Chapter 455: Chapter 419: Fish on the Hook
Hua Qianmian understood, "Just swapping identities, it’s a small matter. The problem is, I need a corpse."
The Ghost Vendor was confused, so Sang Que quickly explained, "The ghost she manipulates can change a person’s skin. After the change, it’s equivalent to assuming a different identity, almost undetectable. If we assume the identities of people within Shengjing City and use their original Identity Tokens, we wouldn’t fear inspection."
Cheng Ge nodded in agreement, as his appearance was already different from Xuan Dynasty people, making it easy to expose.
Moreover, Yao Zhen had a large birthmark on his face, making his features too conspicuous; he had to change his skin.
Before encountering Hua Qianmian, Sang Que originally planned for Cheng Ge and Yao Zhen to support from outside the city, while she and the Ghost Vendor entered the city to rescue the Old Gu Master.
The Ghost Vendor pondered for a moment and said, "In the Wuhou Shop responsible for the west side of the city, there is a Wuhou Team Captain surnamed Meng, whose mother was one of His Majesty’s wet nurses. He leveraged his mother’s connections to secure such a position. Although his rank is not high, he is responsible for the security and patrol of the western area of the city, and I bought my stall from him at a high price."
"This person has raised a group of enforcers, engaging in gang activities and forcibly seizing girls. A few days ago, I personally saw him forcibly take a tea merchant’s daughter as his concubine at the horse market. His tyrannical behavior is outrageous, but he is also shrewd, only bullying those without background, so no one has caused him trouble for a long time. I initially planned to deal with him once the matters here were settled, but now it seems, it can be done ahead of schedule!"
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed, and Cheng Ge immediately said, "Alright, then we shall pay him a visit when night falls."
"Can’t we kill during the day?" Sang Que retorted.
Everyone hesitated momentarily, as habitual thinking suggested that killing at night was safer and more concealed.
Sang Que couldn’t explain; since entering the city, she felt uneasy, as if being watched.
"Shengjing City, being the safest place in Da Xuan, must have something extraordinary, swapping skins shouldn’t be delayed, let’s go now."
The Ghost Vendor said, "But during the day, that guy is patrolling the streets, he might not return home."
"Then find a way to make him return!"
...
At the same time, within the Shengjing City Evil Suppression Bureau.
The Shengjing City’s Night Travel Captain Qiu Siming was in a hurry, heading straight to where Qiu Wanjun was resting.
"Grandfather, the fish have appeared!"
Qiu Wanjun, who was resting with eyes closed on a couch, suddenly opened his eyes and sat up. His face was pale, with sunken cheeks, giving the impression of someone nearing the end of life.
In the Qinzhou incident, Qiu Wanjun suffered considerable injuries, now relying on the Evil Suppression Bureau’s absorbed incense from various states to suppress the Evil Ghost within him. Thus, during this period, he has been living and eating at the Evil Suppression Bureau, not returning to his mansion.
The Evil Ghost Bureau in Shengjing did not imprison any Evil Ghosts, currently there were only two prisoners, and he didn’t need to watch over them.
Qiu Wanjun took a breath and followed Qiu Siming to the ’Inspection Bureau,’ which was unique to the Shengjing City Evil Suppression Bureau.
The Inspection Bureau was established by Zuo Jinye upon taking charge of the Evil Suppression Bureau, featuring eight giant Eight Diagrams Mirrors made of fine brass. The mirrors were connected to those held by the guard officers at each city gate, the origin unknown. The mirrors possessed mystical qualities.
Everyone entering the city carries an Identity Token containing their blood. Adding a drop to the mirror, if their blood matches the token’s blood, the holder’s status appears normal in the Inspection Bureau’s brass mirror, allowing real-time location checks.
At this moment, Qiu Wanjun and Qiu Siming stood before the mirror belonging to the west side of the city. The scene within it was akin to a ’Qingming River Painting,’ bustling streets, filled with people everywhere.
Yet, in a courtyard near the horse market in the west, five skeleton ghosts appeared, representing unregistered, token-less intruders in the city.
In fact, the Ghost Vendor’s presence was detected early upon entering the city. At that time, Zuo Jinye hadn’t left yet, instructing Qiu Wanjun to let the Ghost Vendor act as bait without alarming them.
Now, wait for other fish to appear and capture all in one swoop.
Qiu Wanjun stroked his beard, "You now just..."
Before the word ended, those five skeleton ghosts abruptly vanished from the mirror, leaving Qiu Wanjun and Qiu Siming bewildered.
"Go find the Day Travel Captain and gather all Day Travels in the city. Call your Night Travel subordinates as well, then inform the Imperial Guard to seal the west area, give you one day, before dawn, find these people for me!"
"Yes!"
Qiu Siming rushed away and, upon exiting the Inspection Bureau, encountered Qin Ze, from He Buning’s side, carrying a slaughtered sheep.
"Captain Qiu, what’s going on, why so hurried?" Qin Ze removed the dry grass from his mouth and asked.
Qiu Siming ignored him entirely, speeding away.
Qin Ze gave a long look towards the Inspection Bureau at the end of the corridor, then quickened his pace to head towards the rear courtyard of the Evil Bureau.
He Buning preferred not living at the Prime Minister’s Mansion; during his time in Shengjing, he stayed at the backyard of the Evil Bureau.
"Captain He, something seems to have happened!"
When Qin Ze found He Buning, he was sitting inside, polishing the gun given by Sang Que.
Qin Ze put down the sheep, panting, "I saw Captain Qiu rush out, there must be something going on."
At this time, Xiao Liu also hurried inside, speaking solemnly, "Captain, Qiu Siming and General Qiu must have discovered something in the Inspection Bureau. Today, only caravans entered from the west side, I suspect it could be Nine Songs or Yunzhou folks infiltrating Shengjing, or... her!"
He Buning laid down his gun and glanced at the lamb Qin Ze tossed on the ground, "You bought this lamb at the horse market in the west, right? Any discoveries?"
Qin Ze, at a loss, thought of shaking his head, yet He Buning and Xiao Liu stared intently at him, making his neck stiff.
Qin Ze recalled carefully, massaging his neck, "Seems like... um..."
"Xiao Liu, change clothes and accompany me to the west side."
He Buning put away the gun, stood up, and headed indoors with Xiao Liu to change into plain outfits.
Qin Ze stood there, wishing to slap himself, but before He Buning could, he cursed himself first, calling himself useless!
...
The entire main roads of the west side were suddenly guarded by the Imperial Guard, checkpoints established, conducting house-to-house searches and inspecting Identity Tokens.
Such a stir was rare in Shengjing City; as a subsidiary of the Imperial Guard, Wuhou Team Captain Meng Lian immediately reported. Upon learning someone had infiltrated Shengjing City, and near his jurisdiction’s horse market, Meng Lian’s face turned pale with fear.
This time, even two Captains from the Evil Bureau were alarmed. If found around the horse market, regardless of the outcome, someone would be held accountable.
Meng Lian’s background wasn’t deep, and if responsibility fell on him, he’d face dire consequences.
Meng Lian hurriedly took his men to search, secretly hoping these people would flee quickly, avoiding his area.
Sadly, relentless evil deeds always invite retribution eventually.
Meng Lian hadn’t searched many houses yet, when his family’s servant anxiously found him, whispering something in his ear. Meng Lian turned pale with shock but dared not reveal it, finding an excuse and hastily returned home.
