"I am Li Changqing, Chiliarch of the Heavenly Guard Demon Suppression Bureau." The burly man cupped his hands and broke into an awkward smile. "I have tracked the corpse transformation case here specifically. I ask that you all cooperate fully."
The Demon Suppression Bureau was a secret service directly accountable to the Emperor, specializing in the investigation of demons and evil cults.
So long as any official, soldier, or government organ became entangled with demons or evil cults, the Demon Suppression Bureau held jurisdiction over them. They could even arrest members of the imperial clan, conduct secret interrogations, and operate entirely free from interference by local authorities.
Furthermore, because countering demons and cults entailed surveilling the bureaucracy, the Demon Suppression Bureau had gradually become an organization that struck terror into court officials at the mere mention of its name—and, over time, a deadly blade wielded by the Emperor.
Any official targeted by them was almost guaranteed to lose a layer of skin, if not their life.
Plucking up his courage, Wu Wei said, "What does the corpse transformation case have to do with us? Even if you are from the Demon Suppression Bureau, you cannot frame people without cause."
Li Changqing sneered, his cold gaze radiating waves of murderous intent as it swept over everyone present. "In this demon soldier pay case in Qingyang County, a xiucai who led the unrest turned into a living corpse, clearly the handiwork of heretics from Shenxian Dao. The corpse transformation case and the demon soldier pay case have now been merged into one, falling squarely under my bureau's jurisdiction."
Hearing his words, Chu Qiguang had not expected the corpse transformation case to become entangled with the demon soldier pay unrest, going so far as to draw the Demon Suppression Bureau here.
The others present were equally astonished. Li Changqing continued, "From what I understand, you in the Wu family, the Hao family, and the Ding family are deeply involved in this demon soldier pay trouble brewing in Qingyang County. We cannot leave this unexamined. I have already ordered my men to arrest all ringleaders among the demon soldier pay troublemakers, and next we shall search your estates."
With that, he cupped his hands toward the direction of Shenjing. "By His Majesty's decree, I investigate demons, monsters, and ghosts, and tear down evil cults and illicit shrines. I hold the authority to search any official. I have always carried out my duties with utmost diligence, brooking not the slightest lapse. I ask you all to cooperate properly and not make things difficult for me."
As Li Changqing spoke, the qi and blood within him began to surge. A billowing wave of heat rolled off his frame like a roaring furnace standing before the crowd, leaving their mouths and throats parched, demonstrating an incomparably formidable power of qi and blood.
Chu Qiguang thought to himself, 'According to Qiao Zhi, this is the peak of the fifth realm—the pinnacle of qi and blood within the human body. This chiliarch alone could wipe us all out...'
Li Changqing waved his hand, and his soldiers fanned out, tearing into the search like wolves and tigers.
Confronted with Li Changqing's arrogance, the members of the three families seethed with silent fury, unable to do anything but wait for the search to conclude.
Before long, shouts, screams, and weeping echoed across the entire Hao manor, leaving Hao Wen both furious and fearful.
When the search was finally completed, the soldiers reported back to Li Changqing, carting out several wagonloads of ledgers, collected writings, and library books...
Li Changqing picked up a volume at random, leafed through it, and commanded, "Examine them all on the spot, volume by volume. Do not miss a single clue regarding demons or evil cults."
Fortunately, a powerful clan like the Hao family had taken precautions as a matter of course; no evidence of bribery, illicit deals, or tax evasion was kept on the premises.
The search dragged on from morning until late at night, yet still yielded no leads on monsters or evil cults. Only then did Li Changqing lead his troop away, an expression of dissatisfaction plastered across his face.
When Hao Wen and the others returned to the side parlor, Wu Wei smashed a teacup onto the floor with a sharp clatter and cursed, "A bunch of barbarians!"
Inside the hall, the faces of Wu Wei, Hao Wen, and the rest were grim.
