stand up and resist while leading a case, yet today he had met one, and she was a young lady, which he found quite unfamiliar.

He was very curious: where did this little laborer get the audacity to resist the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

Seeing that Yin Jianxiong remained silent, a guard eager to show off immediately scolded Hua Changxi, "Do you think you are some precious golden branch and jade leaf? What is wrong with searching you? When the Embroidered Uniform Guard handles a case, you have no choice but to endure it."

Having spoken, he maliciously reached his hand toward Hua Changxi's chest.

Upon seeing this, Hua Changxi could no longer suppress the killing intent in her heart; she grabbed the guard's wrist and twisted.

"Crack!"

The sound of breaking bones rang out, followed immediately by a pig-slaughtering scream that made everyone's face turn pale with shock.

Under the incredulous gaze of the guards, Hua Changxi flung the man away, tossing him several meters, then stared directly at Yin Jianxiong.

"My lord, I have heard of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's style of handling cases, but I am curious: acting so recklessly, are you not afraid of one day kicking an iron plate?"

Hearing these threatening words, Pang Shaoyu looked at Hua Changxi with great admiration.

In all his life, this was the first time he had seen someone dare to threaten his uncle to his face.

This young lady was truly remarkable!

Yin Jianxiong looked at his subordinate with the broken arm, then turned to Hua Changxi with a more serious expression: "I am also very curious; after offending the Embroidered Uniform Guard, are you not afraid of being thrown into the Imperial Prison?"

Hua Changxi said with a grim face, "I have committed no crime; you have no right to arrest me."

Yin Jianxiong laughed loudly as if he had heard a joke: "When the Embroidered Uniform Guard wants to arrest someone, we need no reason."

Hua Changxi said coldly, "Is that so? On what basis do you act? Force? If it relies on that, you truly cannot arrest me."

Yin Jianxiong narrowed his eyes: "I understand now; you are saying you are very powerful, are you? But no matter how powerful you are, what of it? The Embroidered Uniform Guard operates on the principle of collective punishment."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi's face turned completely dark; surging killing intent erupted from her heart as she spoke a sentence devoid of any warmth: "You also have family."

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

Having spent years licking blood from the blade, he was extremely sensitive to killing intent; he could quickly distinguish between those he could fight and those he must avoid.

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 faced off in silence, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out from outside the gate of the Sixth Bureau's courtyard.

Moments later, leading the way was Eunuch Jia, followed by Eunuch Lu and Steward Leng, with more than ten people arriving in a grand procession.

"On my way here, I was wondering who could command such a large presence; it turns out to be Town Protector Yin."

At the arrival of Eunuch Jia and his group, Yin Jianxiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly shifting his gaze away from Hua Changxi to look at Eunuch Jia.

"Pills were stolen from Second Street; surely Eunuch Jia knows about this?"

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

Yin Jianxiong said, "The thief's tracks disappeared at the Laborers' Hall, which means the thief is either someone from the Laborers' Hall or has hidden the pills within it."

"I was ordered to conduct a search, yet I did not expect the Laborers' Hall to hide dragons and tigers; someone actually dared to obstruct the Embroidered Uniform Guard in their duties. Truly, Eunuch Jia's subordinates are a gathering of talents."

When Eunuch Jia entered, he saw Hua Changxi standing in confrontation with Yin Jianxiong.

Regarding this, he felt no displeasure whatsoever; the tougher Hua Changxi was, the more advantageous it would be for him.

Seeing that Eunuch Jia did not respond nor reprimand the female laborer who had obstructed the investigation, Yin Jianxiong's eyes flashed.

Watching Eunuch Jia's reaction, Hua Changxi grew increasingly vigilant in her heart.

The more tolerant Eunuch Jia was toward her, the greater his ulterior motives must be.

What exactly did he want to use her for?

Could it be that he knew she was a cultivator?

That should not be possible.

Yin Jianxiong knew Eunuch Jia still had some backing, so he did not press too hard, merely stating the need to search the female miscellaneous laborers of the Sixth Bureau for stolen items.

Eunuch Jia immediately pointed at Steward Leng: "The Sixth Bureau consists entirely of women; it is indeed improper to trouble the Embroidered Uniform Guard with this task. Would it not be better to let her perform the body search instead?"

"No need!"

