My cells devour all worlds.

"What happened?"

Inside the escort agency, although the banquet had not yet started, most of the staff had already arrived.

Aside from the bodyguards and porters from the escort agency, there were dozens of people from the vicinity of Linjiang Prefecture who came to the banquet. They were all from forces with good relations with the escort agency.

Or they might be wanderers from the martial arts world, like Tieguai Li, who just happened to be passing by and wanted to join in the fun.

They were all sitting around the table, discussing the commotion outside the street.

"With such a big commotion, what is the imperial court planning to do?"

"Could it be that the matter with the Canglang Gang isn't over yet?"

"Who cares? They can't possibly be here to cause trouble for Changfeng Escort Agency. Let's all drink and eat as usual."

"Haha, you're right..."

As they were chatting and laughing, a person suddenly stumbled in through the doorway leading to the courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, everyone immediately recognized him as Li, the bodyguard who was greeting guests at the entrance.

Before anyone could ask a question, several soldiers from the state army, clad in armor and carrying long spears, strode in from behind him.

Without any hesitation, they chased away all the people standing at the door, clearing out an open space.

Then, the lead soldier's cold gaze swept across the entire area, his voice as sharp as iron, drowning out everyone else's words, "On orders, all silence!"

The people who had been laughing the loudest suddenly fell silent and their smiles vanished.

We looked at each other, bewildered, not knowing what had happened.

Could it be such a coincidence? Did he just happen to guess right?

Amidst the confusion, several more people walked in through the courtyard gate.

Leading the way was a white-faced, beardless, and vigorous old man, dressed in a robe with cloud patterns and python designs. His eyes were as indifferent as a venomous snake, inspiring awe in those who looked upon him.

Three people followed behind him, people who would be familiar to anyone from Linjiang Prefecture.

Yue Shan, the garrison commander of Jing'an Division; Tian Shi, the governor of Linjiang Prefecture; and Su Wenyuan, the supervising censor.

Seeing this display of force, no one in the courtyard dared to make any move, and even those who were sitting stood up.

Upon seeing Su Wenyuan, Su Wanqing instinctively hid behind Shen Qingshu.

This action happened right in front of Tian Shi, who was stunned for a moment before a smile slowly appeared on his face.

Tian Shi narrowed his eyes and turned to look. "Imperial Censor Su, what's your daughter doing here? She's really trying to avoid me like the plague."

Su Wenyuan looked at Su Wanqing, who should have been at home, and his face turned deathly pale. Especially when Eunuch Chen cast a cold gaze at him, his face became even more bloodless.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a word.

He even lost all his strength.

"You traitorous bastard, men, seize him!"

The high-pitched voice that came out of Eunuch Chen's mouth was devoid of warmth.

Yue Shan, who had been silent until now, waved his hand, and two black-clad captains immediately stepped forward and grabbed Su Wenyuan.

Su Wanqing gasped and was about to leave when Shen Qingshu pressed her down on the spot.

Shen Qingshu shook his head at her and said in a low voice, "Wanqing, don't worry, we don't know what happened yet."

His expression was somewhat solemn. No matter what had happened, the scale of the event today indicated that something serious had occurred.

Su Wanqing managed to calm down.

Shen Tianxiong, who witnessed this scene, was not much better off, especially the figure in the cloud-patterned python robe, which made his pupils shrink.

He remembered that it had been the same two weeks ago.

After that day, the Canglang Gang ceased to exist.

Connecting the current situation with Su Wanqing's words, Shen Tianxiong felt increasingly uneasy.

He forcibly suppressed his emotions, stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. His voice was solemn: "I was unaware of Lord Chen's presence. I have failed to greet you properly and beg your forgiveness. May I ask what brings Lord Chen here today?"

Chen Ruohai stood with his hands behind his back and his eyelids slightly raised.

He glanced at everyone present and said slowly, "Shen Tianxiong, you're a smart man. I won't waste words with you. Hand over the Xuan Shui True Scripture that you obtained from the Canglang Gang, and I might be able to save the lives of everyone in your escort agency."

