Chapter Sixty-Nine: Pressuring the Police Bureau

"He's gone blind."

Baili Feihong had yet to report back to the Demon Suppression Bureau.

He sensed the shifting tides within the city and could only sit in a tavern, listening to the latest gossip.

A hundred days away, he knew little of how Dongbin City's situation had changed.

Yet, from what he overheard, all the unrest stemmed from the opium case.

The rise had been too swift.

And that was not necessarily a good thing.

He had no intelligence network of his own.

He returned again to the Four Seas Martial Hall.

His sixth senior brother, Zhang Qianshan, now had white at his temples and a vacant gaze, his expression mournful as he sat within the hall.

Hearing movement, he looked up toward the courtyard.

The black robes adorned with a python motif—the uniform of the Demon Suppression Bureau—made his heart tremble.

"Sixth Brother."

Baili Feihong's expression darkened.

Something was amiss with Zhang Qianshan.

Though his blood and vitality had not waned, his spirit was depleted—a classic sign of heartbreak.

"Junior Brother, you're back."

A sigh of relief, yet something else crossed his mind, leaving him helpless.

His junior brother was but a rank-four demon suppressor; he could offer little help.

"Brother, has something happened at home?"

Baili Feihong's tone carried a hint of concern.

He had few he could call friends.

Zhang Qianshan was one.

No, he was the only friend.

Looking back, after crossing over to this world, several years had passed.

Suddenly he realized he was still utterly alone.

Baili Feihong felt his heart tighten.

Perhaps it was the nature of a transmigrant, forever out of place in this world.

His heart remained closed.

Life in the Demon Suppression Bureau was formulaic.

Striving upward, surviving, growing strong—he lived for these alone.

Living, for the sake of living.

Nothing else.

Now, his focus was martial arts, the pursuit of strength.

Yet his life was a blank page.

That thought spiraled in his mind, unstoppable.

Looking again at his sixth brother, Zhang Qianshan was indeed a friend of loyalty and feeling.

Since he acknowledged this friend, he would help him.

"Junior Brother, I..."

"I'm truly useless."

A man sheds not tears lightly.

Zhang Qianshan covered his face, tears streaming down.

"Brother, don't worry. I'm here."

Baili Feihong comforted him softly.

He turned and left.

"Junior Brother."

No reply.

Baili Feihong headed straight for the Constabulary.

When the Demon Suppression Bureau handled matters—whether involving demons or otherwise—they always sought the Constabulary's cooperation.

Don't underestimate the Constabulary's authority; though small compared to the Bureau, it was a powerful department among Dongbin City's institutions.

Even at night, there were still staff at the Constabulary.

Baili Feihong entered, clad in black python robes, immediately drawing the constables' attention.

"Constabulary Inspector Zhang Jingzhong, greetings, Lord Baili Feihong."

Inspector Zhang Jingzhong had been in dire straits lately.

Three months ago, the Bureau began hunting the city's wealthy merchant families.

That operation shattered half of Dongbin City's elite.

The previous prefect was dismissed.

Many officials implicated, arrested.

Though the Bureau had dealt with most of the main offenders in the opium case, the new prefect now sought to capitalize, investigating wealthy merchants for his own gain.

In Zhang Jingzhong's eyes, the new prefect was far too greedy.

Once in office, he began amassing wealth—whoever caught his eye, suffered.

"You know me?"

Baili Feihong's lips curled into a cold smile.

He remembered the six-two-two split very clearly.

This man had embezzled two-tenths of his compensation.

"Lord Baili Feihong is a prodigy; not a soul in the Constabulary does not know you."

Zhang Jingzhong forced a smile.

Inside, he cursed.

His patron, Zheng Yishan, had complained to him about Baili Feihong.

Afterward, Zhang Jingzhong used his authority to investigate Baili Feihong.

He was astonished.

Zheng Yishan was already out of favor.

This demon suppressor before him was the new favorite of the regional commander.

Thinking that Baili Feihong was not much younger than the commander, he wondered whether she had taken a liking to him.

