The three exchanged glances and rushed out the door.
In the courtyard, several constables were stopping a few suspicious-looking individuals trying to slip away, quickly subduing them.
One man stood out-exceptionally nervous, his face pale, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes betraying sheer panic.
Su Fu raised an eyebrow and walked toward him.
“What’s your name?”
“Wen… Wen Yutang…” the man stammered.
Lin Mingxi’s eyes lit up and he said:
“Boss, it’s him! This is the Mr. Wen who Yuliuli last met!”
Well, what a coincidence!
“What did you talk about the last time you saw Yuliuli?”
Wen Yutang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“Nothing much, just some poetry and songs, then I left.”
“Did she mention anyone?”
“This…” Wen Yutang’s eyes darted around.
“N-no… nothing at all…”
“If there’s nothing, then why were you running?”
“I just…” Wen Yutang looked around nervously.
“It’s getting late, I wanted to rest…”
Lin Mingxi: “…… Not a single word of truth in that mouth.”
Anyone present could tell-Wen Yutang clearly knew something but refused to say, evading the question.
“Boss, should I go back to the Dali Temple and fetch a few interrogators?”
Wen Yutang’s face instantly paled.
But Su Fu shook her head lightly, a faint smile on her lips.
“No need. That would be too much trouble. I’ll handle it.”
Lin Mingxi was taken aback.
“Huh?”
This bastard wasn’t telling the truth-how could they proceed?
Then Su Fu activated her skill-[Judge’s Decree]!
The so-called Judge’s Decree, bearing the seal of the underworld’s justice, condensed into a blood-stained judge’s writ, capable of using oppressive force to conduct trials and mete out punishment.
Almost instantly, an eerie blue light enveloped the entire area.
A chilling pressure descended from above.
Wen Yutang’s body trembled violently, as if crushed by an invisible force, and he fell to his knees.
His face was instantly overtaken by an irrepressible terror.
Su Fu’s voice rang out:
“Wen Yutang, tell me everything you know.”
Wen Yutang’s lips trembled as words spilled uncontrollably from his mouth:
“I… I was Yuliuli’s lover.”
Su Fu: “Huh???”
“But recently she’s been acting mysteriously, often meeting with someone whose face I couldn’t see…”
“That person gave her some strange things… She seemed terrified, but when I asked who it was, she refused to tell me…”
“Yet every time after meeting that mysterious person, she’d become radiantly beautiful…”
Wen Yutang’s voice came in broken fragments, as if compelled by some force to confess everything.
Su Fu pressed further: “What do you know about that mysterious person?”
Wen Yutang’s face turned even paler, his voice shaking almost beyond recognition:
“I… I never saw them… Yuliuli said they were dangerous, told me not to ask questions… She… she also said if anything happened to her, it would be that person’s doing…”
“N-no… nothing more.”
Seeing she wouldn’t get more information, Su Fu withdrew her power, the glow instantly dissipating.
She frowned slightly.
Yuliuli thought the person was dangerous yet accepted gifts from them?
Wen Yutang collapsed weakly to the ground, gasping for breath as if waking from a nightmare, staring at Su Fu in terror.
What kind of technique was this!
It forced him to speak only the truth!
The Imperial Astronomical Bureau…
How terrifying!
To the onlookers, this scene appeared nothing short of divine magic.
Lin Mingxi felt particularly dazed, “Boss, this skill of yours is absolutely godlike!”
Suddenly inspired, he quickly moved closer to Su Fu’s ear and whispered excitedly:
“Ahem, boss, with this skill in a mystery dungeon, you could practically walk sideways!”
“How about… we use this to make some quick cash?”
Growing more excited, he continued, “You know what’s most important in mystery dungeons? Clues!”
“And where do clues come from? People’s mouths!”
“Now with your skill that makes people answer whatever you ask, and only you can do it!”
“This is what you call a monopoly skill!”
Su Fu: “???”
You little rascal!
Jiang Qingyu interjected: “So now the focus is identifying that key mysterious person.”
“That’s probably the breakthrough point for solving this case.”
Su Fu turned to the others besides Wen Yutang, “Then let’s question everyone.”
