Arms Case

The other Hundred Households Officers looked at Captain Li with envious eyes.

Such a major case, and it was even connected to the Qingzhou Army. If this case was thoroughly investigated, it would be a great opportunity to earn merit.

Captain Li naturally wouldn't refuse and cupped his hands to accept the order.

"The rest of you, search the entire city for suspicious individuals, especially martial artists who have recently come to Qingzhou from other places. If you find anyone related to the Chen family annihilation case, apprehend them first before questioning."

Su Fei stood among the General Banner Officers, listening with a blank expression.

After the meeting, everyone dispersed to carry out their orders, and the conference hall soon became empty.

As Su Fei, standing at the back, was about to leave, Commander Feng called out to him.

"Su Fei, stay for a moment."

Commander Feng looked at him.

"You and Chen Zhenyu had a conflict before. Now that he's dead, what do you think about this?"

Su Fei replied calmly.

"If Captain Chen truly colluded with the military and resold military supplies, then he deserved his fate. However, the killer was so brazen, openly annihilating an entire family, it certainly warrants a thorough investigation to serve as a warning."

Commander Feng nodded and didn't ask further questions. He waved his hand, signaling Su Fei to leave.

After he left.

Commander Feng looked at Su Fei's retreating back and muttered to himself.

"It shouldn't be you. By all accounts, you couldn't have done it to this extent."

As Su Fei walked out of the conference hall, he was stopped by Captain Li.

"Su Fei, gather your Strongmen. Commander has assigned the arms case to me, and you'll be accompanying me to the Qingzhou Army's encampment."

Ding! Mission triggered: Arms Case!

Mission requirements: Host is to investigate and apprehend the person within the Qingzhou Army who colluded with outsiders to privately sell military supplies!

Mission rewards: Floating Light Shadowy Movement Skill, sixty years of cultivation.

Su Fei nodded, indicating he understood.

He turned to gather his men.

He was now a General Banner Officer, with five Squad Leaders and fifty Strongmen under him. So many subordinates would be a significant help in his investigation.

When he arrived at the Strongmen's barracks, he was surprised to find that Wang Meng's aura was completely different from before.

Su Fei chuckled.

"You kid, you've actually broken through to the True Qi Realm."

Wang Meng grinned and scratched his head.

"It's all thanks to the pills you gave me last time, Lord Su. I was able to break through to the first level of the True Qi Realm. I was thinking of earning more merit by following you, Lord Su, and I'll soon be able to become a Squad Leader."

Su Fei's heart stirred.

He decided to let Wang Meng be the 'Squad Leader' for this group of Strongmen, responsible for managing them.

Soon, the personnel were assembled.

The procession of over three hundred people left the city grandly. The hooves of their horses striking the bluestone road created a dull roar, drawing the attention of the onlookers along the way.

Leaving the city, they reached the Qingzhou Army's encampment.

Su Fei rode his horse beside Captain Li, looking at the sprawling barracks ahead.

The black and grey barracks were two zhang high, with battlements along the walls. Sentries holding spears could be seen, exuding a murderous aura.

"Who goes there? Halt!"

About thirty paces from the camp gate, two guards in bright armor blocked their path with their spears.

The dozen or so guards behind them raised their long spears in unison, pointing directly at the approaching party.

From within the camp gate, the sound of taut bowstrings could vaguely be heard.

Captain Li reined in his horse and unhurriedly took out a scroll from his chest, directly reading aloud.

"This is a case being handled by the Imperial Guard's Thousand Households Office. This is a search warrant personally approved by Commander Feng. We are to immediately enter the Qingzhou Army encampment to thoroughly investigate the case of the exposed Gale Crossbows."

The guard captain examined the vermilion seal on the scroll and then glanced at the crossbows Su Fei and the others were escorting.

They were the Gale Crossbows seized from the Chen family, their refined steel bodies glinting coldly in the sunlight.

The captain's expression darkened, and his hand tightened on the hilt of his saber.

"This is a heavily guarded military area. How dare the Imperial Guard be so presumptuous."

"Without official documents from our Commander, none of you will enter the camp!"

"You call us presumptuous?"

Captain Li sneered and tossed the scroll into the other man's hands.

"Your Qingzhou Army's Gale Crossbows are being sold outside, and you still call us presumptuous? If we, the Imperial Guard, didn't step in, wouldn't martial artists outside soon have a Gale Crossbow in every hand?"

"The Gale Crossbows obtained by the Chen family are here. If you delay the investigation, can you bear the responsibility?"

Facing Captain Li's questioning.

The captain picked up the case files and examined them closely, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

He then looked at the Gale Crossbows, his face filled with shock.

The specifications of these crossbow bolts were identical to those in the camp's inventory, clearly indicating they had been leaked from the army.

He was left with no choice.

"Captain Li, please wait a moment. Allow me to inform the Commander."

A moment later, hurried footsteps echoed from within the camp.

A deputy general, clad in black armor, strode out quickly. His expression changed drastically upon seeing the Gale Crossbows before him, and he cupped his hands towards Captain Li.

"The Commander is currently in a meeting and has asked me to relay his message. The camp has strict rules, so please understand, Captain Li. You can only bring ten men inside at most."

Captain Li pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over those behind him. He selected seven or eight people to accompany him inside, including Su Fei.

"Bring all the Gale Crossbows. The rest will wait here."

Su Fei dismounted and followed Captain Li towards the camp gate.

As they passed the guards, he noticed the way these soldiers looked at his group, with a hint of hostility.

The Imperial Guard and the Qingzhou Army were two separate systems, and they had always kept to themselves. Now, the Imperial Guard was here to investigate a case in the Qingzhou Army's camp.

And they had caught them in a compromising position. How could they be comfortable with that?

Captain Li saw through it all and said with a smile.

"As expected of the Qingzhou Army's camp, their security is quite strict."

Captain Li led Su Fei and the others through layers of fortifications.

Along the way, soldiers clad in heavy armor, hands resting on their sword hilts, scanned them with vigilant eyes. The air was thick with a tense atmosphere.

Upon reaching the main command tent, the deputy general in black armor lifted the heavy tent flap.

"Captain Li, please come in."

The interior of the tent was simply furnished. A map of Qingzhou's terrain hung prominently on the wall. An old man in silver armor stood with his back to them, examining the map.

Hearing the footsteps, he turned around. This person was the Great Commander of the Qingzhou Army, Long Teng.

A renowned powerhouse in Qingzhou, he had entered the Grandmaster Realm many years ago. Although he was over sixty, his back was straight, and he exuded an aura of steely resolve forged through countless battles.

Beside him stood a middle-aged general, around forty years old, clad in black armor, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. This was the Deputy Commander, Zhao Feiying.

Seeing a group of people in Flying Fish Robes enter, Zhao Feiying's eyes flickered.

Long Teng's voice was booming. His gaze fell upon the Gale Crossbows behind Captain Li, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Captain Li, welcome. May I ask the reason for your visit?"

Captain Li presented the search warrant, his attitude somewhat respectful.

"Commander Long, we are acting on the orders of Commander Feng to thoroughly investigate the case of the Chen family's illegal possession of Gale Crossbows. These Gale Crossbows were leaked from the Qingzhou Army. We request your cooperation."

Long Teng took the search warrant and glanced at it, then cast a look at the Gale Crossbows. His expression darkened.

"The army's armaments have always been managed by Deputy Commander Zhao Feiying. Feiying, you will escort Captain Li to the armory to verify the inventory."