Just as tensions reached their peak, Su Fu suddenly smiled.
Her voice carried a hint of mockery.
“Sir Du, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong person.”
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze meaningful as she looked at Zongzheng Wujiu.
“The one truly corrupted by the supernatural… is your subordinate here.”
“Wh-what nonsense are you spouting?!” Zongzheng Wujiu’s expression twisted, his voice cracking.
Su Fu arched an eyebrow, speaking deliberately.
“The Imperial Astrology Bureau is the authority on supernatural affairs. Even the Overseer hasn’t accused me of corruption. Yet you, a mere constable, dare to twist the truth here?”
“What? Are you more capable than the Overseer himself?”
She spread her arms, gesturing to the Imperial Astrology Bureau members behind her.
“If I were truly a problem, would the Overseer have sent so many people to protect me?”
At this, she sighed softly.
“Now, it seems we have a case of the thief crying ‘stop thief.’ “
Her eyes locked onto Zongzheng Wujiu as she enunciated each word.
“This constable… is clearly the one corrupted!”
“What?!” Du Jinyang whipped his head around to stare at Zongzheng Wujiu, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes.
Indeed…
Recently, Chang’an City has been plagued by frequent supernatural occurrences, and the Buliangren have captured many of those who were possessed.
But Su Fu has the backing of the Supervisor.
Could it be that the Supervisor is blind, unable to detect the supernatural right before his eyes?
…That seems unlikely.
Instead, why had he never considered that within the Buliangren ranks… there might already be infiltrators?
Once this blind spot in his thinking was exposed, Du Jinyang felt a chill run down his spine.
He stared fixedly at Zongzheng Wujiu, suspicion burning in his eyes.
Was it possible that a supernatural entity had infiltrated the Buliangren, attempting to stir up chaos?!
Zongzheng Wujiu noticed the shift in Du Jinyang’s gaze and felt his scalp tingle, cold sweat breaking out.
Just as he was about to explain, Su Fu cut him off.
“How about this?”
Her voice remained light, yet every word struck like a dagger.
“The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has specialized methods for interrogating the supernatural. Why don’t we… ask him?”
“Just a simple question, and everything will become clear.”
Zongzheng Wujiu felt his entire body turn cold at these words.
The Judge’s Decree!
What Su Fu mentioned was undoubtedly the Judge’s Decree.
He absolutely couldn’t be interrogated!
He had personally witnessed how, under the Judge’s Decree, one could only speak the truth.
If his identity were exposed, this assessment would be completely ruined!
Damn it!
How had Su Fu managed to gain the favor of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s Supervisor in such a short time?
How had she pulled it off?
But dwelling on the reasons now was pointless.
With the Supervisor’s endorsement, Du Jinyang was clearly swayed by Su Fu’s words.
He couldn’t stay any longer!
He turned to flee, but Su Fu’s icy voice had already rung out-
“Judge’s Decree!”
Instantly, an eerie blue light enveloped Zongzheng Wujiu’s entire body, pressing him down under its oppressive force until he knelt on the ground.
Su Fu smiled faintly as she asked, “Now, tell us… are you the same as the other Buliangren spies?”
Zongzheng Wujiu’s face instantly paled.
This question was a damn trap!
In this scenario, everyone was an anomaly-they were examinees.
How could they possibly be the same as real Buliangren?
He couldn’t answer.
Absolutely not!
He bit down hard on his tongue, using the sharp pain to cling to his senses.
But under the Judge’s Decree, he had no control over his body.
It was as if something was prying his mouth open, bit by bit.
“I…” His voice trembled, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
“I… am… not! I’m not like them!”
The moment the words left his mouth, the crowd erupted in shock.
“What?!” Du Jinyang took a step back, his face ashen.
“So you really are… one of the supernatural?”
He had been deceived by a supernatural entity for so long!
“Seize him!”
Du Jinyang roared.
