Chapter 4: Isn

Night fell, the county constabulary jail.

Dampness and stench hung thick in the dim cell; faint torchlight from afar cast striped shadows through the bars, while a reeking chamber pot sat beside blackened straw, and cracks in the wall had become a haven for lice and cockroaches.

Seeing this familiar scene, Xie Jinhuan felt as if he'd come home.

But before, he'd stood outside the bars—this time, he was crouching inside.

"Brothers, this is a misunderstanding…"

"Shut up! Move and you're dead!"

Two jailers, as if facing a deadly threat, leveled their broken-qi crossbows at the cell; their arms ached from holding them for so long, yet they dared not lower their guard for an instant.

Xie Jinhuan's hands were bound behind his back; he sat quietly against the wall, staring at lice fighting.

Though he could snap these restraints with ease, he'd already injured an officer—if he resisted arrest or escaped now, he'd truly become a bandit, so he cooperated fully from start to finish.

Meiqiu wasn't bound, but since childhood she'd been well-behaved, and now sat quietly in the opposite corner; perhaps hunger had set in after half a day, she opened her mouth as if to swallow anything within reach.

"Don't eat!"

"Gur…"

"Don't speak!"

"Okay."

…

After such a standoff stretched on for who knew how long, movement finally came from outside the cell.

The two jailers turned to see Wei Shi Yang Dabiao striding over; they immediately lowered their broken-qi crossbows, relieved:

"My lord, this man keeps saying he knows you…"

"Keep them raised!"

Yang Dabiao had been stunned when he saw the scene in the alley at noon.

Even now, he dared not let his guard down—he ordered the jailers to maintain their threat and approached cautiously to inspect.

Xie Jinhuan feared a crossbow bolt might fly if he turned his head; he spoke calmly:

"Big Brother Yang, it's me—Xie Jinhuan. Two years ago, when my father was transferred to the southern frontier and passed through Danyang, you saw him off for seven or eight li…"

Yang Dabiao had once served in Jingcheng under County Constable Xie Wen, and knew Xie Jinhuan well.

He hadn't thrown Xie Jinhuan straight into the dungeon because he thought he resembled the son of an old friend—but men change drastically after eighteen years, and if the woman was injured, he couldn't bear the consequences; he'd had no time to verify during the day.

"Turn your face this way. Let me see."

Xie Jinhuan turned his head, offering a harmless smile:

"It's been years, Big Brother Yang—you've gotten much stronger. Those pecs? Pure aura."

Yang Dabiao instinctively puffed out his chest, studied him closely, confirmed it was indeed the son of an old friend—relieved, yet still puzzled:

"Jinhuan, where have you been these past few years?"

Xie Jinhuan didn't know where he'd gone—he'd inexplicably gained martial skills, couldn't explain his past, and risked misunderstandings, so he smiled and made it up:

"I went to study martial arts. Three years ago, when my father headed south, he met a reclusive master on the road who said I had extraordinary talent and took me up the mountain to train. I just returned recently."

Yang Dabiao scrutinized him through the bars, half-skeptical:

"Your martial arts—no ordinary teacher could've produced this. Which sect or school did you learn from?"

Xie Jinhuan bluffed offhand: "Fengling Valley. A hidden immortal lineage. You've probably never heard of it."

Yang Dabiao had never heard of it, but didn't press further; instead he asked:

"So you don't know what happened to your father?"

Xie Jinhuan had come here specifically to find out his father's fate; seeing Yang Dabiao's expression, his smile faded:

"What happened to my father?"

Yang Dabiao fell silent for a moment, then sighed softly:

"Three years ago, Xie Da was traveling to the southern frontier when he encountered a demon at Weizhou. All twenty-plus escorts died. I thought you'd perished too—glad you survived."

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan's heart lurched.

But he remembered encountering the demon.

The details: the convoy reached Weizhou's San Cha Gang; the escort guards panicked, shouting about a demon—he'd seen a shadow darting through the trees from the carriage window.

He sensed danger, mounted a horse, and tried to break through with his father; the demon pursued them from behind.

What came after was hazy.

According to his guess, the escort guards had indeed suffered casualties—but he'd escaped alive; his father couldn't have died at San Cha Gang.

Remember, he'd been the one riding, dragging his father—over fifty—on horseback to flee.

He couldn't possibly have thought his father a burden and kicked him off the horse to run alone, could he?

He could admit he was a lecher—but he'd never do something like that.

Xie Jinhuan turned around, ignoring the jailers' tense postures, and asked at the bars:

"Certain? Were any remains found?"

