I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 175 - 131: The Offender! The Deputy City Governor’s Son!

Chapter 175: Chapter 131: The Offender! The Deputy City Governor’s Son!

The night had fallen.

Meng Lu, Feng Hui, Zou Jin, Zheng Liu, and others were all present.

Even "Lin Yan," transformed from the Little White Ape, was among them.

"The night patrol in Linjiang Square will be overseen by the new Inspection Envoy, and the hidden agents of Chief Clerk Yang will closely monitor every move," someone said.

"Currently, we’re short on manpower. The new flags from the Outer South Bureau are still being registered."

"It will require extra work on everyone’s part—I appreciate your efforts," Lin Yan said solemnly.

"Starting tonight, you’ll be guarding the materials for the city expansion, and the City Defense Army will assist you."

After a pause, Lin Yan continued, "The heavy crossbow platforms have been transported back to the city today and are temporarily in the care of the City Defense Army. From tomorrow, they will be installed on the city walls."

"Three direct Flag Commanders will be dispatched from the inner city to operate the heavy crossbow platforms."

"If there’s any emergency in the future, you must immediately light the signal fire. I will specifically instruct these three Flag Commanders to come to your aid as soon as they see the signal fire."

As Lin Yan’s voice fell, everyone promptly showed their respect with a greeting.

"Understood!"

The people present looked up at this master, the Fifth Master, with surging emotions.

Initially, they thought they were just following the Flag Commander of the Linjiang Station.

But in just a few days, the Fifth Master had turned into the General Flag Envoy and then the new Inspection Envoy of the city.

In the past, someone like the General Flag Envoy seemed like an untouchable high-ranking official to them.

Yet, in front of the Fifth Master, they were like chickens and dogs made of clay.

Unbeknownst to them, as they followed the Fifth Master, they, as small flags, had also become quite important in the eyes of various forces.

"Recently, forces in the square have been forcefully buying houses, land, and farmland, and the dealings trace back to the inner city and even merchants outside the city," someone reported.

Lin Yan said, "You all live in the city. If your families are implicated in this case, they might be coerced... Therefore, I will personally investigate this case. You don’t need to involve yourselves."

"Fifth Master!"

Feng Hui stepped forward and said earnestly, "I’m alone and unencumbered. I wish to investigate this matter for the Fifth Master."

Lin Yan was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Those parasites are heartless and cruel. You need to be careful from now on," he said.

Upon hearing this, Feng Hui’s face lit up with joy, and he nodded repeatedly.

"All right, you can go now. Be extra careful tonight."

As Lin Yan said this, everyone showed their respect with a greeting, then withdrew.

Lin Yan then made a hand gesture, signaling the Little White Ape to follow along, and he walked out.

Chief Clerk Yang approached and whispered, "The report to the Outer South Bureau has gone through the Prefecture City Sky Observation Department. We’ve cleared up the public duty accepted by General Pei Xiong."

Lin Yan took the paper that was handed to him, glanced at it, and with a hint of surprise, whispered, "The prisoner being escorted this time is the second son of the Deputy City Governor of Qifeng Prefecture City?"

"This case was personally judged by the Deputy Commander of the Observatory Headquarters in Qifeng Prefecture City. He sentenced the son of the Deputy City Governor to ten years of hard labor at the Residual Prison Mansion," Chief Clerk Yang softly explained.

"For us, this is a very tricky assignment; after all, the criminal’s status is too high, and it’s easy to offend people..."

"So that’s why the reward is so high?"

Lin Yan folded the paper and slowly said, "Just for escorting a prisoner, they’re offering a Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade."

"The high reward is for another reason," Yang replied.

"Mainly because the conditions at the Residual Prison Mansion are said to be extremely harsh, sparsely populated, with evil rampant and even more desolate than Qifeng Prefecture."

After a pause, Yang continued, "Entering the Residual Prison Mansion, the journey is extremely dangerous. Going back and forth, if something unexpected occurs, there’s no way to get help."

"I understand."

Lin Yan exhaled and walked outside.

The Little White Ape returned to its own appearance, following beside Lin Yan, and remarked, "Pei Xiong is truly a man. He tackled such a tough and dangerous task, all for a Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade, to present to his lord."

"On that night at Jinliu Manor, he already proved he’s a man of iron," Lin Yan said, then instructed aloud, "He’s departing tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll drink deeply with him. You take care of Linjiang Square for me, and if anything happens, report to me immediately."

"Sure thing."

The Little White Ape made a hand gesture and said, "With me here, Linjiang Square will be safe and worry-free. Starting today, looking beyond the outer city of High Willow, there are not many who can withstand my sword..."

Just now, Lin Yan had tried the technique of "Cang-attaching spirit" using his own True Qi.

This time, he didn’t use his blood essence but solely his True Qi to perform it.

He had transmitted to the Little White Ape the proficiency of the ’Thunder Blade’ sword skill.

Now, the Little White Ape, posing as Lin Xiaoqi, had acquired the proficiency of the first two levels of Sword Skill and the capability to enter the third level.

Now that it was posing as Lin Xiaoqi, there was a sword fitting for a small flag at its waist.

If it were to draw its sword, its skill would surpass that of Commander Wang Yuan’s sixty years of Sword Skill, and be even more profound.

——

The tallest building in Linjiang Square was a tower known as Wangjiang Tower.

Tonight, Chief Clerk Yang had ordered a banquet to be prepared there to entertain General Pei Xiong.

