At the Night Watchmen’s Office, the one in charge of interrogations was Nangong Qianrou. This undead demon was extremely vicious, having personally created hundreds of inhumane torture methods and commissioned over a hundred new types of torture devices from craftsmen.
She greatly contributed to the interrogation techniques of the Great Feng Dynasty.
One of her devices was called the “Standing Torture.” A large iron weight would be hung around the prisoner’s neck. Over time, the prisoner’s neck would gradually swell and ache, becoming unbearable. Yet they were not allowed to rest and were forced to remain standing, making it excruciatingly painful. Most people would die from the endless agony within two days.
There was even a torture method similar to Xu Qi An’s liver-bursting cultivation technique. It was said to be inspired by the breakthrough to the Spirit Refining Realm. Xu Qi An could empathize with how painful this method was.
He had relied on meditation to endure the pain, but one could only imagine how unbearable it would be for ordinary people.
In Nangong Qianrou’s “Compendium of Torture Methods,” there were over a hundred such slow and agonizing techniques.
Although Jiang Lüzhong wasn’t an interrogation fanatic like Nangong Qianrou, who mastered 108 different positions, he was still well-versed in several cruel torture methods from exposure to her work.
Liang Youping silently locked eyes with Jiang Lüzhong. Both their gazes were as sharp as eagles’, but Liang Youping, lacking cultivation, quickly conceded.
He averted his gaze and chuckled self-mockingly, “It seems I have no choice.”
Governor Zhang and Jiang Lüzhong remained silent, staring at him expressionlessly. Now that they had him in their grasp, they could make even a stone talk.
Liang Youping glanced at Xu Qi An, patting his crippled leg, and said languidly, “I didn’t lie to you. This leg was indeed broken by someone, but the person who saved me wasn’t Zhou Min.”
“I was born in Yun Province. Since I can remember, I have known that Yun Province was plagued by bandits, and the common people suffered greatly. As a youth, my dream was to learn martial arts and become a chivalrous swordsman, specializing in killing mountain bandits.”
“But ‘the poor study while the rich practice martial arts.’ My impoverished family couldn’t afford to support my martial arts training, so I had to study instead. After failing the provincial exams twice, I gave up and joined the army.”
Xu Qi An inwardly sighed. The dream hadn’t even begun before reality crushed it. Fortunately, he had his Second Uncle feeding him hundreds of taels of silver each year; otherwise, he would have ended up studying like his Second Brother. No wonder his aunt disliked him; it was understandable.
With Xu Dalang’s aptitude, what future could he have in academics? He probably wouldn’t be much better than Xu Lingyin.
“One year, in Baidi City, I saw a young master bullying a commoner girl in the street. Enraged, I intervened, but I was outnumbered and his followers broke my leg. The young master, feeling his fun was spoiled, didn’t want to let me go. He ordered his men to take me out of the city and bury me alive. It was at this moment…”
“That great lord appeared. He ordered his guards to save me and arrest the young master, giving me justice.”
Xu Qi An and the others realized that this “great lord” must be the person Liang Youping was loyal to, and most likely the mastermind behind everything.
Liang Youping raised his head, meeting Governor Zhang’s gaze, and said word by word, “The Provincial Administration Commissioner of Yun Province, Song Changfu.”
The room fell silent.
Governor Zhang’s expression was rather strange, both surprised and unsurprised. After all, any official of the fourth rank or higher in Baidi City could potentially be the mastermind.
The governor was mentally prepared and didn’t react with great shock.
“It’s him…” Governor Zhang’s heart was still very heavy. Commander Yang Chuannan was already implicated and is now a Provincial Administration Commissioner as well.
The officialdom of Yun Province was truly rotten to the core.
“Who captured you?” Xu Qi An seized the opportunity to ask.
“I don’t know,” Liang Youping shook his head, his face showing confusion. “That day, not long after you left, I dismissed the prostitutes from the shop and locked up. Just after I walked out of Huangbo Street, I was knocked unconscious.”
