The Big Fish Surfaces, Pointing Directly at the Eastern Palace (Part 1)

Lin Changqing folded the secret letter, a meaningful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Interesting."

He casually handed the letter back to Lu Jingchen.

"I thought the rats in the Capital City had all been cleared out, but I didn't expect such a large one to be hiding."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed in the direction of the Capital City.

According to his assessment, this individual codenamed "Ming Yuan" was by no means simple.

During the massive investigation previously conducted by the Demon Suppressing Division in the Capital City, Xiao Qianjun had personally overseen the operation, preferring to arrest the innocent rather than let a single culprit slip through.

Dozens of court officials had been taken down, and even a third-rank official like the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue had lost his head.

Yet, this "Ming Yuan" had somehow managed to avoid detection.

Either he held a position of such high authority and power that even the Demon Suppressing Division dared not move against him lightly, or his methods were so heaven-defying that he was hidden even deeper than Red Python and Qian Youde.

Regardless of which it was... it meant this fish was far more troublesome than the small fry they had caught before.

Su Wanqing's expression was grave, her tone tinged with urgency.

"Saint Venerable, could the 'matters of the Capital City' mentioned in this letter be the same as the Blood Sacrifice plan during the last Flower Deity Festival?"

"Are they plotting another conspiracy?"

Lin Changqing shook his head slightly.

"Based on these few lines alone, it is impossible to determine who this 'Ming Yuan' actually is."

He turned to look at Lu Jingchen.

"Aside from this letter, was there anything else?"

Lu Jingchen shook his head, a look of shame on his face.

"Reporting to the Prince, your subordinate has already had the entire ancient temple turned upside down."

"Other than this letter, all other documents were burned by them in advance; there was nothing left in the brazier but a pile of ash."

"This letter only escaped because it was pressed beneath the bottom of a chest."

Lin Changqing nodded, showing no sign of blame; finding this single letter was already an unexpected stroke of luck.

He pointed casually at one of the Demon Suppression Guards.

"You, make a copy of the contents of this letter and send it by urgent horse to Chief Xiao in the north of Si Province."

"Tell Xiao Qianjun that a big fish codenamed 'Ming Yuan' is still hiding in the Capital City."

"Tell him to pay close attention to all clues related to this codename during his subsequent clearing operations."

"No matter what, he must drag this big fish out."

The Demon Suppression Guard knelt on one knee, took the secret letter with both hands, and replied in a resonant voice.

"This subordinate obeys!"

He turned and ran quickly toward the woods where the horses were tethered, vaulted into the saddle, and lashed his whip.

The horse galloped toward the north, its hooves kicking up a trail of dust.

Lin Changqing withdrew his gaze and glanced once more at the clearing in front of the ancient temple.

The Demon Suppression Guards were loading the Spirit Crystals, medicinal pills, and weapons recovered from the temple onto carts with practiced efficiency.

Over the past seven days, everyone had become familiar with this routine.

"With this, all the Demon Cult dens within Si Province have been cleared out."

Lin Changqing brushed the dust from his hands, his tone casual.

"One-fourteenth of the mission is complete."

Su Wanqing blinked.

"One-fourteenth? Saint Venerable, what are you calculating?"

"Great Yu has fourteen provinces, and Si Province is merely one of them."

Lin Changqing swung onto Golden Radiance and reached out to pull Su Wanqing up behind him.

Once the remaining thirteen provinces are cleared, I can collect the mission rewards!

"Let's go, next stop—Yong Province."

Golden Radiance raised its head and let out a low roar, its hooves trampling golden lightning as it soared into the sky.

Lu Jingchen hurriedly signaled the remaining Demon Suppression Guards to follow, and the group headed west toward Yong Province.

In a temporary camp in the north of Si Province.

Xiao Qianjun sat in his tent, reviewing the clearing reports sent in from the various commanderies and counties.

