"Men in black?"
A sharp, icy glint flashed in Fei Yangming's eyes.
He took a deep breath. "Did you get a good look at who it was?"
Wang Qi shook his head. "No. The man was covered in a black robe from head to toe."
"Only his eyes were exposed. We couldn't make out what he looked like."
Fei Yangming continued, "How tall was he? What did his voice sound like?"
Tang San replied, "About seven feet tall. His voice was a little rough."
"From the way he spoke, it seemed he knew the prefect."
Fei Yangming nodded slightly. "You may leave. Don't tell anyone about this."
Tang San and Wang Qi hurriedly nodded. "Rest assured, Chief Constable. We know what to do."
As he watched the two disappear, a strange glint flickered in Fei Yangming's eyes.
Late that night, in a dark basement.
Three figures appeared there without a sound.
One had a handsome face and a faint blood-red gleam in his eyes. Dressed in a black robe, he exuded an evil, dashing air.
Another wore black from head to toe, revealing only a pair of eyes.
The last was an unremarkable middle-aged man in a gray robe. If you passed him on the street, you wouldn't give him a second glance.
The gray-robed man spoke. "My lords, our informant sent word today."
As he spoke, he handed over a secret letter.
The young man took it and read it after opening the envelope.
His eyes narrowed slightly. He looked up at the other masked man.
"Someone in a mask went to see Fang Qingyu this afternoon."
"He seemed to be someone Fang Qingyu knew, and he sent the guards away."
"Judging by his build, voice, and Fang Qingyu's reaction, I suspect it may have been Huang Tairen of the Demon Extermination Hall."
At this, the masked man's presence turned subtly heavier.
"You mean they may have found something out?"
"There's a chance."
The masked man clenched his fist, and it crackled.
"How are the preparations? Have all the men arrived?"
"My ten elite subordinates are all here. Every one of them is at the peak of Body Strengthening, just one step away from surviving the Human Tribulation and reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment."
"In a little city like Jade City, there are at most ten people at that level."
"If they've become suspicious, we'll strike ahead of schedule."
"Our preparations aren't quite complete, but they're just as unprepared."
The black-robed man spoke in an icy voice, without the slightest hesitation.
The handsome man nodded. "That works."
"Then we'll set it for three days from now."
"A moonless night, perfect for killing."
"Once we take Jade City, I'll send word immediately. The Northern Barbarians will march south and attack the pass within a day."
"Then you'll lead your troops to Iron Blood Pass and join forces with them from within to break through."
"Good."
A conspiracy was stirring in Jade City, while ordinary people remained unaware that danger was quietly drawing near.
Early the next morning, Wen Taiquan found Li Qing.
"Old Qin, you've been cooped up here for half a month. Why don't you go out and stretch your legs?"
"You'll turn into a good-for-nothing if you're not careful."
Wen Taiquan laughed heartily.
Li Qing shook his head. "Well, what else can I do?"
"The Wang family died so horribly. I can't shake the feeling someone's got their eye on me. I'm safer staying in the Demon Extermination Hall."
Wen Taiquan shrugged helplessly. "You're far too cautious. You worry too much."
"The Wang family's deaths were most likely just a bloody coincidence caused by some member of the Blood Demon Sect."
"Why would they target you specifically?"
"Only you, me, and the people above know about this. You were the one who provided the information."
"Do you think I'm a mole, or that someone above sold you out and colluded with the Blood Demon Sect?"
Li Qing hurriedly shook his head. "Of course not. I'm just careful by habit."
"I'm not going out until I've holed up for at least half a year or so."
"I'll leave the daily shopping to you."
Li Qing slapped Wen Taiquan warmly on the shoulder, as if he were counting on him for everything.
Wen Taiquan sighed helplessly. "Forget it. You really are no fun."
"A few new courtesans have arrived at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion these past few days. They're beauties of the highest order."
"I was going to invite you to hear some music, but you're such a disappointment."
His words were full of temptation, with just a touch of regret.
If Li Qing had been the shy sort, with a weakness for pleasure, Wen Taiquan might have talked him into it.
But Li Qing merely shook his head emphatically. "No, no. I'm too afraid of dying to take any risks."
"Go enjoy yourself. Tell me all about it when you get back."
A roguish grin spread across Li Qing's face as Wen Taiquan watched him helplessly.
"Fine. Stay here and drool, then."
With that, he turned and left the Archives Hall.
The moment he turned away, his expression darkened, and deep killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Li Qing watched him leave, his smile unchanged, though his gaze was cold.
By now, he was one hundred percent certain that Wen Taiquan was colluding with the Blood Demon Sect.
He was a sleeper agent planted here to monitor the entire Demon Extermination Hall.
He might even be just one of them. There could be others doing the same thing.
"The Blood Demon Sect has been planning this for a long time."
Elder Huang chuckled. "You're quite the actor."
"I couldn't spot a thing wrong."
"You were practically arm in arm. If I didn't know the truth, I'd have thought you two were the best of friends."
Li Qing let out two cold laughs. "Best of friends? He wouldn't be thinking of stabbing me in the back if we were."
Two days passed in a flash. Li Qing received a detailed report from Wen Taiquan every day.
All the reports came from the informants under Huang Tairen.
Every one of Wen Taiquan's actions throughout the day was recorded in exhaustive detail.
Even when he went to the toilet, and how long he stayed, was noted.
The Jade Tablet contained three days' worth of detailed movements, and by now it had exposed the truth.
"The Hundred Flowers Pavilion, which Wen Taiquan visits every day, contains an organization connected to the Blood Demon Sect. It's a place for exchanging information."
Li Qing pondered the Jade Tablet's findings. "This information should be useful."
With that, he immediately compiled the tablet's deductions.
Knock, knock, knock.
He tapped the table three times, and a figure emerged from thin air.
"What is it?" a cold voice asked.
"This is the truth behind Wen Taiquan's daily activities. Please pass it to the commander."
A trace of surprise appeared in the mysterious informant's eyes. He hadn't noticed anything amiss about Wen Taiquan, yet the man before him had spotted a problem just by reading his reports.
He couldn't help feeling deeply shaken.
"Understood." Without hesitation, he took the envelope.