“Don’t let him—”
Before he could finish, a silver arrow streaked through the air, piercing straight through Zongzheng Wujiu’s chest.
A scream tore from his throat as Zongzheng Wujiu looked down in disbelief at the arrow embedded in his chest.
Under the moonlight, the fletching trembled slightly-blessed by the Moon God, never missing its mark.
“You…” He trembled as he turned toward the source of the arrow, meeting Jiang Qingyu’s expressionless face.
Then, he collapsed to the ground.
Zongzheng Wujiu was dead.
Du Jinyang whirled around in shock, only to see Jiang Qingyu calmly sheathing her longbow, her demeanor composed as if she hadn’t just fired that shot.
“How dare you—”
“Lord Du,” Su Fu interrupted coldly.
“If he was supernatural, then he naturally falls under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.”
“If you want to arrest me?” She let out a light laugh.
“With just you people? I’m afraid you’re not qualified.”
“Want to deal with me? Fine, have your Chief of the Unruly personally go ask the Director for custody.”
“Let’s go!”
Su Fu urged her horse forward, followed closely by over twenty officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, their horses’ hooves kicking up dust as the Unruly agents had no choice but to clear a path.
They had no choice hadn’t they seen their leader back down?
Besides, that group was truly willing to kill.
Their archery skills were nearly impossible to dodge-too fast!
The twenty Imperial Astronomical Bureau members behind Su Fu felt a surge of satisfaction at the sight.
“Lady Su is so impressive!” someone in the group whispered in admiration.
“Serves these Unruly agents right for their arrogance! They arrested the wrong person yet still had the audacity to act so self-righteous.”
“Exactly! We clearly identified ourselves as the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, yet they still wanted to fight. They clearly look down on us.”
“Heh, good thing Lady Su wasn’t intimidated by them and even turned the tables!”
“Indeed! Lady Su truly lives up to being personally recognized by the Director.
If she becomes the next Director, our Imperial Astronomical Bureau will surely thrive even more!”
The Unruly spies’ faces darkened at the sarcastic remarks, but none dared to step forward and stop them.
No one even spared a glance at Zongzheng Wujiu’s corpse lying on the ground.
As Su Fu’s group disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest, someone quietly asked, “Sir, what about the body…?”
“Burn it.” Du Jinyang waved impatiently.
“If it weren’t for this waste causing trouble, we wouldn’t have been humiliated like this. Not only did he break the rules, but he also made us a laughingstock. Burning it saves trouble-don’t waste time.”
The night wind howled, and the bamboo shadows swayed.
After killing Zongzheng Wujiu, Su Fu didn’t feel the slightest bit relieved.
Something wasn’t right.
If Zongzheng Wujiu had appeared, where was Zongzheng Ye?
The two were cousins and had been extremely close before the exams.
Would he really just stand by and watch his cousin die?
As the top disciple of the Tianxuan Academy, Zongzheng Ye was no fool.
He must have a backup plan.
Zongzheng Wujiu was just a decoy to draw their attention, perhaps even just one piece of a larger scheme.
What scheme?
And why now?
Su Fu’s expression suddenly changed.
Oh no-the mysterious person was in danger!
And she was right!
“Hurry!” she immediately shouted.
“Full speed ahead!”
Deep in the bamboo forest, a bamboo hut was bathed in moonlight.
A figure stood before the hut, his pupils gleaming gold as if filled with flowing honey-the ability of the [Fourth Perspective] activating, allowing him to see everything happening in the distance.
Zongzheng Ye watched the distant scene: Zongzheng Wujiu collapsing in a pool of blood, then the flames rising.
His face remained impassive.
Just then, he suddenly spoke, “She’s almost here.”
His tone suggested he was conversing with someone, and he chuckled lightly.
“Oh dear, it seems she’s noticed something’s amiss.”
The bamboo door creaked open, and a woman stepped out.
Under the moonlight, her delicate features were picturesque-none other than the top disciple of the Cangwu Academy, Su Luan.
