Chapter 6, Major Case

With a firm bite of his teeth, Zhou Chu pondered for a long time before finally exclaiming loudly: "Enough, enough, today I will speak. That batch of steel, aside from the thirty-six Wind Cleaving Swords, a large portion was used to repair a set of armor, an armor that requires human blood for tempering. This is all under the jurisdiction of the Craftsman Supervisory Office..."

Ah! Ji Wen exclaimed in surprise, "I must say, Old Zhou, you have quite the audacity. The material losses in the Craft Supervision Department are merely a matter of financial compensation, something we in the Ministry of Justice can handle. However, you have privately manufactured lethal weapons that have fallen into the hands of the underworld, and the officials from the Flower Camp are keeping a close watch on this. This is a grave crime that could lead to the destruction of your family and home." Ji Wen sighed, a mix of excitement and sorrow, releasing the crescent-shaped dagger in his hand and selecting a steel bar from the nearby equipment rack, measuring one foot in length and as thin as an incense stick, adorned with countless sharp barbs.

With a resounding clang, Jiang Yu's long knife had already struck the lower body of the man in black. However, the man, having received the warning, utilized a peculiar skill to retract his vital points into his body. The blade struck as if it were hitting an iron plate, producing a sound akin to metal clashing. The man in black felt a jolt in his lower body, and cold sweat immediately streamed down his forehead like a small creek. He let out a furious roar, turned his body, and his two thighs twisted Jiang Yu's long knife into a shape resembling a twisted doughnut. Seizing the opportunity, he delivered a powerful kick that struck Jiang Yu in the chest.

Blood sprayed from Jiang Yuzui's mouth in small bursts as he secretly peered out at the battle from within the Ministry of Justice's grand hall. His hands were tightly clenched into fists, and his eyes sparkled with intensity. "Their strength is only about thirty percent of mine, yet their bodies are more than ten times stronger. With a single arm, they can easily strike with over ten thousand pounds of force. If it were just one or two of them, I could still manage, but with thirty-six people forming a formation, only someone with a truly deranged mind would charge in recklessly."

More than a hundred long arrows whistled through the air, among which several skilled archers shot seven-foot-long arrows using the five-stone iron-arm bow. The man in black let out a wild laugh, suddenly accelerating his body, and before the arrows could reach him, he had already leaped over several dozen feet, his body resembling a large hawk soaring into the sky. He lightly touched the wall of the Ministry of Justice's prison with his toes and was about to ascend further. The target of the more than a hundred arrows had now shifted to the abruptly appearing river fish, with several of the most powerful arrows nearly piercing through the fish. The man in black laughed maniacally, his body suddenly accelerating again, leaping over several dozen feet before the arrows could reach him, resembling a large hawk taking flight. He touched the wall of the Ministry of Justice's prison with his toes and was about to soar away. The target of the more than a hundred arrows had now become the suddenly appearing river fish, with several of the strongest arrows almost piercing through it. The river fish cursed angrily, instinctively rolling forward, narrowly managing to evade the arrows.

Feng Xiaoxiao shouted sharply: "In the river, stop that person! Zhou Chu is an important witness!"

After pondering for a long time, Jiang Yu shook his head, tore his already tattered clothes into shreds, smeared the blood from the corner of his mouth onto his forehead and cheek, and stumbled out of the hall, swaying on his long legs, weakly shouting: "Someone, catch these thieves! Oh, they dare to hit Master Yu, is there still any law?" Jiang Yu suddenly realized that it seemed Li Linfu and his two brothers were indeed models of law-abiding citizens; at least on that day in Yangzhou, they did not dare to confront the constables of the yamen. How is it that now there are still people who dare to rob the prison and kill officials in Chang'an?

The river fish lay on the ground, casually resetting its dislocated wrist, and then checked its body, finding no signs of bleeding. Suddenly, it jumped up and pointed at the man in black, angrily saying: "Do you also wish to learn from the Five Tiger Generals? Even I, Fish Master, would not dare to say such things; do you think you are worthy? If you are a true hero, state your birthplace, surname, and title!"

However, they have not reached the level of being invincible in the world. If only, if only, if only...

At that critical moment, a thunderous shout suddenly came from not far away: "Old Seven, be careful, there's an ambush behind you, retract your yang into your abdomen!"

Thirty-six dark shadows surged out like a raging wind, and the dozens of talismans flickered with light. An invisible pressure descended from the sky with a sound of 'woom', yet it did not stop even a single figure in black. Instead, it caused the already dilapidated prison of the Ministry of Justice to sink down by three feet.

Feng Xiaoxiao's complexion turned even paler, and he trembled all over for a moment. Suddenly, he shouted in a stern voice: "Someone, seal off everything that happened today, and confine it to the confidential files of the Flower Camp. No one, regardless of which department, is allowed to record a single word or phrase!"

