Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 409 - 384: Investigate Zhang San Thoroughly!

Chapter 409: Chapter 384: Investigate Zhang San Thoroughly!

"Zhang Datui, are you a pig? When you say stick a knife in yourself, do you really stick a knife in yourself?"

In the Council Hall of the Town Demon Office Government Office, Chief Qianshan glared angrily at Zhang Datui, who was standing below, unable to comprehend how someone could be so literal.

Zhang Datui stepped forward, clasped his fists, and bowed, "Chief, a gentleman honors his words. I did it considering the reputation of our Town Demon Office!"

"Get out, get out, get out, get out..."

Oh, the rage in Qianshan!

He had originally sneaked away to learn fishing from Li Moxian, thinking maybe he could realize something from it and surpass Li Moxian.

Just as he was about to catch a fish, Li Moxian, who ran over, yelled and scared all the fish away.

Then, Li Moxian informed him that something had gone wrong at the Demon-Execution Platform, and only then did he find out that despite drawing Zhang San out, Zhang Datui had still let Zhang San escape.

More importantly, this incident was primarily led by the Town Demon Office; there was no chance to pass the blame to the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture.

"You... me... oh dear... I give you a ceremonial blade and you even manage to impale yourself, I... I..."

At that moment, Qianshan looked at Zhang Datui, his mouth agape for a long time, unable to articulate what he wanted to say.

"Isn’t it said that Hu Xingxiang comes from Chuan-Yu Road? Send someone to investigate! Start by asking the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s office for Hu Xingxiang’s records. I refuse to believe we can’t uncover something! If we truly find evidence that Hu Xingxiang is a fox demon, our Town Demon Office won’t be so passive!"

Qianshan thought for a while and added, "If no issues are found with this Hu Xingxiang, then investigate Chuan-Yu Road to see if there’s anything suspicious about that Zhang San, whether he has any ties to the Demon Clan. Do you understand?"

Zhang Datui nodded, turned around, and went to order someone to conduct an investigation in Chuan-Yu Road.

Meanwhile, Qianshan hurried into the Imperial Palace, preparing to be reprimanded.

Indeed, as soon as Qianshan arrived at Kaihuang’s chamber, he could already hear relentless scolding inside.

"Are you all useless? Just eating without working? Should I dismiss you all and take Zhang San back instead? How about that!?"

Kaihuang wasn’t angry because they hadn’t captured Zhang San; after all, Zhang San had been the only non-Spiritual Platform Realm Military Chief in the Town Martial Office for so many years. With such talent and capability, it was normal for both the Town Demon Office and the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s office to fail in capturing him.

What infuriated Kaihuang was not just the failure to capture him, but also that they turned the entire West Market into chaos!

The West Market was inherently the area with the most foreign merchants. Originally, the Demon-Execution Platform was established there to occasionally demonstrate Great Sui’s national strength to other countries.

As a result, today they suffered a great loss!

Many ministers knelt on the ground, trembling.

At this moment, King Jin stepped forward, clasped his fists and bowed, "Father, I have had a brief acquaintance with Zhang San. Although this man is suspected to be the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, it cannot be denied that he is talented and capable. This indicates that the decision for him to come handle cases was far-sighted. Perhaps, he has been wrongly maligned. Having such a capable official would be a good thing for Great Sui."

As soon as King Jin finished speaking, the Crown Prince immediately stood out.

"A capable official? Unfortunately, this capable official is likely truly the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect. Your Majesty, I had previously ordered people to allure the person in charge of the Heavenly Punishment Sect in the Capital City. Back then, they mentioned that this person had been in contact with them and knew the secret codes of the Heavenly Punishment Sect. He even demanded information about the former Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, Shen Wen."

"Later, the perpetrator of the homicide in the northwest of the Capital City also confessed that Zhang San is the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, the mastermind behind the scenes! These are all ironclad facts! Younger brother, you wouldn’t deny this, would you!"

King Jin chuckled and said, "The Crown Prince’s words are indeed correct; I was being naive. Originally, I thought that if Zhang San truly were innocent, he would be a clean official of Great Sui. If Zhang San really is the Saint Heir of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, and if Great Sui could make him work for us, I was afraid that even the Heavenly Punishment Sect itself might crumble. Hearing the Crown Prince’s esteemed opinion, I realize I have thought too much."

"You..."

The Crown Prince could tell that King Jin was intentionally defending Zhang San and opposing him.

Kaihuang too was tired of listening to his two sons bicker over an Empress’s adopted son and banged the table, startling both the Crown Prince and King Jin into silence.

"Qian Shanxiu, come forward! What caused such a big commotion today?"

Qian Shanxiu trembled as he spoke, "Reporting to Kaihuang, it was not due to any shortcomings on the part of the Town Demon Office. Today, near the Demon-Execution Platform, there were thousands from the Demon Clan. These demons deliberately caused trouble during the execution, which is why..."

Kaihuang snorted coldly, angry, "Every time an execution takes place at the Demon-Execution Platform, isn’t information released in Hundred Flowers Fang and Jingshan Fang to intimidate the demons? Then tell me, how did they cause trouble?"

"They... they..."

Qian Shanxiu thought carefully; the crowd simply followed along shouting a couple of sentences, and almost everyone there watching was doing the same.

As for releasing demon qi, they didn’t do anything except for a few releases, which doesn’t constitute causing trouble.

For a moment, Qian Shanxiu found himself at a loss for words.

"Reporting to Kaihuang, the Metropolitan prefecture Government Office has investigated that today, someone purposely bought up rice and grain from nearby shops to distribute as alms. Anyone who could consume a large bowl of porridge could take five catties of rice. That’s why many people gathered. It seems there was someone deliberately creating a disturbance to block the road, thereby facilitating Zhang San’s mischief."

Kaihuang glared at Qian Shanxiu and roared, "So spending money to help the poor is now a mistake?"

At that moment, Qian Shanxiu simply kneeled down silently, waiting to be scolded.

"Where is Shen Erxian? Such a big incident, and he, as Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, doesn’t come to see me?"

At this time, the Minister of Personnel stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Kaihuang, Shen Erxian sent someone to request leave, saying that he was injured by Zhang San while pursuing him and likely needs to recover until the Mid-Autumn Festival."

"Humph! He sure enjoys his comforts! One injury leave coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival! Why doesn’t he just extend his leave until the Lantern Festival!? Send someone to tell this lad, if he’s too injured to work, he shouldn’t work at all!"

After Kaihuang finished speaking, he couldn’t help but complain, "He’s at least in the Spiritual Platform Realm; how could he be injured by Zhang San, who’s only in the True Core Realm?"

Seeing that the anger was shifting, Qian Shanxiu immediately nodded in agreement, "What Kaihuang said is very true."

At that moment, King Jin scoffed and said, "Chief Qianshan, I heard that today the Town Demon Office’s Martial Artists, over eighty in number, pursued Zhang San. He severely injured as many as fifty with his techniques and archery. Among them, there were more than a couple from the Spiritual Platform Realm."

Qian Shanxiu immediately lowered his head, silently cursing himself: Why did I even speak up?

Kaihuang was utterly disappointed.

He glanced down at the people below.

Although Kaihuang was very disappointed in these people, he also knew that if Zhang San could be made useful, he would certainly be a Pillar of the State.

Hopefully, this lad can withstand the investigation.

"Investigate Zhang San thoroughly!"