The Blade-Wielding Legend

Chapter 1544 788: The Jinling Mystery

In the back hall of the Jinling Prefecture Government Office, sandalwood incense wafts slowly.

On either side of the mahogany long table, the atmosphere is tense and confrontational.

Seated in the main position is the Prefect of Jinling, with fair skin and puffy eye bags, unconsciously stroking his beard, his eyes flickering.

Beside him is the Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture, whose square face is tightly strained, lips pressed into a thin line. Several local officials seated below all keep their heads down, silent, none daring to speak.

Commander Zheng from the Captain Bureau is also present, sitting upright, but his fingertips gripping the knife handle are slightly pale, looking sullen, yet his eyes are full of helplessness.

He sneaks a glance at Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan sitting opposite, opens his mouth to speak, but swallows the words, feeling stifled inside.

"Li... Mr. Li."

The Prefect of Jinling coughs dryly, forcing out a smile, with the characteristic drawl of an official, "The matter of Locust Tree Village is shocking, and this office is also deeply distressed. However, this matter is of great importance, involving the demon cult, which the Captain Bureau, along with the Mystical Sect Magic Veins, will investigate."

"Your noble assistance in determining the reason behind Commander Tian's sudden death will be reported to the court, and this office will ask for your merit. As for the case involving Lin's Trading House..."

He drags his tone, looking toward the Prefect.

The Prefect immediately takes over, full of flattery, "Lin Yaozu privately colluded with pirates, causing disruption at the vital location of Yangzhou's Cao Yun, with conclusive evidence provided by the Ministry of Justice, appointed for trial by Hangzhou Prefecture."

"This is a central decision, already set in stone. Our Jinling Prefecture Government Office has no authority to interfere. Though you hold a Token from Qiankun Academy, telling the public sentiment undeniably so, yet to meddle in local criminal matters and interfere with a court-designated case is, to say the least, overstepping!"

Li Yan wastes no words, directly looking at Commander Zheng.

He had foreseen the difficulty in extracting the Lin family members.

Officials of Jinling, to some extent, all have connections with those two families, compounded by the Sea Opening Sect's current power in the court, certainly won't conduct justice fairly.

Therefore, he directly approached Commander Zheng.

In the Capital, Commander Tian was murdered, while the local area was infiltrated by the Silk Cocoon Sect.

If he doesn't want to die, he certainly cannot remain indifferent.

Sure enough, Commander Zheng coughs, eyebrows furrowed, speaking deeply, "Lord Governor, the matter of Locust Tree Village is significant, Commander Tian's death clearly has ties to that 'Silk Cocoon Sect,' besides, we have identified the true culprits, those people..."

"Commander Zheng, you are mistaken!"

Another official hailing from a local aristocratic family interrupts, "Commander Tian's death was caused by Demon Art, Lin's collusion with pirates is clearly documented! How can they be confused?"

"The Qiankun Academy Token is prestigious, yet it does not extend to our Great Xuan Law and criminal matters! Mr. Li, we acknowledge your efforts, but do not be used by others, drawn into matters where you shouldn't be involved."

He is from the Gusu Lu Family, naturally speaking more resolutely.

"Matters?"

Li Yan takes a sip of tea, slowly speaking.

Though his voice is not loud, it surpasses the hall's clamor.

"Hundreds in Locust Tree Village were turned into cocoons, had their essences drained under the guise of 'Divine Silkworm' by a demon cult, this is the matter!"

"Commander Tian was responsible for transport but turned to bones by the ghoul 'Lin Zhongweng' in the Jurong wilderness, this is the matter!"

"Wuzhong weaver craftsman forced into dire straits by harsh taxes, seeking refuge by joining the demon cult to prolong life, this matter... is an enormous matter!"

This penetrates everyone's minds with Fist Intent spirit.

His eyes, as sharp as lightning, sweep over the changing faces of the officials: "You say the case of Lin's Trading House, mainly tried in Hangzhou, records sealed, I will go find them."

"But within Jinling City, Commander Tian's sudden death, the Locust Tree Village tragedy, Silk Cocoon Sect controlling citizens with silk, conspiring inner response, every single one... cannot be unrelated!"

"Jinling Prefecture Government Office, Captain Bureau, bearing responsibility of guarding the land and inspecting illegality, now facing rampant demon cults, evidence right under the nose, but using 'no authority' and 'case already designated' as excuses, shunning responsibility, watching demon Qi grow rampant, even... obstructing investigation?"

He pauses, his tone suddenly chilling, laden with a cold Evil Qi, "Is it incapability, or... unwillingness? Or perhaps, fearing the weed pulled out might attract mud, implicating certain people who shouldn't be implicated?"

"Li Yan! You are impudent!" the Prefect slams the table, hair bristling, "Daring to criticise court officials and slander superior in public court?!"

The Prefect also darkens his face: "Mr. Li, this office respects you as a disciple of Qiankun Academy, thus offering leniency. But the law of the court cannot be easily scorned! The matter of Locust Tree Village will be thoroughly investigated by the Captain Bureau. As for the Lin case, it is unchangeable! Persist once more, and this office won't show mercy!"

For a moment, the air seems to turn into solid iron.

...

Meanwhile, the excavation and cleanup operation at Locust Tree Village, led by local Mystical Sect Daoists, is in full swing.

With the Captain Bureau monitoring, no one dares to tamper.

One by one, distorted human figures wrapped heavily in cocoons, long lifeless, are carefully carried out from the underground chambers of the ancestral hall, laid out in the village's open space, shocking to behold.

The large "Divine Silkworm" corpses, already poisoned by Long Yan'er's special powder and as big as wild boars, are also dragged out, their grotesque mouthparts exposed to daylight, prompting nausea amongst the soldiers and constables handling the cleanup, faces pale as they gag.

Moreover, in Zhou Dayong's house's kang hole, several hastily scribbled, blood-stained letters have been discovered.

The letters were secretly written by Zhou Dayong in desperation, detailing how the "Silk Cocoon Sect" Divine Envoys used Secret Techniques to lure villagers with promises of life extension, deceiving them into offering tribute to the "Silkworm Goddess," and coercing them to contribute the labor of the strong directly into the underground to "serve the Divine Silkworms," ultimately becoming cocoons.