"The Thirteen Guardians of the Hard Training?" Feng Xiaoxiao exclaimed, shouting loudly: "Archers, fire! This hard skill can only withstand heavy weapons; shoot him with arrows!"

Two fists collided head-on with a muffled sound, causing the walls of the interrogation room to suddenly collapse. Countless bricks and stones shot out in all directions, striking the officials of the Ministry of Justice and several unfortunate prisoners next door, leaving them bloodied and screaming on the ground. Jiang Yu trembled, a thin line of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth, and exclaimed, "Who are you?" The energy from the black-clad man's fist was eerily silent, carrying a gray energy that seemed capable of destroying everything, like a steel nail driven into soft flesh. This force broke through Jiang Yu's true energy and surged straight into his body. Jiang Yu trembled again, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he cried out, "Who are you?" At the same time, a sharp crack was heard from Jiang Yu's wrist, which had been dislocated by the black-clad man's punch.

With a giggle, Jiang Yu stretched lazily, excitement written all over his face as he stopped and shouted loudly: "I told you, my self-taught 'Beast Fist' cannot be so useless! I couldn't even land a punch on my master. Today, I had a small test, and it still has considerable power. What do you say, what do you say, how is my 'Beast Fist'?"

The flower-adorned young man, feeling helpless, faced the overwhelming presence of the 'Python Kill' that filled the entire corridor. He could not think of any way to resolve the situation. After a bitter smile, he could only draw the sword at his waist, from the tip of which a sword aura over three inches long erupted. He helplessly called out: "Enough, we are all brothers serving the Emperor, why must we fight to the death?" The sword aura emitted a deafening sound of tearing wind, ripping apart the waves of black wind energy that surged towards him, causing the young man to sway unsteadily, and he involuntarily took a few steps back. He called out again: "Enough, we are all brothers serving the Emperor, why must we fight to the death?" The sword aura emitted a deafening sound of tearing wind, ripping apart the waves of black wind energy that surged towards him, causing the young man to sway unsteadily, and he involuntarily took a few steps back.

Several flower-adorned young men coldly shouted in unison: "Why don't you quickly confess the truth? For whom did you craft these hidden weapons?"

The sound of metal clashing echoed continuously, as the black-clad man wielded his sword like a whirlwind, engaging in fierce combat with the General of the Thousand Bull Guards. This General possessed exceptional martial skills, wielding a pure steel halberd as if it were a delicate green bamboo, executing techniques that were nimble and agile, yet contained immense power. However, the black-clad man's sword seemed to cling to him like a parasite, relentlessly striking against the halberd, exerting heavy pressure with each collision, affecting the General of the Thousand Bull Guards. Despite his high martial prowess, the General found himself being forced back repeatedly. With a roar like a tiger, the heavily armored General was struck by a single sword blow and was sent flying off the rooftop.

Shaking his head, Ji Wen saw that the white-haired Zhou Chu remained silent with his eyes closed. With no other choice, he could only randomly scratch Zhou Chu's body with the steel bar and pretended to sigh, saying: "Lord Feng, this is not me, Ji Wen, being cruel and ruthless. You want a confession, to interrogate the origins of these hidden weapons; I also need a confession, as various materials worth tens of thousands of guan have gone missing from the storeroom. This case must also be explained to the officials of the Shaofu, the Jiangzuo Supervisory Office, the Crossbow Workshop, and the Armor Workshop. Am I left with no choice but to resort to harsh measures?" Suddenly, a brilliant light could not be concealed on Ji Wen's face.

The "Beastly Fist" technique, "Python Kill"! Jiang Yu became invigorated, his entire body twisting as if devoid of bones, transforming into an arc-shaped afterimage. He generated powerful gusts of air, resembling a giant python constricting its prey, coiling towards the red peony-adorned young man. With this move, all the air in the prison was drawn out, and black energy swirled around Jiang Yu like a vortex, threatening to crush anything that dared to approach. Ji Wen and the others had already opened their mouths, gasping for breath like fish out of water, struggling to inhale. With this move, all the air in the prison was drawn out, and black energy swirled around Jiang Yu like a vortex, threatening to crush anything that dared to approach. Ji Wen and the others had already opened their mouths, gasping for breath like fish out of water, struggling to inhale.

Several flower-adorned young men closest to the scene shouted angrily, drawing their swords to block the powerful force. With a series of muffled sounds, all the young men spat blood and were violently thrown back, crashing heavily against the walls of the torture chamber. The sound of breaking bones echoed as two unfortunate souls slammed headfirst into the wall, their skulls caving in, leaving them beyond saving. Ji Wen and the other cruel officials screamed in unison, clutching their heads and scrambling to the corners of the torture chamber for cover. The fastest to escape, Ji Wen, hid behind Feng Xiaoxiao, letting out sharp curses: "Even in the Ministry of Justice's prison, someone dares to come in and kill to silence witnesses. Is there any justice or law left? The heavens are watching, the heavens are watching!"

