Yin Yang Soul Searcher

"This case is beyond our investigation," Shen Fangzheng said solemnly to the three hall masters. "Any Onmyoji of rank five or above who can destroy a soul are suspects. Of course, it's also possible that it was done by someone from Beichen!"

"Why don't we let the Vice Hall Master handle the case himself?" Hu Jinggu suggested. "Only he can investigate which soul lamp matches the soul power that destroyed the soul!"

Li Zhengshan and Scarface Hall Master nodded, having no objection.

"Let's bring everyone here to the Yin-Yang Hall," Shen Fangzheng thought for a moment. "And the people from the Craftsmen's Hall, ask them if they'd be willing to come with us to the Yin-Yang Hall to assist with the investigation if they find anything."

After the four hall masters finished their discussion, they went their separate ways.

After explaining the reason to Bai Jueming, Li Zhengshan asked him to discuss it with Cheng Yanbing and ask if he was willing to make a trip to the Yin-Yang Palace, since Bai Jueming and Cheng Yanbing had a history of working together on cases.

As expected, Cheng Yanbing agreed.

Luo Wuju also said it was no problem; he had made some discoveries as well. However, he would arrive a little later.

Tang Weiwei originally wanted to return to the Craftsmen's Hall to learn weapon crafting, as there was nothing for her to do with such matters.

But when Bai Jueming mentioned passing by Tangxinzhai, which had new desserts, she reassured herself that skipping one of the refining sessions wouldn't be a problem. She secretly checked the meager amount of silver left in her purse.

Han Xueshan rolled her eyes at the bitch, speechless.

Several martial artists sprang into action after receiving the orders, selecting a few corpses to carry on their backs, preparing to take them to the Yin-Yang Hall. The remaining corpses would be disposed of quickly by the soldiers on rotation, as it would not be good for the common people of the capital to see such a scene, as it could easily shake public morale.

At this moment, Zhou Dahai and his two companions arrived late, riding their fine horses... The same was true for the other Yin-Yang Masters under the other hall masters.

After landing, Zhou Dahai looked at the mess everywhere and the martial artists preparing to return to the Yin-Yang Palace. Somewhat surprised, he said, "Am I a step too late? Is the investigation already over?"

While the other Yin-Yang Masters were all gathered around the Hall Master, Bai Jueming secretly led two horses back and handed one to Han Xueshan.

He then gave Zhou Dahai and the other two a knowing look: "Let's go first, we'll talk on the way." Before the two Onmyoji could react...

After taking the details of the scene into account, the hall masters left first.

After everyone left the scene, the two remaining Onmyoji stood bewildered in the wind, wondering, "Where's our horse?"

Bai Jueming, riding his steed, explained to his three colleagues that the corpse's soul had been destroyed.

Zhou Dahai's pupils widened in shock, while Wang Pang and Wu Yuan were speechless with astonishment. This was the first time they had ever encountered a situation where the soul had been destroyed and could not be searched...

"No wonder the deputy hall master had to personally handle the case..." Zhou Dahai murmured.

Just as the group was about to reach the Yin-Yang Palace, four eunuchs appeared in front of them carrying an official sedan chair, heading towards the imperial city. The surrounding people quickly made way for them.

The Onmyoji didn't need to make way, waiting for Zhou Dahai and his group to pass by. The official inside lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and upon seeing Bai Jueming and the others in their Onmyoji Palace uniforms, the official smiled and asked in a kind tone, "Esteemed Onmyoji, where are you going to investigate a case?"

Bai Jueming turned around and saw that the official was dressed in official robes, with a thin face, a goatee, and crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, which were clearly the result of years of faking smiles.

Zhou Dahai was pleased to be addressed as "Master Yin Yang Master" and stepped forward to speak, saying, "There has been an explosion at the South Gate, and we have been ordered to investigate."

The official feigned surprise: "Who dares to be so bold? Have you, my esteemed Onmyoji, found the culprit?"

