The higher authorities take over

Still, Chu Hang could be a little flighty, so to be safe, Yi Shuyuan added a qualification after nodding.

"As long as you haven't committed any crimes, Brother Chu, I won't let Lord Wu know."

"You worry too much, Mr. Yi. How could I possibly do something like that!"

Chu Hang hurried to deny it, lest the man opposite him misunderstand. After gathering his thoughts for a moment, he spoke again.

"Mr. Yi, you are no ordinary man. Since you can see ghosts and gods, surely you also believe there are many demons and monsters in this world?"

Yi Shuyuan raised an eyebrow slightly. Not only did he believe in them, he had encountered them himself.

"Please go on, Brother Chu."

Seeing that Yi Shuyuan offered no objection, Chu Hang felt greatly reassured. He nodded and continued.

"Mr. Yi, I told my parents about this when I was little. At first, no one believed me. Later, they did invite some ritual masters to perform rites, but those men were merely fishing for fame and had no real abilities. This is also why I've always been reluctant to go home over the years."

"Oh? Is there a demon in your home?"

Yi Shuyuan's interest was piqued, while Chu Hang's expression grew complicated.

"I'm not sure it's really a demon. After all, demons eat people, don't they? From childhood to adulthood, from when I knew nothing to when I understood things, I never saw anyone at home get eaten. In fact, apart from me, no one even noticed anything strange."

"Not all demons eat people. Have you forgotten what happened at the tea shelter during that sudden mountain downpour, Young Master Chu?"

Yi Shuyuan said this with a smile. Understanding dawned on Chu Hang, and he nodded, thinking that they really had encountered demons that day. Still, it was hard to say whether they had escaped harm only because Mr. Yi had been there. Of course, he would not argue with Yi Shuyuan.

"You're right, sir! The situation in my home is rather unusual. Starting when I was seven, I often had the same nightmare whenever I stayed there. A monster whose appearance I couldn't make out kept coming to find me in my dreams."

Yi Shuyuan frowned slightly. Chu Hang had clearly become immersed in his memories, and a trace of dread crept into his voice.

"The monster's shape was indistinct and never stayed the same. Sometimes it resembled a beast, sometimes a person. Every so often, it would dissolve into smoke and gather itself together again. Whenever it appeared, it let out piercing howls, then wailed and babbled things I couldn't understand at all. It was terribly unnerving..."

"And then?"

Yi Shuyuan asked, waiting for Chu Hang to continue.

"There was no 'then'! If there had been, how could I still be sitting here now? Oh, one of the ritual masters who came to my house back then might have had some ability. Though he gave my father every assurance that nothing was wrong at home, when he saw how frightened I was, he secretly told me that if I really was afraid, I should try spending less time there."

By the end, Yi Shuyuan understood. No wonder Chu Hang called himself half a Yuanjiang County native. From the age of thirteen, he had spent most of his time either staying with his uncle, Wu Minggao, or living in Moon Province.

"Mr. Yi, what sort of demon do you think the creature in my dreams is?"

Yi Shuyuan did not know either. All he could do was tell the truth while offering Chu Hang some reassurance.

"I haven't seen it, so it's difficult to say what it is. But judging from your description, Brother Chu, even if it really is a demon, it doesn't seem intent on harming you. At the very least, it lacks the ability. It seems more like..."

Yi Shuyuan was not sure whether what he was about to say would sound strange, but that was the impression Chu Hang's account had given him.

"It seems more like it's begging you for something."

"Begging me?"

Chu Hang's eyes widened, and he said rather indignantly,

"More like I'm begging it! I begged it to stop frightening me. I begged for years, and it only got worse!"

"Hmm?"

Something stirred in Yi Shuyuan's mind, and he suddenly smiled.

"Brother Chu, when did you first beg it not to frighten you? Don't tell me it was when you were seven?"

Chu Hang frowned and thought hard for a while.

"Well... it was so long ago, and I was little. I've forgotten exactly when, but it was probably around then. Wait... now that you mention it, I really didn't have that many nightmares before that."

At this point, Chu Hang broke off and looked at Yi Shuyuan in sudden realization.

"Mr. Yi, are you saying that because I begged it, it realized I could dream of it and hear it, so it kept coming into my dreams to frighten me?"

More likely, it kept coming to beg you, didn't it?

Yi Shuyuan did not spell it out. He simply nodded.

"That's possible, though we can't be certain yet. When an opportunity arises, I'll go home with you and investigate what's really going on."

Chu Hang was delighted.

"That's wonderful! Sir, when do we leave?"

"We can't go now. Never mind that the current case isn't over-even after it is, I'll at least have to finish compiling the county gazetteer."

Thinking of how his uncle Wu Minggao looked when angry, Chu Hang immediately calmed down.

"Yes, yes, yes. We can't rush this! Come, let's drink!"

Chu Hang stood to pour Yi Shuyuan some wine, but Yi Shuyuan was looking down the street into the distance.

Before long, hoofbeats and footsteps approached. A large party came from the southern end of town, some riding horses and others leading them, with armored soldiers clearing the way.

Chu Hang followed Yi Shuyuan's gaze and soon spotted the approaching party as well.

"People from the imperial court?"

"Brother Chu, carry on eating here. I need to hurry back to the County Office."

Yi Shuyuan stood. With a procession like this, the county magistrate would surely have someone beat the drum to summon everyone shortly. It would not do for him to be absent.