“When I woke up, I found myself locked in a small dark room with a sack over my head, completely helpless… I ate, drank, and relieved myself all in that small dark room. Someone brought me food regularly. Later, I was taken to the escort agency and brought to you.”
“Didn’t you see what the person looked like?” Xu Qi An pressed.
Liang Youping shook his head.
Xu Qi An had a sudden realization. Liang Youping disappeared after they left, and three days later, the Witchcraft Cult people entered dreams to interrogate, probing whether Liang Youping had fallen into the Night Watchmen’s hands… During those three days, Provincial Administration Commissioner Song was accompanying Governor Zhang on an inspection tour, so he didn’t discover Liang Youping’s disappearance until they returned to Baidi City and found out his little brother had gone missing… It all adds up.
Governor Zhang tapped his fingers on the table. “Continue.”
“After that, I followed Provincial Administration Commissioner Song. At that time, he wasn’t yet the Provincial Administration Commissioner of a province…” Reminiscing, Liang Youping’s eyes showed nostalgia:
“As Song Changfu’s official position grew higher, I, a cripple, also rose through the ranks, becoming the current Sixth-rank Officer of the Revenue Department.”
“It was also under Song Changfu’s recommendation that I joined the Qi Party. But this identity was kept secret. Zhou Min was the Night Watchmen’s undercover agent, while I was the Qi Party’s mole.”
“The Qi Party’s supply of military resources to the mountain bandits had to go through the Revenue Department. Over the years, I’ve been working for Provincial Administration Commissioner Song, altering account books, embezzling military supplies…”
“Earlier, you kept saying your dream was to become a great hero and kill all the bandits. Now you’ve become a villain who aids evil,” Xu Qi An couldn’t help but mock.
Liang Youping had become the very type of person he used to hate the most.
Liang Youping chose to remain silent in response to Xu Qi An’s mockery.
Governor Zhang narrowed his eyes and asked, “What about Yang Chuannan? He’s also part of the Qi Party, so why did you frame him?”
Liang Youping shook his head, “I’m not clear about these matters. I only know that he wasn’t close to the Qi Party. Provincial Administration Commissioner Song once hinted that Yang Chuannan was just a pawn the Qi Party placed in the open, ready to be sacrificed at any time.”
A scapegoat… Xu Qi An inwardly defined Yang Chuannan’s role.
“If it weren’t for Zhou Min, the conspiracy in Yun Province would have continued,” Liang Youping shook his head and smiled wryly. “Perhaps this is what they mean by ‘heaven’s net is wide-meshed, but lets nothing through.’ Come to think of it, Zhou Min and I had a good relationship, often drinking together after work.”
“I just never expected he was the Night Watchmen’s undercover agent, while I was the Qi Party’s mole. As they say, you can never truly know what’s in another person’s heart.”
Liang Youping seemed to have opened up, spilling out everything he knew without Governor Zhang even needing to interrogate him.
“Zhou Min was a very clever person, extremely sensitive to numbers. When we realized he had discovered discrepancies in the account books, I approached him to win him over, promising great rewards…”
Jiang Lüzhong leaned back comfortably in his chair, “Did he refuse?”
“No,” Liang Youping said with a sneer. “He agreed immediately, willing to be corrupt with us. However, what he didn’t realize was that the so-called recruitment was just a façade, actually a test to see what he had discovered.”
“Zhou Min was also just buying time. He turned around and wrote a secret report revealing everything.”
This is how a truly intelligent undercover agent operates… In a TV drama, Zhou Min would refuse righteously and eloquently… Xu Qi An used this criticism to keep his mind active and couldn’t help saying:
“He must have already sensed that you were going to silence him.”
“Smart people naturally have the awareness of smart people. He could have escaped, though he wouldn’t have gotten far anyway,” Liang Youping raised his chin.
These words seemed to be referring to himself as well. He was also that smart person who sensed his fate, and since he couldn’t escape, he didn’t bother trying.