"That mastermind is incredibly cunning; they actually... sigh." Zhou Dahai sighed deeply and waved his hand, "Forget it, it's no use talking to an official like you who has no cultivation."

The official nodded, indicating that he understood.

Then, with hands clasped in a gesture of flattery, he said, "Our Great Xia Dynasty owes its success to the abilities of you Yin-Yang Masters. Only then were we able to capture those reckless cultivators and give the people a peaceful life."

Zhou Dahai, with his large pregnant belly, chuckled happily. Wang Pang and Wu Yuan also wore smiles.

"Oh dear!" At this moment, the eunuch accompanying the sedan chair reminded them, "Gentlemen, please stop chatting. His Majesty is still waiting in the palace for the morning court session."

"Then I will not disturb you Onmyoji masters any longer." After saying that, he lowered the curtain, blocking everyone's view.

The emperor was going to the morning court, and he actually made the emperor wait? What audacity! Bai Jueming waved to stop a young eunuch accompanying the sedan chair: "Who is in the sedan chair?"

In response to your question, "He is Yu Haochu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works."

"He dares to be late for the morning court session even when His Majesty is there?" Bai Jueming asked with some curiosity.

"Oh dear, sir. Lord Yu didn't mean to be late." The little eunuch glanced at the departing sedan chair. "Lord Yu had originally taken sick leave, but His Majesty insisted that he attend court early, so he had no choice but to send us to meet him."

He didn't seem sick at all. Bai Jueming then asked, "What illness does he have?"

As the sedan chair receded into the distance, the young eunuch grew anxious: "Oh dear, sir, please don't make things difficult for me. This is not something we should know; we are merely errand runners on imperial orders."

Bai Jueming understood and made way. The little eunuch hurriedly ran away.

Han Xueshan rode up to her and asked, "Why are you asking about these things?"

"I was just asking casually." Bai Jueming shrugged, guessing in his heart that since the Minister of Works had just died, the Emperor was already preventing the Vice Minister of Works from taking leave. Was the Emperor planning to promote him?

After this chance encounter, the group returned to Zhengshan Hall.

The clerk at the gate announced that Bai Jueming and Han Xueshan should go to the eighth floor of the Yin-Yang Hall. Zhou Dahai and the others, having never been there before, stayed in Zhengshan Hall. Besides, there wasn't enough room for so many people.

Zhou Dahai was a little unconvinced. He said that although he had not investigated the scene, he could help analyze the case. Brother Shan really underestimated him.

Wu Yuan and Wang Pang scoffed at him; they both had a clear understanding of their own abilities. They went back to cultivate.

The Yin-Yang Hall has sixteen halls arranged in a semi-circle around the tallest building in the center, the Yin-Yang Tower. Below the tower is a huge training ground.

The minor official led the way, leading them around to the back door of Zhengshan Hall and out. Stepping out of the room, Bai Jueming first saw the martial arts training ground, which had never been used before, and then the tallest building in the Great Xia Dynasty, the Yin-Yang Tower, which was made entirely of white marble.

This must require an enormous amount of wealth! Could the Imperial Advisor be a contemporary He Jing...?

At this moment, Yin-Yang Masters emerged from the back doors of each branch and, led by the minor official, headed towards the Yin-Yang Building.

The group walked up the stairs and arrived at the eighth floor of the Yin-Yang Building.

Inside the room, the deputy temple master, wearing a demon mask, sat quietly in the main seat.

Standing before him were the four hall masters who had come to investigate the case, recounting the news of the bombing at the South Gate. Also present was the general who had been on duty at the South Gate the previous night, clad in tattered armor, his wounds untreated.

Bai Jueming and his colleagues entered the room and stood quietly to one side.

The deputy hall master first scrutinized Bai Jueming, wondering who had mentored him to become an Onmyoji. He seemed unremarkable.

