When Zhu Jinluo (Golden Gong Zhu) learned that Xu Qi’an had been released from prison, he angrily confronted Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan calmly reminded him that the release was an imperial order, and as night watchmen, they were duty-bound to obey the emperor’s commands. Left with no room to argue, Zhu Jinluo begrudgingly retreated.
Upon his release, Xu Qi’an was tasked by Wei Yuan to lead the investigation into the destruction of the Yongzhen Mountain temple and the surrounding anomalies. Teams from Chunfeng Hall, Zhenxie Hall, and Jinjun Hall were assigned to assist him, with Xu Qi’an serving as the chief investigator. After reviewing the case files, Xu Qi’an asked Wei Yuan a pointed question: Was something sealed beneath Sangbo? He noted that while the Sword of State remained intact, there might be something else of great significance within the lake.
Though Wei Yuan was aware of the truth, he advised Xu Qi’an to focus solely on uncovering the culprits behind the explosion and to avoid delving into other matters.
Assembling the Investigation Teams
With the investigation underway, Xu Qi’an divided tasks among the teams, ensuring everyone was clear on their assignments. He then personally visited Sangbo to search for clues. Finding the lake calm and serene, Xu Qi’an decided to dive in to examine the lakebed.
Underwater, he discovered three stone pillars connected by iron chains and a massive stele inscribed with what appeared to be a formation. Returning to the surface, Xu Qi’an described the inscriptions to Li Yuchun, who immediately felt a chill run down his spine, suspecting a connection to the Sitianjian.
A Bold Move Against the Ministry of Justice
As Xu Qi’an followed leads, he found evidence pointing to irregularities within the Ministry of Justice. He led his team to their headquarters, but the guards at the gate refused them entry, mocking the night watchmen. Running out of time, Xu Qi’an resorted to his one-blade strike technique, effortlessly taking down the guards and storming into the Ministry.
The commotion enraged the Ministry of Justice’s assistant minister, but a eunuch from the palace happened to be present. The eunuch clarified that, despite being a low-ranking copper gong, Xu Qi’an had been appointed as the lead investigator by imperial decree.
Faced with the complexity of the case, the assistant minister reluctantly cooperated. He deduced that the large quantities of gunpowder used to destroy Yongzhen Mountain temple would have required significant resources, including saltpeter. This connected the case to the recent reports of demonic activity in Dahuang Mountain, providing new insights.
When Xu Qi’an asked who might have the capability to store and deploy such quantities of explosives, the assistant minister pointed to high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Works. However, involving them would be challenging without concrete evidence. Xu Qi’an’s probing questions pushed the minister to consider alternative strategies.
A Narrowly Missed Suspect
Later, Xu Qi’an and Chu Caiwei theorized that Zhou Chixiong, a suspect from a previous case in Jingzhao Prefecture, might be connected. When they went to his residence, they discovered he had taken leave several days earlier, ostensibly to visit family, leaving them a step behind.
Xu Qi’an also recalled the gruesome sight of the 312 guards stationed at Yongzhen Mountain temple, all drained of their essence. This indicated the involvement of someone with immense power and sinister intent, further complicating the case.
A Moment of Insight
That evening, Xu Qi’an and Xu Xinnian sat atop a roof discussing their next move. Xu Xinnian, frustrated by the difficulty of the investigation, suggested that Xu Qi’an use the opportunity to escape to Yunzhou, where bandits and mountainous terrain would make imperial pursuit nearly impossible. His offhand comment sparked an idea—Xu Qi’an realized Zhou Chixiong might have fled to Yunzhou.
Family Bonds and Sacrifices
Meanwhile, Xu Pingzhi finally returned, battered and limping after his failed attempt to break Xu Qi’an out of prison. Despite his physical state, Xu Pingzhi was overcome with emotion upon seeing his nephew safe and sound, bursting into tears.
An Unexpected Turn
Xu Qi’an, accompanied by Chu Caiwei and Zhang Shen from Yunlu Academy, prepared to interrogate the county magistrate of Taikang, a key figure in the case. Zhang Shen, confident in his aura-sensing skills, cast a spell to reveal the magistrate’s deceit. To everyone’s shock, the spell yielded no results—the magistrate was already dead.
This unexpected development left Xu Qi’an and his team at a critical juncture, with the mystery growing darker and more dangerous.
