"What were your thoughts?" asked Yu Gen.
"While the art is high grade, it has a rigid and tyrannical side to it that is absent in yin-related art, also there was a bit of insidiousness to it.," said Yang Qing.
"It felt like it had the venom of a snake and the ferociousness of a bear," added Yang Qing after some thought.
Yu Gen's eyes had a nigh imperceptible freeze from shock and then he smiled.
"It looks like we are the ones who will be depending on you more often than not, Judge Yang Qing," said Yu Gen.
"Surely you jest," said Yang Qing with a smile.
"Also in regards to the case, there were a few other things that I uncovered with Ma Yuan's help.
He did say his wife said the name 'Yao' when addressing their attacker, however, she paused halfway, so the name might be incomplete but it definitely has those characters.
Also, Ma Yuan and his family had been moving from place to place over the past 7 years before their abduction at the behest of his wife. I have those places listed here and I had Zheng Hu research organizations that have a bad relationship with the powers of the area they lived in.
The result may help us narrow down a list of suspects and I also enlisted the help of the Wind gliding mercenaries to search for all organizations known for their skills in yin-based cultivation arts. Should the result bring up anything, I'll make sure to pass it along to you," said Yang Qing as he handed over a jade talisman that had his insights and all the information Ma Yuan shared with him.
"Also, Ma Yuan is around the grounds in one of the pavilions, I'll have Zheng Hu inform you which it is later," added Yang Qing.
"Thanks, it seems like you have done the bulk of the leg work, the part we are left with is rather easy to follow. I think we will start on it, concurrently with the three cases. In case of any major progress, I'll be sure to inform you.
Once again, it was a pleasure meeting you Yang Qing, and do have a nice day ahead," said Yu Gen.
"The pleasure was all mine," said Yang Qing as he cupped his fists at the departing Yu Gen and Xia Ting.
"I'll be seeing you around kid, and make sure to buy me some soup later," said Xia Ting.
Yang Qing flinched at her words. The Herb garden soup restaurant had one of the best soups among the restaurants within the Order, however, their price was on the steep side, which was why Yang Qing rarely went there except once a month immediately after getting paid or towards the third week of the month when he had nothing.
The restaurant was steep in its prices but it also had the cheapest meal; the cold leek soup which went for one silver coin. It was bland, but it could fill the stomach when one didn't have much in their storage rings. It has saved Yang Qing a few times.
Yang Qing couldn't very well buy cold leek soup for Xia Ting, not when he wanted to make a good impression, especially if he needed the two inquisitors to apply themself to his cases. Therefore, he would have to go all out, which would definitely cost a few high-grade spirit stones.
"Wait, I'm not the same as I was a week ago. My storage ring is no longer empty and decrepit, surely I can afford a soup or a million," Yang Qing smugly thought when he remembered the gifts burning a hole in his storage ring.
"Maybe I'll even have their famous hundred-fold treasure soup," Yang Qing greedily thought with his grumbling stomach.
Seemingly coming to a decision, he swaggered on outside where he almost knocked over a 12-year-old boy as he was walking out.
"Sorry about that," Yang Qing hurriedly said as he used shadow-void steps to avoid the boy.
"Nice movement, Yang Qing," said the boy whose voice was anything but young.
He had short black hair, deep black eyes, and a matching black robe. He was currently smiling while eyeing Yang Qing with interest.
"Do I know him?" wondered Yang Qing with furrowed brows. He scrutinized the young boy but his face, his robe, down to his qi signature, none of it seemed familiar to Yang Qing.
Yang Qing looked around and noticed something odd, none of the people around him seemed to notice the young boy before him, and the more Yang Qing observed them, it didn't seem like they saw him either.
"A domain expert," thought Yang Qing as his gaze fell on the young boy before him.
"I take it Senior is from the Shadow Hawks?" Yang Qing tentatively asked.
"Correct, could we talk in your chambers," said the young boy as he made his way into Yang Qing's courtroom.
Yang Qing followed behind and took out his gold eagle medallion when they were at the center of the courtroom.
He inserted his qi into the medallion which let out a gentle glow that ignited a rune beneath them and they were immediately transported to a different area.
Yang Qing and the young boy appeared in an office that was about half the size of his courtroom. In it were a red dragon wood desk, cultivation futons, a shelf filled with scrolls, and a pot that had a young five-colored birch tree.
Yang Qing couldn't help but suck in cold air. Everything within the room was at the ascendant grade, and he could even detect the formations within the room were all in the gold grade, which was why the spiritual qi was so dense.
The five-colored birch tree was the icing on the top. This was a genuine ascendant grade tree that had a passive effect of calming, strengthening, and restoring a cultivator's mind and mental sea. However, its true strength lay in helping a cultivator gain have an easy time interacting with the water, wood, earth, fire, and metal Dao.
Yang Qing was even a little bit tempted to permanently move here, however, luckily he was 'wise' enough to know that was the Order's intention.
"Would you like some vermilion fruit wine, Senior?" asked Yang Qing as he took out an orange-colored gourd from his storage ring.
"Rather conscientious, aren't you? Thanks, I wouldn't mind," said the 12-year-old boy as he carelessly took a seat on one of the futons.
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