Upon hearing the words "Mysterious Water Scripture," Shen Tianxiong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Master Chen, my Changfeng Escort Agency has never seen any Mysterious Water Scripture."

"The item entrusted to us by the Canglang Gang is nothing more than a wooden box, with the sealing wax still intact. I have already handed it over through... Imperial Censor Su."

As he spoke, Shen Tianxiong couldn't help but glance at Su Wenyuan.

Didn't they say everything was fine after we submitted it? What's going on today?

Shen Tianxiong really wanted to ask Su Wenyuan.

However, after Chen Ruohai spoke, the other party's eyes lost their luster, and he was simply being held by the captain of the Jing'an Division in a daze.

Yue Shan then said, "I opened the wooden box and found only an ordinary piece of clothing inside."

"Would the Canglang Gang really spend so much money just to give away a piece of clothing?"

Tian Shi interjected, "Moreover, Imperial Censor Su and Chief Escort Shen have a very close personal relationship, so it's hard to say who might be the one to replace him."

"That's absolutely not true..."

Shen Tianxiong was about to explain, but found himself at a loss for words.

The Canglang Gang is gone, so who can testify for him?

After hesitating for a long time, Shen Tianxiong could only forcefully say, "Since I started my escort agency, I have always prioritized integrity and would never covet anything from my customers. Is there some misunderstanding?"

"A misunderstanding? Do you think we would go to such lengths without evidence?"

Tian Shi smiled knowingly and said, "Chief Escort Shen, your son's martial arts have improved by leaps and bounds lately. He was even able to kill Liu Wuzong, who is only a second-rate martial artist. I wonder what kind of fortuitous encounter he had, or what kind of divine skill he has mastered?"

Before Shen Tianxiong could speak, he continued on his own:

"Furthermore, news came from Qingyun Prefecture that shortly after the Changfeng Escort Agency delivered the goods, all thirty-six members of the Canglang Gang in Qingyun Prefecture were found dead in the courtyard, with not a single survivor."

Hearing Tian Shi's words, the silent crowd in the courtyard became increasingly strange, their gazes constantly shifting between Shen Tianxiong and Shen Qingshu.

If it's the Mysterious Water True Scripture, then it seems understandable.

Unexpectedly, even the benevolent and righteous Chief Escort Shen could not resist the temptation of the Xuan Shui True Scripture.

In an instant, everyone's expressions changed.

The previous respect and admiration turned into astonishment and ridicule.

Only Su Wanqing and Xiao Huan, who were beside Shen Qingshu, knew some of the truth, but they were already at a loss for what to do because of the current situation.

Shen Qingshu was filled with anger under everyone's gaze, his chest heaving.

Ignoring the current situation, he glared at Tian Shi and shouted angrily:

"You're talking nonsense! I only killed that lecherous Liu Wuzong by sheer luck, and the more than thirty lives lost in Qingyun Prefecture have nothing to do with us."

"Yeah?"

Tian Shi gave a cold laugh, then suddenly waved his hand, "Bring the men up here for me."

After he finished speaking, soldiers quickly brought a person into the courtyard.

Upon seeing the man, Shen Qingshu couldn't help but exclaim, "Chief镖头 Dong?!"

"So you recognize him; this is the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) from that escort mission. You wanted evidence? Well, here's your evidence!"

Tian Shi looked at the newcomer, "Dong He, in front of Lord Chen, I ask you, who killed the Canglang Gang members of Qingyun Prefecture?"

Dong He was shackled, his head bowed, and after a long while, a voice finally came out, "...It's me."

Tian Shi continued to press, "Why did you kill him? Who ordered you to?"

Dong He's voice grew weaker and weaker, "...It was arranged by the young镖头 (chief镖师, a kind of bodyguard/escort), who was afraid that the fact that he took Canglang Gang's goods would be exposed."

Tian Shi smiled with satisfaction, then looked at Shen Tianxiong again and shouted, "Chief Escort Shen, the evidence is overwhelming. What else do you have to say to deny it?"

"Hmph, hahahahaha—"