I Am the Law!

Actually, back on the deck a moment ago, Li Xian had considered killing the captain—and even Brother Xin and Wan Cai along with him.

But that would have caused far too much of a commotion. Not only would there be no one left to sail the ship, it would also draw the attention of the authorities. If they sent someone capable of discovering that he was responsible, he would have to flee for his life. In the end, it would do more harm than good.

More importantly, Li Xian couldn't find a reason to convince himself to do it.

In the end, he chose to let them go.

"Ah, I'm still too merciful."

Li Xian conducted a thorough self-critique.

The rest of the journey passed peacefully.

The grain ship soon arrived in Baihua City.

"We're finally here. That waterway journey was truly nerve-racking!"

"Yeah, I've never encountered so many Demonic Evils before."

"But luckily, we made it through."

"Right, thank goodness it's over. It was like a dream."

"Let's find somewhere to drink tonight!"

"Absolutely. We're not going home sober!"

"Come on, let's go!"

The boatmen were all relieved to have survived the ordeal and planned to let loose that night.

But Li Xian knew that some things were only just beginning.

When the Demon Suppressing Division in Baihua City learned that the Yunzhou Demon Suppressing Division and Prefectural Army that had escorted the grain ship had been wiped out, they were deeply shocked!

The highest-ranking official of the Baihua City Demon Suppressing Division—the Commander—personally led a team here to investigate what had happened.

A group of officers from the Demon Suppressing Division, dressed in immaculate Cloud-Piercing Crane Uniforms and wearing cold expressions, marched straight onto the grain ship and forcibly took everyone away for questioning in separate places.

This shattered the dreams of many people who had planned to relax and listen to music that night.

The people aboard the grain ship were outer disciples of the Cao Gang. They were all rough-tempered and unruly, and when the Baihua City Demon Suppressing Division clamped down on them so forcefully, they nearly came to blows.

"You can resist if you like. I don't mind adding resisting arrest to your charges. Let's see whether the Cao Gang will dare to oppose our Demon Suppressing Division for your sake!"

Jiang Nanxing, Commander of the Baihua City Demon Suppressing Division, addressed the people on the ship coldly.

Everyone from the Cao Gang looked to Li Xian.

He was the most senior among them, so naturally, he had to make the decision.

"If this is just an investigation, we'll cooperate, of course. But, Lord Jiang, could you be a little gentler with them? They've traveled a long way, and everyone's exhausted."

"Hmph. You want us to be gentle with a bunch of murderers?"

One of Jiang Nanxing's subordinates sneered.

Li Xian looked at him and said expressionlessly, "Until the investigation is complete, there's no verdict. The way you're speaking makes me feel that you're provoking the Cao Gang. I don't mind fighting you."

"You..."

The subordinate was so angry that he was about to speak, but Jiang Nanxing stopped him.

If you keep going, we'll end up fighting whether we want to or not.

"May I ask who you are?" Jiang Nanxing asked.

"I'm Li Xian, Hall Master of the Cao Gang."

"So you're Hall Master Li." Jiang Nanxing nodded. "Would you mind having your people cooperate a little?"

"Cooperating with the investigation is no problem."

Li Xian spread his hands. "But, Lord Jiang, I need to make this clear. These brothers behind me have followed me all this way, and they're deeply loyal to me. In terms of my duties, I can ask them to cooperate with your investigation. But when it comes to feelings, if my brothers are treated unfairly, I can't guarantee they won't do anything rash."

Jiang Nanxing fell silent, fixing Li Xian with a hard stare.

Li Xian wore a faint smile, as if a gentle breeze were brushing his face.

An awkward silence fell over the ship.

In the end, Jiang Nanxing didn't want to make things worse, so he chose to take a step back.

"Fine. We'll do as Hall Master Li says. Treat the Cao Gang brothers courteously."

"Yes, sir!"

Taking the opening, Li Xian said, "You should all cooperate with the esteemed officers of the Demon Suppressing Division. Just tell the truth. There's no need to be afraid."

