When Yan Wuyuan heard the name "Zhao Hu" from Yi Yang's lips, her writing hand paused for a beat.
The brush tip hovered above the dossier. A drop of ink hung there without falling, suspended by an invisible force.
Having finished his account, three parts truth to one part falsehood, Yi Yang stood before the desk with his back straight. The respectful expression on his face never changed as he waited for Yan Wuyuan's decision.
Two breaths later, Yan Wuyuan set the brush she had been using to review reports back on its stand and leaned against her chair.
Her eyes, like a deep, icy pool, lifted to Yi Yang. Something new entered her gaze as she said:
"Rampage Six Bandits."
She spoke in a perfectly level tone, as though offering a simple introduction.
At his superior's words, Yi Yang pretended not to understand. His brows knitted as he asked in confusion:
"My lady, what is...?"
Yan Wuyuan ignored his question. Her fingertips tapped the desk twice, unconsciously, as though she were considering whether to tell him. Her cool voice continued:
"They're a band of raiders who have plagued the area around Suining Prefecture for seven years. Six members, each with unusual skills. They specifically target government and sect properties."
She spoke slowly, but every word was stripped to the bone, without a scrap of waste.
"Zhao Hu, the man you killed, handled infiltration and work from within. His disguises were first-rate. He was the weakest of the Six Bandits, but he was still at the first inner qi level."
Yi Yang mentally compared her information with what Han Yan had told him. The two accounts largely matched. Han Yan had not lied then.
He put on a look of realization and nodded. "I see. No wonder even a surprise