Lin Jiang Department was the Heavenly Supervision Department of Lin Jiang Ward.
Lin Yan's duties were limited to Lin Jiang Ward.
He could not meddle in every injustice throughout the city.
But at least within the bounds of his authority, he would not tolerate this.
If the identity of Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Department could not keep this in check, then this blade surely could.
"Clerk Yang, if they truly refuse to repent, and I kill them with my blade, would that count as impartial law enforcement under the current statutes?"
"Huh?"
Clerk Yang was startled and hurriedly said, "It wouldn't. This must first be reported upward. Once the evidence is conclusive, the Prefectural Governor's Mansion and the Heavenly Supervision Department must conduct a joint investigation, and the Temple of Lord Liu must issue the judgment. Only then can they be sent to prison and sentenced according to their crimes... Cutting people down directly would violate the rules. That would be extrajudicial punishment..."
Then he remembered that this Banner Bearer had only taken office yesterday. Before that, he had assisted the Night Patrol Envoy in arresting thieves and maintaining order.
Yet more than half of the criminals who had fallen into his hands had been beheaded on the spot before they ever made it into prison.
The neighborhood had long spread the word that this man was a Killer Star, addicted to slaughter and murder.
He had only been at Lin Jiang Department for one day. How was he already thinking of drawing his blade again?
"Whether drawing my blade and killing people conforms to the rules, I don't know."
Lin Yan spoke slowly. "But the Outer Southern Prefecture Office probably knows the rules of Impermanence. Relay these words to them exactly as I said them!"
Clerk Yang's heart shuddered. He hurriedly agreed, then quickly added, "By the way, more than thirty members of the City Defense Army came to Lin Jiang Department today. They came in a threatening manner, but they all withdrew again in less than half a quarter of an hour."
"Half an hour ago, the City Defense Army sent over a letter. I've already placed it on Fifth Master's desk."
"I'll go write the letter now. Once you've looked it over, I'll have someone deliver it to the Outer Southern Prefecture Office."
"Go."
Lin Yan waved a hand and came to his own desk, where he opened the letter.
It was a handwritten letter from Zhao Zhou, the City Defense Commander.
He mentioned that the soldiers under his command had acted rashly and impulsively without understanding the truth, and expressed his deepest apologies.
He then mentioned that last night, a burly man nine feet tall, built like a bear and covered in a full beard, had struck down the Bear Demon.
The person who had filled the breach and defended the city yesterday had also been this man.
And the person who had killed Zhao Jing was very likely this same man.
Yet City Defense Commander Zhao Zhou also stated in the letter that this man had slain the Bear Demon, defended Lin Jiang Ward, filled the breach, and held the city wall. He should therefore be a righteous man.
There might be hidden circumstances behind Zhao Jing's death.
At the end, the letter also mentioned that the Heavenly Supervision Department was responsible for monitoring all matters throughout the city and possessed formidable intelligence-gathering channels. He hoped Banner Bearer Impermanence could offer his assistance.
"Nine feet tall? Covered in a full beard? Built like a bear?"
Lin Yan fell silent.
Judging from how the City Defense soldiers' attitudes had changed before and after...
This morning, all sides had probably believed that Impermanence, the Banner Bearer of Lin Jiang Department, was heavily suspected of killing Zhao Jing, perhaps even the other City Defense soldiers and members of the Patrolling Squad.
Later, Duke Lu had likely stepped forward and cleared Impermanence of suspicion.
But the suspicion had also been shifted onto the "brute."
Unless Zhao Jing's matter was investigated and cleared up, this brute would ultimately remain suspected of killing the City Defense soldiers.
"Fifth Master!"
At that moment, Clerk Yang brought over the letter he had just finished writing.
He also brought detailed records concerning how the various departments had handled the aftermath in Lin Jiang Ward and at the city wall today.
Lin Jiang Department had the duty of oversight and could correct improper conduct!
"Leave it there..."
Lin Yan sat above them and casually opened the records. Slightly satisfied, he said, "This letter is well written. Send it to the Outer Southern Prefecture Office."
He handed over the letter, then flipped through the remaining records. After only a few pages, he suddenly froze.
"Liu Guangding?"
"Fifth Master knows this man?" Clerk Yang asked in surprise.
"Mm." Lin Yan said indifferently, "A new Banner Bearer was recently recruited. His name is Lin Yan. This is his neighbor."
