Chapter 1225: Yamen Room Inspection
“Why did you transmit an auditory message to him?”
“To add an air of mystery.”
~~~
Five days later, the secret domain opened, and the lively Quyi County returned to its usual quiet.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou couldn’t be bothered to watch the commotion at the Four Repositories Secret Domain. From the courtyard, they could see West Mountain clearly; the mist shrouding it didn’t obstruct their view.
They saw the cultivators gathered in their respective factions, with a complicated web of personal grudges and factional feuds between them. It looked like a fight could break out at any moment.
However, the cultivators kept their heads, choosing to settle matters inside the secret domain.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou couldn’t see what happened inside the secret domain, but it didn’t matter. They were just spectators. In any case, West Mountain wasn’t under their jurisdiction.
Two days later, the secret domain closed.
~~~
“After him! While we fought among ourselves, that brat Ji Zhong snatched the fruit!”
“You all targeted me first!” Ji Zhong snapped, moving nimbly to evade the attacks from behind.
Cradled in his arms was a ripe spirit fruit. It was the secret domain’s most valuable treasure. Such a spirit fruit matured once every century, and any Divine Transfiguration cultivator who consumed it could raise their cultivation by one minor realm.
The Azure Dragon Holy Son and the others gritted their teeth. This spirit fruit was the reason they had come to the Four Repositories Secret Domain.
“How dare a mere rogue cultivator contend with us?!”
Before the secret domain opened, no one had paid Ji Zhong any mind. But after several Divine Transfiguration cultivators were defeated one after another, everyone realized he was the dark horse—or rather, a threat.
The group’s attempt to target him failed, and Ji Zhong seized the opportunity to snatch the spirit fruit.
Only then did someone mention Ji Zhong’s background. Although he was a rogue cultivator, he frequently had fortuitous encounters, cultivated faster than major sect disciples, and had won several battles when challenging beyond his level, though everyone chalked it up to luck.
Only now did those who knew Ji Zhong realize that he had been concealing his true abilities all along.
“We must catch him!”
Ji Zhong quickened his pace, fleeing toward Zhongshan Commandery.
But when he reached a county under Zhongshan Commandery’s jurisdiction, he realized a problem. It was the dead of night, and the streets were deserted. Running around would make him too conspicuous, and his pursuers would easily spot him.
“Looks like I’ll have to hide here. This should be Quyi County, right?”
As Ji Zhong turned a corner, someone bumped into him. The person was probably in a hurry and muttered an apology before rushing off.
Ji Zhong’s heart tightened. He quickly checked on the spirit fruit.
“It’s still here. Guess I was just being paranoid.”
He found a shabby inn. The innkeeper was dozing off when he was jolted awake by Ji Zhong’s arrival.
“Boss, checking in. Remember, no matter who asks, don’t say I’m here!” Ji Zhong tossed him ten taels of silver, grabbed the key, and hid in a room upstairs.
The Azure Dragon Holy Son and the others reached Quyi County, their brows furrowed. After all, fighting in a county would be troublesome.
“Holed up? Search!”
“Don’t let the authorities find out who we are. Cover your faces!”
~~~
“We’ve been on stakeout for several nights. Why is there not even a single ghost?” The two constables who couldn’t keep up with the times strolled the streets.
“Never mind. Looks like there are no ghosts tonight either. Let’s continue checking the inns.”
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou entered a shabby inn. Seeing their uniforms, the innkeeper hastily put on a fawning smile. “What can I do for you, sirs?”
“You should have heard from your colleagues. We’ve recently been investigating the matter of the real-name registration system at lodging establishments.”
This was an order issued by the commandery. Zhongshan Commandery has too many shady establishments where people can stay as long as they pay, without registering their real names. As such, all counties are required to inspect and crack down on such inns.
“Show us today’s guest register. Let’s see if you’ve been complying with the real-name registration requirements.”
The innkeeper produced a small booklet, cold sweat dripping down his back.
My inn isn’t shady. I always keep proper records in line with the real-name registration system. But earlier, I was tempted by the silver and let a guest stay without recording his name.
The guest had even said not to tell anyone he’s here. He didn’t sound like a good person.
Lu Yang noticed the subtle changes in the innkeeper’s expression and flashed a knowing smile. “Boss, if you come clean now, we’ll just give you a verbal warning. But if we find something ourselves, you’ll have to suspend operations.
“Speak! Did anyone violate the registration rules?”
The innkeeper was so terrified he stammered, “O-one did.”
“Where?”
“Earth-Grade Room One.”
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou arrived outside the room. The inside was dark, as if no one was staying here.
“Is anyone in? Open up.”
No response.
“Yamen room inspection.” Lu Yang emphasized their identities.
No response.