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The Demon Cult hideouts within Si Province have all been eradicated, at least five days faster than anticipated.

This was mainly thanks to the terrifying efficiency of Prince Wu'an.

A sweep of divine sense, teleportation through space, a thought to obliterate, and the job was done.

While other teams took at least half a day to clear one hideout, Prince Wu'an didn't even need the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Just as Xiao Qianjun was about to order the camp to be struck and move to the next province, hurried hoofbeats could be heard from outside the tent.

"Report—!"

A Demon Suppression Guard dismounted and rushed into the tent.

"Reporting to Chief Commander Xiao! Prince Wu'an has sent an urgent secret letter!"

He presented the transcribed secret letter with both hands and repeated Lin Changqing's words verbatim.

Xiao Qianjun took the secret letter and unfolded it.

His expression changed instantly.

"Ming Yuan... the matter in the Capital City... I hope Your Excellency will continue to mediate..."

He murmured the words on the letter, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

"Well said, 'Ming Yuan'!"

He slammed the table, splashing tea everywhere.

"This Seat personally oversaw the Capital City, leading the Demon Suppression Guard to search house by house, again and again."

"Dozens of officials were apprehended, and even that beast Qian Youde was executed by a thousand cuts, yet there was still a big fish hiding in the Capital City!"

His face was ashen, his eyes filled with anger and self-reproach.

Not only was this big fish not discovered, but it was also secretly communicating with the Demon Cult.

If this were to get out, where would the Chief Commander of the Demon Suppressing Division's reputation stand?

More importantly.

He recalled when the Capital City Branch Sect was wiped out, and he was interrogating the key members under the Martial Saint Red Python.

Although those people had restrictions in their bodies, which would cause them to die on the spot if they tried to leak crucial information.

But before they died, the reactions of a few of them were very strange.

The tone they used when mentioning the insider in the Capital City was even more cautious and reserved than when they mentioned Qian Youde.

It was as if Qian Youde was just a decoy, and the real big shot was hidden even deeper.

At the time, he hadn't paid much attention, thinking it was just the Demon Cult followers being mysterious.

Now, seeing this secret letter... those strange reactions all made sense!

Xiao Qianjun paced back and forth a couple of times, forcing himself to calm down.

To have not revealed any flaws during the large-scale search personally overseen by him, this "Ming Yuan" was definitely not simple.

Either they held a high position, or they were extremely experienced and knew the Demon Suppression Division's search methods like the back of their hand!

Whichever the case, they had to be apprehended as soon as possible.

Otherwise, even if all the Demon Cult hideouts in the Fourteen Provinces of Great Yu were destroyed, as long as this big fish remained lurking in the imperial court.

It would inevitably be a huge hidden danger in the future!

Xiao Qianjun turned to his adjutant and gave an order, his voice as sharp as a knife.

"Pass down the order!"

"Effective immediately, all documents, secret letters, and account books seized during any clearing operations are to be meticulously screened."

"As soon as any clue related to the codename 'Ming Yuan' is found, report it urgently without a moment's delay!"

"Also, notify the Capital City Headquarters and have them secretly investigate all officials in the Capital City."

"Re-examine everyone who was missed in the last large-scale search, not a single one is to be let go!"

"Better to wrongly accuse a thousand than to let one escape!"

The adjutant cupped his fists, accepted the order, and quickly walked out of the tent.

Xiao Qianjun sat back down in his chair and reread the secret letter.

His gaze fell on the distorted demon rune at the end, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Ming Yuan... no matter how deeply you hide, this Seat will dig you out this time!"

In the following days, the entire clearing operation across the Great Yu Dynasty revolved around one core.

Unearthing "Ming Yuan."

Lin Changqing led Lu Jingchen and the Demon Suppression Guard, sweeping through various Demon Cult hideouts within Yong Province.

Every time they eradicated a location, he would personally sift through the captured documents and secret letters.

He wanted to see if there were any more clues about "Ming Yuan."

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