Under the pressure of the demon god looming over him, any sect rules or faith had been thrown to the back of his mind.
His legs went weak, and he dropped straight to his knees before Su Fei, kowtowing again and again. His forehead struck the bluestone slabs with loud thuds, and before long, it was bleeding.
"Spare my life, sir! Spare my life, Lord Imperial Guard!"
Tears and snot streamed down his face. There was no trace left of his previous arrogance.
"This old man failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please, for the sake of my elderly parents and young children, spare this dog's life."
Su Fei looked down at the White Lotus Sect elder, who lay there like a dead dog.
There was not the slightest ripple in his eyes.
"I believe you have young children. As for elderly parents, forget it."
"If you have something to say, say it plainly. Don't play tricks with me, or that Dao Soldier will be your fate."
The elder trembled from head to toe and hurriedly scrambled to his feet.
"This is the White Lotus Sect's secret stronghold in Qingzhou, specifically responsible for receiving the arms Zhao Feiying smuggles out. On the night of the third day of every month, he sends someone to deliver a batch of goods. Every so often, an envoy from the sect comes to collect these weapons."
Captain Li nodded at the side.
"So it really is Zhao Feiying. That bastard colluded with the White Lotus Sect. He truly deserves to die."
The elder kowtowed once more.
"It is absolutely true. Deputy Commander Zhao has been trading with the White Lotus Sect for at least a year or two."
"I was transferred here only a little over a year ago. The channels here have always been very stable. No outsiders ever came to investigate, until we encountered the two Imperial Guard lords this time."
"Once, he said that after the deed was done, Qingzhou might very well bear the Zhao name."
"After what deed? What deed?"
"It seems he plans to cooperate with experts from the sect to carry out something major in Qingzhou. This old man does not know the specifics and was not qualified to know."
"If you do not believe me, sir, I can take you to see the cellar where the weapons are stored. There are still some goods inside that have not been moved out."
Su Fei and Captain Li exchanged a glance. Each saw gravity in the other's eyes. Behind this arms-smuggling case, there was actually a White Lotus Sect conspiracy hidden away.
Su Fei said coldly, "Lead the way."
Su Fei said coldly.
Daring not to delay, the elder rolled and crawled as he led them toward the rear courtyard.
After passing through an open patch overgrown with weeds, he felt around beneath a tree for a moment.
He lifted a door disguised as a stone slab, and the stench of rust mingled with mildew rushed at them.
"It's down there."
Captain Li lit a torch and jumped down first.
Su Fei followed close behind. The instant he landed, the sight before him stunned him.
The cellar was over a hundred square meters. More than forty Gale Crossbows were neatly stacked on the left, with seventy or eighty sets of armor piled beside them. On the right stood over a hundred spears and long lances, their tips sharp and gleaming. They were clearly brand-new weapons that had never been used.
"Good heavens."
Captain Li sucked in a cold breath.
"That many weapons are enough to equip several hundred men. Is Zhao Feiying trying to turn the heavens upside down?"
"If these fall into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, the consequences would be unthinkable."
Su Fei crouched to inspect the crossbow bolts and found the Qingzhou Army's lacquer seal engraved on the mechanisms. They were identical to the Gale Crossbows found in the Chen family estate.
He picked up a long spear. The serial number on its shaft was clearly visible, and it belonged to the registered inventory sequence of the armory.
"With both witnesses and physical evidence present, Zhao Feiying will not escape even if he grows wings."
Su Fei handed the torch to Captain Li.
"Lord Li, immediately send someone back to the Thousand Households Office to report this and inform Commander Feng of everything."
Although Captain Li was Su Fei's superior at this moment, he greatly admired both Su Fei's strength and his ability to solve cases. He immediately nodded and turned to leave.
Su Fei continued questioning the elder.
"What is the name of your sect's envoy? How can you find him? How do you usually contact one another?"
The elder thought for a moment before answering.
"Sir, I do not know the envoy's name. Every time he comes, he is dressed in black and veils his face, his voice hoarse. I do not even know whether he is male or female. As for contact, our White Lotus Sect uses single-line communication. I have no way of contacting him on my own."
"I imagine only the major figures in the sect possess everyone's methods of contact."
Hearing this, Su Fei understood somewhat.
Why the White Lotus Sect had rebelled time and again, yet had never been completely eradicated.
Their organizational structure was indeed extremely tight.
This elder was the person in charge of a stronghold, a Xiantian Realm martial artist. His martial cultivation was not low.
Yet even he knew nothing about the information of others.
Not long afterward, more than thirty Imperial Guards arrived at the charity graveyard. Su Fei handed over the White Lotus Sect elder, bound hand and foot, along with the weapons in the cellar, accounting for each item clearly.
There was nothing more for him to do here, so he swung himself onto his horse and galloped toward the Thousand Households Office.
The moment he entered the gates of the Thousand Households Office, he saw that the lights in the commander's duty room were still on.
Su Fei walked to Commander Feng's office and found Captain Li there as well.
Commander Feng heard the footsteps.
He looked up and saw Su Fei arriving.
A smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Su Fei, you're finally back."
"Captain Li has already told me everything. In a single day, you uncovered the mastermind behind the arms case and wiped out a White Lotus Sect branch. You even smashed one of their White Lotus Dao Soldiers to pieces. You truly have given me a great surprise."
Captain Li said with a smile from the side.
"Commander Feng, Su Fei's palm technique is incredibly formidable. That White Lotus Dao Soldier was practically impervious to blades and spears, and it nearly beat this subordinate into uselessness. Yet the moment Su Fei made his move, he smashed it into chunks with just a few palms. This subordinate saw it with his own eyes. Su Fei's combat strength ranks among the very best even within the Xiantian Realm."
Commander Feng's gaze filled with surprise, his face thoughtful as he said,
"It seems that not only have you broken through to the Xiantian Realm, but you have also obtained some fortuitous opportunity. Coupled with your talent, that is how you came to possess your current strength."
"You need not tell me what your fortuitous opportunity was. What martial arts powerhouse does not have a few such opportunities?"
"This time, you not only solved the case, but also exposed Zhao Feiying, that scum within the army, and destroyed a White Lotus Sect stronghold. Once this is reported upward and the court rewards merit, the foremost credit will certainly be yours."
Having said this, Commander Feng's expression turned slightly solemn.
"Time waits for no one. Zhao Feiying colluded with the White Lotus Sect and sold military weapons. The evidence of his crimes is ironclad. Let us head to the Qingzhou Army camp and arrest him at once."
"This time, we will not make a grand show of mobilizing the Imperial Guard. We will only bring Captain Li, several other captains, and Su Fei. Fewer men will also preserve some face for Commander Long of the Qingzhou Army. Hahaha."
Su Fei understood. From Commander Feng's manner, his relationship with Commander Long Teng was very good.
The group of seven rode out of the city. By the time they reached the Qingzhou Army camp, it was already night.
When the camp guards saw Feng Changqing, the foremost figure of the Qingzhou Imperial Guard, they naturally did not dare slight him. They hurriedly opened the gates and let the group enter.
Commander Feng wore a smile and even courteously nodded to the guards, looking to be in quite a good mood.
"Come, let us first go to Commander Long Teng's tent."
The night was deep and still.
Only sparse lights shone throughout the camp. The group dismounted and headed toward the commander's main tent.
Just as they were about to reach the large tent in the middle,
A dull voice rang out.
Before you continue