The river fish huddled behind Feng Xiaoxiao, looking up at the three young Taoist priests who suddenly appeared in blue robes, a strange smile appearing on their faces

A figure clad in black silently flashed into the torture chamber. Dressed entirely in black, his head and face were covered with black cloth, leaving only a pair of piercingly bright eyes visible. His physique was extremely robust, and even through the tight black clothing, one could see the bulging muscles beneath. This black-clad man wielded a peculiar long sword over four feet in length. With a flick of his wrist, another stream of moon-white energy slashed down towards Zhou Chu's head. At this moment, the only person in the torture chamber who still had the ability to act and possessed exceptional martial arts skills was Jiang Yu.

Ji Wen, greatly angered, forced a few laughs, gently caressing the cheek of Zhou Chu's granddaughter, and said with a sinister smile: "Old Zhou, look, Lord Feng is ensuring that your whole family is safe, right? Is there anything else you should mention but find it hard to say? Hurry up and speak! The more you disclose, the greater your contributions will be, and redeeming your sins with merit is your duty." Even Jiang Yu noticed that Feng Xiaoxiao seemed to have something he did not want them to hear. However, since Ji Wen had the audacity to stay in the interrogation room, Jiang Yu leaned against the wall in a more comfortable position. This is a joint investigation, isn't it? Why should some things only be heard by you, the flower-picking gentlemen? This probing into others' privacy for the purpose of blackmail was also one of Jiang Yu's great pastimes.

Wow, Jiang Yuling was kicked dozens of zhang away, crashing like a meteor into the office hall of the Ministry of Justice's prison, remaining motionless for quite some time

The man in black laughed arrogantly and said, "Since this is a grave sin of exterminating families, do you still expect me to surrender? Is that not a joke?" He looked around, surveying the hundreds of elite warriors surrounding him, and laughed loudly, "A bunch of insignificant characters cannot possibly block my path! Today, let you witness what a true master is!" With a swift motion, he trapped the three generations of the Zhou family in his left hand, drew out his uniquely shaped long sword with his right hand, and with a long howl, he lunged into the air towards the general of the Qian Niu Guard.

A muffled sound echoed, and all the prisoners in the dungeon who had been shouting fell silent, rendered unconscious by the shockwave. Where the palms and shoulders made contact, a wave of air burst forth, causing droplets of water on the damp floor to leap up about an inch high, and then, like bullets fired from a gun, they shot out in all directions. The milky-white droplets struck the walls and the cell door, producing a dull thud; when they hit the thighs and ankles of the cruel officials like Ji Wen, the pain caused each of these burly men to scream in agony. In contrast, the group of flower-adorned young men reacted swiftly; seeing the wave of air approaching, they immediately filed out through the iron door behind them, evading the oncoming force.

Feng Xiaoxiao and the flower attendants of the Flower Camp all wore gloomy expressions and remained silent

Upon hearing this, the man in black flashed a hint of a smile, gazing deeply at Jiang Yu. With a casual wave of his right hand, it seemed as if he intended to tear apart Zhou Chu's neck. However, in an instant, this man in black arrogantly laughed, saying: "The Ministry of Justice's prison is nothing like this; I come and go as I please, robbing the imperial prisoners as if entering a no-man's land, how delightful, how delightful!" With several long laughs directed at the sky, the man in black tore the iron chains binding Zhou Chu into countless fragments. He held Zhou Chu in his left hand and his grandchildren in his right, transforming his body into a black shadow, rushing out of the interrogation room with a fierce wind.

Within the Ministry of Justice courtyard, dozens of personnel from the Flower Camp and the Thousand Guard stared blankly at Jiang Yu, remaining silent for quite some time. Two camp leaders, adorned with pink peonies on their heads, rolled their eyes and glared at Jiang Yu, pondering: "Is this person a minister of our Tang Dynasty? How can he speak in such a lowly, vulgar manner? Tsk tsk, it seems the Censorate is indeed employing talent without discrimination these days; even a ruffian from the streets can be accepted into the Censorate?"

Jiang Yu turned his head and looked at the place where the fireworks soared into the sky, shrinking his neck and whispering, "Isn't that the imperial city?"

The flower-clad young man smiled and courteously saluted Jiang Yu, saying: "The deputy camp leader of the flower camp, Feng Xiaoxiao, is grateful for His Majesty's grace and has received a salary as a cavalry officer." Feng Xiaoxiao merely stated his identity without explaining how he knew about those rotten matters from ten years ago. In his view, was there a need to explain these things?

Feng Xiaoxiao wore a bitter smile on her face as she turned to Jiang Yu and said, "Isn't it the imperial city? Our secret prison in the Flower Camp is right in the imperial city. This time, this case has truly stirred up a storm."