"Hey, wait! I have to take a look too!"

Chu Hang rose along with Yi Shuyuan. The two hurried downstairs, settled the bill at the counter, and headed for the County Office together.

Sure enough, before long, the office drum sounded.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom..."

At the sound of the drum, most of the people in the County Office ran toward the courtroom. Some townspeople also gathered outside to watch.

By the time Yi Shuyuan and Chu Hang reached the courtroom, many of the office staff were already there. Though Chu Hang was not one of them, everyone around knew who he was, and no one would expose him.

Most of the clerks stood outside the hall. Only a few officials and the heads of the various departments were inside. A military official wearing a saber and a civil official wearing a sword stood before the magistrate's desk.

Once nearly everyone had arrived, the civil official unfurled the silk scroll in his hands.

"We, inheriting Heaven's august mandate, decree: the case of the Jia family in Yuanjiang County is grave and has far-reaching implications. Effective today, inspectors dispatched by the Three Judicial Offices shall take over. The Yuanjiang County Office has judged impartially and acted appropriately. Rewards shall be bestowed upon the conclusion of the case. Respect this decree-"

The four Yuanjiang County officials, led by Lin Xiu, and the assembled department heads did not need to kneel. They all cupped their hands and accepted the decree.

"We receive Your Majesty's decree and thank you for your grace!"

With the imperial decree issued, Lin Xiu and the others breathed a great sigh of relief. Their nerves, taut all this time, finally relaxed. At the very least, this meant the emperor knew what was happening. They would no longer be fighting alone.

Standing outside the hall, Yi Shuyuan pursed his lips. How dull. He had wanted to stand inside and experience the atmosphere up close, but apparently he was not even qualified to enter.

After reading the decree, the civil official remained very courteous and said with a smile,

"Lord Lin, would you take us to see where Jia Yuntong and the other suspects are being held?"

"Yes. Please follow me, my lords!"

The group left the courtroom and soon reached the dungeon. Some of Jia Yuntong's former subordinates and servants were confined in the outer section, while several people from Rivers and Lakes were held in the area for serious offenders farther inside. In the innermost cell was Jia Yuntong, like a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring.

Earlier, in Wu Prefecture City, imperial officials had likewise arrived, along with a considerable number of armored soldiers.

Rather than heading to the prefectural offices first, however, the armored soldiers split into several groups. Led by military officials, they immediately charged toward the Skywhale Gang's branches.

A menacing force of armored soldiers came rushing forward, some on horseback. Pedestrians in the street scrambled aside in alarm.

"Make way, make way! We're apprehending criminals wanted by the imperial court-"

"Bystanders, clear the way-"

"Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud..."

The soldiers approached in a clatter of overlapping footsteps, a forest of spearheads all pointing in unison toward a sprawling three-story building.

"What's going on? This is the Skywhale Gang's headquarters. Officers, surely there's been some misunderstanding?"

The military official in command sat on horseback behind the armored soldiers, coldly watching the uneasy people from Rivers and Lakes who had emerged.

"Hmph, a misunderstanding? By order of the imperial court: the Skywhale Gang has coerced and incited officials to meddle in the salt trade, and has used witchcraft to persecute imperial officials. They are traitorous rebels! Soldiers, heed my command! Advance with weapons drawn! Kill every member of the Skywhale Gang without exception-"

"Yes, sir-"

The soldiers roared in unison and advanced with weapons in hand.

Such treatment made it clear that, with people from Rivers and Lakes growing ever more brazen, the imperial court was killing the chicken to warn the monkeys by making an example of the Skywhale Gang. It was even splashing a fair amount of dirty water onto the gang.

Countless armored soldiers stormed the building, and cries of battle erupted. Even martial artists, unless their skill had reached a certain level, could not withstand armored soldiers trained in battle formations. Ordinary gang members were slaughtered in a one-sided massacre.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"

Soldiers were sent flying upstairs. Some men burst onto the roof, trying to escape, only for the dozens upon dozens of powerful crossbows already waiting around the building to fire.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!"

"Aaargh-" "Ah!"

Even with lightness skills and weapons to parry the bolts, they managed only a few clangs before being shot full of quills like hedgehogs amid agonized screams.

The military official commanding the force did not even need to act himself. His soldiers and a few subordinate officers had already wiped out this branch. Still, he narrowed his eyes at the building, feeling that this supposed headquarters had rather too few experts. From what he knew, this was no insignificant minor sect.

As the Skywhale Gang faced annihilation at its various locations, civil and military officials also arrived with soldiers at the residence of Wu Prefecture's assistant prefect. Armored troops poured into the estate, sending everyone inside scattering like startled chickens and dogs amid shrieks.

About a quarter of an hour later, a man ran into the front courtyard and addressed the officials waiting there.

"My lords, everyone in the residence says Teng Jingcai disappeared several days ago. Some valuables vanished with him."

"He fled?"

The civil and military officials stared at one another, eyes wide. How were they to answer to the emperor? Their stunned disbelief soon turned to anger.

"Take all of Teng Jingcai's relatives into custody first. Send four search parties toward the four city gates and search along the way. Order every county in Wu Prefecture to assist. From today onward, strictly inspect travel passes throughout Wu Prefecture. Post notices declaring Teng Jingcai a wanted man!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Wu Prefecture administrative officer accompanying them outranked the inspectors, but at that moment he trembled with apprehension and dared not say a word.