"Haha, all thanks to you!"
Pang Song stopped and clapped Chu Bai on the shoulder, sighing with emotion. "The Director has been ruthless with his cleanup, and the internal restructuring is almost complete. As for those turncoat parasites in Team Two, the list is finalized. The few Deputy Captains and Stewards at the head of it are already in prison. The ringleaders won’t escape the death penalty!"
Chu Bai’s eyes shifted. "They... were they really unaware of the live sacrifices?"
"We’ve investigated thoroughly." Pang Song sighed, a flash of disgust in his eyes.
"That bunch really only cared about collecting silver. In their eyes, the Sanmu River was just a lucrative post for extorting protection money. Due to their laziness and dereliction of duty, they didn’t even bother to properly look through the case files for those villages.
"Though they weren’t the masterminds, if not for their greed, bribery, and willful ignorance, how could that Wild God and the Luu Family have dared to pull off such a massive deception and murder so many children? So, the Director said it himself: the prime culprits must be executed. Anything less would fail to appease the public’s outrage!"
Chu Bai nodded slightly.
Although "being unaware" sounded like an excuse, in the world of officialdom, this kind of indirect slaughter born from greed was often more chilling than direct murder.
"Right, there’s also a piece of good news."
Pang Song turned, pulled Hu Hao forward from behind him, and smiled at Chu Bai. "During the assignment to seize the Luu Family’s assets, Brother Hu not only led from the front, but he also personally discovered the key correspondence in the Luu Family’s secret chamber.
"The Director values his courage and clean background, and has now issued a formal document promoting Hu Hao to be the Deputy Captain of our Team Three!"
Upon hearing this, Hu Hao quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Chu Bai. "If it weren’t for Banner Inspector Chu’s support back then, I would still be wasting my years at the city gate, let alone have the opportunity to earn such merit. Words cannot express my gratitude!"
Chu Bai’s eyes lit up, and he returned the bow. "Brother Hu, you’re too kind. It was your own solid foundation and righteous path. Here in Team Three, I’ll have to rely on Deputy Captain Hu from now on."
’He understood perfectly. This was Pang Song’s way of sending him an extremely friendly signal. Hu Hao and he went way back. Coming from a Humble Family with a clean background, Hu Hao had no part in the factional struggles of the great families. Promoting him to deputy was Pang Song’s way of recognizing Hu Hao’s ability, while also indirectly telling Chu Bai that the doors of Team Three were always open to him—and that inside, Team Three was now a single, solid unit.’
"Captain Pang, the Luu Family... how are things on that front now?" Chu Bai asked casually.
"The Luu Family?"
At the mention of this Noble Race, Pang Song sneered. "They’re all under control. They might have deep roots in Anping County, but this time the evidence is ironclad. Once the matter of the child sacrifices gets out, what Noble Race would dare risk universal condemnation to protect them?
"That Patriarch of the Luu Family is a smart man. He knows that resisting the Evil Suppression Department means annihilation for his clan. He’s currently waiting for punishment in his residence with the clan elders, hoping only that the Director, on account of their ’cooperation,’ will spare some of the collateral family branches."
Pang Song pulled a dossier, stamped with an express Seal, from his robes and gestured with it toward Chu Bai.
"I’ve just obtained the final confessions and solid evidence from the Luu Family. I’m about to take Hu Hao to meet with the Director now.
"Younger Brother Chu, you’re the one who deserves the most credit for this case. The Director specifically instructed that if I saw you, we were to go together. This case is going to be closed for good today!"
"Since the Director has summoned me, let’s go."
Chu Bai brushed the dust from his cuffs and calmly fell in step with Pang Song.
Striding through the long corridors of the Evil Suppression Department, Chu Bai could feel the gazes of the surrounding guards filled with awe and reverence.
The atmosphere in the Main Hall was even more solemn than it had been half a month ago.
Two rows of personal guards in Heavy Armor stood with their hands on their blades, their gazes fixed forward. The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, broken only by the occasional rustle of paper.
Zhang Cheng was seated on the high seat, his usually imposing face appearing unpredictable in the flickering candlelight.
Chu Bai, Pang Song, and Hu Hao walked in quickly, stopping before the dais.
"We pay our respects, Director!"
Zhang Cheng lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the three men. When his eyes landed on Chu Bai, the blade-like coldness in them softened slightly. He nodded. "At ease. Did you bring everything?"
