Formal Organization

Liu Jiashan gave a slight nod and asked again the questions he had posed earlier in the cell.

By now, Xiao Fan had fully regained consciousness and answered according to the account he had given in the cell.

Everything he said was the truth. As for the things that were inconvenient to mention, he simply left them out—leaving something unsaid was not the same as lying...

Half a truth was still the truth.

At a time like this, honesty was the best response. Lying would only be unwise, since he had no idea what bizarre arts the other party might possess.

"Are matters truly as you said? Is there anything else you need to add?" Liu Jiashan narrowed his eyes and asked again, his tone more forceful.

Xiao Fan showed no unnecessary expression and answered truthfully, "No."

Seeing that his answer was no different from before, Liu Jiashan turned to Eunuch Li for confirmation. "Well?"

"While in the spirit-questioning state, he cannot lie," Eunuch Li concluded.

Liu Jiashan stroked his beard with one hand, then cupped his hands toward Eunuch Li in thanks. "I understand. Many thanks, Eunuch Li."

As Eunuch Li changed his hand signs, his pupils reappeared. The chill wind in the room gradually subsided, and everything returned to normal.

Eh? That was it? Xiao Fan felt unsettled, still haunted by the bizarre scene just now.

Liu Jiashan cupped his hands again. "Eunuch Li, I still have matters to attend to today. When I am free another day, I will personally call upon you to offer my thanks!"

Eunuch Li gave a faint "Mm" and left the interrogation room with the jailer.

"You have proven your honesty. Looks like these things will not be needed after all." As Liu Jiashan spoke, his gaze swept over an entire array of torture instruments.

What a devilish smile. Xiao Fan's mouth twitched as he cursed inwardly.

"May I ask, sir, who was that eunuch just now?" Unable to suppress his curiosity, Xiao Fan asked.

"That was an adjudicator and inspector from the Shadow Pivot Court's Inspectorate. He excels in the mystic arts and knows the art of spirit-questioning, which makes it impossible for you to lie."

Liu Jiashan gave a brief introduction while observing the changes in Xiao Fan's expression.

As expected of those old scheming bastards from the Shadow Pivot Court—there were tests everywhere.

"Since such a miraculous ability exists, why did you not bring me here for questioning from the very beginning?" Xiao Fan voiced his doubt.

Since there was such a convenient skill, why ask twice? What a lunatic! he grumbled inwardly.

Liu Jiashan smiled faintly and came to Xiao Fan's side, his deep-set eyes locking onto him. "The art of spirit-questioning is not omnipotent. Whether something is true or false must still be verified by oneself."

Those abyss-like black eyes seemed capable of swallowing a person alive.

Liu Jiashan dangled Xiao Fan's broken, poisoned dagger in his hand. "You said earlier that you had practiced the art of neutralizing poison since childhood and could dispel toxins within your body?"

"That's right."

Liu Jiashan's expression gradually darkened, and his nose twitched. "What a coincidence. I know the poison on your dagger. It is precisely the Shadow Pivot Court's secret concoction... Red Embroidery Paste."

At those words, Xiao Fan suddenly understood. No wonder the convoy's movements had been exposed—the woman in black most likely had ties to the Shadow Pivot Court!

Liu Jiashan continued, "Anyone poisoned by this will, within half an hour, melt into a puddle of bloody water, like a patch of red embroidery..."

"Since your body can neutralize this poison, you do not mind letting me see it for myself, do you?"

Good grief... not a single person in the Shadow Pivot Court was a decent sort... Xiao Fan cursed inwardly.

"If it can prove I was not lying, then by all means, sir!" Xiao Fan said sternly.

Liu Jiashan pressed the dagger against Xiao Fan's chest and stared into his eyes. "How about I give you one more chance? If there is anything else you have not confessed, confess it quickly now... Otherwise, not even immortals will be able to save you."

"Hmph."

To his surprise, Xiao Fan gave a cold laugh, thrust out his chest, and deliberately cut open his own flesh. "If you want to test me, then test me. Words are useless!"