The river fish laughed heartily, infuriating the man in black, who cried out in distress. With a sword wildly slashing, it was unclear whether it was due to his unmatched strength or the sword's exceptional sharpness, but the various masters surrounding him found their weapons—blades, long swords, and steel spears—shattering one after another. Amidst the cries of pain, more than a dozen officers retreated, their armor broken and dragging trails of blood behind them. One officer shouted loudly, "The thief's weapon is formidable; bring in heavy troops! Archers outside, are you all dead?" Amidst the cries of pain, more than a dozen officers retreated, their armor broken and dragging trails of blood behind them. One officer shouted loudly, "The thief's weapon is formidable; bring in heavy troops! Archers outside, are you all dead?"

Ji Wen's expression was somewhat unpleasant, while Jiang Yu tore off a large piece of tattered cloth from his shoulder and curiously looked at the flower-adorned young man wearing a red peony hairpin. He smiled and said, "You flower-adorned young men must be the secret agents working for the emperor, right? No wonder you know that I am my elder brother's brother. Hey, do you all know about the events from ten years ago? What is this brother's name?"

Feng Xiaoxiao glanced at Ji Wen, then looked at Jiang Yu leaning against the wall, and nodded in agreement, saying: "Proceed with the severe punishment."

The sound of laughter faded away, and the rustling of garments in the wind could be heard all around. From all directions, hundreds of men dressed in various military uniforms leaped forward, quickly filling the rooftops of dozens of houses, surrounding the man in black. A general of the Qian Niu Guard, clad in armor adorned with warts and wielding a gilded halberd, pointed at the man in black and shouted angrily: "You rogue, why do you not quickly release the imperial prisoner and surrender? How dare you invade the Ministry of Justice's prison; this is a crime punishable by extermination of your family!"

Feng Xiaoxiao's expression grew even more unpleasant. After a long while, he replied, seemingly indifferent: "The remnants of the Taiping, the 'Blood Fiend General' and his minions. I didn't expect them to still be in Chang'an, causing such a significant disturbance." Gritting his teeth, Feng Xiaoxiao said darkly: "The place where the fire broke out was our secret prison in the Flower Camp. It is likely that the imprisoned Baoxuan Demon Monk and the Young Sword Yin Jiu have already been rescued. Despicable, utterly despicable!"

The Inspector General raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying: "So it turns out you are the nephew of Lady Erniang, the wife of the Deputy Inspector Li Linfu, and the brother of Lord Li. I heard that Lord Jiang went missing in Yangzhou ten years ago, but it seems he encountered a remarkable person and learned these extraordinary skills. Hehe, your Inspectorate has certainly gained a capable individual this time."

The body struggled for a moment, and the endless, dense true energy within provided an inexhaustible strength. Jiang Yu shouted angrily, drew out the specially made six-foot Mo knife, and gracefully moved a few times, closely pursuing the man in black as he rushed out. Feng Xiaoxiao bared his teeth and unfastened his flesh from the iron hook behind him, shouting angrily: "Lord Jiwen, what are you still standing there for? Go mobilize the troops to surround and capture him! I am furious!" Feng Xiaoxiao randomly scolded Jiwen and the others, whose seven orifices were stained with blood, stomped his foot, and also rushed out after them.

Sitting upright in the chief judge's chair, Feng Xiaoxiao slammed his hand down on the stone table in front of him and shouted angrily: "Zhou Chu, do you really want to endure this endless suffering and refuse to confess? As for the steel materials lost by your Craft Supervision Bureau, I have no interest in investigating what you did with them. However, this poisoned needle, it should have come from your hand, right?" With a wave of his hand, a flower-adorned attendant cautiously took out a large roll of silk from his sleeve. The silk shimmered with a cold light, and it was unclear how many purple-blue cowhair needles were inserted into it.

With a low sigh, Jiang Yu shamelessly looked at Feng and smiled, saying in an extremely shameless and vulgar manner: "Fortunately, I am not one of your flower camp people. This secret prison has been robbed, hehe, it has nothing to do with me, a mere inspector. Hey, is there really no one who can subdue these more than thirty bandits? Poor these guards, so many have been killed; how will you explain this to the Ministry of War later?"

Feng smiled lightly, gently rubbing her wrist as she said, "Since that is the case, why don't we join forces to investigate the case? This week, with the *Tu* *Shu* old craftsman, according to his case, it was originally under your jurisdiction at the Imperial Censorate."

The body of Jiang Yu moved like a swimming fish, gliding through the white energy with an enigmatic tremor that completely dissipated the white aura. Clenching his right hand into a phoenix-eye fist, Jiang Yu softly admonished, "Which path's friend are you? Do you realize you have overstepped your bounds? Prepare to receive my 'Leopard Strike'!" A beastly roar erupted from Jiang Yu's throat as he enveloped an invisible energy with his right hand and struck a powerful punch towards the chest of the man in black. In Kunlun Mountain, with such a punch, Jiang Yu could pierce through a boulder weighing several thousand pounds.

