Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 146 - 141: A Clear Provocation_1

Chapter 146: Chapter 141: A Clear Provocation_1

Li Xuan thought that as long as the scene hadn’t been tampered with, it would be sufficient. As for the impact of the rainwater on the scene, it was already within his expectations.

Next, he focused on examining the scene thoroughly. Mainly by comparing the details from the case file, verifying each piece of evidence, he examined the treasury both inside and out to find any additional suspicious clues.

Peng Fulai and Zhang Yue also planned to help out, but after breaking more than a dozen tiles and collapsing a wall, Li Xuan dismissively shooed them out of the ruins.

But in reality, he himself was a novice at crime scene investigation and only slightly better than Jiang Hanyun. The key issue was the absence of the victim’s vengeful spirit, which he could usually use to extract the victim’s memories.

Almost an hour later, Li Xuan gave up. Brushing off his hands, he stood up and said, "Youjiao Luo, did you find anything on your side?"

"Yes!" Luo Yan said with a serious look on his face. He scraped off a layer of black ash from the corner of the wall. "This charcoal ash has a scent of rotten eggs. It should be the residue of asphalt burning. The place must have been smeared with asphalt before the case occurred, then purple fire was ignited using special spells. I saw that you had been staring at this area for a while, and searched for a while. You found it too, right?"

Li Xuan blinked, thinking, ’what discovery?’. All he noticed earlier was that the area was dark and underneath some ruins, the only place that hadn’t been affected by the rain, and so he had paid it more attention.

However, he did know what asphalt was. In his world, the book titled ’Annals of the Later Han Dynasty: Bureaucracy Chronicle’ written by Fan Ye from the Southern Dynasty, stated ’There is a mountain in the south of the county, which produces spring water from rocks. The water is big like, burns very brightly, but it can’t be consumed. The locals call it rock sap,’ which is essentially petroleum.

"Asphalt, the main ingredient for making Menghuo oil."

Li Xuan stared at the black ash seriously, "Youjiao Luo, you have a wealth of experience and knowledge."

The experienced investigators from the Sitian Department and Huoque Department had not noticed the differences in these ashes before.

"You are too kind," Luo Yan modestly replied with a smile. "I like playing with fire, so I know a bit more in this area. Other than this, there is nothing else to report."

While saying this, he took out a small bag and collected the ashes from the corner, "You can take these back. Let Shuji House identify what kind of technique was used. This is also a piece of physical evidence."

Yue Qianqian, who was standing next to him, intervened with a frown, "If it is asphalt, then the burglary is probably not related to Zidie. Zidie has set fire after burglary seven times. The fire she set was inextinguishable by water, and it kept burning for a long time, so her reputation became notorious. But the inflammable material she used was supposed to be white phosphorus combined with some kind of alcohol. Our investigators from the Liudao Division had smelled alcohol at the scenes several times."

"Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet. It’s not necessarily that Zidie isn’t using this method to mislead us."

Li Xuan agreed with Yue Qianqian’s deduction, but the worst thing in case investigation was preconception, which could lead to overlooking some possibilities.

A glance around the scene once again, he walked out towards the ruins," There is nothing more to see here, let’s head to the Zhao Prison."

※※※※

The reason Li Xuan wanted to go to the Zhao Prison was because all the related personnel who were on duty at the treasury that day, were now being detained in this prison located outside the palace by the ’inner Jishi Bureau’. Their charges were dereliction of duty, with suspicious implications of being accomplices.

As Li Xuan and his party arrived under the lead of a Neishi, they smelled the damp and rotten air emanating from the prison.

This was not surprising at all, since the Zhao Prison had been lying unused for a long time since the Jin Dynasty moved its capital. The inevitable outcome of years of neglect was its dilapidated state.

Li Xuan covered his nose with his hand, thinking to himself, the people in the inner Jishi Bureau really had no conscience. How could this be a place where people could live?

However, when he climbed the steps leading to Zhao Prison with the palace token given by Princess Changle in his hand, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. He noticed that the two Neishi guarding the entrance crossed their waist-knives and stood in their way at their arrival.

"The Zhenshou eunuch has ordered that this is a restricted area of the palace. Random people are not allowed in!" one of the Neishi said.

"Are you blind?" Peng Fulai coldly rebuked with a stern face, "Can’t you see we are from Liudao Division? Don’t you recognize the palace token in our leader’s hand? We are here by the order of the princess to investigate the theft case in the imperial treasury. Now step aside!"

"I know you are from Liudao Division, but we have been instructed that not even Liudao Division is allowed! Unless there is written order from Eunuch Qin, no others will be recognized. We haven’t heard anything about receiving orders from the Princess either."

One of the younger of the two men shot a disdainful look at Peng Fulai; "You’re just a low-rank Fumo Xunjian and a cultivator from the third house level, yet you dare to speak to me like that? If you continue with your mad words, I will make you crawl out of the palace city."

Peng Fulai was immediately livid, his cold gaze fixed on this Neishi. "You’re welcome to try!"

Li Xuan was originally planning to take out the Liudao Division’s document from his sleeve, but when he heard the phrase ’not even the Liudao Division is permitted’, his expression cooled and he drew his empty hand out of his sleeve.

