Rogue Cultivator Forces, the Water Earl Revived

After returning to the Anping Demon-Suppression Office, the tension wound tight inside them finally eased a fraction.

Chu Bai wasted no time. He immediately dismissed the assembled demon-slaying squad, ordering only Feng Qin to take men and set a tight perimeter.

In the duty room, agarwood slowly burned in the incense burner. Han Xingmo sat to one side, his face pale, while two capable deputies pinned Qi Pan down like a dead dog.

Zhang Cheng sat in the main seat and placed the Brook Water Earl Seal on the table. It was covered in cracks, yet still gave off a faint golden light.

The golden light flickered in the dim room, illuminating their grim faces.

Chu Bai reported everything that had happened at First-Line Gorge in meticulous detail, from the black fog sealing off the river to Qi Pan diving underwater to destroy the evidence, and then Wei Chuan arriving with an official writ to seize the seal by force.

When he finished, Zhang Cheng's brows knotted tight. He let out a deep sigh.

"Mentor."

Chu Bai raised his head and fixed Zhang Cheng with a sharp gaze. "Wei Chuan of the Inspection Office tried to kill us and seize the seal the moment he arrived. He acted with such arrogance, and that Lord Sima even activated the writ's pressure from afar. They clearly came prepared."

"In your opinion, could that Lord Sima of the Inspection Office have been behind the attempt on the Water Earl's life?"

The air in the duty room seemed to still. Han Xingmo held his breath too, watching Zhang Cheng closely.

Yet after a long moment of thought, Zhang Cheng slowly shook his head.

"Assassinating a Principal Eighth Rank Water Earl is tantamount to rebellion. I don't believe that Sima of the Inspection Office was