"I see." Clerk Yang smiled. "Although this man's surname is Liu, he isn't a member of the Liu Lineage in the Inner City—not even a branch member. He was already an old man..."
"Why isn't the cause of his death recorded here?" Lin Yan asked calmly.
"He didn't die because of last night's demon calamity."
Clerk Yang spoke up. "Today, the Outer Southern Prefecture Office joined forces with the Temple of Lord Liu and sent people to clear out the remaining demons. When they inspected the households, they discovered that the old man had already died at home several days ago. He likely died suddenly from old age and frailty, with no one to inquire after him."
"Wait..."
Lin Yan's expression turned cold, and his gaze suddenly grew heavy. He slowly asked, "He died at home several days ago? Which day, exactly?"
"It should have been three days ago."
"..."
Lin Yan suddenly tightened his grip on the blade in his hand.
At that moment, stormy seas rose within his heart.
Uncle Liu had already been dead for three days?
Last night, he had been defending the city. The night before, he had gone out of the city to rescue Second Brother after he had been bewitched by a host ghost!
He knew that Second Brother had been bewitched by a host ghost and gone out of the city because his neighbor, Uncle Liu, had mentioned Chen Jiangbao and the Chen family's daughter.
But Uncle Liu had died three days ago.
Then who, exactly, had told him that the night before last?
He rose abruptly and walked toward the outside.
"Fifth Master, where are you going?"
"Liu Guangding's death was suspicious. Immediately send someone to notify the Outer Southern Prefecture Office. Seal the body and don't transport it to the Inner City."
"And what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to inspect the scene."
Lin Yan reached the doorway, then stopped and said, "Make a list of everyone who came into contact with Liu Guangding's body today! Also, notify those three Banner Bearers. Find them one by one and bring them back to Lin Jiang Department. Wait for me to return..."
As he spoke, he had already stepped forward and rapidly departed.
Night had fallen, and the sky was dim.
He hurried back to the alley where the old residence stood and saw the seal pasted across Uncle Liu's neighboring door.
He drew his blade, pried open the door, and stepped inside.
A long-rotten stench struck him in the face.
Yet that morning, when he had returned home to bathe, he had not smelled even the slightest trace of it.
With the cultivation of the Essence Refining Realm, his five senses were sharp. Even through a wall, he should not have been completely unaware.
"This room..."
Lin Yan laid the blade across its sheath.
He suddenly drew it, sending sparks flying.
The sparks landed on the half-burned candle atop the table.
The wick caught fire. Its yellow, dim glow nevertheless illuminated the entire room.
"The walls have been scraped down by a layer..."
Lin Yan's pupils narrowed slightly. He remembered that after he had slain the Demon Tiger, Chen Yuannü's human skin had also been covered in strange patterns.
Before this, someone must have set up a method of isolation in the room.
He reached out and brushed his hand over the wall. After a layer had been scraped away, the surface felt faintly sharp to the touch in certain places.
The person who had scraped the wall had used a somewhat crude technique, as though acting in haste.
Carefully distinguishing the faintly curved patterns remaining on the wall, it looked even more like they had been scraped with a "blade."
Looking down, he saw that the plaster dust had already been swept clean.
"The people who carried away Uncle Liu's corpse today and were responsible for handling this house were those lackeys from the Outer Southern Prefecture Office..."
A chill flickered in Lin Yan's eyes as he walked toward the door.
But at that moment, his footsteps halted.
A warm, smooth sensation suddenly appeared behind him.
It was as though a soft, naked body had pressed against his back, rubbing against his ears and temples while whispering tenderly.
"I've been waiting for you for so long..."
Boom!
Lin Yan's expression was cold and emotionless. He suddenly stamped down with one foot, his body shooting backward like a sharp arrow!
In that instant, he slammed his back against the wall.
A rumbling boom rang out!
The entire wall collapsed.
He rolled across the ground and rose amid the scattered bricks and rubble.
The dust covering his body and the billowing earth haze could not conceal the icy killing intent in his eyes.
Not far away, the "evil entity" he had smashed apart had already lost most of its form. Its remaining energy transformed into a wisp of black smoke, fleeing with the wind and vanishing in an instant at the end of the street.
"Run with all your might. Take me to find your master."
Before you continue