Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 164: Chapter 127: I’m Really Not a Demon Dao Spy!

The island where the Law Enforcement Hall is located is named Sword Island.

The reason for the name is that the island’s shape indeed resembles a sword, and its location is between the main island, Water Dragon Island, and the island where the Ancestral Hall is situated.

When Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi arrived here, it was already late at night.

However, there were still disciples specifically from the Law Enforcement Hall waiting here.

This time, the person who came was not Fang Jie, but a young man they had never seen before. His hooked nose gave an impression of being difficult to get along with.

”You are Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi, right?”

The hook-nosed man asked.

”Indeed.”

Ji Yuan replied with a respectful yet unyielding bow.

”Follow me.”

After he spoke, he sharply turned around, and his robes swished with a rustling sound.

Ji Yuan followed closely behind, stepping on the black stone surface of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Previously, he had only glanced from afar when passing by, but had never set foot on this Law Enforcement Hall. In fact, many disciples of the Water Dragon Sect never set foot on this island in their entire lives.

After all, coming to this Law Enforcement Hall is essentially equivalent to having one foot on a path of no return.

Ji Yuan surveyed his surroundings.

Where they stood was unmistakably the square of Sword Island, with the ground constructed entirely of black stone. Around them stood stone pillars carved from black stone, with fires lit atop them.

Fortunately, the fires were not ghostly blue; otherwise, it would look akin to a haunted ground.

Before them was a corridor paved with black stone, and after passing through it, they would arrive at a building resembling a small city. Above this small city hung a huge sign board, with the words ”Law Enforcement Hall” written in large characters.

Approaching closer, Ji Yuan simply glanced at these words, feeling a sense of dread.

”This inscription was left by the third Supreme Elder of our Water Dragon Sect. Watch out, staring at it too long might damage your foundation!”

The hook-nosed man said with a sneer.

”Also, let me advise you a few words.”

”When our people at the Law Enforcement Hall question you, you’d better be honest. If we find that anything you reveal is inconsistent with the truth we uncovered... well, the consequences will be beyond what you can bear.”

Ji Yuan nodded in agreement.

Pi Fangzhi trembled and asked in a shaky voice, ”Dare I ask, what exactly did Tang Ran commit?”

”Heh.”

The hook-nosed man smiled and turned to face them, ”Want to know, huh? Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough.”

As he said this, it sent a shiver down Pi Fangzhi’s spine.

After entering the small city of the Law Enforcement Hall, the hook-nosed man led them to a row of buildings.

Ji Yuan didn’t dare glance around recklessly.

”Alright, one room for each of you. Go inside, and someone will come to question you soon.”

With that, the hook-nosed man vanished into the darkness, unconcerned that Ji Yuan and Pi Fangzhi might leave, or rather, he’d even be pleased if they fled.

Pi Fangzhi glanced at Ji Yuan and sighed.

”Sigh.”

The two of them each entered the rooms in front of them.

Inside the room, a spirit lamp that never extinguishes was lit, and the furnishings were extremely simple, consisting only of a table and a few chairs.

Ji Yuan stood behind the table and waited for a while. Then a series of footsteps echoed outside, and finally, two expressionless disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall entered his room.

A man and a woman, both unfamiliar.

And upon entering, they immediately locked the door.

Ji Yuan then perked up, cupping his fists in greetings to them.

”Hmm, take a seat and we’ll talk.”

The female cultivator, seeing Ji Yuan’s appearance, had a rare moment of being in a good mood.

Beautiful things always bring joy to people.

”No need to worry too much, we’ve already conducted background checks on you at the Law Enforcement Hall. You just need to answer the questions truthfully.”

”Alright.”

”Ji Yuan, right? What’s your relationship with Tang Ran?”

”It’s limited to being neighbors. We have no interactions in daily life.”

These questions, Ji Yuan was well-prepared for.

Subsequently, he answered truthfully to the remaining questions, such as Tang Ran’s character and behavior, and whether there were any neighborhood conflicts.

In the end, there was just one question they pursued a bit further.

”You say Tang Ran and Pi Fangzhi had a poor relationship, yet you saw them going out together, correct?”

”I can’t confirm their relationship, but it’s true I saw them arguing fiercely, and also true I saw them out together.”

Ji Yuan answered truthfully.

”Alright, that’s all for now. Just wait here for our notification.”

”Don’t worry, you’ll get a result within an hour.”

After saying this, the two disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall also left.

Ji Yuan wasn’t worried, nor did he inquire about the situation of Pi Fangzhi next door, but simply took out an alchemy manual and began studying it closely, as time for cultivation is always squeezed out.

After waiting for about half an hour, he heard footsteps outside, and upon looking up, saw it was an old acquaintance.

Fang Jie.

But this time, he approached with a visibly cheerful expression on his face.

”Brother Ji.”

Even at the door, Fang Jie cupped his hands in greeting and said, ”Earlier, the situation was unclear, and since the hall found our connection, I couldn’t get involved in this matter. I sincerely apologize.”

”No worries, Brother Fang, you’re being too polite.”

Ji Yuan replied with a smile.

”Now that the hall has clarified everything, you’re not involved in this matter, and you can leave. Of course, if you want to stay and take a look around, I can also show you around.”

”No, no.”

Ji Yuan showed a look of apprehension.

As for the reality, there was no fear, he just didn’t want to stir up any more trouble.

”Goodness, it seems our Law Enforcement Hall has truly become a place people fear and hate,” Fang Jie laughed wryly.

”How could it be like this, it’s obviously so righteous and imposing that people like us, who scheme and plot, dare not get close.”

Ji Yuan laughed along.

”Let’s go, I’ll escort Brother Ji out.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan finally came out of the room, and the two of them walked towards the outside of the Law Enforcement Hall together.

