Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 31 The Suspended Mirror Bureau (Please continue reading)
Of the seven city gate guards, only the captain was a Bone and Tendon Martial Master; the rest were all at the Qi and Blood Realm.

Two black-clad constables, around the Muscle/Bone Realm.

The leader before them, dressed in dark blue with the "Suspended Mirror" embroidered on his chest, was probably at the Visceral Realm cultivation level...

Liu Sheng lowered his head, glancing around out of the corner of his eye, secretly making plans in his mind.

Leaving aside the alien-level "Bladetail Bluebird," he was confident that he could successfully escape by using the "Striped Giant Tiger" avatar.

Using the "Azure Scaled Serpent" avatar, one could probably kill all the city gate guards and constables before leaving.

The premise is...

I am all alone.

But now, Grandma, Yu Niang and her daughter, and Brother Shi's family are all present!

Hesitant to act for fear of breaking the law...

Don't be reckless!

Liu Sheng took a deep breath, suppressed the impulse in his heart, and calmed down.

Unlike the old woman, he never doubted Yu Niang from beginning to end.

The reason...

A respectable woman, who dotes on you, grants your every wish, uses both her hands and words to serve you diligently, actively seeks your company, and wants to bear your child…

How could a woman like that betray you?

This is in feudal society, not some kind of treacherous place!
"...I...I...I've seen it at home..."

Yu Niang twisted her fingers tightly, her knuckles turning pale, just like her complexion.

at home?!
Upon hearing this, the constables and city gate guards were greatly encouraged.

The culprit was found as soon as the notice was posted?!

This is like a windfall from heaven; it's time for us brothers to make a fortune!

However, upon closer inspection of Liu Sheng and the others' attire, a sense of unease inevitably arose in his heart…

How could these farmers have any connection with the criminal?

"Don't be nervous and speak slowly."

Yan Ning softened his tone, forcing a smile onto his sallow face.

As the head of the Suspended Mirror Division, he endured a great deal of hardship to track them all the way here.

The stupidity and greed of local officials, in particular, are appalling.

The news of the assassination of a dignified third-rank commander in his military tent took a full six days to spread.

After that, there was a lot of buck-passing, shirking responsibility, and collusion between superiors and subordinates. Once the procedures were completed, the report was submitted to the Suspended Mirror Bureau…

More than a month has passed.

By this time, the Xie family's vast fortune of millions had already been tacitly distributed by various parties...

Eat dry wipe.

silverfish!

A bunch of parasites that bring disaster to the country and its people!

Ironically, this is precisely the reality of the officialdom in the Great Yu Dynasty today.

Fortunately, hard work pays off...

Finally, a crucial clue was found.

“Just a few days ago… he came to our house, asked my husband about something, and then left.”

After Yu Niang finished speaking, she took the initiative to help Granny Liu up and whispered:

"I was too far away to hear the details clearly at the time. I didn't hear what it was about."

"Oh?"

Yan Ning narrowed his eyes, his pupils darting around as he looked at Liu Sheng, his tone chilling:

"Tell me the truth. If you lie about anything, you will bear the consequences."

"Sir, if I report that person, will I receive a reward?"

Liu Sheng clasped his hands together, vividly portraying the greed of a petty citizen.

"Be bold!"

"Harboring a criminal and still daring to demand a reward?"

"If you don't confess honestly, your whole family will be taken back to the county government office to be tortured!"

Two constables in black shouted and drew their iron rulers, ready to teach Liu Sheng a lesson.

"But this notice was just posted, wasn't it? Before..."

Liu Sheng shrank back, his face full of fear, but still whispered:
How would we know that person was a criminal?

"You have a point."

Yan Ning stopped the two black-clad constables, gave Liu Sheng a serious look, and couldn't help but let out a soft "hmm" in his heart.

The boy in front of me was about sixteen or seventeen years old, but he was tall, with long arms and wide hands, and had a handsome appearance.

Although he was dressed in coarse cloth, he didn't have the rustic air of a countryman. Moreover, he had practiced martial arts and had achieved some skill, no less than the city gate guards nearby!

This makes it even more suspicious!
It's important to know that martial arts training is extremely taxing; just the food alone costs at least 20 to 30 taels a year.

This large family is just an ordinary farming household; how could they afford to support them?
As the head of the Suspended Mirror Division, he had investigated hundreds of cases, big and small, and was very experienced. He could tell something was wrong at a glance.