The eerie blue glow lit up again.
“Tell me, what did you do tonight?”
“I-I spoke with Yuliuli briefly, she said she kept feeling someone watching her recently…”
“And you?”
“I just came to listen to music, last month I stole a jade pendant from Squire Zhang’s house in the west district and got money…”
Su Fu paused, “???”
Buddy, that’s not the script!
“Me too!”
Another person suddenly knelt down weeping, “Three years ago in Luoyang I cheated a family out of their money…”
“Last year outside Chang’an I robbed…”
Wait, Su Fu suddenly remembered [Judge’s Decree] wasn’t just for compelling truth through intimidation, it was originally meant for judgment!
The great Zhong Kui of the Punishment Department used it to make criminals confess their crimes before delivering punishment.
So, she had accidentally solved the case after all?
She silently stroked her chin, deep in thought—could she get promoted and strike it rich in this dungeon?
All these achievements!
She turned to Lin Mingxi: “Take these wrongdoers away.”
“Got it!”
Lin Mingxi cheerfully called to his colleagues, “Take them all back to the Dali Temple!”
The constables’ eyes practically sparkled as they looked at Su Fu.
One of them couldn’t help but whisper, “If we had someone like this at the Dali Temple, we’d definitely be the top-performing department this year. We’d crush the Imperial Guards!”
“Forget the Imperial Guards, even the Censorate would have to step aside!”
“No kidding! Look at this interrogation efficiency, tsk tsk…”
Just as these people were being escorted away, a fierce wind suddenly swept through the courtyard.
The three of them exchanged glances; this wasn’t good!
The next moment, a sudden change occurred!
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
All the lanterns exploded one after another, and amidst the flurry of shredded paper, waves of resentment erupted.
“This is…” Before Lin Mingxi could finish, they saw the fragments eerily coalesce in the wind, twisting into blood-red humanoid shapes.
“Aaaaaah-“
Piercing shrieks tore through the night sky as the figures writhed, emitting bone-chilling wails.
The thick resentment almost materialized, forming grotesque faces in the air.
“Oh my god!”
Lin Mingxi’s scalp tingled, “Boss, what the hell are these things?!”
Su Fu frowned deeply and murmured softly, “Resentful ghosts?”
“Resentful ghosts are formed from the grievances of those who died tragically. The stronger the resentment, the more powerful the ghost.”
Jiang Qingyu suddenly cried out, “Look!”
Su Fu turned to see a familiar figure among the blood-red shapes-dressed in luxurious robes, bearing the marks of a horrific death.
It was Yuliuli’s spirit!
With a scream from Yuliuli, all the resentful ghosts lunged at them!
The three immediately threw out Soul-Suppressing Talismans, which transformed into golden light and shot toward the blood-red figures.
Sizzle-
The talismans didn’t even touch the vengeful spirits before being burned to ashes by the overwhelming resentment, leaving not a trace behind.
Their expressions darkened instantly. “This resentment is too strong… The ordinary talismans from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau can’t suppress it!”
“Fall back, now!”
Forget suppression-they couldn’t even get close.
The blood-red figures multiplied, twisting and howling as they pressed forward.
A foul wind blew, thickening the air.
The once-bright moonlight was blotted out by the dense resentment, plunging the courtyard into a blood-red gloom.
“We’re done for…” Lin Mingxi trembled as he retreated.
Jiang Qingyu had already drawn her silver bow, raining arrows upon the ghosts.
At this point, concealing their identities was the least of their worries-survival was paramount!
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The arrows pierced through the ghosts but barely inflicted any damage.
The enemies were too strong, just like fighting a Warden— except while the Wardens were bound by rules, these ghosts had a unique constitution.
At that moment, Su Fu activated her divine skill—
If the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s talismans were useless, what about the divine power granted to her by the gods?
“I beseech the Great Exorcist Zhong Kui to lend me your strength!”
“Evil-Suppressing Talisman!”
The divine shadow of Zhong Kui instantly manifested behind her, his purple robes billowing, eyes blazing with fury.
“Hmph! How dare mere resentful ghosts act so insolently!”
