Chapter 465: Chapter 153: Twelve True Forms Fist Breaking its Limit, First Layer of the Vajra Undying Body, Immovable as a Mountain, Pillow Sea as Emperor
Mo Yunzi stood on the veranda outside the assembly hall, her heart a whirlwind of complicated emotions.
As a disciple of the Yin Demon Sect, she was at least somewhat renowned within the Demon Dao. Who would have ever thought that one day she would be brazenly standing in the very heart of the Qing Province Demon Suppression Bureau, and as an "Attendant" no less?
The world truly changed in unpredictable ways.
Inside the assembly hall, Leng Qingqiu’s stern expression softened slightly.
She lifted her head slightly, her gaze falling on Chu Fan, who stood ramrod straight below. The corners of her mouth curved into a faint, ambiguous smile as she shook her head. "You rascal, you’ve been in my Qing Province for about a month now, haven’t you? If I recall correctly, this is only the second time you’ve set foot in my Demon Suppression Bureau, isn’t it?"
She paused, her tone laced with a hint of banter. "If you weren’t here to claim a reward for the remains of Mo Daozi, would you have even remembered which way the doors to the Demon Suppression Bureau open?"
As soon as she said this, the originally solemn atmosphere in the hall immediately lightened.
The Demon Suppression Guards on either side couldn’t help but smile.
And why wouldn’t they?
Among all their colleagues, the man before them was by far the most "idle," almost never seen on a normal day.
But everyone knew full well they couldn’t hold it against him. Chu Fan wasn’t a member of the Qing Province Demon Suppression Bureau to begin with; he was sent directly from the Imperial Capital Demon Suppression Bureau headquarters. He carried an order from the Demon Suppression Envoy, Lord Yue Mankong, which essentially made him an imperial envoy.
There really weren’t any specific duties the Qing Province branch could assign him.
An appropriately embarrassed expression appeared on Chu Fan’s face. He smiled, cupped his fists, and replied, "Lord Leng, you see things clearly. My cultivation is low, and I am truly ashamed. That is why I have spent most of my time behind closed doors, training diligently without a moment of rest."
He wasn’t entirely lying.
In the twenty-odd days since his arrival in Qing Province, he had indeed dedicated the vast majority of his time to cultivation.
Even his recent trip out of the city, which led to the encounter with Mo Daozi, was originally for the purpose of cultivating the "Nine Heavens Wind Mastery Scripture."
Hearing this, Leng Qingqiu shot him a helpless glance. "Yue Mankong sent you to Qing Province to investigate the Zhang Family’s collusion with the Moon Worship Sect. And what do you do? You hole yourself up in the Seven Stars Gang, never stepping outside, single-mindedly focused on cultivating your Dao of Longevity?"
The smile on Chu Fan’s face didn’t fade, but his tone carried a hint of self-assurance. "Lord Leng, you jest..."
"With a pillar like you holding down the fort in Qing Province, and with so many experienced colleagues here, how could a major investigation into the Zhang Family possibly be a matter for a newcomer to the Demon Suppression Bureau like me, with my meager cultivation, to meddle in?"
"If I were to act rashly, I’d likely just alert the enemy and ruin the plans you lords have put in place."
"Oh?" Leng Qingqiu’s voice rose slightly at the end. She leaned forward a little, her gaze suddenly sharpening. "In that case, in your opinion, what exactly did Yue Mankong send you to Qing Province for?"
Chu Fan shrugged, his expression frank. "To be the bait, of course..."
"Lord Yue never said it outright, but how could I not know? Isn’t my purpose to jump into the seemingly calm but muddy waters of Qing Province, give them a good stir, and see what sort of monsters are lurking at the bottom?"
He paused, then continued, "And look, my lord. Although I have seemingly done nothing on the surface, the initial effects are already showing. Isn’t that young miss of the Zhang Family, Zhang Ling’Er, already so impatient that she’s sought out Ye Chang’an of the Medicine King Valley to try and shut down the Seven Stars Gang where I’m staying?"
"This proves that I am of some use, after all."
His "bait theory" made Leng Qingqiu laugh in spite of herself. "You certainly have some self-awareness. Since you know you’re the target for everyone, how dare you come to Qing Province so brazenly?"
"Aren’t you afraid you’ll be ambushed the moment you step out that door and get knocked out from behind?"
Chu Fan spread his hands in a helpless but roguish gesture. "What can I do? Lord Yue Mankong... he just offered too much."
His words sent another wave of stifled laughter through the hall.
The previously somewhat tense atmosphere grew even more relaxed.
As the laughter died down, Leng Qingqiu’s expression turned serious again. She tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest of her chair and said slowly, "Jokes aside, the matter with the Zhang Family is far from being as simple as it appears."
She sighed softly, her voice tinged with emotion. "They have been rooted in Qing Province for many years, operating right under my nose, yet I have never been able to find concrete evidence of their connection to the Moon Worship Sect."
"Either they are truly innocent and have no ties to the Moon Worship Sect whatsoever;"
"Or I have failed in my duty, and my surveillance has been inadequate."
Chu Fan immediately adopted a serious expression. "Lord Leng, you are too modest. With your capabilities, if the Zhang Family truly has a problem that you haven’t detected, then there can only be two reasons..."
"First, the core members of the Zhang Family must be old and crafty foxes, masters of forbearance who can endure what ordinary people cannot;"
"Second, whatever they are plotting is no small matter, which is why they are being so cautious as to not reveal the slightest flaw."
This analysis both flattered Leng Qingqiu and pointed out the key issues, causing her to nod slightly with a flash of approval in her eyes.
Leng Qingqiu said, "After you killed Zhang Yunpeng in Cyan Yang Ancient City, the Demon Suppression Bureau assigned extra manpower to watch the Zhang Family’s every move, day and night."
"But to this day, they have shown no abnormalities. Their residence is as calm as a secluded pond, inside and out, and my subordinates have been unable to find a single valuable lead."
Then, she changed the subject. "As for Zhang Ling’Er recently instigating the Medicine King Valley to sanction the Seven Stars Gang, that’s just childish squabbling. It’s nothing serious and doesn’t count as a major move."
Her gaze returned to Chu Fan, carrying a hint of a test. "What’s your next move? You can’t just stay cooped up in the Seven Stars Gang cultivating forever, can you?"
Chu Fan felt a wave of helplessness wash over him...
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