Only after finishing all this did Lin Hu speak.
"Xu Province Governor Sun Tai has been acting strangely. There's a strong chance he's secretly colluding with the Holy Demon God Sect."
"I suspect he's been having unspeakable dealings with the Demon Cult behind everyone's backs."
He turned his gaze to Han Meng and Sun Zhengyang, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Commander Han, Commissioner Sun. Take Sun Tai and all his trusted men into the Demon Suppressing Division's prison at once. Interrogate them thoroughly."
"I'm sure we can pry plenty of valuable information out of him."
"Perhaps that will help us break through the impasse facing the purge in Xu Province."
Hearing this, Sun Tai, whose mouth had been sealed with Spiritual Power, opened his eyes wide.
He shook his head frantically, making muffled sounds in his throat.
He wanted to say that he'd been framed, that Lin Hu was abusing his authority and persecuting a loyal official. But he couldn't get a single word out, only a jumble of muffled whimpers.
Watching this, Han Meng and Sun Zhengyang both looked troubled.
Xu Province Governor Sun Tai had served in Xu Province for several years.
Though he'd always been a little arrogant, he'd done his job well enough.
The two of them found it hard to believe he'd secretly colluded with the Holy Demon God Sect.
Sun Zhengyang hesitated, then cautiously spoke up.
"Your Excellency, could there... be some misunderstanding?"
He carefully chose his words, keeping his tone as respectful as possible.
"Inspector Sun has served in Xu Province for many years. He may be somewhat headstrong, but I find it hard to believe he'd collude with the Demon Cult in such a serious matter."
"Do you have any conclusive evidence, Your Excellency? If we rashly arrest and interrogate a province's governor, it may cause quite a stir..."
Han Meng chimed in. His voice was gruff, but he too sounded cautious.
"Indeed, Your Excellency. Inspector Sun is, after all, the chief official of a province. If we arrest him without conclusive evidence and it turns out he was innocent, it'll be difficult to settle the matter."
"Why not place Inspector Sun under house arrest first, while we investigate more thoroughly? If we find something, we can arrest him then."
After listening to them, Lin Hu turned to look at the two men.
His gaze was calm, but his commanding presence made them both hold their breath.
"Do as I say."
His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
"If he's found to be innocent, I'll personally ask His Majesty to punish me."
"But for now—"
"Do as I say."
Han Meng and Sun Zhengyang exchanged a glance. They both saw the helplessness in the other's eyes.
The man before them was a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, a trusted aide of Prince Wu'an, and the bearer of a Purple Gold Token.
In strength, status, and authority, he far surpassed them.
Since he'd given the order, what else could they do but obey?
"We obey."
The two men reluctantly clasped their fists and accepted the order.
Han Meng turned and waved to the soldiers behind him.
"Men, arrest Inspector Sun and all his personal guards. Take them to the Demon Suppressing Division's prison!"
A squad of ferocious-looking soldiers charged forward and bound Sun Tai and his dozen or so guards.
As Sun Tai was dragged away, he continued to struggle frantically, making muffled sounds in his throat.
He looked pleadingly at Han Meng and Sun Zhengyang, hoping they would speak up for him.
But both men avoided his gaze.
They were officials of the imperial court, not Sun Tai's personal guards.
Their envoy carried an Imperial Edict and a token. They could only follow his orders.
As for whether Sun Tai had really colluded with the Demon Cult... they'd find out after questioning him in prison.
Before long, Sun Tai and his guards were taken to the prison at the Demon Suppressing Division Xu Province Branch.
The interrogation began at dusk and continued until dawn the next day.
The Demon Suppressing Division's methods were undeniably brutal.
Whippings, branding, water torture—one torture after another was inflicted on him.
But Sun Tai's resolve proved unexpectedly ironclad.
No matter how they beat, branded, or dunked him, he stuck to the same line.
"I'm innocent! I've always been loyal to the imperial court. I've never colluded with any Demon Cult!"
"I've heard of your methods of torturing confessions! You think you can beat a confession out of me? Dream on!"
"I'll send a memorial to His Majesty! I'll accuse Lin Hu of abusing his authority and persecuting a loyal official!"
His roars echoed through the cell until his voice went hoarse.
Each time he passed out and they doused him with cold water to wake him, he repeated the same words over and over.
Meanwhile, he kept turning one thing over in his mind.
All his dealings with the Holy Demon God Sect had been conducted with extreme secrecy.
Every Secret Letter had been exchanged face to face, leaving no written evidence.
All the Spirit Crystals and resources had been routed through third parties, leaving the books spotless.
Even if the Demon Suppressing Division investigated, they wouldn't find anything substantial.
As long as he held his tongue, this imprisonment would only be temporary.
But if he confessed... that would be the end of everything.
He would never forget the sight of Qian Youde being flayed alive.
At the time, Emperor Yu had wanted to strike fear into every official in the imperial court.
He'd ordered every official in the capital to personally witness the execution. Not one had been allowed to stay away.
He'd also ordered the entire execution to be recorded clearly on an Image Recording Stone, then sent at top speed to every province and commandery, where local officials were required to summon all their subordinates to watch it together...
Besides, the Holy Demon God Sect treated traitors ten times more horrifically than the imperial court's torturers did.
If he revealed information about the Branch Sect, even if the imperial court spared his life, the Demon Cult would never let him go.
Then not only would he die, but his entire clan, down to the ninth degree of kinship, would be wiped out.
So he had to hold on.
As long as he lasted until someone in the imperial court spoke up for him, or Lin Hu was forced to release him for lack of evidence,
there would still be a way out!
At daybreak.
Sun Zhengyang dragged his exhausted body into a study at the Xu Province Branch Yamen.
Lin Hu sat behind the desk, going through a stack of account books and documents seized from the Prefectural Governor's Mansion.
He leafed through them quickly, page after page, his gaze sharp as lightning.
"Your Excellency."
Sun Zhengyang clasped his fists in greeting, looking troubled.
"We've questioned him all night, but Sun Tai still won't say anything."
He shook his head, his tone laced with helplessness.
"We tried every method. He insists he's innocent and says... says he'll send a memorial to His Majesty accusing you, Your Excellency."
Lin Hu didn't even look up. He continued leafing through the account books.
"Useless."
Sun Zhengyang's expression stiffened, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes.
He'd spent most of his life in the Demon Suppressing Division, and had interrogated at least eight or nine hundred prisoners.
Anyone would feel annoyed at being called useless to his face.
But the man before him was a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, a trusted aide of Prince Wu'an. He couldn't afford to offend him.
Suppressing his displeasure, Sun Zhengyang spoke again.
"Your Excellency, I still think there may truly be some misunderstanding."
"I had already skimmed through Sun Tai's account books and documents, and found nothing unusual."
"His record in Xu Province over the years has been unremarkable, but he hasn't committed any major offenses either."
"Is it really wise to brand him an accomplice of the Demon Cult based solely on his having blocked your entry to the mansion? Isn't that a little... too hasty?"
He tried to soften his tone, but his meaning was clear.
If Lin Hu had arrested Sun Tai without conclusive evidence, then Lin Hu was in the wrong.
Lin Hu finally looked up and closed the account book in his hands.
He looked at Sun Zhengyang and smiled meaningfully. "You think I'm framing him?"
Sun Zhengyang hurriedly lowered his head.
"I wouldn't dare. I only think..."
"Enough."
Lin Hu cut him off and stood up.
"If you can't get anything out of him, then I'll interrogate him myself."
He casually tossed the account book onto the desk and strode toward the prison.
Sun Zhengyang hurried after him.
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