Wen Jiu noticed that someone hadn't eaten.
In the brief moment of hesitation, the formation covering the ancient building suddenly descended, unleashing countless streaks of golden light.
Although he didn't see exactly what it was, the next moment, he heard the screams of three or four people, followed by the sounds of bodies collapsing to the ground.
Dead?
Or just unconscious?
"Take them away. Ask nothing. Wait for me to perform a soul search," Sikong Bai's cold voice followed.
Soul search!
Hearing those words, Wen Jiu's heart trembled.
As a corpse keeper, how could he not know of this infamous sorcery? A notorious and sinister dark art—vicious, ruthless.
He wasn't sure of its exact effects, but one thing he knew: those subjected to a soul search would lose all sanity and become mindless fools.
A fate worse than death.
Just a moment of hesitation could lead to such a cruel punishment. It seemed the Peak Lord of Feixian Peak was desperate to uncover something.
Wen Jiu couldn't help but feel relieved that he hadn't hesitated earlier.
Soon, the interrogation began.
Under Sikong Bai's command and Mu Canglong's approval, twelve Night Patrol officers started questioning all Night Patrol disciples.
The questions were simple.
Two of them.
Do you harbor any disloyalty toward Feixian Peak?
Over the past year, has anyone from Feixian Peak—or outside of it—ever instructed you to do something beyond the duties of the Night Patrol?
Clearly, the suspects weren't limited to just the Night Patrol disciples.
As Wen Jiu continued feigning ignorance, a sudden, muffled explosion rang out.
Immediately after, he saw shattered flesh fly past his eyes, splattering onto the right side of his face and body.
The officers stirred in alarm.
"Stay calm. It's just a silencing spell—another dark art," Sikong Bai's voice was steady, keeping them in check.
Mu Canglong followed with a cold voice. "Doing this will only kill them. You won't get anything useful out of it."
Sikong Bai's smile was thin and insincere. "Mu Daoyou, this is the Peak Lord's order—I'm merely following instructions. Oh, by the way, once this matter is settled, we must also head to Feixian Peak's main hall for questioning. You might want to watch out… in case someone under your command gets exposed."
"What are you implying?"
Mu Canglong's gaze turned icy.
Sikong Bai didn't answer, simply shifting his gaze downward.
At that moment, Li Ye stepped up to Wen Jiu, his smirk growing even more sinister.
Let's see how you get out of this one!
"Do you harbor any disloyalty toward Feixian Peak?" Li Ye asked coldly.
Wen Jiu imitated the nearby gravekeeper, slowly answering, "No."
Li Ye continued, "Over the past year, has anyone from Feixian Peak—or outside of it—ever instructed you to do something beyond the duties of the Night Patrol?"
"Yes… I used to work under Supervisor Wang Nian as a gravekeeper… moving and burying corpses every day… My sister also had me visit our deceased parents' graves… And Supervisor Li Ye of the Night Patrol told me not to take the gravekeepers' year-end assessment. He said that in ten years, he would arrange a job for me in the Night Patrol."
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The moment those words fell, Li Ye's expression changed.
Shit.
How did that come up in questioning?
Mu Canglong sneered. "No wonder he's one of yours. A dignified Night Patrol supervisor, resorting to such shameless threats to keep a lowly gravekeeper from taking his assessment."
Sikong Bai's face darkened, momentarily speechless.
But the look he gave Li Ye was now sharp as a blade.
Sensing danger, Li Ye quickly moved on. "Were you the one responsible for the deaths of Fang Zheng and the others?"
Then, without waiting for an answer, he added, "Have you used corpse-rearing techniques for anything… inappropriate?"
Nearby, Liu Xiao, who had been questioning another disciple, turned and scowled. "Li Ye, what are you trying to do? I warn you—don't go too far. If you're using this as an excuse for personal revenge, don't blame me for giving you a taste of your own medicine."
Li Ye immediately turned and cupped his fists. "Supervisor Liu, my apologies! I… I lost my train of thought for a moment. My mistake, truly!"
Saying that, he took a step back.
But in reality, he was listening intently to Wen Jiu's next response.
He refused to believe Wen Jiu wasn't behind it!
The next moment, Wen Jiu drowsily mumbled, "It wasn't me… I just have my black ghoul carry corpses while I slack off on the side…"
Hearing this, Li Ye's face stiffened, doubt filling his mind.
