Ma Xiong’s gaze settled upon Jiang Wang, lingering for a moment.

With a flick of his hand, he stowed the recording stone and inquired, “Shall we take a trip to the Patrol Inspection Office?”

His demeanor was indeed without fault.

By common sense, there was no inherent need for him to harbor enmity towards a favored son of the realm like Jiang Wang. Unless he was overly eager for merit, or perhaps… another scheme was afoot.

Jiang Wang replied, “Of course, I shall cooperate fully.”

Ma Xiong personally conducted a brief search of the Protective Country Hall, leaving behind four Azure Badges to stand guard and permit no one entry or exit. Only then did he depart with Jiang Wang.

To call it an escort would be inaccurate, yet Ma Xiong’s eyes truly never left Jiang Wang’s side.

Jiang Wang’s expression remained placid. As the head catcher of the Azure Badges and the very person who stumbled upon the case, it was merely his duty to supervise, thus there was no conflict to speak of.

Instead, emerging from the Ancestral Temple and gazing at the sun climbing towards its zenith, he felt a sudden sense of disorientation.

This was the day after the Grand Master’s ceremony.

He had initially assumed it to be a simple sacrifice, never expecting to personally witness such a momentous affair.

The treacherous waves and currents of Qi Country’s politics led him to question whether his decision to bring An An over after the Yellow River Meeting was truly sound.

Cloud Country was a neutral land, and there were no hostile forces nearby. Moreover, Ling Xiao Pavilion held supreme status within Cloud Country, and Ye Qing Yu, as the only daughter of the Ling Xiao Pavilion Master, was fully capable of protecting An An. Especially since Ye Ling Xiao himself was very fond of An An.

In contrast, could he, even if he achieved good results in the Yellow River Meeting and established roots in Qi Country, truly rest easy without worry?

Living within such a powerful empire as Qi Country, most of the time was undoubtedly stable and harmonious. But should something occur, its danger was often insurmountable.

He hoped these matters would quickly resolve themselves…

Rise and fall, all the common folk suffer.

Having taken only a few steps from the Ancestral Temple, another team of Azure Badges arrived in haste. The leader had exceptionally high cheekbones and particularly bright eyes.

He presumed this was the person Ma Xiong had notified.

This individual possessed a brisk energy, not even uttering a greeting before directly entering the Ancestral Temple.

Ma Xiong clearly had no objection, leading his ten Azure Badge catchers, surrounding Jiang Wang as they walked together.

“That’s Lord Eli.” Whether to ease the tension or to observe his reaction, he casually explained to Jiang Wang, separating two fingers and pointing them remotely at his own eyes, “He can see many things.”

Unlike Jiang Wang, who had risen to prominence suddenly, Ma Xiong was a disciple of the Legalist school, cultivated to the four Outer Buildings realm, and a senior fourth-rank head catcher of the Azure Badges. For him to address someone as “Lord” implied they were at least a third-rank Azure Badge, on par with the retired Catcher God, Yue Leng.

Jiang Wang was currently contemplating whether learning a powerful pupil technique could spark some inspiration to help him deduce the Eye Immortal Technique. Even if completely unsuitable, it could still serve as a supplement to the Voice-Hearing Immortal State, providing more “knowledge.”

He had previously hesitated in many directions, but now he suddenly saw clearly: the imperial secret technique bestowed by the Qi Emperor, he would prioritize a pupil technique.

As for the Lord Eli whose eyes Ma Xiong mentioned were exceptional, he was not optimistic about him finding any clues in the Nine Returns Marquis’s Spirit Shrine.

Cui Zhu and Zhang Yong’s disintegration was an irreversible process, and everything had completely disintegrated. Cui Zhu died before the Qi Emperor and left no clues. At the time, those on the scene, likely more capable than this Lord Eli, were not few. What was the result?

Thus, there was nothing to anticipate.

The Capital City Patrol Inspection Office occupied a considerable expanse of land in North City.

The area of the yamen also offered a rough glimpse into its power. It was no wonder Zheng Shi suppressed his realm, delaying his ascension.

