Chapter 313 - Brother Liang's Persuasion

At dusk, a dim orange light dyed the houses and streets of Heavenly Gate City.

At the top of the twelve-story pavilion in the Eastern District, a middle-aged man stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking out at the mountains outside Heavenly Gate City with a grave expression.

This person was the Deputy Commander of the Justice Division, and his name was Yue Xuanming. Being in the middle stage of Nascent Soul, he was the head of the Justice Division together with the Commander.

Behind him, a disciple of the Division, dressed in a golden uniform, held a jade slip in his hand and reported to him.

"Jiang He traveled to First Spring Town to work on a case and was attacked by a person known as the 'Immortal Thief'. Unfortunately, he lost his life. And then Liang Zhu, an officer of the Justice Division, managed to capture the Immortal Thief and bring her to justice. Also, the Immortal Thief attacked the Young Lady of the Black Star Sect in Jade Pass City and stole her spiritual sword and several talismans. The two cases were concluded together."

"Immortal Thief..." Yue Xuanming murmured and turned around. "Didn't she also rob the Sword Gate Sect before?"

"Yes, the Immortal Thief has been rampant in three regions for decades and has never been caught. This time, she fell into the hands of the Justice Division, and several cases were closed. Now, we may have to wait for people from various Crime Departments in other regions to come here before she can be sentenced."

"Haha... A Core Formation cultivator who has been rampant for more than thirty years was caught by someone in the late stage of Foundation Building? This matter is fishy. I'm afraid there are too many question marks in this case."

"Master Yue, what do you mean? That Liang Zhu lied?"

"Perhaps, but now that the Demon Clan has invaded the Central Region, the Justice Division has insufficient manpower. I can't send people to First Spring Town to investigate the matter in detail. For the time being, I will conclude the case according to the transcript submitted by Liang Zhu."

"Yes, sir."

The disciple cupped his hands and turned around to go out, but Yue Xuanming stopped him. "Wait."

"Yes, Master Yue, do you have any other instructions?"

"Call that Liang Zhu here. I have some things I want to ask him."

"Yes, sir."

After watching the disciple leave, Yue Xuanming let out a long breath. He turned his head and looked at the sun setting outside the window. He felt as if there was an undercurrent surging, which made him extremely uneasy.

---The Demon King led the Demon Clan in a rush across the border, breaking through the Jade Pass.

---The two Young Ladies of the Black Star Sect suddenly appeared in Heavenly Gate City.

---And now, the news of Inspector Jiang He's death and the arrest of the Immortal Thief.

These three things, at first glance, seemed completely unrelated.

Liang Zhu nodded slightly, took out the Heavenly Reverse Pill he had obtained in First Spring Town, and gave it to Yue Xuanming. "This is the Heavenly Reverse Pill, which is made from the spiritual roots of cultivators. Over the past few decades, the Emperor has ordered the Justice Division to bring countless children to the Alchemy Chambers just to refine this thing."

Yue Xuanming twisted the pill between his fingers, slightly squinted his eyes, and when he scanned it with his spiritual sense, he saw a few traces of spiritual roots. He then frowned and looked at Liang Zhu, motioning for him to continue.

"I got this thing from the Alchemy Chamber when I followed Jiang He to First Spring Town. You must be the only one in the Justice Division who doesn't know about this."

"What a bunch of nonsense! You mean the Emperor ordered the Justice Division to capture ordinary cultivators to refine this evil pill?"

"Yes. The Emperor of the Central Region is not how you think. For the sake of his cultivation, he even sacrificed his own daughter to refine this pill."

Swish---

The spiritual sword left its sheath and a white light flashed.

In an instant, Yue Xuanming's figure appeared by Liang Zhu's side, holding the sword against his neck.

"Recently, the Demon Clan crossed the border suddenly and I was wondering why there were no spies of theirs in Heavenly Gate City. In the end, it was them who sent you here? Telling me this is your attempt to turn me?"

Liang Zhu looked at the sword at his neck and considered for a while before replying, "Master Yue, you are only half right. I have nothing to do with the Demon Clan, but there was someone who sent me to tell you these things."

"Who?"

Liang Zhu was silent and simply took out an old jade token that was broken into half from his storage bag. "Master Yue, do you recognize this thing?"

Yue Xuanming glanced at it, and his eyes suddenly widened. "This is... the Second Princess's jade pendant?!"

"Yes, it belongs to her. I am the guard who escorted the Second Princess to the altar outside the city. I was entrusted by the Empress to save the Second Princess from the Heavenly Sacrifice ceremony."

"..."

To be honest, Yue Xuanming still didn't believe what Liang Zhu had said, but the jade pendant he took out was indeed the Second Princess's spiritual treasure pendant.

He looked at Liang Zhu's face again and probed. "If what you said is true, then the Empress should know you."

Liang Zhu nodded. "I have never met the Empress. I have only seen the maid named 'Hongyu' who is serving the Empress."

Yue Xuanming paused for two breaths, and the sword in his hand was sheathed in an instant. Then, he waved his hand to remove the insulation notes affixed to the four corners of the room, opened the door, and walked out.

"Follow me. We're going to meet with Her Majesty the Empress."