“After the matter was exposed, Provincial Administration Commissioner Song followed the predetermined plan and pushed Yang Chuannan out as a scapegoat. He secretly made arrangements while waiting for the Governor’s arrival.”
Hearing this, Governor Zhang questioned, “Then why did you personally stay at the dog meat shop at No. 15 Ding Street? There must have been incriminating evidence against Provincial Administration Commissioner Song in the account books, right?”
“Yes, there were several entries in the account books about military supplies being transferred from the Provincial Administration Commission to the Command. As for why I stayed at No. 15 Ding Street, those were the orders I received,” Liang Youping answered.
…This doesn’t make sense!
Xu Qi An frowned and looked at the three white-robed sorcerers, “Is what he’s saying credible?”
The three white-robed sorcerers shook their heads: “We can’t see through it. His fate is obscured, and the Destiny Viewing Technique can’t penetrate it.”
The Destiny Viewing Technique couldn’t penetrate… Xu Qi An was first surprised, then realized that someone had tampered with Liang Youping, concealing his fate.
Number Four mentioned that sorcerers had methods to counter witches. It was precisely this shielding that had protected Liang Youping from curses and divination.
“Ning Yan, do you have anything to say?” Despite Xu Qi An’s severely diminished intelligence, Governor Zhang still hoped to hear his opinion.
“Leaving Liang Youping at the dog meat shop was a mistake. I don’t think someone as cunning as Provincial Administration Commissioner Song would make such a basic error,” Xu Qi An spoke confidently:
“Of course, it could be a provocation. After all, if that mysterious expert hadn’t abducted Liang Youping midway, even if we knew something was wrong, we couldn’t have uncovered much.”
“In the end, we could only take Yang Chuannan back to the capital with concrete evidence to complete the mission.”
Whether it was a provocation or had other reasons couldn’t be determined yet unless they confronted Song Changfu directly.
As for that mysterious expert, Xu Qi An had a suspect in mind: the show-off Yang Qianhuan. First, he only knew one high-ranking sorcerer. Second, although there were independent sorcerers out there, the ability to conceal one’s fate and elude Jiang Lüzhong’s perception required a level of skill not common among ordinary independent practitioners.
It was like in his previous life, those who could enter the Chinese Academy of Sciences were definitely highly educated talents; it was impossible for self-taught wild scholars to exist.
As for why it was Yang Qianhuan, well, Xu Qi An only knew him.
Hmm, this guess still needed confirmation…
“It’s simple if you want to know the reason,” Governor Zhang sneered. “Issue orders immediately, mobilize everyone to arrest Provincial Administration Commissioner Song Changfu. Remember, speed is of the essence!”
It was the same approach used against Yang Chuannan, but it was effective. A surprise attack could catch the enemy off guard, leaving no time to react.
Soon after, the Tiger Warriors mobilized in full force. Governor Zhang only brought Jiang Lüzhong and a few Night Watchmen. The rest of the silver and bronze gongs remained at the post station to guard Yang Chuannan.
Xu Qi An also stayed at the post station, citing the need for rest and recovery.
He had just unleashed his ultimate skill outside the city, and his body was weakened, unsuitable for action.
…
Bang!
The main gate of the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s mansion was broken open. Jiang Lüzhong led the Tiger Warriors into the compound, subduing the resisting guards one by one.
Unexpectedly, Provincial Administration Commissioner Song didn’t appear like Yang Chuannan had. The Tiger Warriors found him in his bedroom; he was already dead.
Provincial Administration Commissioner Song lay on the ground with a dagger in his chest. Blood had spread across the floor, soaking his clothes and half of his face.
“Governor, he’s dead,” reported a Tiger Warrior respectfully after checking the body.
“Suicide out of fear of punishment?” Governor Zhang approached the corpse, his expression grave.
Song Changfu had died just like that?
He pondered for a moment, then ordered, “Send someone to the government office to summon an experienced coroner to examine the body.”
…
The coroner arrived quickly, accompanied by the Prefect of Yun Province. The Prefect looked terrified and uneasy. Upon seeing Provincial Administration Commissioner Song’s corpse in the bedroom, he collapsed onto the floor in shock.
