Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Fangs
Chen Ping’an’s brow furrowed as he listened to Constable Shi’s report.
"Markings?"
"That’s right, Lord Chen. Those villains from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect have already carved markings inside the prison."
Constable Shi’s expression was grim. Pointing to a nearby corner, he said, "Lord Chen, please look here."
Chen Ping’an followed his gaze and saw it: a faintly carved mark resembling a grimacing face, low in the corner. Being in a corner and extremely shallow, the mark would be missed by any casual observer.
Seeing that Chen Ping’an had spotted the mark, Constable Shi continued, "Lord Chen, it’s not just here. I also found one at the entrance to the first sublevel of the prison."
"There’s one in the passageway, too?"
At these words, Chen Ping’an’s expression changed.
’The entrance to the first sublevel... If there’s a Ten Thousand Demons Sect mark there, doesn’t that mean...’
’...a Ten Thousand Demons Sect villain has already infiltrated the prison?’
’Otherwise, the mark would never have been left there.’
"Precisely."
Constable Shi nodded slightly, his expression also turning solemn.
Chen Ping’an glanced at him. "Have you checked anywhere else?"
"Not yet."
Chen Ping’an paused in thought. "Constable Min," he said, "take a few squads and sweep the entire prison, top to bottom. See if you can find any more of these grimacing-face marks."
"Yes."
Constable Min acknowledged the order respectfully and immediately led the prison guards to begin a search of the South City Prison.
"Lord Chen, these marks must have some special meaning. My initial assessment is that Ten Thousand Demons Sect villains have already infiltrated our ranks and are preparing to make their move!"
Constable Shi offered his conjecture.
Looking at Constable Shi, a flicker of doubt sparked in Chen Ping’an’s mind, but he let none of it show on his face.
"Mm, that seems likely."
While the two were speaking, Constable Min’s search team reported their findings.
"Lord Chen, we’ve found the grimacing-face marks in a total of five locations throughout South City Prison. In addition to the passage to the first sublevel, we found them in the passage to the second sublevel and near Wu Haihua’s cell."
"Near Wu Haihua’s cell? Who is authorized to enter that area?"
"My lord, due to the recent interrogations, colleagues from other agencies have been here in addition to our own South City Prison staff. To investigate them all one by one would take at least a full day."
"So you’re saying, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect villain who carved the marks might not be part of the South City Prison staff. It could be someone from another agency."
The others nodded in agreement with Chen Ping’an’s assessment.
Still, a discovery like this in the South City Prison had to be reported to the South Town Garrison Command. But it was impossible to know if a Ten Thousand Demons Sect infiltrator was among them. If one was, then nearly everyone present was a potential suspect.
This made choosing a messenger to send to the South Town Garrison Command a difficult task.
But the matter had to be reported.
Finally, after some internal vetting and discussion, they decided to send Constable Min to deliver the report.
Before he left, they questioned Constable Min on a few specific details to ensure no imposter could take his place.
"Hold your positions! Wait for instructions from the South Town Garrison Command."
Chen Ping’an ordered.
"Yes."
None of the prison guards moved without orders, each maintaining a wary distance from the others.
’The grimacing-face marks, the ones near the cell... Something’s not right!’
Chen Ping’an sank into contemplation.
He couldn’t figure out the purpose of the grimacing-face marks.
’If they were for passing information, what message did they carry? Besides, if someone could get in here to carve them, surely they had better ways to communicate. This wasn’t necessary.’
’If not for communication, then what was their purpose?’
...
By the time Constable Min returned from the South Town Garrison Command, the sky was already beginning to dim. He was accompanied by Mu Wanjun, Chief of the Patrol Office for the South Town Garrison Command and an inspector specializing in criminal investigations. Behind them were seven or eight elite guards from the Command.
Chen Ping’an was slightly taken aback to see Mu Wanjun herself.
’The Chief of the Patrol Office came herself?’
’She’s taking this so seriously!’
"Lord Mu."
Chen Ping’an greeted her respectfully.
He wasn’t alone; everyone present greeted her as well.
"No need for formalities."
Mu Wanjun gave a slight wave of her hand, wasting no time before getting an update on the situation.
Chen Ping’an recounted the latest discoveries to Mu Wanjun.
"So it is the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s grimacing-face mark."
Mu Wanjun examined the mark carved in the corner, confirming that it was, without a doubt, the exclusive sigil of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.
"But what purpose would the Ten Thousand Demons Sect have for carving marks here?"
Mu Wanjun shared Chen Ping’an’s confusion.
As Chief of the Patrol Office for the South Town Garrison Command, she had access to far more comprehensive intelligence than anyone else present. According to the latest reports, members of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect had been spotted outside the city, periodically causing disturbances. They had even brazenly slaughtered a family of twenty-three in a small town, an act of sheer audacity.
However, according to her information, all of this was merely a prelude to a larger conflict.
Reliable intelligence indicated that a significant number of Ten Thousand Demons Sect operatives had already infiltrated Weishui Outer City. But due to time constraints, it was impossible to root them all out individually.
The Ten Thousand Demons Sect had only the next few days to make their move, taking advantage of this narrow window to launch their attack. If they missed this opportunity, their infiltrators would be exposed one by one by the Outer City Garrison Command’s intelligence network, putting the Sect on the back foot.
This was precisely why Mu Wanjun had decided to come herself upon hearing the news.
The next few days were critical; there could be no margin for error.
Accompanied by Chen Ping’an, Mu Wanjun inspected the Ten Thousand Demons Sect’s marks inside the South City Prison. After completing a full circuit, they had just emerged from the underground cells when a loud explosion erupted to the southeast. A pillar of fire shot into the sky, roaring to life.
At almost the exact same moment, similar explosions boomed from the northwest and southwest, each followed by another burst of fiery light.
"Fire! Fire!"
"Quick, get out!"
"..."
The areas erupted into chaos.
Chen Ping’an and Mu Wanjun exchanged a look, each seeing the grim understanding in the other’s eyes.
The string of deafening explosions could not be a coincidence.
This meant the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was making its move!
The distant pillars of fire were dazzling against the night sky. Constable Shi, his face a mask of anxiety, hurried over to Mu Wanjun, bowing.
"Lord Mu, there are fires outside. Do you think we should..."
Still bowing his head as he spoke, Constable Shi suddenly retracted one hand and thrust a palm strike at Mu Wanjun’s chest.
The movement was impossibly fast, far beyond the speed of someone at the Qi Blood Fifth Layer. The Palm Technique was viciously swift, surging with Inner Qi.
This Constable Shi... he was actually in the Inner Qi Realm!
Caught completely off guard by Constable Shi’s palm strike, Mu Wanjun was too slow to react fully. She barely managed to twist aside, avoiding a fatal blow to her chest, but the strike still slammed into her shoulder.
The palm, suffused with Inner Qi, was immensely powerful. The force of the blow sent Mu Wanjun’s delicate frame staggering, her face turning ashen. In that single instant, her entire shoulder blade had been shattered.