It was still nighttime, and the light inside the Law Enforcement Hall was not particularly bright, making it appear somewhat dark.

”By the way, which hall did Du Wanyi go to?”

Ji Yuan couldn’t get in touch, so he could only inquire from Fang Jie here.

”Hmm, she went to Shui Yi Hall, she should be on duty in Cyan Leaf City now.”

Fang Jie didn’t reveal that he had helped with the arrangement; some things are better understood between each other without being explicitly stated.

”Cyan Leaf City?”

”That’s a good place.”

Hearing this, most of Ji Yuan’s original worries dissipated.

This Cyan Leaf City is located on the banks of the Starfall River east of the Water Dragon Sect and is considered the core area of the Water Dragon Sect. Normally, there shouldn’t be any issues there.

Should anything happen to Cyan Leaf City, the Water Dragon Sect would practically be over.

”That’s because Daoist Du is strong, and just happened to be picked by Uncle-Master Qing Ning, otherwise I wouldn’t have this capability.”

Fang Jie said, shaking his head, and from his tone, he seemed a bit envious.

”Regardless, I’m very grateful to Brother Fang.”

As they spoke, the two of them exited the Law Enforcement Hall and returned to Black Stone Square, where Ji Yuan had first landed.

Fang Jie halted.

Ji Yuan hesitated for a moment, still thinking to ask about what was going on with Tang Ran.

But before he could speak, Fang Jie stepped forward, lowered his voice, and said, ”That neighbor of yours... is a Demon Dao spy. You can also keep an eye out after you return to see if you can find any other clues. If you can uncover something, it would indeed be a major contribution.”

”If you have any clues, you can come to my home to find me anytime.”

A Demon Dao spy... No wonder the sect is making such a big deal out of it.

Ji Yuan nodded solemnly.

”Rest assured, I will.”

”Farewell, Brother Fang!”

Ji Yuan gave a slight bow and then summoned the Scarlet Skies Skiff to leave.

After Ji Yuan left, a sword light swept out from within the Law Enforcement Hall, finally landing beside Fang Jie and transforming into a figure in a black robe.

Seeing him, Fang Jie hurriedly clasped his hands in salute and called out, ”Captain.”

The black-robed man responded with a ”hmm,” looking in the direction Ji Yuan had left without speaking.

After a long silence, Fang Jie finally said, ”Captain, my friend shouldn’t be a problem, right? Whether it’s his background or his movements after joining the sect, he can’t possibly have any connection to the Demon Dao, let alone... setting up a trap like this?”

The trap Fang Jie referred to was naturally those final words he said.

Telling Ji Yuan to come find him if he had any clues.

If it came to that, the sect would give Ji Yuan significant benefits, but at the same time, Ji Yuan would also be placed under renewed scrutiny by the Law Enforcement Hall.

”How could this be considered a trap? Whether there are dates or not, we just give it a try.”

The black-robed man sighed deeply, ”Based on the current information he has, he couldn’t possibly find any information on the Demon Dao spies, and if he does find something... then there must be something fishy.”

Fang Jie, unwilling to give up, said again, ”But if he’s really not a spy and he actually finds information related to the Demon Dao spies, wouldn’t we be wasting our efforts, having wronged a good person?”

The black-robed man couldn’t help but laugh after hearing this, ”If he really has that ability, why not recruit him into the Law Enforcement Hall? With such skill, he’s truly someone who can get things done, far better than those incompetents we have now.”

With these words, Fang Jie fell silent.

There are words that the captain can say.

But if he said them himself, it would be taboo.

...

Meanwhile, after leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, Ji Yuan immediately forgot the words Fang Jie had said.

He already didn’t know any clues about the Demon Dao spies, and to have him actively search for them would be all the more impossible.

Firstly, it was too difficult. The clues even the Law Enforcement Hall couldn’t find were for him to find? That would be overestimating him.

Secondly, the conflict between Right and Demon Dao, how major of an affair would that be?

Ji Yuan had no desire to get involved.

Even if he encountered it, he would opt to stay far away, let alone actively participate.

So as far as he was concerned, this matter was pretty much over.

However, the matter Fang Jie mentioned still left Ji Yuan feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

If there are Demon Dao spies even inside the Water Dragon Sect, what about outside?

If the Water Dragon Sect has them, then it’s highly likely that the Medicine King Valley and Sword Ruins also have them.

What Ji Yuan found most puzzling was, where is the power of the Demon Cultivators?

Originally, when he was in Cloud Rain Marsh, Ji Yuan thought that the Joy Palace was the Demon Sect. But after meeting Li Changhe, he learned from him that Joy Palace wasn’t Demon Cultivators.

As it is now, the Water Dragon Sect has even allied with the Joy Palace.

Could it be... the Demon Sect is west of Shang Mountain?

The Water Dragon Sect is merely one of the Six Immortal Sects of Shang Dong, so what’s west of Shang Mountain?

Or is it that the Demon Cultivators come from overseas... It seems necessary to take some time to inquire about these matters.

Having been delayed at the Law Enforcement Hall for a whole night, when Ji Yuan returned to Chulong Island again, the sky was already brightening. He didn’t delay any longer, quickly preparing himself before arriving once more at Dong Qian’s doorstep.

With the experience of the previous day, Ji Yuan felt more at ease today.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door, and before long, Dong Qian, dressed in a loose purple robe yet unable to conceal her curvaceous figure, opened the door.

The moment she saw Ji Yuan, her eyes lit up with surprise and delight,

”Junior Brother Ji, what brings you here?”

Unexpectedly, Ji Yuan was even more surprised than she was, his voice rising noticeably.

”Senior Sister Dong... is it you?!”

Thus, Dong Qian became puzzled.

”What do you mean... is it me?”

”Junior Brother Ji, you don’t recognize me anymore?”