But he showed no emotion on his face, only smiled and said:
"A reward of one hundred to five hundred taels of silver will be given for information leading to the murderer. It is written in black and white on the notice."

Liu Sheng pursed his lips and muttered under his breath:
"The laws of the Great Yu state in black and white that officials who embezzle more than sixty taels of silver will be skinned alive and stuffed with straw, yet they all live well, don't they?"

Yan Ning's face stiffened, and he was immediately at a loss for words.

The boy's words were harsh, but every word he said was true.

The two constables frowned, feeling that the young man was making veiled accusations, and they were somewhat embarrassed.

"Lord Yan, why waste time arguing with this lowly commoner? Just take it, go back to the yamen, give him a good beating, and he'll confess everything!"

"That's right, if we delay any longer, the criminal might escape."

As he spoke, he tried to bypass Yan Ning and move forward to capture Liu Sheng…

"Clap!"

The next moment, the two were knocked to the ground, each with a bright red sheath mark on their face.

"The Suspended Mirror Division has no right to speak on its affairs."

Yan Ning's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he slowly said:
"If there's a next time, you can try... see how sharp that family's knife is."

The two constables were horrified. After getting up, they became completely obedient.

"Tell me, we promise that if the clues are useful, the reward will be paid in full."

Yan Ning stepped forward, staring directly at Liu Sheng, his gaze intense and imposing:
“But if you make fun of me, you are protecting a criminal, and you will be guilty of the same crime, and your whole family will be punished.”

"Little understands."

Liu Sheng lowered his eyelids, appearing submissive:
“This monk is from the Tong family in our Baishui Village. He came to my house before to investigate the death of Steward Cheng.”

Yan Ning's spirits lifted, and he reached out and pressed his hand on the hilt of the knife:
"Baishui Village, the Tong family's residence?"

……

"This is it?"

Half an hour later, Yan Ning looked at the ruins before him and fell silent.

The constables and militiamen standing nearby also looked hostile.

They ran for miles along mountain paths, panting heavily, all to catch the culprit and share the reward, but in the end…

Annoying!

"Oh dear, another group of officials have arrived. The Tong family's affairs have really gotten out of hand!"

"Isn't that Granny Liu and Shi Tou's family? How come they're with those officials? Did they commit a crime?"

"Last night, there was thunder and wind, it was terrifying."

Some villagers gathered around to watch the spectacle, but only dared to stay far away, and they discussed it amongst themselves.

Were government officials here earlier?
Liu Sheng's heart skipped a beat, his face showing surprise, and he stammered:
"This...this...it wasn't like this when we left two days ago..."

Or, should we ask someone about it?

"No need."

Yan Ning nodded, looking at the ruins, at the several thick "whip marks" and the huge claw marks on the bricks, his pupils contracted:
"A fierce battle took place here last night, involving demons..."

"Who goes there? The Demon Suppression Division is on duty here. All unauthorized persons, leave immediately!"

Just then, a loud shout came from deep within the ruins, making people's eardrums ache.

Immediately afterwards, a group of people walked over aggressively.

The leader was about two meters tall, like a small giant, wearing a hundred-refined fish-scale armor, carrying a spiked club, with chains wrapped around his arms, and his presence was as heavy as a mountain.

With each step, the ground trembled slightly.

Behind him stood several armored soldiers dressed in gray-blue two-piece armor, each burly and fierce-looking, wielding heavy weapons such as crossbows or clubs and hammers.

From afar, one could smell the strong, foul odor.

Compared to this, the constables and militia were like…

A domestic dog compared to a vicious wolf.

When the two sides were still more than ten feet apart, the momentum on this side had already completely collapsed.

Aside from Lord Yan of the Suspended Mirror Bureau…

The Demon Suppression Division?!

Liu Sheng's eyes flickered as he looked at the people in front of him...

Compared to Chen Ji yesterday, Lao Xu is far superior.

"Huang Wei, Demon Extermination Captain of the Demon-Slaying Division!"

The two-meter-tall giant stopped a few steps away, glanced at the crowd, and finally fixed his gaze on Yan Ning:

"This matter involves demonic creatures. This place has been taken over by this captain. What brings you here, sir of the Suspended Mirror Division?"

(End of this chapter)