She said nonchalantly, “Noticing won’t change anything now.”
Her expression carried a hint of inexplicable satisfaction, as if she’d obtained the answer she wanted.
Zongzheng Ye raised an eyebrow at her expression.
“It seems you’ve figured something out?”
Su Luan nodded slightly, the curve of her lips unmistakable.
“It’s just as I thought.”
She looked up at Zongzheng Ye and said, “Pleasure working with you.”
“But…” Her tone suddenly shifted, “You’re quite ruthless, willing to exploit even your own cousin so thoroughly. I suppose that’s to be expected from someone of your noble upbringing?”
Sending Zongzheng Wujiu to intercept Su Fu was practically a death sentence.
The Evil-Warding Talisman, the Judge’s Decree, the Phantom Soldiers’ Path-every skill was perfectly suited for this instance.
Zongzheng Ye sighed in response, “I didn’t want to either. The original plan was to eliminate Su Fu through the vengeful spirits’ rampage. Who could have anticipated her newly acquired skills would be so troublesome?”
He shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice, “It’s almost as if they were tailor-made for this instance.”
“Unexpectedly, she even managed to gain the Supervisor’s favor by sheer coincidence.”
Su Luan chuckled lightly, “What, having regrets now?”
“Regrets about what?” Zongzheng Ye’s smile was devoid of warmth.
“Though things deviated slightly from the plan, the objective was still achieved.”
“As for the Supervisor’s favor? Please, this is a mystery instance-what’s the point of playing for promotions and wealth? Even if she became the Supervisor herself, so what? The trail has gone cold now; she’s out of opportunities.”
“Actually, we should thank Wujiu. Given his prior conflict with Su Fu, she would definitely seize the chance to eliminate him.”
“Losing one pawn to delay Su Fu is more than worth it.”
Su Luan thought to herself, indeed, the hearts of noble scions are all pitch black.
Zongzheng Ye remained unperturbed, “Besides, with Su Fu’s skills being so difficult to counter, would you be willing to face her head-on?”
Of course Su Luan wasn’t, which was why she had allied with Zongzheng Ye in the first place.
There was also the matter of Su Fu’s divine artifact-it was simply too envy-inducing.
Better to join forces and eliminate her first.
“You see,” Zongzheng Ye seemed to read her thoughts and let out a light laugh, “you’re unwilling, I’m unwilling, and someone still needs to stop Su Fu. That leaves only my dear younger brother, doesn’t it?”
Su Luan couldn’t be bothered with Zongzheng Ye’s hypocrisy and changed the subject, “I heard Eli is the fastest and has already found the culprit?”
“I’m rather curious…” Zongzheng Ye smiled, “when he’ll make his move.”
At this, Su Luan gave a meaningful smile.
“Yes,” she said softly, “I’m looking forward to it too.”
Su Fu immediately dismounted and strode toward the bamboo hut.
As she approached, she spotted two familiar figures.
Zongzheng Ye and Su Luan.
Dressed in Imperial Guard uniforms, they stood lazily before the hut, offering faint smiles at her arrival.
Utterly at ease.
Yet Su Fu’s heart sank.
A strange sense of inevitability washed over her.
Ignoring them both, she rushed straight into the hut.
A step behind, Lin Mingxi and Jiang Qingyu took in the scene and sensed something amiss, exchanging bewildered glances.
This situation doesn’t seem right.
Why are both ZongZeng Ye and Su Luan here—the key figures in their case?
Instead of investigating their own case, what are they doing here?
Lin Mingxi already had a bad premonition.
With a grave expression, he looked at Jiang Qingyu, “That mysterious person couldn’t have…”
Before he could finish, Su Fu walked out of the house.
Under the moonlight, her face was expressionless as she uttered just two words:
“Dead.”
Who’s dead?
The mysterious person is dead.
The key figure in the heart-removal case-dead.