From the exit of the dungeon came the whispering voice of Feng Xiaoxiao: "Lord Jiang, buy some time; the masters of the Sixteen Guards in Chang'an will arrive in an instant. How can this fellow escape?"

Zhou Chu had just spoken when a deep, muffled cold snort suddenly came from outside the interrogation room: "Bold, damn it!" This voice contained a powerful internal energy, shaking the entire interrogation room violently. A crescent-shaped force of moonlight tore through the iron door of the room and struck down towards Zhou Chu.

A voice among the men in black shouted, "The lackeys of the Heavenly Master Sect have arrived, brothers, brace yourselves!"

Meanwhile, in the distance towards the imperial city, flashes of fire erupted, and the sounds of alarms, shouts, and curses echoed from afar. More than thirty men, all dressed in black, wielded similarly shaped long swords over four feet in length, whistling sharply as they rushed forward like the wind. These thirty-odd black-clad individuals quickly joined the battle near the prison, all possessing immense strength and exceptional swordsmanship. Together with the black-clad man who had taken Zhou Chu hostage, a total of thirty-six formed a peculiar sword formation, clashing fiercely outside the Ministry of Justice's prison.

A dozen elite members of the Qian Niu Guard leaped into the air, attempting to intercept the man in black. The eerie sound of "hehe" laughter echoed incessantly as the man in black spun his legs like a whirlwind, each strike carrying the force of nearly ten thousand pounds. He forcefully swept away all the Qian Niu Guards, including a middle-ranking general, sending them crashing to the ground. The sound of shattering bones resonated throughout the venue, and the arms and thighs of seven or eight Qian Niu Guards were bent at extremely unnatural angles, clearly having been broken by a single kick from that man.

The man in black laughed heartily and said, "I am... ah, bah, you young one, do you dare to deceive me by reporting my origins? Do you think you have the qualifications to evaluate me?" He stepped forward, and a beast head from a tower above let out a fierce howl as it smashed down towards Jiang Yu's forehead. Jiang Yu's body flickered, and the stone-carved beast head shattered upon hitting the ground, sending flying stones that struck several prison guards from the Ministry of Justice, causing them to bleed profusely from their heads as they hurriedly dodged.

As Jiang Yu flipped his hand, a phantom of a wooden bow flickered briefly in his grasp. Jiang Yu clenched his teeth tightly, dispersing the phantom. "No, no, I cannot use the archery techniques of my school until I reach the realm spoken of by my master. Damn it, ancestors of the Wangyue School, you are truly disappointing. Among the numerous secret arts passed down, all that remains besides the archery techniques is the method for cultivating the indestructible body. Unfortunately, the tens of thousands of pounds of herbs I consumed have all transformed into my own true energy. When will this indestructible body reach the minor completion stage?" Damn it, ancestors of the Wangyue School, you are truly disappointing. Among the numerous secret arts passed down, all that remains besides the archery techniques is the method for cultivating the indestructible body. Unfortunately, the tens of thousands of pounds of herbs I consumed have all transformed into my own true energy. When will this indestructible body reach the minor completion stage?

The man in black, holding Zhou Chu, burst into a triumphant and maniacal laughter: "Young ones, do you now understand our might? What does it matter if you come and go seven times? We will kill you ten times over, and that is what we call ten annihilations!" Thirty-six long swords unleashed their sword energy, shooting out several feet. The thirty-six men resembled a hedgehog covered in sharp blades, accompanied by the piercing sound of slicing through the air, causing nearly a thousand imperial soldiers to bleed profusely. In just the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, over half of the nearly thousand soldiers had been injured or killed.

Feng Xiaoxiao furrowed her brows, just about to dissuade Ji Wen from such malicious actions, when Zhou Chu had already opened his dazed and powerless eyes, wailing, "Esteemed officials, I will say anything, I only ask that you spare the life of this old man's grandson. The steel material was secretly smelted into thirty-six Wind-Splitting Swords by the two young supervisors of the Ministry of Works, and I do not know to whom it was handed over; this must be thoroughly investigated by you, esteemed officials." After crying a few times, Zhou Chu struggled to say, "That Cow Hair Poison Needle was indeed crafted by this old man; how could I dare to refuse the orders of my superiors? The two young supervisors of the Ministry of Works ordered me to forge twenty sets of such poison needles, totaling seventy-two thousand pieces, and I also do not know to whom they were sent."

