Old Approval Document

"Only one Spirit Beast transfer approval document number was registered."

After the hunting grounds manager finished speaking, he immediately had someone locate the corresponding document by its number. Spirit Beasts regularly entered and left the Royal Hunting Grounds, and all related records were kept on file. Before long, the approval document bearing that number was delivered before them.

The hunting grounds manager took it and glanced at it, his expression changing at once.

Xue Qinghe asked, "Where did it come from?"

"Prince Xue Xing's Residence."

The gazes of several people nearby fell on Cheng Lan almost simultaneously, and Lu Yuan looked over as well. There was no obvious panic on Cheng Lan's face. He merely held out his hand. "Let me see."

The hunting grounds manager looked at Xue Qinghe. Seeing that he did not stop him, he handed over the document. Cheng Lan read through it from beginning to end, then quickly frowned. "There's something wrong with this approval document."

The hunting grounds manager asked, "Is the seal fake?"

"The seal is real, and the number appears to be correct. But Prince Xue Xing's Residence stopped using this format some time ago." Cheng Lan pointed at several places on the document. "If I remember correctly, this should be an old approval document that was already voided."

Xue Qinghe did not continue speculating. He directly ordered someone to check the old records using the number, and the results soon came back.

This number had indeed been used over three months ago. At that time, the Royal Academy held a hunting grounds training exercise. Three century-old Azure-Striped Deer sent by Prince Xue Xing's Residence had entered the hunting grounds through the western transfer gate, and this was the approval document left behind from that time.

But the document now before them bore last night's date, and its transfer contents had been changed to an injured Spirit Beast temporarily delivered into the Royal Hunting Grounds. Someone had clearly tampered with its contents in secret.

After hearing this, Cheng Lan's face grew even more somber than before. "By the rules, a document that has already been used should have been destroyed with the other old files long ago."

Xue Qinghe looked at him. "Who in the prince's residence could access it?"

"Quite a few people handled it. During old-file disposal, it would pass through several more hands. This document alone can't tell us who took it."

Xue Qinghe did not jump to conclusions simply because they had discovered it was an old approval document. He quickly shifted his attention to the hunting grounds guards who had been stationed at the western transfer gate the previous night.

"Who brought the document?"

The guard had been nervous ever since he was brought over. At the question, he visibly hesitated. The hunting grounds manager's expression darkened as he said coldly, "Think carefully before you answer."

Only then did the guard speak. "It was Han Song."

The hunting grounds manager's expression changed immediately. "Han Song came personally?"

"Yes." The guard hurriedly explained, "Around midnight last night, Manager Han arrived with a Spirit Beast transport cart. He said an injured Spirit Beast had been delivered unexpectedly from outside and needed to be placed in the quarantine area first, with the records to be completed after daybreak."

"And you let him in?"

"Manager Han was already in charge of Spirit Beast transfers. Besides, the approval document he brought had the seal of Prince Xue Xing's Residence, and the number was genuine. I never thought there would be a problem."

Han Song was responsible for Spirit Beast transfers to begin with. With an approval document whose seal and number both checked out, it was not strange that last night's gate guards had not grown suspicious. Xue Qinghe did not press the matter further here and simply asked, "Where is Han Song?"

The hunting grounds manager immediately sent people to look for him. Less than fifteen minutes later, the guard sent to search hurried back.

"Han Song isn't at his residence."

The hunting grounds manager's face darkened. "When did he leave?"

"No one saw him. We've searched his residence, and several changes of clothes are missing as well."

Upon hearing that, the hunting grounds manager did not delay any longer. He immediately ordered the hunting grounds' main gate and several beast-cart roads leading outside to be sealed, while sending people to search along several small paths around the perimeter. Han Song had handled Spirit Beast transfers here for many years and knew the roads around the Royal Hunting Grounds far better than ordinary guards. Now that he had suddenly vanished, with even several changes of clothes missing, this could no longer be treated as an ordinary departure.

Xue Qinghe gave only one order. "Find him first."

After several teams of hunting grounds guards quickly dispersed, Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze from the approval document.

From the moment Cheng Lan received the document, his attention had remained on its number and format. When they uncovered the old record from three months ago, his expression had not resembled that of someone suddenly caught with damning evidence. Those reactions could only be noted for now. Whether last night's events had anything to do with Prince Xue Xing's Residence was still far too early to determine.

Lu Yuan had no intention of standing around and guessing either. Last night's battle had nearly drained all his Soul Power, and wounds still marked the web of his thumb and beneath his ribs. Deacon Zhao had him sit down and recover for a while. By the time every competing team had confirmed their safe withdrawal and Spirit Hall was ready to return to the city, daylight had fully broken.

Spirit Hall's carriages were parked outside the hunting grounds. As everyone left, they happened to pass along an outer road near where the beast carts were parked. Lu Yuan had only walked a short distance when he saw a figure flash between two empty beast carts ahead.

The man was in his thirties, dressed in inconspicuous gray-brown clothing with a small bundle on his back. He moved quickly, yet constantly avoided areas with more guards. Lu Yuan merely gave him an extra glance and did not act immediately, but a hunting grounds guard searching ahead recognized the man first.

"Han Song!"

The man's steps abruptly halted. The next moment, instead of stopping to explain, he suddenly accelerated and charged straight toward the forest path beside him.

"He's here!"

Several nearby guards immediately gave chase.

Han Song had clearly prepared for this. When his Soul Power erupted, his speed surged, and three Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet in succession. He quickly threw the first two guards chasing him a considerable distance behind. Seeing that he was actually a Soul Elder, Deacon Zhao immediately rushed after him as well.

Lu Yuan, however, did not blindly chase after Han Song with the guards. His Soul Power had been drained only last night, and he had recovered less than his peak condition. There was no advantage in directly pursuing a three-ring Soul Elder who was wholly focused on fleeing.

But Lu Yuan had noticed Han Song's chosen direction when he passed by earlier. The forest path would narrow not far ahead. To the right stood a fence enclosing beast cages, while a low earthen slope lay to the left. Going around from the far side of that slope would allow him to intercept Han Song in advance.

Lu Yuan made his judgment in an instant, then directly vaulted over the earthen slope.

After shaking off two guards in succession, Han Song had just rushed into the narrowest stretch of the forest path when he saw that someone was already standing ahead.

Lu Yuan stood in the middle of the road, the Piercing Spear held horizontally before him.

Han Song froze at first. Once he saw that the one blocking his path was merely a youth, the tension in his eyes noticeably eased. His speed instead increased again, three Spirit Rings circling his body as the Soul Power of a Soul Elder bore down without restraint.

Lu Yuan tightened his grip on the Piercing Spear and did not rush forward to clash head-on. Deacon Zhao and the hunting grounds guards were already pursuing from behind. He only needed to hold this narrow road and delay Han Song for a moment.