The sudden shift in County Magistrate Sun’s demeanor left everyone in the county office utterly astonished.
Just yesterday, Lin Yi had been a prisoner in shackles. Today, he had become someone the magistrate was clearly eager to please.
Zhang Shengcai, the county scribe, was thoroughly baffled. His voice trembled as he stammered, “M-Magistrate?”
He noticed that Sun Wenyuan’s gaze remained fixed on Lin Yi, his body slightly bowed, exuding an unexpected air of humility.
Zhang Shengcai couldn’t comprehend it.
----------------------------------------
Lin Yi himself hadn’t anticipated Sun Wenyuan lowering his posture so publicly. Yet, he understood the reasoning behind it.
Sun Wenyuan was putting on a show—for Chen Jinbei.
If Lin Yi could solve the case of the stolen arcane technique, the worst that would happen to Sun Wenyuan would be backlash from the Hao Ran Binding Seal for failing in his duties. However, if the technique was not recovered, Chen Jinbei would certainly see to it that Sun met a far worse fate.
Lin Yi turned to the assembled onlookers in the main hall and said calmly, “Have them all step aside.”
“What?”
Sun Wenyuan froze momentarily.
Chen Jinbei cast him a meaningful glance, and Sun immediately relented. He waved his hand hurriedly, barking, “Everyone, move to the sides! Quickly, now!”
“Yes, Magistrate!”
Although the clerks and bailiffs didn’t understand what was happening, they obediently stepped back, leaving Zhang Shengcai, who was still sprawled on the floor, in the center.
“Someone, help me up!” Zhang Shengcai snapped irritably. “Do you expect me to crawl out of here?”
Lin Yi stepped forward, crouching before Zhang Shengcai and extending a hand. “Hand it over.”
Chen Jinbei raised an eyebrow.
“What are you talking about?”
Zhang Shengcai was momentarily stunned, his face reddening as he retorted, “Hand over what? What nonsense are you spouting? Just because you’re a scholar, you think you can throw your weight around? Who do you think you’re intimidating? I’ve seen it all!”
Slap!
Lin Yi’s palm landed sharply across Zhang Shengcai’s face.
“Then you truly haven’t seen what it’s like to be slapped by me, have you?” Lin Yi remarked coldly.
“You…”
Zhang Shengcai glared at him, humiliated and furious.
Lin Yi stood, looking him square in the eye. “A few nights ago, you took advantage of the constables guarding the Demon Suppression Hall being out at a brothel. You snuck in and stole the arcane technique. Am I wrong?”
The hall erupted in murmurs.
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“What?”
“It was Scribe Zhang who stole the arcane technique?”
“That’s impossible! Scribe Zhang wasn’t even in the county office that night.”
Some of the bailiffs were in disbelief, citing Zhang Shengcai’s alibi.
Chen Jinbei, intrigued by the turn of events, muttered, “Oh? And how can you be so certain?”
He found it fascinating—Lin Yi had gone to the Demon Suppression Hall only briefly, yet now he had a suspect. It seemed almost supernatural.
Sun Wenyuan was equally stunned.
“Ridiculous!” Zhang Shengcai suddenly burst into laughter. “I, Zhang Shengcai, despise thieves and scoundrels! You accuse me of stealing the arcane technique? Show me your proof!”
His voice turned righteous as he clasped his hands together, declaring, “You may have Chen Jinbei’s support, but you won’t intimidate me. If you’ve got the guts, arrest me right now! If not, I’ll crawl my way to the prefectural office in Jinzhou and demand justice from the governor himself!”
He was certain Lin Yi wouldn’t dare act without evidence.
Lin Yi glanced at Sun Wenyuan. “Magistrate Sun, take him into custody.”
“???”
Zhang Shengcai froze, instinctively trying to retract his hands.
But it was too late.
In one swift motion, the bailiffs clamped the cangue around his neck and shackled his wrists.
“What is the meaning of this?” Zhang Shengcai roared, enraged. “Have you all lost your minds? Release me at once!”
The bailiffs hesitated, looking toward Sun Wenyuan for confirmation.
Sun straightened and declared, “At present, Scholar Lin is in charge of this case. Follow his orders!”
He even offered Lin Yi a faint smile.
Lin Yi observed silently. This world seemed to operate on a peculiar power dynamic—government officials were deeply fearful of scholars from the academies, or rather, the Sacred Institute.
This was no ordinary bureaucracy. The Sacred Institute clearly held divine authority, akin to the mandate of heaven.
No wonder a mere seventh-rank magistrate like Sun Wenyuan was so deferential.
Turning back to Zhang Shengcai, Lin Yi said, “I’ve never seen someone demand to be arrested before, but your wish is granted.”
“Lin Yi!” Zhang Shengcai snarled, “You disgrace the name of scholars with your baseless accusations! Is this how you intend to wield your influence?”
He then appealed to Chen Jinbei. “Master Chen, will the academy stand idly by while a scholar commits such an abuse of power?”
Chen Jinbei responded calmly, “Lin Yi bears the Hao Ran Seal. The academy cannot intervene. Besides, if he accuses you of theft, he must have his reasons.”
Lin Yi didn’t waste any more time. Fixing his gaze on Zhang Shengcai, he asked, “Do you admit to stealing the arcane technique?”
“I did not!” Zhang Shengcai bellowed; his eyes bloodshot. “I have an alibi! Where is your proof?”
Lin Yi gestured to a bailiff holding a rod known as the Water and Fire Stick. “Proceed.”
The thief who had infiltrated the Demon Suppression Hall had matched Zhang Shengcai’s build, gait, and the peculiar sensation he had felt when observing the culprit.
There was little doubt it was him.
But Lin Yi lacked concrete evidence.
For now, he had to extract a confession by force.
“Wait!”
Chen Jinbei’s voice interrupted just as the bailiffs moved to act.
Zhang Shengcai smirked darkly. “See? Even Master Chen won’t condone such tactics!”
“Silence!” Chen Jinbei cut him off sharply. He turned to Lin Yi and said, “If he truly stole the arcane technique, torture won’t get the truth. Theft of such magnitude carries a death sentence—he won’t confess willingly.”
“That’s true.” Lin Yi nodded. “Is there a literary technique to compel honesty?”
“Of course,” Chen Jinbei replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Though you’re not skilled enough to use it yet, I can assist.”
“And the Hao Ran Seal?” Lin Yi asked cautiously.
“I’ll simply observe. I won’t intervene.”
“Very well.” Lin Yi instantly grasped his meaning.
He turned back to Zhang Shengcai, his voice sharp. “Did you steal the arcane technique from the Demon Suppression Hall?”
Zhang Shengcai clenched his teeth, saying nothing.
“Answer me!” Lin Yi barked.
Sweat beaded on Zhang Shengcai’s forehead as Lin Yi’s piercing gaze bore into him. Instinctively, he blurted out, “N-No!”
Lin Yi looked to Chen Jinbei.
“He lied,” Chen Jinbei said flatly.
A collective gasp swept through the room.
Zhang Shengcai’s face went deathly pale, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Sun Wenyuan slammed the gavel on his desk, roaring, “Zhang Shengcai! As the county scribe, you dared to steal an arcane technique and frame Scholar Lin? You are guilty of treason and deserve nothing less than death!”
Even Sun had assumed Lin Yi was exploiting his connections with Chen Jinbei to settle a personal grudge.
But now it was clear—Lin Yi had been right all along.
How had he done it?
Sun himself had visited the Demon Suppression Hall multiple times and found no clues.