Yang Dabiao sighed: "Xie Da once saved me. I asked the lead investigator—the scene yielded only half-eaten flesh fragments, too charred to identify. After seven days of searching with no results, the case was closed as martyrdom."

"Who investigated this case?"

"Since the victim was an imperial official, the case was personally handled by Captain Duan Gang of the Crimson麟Guard—they found no irregularities."

The Crimson麟Guard were the Emperor's private bodyguards, structured roughly like the Eastern Depot or the Embroidered Uniform Guard; Duan Gang, as captain, commanded ten squadrons totaling over eleven hundred troops—not a minor figure even in Jingcheng.

For such a man to personally intervene, it was unlikely any oversight remained.

But Xie Jinhuan had been with his father that day—and now he was alive, yet the Crimson麟Guard hadn't found him. Wasn't that a glaring inconsistency?

This case closure was far too hasty…

Xie Jinhuan refused to believe his father was dead; he strained his hands—the ropes snapped instantly.

"I must return to Jingcheng to investigate this matter thoroughly."

The guard, who had just lowered his guard, trembled in fright at the sight and quickly raised his Qi-breaking crossbow.

Yang Dabiao was startled too, stepping back half a pace:

"Don't move! You cannot leave yet!"

"Brother Yang, you've recognized me, so why are you still detaining me? Today was truly a misunderstanding..."

Speaking here, Xie Jinhuan's broad frame shuddered as he asked in a low voice:

【66】 "The big brother I accidentally injured—could it be that he didn't survive?! I just lightly brushed against him..."

"The big brother I accidentally injured—don't tell me he didn't make it?! I just lightly brushed against him..."

You knocked a person and their armor unconscious; you call that a light brush?!

Yang Dabiao wanted to retort, but now was not the time for such things; his expression was solemn:

"He is not seriously injured. You cannot leave; it has nothing to do with that matter."

Xie Jinhuan, seeing it was not because he had accidentally injured an official's subordinate, could not help but feel puzzled:

"Then why?"

Yang Dabiao looked left and right, then leaned in to whisper:

"Recently, the Dan Yang demon bandits have frequently caused trouble, resulting in several deaths. The government office is investigating, and today in the Dongcang Ward, they discovered a large quantity of medicinal herbs, account books, and one of the murderers, confirming they were hired hands of the demon bandits. Unfortunately, we had just arrived when you silenced them all..."

"Eh, eh, eh?!"

Xie Jinhuan was stunned, quickly raising his hand:

"Brother Yang, I did not kill to silence them! I went to Dongcang Ward to find you, happened to encounter thieves, they tried to silence me, and I acted in self-defense. Didn't I leave you a survivor? Didn't you interrogate him?"

Yang Dabiao was busy saving Lord Linghu; where did he have the mind to deal with a few bandits? By the time he sent Linghu Qingmo to the clinic and rushed back to provide aid, Chen Yuan would have likely already drunk the Soup of Forgetfulness.

This matter clearly constituted negligence; Yang Dabiao appeared slightly embarrassed:

"The situation was chaotic at the time, and he didn't survive. I would certainly believe you, but the superiors..."

Xie Jinhuan was directly speechless, spreading his hands: "This matter truly has nothing to do with me; I only arrived at noon. The old boatman at the dock and the gatekeeper of the County Commandant's office can all testify..."

Yang Dabiao raised a hand: "I have already heard from the gatekeeper; I know it has nothing to do with you. However, last night, a sudden torrential rain fell deep within Mount Zihui. The elders of Mount Zihui, the Danwang Pavilion, and the Dan Yang Academy all detected a blood-qi that pierced the sky..."

"..."

This matter was obviously related to Xie Jinhuan, and significantly so.

Xie Jinhuan even knew that this sky-piercing blood-qi originated from the Demon-Suppressing Tomb where he had awakened; perhaps a red-robed female demon had escaped from within!

Xie Jinhuan did not even know why he had run into Mount Zihui; he certainly dared not speak the truth, so he immediately adopted a grave expression:

"There is such a matter?"

"Mm."

Yang Dabiao leaned on the railing, his thick eyebrows and large eyes filled with concern for the nation and its people:

"The blood-qi must be related to demons and evil. After the Wu Sect uprising, no demon in Great Qian has been capable of entering Rank 1, but this blood-qi that appeared, according to the inference of experts, may originate from a certain 'Supreme Grade Great Demon'."

"Supreme Grade?!"

"Yes. The Prince has issued an iron decree, sealing the key entry and exit routes of Danzhou. Until the truth is cleared, no one may leave the territory. Each county must conduct strict screenings; anyone suspicious must be killed rather than let go, to prevent demons from rising from the ashes and bringing disaster to the people of the world..."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan did not expect the situation to be so severe.