“Governor, then-this…” The Prefect’s face was ashen, his lips trembling, unable to form a complete sentence.
“What are you panicking about?” Governor Zhang glanced at Song Changfu’s body, then had to lead the Prefect out of the bedroom to the study, where he explained the case’s twist.
So Provincial Administration Commissioner Song was the mastermind behind colluding with the Witchcraft Cult and supplying the mountain bandits with military resources?
The Prefect stared blankly, taking a long time to digest this earth-shattering news.
“This matter should be announced soon to prevent unrest among Yun Province’s officials,” Governor Zhang said.
One’s position determines one’s perspective. At this moment, Governor Zhang was thinking about how to appease the officials and maintain stability.
If Xu Qi An were here, he would first scrutinize the body and the case until there were no loose ends.
Just then, a Tiger Warrior came in to report, “Sir, the coroner has completed the examination.”
“Bring him in,” Governor Zhang ordered.
The coroner hurried in, head lowered.
“Report.”
“Yes!” The coroner began, “The deceased, Song Changfu, age 45, height six feet one inch. The head, hair, skin, and bones show no injuries. The limbs and torso have no injuries other than the chest wound. The oral cavity and throat show no unusual odor or color, ruling out death by poisoning. Upon examination, death was caused by the chest wound, which was self-inflicted.”
Governor Zhang nodded, “Preserve the body properly.” He then turned to the Prefect and said, “Gather all officials of the sixth rank and above in Baidi City at the Provincial Administration Commission office. I have something to say.”
After making these arrangements, Governor Zhang frowned, deep in thought for a long time. He then summoned a bronze gong and instructed:
“Return to the post station quickly and relay everything that happened here to Xu Qi An. Seek his opinion and report back to me. Oh, and include the coroner’s autopsy report.”
…
At the post station.
“What? Provincial Administration Commissioner Song is dead?!” Xu Qi An exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock upon hearing the news.
“The Governor wants to hear your opinion,” said the bronze gong who delivered the message, casually sitting on the table with his feet on the bench, holding a teacup. He took a sip and chatted, “That Song fellow was quite sensible. When he heard us breaking down the door, he knew he couldn’t escape and committed suicide out of fear of punishment. The Governor asked me to come back and ask what you think about this.”
“Watson, what do you think…” The famous line involuntarily popped into Xu Qi An’s mind.
He hadn’t expected Song Changfu to commit suicide out of fear of punishment. He had thought there would be a chance for Liang Youping to confront Song Changfu in court.
Xu Qi An was extremely mentally fatigued and had to think about things one by one:
Was it Governor Zhang’s “speed is of the essence” strategy that worked, making Song Changfu feel the situation was hopeless and choose to end his life?
But normally, shouldn’t one not give up until the last moment? This wasn’t like playing a game where you surrender at five minutes because you feel at a slight disadvantage… His death seemed a bit too impulsive. Hmm, it’s also possible that the Dream Witch, who had never appeared, silenced him.
No, that’s not right. The premise for the Dream Witch to silence him would be that the plot had been exposed… But how would he know that the matter had been revealed?
Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning struck his mind.
“There must be Song Changfu’s spies near the post station, constantly monitoring the situation here. It might even be that fourth-rank Dream Witch. When the escort from Fushun Escort Agency brought Liang Youping in, although he had a sack over his head, a cripple’s gait is very distinctive.”
“Song Changfu knew early on that Liang Youping had been captured…” Xu Qi An made this judgment in his heart, finally realizing what was amiss.
They had interrogated Liang Youping for over half an hour at the post station, after which the Governor led the team to storm into the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s mansion. Even with the Tiger Warriors’ swift pace, it would take at least forty minutes from the post station to the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s mansion. For such a long time, would Song Changfu just sit at home waiting to die?
But Song Changfu was indeed dead, the coroner had confirmed it… Holy shit!
“This is bad, we’ve fallen into a trap!” Xu Qi An blurted out.