Then his gaze swept gently over Han Xueshan beside him.

After the four hall masters finished recounting the bombing at the South Gate, the deputy hall master frowned and asked them, "Are you saying that the souls of the corpses you searched were completely destroyed?"

The four hall masters nodded solemnly.

"Only a fifth-rank Yin-Yang Master can destroy the soul of the deceased without harming the corpse. In that case, all the hall masters are suspects."

The four hall masters exchanged glances; they all thought the same thing, which was why they believed the case should be handled by the deputy hall master. They wanted him to use the soul lamp to conduct an internal investigation first.

The deputy hall master didn't dwell on that question, but instead asked the general beside him, "What is this general's name? Tell me about the explosion at the south gate."

Inside the room, the eyes of the four hall masters and Bai Jueming and the others were all focused on him. Whether at the scene or on the way to the Yin Yang Palace, this person had not uttered a word, had not said his name, and had not said a word about how the explosion happened.

"Vice Hall Master, my name is Haifeng." The general finally spoke his first words: "I don't know how the bombing happened."

As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes turned to Haifeng. Was he making fun of everyone?

The deputy hall master's expression turned even more serious: "General Hai, don't joke around. Didn't you say you wanted me to interrogate you? And where did you get these injuries?"

"I wasn't lying. You can ask me anything in my dream now," Haifeng explained. "I've been tricked by thieves."

The deputy hall master stared into his eyes without saying a word.

"Last night, while I was on night duty, two thieves in disguise came. They had a clear purpose; they attacked me as soon as they saw me."

"I realized that their cultivation levels were not very high, so I thought I could capture them as soon as possible and then rush back to continue my guard duty."

I never imagined that their weakness was an act. After chasing them for a while, an explosion came from the direction of the south gate. I realized I had fallen into a trap, so I quickly turned back.

Unexpectedly, the thief punched me and injured me, then calmly left. By the time I arrived at the south gate with my injuries, there wasn't a single survivor.

After speaking, Haifeng lowered his head: "Everything I said is true. The Vice Hall Master asked me questions in my dream."

The deputy hall master sat quietly in the main seat, slowly stroking the demon beast skull in his hands. After surveying the crowd, he asked, "What are your thoughts?"

The room fell silent as the four hall masters exchanged glances and then fell into thought. No one doubted the truth of their words, especially since the deputy hall master was still sitting there.

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain!" This was the first plan Bai Jueming thought of, but then he realized something was wrong.

Seeing that no one in the room spoke, Bai Jueming cleared his throat, and everyone turned their attention to the young Yin Master.

The deputy hall master glanced at Bai Jueming with great interest. He had long heard Li Zhengshan say that this man was very good at investigating cases, and he wanted to see for himself.

"Feel free to share your thoughts."

"Yes," Bai Jueming bowed very politely, trying to leave a good impression on the vice hall master and make him think that he was a promising talent, so that he would increase the protection he received.

After all, there's an uncontrollable Onmyoji behind you... When you're weak, you can try to find more powerful backers.

Bai Jueming turned to Hai Feng and asked the question that had been bothering him: "General Hai, what I want to ask is, if those two thieves had the ability to injure you with a single punch, why did they still transfer you away from the South Gate?"

"They could have easily killed you on the spot," Bai Jueming made a throat-slitting gesture, then continued, "and destroyed your soul. That would have reduced the number of clues."

After Bai Jueming finished speaking, everyone's eyes fell on Haifeng again.

The deputy hall master glanced at Bai Jueming with some surprise, then quietly looked at Hai Feng, waiting for his reply.

Li Zhengshan also noticed a suspicious point in Bai Jueming's question: Could it be that he deliberately fell into a trap? After all, he was so easily fooled! And those two could have killed him after they transferred him away, but they didn't!

Before Li Zhengshan could express his thoughts, Haifeng, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "They cannot defeat me at the South Gate."

Why?