If it were an ordinary minor demon, the imperial court might not commit too many resources, but involving a Supreme Grade demon, the threat level is already equivalent to an enemy nation invading the border.

If the imperial court discovers he emerged from the Demon-Suppressing Tomb and cannot explain his past...

Wouldn't that be the end of him?

"Brother Yang, you don't think I am a demon, do you? If I were, could I have walked into a trap and sat here?"

Yang Dabiao patted his shoulder through the bars:

"I did not say you are a demon; it is just that you are indeed involved in this case today. Who knows if the demon bandits in Dongcang Ward have any connection to the demonic qi behind Mount Zihui?

"Now is a critical moment, and no survivor was left in Dongcang Ward. What if the superiors summon you for interrogation?

"Until this case is closed, you must cooperate with the investigation and cannot leave without authorization; otherwise, I may believe you, but the superiors may not."

Xie Jinhuan, seeing it was merely cooperation with an investigation, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to scan the cell:

"So I have to sit here for a while?"

Yang Dabiao had previously been in Jingcheng and received much care from Xie Jinhuan's father; otherwise, he would not have escorted him seven or eight li when he was transferred.

Now detaining the orphan of an old friend in a cell was clearly too unrighteous.

"Lord Xie treated me well, and I also know you came to find me today and happened to encounter bandits. I will vouch for you and let you out first, but you must guarantee to appear whenever summoned and absolutely do not run away. If the superiors ask for you and I cannot find you..."

Although Xie Jinhuan felt guilty, he was certain he had nothing to do with demons and would not run, so he immediately clasped his hands and said:

"Trouble you, Brother Yang. I guarantee I will appear whenever called."

Clank~

Moments later, Yang Dabiao opened the cell door, had the guard fetch weapons and hand them to Xie Jinhuan, but upon receiving the 'Zhenglun Sword', he examined it carefully again:

"This sword... how is it exactly the same as the demon-suppressing magic sword used by the Daoist Priests of Mount Zihui? Have you also learned Daoist arts in these past few years?"

Xie Jinhuan's heart tightened, but he spoke calmly:

"Brother Yang knows me; since childhood at home, I learned everything. I know a little of astronomy, geography, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; in recent years, I have also dabbled slightly in Daoist arts."

"Is that so?"

Yang Dabiao knew how high the threshold of the Daoist sect was and asked curiously:

"Perform a spell for me to see."

"..."

Xie Jinhuan took a light breath, gritted his teeth, raised his right hand, and gathered qi throughout his body.

Hoo-hoo~

A gentle breeze immediately arose within the prison, blowing away the straw on the ground.

Yang Dabiao felt the flow of qi surge like a stormy tide, as if he were holding back some god-slaying divine art; his expression shifted several times, and he instinctively stepped back half a pace.

But after holding it for a long while, only two "Da-da~" sounds were heard; a few faint blue-white arcs of lightning emerged from Xie Jinhuan's palm, flashed once and vanished, leaving no further movement.

"..."

The two jailers peeking from behind fell silent together.

Yang Dabiao waited for a long while, saw no follow-up, and couldn't help but scratch his head:

"Uh... that's it?"

"Mm."

Xie Jinhuan was a proper martial artist; even the ability to conjure small sparks of lightning benefited from the miscellaneous skills he had learned in past years, so he responded with grave seriousness:

"This is called 'Palm Thunder.' Cultivated to its utmost, its power is peerless, capable of shattering mountains and boiling seas. My current cultivation is still a bit shallow."

"Oh... this thing would be great for lighting my father's cigarette. Keep practicing; it will surely come in handy later."

Yang Dabiao patted his shoulder to show encouragement, then changed the subject:

"There are too many matters at the government office; I won't keep you company. Let's catch up properly when we're free. By the way, do you have a place to stay? My wife and children are too noisy, otherwise..."

"It's fine; I'll find a place to stay myself. Where does Brother Yang live? I'll stay nearby, making it convenient for summoning."

"Qingquan Alley, just nearby. Xiao Wang, you show him the way..."

After finishing his conversation, Xie Jinhuan was about to leave when he suddenly felt something was missing; he turned to look at the cell:

"Meiqiu?"

"Gu?"

Meiqiu had already fallen asleep; hearing the sound, she hopped out and landed on his shoulder.

"Heh~ It's been a few years; this little broken bird has gotten another rounder."

"Gu Ji!"

——

New author, new book; thank you, great ones, for your support or2!

(End of this chapter)