The Fire

The night was deep, and all was silent.

Black and White Divine Palace had bid farewell to the bustle of daytime and settled into utter calm.

Yet beneath that calm, undercurrents surged. Disciples patrolling through the night hid in the shadows, eyes wide as they watched for anyone suspicious.

The poisoning incident a few days ago had left everyone on edge. The number of night patrols had doubled, and the storehouses in particular had been protected by several additional arrays, for fear they might be poisoned again.

But this time, it was no longer the storehouses that suffered.

"Fire! The Inspection Hall is on fire!"

As flames shot into the sky, countless disciples cried out.

The blaze spread at astonishing speed, engulfing the entire hall in moments.

Just then, an angry snort rang out from the sky, followed by a gigantic hand pressing down from above.

With that single press, the flames vanished. But the Inspection Hall's roof beams had also collapsed beneath the palm, reducing it to ruins.

The next moment, a figure appeared before the wreckage of the Inspection Hall. It was Yue Xinchans.

Yue Xinchans stood with his hands behind his back, his presence imposing even without anger. "Where's Fu Dongliu?"

"Your subordinate is here!"

A streak of black light shot over, and Fu Dongliu arrived at once. Unfortunately, no matter how fast he was, he still wasn't as fast as Yue Xinchans.

Before the black light could even coalesce, Yue Xinchans had seized it in one hand. The light danced in his grasp, barely managing to form Fu Dongliu's face. "Grand Hall Master, your subordinate..."

"Someone burned down your own lair," Yue Xinchans said coldly. "The poisoning remains unsolved, and now this has happened too. As an Inspector, how can you show your face before me?"

"Please calm your anger, Grand Hall Master!" Fu Dongliu cried. "Your subordinate has already uncovered some clues."

Yue Xinchans loosened his grip. The black light fell and transformed into Fu Dongliu himself.

He knelt before Yue Xinchans and, this time, dared not conceal anything. He recounted everything that had happened.

Yue Xinchans listened, his anger rising. He slapped Fu Dongliu across the face. "Fool! How dare you hide this from me!"

"Your subordinate was wrong!"

"Where's Luo Qiuzhen?"

"Your subordinate is here."

Yue Xinchans said, "What's your opinion on this matter?"

Luo Qiuzhen knelt and replied, "Reporting to the Grand Hall Master, this disciple suspects the Wood Puppet Sect is behind it."

"Your reason?"

"The person acting in secret was skilled in wood-element techniques. Besides, the thing he used to sneak into the storehouse must have been some kind of small puppet. Everyone knows the Wood Puppet Sect excels at wood-element techniques and controlling puppets, and that it has long been at odds with the Divine Palace. This disciple suspects someone from the Wood Puppet Sect snuck in to sabotage us."

Yue Xinchans nodded repeatedly as he listened. Black and White Divine Palace and the Wood Puppet Sect had always been at odds, and it was common practice for both sects to plant spies in each other's ranks.

Luo Qiuzhen's theory made perfect sense.

But he didn't want a rough guess. He said bluntly, "Find the culprit."

Luo Qiuzhen replied, "I have a general idea of where to look."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

Luo Qiuzhen said, "The purpose of setting fire to the Inspection Hall was likely to destroy the records and prevent me from tracing him. That means the target is very likely among the suspects we identified earlier."

"But the records have already been burned."

"The records are gone, but the one hundred and twenty-six suspects are still in my head. No one can steal them."

"Hm? You memorized them all?" Yue Xinchans was slightly surprised.

Even cultivators found it difficult to remember everything at a glance. Luo Qiuzhen had only spent a few days examining the records, yet he had memorized every suspect.

Luo Qiuzhen said, "Yes. This disciple memorized them all."

Yue Xinchans gave Luo Qiuzhen an approving look, then turned to Fu Dongliu, his face darkening. "Your assistant is quite capable, while you're a complete fool. You have three days to find the culprit!"

With that, he swept away.

Fu Dongliu had been thoroughly humiliated by Yue Xinchans. Instead of feeling grateful to Luo Qiuzhen, he looked at him with a trace of malice.

Seeing this, Luo Qiuzhen understood. He knew he had earned Fu Dongliu's resentment, but his expression remained unchanged.

Watching from a distance, Ning Ye smiled faintly.