A boy of about fifteen or sixteen and a girl of around twelve or thirteen were dragged in by a group of fierce officials from the Ministry of Justice. It seemed that they had received explicit orders from Jiwen; as the boy struggled and twisted, the two officials holding him struck his face mercilessly, delivering resounding slaps that echoed through the air. The boy, his face filled with extreme panic and fear, let out sharp cries, and his pants were soaked with water, having lost control of his bowels from fright, filling the air with a foul stench. As for the girl, she neither cried nor shouted, merely following the officials in a daze, having been so terrified that she seemed to have lost her senses, appearing like a living corpse.

Just then, a figure in black emerged from the exit, and a lieutenant of the Qian Niu Guard shouted loudly: "Shoot this scoundrel! Shoot!"

The flower-adorned young man's heart trembled slightly as he sheathed his long sword, nodding with a smile and saying, "The techniques are peculiar, and the power is immense; it truly is a top-tier martial art. May I ask how this young brother is addressed?"

Three thousand five hundred and ninety-seven cow hair needles, crafted from high-quality hemp steel, with the needle tips tempered using red-haired iron, specifically designed to break through the true energy of the internal family. Such craftsmanship, in the entire Artisan Bureau, can only be achieved by you, right? This top-grade hemp steel and red-haired iron, it seems, can only be sourced by you from the Artisan Bureau, correct? Feng Xiaoxiao let out a few cold laughs and fixed a fierce glare at Zhou Chu.

A dozen or so officers armed with heavy weapons such as wolf-toothed clubs, large axes, and halberds surged forward, while another dozen archers on the periphery seized the five-stone iron-arm bows, nocked their iron arrows, and coldly fixed their gaze on the man in black, searching for any possible flaw. The combat prowess of this man in black was astonishing, and everyone present resolved to exert their utmost effort to capture him. Whether alive or dead, he must be taken.

Jiang Yu stealthily approached the battle group, his long knife gently swaying in his hand, hovering around the back of the man in black, poised as if ready to strike with a sneak attack. Ji Wen and the other cruel officials also emerged, and from their elevated position, they observed Jiang Yu's rather dubious actions, their faces displaying a look of acceptance and agreement. Ji Wen even whispered to Feng Xiaoxiao, saying: "Lord Feng, this is strategy. Since we cannot defeat him head-on, is it not possible to strike from behind? Please be cautious of those archers; do not let them harm our Lord Jiang, for he is indeed a brother of our Lord Li"

With a sigh, Jiang Yu lazily leaned against the wall of the interrogation room and said to Zhou Chu, "Old man, you can endure torture like this; you are indeed a brave man. To be honest, I admire you. If I, Fish Master, were subjected to such treatment by Lord Ji Wen, I would probably reveal everything. You truly are a brave man"

The title of "Riding Commandant" is a designation for a fifth-rank military officer in the Tang Dynasty, which means there are no actual duties associated with it; it is merely a title for someone receiving a stipend. This Flower Camp was originally not a formally recognized organization; compared to the officially appointed guards like the Qian Niu Wei, it is akin to a temporary institution. However, Jiang Yu did not understand this; upon hearing that this person held a title with "Commandant" in it, he immediately felt a sense of respect and, in a friendly manner, cupped his hands in greeting towards Feng, saying, "So it is Brother Feng, I apologize for my rudeness." After a pause, Jiang Yu, still not understanding, asked curiously, "But it seems that the Flower Camp has never involved itself in these 'small' cases? Why is it that today you are competing with us for business?"

Jiang Yu recognized those fine needles, which were not the same items used by the three flower monks he encountered at the Great Compassion Temple. No wonder the seemingly powerful Flower Camp hastily intervened in this seemingly ordinary case, personally bringing people to interrogate a humble old craftsman from the Bureau of Crafts. Throughout the ages, the control of military weapons has been regarded as extremely important. Now, the Bureau of Crafts has actually privately forged hidden weapons to sell to others; this case cannot be overlooked by the flowered officials.

"Good! Enough strength!" Jiang Yu swayed his shoulders, and his upper body fell forward. His right leg seemed to have no bones, and with a whoosh, it unleashed a fierce gust, sweeping towards the red peony hairpin-wearing young man in an extremely bizarre trajectory. "Beast Fist's Tiger Whip, haha!" Jiang Yu laughed heartily, his waist twisting, and that 'Tiger Whip Leg' had already transformed into a dozen afterimages under the dim light.

This time, taking advantage of the fact that the pavilion he was in was four or five zhang higher than the eaves of the General of the Thousand Bulls, the man in black leaped over ten zhang away. Jiang Yu stood at the entrance of the sky prison, murmuring softly: "This fellow's lightness skill is so poor that it makes me, Yu Ye, too lazy to watch. However, he possesses a body of steel and iron, which is quite formidable. As my master said, these practitioners of the demonic path must not be allowed to get close! But is this fellow a disciple of the outer sect or an inner disciple of the demonic path? If he is an inner disciple, then it will truly be lively. Indeed, as my master said, these practitioners of the demonic path must not be allowed to get close! But is this fellow a disciple of the outer sect or an inner disciple of the demonic path? If he is an inner disciple, then it will truly be lively. I, Yu Ye, must also be wise and protect myself, it is best to escape quickly."