Not him?
How could it not be him?
But before he could react, Liu Xiao had already turned to one of Li Ye's trusted men, his expression dark.
"You people from Justice Hall… what kind of dirty dealings have you been up to?"
The moment those words were spoken, Li Ye and the other stewards' expressions changed drastically. Even Sikong Bai, who was on the second floor, reacted the same way.
"Shut up!"
In his urgency, Sikong Bai leaped down in an instant and struck the interrogated disciple with a slap, sending him flying as if he feared even one more word from him.
Liu Xiao, seeing this, took several steps back. He then followed Li Ye's lead and apologized, "Steward Sikong, I apologize... I lost control for a moment and asked things I shouldn't have... My apologies, truly."
Sikong Bai's expression was dark and murderous.
Yet Liu Xiao did not retreat a single step, standing tall and unwavering, as if silently telling him: Wen Jiu is not without backing. If you dare to probe any further, I will expose you.
"You're seeking death!" Sikong Bai's voice was ice-cold, his anger evident.
Just then, Mu Canglong's deep voice rang out, and at some point, a sword had appeared behind him—an enormous, azure greatsword that hovered and spun slowly around him. Though its movements were unhurried, the sword intent it exuded surged violently.
Even from five or six zhang away, Wen Jiu could feel the oppressive and suffocating sword aura.
Sikong Bai felt it as well. His eyes flickered with apprehension when they swept over the azure greatsword. Though he was furious, he didn't linger but instead turned away and waved his hand, signaling Li Ye to continue.
"Li Ye, if you utter one more useless word, I'll have you guarding the Feixian Peak gate for the rest of your life!"
Li Ye trembled in fear and responded immediately, "Yes!"
Hearing this, Mu Canglong slowly retracted the azure greatsword. "Sikong Bai, the disgraceful deeds your Juyi Hall has done—I don't even need to ask to know. But I can't be bothered with your affairs. However, for today's matter, if you don't give me a proper explanation, you'd better think carefully about the consequences."
With those words, Sikong Bai's expression grew even uglier.
Yet, recalling that azure greatsword, he could only suppress his rage and say through clenched teeth, "Mu Daoyou, I will certainly give you an explanation."
As soon as he said that, Li Ye's face turned pale.
…
A quarter of an hour later, Wen Jiu followed the others in regaining consciousness, his body weak as he collapsed to the ground. Only with help from those nearby did he manage to stand up slowly.
Once on his feet, Wen Jiu bowed to Mu Canglong, Steward Liu, and the others before moving to stand with the rest.
Before long, the interrogation of all the Night Patrol Division disciples was complete.
Apart from the initial spy they had uncovered, no more were found.
Following that, Mu Canglong and his companion proceeded to examine all the stewards in front of the gathered disciples.
Still, nothing.
Just as Sikong Bai, his face darkened, was about to dismiss the crowd, Mu Canglong suddenly interrupted him.
"Wen Jiu!"
Wen Jiu immediately stepped forward and saluted.
"Steward Mu!"
Mu Canglong said coldly, "That Li Ye—once you reach the third level of Qi Refinement, if you don't give him a proper beating, don't ever claim to be one of my people again!"
"Yes!" Wen Jiu nodded firmly.
At that moment, Sikong Bai's expression changed, and so did Li Ye's.
Wen Jiu felt a surge of excitement.
So this is what it feels like to have backing?
Feels amazing!
But even if Mu Canglong hadn't said it, he had already planned to kill Li Ye.
After what had happened today, someone like Li Ye might not dare to provoke him in the near future, but who could say for sure about the future?
So when the time came, he would deal with him.
Qi Refinement third level, huh?
He wasn't far from being able to kill someone at that level.
"Dismissed!"
Sikong Bai barely restrained his fury as he ordered everyone to disperse.
Wen Jiu left with the crowd.
As he walked away, he couldn't help but think about that corpse.
Though only a few spies had been caught this time, if they searched their memories through soul-reading and discovered anything…
Would they end up scouring the Remnant Corpse Deadlands over and over again?
No.
I have to move the body to a new hiding place as soon as possible.
As for that damaged first-grade high-quality artifact, he would keep it with him—now that he had bought a storage pouch, he could block any divine sense from detecting it.