After dismissing all the servants, Hao Wen asked in a panic, "What do we do now? How on earth did this demon soldier pay business get tangled up with Shenxian Dao?"
In the Great Han Dynasty, colluding with an evil cult was punishable by the confiscation of one's entire household; Hao Wen could not help but be terrified.
At Hao Wen's words, everyone's expressions darkened further. If they were framed for colluding with demons, they would lose a layer of skin if they survived at all.
Moreover, whose hands were clean? None of them could withstand the Demon Suppression Bureau digging into their affairs indefinitely.
Wu Wei sighed. "Those heretics from Shenxian Dao—why did they have to show up now of all times and get mixed into the demon soldier pay?"
Hao Yongtai suggested, "Why not slip some silver to that Demon Suppression Bureau chiliarch?"
"Of course we must bribe him," Wu Wei said. "The trouble is, they clearly harbor ill intentions. I fear he'll pocket the silver and still refuse to cooperate."
Steward Hao Fulai said resentfully, "Chu Qiguang, you brought this disaster upon us! If you hadn't stubbornly provoked things, how could the master have placed his trust in you and arranged people to stir up unrest over the demon soldier pay? Now Shenxian Dao heretics have slipped into the ranks, and they've even drawn the Demon Suppression Bureau to our doorstep! When the time comes, restitution of our lands is a minor matter, but disrupting the Grand Secretary's court strategy is a catastrophe!"
Hao Wen added with righteous indignation, "Well said. The estates in our hands are a small matter, but the real concern is Grand Secretary Wu's prestige being tarnished. The Grand Secretary's untarnished reputation concerns the greater good of the realm and the well-being of hundreds of millions of common folk. We cannot allow the Demon Suppression Bureau to keep investigating."
Wu Wei chimed in with solemn righteousness, "Worthy Brother speaks truly. Those barbarians from the Demon Suppression Bureau are accustomed to framing the loyal and undermining worthy officials. We must not let them interfere with my father's grand court policies."
Chu Qiguang listened, laughing inwardly. These two profligates spoke so high-mindedly, but when all was said and done, it was only about their estates and their silver, born of fear that the Demon Suppression Bureau would uncover their own dirty laundry. The foul mess beneath their seats... much of it was probably concealed from the Grand Secretary as well.
Hao Fulai looked at Hao Wen and Wu Wei, bowing with earnest entreaty. "Master! As matters stand, the only way forward is to have Chu Qiguang shoulder the entire blame alone! Let him go to the county yamen and confess to stirring up trouble unprovoked, fabricating grievances, threatening memorials to the throne, and terrorizing the populace..."
Beside him, Hao Wen sighed. Though he said nothing, he could not help blaming Chu Qiguang in his heart, and he was somewhat swayed by Hao Fulai's suggestion.
After all, people always preferred shifting blame onto others, and powerful clans like theirs were no exception. When masters erred, servants took the fall—it had always been customary.
Wu Wei nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we cannot allow the Demon Suppression Bureau to keep looking into the demon soldier pay."
Seeing Hao Fulai trying to ruin him, Chu Qiguang spoke up: "Gentlemen, matters have not reached the worst pass yet. The Demon Suppression Bureau was merely drawn here by Shenxian Dao. All we need to do is prove our innocence."
Hao Fulai cut him off. "Still quibbling? How will you prove our innocence? Master, I say we simply tie this miscreant up and drag him to the county yamen..."
Chu Qiguang, however, remarked faintly, "Steward Hao, is that house on Zishi Street comfortable to live in?"
Hearing this, panic flashed through Hao Fulai's eyes, and he blurted out, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Chu Qiguang replied flatly, "Have you forgotten the property you had your distant nephew accept on your behalf? The woman and silver inside that house—do those ring no bells either? Magistrate He's secretary gave them to you as a gift, after all. How could you possibly forget?"
At this, cold sweat broke out across Hao Fulai's forehead in sheets, and he felt completely consumed by sheer terror.
Chapter 79