The river fish, with its internal organs ablaze, opened its mouth and spewed forth a faint black column of blood, cursing in extreme anger: "I, the Fish Lord, have just entered Chang'an, and have yet to enjoy the riches and glory. Who have I offended?"

A quarter of an hour later, the flower-crowned spies from Huaying and the ruthless officials from the Censorate crowded into the largest torture chamber of the Ministry of Justice's dungeon, their fierce gazes fixed on the bloodied and mangled figure of Master Zhou, as if they intended to carve out pieces of flesh from him. Ji Wen, holding a three-inch crescent-shaped knife, carefully sliced through two tendons on Master Zhou's finger, avoiding a blood vessel, and gently extracted a piece of white bone. As Jiang Yu watched, his scalp tingling with horror, he heard Ji Wen sigh: "What a fine pair of hands, capable of crafting many exquisite tools, yet today they are ruined." Ji Wen, holding a three-inch crescent-shaped knife, carefully sliced through two tendons on Master Zhou's finger, avoiding a blood vessel, and gently extracted a piece of white bone. As Jiang Yu watched, his scalp tingling with horror, he heard Ji Wen sigh: "What a fine pair of hands, capable of crafting many exquisite tools, yet today they are ruined."

Ji Wen's face flashed with a sinister light as he laughed, "Come on, brothers, let's tie up these two little dogs. Let's apply thirty-six tortures, taking turns on this boy; as for the little girl, hee hee, which brother has the inclination to break a melon for her?" His scarlet tongue lasciviously licked the corner of his mouth, and an indescribable, ferocious meaning surged forth on Ji Wen's face. He deliberately lowered his voice but laughed in a tone that everyone in the torture chamber could just hear, "Today, we’ll take a little loss and find dozens of cheap grandsons-in-law for Old Craftsman Zhou." Ji Wen's face displayed an indescribable, ferocious meaning as he deliberately lowered his voice but laughed in a tone that everyone in the torture chamber could just hear, "Today, we’ll take a little loss and find dozens of cheap grandsons-in-law for Old Craftsman Zhou."

Feng Xiaoxiao suddenly stood up and shouted loudly: "Someone, quickly go and capture the two young supervisors of the craftsman and Huang Zhubo, search their homes, and see what else they are hiding." Seeing more than a dozen flower-adorned young men streaming out, Feng Xiaoxiao pointed at Zhou Chu and said: "Zhou Chu, you are merely a craftsman; these cases originally have nothing to do with you. Since you have clearly explained these matters, I assure you that your family will be safe. Is there anything else you should say but have not? For instance, certain, hmm?" He cast a sidelong glance at Ji Wen.

Behind the pale-faced Feng Xiaoxiao, Jiang Yu curled up his body, peering out to watch the thirty-six men in black outside unleashing a brutal massacre. He murmured, either intentionally or unintentionally, "What truly vicious methods these are. Where did this group of demons come from"

The elite warriors from the Sixteen Guards, including the Left and Right Martial Guards, the Left and Right Leading Guards, and the Left and Right Thousand Bull Guards, witnessed this situation and simultaneously shouted in anger, brandishing their weapons and charging at the man in black. These warriors, all of whom are skilled fighters of at least second-tier or around first-tier caliber in the martial world, attacked together. Despite the man's extraordinary martial prowess, he was overwhelmed and gasping for breath. He wildly defended himself with his sword, and amidst the clashing sounds of metal, several sharp cries were heard as two steel spears pierced through his body, creating two bloody holes.

The monument is boldly faced, standing firm against the bear.

In Jiang Yu's mind, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he suddenly recalled some matters that Wu Fan had entrusted to him. His expression turned alarmed as he swiftly retreated. In the process of retreating, his back heavily pressed against a solid wall, and he forcefully expelled the destructive energy within him, unleashing it against the dungeon wall made of blue stones and reinforced with molten iron. The entire prison of the Ministry of Justice trembled once more, and the wall behind Jiang Yu cracked with numerous fissures, while the iron bars formed from the cooled molten iron shattered into countless pieces.

Jiang Yu was less than three zhang behind the man in black, rushing out of the prison of the Ministry of Justice right after him. At this moment, the sound of police sirens rose sharply, as teams of guards from the Capital Security Bureau rushed towards the prison from all directions. On the surrounding heights, over a hundred archers had already climbed up, their arrows firmly aimed at the only exit of the prison. Additionally, several elegantly dressed young men and a dozen men dressed as Qian Niu Guards stood a few zhang in front of the exit, hands resting on their long knives, watching vigilantly.