Growing impatient, Meng Jingzhou pushed the door open and grabbed Ji Zhong, who was about to flee through the window.
“So you’re the one who didn’t register with your real name?”
Ji Zhong was stunned. I just wanted to avoid trouble and escape. How did a mere constable catch me?
I am a Divine Transfiguration cultivator!
Meng Jingzhou dragged him back to the room, while Lu Yang produced a piece of paper, lit a candle, and began taking notes at the table.
“Name?”
“Ji Zhong?”
“Show your proof of identification.”
“Here.”
“What’s your cultivation?”
“Basic Divine Transfiguration Stage.”
“Do you know that not registering with your real name is illegal?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Then why did you still do that?”
“I was carrying a valuable treasure. I’ve been chased since leaving the Four Repositories Secret Domain...”
~~~
The innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou go upstairs without any intention of holding him accountable.
Suddenly, a burly man led several others into the inn.
The innkeeper trembled at the sight. He had seen the man on the streets a few days ago. He’s the Azure Dragon Holy Son of the Four Symbols Sect!
The Azure Dragon Holy Son slammed the table, his dragon eyes sending chills down the innkeeper’s spine.
“Boss, I have something to ask you. Did anyone check in and say not to tell anyone they were here just now?”
Too scared to speak, the innkeeper could only nod.
“As I thought, he’s here.” The Azure Dragon Holy Son smirked. This bastard Ji Zhong’s Qi Concealment Technique is something else; even spiritual consciousness couldn’t track him down.
“Which room is he in?”
“Earth-Grade Room One.”
“Is there anyone else in there?”
“T-there should be two more people inside.”
“I knew he had accomplices!” the Azure Dragon Holy Son exclaimed and snorted. But that doesn’t matter. We outnumber them.
The Azure Dragon Holy Son stormed up to the second floor with his followers and kicked open the door to Earth-Grade Room One. “Ji Zhong, I suggest you hand over the thing obediently!”
Inside the room, Ji Zhong sat properly as two constables took his statement.
The scene was completely beyond the Azure Dragon Holy Son’s expectations.
One of the constables even rose with a cold smirk. “Oh ho? Robbery in broad daylight?”
Constable Meng flexed his wrists and ankles. It had been a while since he met someone so haughty.
The Azure Dragon Holy Son didn’t wish to get involved with the authorities and tried to take to his heels, but before he could, Constable Meng pinned him down and trussed him up, along with his followers.
“Looks like you were telling the truth. You were hiding anonymously in the inn to evade pursuers. We won’t hold that against you then,” Lu Yang said.
“Go on. Who else is chasing you?” He continued to jot down notes seriously, now treating Ji Zhong as the victim.
“The Sea-Listening Sect’s...”
Just then, the door was kicked open again, the visitor equally aggressive. “Azure Dragon, I heard you were here. How could I let you get ahead of me? The spirit fruit is mine!”
Those pursuing Ji Zhong had noticed that the Azure Dragon Holy Son had been inside the dilapidated inn for so long without coming out, so they concluded that Ji Zhong must be in there.
“He’s the Big Senior Brother of the Sea-Listening Sect.” Ji Zhong identified him on the spot.
Lu Yang nodded and made a note.
Meng Jingzhou rose, bound the Sea-Listening Sect’s Big Senior Brother, shut the door, and returned to his seat.
“Anyone else?”
“The Asura Sect Leader’s final closed-door disciple...”
The door was kicked open once more. “Ji Zhong, hand over the fruit!”
“Is he the one?”
“Yes.”
Before long, all the prodigies who had come to steal the fruit were tied up and piled up in the room.
Meng Jingzhou shook his head helplessly at the sight. There are so many robbers. Taking all their statements will take forever.
“Check the statement. Is everything written down what you said? Let me know if there are any mistakes.”
Ji Zhong’s mind was still reeling. He genuinely couldn’t process this turn of events. How did all the prodigies pursuing me get captured?
They are all peerless prodigies. In the Four Repositories Secret Domain, they had displayed various mighty abilities and were the favorites to win. Yet none of them could last even a single move against the constables!
Still in a daze, he verified the statement and mumbled, “No mistakes.”
“In that case, sign at the bottom of every page. On the last page, write ‘I have read the above statement, and it matches my account.’ Finally, affix your fingerprint wherever you write something and add a cross-page seal[1].”
“Understood.”
After leaving his signatures and fingerprints, Ji Zhong fished out the spirit fruit from the front of his robes, and his expression changed drastically.
This is a fake! Someone had swapped it!
It was that person who bumped into me earlier!
He hesitated for a while before saying, “Sirs, my spirit fruit is missing. Can I file a report?”
1. This is what a qifeng-zhang looks like. It’s supposed to overlap multiple pages. ☜