In an instant, a brilliant golden light erupted into the sky!
A radiance far surpassing that of talisman-making erupted instantly.
An enormous golden talisman descended from the heavens, emanating pure and majestic golden light.
In an instant, it enveloped the entire courtyard.
The brilliance was so dazzling it illuminated the whole of Chang’an City!
“My god…” Lin Mingxi was utterly dumbfounded.
“Boss, are you freaking cheating or something?”
Everyone else’s divine skills were being suppressed, but yours… yours actually got stronger?
Damn, that golden light was so bright it nearly blinded him!
It was way too dazzling.
Jiang Qingyu’s pupils constricted sharply as he stared in disbelief at the massive talisman.
He even glanced down to compare it with the paper talisman in his own hand.
The glow was so intense it could practically be used as a light source.
Su Fu:”……”
Wait a minute, True Lord Zhong Kui… this doesn’t seem right, does it?
How did her divine skill suddenly become this powerful?
Was it because the enemy was a vengeful ghost?
And the deity she summoned was the exorcist True Lord himself?
“Wuu-” The blood-red humanoid let out a shrill wail, but the golden light bound it tightly, leaving it unable to move.
Under the radiant glow, the vengeful ghost struggled wildly within the golden net, only for the light to constrict even further, layer upon layer, ensnaring all the tormented spirits.
The once-rampant resentment was gradually suppressed, and the piercing shrieks turned into feeble whimpers.
Wherever the golden light passed, the crimson hue faded away.
Like snow meeting the scorching sun, it retreated step by step.
All the vengeful ghosts revealed their true forms—not just Yuliuli, but over a dozen others who had long since died.
Ten minutes earlier, atop the Imperial Astronomical Observatory’s stargazing platform, Chief Astrologer Zheng Guancang was gazing at the nightscape of Chang’an with a troubled expression.
“Master, have some tea.” A young disciple presented a freshly brewed cup of Longjing.
“Ah…” Zheng Guancang took the teacup but merely swirled it absentmindedly.
“Chang’an has been restless lately.”
“Indeed,” the disciple chimed in.
“We’re already swamped with work, and the demand for all kinds of talismans has skyrocketed…”
“If this keeps up, we’ll be worked to death. We’re severely understaffed.”
Zheng Guancang sighed.
He was worried-with supernatural disturbances increasing, the pressure on the Observatory was immense.
If things didn’t improve soon, the Emperor would surely hold them accountable.
The night breeze was cool, causing the bronze wind chimes on the platform to tinkle softly.
Just as he was about to take a sip to ease his fatigue—
“BOOM!”
A pillar of golden light shot into the sky, piercing the heavens!
The blinding radiance nearly seared Zheng Guancang’s eyes.
“My god!”
He was so startled he almost dropped the teacup.
“What in the world is this?!”
“Wait!”
“That aura-isn’t this a demon-suppressing talisman?!”
Before he could finish, the golden light rapidly expanded, transforming into a colossal talisman, its righteous energy soaring into the firmament!
“This… this…” Zheng Guancang stammered in excitement.
“The power of this talisman! The purity of its energy! The range!”
“It covers nearly half of Pingkang Ward! And the righteous energy is absolutely flawless!”
“How many years has it been since the Observatory last saw a talisman of this caliber? Quick, quick! Find out who cast it!”
“Wait!” He suddenly grabbed his disciple before he could leave.
“No need to investigate! This direction… it’s Pingkang Ward!”
Zheng Guancang rubbed his hands together eagerly.
“A talent like this-I must see them in person! Hahaha! Finally, finally, we’ve found one!”
“We’re saved!”
The disciple had never seen his master so beside himself.
“Master, take it easy…”
“Take it easy? How can I?!” Zheng Guancang laughed heartily as he dashed downstairs.
“Pack up and come with me to Pingkang Ward! The Observatory has found its successor!”
***
In the invigilation room, the five invigilators exchanged glances, each seeing shock reflected in the others’ eyes.
Zhao Wujie was utterly dumbfounded, muttering, “Wait… isn’t this the decryption phase of Exam Paper A?”
Zhang Yuanhua nodded, “Indeed!”