During this time, several major figures from different forces attempted to visit Wangjiang Tower to forge connections with the new city Inspection Envoy.

But in the end, they were all scared away by Wu Chang’s fearsome reputation, and no one dared to disturb the place.

By the time Lin Yan arrived at Wangjiang Tower, General Pei Xiong was already waiting.

Wangjiang Tower’s topmost floor had only one room, isolated from outside guests.

"Brother Wu Chang, we brothers have shared life and death experiences, but this is the first time we drink together."

Pei Xiong filled his cup with ancestral wine and said with a smile, "As the guest who has arrived unannounced, I should drink a penalty cup first for not informing you in advance."

Lin Yan laughed and said, "Brother Pei is too kind. I should be the one to drink a penalty of three cups for not having prepared a feast in advance."

"..."

The two fell silent for a moment, then shared a smile.

Lin Yan picked up his cup and drained it in one go, laughing, "This is good wine. Don’t find excuses to keep drinking more."

"You thinking about drinking three cups as a penalty might be a bit too much."

Pei Xiong laughed heartily, removed his waist sword, placed it aside, and said, "Today in High Willow City, this is your territory at Linjiang Square, so I’ll drink freely without being on guard."

"Let’s drink to our heart’s content today."

Lin Yan sat beside him, lifted the wine jug, and poured for him.

Seeing this, Pei Xiong promptly held his cup with both hands.

Lin Yan patted his hand and gestured for him to put the cup down.

"We are brothers who have shared life or death moments, no need for such formality."

"Now that you are Inspection Envoy, pouring wine for me tonight, that will be my bragging right when I return to Li City," Pei Xiong said with a laugh.

"Brother Pei is older than I, and it’s my duty to pour for you," Lin Yan said as he filled his own cup, "Moreover, if it wasn’t for the Little Divine Sect challenging me, I doubt you’d risk going to Residual Prison Mansion for a piece of Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade."

"You knew?" Pei Xiong was taken aback.

"Tasks dispatched by the Observatory aren’t exclusive to Li City, and looking into this matter wasn’t difficult," Lin Yan replied.

Lin Yan took out the Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade and placed it on the desk, "As for dealing with Xu Dingye, I have my own strategies. You should keep this jade for yourself, it’ll increase your ability to protect yourself on the way to Residual Prison Mansion."

Pei Xiong immediately shook his head and said, "No, I owe you my life. Since I can’t assist you in the Little Divine Sect’s challenge, I can only offer this Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade as a small token of my heart. If you truly see me as a brother, don’t refuse."

"If you see me as a brother, why would you take such a big risk to repay me? Besides, that night at Jinliu Manor, we fought side by side. Who owes whose life?"

Lin Yan placed the Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade into his chest, patted him firmly, and said solemnly, "We are here to drink tonight, not to talk about debts of life and honor."

Pei Xiong was about to speak.

But Lin Yan changed the subject.

"Did you bring Xiaoqi and the other two with you?"

"This time I only brought Xiaoqi with me. The other two were quite seriously injured and are still recovering," Pei Xiong said.

This time, Pei Xiong had brought two Flag Commanders and twelve junior flags with him.

Among them, Lin Yan only knew a young man named Xiaoqi.

At this, Pei Xiong sighed, a somber look in his eyes.

Of the six junior flags from Jinliu Manor he had high hopes for, three had died in battle, one had lost an arm, and another was gravely injured.

"Since Xiaoqi is here, why not invite him to the feast?"

"Xiaoqi did want to see you again, but I asked him to stay behind to guard the prisoners," Pei Xiong said.

"Prisoners?" Lin Yan said with a smile, "With his status, it’s rather an escort than custody, isn’t it? Without you there, two Flag Commanders and twelve junior flags might not be enough to keep him in check..."

"That Mr. Shi Xu is gentle and cultured, polite, and well-mannered; he won’t cause any trouble," Pei Xiong said.

"General Pei speaks the truth."

They heard laughter from outside, followed by a genteel voice, "I am Shi Xu. Hearing that General Pei and Inspection Envoy Wu Chang are drinking here, and that it is a brew of ancestral vintage, my heart couldn’t resist. Pardon my intrusion for coming uninvited."

"..."

For a moment, Pei Xiong’s face stiffened.

As if expecting this, Lin Yan chuckled.

Clearly, those two Flag Commanders and the twelve junior flags couldn’t restrain this highly influential young master.

"Knowing you come uninvited is impolite, why not leave?"

Lin Yan said calmly and indifferently.

"This is where you are mistaken,"

As the door was pushed open, a man around thirty-seven or thirty-eight walked in with a smile. "I didn’t come empty-handed," he said.

He also carried a jug of wine, which he placed on the table, "The name of Inspection Envoy Wu Chang has been spreading far and wide lately, even catching the Great General of the Li Shen Sect’s attention. You challenged Xu Dingye to a duel, and now the whole Qifeng Prefecture is abuzz because of it."

Lin Yan drank from his cup without saying a word.

But General Pei Xiong stepped forward and said, "Mr. Shi, you were resting in your room, why did you come here?"

"General Pei, you have ancestral fine wine and not offering me a drink would be your oversight,"

Shi Xu said with a smile, "Moreover, Inspection Envoy Wu Chang is here—a man capable of contending with Xu Dingye for the title of the greatest figure of this generation in Qifeng Prefecture! Since I’ve come to High Willow City, how could I not meet such a person?"

After speaking, he poured himself a cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, and said, "I shall impose a three-cup penalty on myself."