Dim Underground Passage

In the afternoon, with the sun shining just right, Yang Ning carried a cloth sack of Maotai Wine and followed Qiao Bin to the outside of the Law Enforcement Hall.

The first thing that met his eyes was the majestic main hall.

Black tiles, white walls, upturned eaves, ornate beams, and painted rafters—it stood solemn and imposing. Two stone lions stood before the hall, their eyes wide with fury, vivid as though alive.

This was where the Law Enforcement Hall received outside guests, and every corner exuded the grandeur of the Sword Sect.

"Brother Ning, look," Qiao Bin introduced as they walked, his tone carrying a touch of pride. "These two sides are where the Law Enforcement Hall disciples live. Everyone gets their own room in the lofts—who knows how much better that is than those crowded peaks.

Behind the lofts is the Training Ground. It should be lively right about now; the junior brothers and sisters are all cultivating there."

He paused, looked around, and raised his chin. "Though our Law Enforcement Hall isn't as luxurious as Dan Peak, as exquisite as Artifact Peak, or as vast as Beast Taming Peak, within the Sword Sect, we're absolutely among the very best!"

Yang Ning casually swept his gaze over the place. Thinking of the Home Goods Section in his lv2 Mall, he looked at Qiao Bin, who had his head tilted toward the sky, then gave a three-word assessment after a long while. "Not bad."

The two circled around the main hall and passed through a covered corridor. Suddenly, an enormous snow-white tower stood before them. The tower rose nine stories high, its surface gleaming with a warm luster beneath the sunlight, strikingly conspicuous among the surrounding buildings.

"This is...?" Yang Ning pointed at the entirely white tower before him.

Qiao Bin coughed twice and straightened his back. "This is our Law Enforcement Hall's Zhaoyu Tower. The disciples handle official business within the tower. At the bottom..." He paused. "...is the dungeon."

Yang Ning looked around and nodded thoughtfully. The two continued onward. When they reached the side of the tower, he happened to glimpse a winding path ascending behind it, half-concealed by the Bamboo Forest. At its end stood a faintly visible, elegant little loft.

Qiao Bin keenly noticed where he was looking and hurriedly lowered his voice. "Brother Ning, that's the Hall Master's residence, Purple Jade Pavilion. You absolutely must not go there! She lives there with Junior Sister. Aside from the female disciples responsible for cleaning every month, no one is allowed anywhere near it—this is an ironclad rule of the Law Enforcement Hall!"

Recalling Yun Zishan's icy demeanor that morning, Yang Ning shuddered unconsciously. He had not the slightest interest in Yun Zishan's loft. "Don't worry, don't worry. I got it."

The two then entered Zhaoyu Tower. As soon as they stepped inside, they saw two disciples seated at the Registration Desk.

The moment the two saw Qiao Bin enter, they immediately rose and cupped their fists. "Greetings, Senior Disciple Brother."

The moment he entered, Qiao Bin shed his earlier easygoing smile. He adjusted his white robe, his expression instantly turning solemn, and his entire bearing transformed.

"By the Hall Master's order," he said in a steady, forceful voice, carrying the authority of the Law Enforcement Hall's Senior Disciple Brother, "Mr. Yang beside me will interrogate the Demonic Sect's undercover agent. Everyone in the Law Enforcement Hall must cooperate fully."

The two immediately cupped their fists. "As you command!" Yet their gazes both drifted toward Yang Ning, dressed so casually at Qiao Bin's side, and a trace of surprise flashed through their eyes.

"I'll store this Maotai Wine for you first."

Yang Ning paid no attention to the two disciples' gazes and turned to hand the cloth sack to Qiao Bin.

Qiao Bin accepted it and stored the Maotai Wine in a cabinet nearby.

Watching Qiao Bin's back, Yang Ning asked, "What about my things? Have they been moved over?"

Qiao Bin closed the cabinet, walked over, and put an arm around Yang Ning as he turned him away from the two puzzled disciples. Only then did he return to his earlier manner, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Brother Ning, you have too much stuff. I sent people to move it, but I reckon it'll take a while longer. I'll take you to see the dungeon first."

Yang Ning nodded. "Fine."

Qiao Bin immediately turned around and resumed his stern expression. Taking a waist token engraved with the character "Yun" from his belt, he said, "Open the door."

"Yes, Senior Disciple Brother." One of the disciples stepped forward and received the waist token with both hands. The other took out a key, unlocked the desk, and retrieved a similar token.

The two disciples walked to the screens behind them.

"Three, two, one!"

As the two pressed their waist tokens against the screens at the same time, a purple cloud appeared upon them. With a thunderous rumble, a passage wide enough for only two people to walk abreast opened beside the screens.

Qiao Bin reached out and accepted the returned waist token from the disciple. "Let's go." He then took the lead down the Stone Steps.

After Qiao Bin had taken two steps, there was no movement behind him. He turned to look at Yang Ning, who was still standing outside the entrance, then glanced at the two disciples standing nearby.

"What is it, Mr. Yang?"

Yang Ning stared at the pitch-black passage below, his fists unconsciously clenching. The cold, gloomy air drifting up from the depths of the tunnel tightened his heart, and his breathing began to quicken.

He hesitated for a moment, as if making up his mind.

"I'm coming."

Yang Ning extended his slightly trembling foot onto the steps and followed Qiao Bin down.

The stairway was longer than Yang Ning had imagined. Fine droplets of water clung to the stone walls on both sides, and in the dim light, the steps beneath his feet were indistinct.

The space was narrow. Yang Ning could clearly hear his own footsteps echoing off both sides. His breaths grew more ragged, and his steps heavier and heavier.

Yang Ning opened his mouth and panted, trying to regulate his breathing, but it was no use.