"You young ones, how can a flock of sheep stand against a fierce tiger? Look at how Zhao Zilong of Changshan fought, killing you all seven times in and out, what of it?" The man in black laughed arrogantly, standing atop the highest pavilion outside the Ministry of Justice's prison, openly provoking everyone. Originally, there were seven or eight archers up there, but he kicked each one off, and it is unknown where they were sent flying. In front of nearly a thousand soldiers who had come in response, along with dozens of elite members from the Flower Camp and the Qian Niu Guard, this man in black stood high above, radiating confidence, exuding an air of invincibility.

Suddenly, three azure figures flashed in the air, and dozens of enormous yellow talismans, approximately ten feet long and three feet wide, flew out in overwhelming numbers, enveloping the thirty-six black-clad individuals within them

Feng Xiaoxiao and Ji Wen's faces turned dark with anger. What nonsense is this Jiang Yu spouting? The gazes of the cruel officials grew increasingly fierce, scanning Zhou Chu's body with malicious intent. The flower-adorned young men nodded slightly, in agreement—this kind of torture, to be honest, they too could not endure.

Jiang Yu clutched his stomach, laughing so hard that he could not stand up. He pointed at the man in black and said, "Changshan Zhao Zilong? Seven in and seven out? Do you really think your martial arts are invincible in the world? Here, we are not surrounded by hundreds of thousands of troops, but merely a few hundred colleagues. How is it that this brother cannot hold on? Ah, there are rules in the martial world; no matter which path one is on, one must not overstep the boundaries. Overstepping will lead to misfortune!"

As the conversation unfolded, an arrow, accompanied by a sharp sound of slicing through the air, was already within three feet of the back of the man in black. At the same time, three wolf-toothed clubs, two heavy axes, and two halberds were hurtling towards this man, producing a heavy sound of breaking air. This individual was remarkably skilled; with a thunderous roar, his muscles bulged, and the upper part of his black attire was shattered to pieces. Wielding a long sword, he turned his hand and cleaved the ambushing arrow in two. Amidst several muffled sounds, the heavy weapons struck the man in black. As the officers cheered, they witnessed the man in black shudder, several heavy weapons flying into the sky, and seven officers suffering from explosive injuries to their hands, retreating in panic with blood covering their hands.

As soon as Feng Xiaoxiao's command was given, Jiang Yu had already stealthily moved behind the man in black, his long knife wickedly slicing upward from beneath the man's groin. Regardless of whether one practiced the Golden Bell Shield or the Iron Cloth Shirt, or whether one was a legendary practitioner of the indestructible golden body of the demonic sect, as long as one was a man, there exists a vital spot that is nearly impossible to truly train to the level of indestructibility. Jiang Yu wore an evil grin on his face, the long knife silently and without a whisper had already approached the body of the man in black, ready to unleash its power in an instant. Regardless of whether one practiced the Golden Bell Shield or the Iron Cloth Shirt, or whether one was a legendary practitioner of the indestructible golden body of the demonic sect, as long as one was a man, there exists a vital spot that is nearly impossible to truly train to the level of indestructibility. Jiang Yu wore an evil grin on his face, the long knife silently and without a whisper had already approached the body of the man in black, ready to unleash its power in an instant

The red peony hairpin-wearing young man had a serious expression, his hands tightly clenched into fists. He executed a set of martial arts moves flawlessly, and amidst the loud sounds, he forcefully countered Jiang Yu's feet with dozens of strikes, barely managing to neutralize this round of extremely strange yet powerful attacks. Facing feet with fists, even though this young man possessed profound skills, he was still pushed back several feet, his arms trembling slightly.

The man in black laughed wildly: "Ignorant junior, do you wish to block a cart with your arms?" He sheathed his sword and threw a punch that mirrored Jiang Yu's fist.

Ji Wenton immediately became excited, waving his hands and shouting: "Alright, with Lord Feng's words, Ji Wenton can act decisively. Bring up Old Zhou's grandson and granddaughter!" The brilliance of Ji Wenton's smile made Jiang Yu and Feng Xiaoxiao's hearts chill; his intentions were clearly beyond the measure of a normal person.

With a trace of blood in his nostrils, Ji Wen wiped his face and hoarsely called out: "This is the newly appointed Inspector of the Imperial Censorate and the Acting Official of the Ministry of Justice, Lord Jiang Yujian."

Feng Xiaoxiao let out a cold snort, and with a grand gesture, unleashed several heavy bursts of energy towards the white aura. Amidst the deafening noise, Feng Xiaoxiao's waist shook, and he was violently pushed back several steps, heavily leaning against the wall of the interrogation room. On that wall hung several iron hooks, one of which embedded deeply into Feng Xiaoxiao's shoulder, causing him to grimace and scream in pain. Although Feng Xiaoxiao was severely injured, he successfully intercepted the moon-white aura.