Pang Shaoyu entered leading a sleek, glossy black dog: "My lord, the neighboring courtyards have already been searched; let Little Black search this courtyard."

The black dogs raised by the Northern Town Guard Office were best at finding things; seeing the black dog sniffing wildly around the courtyard, Steward Leng's eyes flashed with anxiety.

Hua Changxi glanced at her, then quickly averted her gaze, watching as the black dog approached step by step the spot where spiritual energy was dissipating.

Pang Shaoyu had intended to drag the black dog in front of Hua Changxi to frighten her, but unexpectedly, the dog refused to go that way, leaving him somewhat disappointed.

"My lord, found it!"

Seeing the black dog dig a porcelain bottle out from the ditch bank, Yin Jianxiong's face instantly lit up with joy, and he strode over quickly.

As for Eunuch Jia, his face instantly turned dark.

"Why are there only three pills?"

"The thief must have hidden them separately."

Yin Jianxiong looked at Eunuch Jia: "Eunuch Jia, the lost pills were found in the courtyard under your jurisdiction; I fear you will have to meet with the Director. As for the female miscellaneous laborers here, this official intends to take them back to the Imperial Prison for interrogation."

Upon hearing they would be taken to the Imperial Prison, several female miscellaneous laborers went weak in the knees and collapsed onto the ground.

Eunuch Jia frowned deeply; although he did not know what pills had been lost, the fact that the Director had ordered a lockdown, restricting entry but prohibiting exit from the Medical Bureau, told him the matter was grave.

"Official Yin, it is not that this humble one is unwilling to let you take these people away, but superiors have ordered a batch of medicinal herbs to be cleaned. If you arrest them all, there will be no one left to clean these herbs."

Speaking thus, he lowered his voice: "Those medicinal herbs are intended for use by the Celestial Division."

Yin Jianxiong's expression sank: "Is Eunuch Jia intending to use the Celestial Division to pressure this official?"

Eunuch Jia hastily laughed: "How would this humble one dare? This humble one is merely thinking on behalf of My Lord; arresting so many people, the Imperial Prison does not have enough cells to hold them all, does it?"

Yin Jianxiong snorted coldly: "That need not concern Eunuch Jia." Saying this, he waved his hand, ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest the female miscellaneous laborers.

Many had heard of the tortures within the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Imperial Prison; previously unresisting, the female miscellaneous laborers, knowing they were to be taken there, disregarded their fear and cried out their innocence loudly.

"We did not steal the pills."

"Injustice!"

Hua Changxi looked at the Embroidered Uniform Guard forcibly arresting the female miscellaneous laborers, then glanced at Steward Leng hiding behind Eunuch Lu, and spoke again: "I know who stole the pills."

Hearing this, the courtyard fell silent.

Hua Changxi looked at Steward Leng: "If you dare to do it, you must dare to own it; there is no reason for innocent people to pay the price for troubles you caused yourself."

Everyone followed Hua Changxi's gaze and looked toward Steward Leng.

Steward Leng looked at Hua Changxi with icy eyes, yet on her face wore a pitiful expression as she hid behind Eunuch Lu: "Hua Changxi, how exactly have I offended you that you would frame me like this?"

Hua Changxi said: "Even if you had hidden the pills outside the courtyard, giving the Embroidered Uniform Guard no excuse to arrest anyone, I would not have meddled in others' affairs to expose you."

Steward Leng paused, then seeing Eunuch Lu trembling and struggling to get away from her, she stopped pretending, shoved Eunuch Lu aside, and looked at Hua Changxi: "On what grounds do you claim I stole the pills?"

Hua Changxi replied: "You came to the Sixth Bureau today without cause; ordinarily, you rarely visit."

At these words, the female miscellaneous laborers of the Sixth Bureau echoed their agreement.

Steward Leng sneered: "Just because I visited the Sixth Bureau, I am the thief? If you argue that way, then I could just as well say you are the one who stole the pills."

Saying this, she smiled at Yin Jianxiong and the other Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"I presume you gentlemen have realized that this female miscellaneous laborer before you is no ordinary person. Someone skilled in martial arts and whose pill refining rivals the pharmacists of Jiujie—why would she remain in the Miscellaneous Labor Hall as a mere laborer?"