"Yes, Hall Master Li!"

The Cao Gang disciples shouted in unison, their voices loud and perfectly synchronized.

Afterward, they even gave the Baihua City Demon Suppressing Division's group provocative looks.

It seemed the silent contest had already begun.

When a group closed ranks and stood together against outsiders, everyone's story became perfectly consistent.

So, at a time like this, Jiang Nanxing wasn't going to get the answers he wanted.

"Lord Jiang, everyone from the Cao Gang gave the same account. They all say the Yunzhou Demon Suppressing Division was killed by a Pig Dragon Demonic Evil."

Hearing his subordinate's report, Jiang Nanxing couldn't help but sneer.

"Hmph. What a convenient story, blaming it on a Pig Dragon. Not a single person from the Cao Gang died—not even a scratch on them—while every last member of the Demon Suppressing Division and Prefectural Army was wiped out. And they have the nerve to say that?"

"But they're all clamming up, and we can't exactly use force... There's nothing we can do," the subordinate said helplessly.

Jiang Nanxing nodded to show he understood, then asked, "What's the story with this Cao Gang man, Li Xian? Have you looked into him?"

"We have."

As he spoke, the subordinate handed over the documents.

Jiang Nanxing took them and skimmed through. A moment later, he laughed.

"That brat talks such a big game. I thought he had some powerful background, but it turns out he's just a conceited little fellow who thinks too highly of himself because he has a bit of talent."

The subordinate hesitated, then said, "But I heard that not long ago, he killed a Deputy Gang Leader of the Cao Gang—a Mid-fourth Grade Martialist Realm expert—and rose to power by stepping over the man's corpse."

Jiang Nanxing let out a derisive chuckle. "Our Demon Suppressing Division has never been afraid of some damn genius expert. No one has more experts than we do. He was just so arrogant and overbearing that I thought he might be some lord's son. I didn't want to clash with him and embarrass everyone."

"I see," the subordinate said, sounding only half-convinced.

"Go! Bring the Cao Gang people back and interrogate them again. If they won't talk, use torture until they tell the truth!" Jiang Nanxing ordered with a grand sweep of his hand.

"Then... what should we do with Li Xian?" the subordinate asked quietly.

Jiang Nanxing said confidently, "Leave him to me."

"Yes, sir!"

On the Grand Canal, aboard the grain ship, on the deck.

Li Xian watched expressionlessly as Brother Xin and Wan Cai were held by Demon Suppressing Division officers some distance away.

"Lord Jiang, what does this mean?" Li Xian asked, confused.

Jiang Nanxing sat nearby, looking relaxed. "I have new information. Your Cao Gang people are hiding something about the deaths of the Yunzhou Demon Suppressing Division."

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Nanxing said with complete confidence, "It means you're the real culprits behind the deaths of the Yunzhou Demon Suppressing Division and the Prefectural Army!"

Li Xian narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Lord Jiang, you can't just make wild accusations."

Jiang Nanxing smiled. "What is it, Hall Master Li? Are you afraid?"

A flicker crossed Li Xian's eyes. He replied with a faint, mocking smile, "Why should I be afraid?"

Jiang Nanxing said, "Afraid I'll find evidence that you killed them!"

"Find it? How will you find it?"

Li Xian glanced at Brother Xin and Wan Cai, who were being pinned to the deck like chicks, and smiled.

"Like this? Beating them until they confess?"

"Hahaha..."

Jiang Nanxing burst into laughter. "So what if I do? As long as I find evidence that you killed them, the methods don't matter!"

Li Xian said, "Lord Jiang, you're beating people until they confess and framing the innocent. Do you have any regard for the law?"

Jiang Nanxing felt that everything was already under control and victory was within reach. Li Xian would soon be his prisoner, and his laughter grew even more unrestrained.

"The law? In Baihua City, I am the law!!!"

That was exactly the line Li Xian had been waiting for.

His expression turned strange. He looked back into the ship and said, "Lord Jiang, you heard that."

The smile on Jiang Nanxing's face froze.