Luo Yan behind him, also coldly addressed the guards, "Since when did the Zhenshou eunuch and the inner chang get the authority to obstruct the investigations conducted by the Liudao Division?"

The two Inner Chang Fanyi seemed completely unfazed, each brandishing their waist blades with a cool demeanor, "Orders are orders. We can’t disobey. The inmates here are what our Inner Jishi Bureau is in charge of. If you are not satisfied, you can always get your superior to discuss the matter."

Li Xuan turned to Yue Qianqian: "Qianqian, does our Great Jin Dynasty have such a rule that the Inner Jishi Bureau and the Zhenshou eunuch can block us from entering the Zhao Prison for interrogation?"

"No such thing."

Yue Qianqian shook her head firmly: "At the beginning of the founding of the Jin Dynasty, the Great Ancestor granted the Liudao Division the power to investigate all cases involving demons and cultivators. Furthermore, their authority sits above the Three Law Divisions and the Inner Jishi Bureau.

According to the original text of the imperial decree, the exception is the emperor, the princes, and the burial places of emperors, imperial tombs, and the Grand Temple; below second-rank officials, including members of the imperial family, none are exempted;

According to customs, they are required to cooperate after confirming their identities, even to obey our orders in the Liudao Division."

"So, what crime is it to knowingly hinder us after recognizing our identities?"

Li Xuan’s right hand gripped the ’Huaiyi Blade’, looking at the two people in front: "If I forcefully enter today, am I breaking the rules of the Liudao Division and the Court?"

Yue Qianqian pondered for a moment, then assured with certainty: "Not at all. It would be fine if they failed to verify their identities, but hindrance under the knowledge that Liudao personnel are handling the case is unacceptable. We can treat them as violent criminals and suppress them immediately."

Listening to this, the two Inner Chang Fanyi remained unmoved, instead sniggering at them in their eyes. "Immediate suppression? Have you seen where this is? Try and make a move!"

"Li Youjiao, they’re scoffing at you!" Luo Yan’s remarks followed in a low voice: "If this argument does reach out to the higher-ups, or we just back down, we’ll become a joke for everyone. Our Zhuque Hall, with its thousands of members, will also see you as a pushover."

"I know!" Li Xuan spoke as he looked at the tightly shut door ahead, his gaze deep and inscrutable: "Old Peng, Taishan, prepare for combat."

Peng Fulai couldn’t help but ’tsk’: "Expected this, but I guess we’d have to be carried out of the palace this time."

Zhang Yue’s spirits lifted, and he laughed heartily as he grabbed a large shield from his back: "Not necessarily! Unless it’s Xiaowei Jiang, I, Zhang Yue, will never fall easily."

Meanwhile, in the inner hall of Zhao Prison, Situ Zhongzheng was wiping his favorite sword with a white cloth, smiling with focused intentions.

Near him stood a young man, donning a purple robe over a great cloak, dressed like a Dangtou of the Inner Chang. But he seemed rather uneasy: "This isn’t very good, Chief Catcher Situ? It’s rather provocative, and I doubt these youngsters would simply take it."

"So what if they can’t?" Situ Zhong replied indifferently, "Can they actually break in?"

"Only two of them have passed the second gate, let alone breaking into the Zhao Prison. But if this escalates, we’re in trouble. The Liudao Division isn’t easy to handle, even His Majesty treats them with respect."

The young man shook his head, then something dawned on him as he looked at Situ Zhong: "Chief Catcher Situ, are you doing this on purpose? Trying to provoke them?"

"You guessed right! I’m pushing them today."

Situ Zhong flipped his blade, plucked a string on it with his fingers, producing a crisp ’clang’. Then he glanced at the young man, "Didn’t Eunuch Qin say, Dangtou, you should listen to me. Be assured, I’ll take all the blame. It has nothing to do with you, Dangtou Qin. The crimes are all on me."

The young man hesitated: "This move will not only offend the Liudao Division but also the Crown Prince and Princess."

"The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince will be more than pleased."A smirk curled on the corners of Situ Zhong’s lips, his eyes full of sarcasm. "Doesn’t Dangtou Qin even know which side he’s on? If we can embarrass the Liudao Division and the second Prince, it would be very beneficial for Eunuch Qin. Most importantly—"

He too, looked towards the direction of the entrance, "You said ’maybe’. I am rather looking forward to them picking a fight. That’d exactly be a great opportunity for me. However, this is the palace after all. There are many masters in this prison. If those guys have the guts, I’d take my hat off to them—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud ’bang’ echoed.

A blade light, wrapped in thunderous energy, came hacking in, shattering the door instantly.

Standing outside was none other than Li Xuan. After one glance into the depths of Zhao Prison, he chuckled in relief: "I knew it was you, Situ Zhong, you scoundrel!"

The two Inner Chang Fanyi beside him were immediately infuriated, but before they could do anything, one of them was sent flying by Zhang Yue’s shield. His immense strength caused the man’s body to crackle, his bones shattered. He couldn’t stand up by the time he hit the ground.

The other man was knocked unconscious by a whip strike to the neck from Luo Yan and fell to the ground unconscious.