Chapter 58: The County Magistrate

"Have you all heard about the disappearance of the County Magistrate's beloved daughter?"

Qin Ruobing looked around and spoke calmly.

The crowd below the platform nodded repeatedly.

They all knew that a mission was about to be assigned.

Sure enough, Qin Ruobing spoke again in a low tone: "We have discussed it and agreed to join forces with the County Government Office to investigate this matter. Each Deputy Hall Master will select two individuals to assist the County Government Office."

As she spoke, she pointed at Yue Shulan, then pointed again at Lu Zhangsheng.

Lu Zhangsheng froze in surprise—he hadn't expected to be chosen.

But investigating this matter wouldn't hurt.

Soon, the other two Deputy Hall Masters also selected their personnel.

Including Lu Zhangsheng's pair, there were four men and two women total, sent to investigate.

The group prepared to set out immediately.

After the meeting disbanded, Lu Zhangsheng and the others quickly walked toward the outskirts of town.

…………

Outside Baiyun Temple.

Large numbers of armored soldiers had surrounded the entire temple, and countless monks were being seized and dragged to prison carts.

The monks all wore expressions of deep sorrow; the entire scene was shrouded in gloom.

When Lu Zhangsheng and the others arrived at the foot of the mountain, they were stopped by several black-clad armored guards.

"Do you have entry and exit credentials?"

A heavily armored man stared coldly.

Lu Zhangsheng immediately pulled out his token and handed it over.

The man's expression suddenly became much more respectful.

"Ah, so you are officers from the Demon Suppression Bureau. Please proceed."

He immediately ordered his men to step aside, clearing a path.

Lu Zhangsheng and the others walked toward the mountaintop.

Not long after, they arrived before a grand main hall.

They stepped inside.

Ahead stood a massive Buddha statue, the floor around it covered in prayer mats, the air thick with incense.

Clearly, this was the place where Du Ling had disappeared.

Lu Zhangsheng scanned the surroundings, deeply puzzled.

The area was completely enclosed, with numerous armored guards stationed outside—how could she have vanished?

Even Yue Shulan and the others looked confused.

"Could there be a spy within the Xuanjia Army?"

Yue Shulan spoke suddenly, her tone quiet.

"Impossible. This place isn't guarded by a single Xuanjia Guard."

Another woman spoke up immediately in rebuttal.

The others nodded slightly upon hearing this, clearly agreeing.

Even if someone in the Xuanjia Army had been bribed, it was impossible for all of them to be bought—walls have no ears, and no reports have surfaced of any Xuanjia Army defection.

"Let's search this place thoroughly. Perhaps we'll find something."

Yue Shulan spoke softly.

The group then began walking around, examining everything.

Lu Zhangsheng also carefully observed his surroundings.

He didn't believe a grown person could simply vanish—there must be something unusual here.

Half an hour later.

The group still found nothing.

Lu Zhangsheng happened to reach the front of the great Buddha statue and suddenly noticed that the altar's markings were unusual.

Had this Buddha statue been moved?

His heart instantly tightened.

He immediately walked to the side of the Buddha statue and pushed hard.

Yue Shulan and the others saw Lu Zhangsheng's action and stopped, their faces filled with confusion.

"Click-click-click…"

At that moment, the Buddha statue slowly shifted aside, revealing a pitch-black opening before them.

The group stared at Lu Zhangsheng in astonishment.

No one expected the usually quiet Lu Zhangsheng to be the first to uncover a clue.

The group hurried to the front of the Buddha statue.

Looking down, the opening was several meters deep.

Moreover, the base of the statue itself had a small notch, just large enough for a thin wooden stick to pass through.

The group now had their suspicions.

"Someone must have dug this tunnel in advance. When Du Ling came to burn incense, they blew in a sleeping smoke and moved her away…"

Yue Shulan's gaze was distant.

The others all nodded in agreement.

"Let's go down and take a look first." Lu Zhangsheng leapt down and walked slowly toward the front of the passage.

The passage was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to pass.

Yue Shulan and the others hurried behind Lu Zhangsheng.

The group followed the passage, exploring forward.

Only after half an hour did they reach another exit.

Lu Zhangsheng leapt out in one bound.

Around him lay a wasteland, everywhere thick with grass and forest.

Yue Shulan and the others followed one after another, leaping out.

After scanning the surroundings, their expressions turned grim.

"We are already beyond the boundaries of Baiyun Temple."

"Such a long passage—those people must have prepared for over a year. What a massive undertaking."

Yue Shulan's tone was chilling.

"We should report this matter directly."

The tall, thin man spoke in a low voice.

The trail had been found; their mission was essentially complete.

As for how to rescue her next—that was another matter entirely.

Then, Lu Zhangsheng and the others returned to Zhenyao Si Yamen and informed the three Deputy Hall Masters of the passage.

Very soon, the County Lord also learned of this news.

Inside the County Government Office Hall.

"Crack..."

Du Wentao suddenly smashed his teacup to the ground, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Investigate! Send out the top experts from the Xuanjia Army... I must get Ling'er back!"

He had gotten his daughter late in life; she was his only child, his precious jewel—and now she had vanished, cutting his heart like a knife.

"Go and ask Zhenyao Si to join forces in the rescue."

Then he pointed to the man before him, dressed as a Shiyé.

"Your servant obeys your order."

The middle-aged man bowed, then turned and walked away.

…………

In the following days, all official forces in the County City mobilized, launching a full-scale search for Du Ling's disappearance.

The energy unleashed was astonishing.

Within just a few days, they had preliminary leads.

After interrogating the temple monks, all signs pointed to the Wenxiang Sect.

Upon hearing the news, Du Wentao flew into a rage and immediately ordered the destruction of all Wenxiang Sect outposts around the County City, and the rescue of Du Ling.

This large-scale operation included Zhenyao Si as well.

…………

As the County City forces mobilized, in a dark space beneath the city outskirts:

"My Venerable Lord, the girl has been secured. What are your next orders?"

A black-clad man knelt on the ground, gazing up at the red-robed woman before him with deep reverence.

"Hide Du Ling in a secret outpost—do not let them find her easily. Move her to a random outpost after half a month. Remember: do not harm this girl..."

The red-robed woman's gaze was hollow, her voice icy to the extreme.

"Your servant obeys."

The black-clad man bowed.

He was deeply puzzled.

They had gone to great lengths to capture Du Ling—and now they were to return her to the County City forces.

He could guess the purpose of the first half-month: to exhaust the strength of the County Government Office and Zhenyao Si as much as possible.

But as for his Venerable Lord's intentions afterward—he did not understand, and dared not ask.

The secrets behind this plan had likely been prepared for decades; he would never dare disrupt his lord's scheme.

…………

The next day, morning.

Early that morning, Lu Zhangsheng went to Zhenyao Si for roll call.

When he arrived, the hall was already filled with many colleagues.

Almost all of them were present, except those on missions outside.

The three Deputy Hall Masters stood atop the High Platform, faces grim.

"Today's order: all full-fledged Zhenyao Envoys, each accompanied by four Apprentice Zhenyao Envoys, will cleanse the Wenxiang Sect outposts beyond the city..."

Qin Ruobing's face was frosty, her tone icy.

"We obey your command."

Below, the crowd nodded vigorously, their voices echoing loudly through the Main Hall.

(End of Chapter)