Unlike last time, he had come to watch the show in person. In this era, there was no rule requiring uninvolved parties to leave during an investigation, so whenever something happened, everyone rushed over at once. Since Yue Xinchans was involved, Ning Ye couldn't use the Kunlun Mirror to watch and had to come himself. Fortunately, Fu Dongliu hadn't gone mad this time and dragged everyone in for questioning. After all, most people had come to put out the fire, though in reality they hadn't managed to do anything.

The results were fairly good. He hadn't expected Luo Qiuzhen to suspect the Wood Puppet Sect, which was a welcome development. Another unexpected gain was that Fu Dongliu had grown jealous of Luo Qiuzhen. That was good. Luo Qiuzhen was meticulous and difficult to deal with, and could well become a stumbling block in Ning Ye's plans. But now it seemed Ning Ye might not have to deal with him personally.

As the crowd dispersed, Fu Dongliu looked at the ruined Inspection Hall and said, "Xi Jiang, find some people to rebuild the Inspection Hall. You have two days."

The disciple named Xi Jiang hurriedly agreed. Fu Dongliu left, and Xi Jiang called out, "The Inspection Hall is being rebuilt! Anyone skilled in construction, come sign up. We must finish within two days. Rewards will depend on your contribution!"

Ning Ye went over at once. "This disciple is willing to help."

"You know construction techniques?"

"This disciple does not."

"Then why are you here?"

"But this disciple knows talismans and can use them to perform construction techniques."

Using talismans to perform construction techniques? That would cost a fortune.

Xi Jiang looked at Ning Ye in surprise. Ning Ye said, "This disciple was one of the people poisoned earlier, and still hasn't recovered. The fire at the Inspection Hall was most likely the work of the same poisoner. I despise his character and only wish to do what little I can to make up for my weakness. I no longer care about the cost."

"So that's how it is. All right, you're in." Xi Jiang understood Ning Ye's intentions a little better.

Sometimes people acted not for profit, but because their feelings drove them to.

Since they were all cultivators, everyone worked quickly. In just one night, they cleared away all the rubble. Some disciples used spells to move huge timbers into place and erect the building, while others set down arrays to reinforce the hall and protect the surrounding area.

Because Ning Ye was skilled with talismans, he could take part in any task. Though his body was frail, he did everything he could, earning the goodwill of everyone in the Inspection Hall.

No one noticed that wherever Ning Ye went, tiny blue specks fell into the foundations, between the pillars, among the roof beams, and beneath the tiles, before quickly disappearing.

Two days later, the Inspection Hall had been rebuilt.

Inspection Hall.

Fu Dongliu sat in the seat of honor, his expression gloomy. "Tomorrow is the third day. You still have nothing to show for it?"

There were hundreds of suspects. With so many targets, it was practically the same as having none.

What was more, many of them had powerful backers. If they got it wrong, they would offend a whole host of people.

But Yue Xinchans's task had to be completed!

The crowd held their breath, not one person daring to answer.

Fu Dongliu's gaze fell on Luo Qiuzhen. "Qiuzhen, what about you? Have you found anything?"

Luo Qiuzhen remained calm. "I have a suspect."

"Who?"

Luo Qiuzhen took out a report he had prepared and placed it on the table. "His name is Wang Sen, a native of Heaven Continent. He is skilled in wood-element spells, proficient in medicine, and has also learned the art of stealth and concealment. He is currently at the middle stage of the Cang Xiang Realm, and has cultivated the Basic Mental Method to the sixth level. Eighty days ago, he visited Huaiyin Mountain. His movements were suspicious, and after he came out, his strength had increased considerably. Some people suspect he had a fortuitous encounter in the mountain."

"Heaven Continent?" Fu Dongliu's eyes narrowed. "Where the Wood Puppet Sect is based?"

"Exactly."

"Why did he come to Black and White Divine Palace?"

"According to him, the Wood Puppet Sect killed his family, and he came to take revenge."

Fu Dongliu said, "But it could also be a false story deliberately spread by the Wood Puppet Sect to send in a spy."

"Exactly."

"Does he have a master?"

"No. He's an ordinary outer sect disciple."

"Do you have any evidence?"

Luo Qiuzhen shook his head slightly.

Looking at Luo Qiuzhen, Fu Dongliu suddenly understood something.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Investigate him thoroughly. You'll find evidence eventually, won't you? You must give the Grand Hall Master a satisfactory explanation by tomorrow evening."

Luo Qiuzhen lowered his head. "Yes!"