"Inspector Zhang has real talent. No wonder you're thriving in the Constabulary." Baili Feihong strode into Zhang Jingzhong's office and took a seat.

Zhang Jingzhong was stunned, but knew trouble had come knocking.

If Baili Feihong sought him out, it must be for the Zhang family's affairs.

The only Zhang left untouched was Zhang Qianshan of the Four Seas Martial Hall.

The investigation into the Zhangs three months after the opium case was orchestrated by Zheng Yishan.

The new prefect wanted a scapegoat, and a windfall; someone had to suffer.

At this, Zhang Jingzhong's heart quailed.

"What is the situation with the Zhang family, owners of city taverns and merchants? If I recall correctly, the opium case register had no mention of the Zhangs."

Baili Feihong leaned back, smiling at Zhang Jingzhong.

Yet a martial will encircled Zhang Jingzhong.

In a moment, Zhang Jingzhong felt plunged into an abyss, rivers of blood and demons swirling around him.

With a thud, Zhang Jingzhong knelt, kowtowing, "Spare me, Lord Baili! The prefect is amassing wealth, using the opium case as pretext for broader searches. Whoever is rich, suffers. Lord Zheng Yishan put the Zhangs on the list."

Zhang Jingzhong confessed everything.

The terrifying martial will shattered his composure.

He collapsed instantly.

"The Zhangs are not involved in the opium case. I can testify to this; after all, I personally investigated the case. If the prefect or Zheng Yishan ask, tell them Baili Feihong said so."

Baili Feihong laughed coldly, his domineering presence enveloping the Constabulary.

Even the nearby prefecture felt the weight of his martial will.

Once, in the prefect's office, he beat the vice commissioner like a dog, and the former prefect dared not utter a word.

The new prefect was ignorant; he did not know of Zhang Qianshan's connection to Baili Feihong.

His ignorance doomed him.

The true adversary was Zheng Yishan.

That old man was indeed a grade-one demon suppressor.

But if he crossed him now, Baili Feihong would not hesitate to deal with him.

Dongbin City was no longer the city of old.

The Demon Suppression Bureau was not Zheng Yishan's playground.

"Understand? If your chief objects, tell him: on a moonless, windy night, with no evidence or witnesses, someone could easily act."

"Say it quietly—once outside, I'll deny it."

Baili Feihong stood, grinning, voice low and threatening.

Zhang Jingzhong's face twisted with fear; terror surged in his heart.

Too domineering.

"Lord Baili..."

Zhang Jingzhong was ruthless in his own way.

He knew his composure had shattered and, unable to keep silent, had become an informant.

If Zheng Yishan found out, he would lose his patronage in the Bureau.

"Rest assured, I'll settle it at once. I've already determined that the Zhangs are upright, contributing greatly to Dongbin City. Now they suffer slander from competitors; the Constabulary has clarified the situation and will release them."

Zhang Jingzhong declared resolutely.

"I trust Inspector Zhang's ability. In future Bureau cases, talents like you will be needed. I hear your chief is getting on in years; according to Yuan Dynasty law, those who don't advance, decline."

With these words, Baili Feihong left the Constabulary.

Everyone working the night shift heard him clearly.

"Did you hear that?"

Zhang Jingzhong stood, walked to his office door, and surveyed the Constabulary.

He spoke slowly.

"Do you think the lord wanted us to hear or not?"

Constable Lu Jingxian asked respectfully.

"Those who should hear, hear. Those who shouldn't, don't. You understand."

"Understood."

Lu Jingxian replied first.

The others followed suit.

"Lord Baili is too domineering..."

Lu Jingxian began, but Zhang Jingzhong glared fiercely at him.

"Call him Lord Baili. Besides, following someone domineering, someone with confidence, our days will be easier."

"Release the Zhangs at once; return all confiscated taverns, return all seized wealth. Anything already handed over, cover from Constabulary funds, then demand from the prefecture treasury."

Saying this, Zhang Jingzhong felt a pang in his heart.

But the money was hot in his hands.

Zhang Qianshan—Baili Feihong's senior brother.

It seemed wise to curry favor with him.