The Guide on the Eve, Died Three Days Prior

The Lin Jiang Department is the Heavenly Supervision Department of Lin Jiang Ward.

Lin Yan's responsibilities were confined solely to Lin Jiang Ward.

He couldn't meddle in every injustice within the entire city.

But at least within the scope of his authority, he wouldn't tolerate this.

If the identity of the Lin Jiang Department's Banner Bearer wasn't enough to handle it, this blade certainly would be.

"Chief Clerk Yang, if they truly refuse to repent, and I draw my blade to kill them, would that be considered upholding justice according to current law?"

"Ah?"

Chief Clerk Yang was startled and quickly replied, "It wouldn't be. This would need to be reported, evidence confirmed, jointly reviewed by the Prefectural Governor's Mansion and the Heavenly Supervision Department, and then ruled upon by the Temple of Lord Liu before they could be imprisoned and sentenced... Directly killing someone is not in accordance with regulations. That would be vigilantism..."

Then he remembered that this Banner Bearer had only taken office yesterday. Before that, he had assisted the Night Patrol Envoy in apprehending thieves and maintaining order.

However, a majority of the criminals who had passed through his hands were beheaded on the spot before they could even reach a prison.

The common folk rumored that this person was a Killer Star, addicted to slaughter, insatiable in his killing.

And now, on his first day at the Lin Jiang Department, he wanted to draw his blade and kill again?

"Whether drawing my blade to kill is in accordance with regulations, I don't know."

Lin Yan said slowly, "But the rules of Wuchang... the Outer Southern Prefecture Office likely knows them. You will relay this message to them, word for word!"

Chief Clerk Yang's heart trembled, and he quickly agreed. He then added, "Oh, right. Today, over thirty members of the city defense forces came to the Lin Jiang Department, appearing quite aggressive. But in less than fifteen minutes, they retreated."

"About half an hour ago, another group of city defense soldiers delivered a letter. I've already placed it on Fifth Master's desk."

"I'll go write the letter now. After you review it, I'll have someone deliver it to the Outer Southern Prefecture Office."

"Go on."

Lin Yan waved his hand and walked to his own desk, opening the letter.

It was a personal letter from Grand Commander Zhao Zhou of the city defense.

He mentioned that his subordinates had acted rashly and impulsively without understanding the truth, and he deeply apologized for their unauthorized actions.

He then mentioned that last night, a burly man, nine feet tall, as strong as a bear, with a full beard, had appeared and slain a Bear Demon.

This same person had also filled the breach yesterday, defending the city.

And it was highly likely that this person was also the one who killed Zhao Jing.

However, Grand Commander Zhao Zhou also mentioned in the letter that this person, by slaying the Bear Demon and defending Lin Jiang Ward, and then filling the breach to defend the city wall, should be considered a righteous individual.

There might be hidden circumstances surrounding Zhao Jing's death.

Finally, the letter also stated that the Heavenly Supervision Department was responsible for overseeing all city affairs, possessed extensive intelligence networks, and hoped that the Wuchang Banner Bearer could provide assistance.

"Nine feet tall? Full beard? And as strong as a bear?"

Lin Yan fell into silence.

Based on the shifts in the city defense soldiers' actions.

In the morning, everyone likely believed that Wuchang, the Banner Bearer of the Lin Jiang Department, was heavily suspected of killing Zhao Jing, and possibly other city defense soldiers and members of the Patrolling Squad.

Later, it was likely that Duke Lu had intervened, clearing Wuchang of suspicion.

But the suspicion had been shifted to the "brash fellow."

If the matter of Zhao Jing's death was not clarified, this brash fellow would ultimately remain suspected of killing city defense soldiers.

"Fifth Master!"

At this moment, Chief Clerk Yang brought the letter he had just finished writing.

Along with it came a detailed record of the aftermath efforts undertaken by various departments in Lin Jiang Ward and on the city wall today.

The Lin Jiang Department had the duty of supervision and could correct improper conduct!

"Leave it there..."

Lin Yan sat down and casually flipped through the documents. He was slightly satisfied and said, "This letter is well-written. Send it to the Outer Southern Prefecture Office."

He handed the letter over, then continued to examine the other records. After only a few pages, he suddenly froze.