Liu Jiashan froze slightly, then put away the dagger and laughed. "Good lad, you have guts! It seems you truly were not lying."

Then he patted Xiao Fan on the shoulder. "It is not that I wanted to put you through this. It is just that what you said was far too... unbelievable. I was merely carrying out routine procedure.

"Though you miraculously survived, I must remind you: the mastermind behind the slaughter of the entire convoy clearly intended to silence every last one of you. Do you understand what that means?"

Xiao Fan frowned. "What do you mean, sir?"

"I can let you go home, but what you may encounter after leaving here—I cannot say."

Liu Jiashan changed tack. "Or, you may choose to assist us. At the very least, here, I can guarantee your safety."

They wanted to use me as bait to fish out the mastermind? Xiao Fan instantly understood his intentions.

Just as Liu Jiashan had said, the raiders had slaughtered the entire convoy with the clear intention of silencing them all. That woman in black had even killed the bandits—how could she possibly spare him?

"What exactly do you mean by assisting you, sir?"

The corners of Liu Jiashan's mouth lifted slightly. "You are a capable lad. Wang Jun is already dead, so why not become my Graycoat from now on and assist us in investigating cases?"

Got it... a scapegoat, was it? Still an unregistered Graycoat—someone who could take the blame if things went wrong without implicating the organization...

Sure enough, such flashy tricks had been passed down in one unbroken line since ancient times, Xiao Fan cursed inwardly.

Xiao Fan's thoughts raced as he fell into deep contemplation. He knew how dangerous a position like Graycoat was. The waters behind this matter ran deep; getting involved like this would likely be walking straight into a trap.

That woman in black might have had reason to silence him, but he had already safely delivered Ji Xuanyuan back to the capital. The die was cast. Killing him now would be utterly meaningless and might instead expose her own identity.

Xiao Fan weighed the matter and decided it would be best not to get involved, lest trouble come knocking at his door.

With that thought, he said, "Sir, investigating cases is your business. I'm a victim in this matter too. Though I escaped death by a hair's breadth, I truly don't want to be dragged into it."

Liu Jiashan's expression did not change. "So?"

"About the proposal you just made, sir... may I refuse?" Xiao Fan met Liu Jiashan's eyes and voiced his thoughts.

Rather than become a gray-cloaked agent of the Shadow Pivot Court, he would rather go to Ji Xuanyuan's residence and be an easygoing guard!

"Of course you can. We of the Shadow Pivot Court are a legitimate organization, not bandits." Liu Jiashan did his best to make his smile look kind.

What a legitimate organization... So that was why they had blindfolded him and hauled him here like bandits? Xiao Fan was too powerless even to mock them.

Xiao Fan looked at Liu Jiashan. "Sir, you've finished asking what you needed to ask. May I go home now?"

"Mm... very well. Go back and think it over first. If you change your mind, come find me anytime."

As Liu Jiashan spoke, he took a palm-sized bronze token from his pocket and stuffed it into Xiao Fan's hand. "When you've made up your mind, take this to the Treasure Gathering House in Flower Mist Lane, West District, and pawn this token to the owner."

"This..."

Xiao Fan had just wanted to refuse when Liu Jiashan cut him off. "Take it. One more path means one more choice, doesn't it?"

That did seem to make sense. Xiao Fan put away the bronze token. "All right, I'll hold onto it for now. Sir, can you let me go now?"

"Of course." Liu Jiashan fetched a piece of black cloth and blindfolded Xiao Fan again. "It's the rule."

"I understand."

Afterward, Xiao Fan was led onto a carriage while blindfolded. It rattled and jolted through who knew how many twists and turns before finally stopping at the place where he had been "invited" aboard.

"You may go." Liu Jiashan removed the black cloth from Xiao Fan's head.

"Farewell!"

Xiao Fan climbed down from the carriage, tossed out those words, and turned to leave, eager to get as far away from these black-clad bandits as possible.