"Reporting to the Director, the confession personally signed by Patriarch Luu, the private ledgers of dealings with Team Two over the years, and all the physical evidence recovered from the Wild God Cave are all here."
Pang Song presented a thick stack of dossiers with both hands. Beside him, Hu Hao followed suit, handing over several key secret letters recovered from the Luu Family’s hidden room.
Zhang Cheng reached out and took them, flipping through page by page.
As time passed, the aura around the County Captain grew heavier, pressing down on the guards in the hall with weaker Cultivation until they could barely breathe.
After a long moment, Zhang Cheng slammed the dossiers shut with a dull THUD.
"The Luu Family... What audacity. For a bit of profit from a fish harvest, they dared to treat the Great Zhou Laws as a joke and the common people’s children as worthless weeds!"
He looked up at the three men below the dais. His voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable finality.
"Pang Song, you took command in a crisis, consolidated Team Three, and investigated the Luu Family. Your performance was excellent. Hu Hao, you entered the tiger’s den to search for ironclad evidence; that was also well done. Once this case is concluded, I will have significant rewards for you both."
Finally, Zhang Cheng’s gaze fell upon Chu Bai, his eyes filled with gratification.
"Chu Bai, this case began with you. If you hadn’t noticed something amiss in Anyu Village that night, and then single-handedly dove to the bottom of the river to slay that vile creature, who knows how long Anping County would have remained shrouded in this darkness. What you have accomplished is a great Merit that has saved the people!"
"Thank you for your praise, Director. It is merely my duty," Chu Bai replied calmly, returning the gesture, neither servile nor arrogant.
Zhang Cheng didn’t say more. He placed the stack of dossiers on his desk and barked at the Clerk beside him:
"Immediately collate and summarize this evidence and seal it in the death row files. Notify the Prison Department, the Merit Department, and the three shifts of government constables at the County Yamen..."
He paused, a flash of lightning in his eyes, and said in a heavy voice:
"In one double-hour, the Evil Suppression Department will open its main court for a public trial of the Sanmu River live sacrifice case!"
At these words, both Pang Song and Hu Hao’s hearts trembled.
They had assumed that such a major case would have to be reported up the chain of command, waiting for someone from Dayuan Prefecture or even Qingzhou to come down and review it—a process that would take at least ten days to half a month.
"Director, aren’t we waiting for the review and approval from above?" Pang Song asked subconsciously.
Zhang Cheng sneered and stood up, the black cloak behind him whipping about.
"Wait for approval from above? The Luu Family has old connections in the Prefecture Yamen and the State City. If we wait for those letters to arrive, who knows how many complications will be introduced into this case. Some people will certainly be thinking of how to reduce a big problem to a small one, and a small one to nothing."
"Since I am also the Anping County Captain, on this turf that is the Evil Suppression Department, what I say goes!"
Zhang Cheng’s tone was filled with an extremely hard-edged Slaughter Qi. "Before the higher-ups can react, I’m going to make this case airtight.
"Those who should be killed will be killed, and those whose property should be seized will have it seized! When the dust settles, I will file my report. Then we’ll see who dares to cause trouble for me over a thoroughly dead Luu Family!"
Chu Bai’s heart went cold hearing this.
’He’s going to cut the Gordian knot and settle this matter locally, once and for all!’
’Zhang Cheng is gambling his official’s cap and his future to liquidate the Luu Family and the parasites of Team Two at the first possible moment.’
’That takes guts.’
"One double-hour. That’s enough."
Zhang Cheng glanced at the sky outside the window, his tone chilling. "Pang Song, take your men and bring those Deputy Captains from Team Two for interrogation. Hu Hao, you take your men to the Luu residence and escort Patriarch Luu and his direct line to the court. If anyone obstructs you, kill them on the spot!"
"As you command!" Pang Song and Hu Hao shouted in unison, their expressions grim as they received their orders and departed.
Soon, only Zhang Cheng and Chu Bai remained in the great hall.
"Chu Bai." Zhang Cheng looked at him, his tone softening slightly. "When the court convenes today, you, as the primary informant and witness, must also be present. Go and prepare. In a little while, I want all the people of the County to see that the wheels of heavenly justice turn, and retribution is certain."
"Yes, sir."
Chu Bai cupped his fists and took his leave.
As he walked out the gates of the Main Hall, he looked up at the sky.
The dark clouds had now scattered. Sunlight pierced through and shone upon the enormous beast statue of the Evil Suppression Department, reflecting a cold and majestic sheen.

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