“You’re here quite early,” Prefect Zhang said with a smile as he left with Jiang Lü Zhong.

Xu Qi An didn’t follow them. Instead, he called for the three white-robed Diviners who disliked dining with martial artists and had been eating breakfast in their rooms.

“Young Master Xu has arrived,” the three white-robed Diviners hurriedly stood up and respectfully invited Xu Qi An to take a seat.

“I have something to ask you…” Xu Qi An considered for a moment, then said, “Besides you three, who else from our Bureau of Astronomy came to Yun Province?”

To increase their sense of connection, he deliberately said “Our Bureau of Astronomy.”

The three white-robed Diviners looked at each other in confusion: “There’s no one else, just us three.”

Xu Qi An’s face darkened. “You’re looking down on me, aren’t you?”

“…How could Young Master Xu say that? There are only the three of us,” the white-robed Diviners explained.

I wonder if using the Aura Observation technique on Diviners would work… fighting fire with fire… Xu Qi An nodded, “I see.”

He was just thinking aloud. The three juniors wouldn’t lie to him. Besides, the Diviners surely had ways to conceal their fates, after all, they were professionals.

“Officials are visiting Prefect Zhang now. You three keep watch from upstairs, observe the changes in their fates, then report back to me.”

After giving his instructions, Xu Qi An led the three white-robed Diviners to hide at the second-floor staircase corner.

…

In the main hall, Prefect Zhang received various officials from White Emperor City. All those of sufficient rank in the city had gathered here.

After such a commotion last night, anyone who wasn’t blind or deaf would have known about it. Not to mention these city officials who were closely watching the Prefect’s every move.

After some pleasantries, Minister Song, wearing a crimson official robe, got straight to the point: “This morning, I heard from the soldiers that the Prefect went directly to the Commander-in-Chief’s office last night and arrested General Yang?”

Minister Song, with his slightly high cheekbones and eyes that narrowed when he smiled, was now staring intently at Prefect Zhang without blinking.

The other officials were doing the same.

Prefect Zhang nodded and said in a deep voice, “Qi Party colluded with the Shaman Cult to supply military provisions. I have brought him back to the inn for interrogation.”

“This…” The officials’ expressions changed slightly.

Minister Song frowned and said in a low, earnest voice, “Prefect, caution, we must be cautious.”

After a pause, he leaned closer to Prefect Zhang and continued, “General Yang is the Commander-in-Chief. Do you have solid evidence, Prefect? Otherwise, it will be difficult to convince everyone.”

Even with a Prefect’s authority, to move against a dignified second-rank Commander-in-Chief, one needed irrefutable evidence. Without evidence, arresting someone would be taboo.

First, the Yun Province officialdom wouldn’t agree. Second, the garrisons under the Commander-in-Chief’s office wouldn’t agree.

The former was manageable, at most they’d just talk. The latter was a group of unruly soldiers.

Evidence would need to be presented; without an explanation, it would cause chaos. But Prefect Zhang wasn’t in a hurry to show the evidence. He smiled and said:

“Gentlemen, you’ve been officials in Yun Province for many years. What are your thoughts on Commander-in-Chief Yang Chuan Nan?”

Hearing this question, the officials had various expressions as they shared their views.

At the staircase corner, Xu Qi An said in a low voice, “Look, watch carefully.”

A moment later, he asked again, “Who’s lying? That shifty-eyed one on the left, I don’t think he’s trustworthy. The second one in the back row, he doesn’t look like a good person…”

After speaking, he noticed the three white-robed Diviners silently staring at him. Xu Qi An said glumly, “Why are you looking at me? Speak up.”

The white-robed Diviners mumbled, “Not a single one is telling the truth…”

Xu Qi An opened his mouth, unable to speak for a moment. It was too real, this was the officialdom!

The so-called “not a single truth” meant that what the officials were saying with their mouths was completely different from what they were thinking in their hearts.

But this doesn’t mean they were all “werewolves,” because there’s too much falseness in the officialdom. If someone speaks ten sentences and one of them is false, in the Bureau of Astronomy’s Aura Observation technique, that would be considered a lie.

The Aura Observation technique also has its limitations; it can’t be as precise as a water clock, measuring time down to the second.

Next, Prefect Zhang told the officials about the account books, but he didn’t openly show them.

…The officials exchanged subtle glances. How long had the Prefect’s team been in Yun Province? Less than half a month. Three of those days were spent inspecting outside.

Yet even so, in just a few short days, they had uncovered evidence of Yang Chuan Nan’s crimes.

For a moment, the officials felt a chill in their hearts. Three years as a clean magistrate, a hundred thousand taels of silver in bribes – who could say they had no problems at all?

If Prefect Zhang were to target them, not a single one in the room would escape.

An official swallowed and asked, “Prefect, you have quite a talented team. May I ask which official has rendered such meritorious service?”

As he spoke, he glanced at the nearby Constables.

The other officials discreetly scrutinized the Constables, all guessing.

Minister Song’s eyes flickered slightly as he smiled and said, “I recall that the Bronze Gong who is well-versed in agricultural matters did not accompany the Prefect on the inspection that day.”

This reminder alerted the others. The higher-ranking officials immediately began searching for Xu Qi An’s figure with purpose.

Some looked towards Prefect Zhang.

“Correct, it was indeed him!” Prefect Zhang nodded.

In fact, with the wisdom of the officials present, even without Prefect Zhang’s confirmation, they could mostly guess. There weren’t many Constables left at the inn, yet that particular Bronze Gong was there, low in rank but able to sit beside the Prefect.