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

"Speaking of the entire Miscellaneous Labor Hall, who hides their depth the deepest? Is it not you, Hua Changxi?"

Hua Changxi was not led astray by her questions and stated directly: "Actually, finding the pill thief is very simple. The pills were separated, meaning the culprit touched them; having touched the pills, they must be stained with their fragrance."

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

"Is not your black dog excellent at finding things? Let it smell the pills, and it will naturally locate the thief."

Hearing this, Steward Leng's expression changed, looking at Hua Changxi as if gazing upon a corpse.

The next moment, everyone watched in horror as water from the ditch flew out, transforming into sharp arrows that shot fiercely toward everyone.

Simultaneously, Steward Leng attacked Yin Jianxiong, attempting to snatch the pills from his hand.

Seeing the water arrows coming, Hua Changxi quickly drew several lush, leafy medicinal herbs from a nearby cart; with a flick of her hand, all the leaves flew out, forming a shield as hard as iron, intercepting every water arrow.

On the other side, Yin Jianxiong, as a Grandmaster, had never been suppressed in combat for over ten years, yet this time, he was completely overwhelmed.

Had Hua Changxi not intercepted the water arrows, causing Steward Leng to hesitate for a moment, allowing him to escape, he might well have perished there today.

"It is you!"

Steward Leng looked at Hua Changxi in shock; when Hua Changxi did not utilize spiritual energy, others could not detect fluctuations on her person, but once she used spiritual power, she could no longer hide.

Realizing Hua Changxi was the mysterious cultivator she sought, Steward Leng said no more, abandoned the pills, and immediately leaped away to flee.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi did not pursue.

"Why are you still standing there? Hurry and chase that thief!" Yin Jianxiong shouted anxiously.

Hua Changxi looked at him indifferently: "Apprehending criminals is your responsibility."

Yin Jianxiong choked up, fell silent for a moment, then asked: "Are you and that thief cultivators?"

As the Town Guard of the Northern Town Guard Office, he knew of cultivators but had never encountered one; he had not expected to witness two with his own eyes today.

Hua Changxi did not respond; she gave a signal to the female miscellaneous laborers to leave quickly, then turned to Eunuch Jia: "Eunuch, if there is nothing else, we will take our leave."

Eunuch Jia smiled and nodded, offering no obstruction.

Regarding the fact that Hua Changxi was a cultivator, he was shocked, but recalling that her younger sister was a direct disciple of the Taosu Palace Sect Master, he found it not so strange after all.

Yin Jianxiong did not obstruct them either; after the female miscellaneous laborers dispersed, he walked over to Eunuch Jia: "Eunuch Jia, what exactly is that female laborer's background?"

Knowing that without an explanation the Embroidered Uniform Guard would certainly use the matter of Steward Leng to make things difficult for him, Eunuch Jia whispered: "The Sect Master of Taosu Palace has a direct disciple named Hua Changxin."

Having said only this sentence, Eunuch Jia spoke no further.

Yin Jianxiong asked no further questions; he did not know who Hua Changxi was, but he certainly knew the Sect Master of Taisu Palace.

Hua Changxi, who had not walked far, paused in her steps, surprise flickering across her face.

Eunuch Jia had manipulated her all because of Tenth Lady!

Taisu Palace...

Hua Changxi knew little about these sects, but judging by Eunuch Jia's demeanor, the imperial court clearly held Taisu Palace in high regard.

Recalling the pill Tenth Lady had produced to reshape her spiritual meridians for returning home, Hua Changxi curled the corner of her mouth: "It seems Tenth Lady is doing quite well within Taisu Palace."

Returning to her lodging and seeing Du Ruo looking at her with a complex expression, Hua Changxi merely nodded, then sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating her cultivation technique as her consciousness sank into her dantian.

Observing that the black flame beneath her inner elixir seemed to have grown slightly larger, Hua Changxi wore a thoughtful expression; was the black flame fueling her bloodlust?

Hua Changxi reflected on the day's events; now that her identity as a cultivator had been exposed, she wondered if this was good or bad.

Yet if faced with such a situation again, she thought seriously, she would still act the same way.

Was not the very purpose of her cultivation to follow her heart and be herself? If she turned a blind eye to the oppression of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, what use was her cultivation?

But the growth of the black flame jolted her awake; she must control her bloodlust and not allow herself to be swayed by it.