Xuanqing Guard

After getting hold of the Yin Yang Account Book from Hongfa Medicine Shop, Shen Hao couldn’t hide the smile on his face anymore; the nerves that had been taut for so many days finally eased a few notches.

There was quite a gap between this and the previous plan, but at least a breakthrough had been found. Luck played a part, but so did careful investigation. If he hadn’t uncovered the secret hidden in the Zhou family’s account book, this lead could have slipped right by.

Glancing at the sky outside, Shen Hao put away the original ledger and took out a rubbing copy.

"Have your men sift through the intel in their hands again, see if there’s anything else we can use. At the same time, have the Imperial City personnel keep a closer eye on the Xu Mansion; get ready to make the arrest as soon as you hear from me."

"Sir, where are you heading?"

"Beach Stone."

Shen Hao went to Hai Xia first, then teleported from Hai Xia to Beach Stone. By the time he stepped out of the Teleportation Array, it was already mid-7 p.m. Looking up, he saw the moon rising above the tree branches.

Compared to Fengri City, the temperature at Beach Stone was even higher. Even at night, it still felt hot and muggy.

He exchanged a brief glance with Wu Kai, but neither showed any familiarity—just business as usual. They went through the procedures, then Shen Hao led more than a dozen guards out of the array’s security zone and met up with Chen Tianwen and the rest, who were already waiting outside.

"Where is he?"

"Still at the station."

"What’s his mental state?"

"Not great. But, as you ordered, we made him drink some water and eat something, cleaned up his wounds, and gave him a little calming medicinal soup. I checked on him before I left—he’d fallen asleep."

Chen Tianwen walked half a step behind Shen Hao, gestured him up into the carriage, and the group raced back to the Tanshi Inspector’s station.

Time was tight. Shen Hao didn’t bother exchanging pleasantries with Hundred Households Zhang, the local officer, and went straight into the interrogation room where Zhou Qing was held.

"Subordinate greets you, sir!"

The two executioners inside had no idea Shen Hao would show up in person; startled, they leapt to their feet so fast they knocked over their chairs behind them.

"Mm, you’ve worked hard."

"Sir, you flatter us! Please, have a seat!" One of them wiped down a chair with his sleeve and placed it behind Shen Hao.

"Wake him up. I have questions for him."

"Yes, sir."

Their idea of ’waking someone up’ involved dumping a bucket of ice-cold water directly on the head—chilling right to the core. No matter how dead you were to the world, you’d be yanked awake in an instant.

Zhou Qing looked miserable—both his upper and lower body were in a ghastly state, half-dead at this point. The only redeeming thing was that these two executioners really knew their craft: the wounds were brutal, but none were truly fatal.

Shen Hao had read Zhou Qing’s dossier earlier and knew he was a cultivator of Body Technique—unusually burly and exuding an intimidating presence. Seeing him in person only confirmed it; it felt just like witnessing a caged beast. Especially when those eyes snapped open after being doused with water—the flicker of viciousness in them was undisguised, wild as an animal.

"Zhou Qing, looks like you’re bouncing back pretty quick. Cultivators of Body Technique really are a different breed. An ordinary cultivator would barely have the strength to breathe at this point, but you can still glare at me. Not bad."

"..." Zhou Qing stared at Shen Hao, sitting across from him, without saying a word.

Shen Hao paused, then continued, "Our Xuanqing Guard is recognized as having the most expertise in interrogation across the entire Jingjiu Dynasty. The two serving you here each have ten years of experience—they’re interrogation experts. And yet, they’ve tried everything on you and still couldn’t make you talk. Have to admit, you’re a tough bastard.

Respect!"

"..."

"My name’s Shen Hao, Hundred Households Officer of Black Banner Battalion in Xuanqing Guard. I’m the one in charge of your case—every plan and arrangement was by me. So, at this point, you’re my defeated opponent. Agree with that?"

"Hmph!" Zhou Qing still didn’t speak, but snorted heavily, giving Shen Hao a look that was equal parts hatred and ridicule. Clearly, he scoffed at the notion of being called a "defeated opponent."

Shen Hao smiled. "You don’t seem to agree you’re my defeated opponent? Heh, you don’t have to speak—I know what you’re thinking. You figure you withstood our methods and stayed silent, so you’ve cut off our leads here, right? You know you’re dead, but as long as you don’t confess, the people behind you stay safe—so you haven’t lost, you’ve won, right?

Heh, it’s not wrong to think like that, but it’s pretty laughable.

Let me break it down for you. You colluded with outsiders. No matter what your intentions, you’re definitely guilty of treason. By the letter of the law, your entire clan—nine generations—should be wiped out. If you’re lucky, maybe only the Three Barbarian Races punishment. You protect the people behind you, but end up with your own family destroyed, gaining nothing. Why bother?

Even if you’re not afraid of death, you keep your mouth shut and the case stalls, but I can still twist things so I don’t lose out. After all, rooting out your branch of traitors is still merit, even if I can’t claim full credit.

So, the people behind you keep laughing, I get to go home with a little merit, and the only real loser here is someone dumb like you.

So tell me, aren’t you my defeated opponent?"

A simple attempt at some verbal needling, but Shen Hao could see Zhou Qing’s eyes flare with anger yet he still kept his mouth shut. Clearly, this guy was stubborn to the core.

Shen Hao took an account book out of his storage bag—the rubbing—and handed it to Chen Tianwen to show Zhou Qing.

"This was found in your Zhou family’s accounting room. Of course, this is just a rubbing. I’m showing you because we made a new discovery I’m sure you haven’t heard of."

As Shen Hao spoke, Chen Tianwen flipped the book right to the section marked in red ink—the secret accounts the Zhou family tried to hide.

At first, Zhou Qing acted indifferent, completely unconcerned. He’d already expected his family would be in trouble after he was caught—he was even prepared for his entire clan to be executed. But when he saw those red-inked entries, his brows furrowed despite himself and unease flickered in his heart—a sense of foreboding.

Just then, Shen Hao’s slightly amused voice continued, "You’ve been stationed at Beach Stone for years and deliberately kept your distance from the family business, worried it might tarnish your reputation as an officer. But did you ever think your family would use your name to open other businesses in Hai Xia?

Tsk tsk, the drug business is a good one. Not quite a goldmine, but the profit margins are still four or five times, not much worse than the grain shop you allowed your family in Hai Xia to run. Bet you didn’t know any of that?

Doesn’t matter if you didn’t, we do. Let us walk you through it—let’s see what your family has been up to these past years behind your back."

Shen Hao pulled out another rubbing of an account book and had Chen Tianwen show this one too. This time, Zhou Qing finally lost his composure and shouted, "This is forged! Impossible!"