"Liu Guangding?"

"Does Fifth Master recognize this person?" Chief Clerk Yang asked in surprise.

"Mm," Lin Yan replied calmly. "I recently took on a new Junior Banner, named Lin Yan. This is his neighbor."

"I see," Chief Clerk Yang said with a smile. "Although this person's surname is Liu, he is not a member of the Liu family within the inner city, not even a branch. He is already an elderly man..."

"Why isn't his cause of death recorded here?" Lin Yan asked calmly.

"He did not die from the Demonic Evils incident last night."

Chief Clerk Yang explained, "It was today, when the Outer Southern Prefecture Office, in conjunction with the Temple of Lord Liu, sent people to clear out the remaining Demonic Evils and investigate each household, that they discovered this old man had died at home a few days ago. It's likely he died of a sudden illness due to old age and frailty, and no one inquired about him."

"Wait..."

Lin Yan's face turned cold, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he slowly asked, "Died at home a few days ago? Specifically, which day?"

"It should have been three days ago."

"..."

Lin Yan suddenly tightened the grip on his saber.

At that moment, a storm of shock surged within him.

Three days ago, Old Liu was already dead?

Last night he was guarding the city, and the night before, because his second brother was bewitched by a ghoul, he had gone out of the city to save him!

The reason he knew his second brother was bewitched by a ghoul and went out of the city was because his neighbor, Old Liu, had mentioned Chen Jiangbao and his daughter.

But Old Liu had died three days ago.

Then who was it that told him the night before?

He suddenly stood up and walked towards the outside.

"Fifth Master, where are you going?"

"Liu Guangding's death is suspicious. Immediately send someone to notify the Outer Southern Prefecture Office. Seal the body and do not transport it to the inner city."

"Then where are you going?"

"I'm going to the scene to investigate."

Lin Yan reached the doorway and stopped again, saying, "List everyone who came into contact with Liu Guangding's body today! Also, notify those three junior banners. Find them one by one and bring them back to the Lin Jiang Department to wait for my return..."

Having said that, he strode out and quickly disappeared.

Night had fallen, and the sky was dim.

He quickly returned to the alley where the old house was located and saw the seal pasted on the door of Old Liu's house next door.

He drew his saber, flicked open the door, and stepped inside.

A stench of long-term decay hit him.

Yet, when he returned home to bathe this morning, he hadn't smelled any peculiar odor at all.

With his cultivation at the Essence Refining Realm, his five senses were sharp. Even through a wall, he shouldn't have been completely unaware.

"This room..."

Lin Yan laid his saber horizontally on its scabbard.

With a sudden pull, sparks flew.

They landed on the half-burnt candle on the table.

The wick ignited, casting a dim, yellowish light that illuminated the entire room.

"The wall has been scraped down..."

Lin Yan's pupils contracted, and he remembered the ghoul's human skin, which was covered in strange patterns after he killed the demon tiger.

He thought to himself, "Before this, some kind of isolation method must have been set up in the room."

He reached out and touched the wall, feeling the surface after it had been scraped. In the finer details, the texture felt slightly sharp.

The person who scraped the wall had a rather crude technique, as if done in haste.

From the slight curvature of the remaining marks on the wall, a closer examination suggested it was scraped with a "knife."

Looking at the floor, the wall dust had already been cleaned up.

"The constables from the Outer Southern Prefecture Office were the ones who carried away Old Liu's body today and were responsible for handling this house..."

Lin Yan's expression turned cold, and he stepped towards the door.

But at this moment, his footsteps paused.

Behind him, a warm sensation suddenly appeared.

It felt as if a naked, soft body was pressing against his back, whispering gently in his ear.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time..."

Boom!

Lin Yan's expression turned cold. With a sudden stomp of his foot, he shot backward like an arrow!

In an instant, his back slammed into the wall.

Rumble!

The entire wall collapsed.

He rolled on the ground and stood up amidst the rubble and debris.

Covered in dust and a haze of dirt, he couldn't hide the chilling killing intent in his eyes.

Not far away, the "Malevolent Spirit" he had struck, its form mostly dissipated, its remaining energy turned into a wisp of black smoke and fled with the wind, vanishing in an instant down the street.

"Run all you want. Take me to your master."