Recalling the sword he wore, different from other Constables, and various other peculiarities, it wasn’t hard to guess that the Bronze Gong called Xu Qi An was highly skilled and an important figure in this Prefect’s team.

“Ahem!”

Xu Qi An appeared at the right moment, coughing once before silently standing behind Prefect Zhang.

We noticed his uniqueness at the time, but who would have thought that the mighty Commander-in-Chief would fall at the hands of a mere Bronze Gong…

Many officials’ eyes showed both wariness and awe.

…

On the second-floor corridor, Li Miao Zhen pressed her hands against the railing, looking down at the crowd below. She heard Su Su beside her pouting, “He’s just showing off.”

From their angle, they could see Xu Qi An and the white-robed Diviners hiding.

Earlier, when Minister Song subtly pointed out the credit for solving the case and Prefect Zhang acknowledged it, that annoying man hurriedly tidied himself up and made a grand entrance.

Su Su just didn’t know the term “showing off,” otherwise she would have accurately grasped the adjective.

“Men all love fame, it’s human nature,” Li Miao Zhen was gradually changing her opinion of Xu Qi An, feeling that apart from being lecherous, he was impeccable in all aspects. He was upright, spoke well, was skilled at solving cases, and was highly capable.

“You seem to have quite a grudge against him, but it’s not real hatred,” Li Miao Zhen glanced sideways at the ghost girl, frowning as she said:

“You used to be very disdainful of men, but now it feels like you’ve become frenemies with him.”

Su Su didn’t admit it, hurriedly defending herself: “I’m just angry! But Master, you seem to have quite a good impression of him.”

Li Miao Zhen frankly admitted: “Xu Qi An is indeed not bad as a person.”

Su Su then said: “He promised me last night that he’d help me reconstruct a physical body, but he set one condition.”

“What condition?”

“To be his concubine for a few years.”

“…Xu Qi An is indeed vicious and beyond redemption.”

After the discussion ended, the officials accompanied Prefect Zhang to the Commander-in-Chief’s office. They were going to check the accounts and verify the authenticity of the account books.

Xu Qi An was a layman when it came to auditing accounts, so he didn’t go along to join the excitement. He was assigned to stay at the inn with the other Constables to guard Yang Chuan Nan.

After everyone had left, Xu Qi An stood in the main hall, looking up at the two beauties on the second floor, and smiled:

“When are you two leaving? You’re not planning to take advantage of Constable Jiang’s absence to rescue Yang Chuan Nan, are you?”

Su Su let out a coquettish snort: “Master is the Holy Maiden of the Celestial Sect, she’s the Flying Swallow Heroine, she keeps her word above all else.”

Xu Qi An shrugged: “Trust between people is very fragile, like paper, it breaks with a single poke.”

Su Su argued back, loudly refuting.

“Don’t believe me? Come down, I’ll prove it to you,” Xu Qi An beckoned.

Su Su pushed off the railing and floated lightly down to the main hall, standing in front of Xu Qi An.

Poof… Xu Qi An poked her chest with one finger as if piercing through a sheet of paper.

“You, you despicable man, this lady will kill you!” Su Su was furious.

“See, I was right, wasn’t I?”

Su Su furiously spewed yin energy to attack Xu Qi An, but once a martial artist was on guard, they far exceeded other systems in close combat. Therefore, every breath of yin energy was nimbly dodged, and instead, more and more holes appeared on her body – chest, lower back, abdomen…

This body was quickly ruined.

Li Miao Zhen had no choice but to take out another paper doll as a vessel for Su Su to possess. Ghosts have no physical form; under the scorching sun during the day, they would at best suffer great damage to their essence, and at worst dissipate into nothingness.

The paper doll was drawn with Daoist talismans, which could nourish ghosts and seal yin energy.

“Oh? General Li still carries paper dolls with her. Where did you hide it?” Xu Qi An feigned confusion.

“I naturally have my ways,” Li Miao Zhen said.

“What ways? The legendary ‘Mustard Seed in an Instant’?” Xu Qi An widened his eyes, looking like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

What on earth is ‘Mustard Seed in an Instant’… Li Miao Zhen was first stunned, then feeling satisfied by Xu Qi An’s admiration, she nodded and said:

“It’s a similar kind of magic, I suppose.”

“As expected of General Li, worthy of being the Holy Maiden of the Celestial Sect,” Xu Qi An sighed in admiration.

Li Miao Zhen gave a restrained “Mm” in response.

…Go ahead and pretend, it’s just a fragment of the Earth Book, isn’t it? The more you pretend now, the more thoroughly you’ll be exposed later. Xu Qi An smiled sincerely.

At noon, Xu Qi An invited the two beauties to finish their meal, estimating that Prefect Zhang would be back soon.

But instead of the Prefect, a city guard soldier came galloping into the inn, shouting: “This humble one has urgent matters to report to the Prefect!”

The Tiger Warrior Guards stopped him, rebuking: “No unauthorized entry into the inn.”

The city guard soldier was extremely anxious and shouted: “Prefect, this humble one has a matter of utmost urgency to report!”

The commotion in the courtyard alerted the Constables inside the inn. A Silver Gong led two Bronze Gongs out, frowning as he said: “The Prefect is not here. Tell me what’s the matter.”

The city guard soldier swallowed and said urgently: “The military troops from the Garrison Command are gathering outside the south gate of the city. They’re threatening that if the Prefect doesn’t go out to meet them, they’ll enter the city.”