Of course, this was not a problem, nor would anyone criticize such attachment.

Almost all previous Patrol Inspection Commandants had been this way. As long as they did not lose the emperor’s trust and were not ordered to step down, they would generally drag it out, delaying until it would genuinely affect their future prospects, then choose to break through, and reluctantly promote.

Questioning unfolded in a brightly lit room.

Jiang Wang was not a criminal, thus it was not an interrogation. For the time being, it could be called “questioning.”

Besides Ma Xiong, there was also a Patrol Inspection Vice Envoy surnamed Yang present.

This Patrol Inspection Vice Envoy was not like Lin You Xie, who was of a temporary, borrowed badge nature. He was one of the several Patrol Inspection Vice Envoys who truly handled the daily affairs of the Patrol Inspection Office, holding significant power within the Capital City Patrol Inspection Office.

The Patrol Inspection Vice Envoy surnamed Yang and Ma Xiong sat opposite Jiang Wang on either side of a long table.

The long table was painted an iron-black, its surface smooth.

The questioning was led by Ma Xiong, who had personally been to the scene. He placed a recording stone on the table to demonstrate absolute non-interference. “Catcher Head Jiang, please truthfully describe everything you saw and experienced in the Nine Returns Marquis’s Spirit Shrine. Patrol Inspection Envoy Yang and I will bear witness to your testimony.”

Jiang Wang said, “I also require a recording stone, for recording.” (Mobile end)

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Ma Xiong and the Patrol Inspection Vice Envoy surnamed Yang exchanged a glance. Perhaps he was somewhat troubled, but the Vice Envoy surnamed Yang was unexpectedly agreeable. “No problem.”

Not only did he directly take out a recording stone and give it to Jiang Wang, he also said, “You can check it over. If you’re not at ease, you can still change it.”

Jiang Wang said apologetically, “Trouble.”

His mouth said trouble, but he still checked it thoroughly.

Some important but unrelated matters could be overlooked, but those concerning his own safety should absolutely not be disregarded.

Holding the recording stone in his hand, Jiang Wang infused it with Dao Yuan, then said, “At that time, I went to the Ancestral Temple for sacrifice. I first went to the Bo Wang Marquis’s Spirit Shrine, then to the Destroy City Marquis’s Spirit Shrine. After coming out of the Destroy City Marquis’s Spirit Shrine, I then went to the Nine Returns Marquis’s Spirit Shrine. It was then that I saw that person, the one acting under the name of Zhang Yong.”

“We can speak privately and simply say Zhang Yong, it doesn’t matter.” Ma Xiong added a sentence, then asked, “Did you two know each other?”

This was a subtle questioning technique. If Jiang Wang had to constantly remind himself not to say “Zhang Yong” was Zhang Yong, it meant he had to remain highly vigilant throughout the answering process. As the case handler, Ma Xiong naturally hoped he would relax a bit, thereby potentially exposing something inadvertently.

“We did,” Jiang Wang said indifferently. “We were both winners of the last Heaven Treasury Secret Realm. Besides us, there were also Wang Yi Wu, Chong Xuan Sheng, Li Long Chuan, and Xu Xiang Qian. Furthermore, when I went to Yang Ground earlier, I visited Zhang Yong once in Feng Xian County. At that time, his family had that matter, and he seemed very haggard and also relatively cold. So there was no further exchange.”

“Later in Cloud Mist Mountain, we fought once. I won’t detail the specific process, you should be able to easily check it. Since then, we haven’t had any further exchange. Today was just a chance meeting.”

The Patrol Inspection Vice Envoy surnamed Yang said with a smile, “That fight, presumably Catcher Head Jiang won.”

Jiang Wang smiled faintly. “Naturally.”

Although this person clearly showed goodwill, he did not take the opportunity to chat. Instead, he continued his description, a sign of his composure.

“When I entered the Spirit Shrine, Zhang Yong was just offering a sacrifice before the altar. I also offered an incense. Then…”

Knock, knock, knock.

At this moment, a knocking sound came from the door.

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