83: Chapter 83 The Storm Is Brewing

Lin Tian closed the stack of files in his hands, the ink still wet, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

The "evidence of guilt" against the Wang Family recorded in the file seemed clear—the "Demonic Cult evidence" seized from specific shops and batches of medicinal herbs, the vague testimony of the shop assistants, plus the report from Constable Lie Ming insisting that the Wang Family had been "secretly acquiring abnormal medicinal herbs over a long period and acting suspiciously," created a logical chain that barely held together.

Yet the more "clear" it was, the more deliberate it felt to him.

"How is it? Is there a way to overturn the case for the Wang Family?" Senior Sister Chen Yu walked to his side and asked in a low voice, a look of worry on her pretty face.

She had just been to the prison to see Wang Yu. Although the Imperial Guard had intervened and no torture had been used yet, the prison was gloomy, and Wang Yu's spirit was already withered.

Lin Tian slowly shook his head, placed the files on the table to the side, and said in a deep voice: "Judging from the current 'evidence,' it is very difficult. Those herbs and bone fragments do indeed carry an evil aura and are not ordinary items."

"The County Office insists they were found in the Wang Family shop, caught red-handed. The Wang Family denies everything, but cannot produce counter-evidence."

"Unless we can find the real culprit who planted the evidence and expose their flaws, or… prove that the source of those 'evidences' is suspicious, it will be difficult to overturn the case in the short term."

"Who else could it be? It must be that bastard Constable Lie Ming!" A flash of anger appeared in Senior Sister Chen Yu's beautiful eyes, and she bit her lip lightly. "He has a grudge against you and me, and he covets the Wang Family's business. He's just taking this opportunity to retaliate and gain merit in front of the County Magistrate!"

"I think so too." Lin Tian nodded, cold light flickering in his eyes. "But guessing is useless. Constable Lie Ming is now a Yamen constable; arresting 'Demonic Cult spies' is justified. If we act rashly without solid evidence, we will only give others an excuse to criticize us, saying we failed to prove his 'frame-up' and are instead biting back. He might even accuse us, the Imperial Guard, of shielding the Demonic Cult."

"Then… shall we watch him in secret?" Senior Sister Chen Yu suggested. "Since he planted the evidence, he must have some moves—either contacting the person who actually provided the 'evidence' or trying to cover his tracks. As long as we keep a close watch, we might be able to catch him in the act."

"We must watch him, naturally." Lin Tian thought for a moment and said: "But Constable Lie Ming is not stupid; he will be careful. We need to prepare for two possibilities. You are meticulous, and being a woman, you are less likely to attract attention."

"Arrange for a few trusted and clever recruits to take turns monitoring Constable Lie Ming's whereabouts in secret, especially his movements at night and who he associates with. But remember, only tail him; do not startle the snake, and definitely do not act without authorization. If you find anything, report it to me or Squad Leader Zhao immediately."

"Understood!" Senior Sister Chen Yu nodded heavily.

"Another more urgent matter is to save the lives of the Wang Family members. We must absolutely not let them 'commit suicide' in prison or be forced to confess under torture." Lin Tian's tone turned cold.

"Since Constable Lie Ming dared to frame them, he might also dare to pull strings in the prison. Let's split up. You go arrange the surveillance on Constable Lie Ming. I will immediately go to see the Centurion and explain the suspicious points, requesting that the Centurion order stricter supervision of the Wang Family members involved."

"It would be best if we, the Imperial Guard, could send people to assist or even take over part of the supervision to ensure their safety and keep them alive for subsequent investigation."

"Understood!" Senior Sister Chen Yu didn't say anything more and turned to leave in a hurry.

Lin Tian took the files and went straight to request an audience with Centurion Shen Lian.

Centurion Shen Lian was in the back hall reviewing other official documents. Seeing Lin Tian return and looking grave, he dismissed his attendants and asked: "What is it?"

"My Lord, I have carefully reviewed the files for the Wang Family case and found several suspicious points. Feeling uneasy, I have come to report it."

Lin Tian cupped his hands, presented the files with both hands, and then spoke clearly: "First, the location where the so-called 'Demonic Cult evidence' appeared is too 'convenient'—it was in a batch of newly arrived, unassorted herbs. It looks like someone deliberately planted it, rather than it being a long-term hiding spot for Demonic Cult items."

"Second, the head of the Wang Family and the core clan members are completely unaware of this, and their emotional reactions do not seem fake. Furthermore, the Wang Family's business dealings are transparent, and there have been no abnormal large-scale transactions or capital flows in recent years."

"Third, the Constable leading this case, Constable Lie Ming, has a long-standing grudge against me, as well as against the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall where Master Wang Yu is located. He was promoted to Constable not long ago and 'quickly' solved such a major case; the timing is coincidental."

He paused, watching Centurion Shen Lian's expression gradually darken, and continued: "I suspect that this case is likely not a simple infiltration by the Demonic Cult, but more likely someone using the name of the 'Demonic Cult' to frame others. The target is either Master Wang Yu and his Family, who are on good terms with me, to strike at me; or it is targeting the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, wanting to ruin its reputation or even involve a wider scope."

"Whatever the purpose, this case is not as simple as it appears on the surface. If we leave it to the County Office to judge alone, I fear there will be forced confessions under torture, miscarriages of justice, or even the risk of allowing the real Demonic Cult spies or the mastermind to remain at large."

Centurion Shen Lian listened silently, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the smooth rosewood table. He opened the file and quickly browsed through it, especially the parts about the discovery of the "evidence" and Constable Lie Ming's report.

After a long while, he slowly looked up, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lin Tian: "According to what you said, if it is indeed a frame-up, then the person planting the evidence, being able to produce 'evidence' with the aura of the Demonic Cult, is likely inseparable from the Demonic Cult themselves. This move might even be a scheme by the Demonic Cult to confuse the situation and kill with a borrowed knife."

Lin Tian felt a shiver in his heart and said in a deep voice: "My Lord is wise; I have the same concern. Therefore, I specifically come to request: can you order a temporary suspension of torture and interrogation for the Wang Family members? First, keep them in separate confinement and under strict guard."

"At the same time, permit us, the Imperial Guard, to send people to intervene in the supervision to prevent anyone from secretly harming them, silencing them, or forcing confessions. We need time to find the truth and find the real culprit."

Centurion Shen Lian pondered for a moment. He appreciated Lin Tian's talent and sharpness; what this young man said was indeed reasonable. Regarding the Demonic Cult, it was better to investigate slowly than to wrongly accuse or kill, and it certainly must not be used by petty people as a tool for factional infighting. Moreover, if it were really as Lin Tian expected, and this matter was targeting the Imperial Guard or a promising recruit, he could not sit idly by.

"Granted." Centurion Shen Lian nodded, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "I will issue an order immediately: all Wang Family prisoners are to be transferred to the Imperial Guard's exclusive prison for custody. Without my permission, no one is allowed to interrogate or torture them. Squad Leader Zhao will arrange reliable personnel to be responsible."

"Lin Tian, since you discovered the suspicious points in this matter, I will leave it to you to continue the deep investigation. I will give you three days; you must find more clues, whether to prove the Wang Family's innocence or to ferret out the Demonic Cult demon who planted the evidence! For any manpower you need, you can directly request it from Squad Leader Zhao."

"I obey! Thank you, My Lord!" A heavy stone in Lin Tian's heart fell to the ground; he quickly bowed and accepted the order. With these words from Centurion Shen Lian, the Wang Family members were safe, at least in the short term.

"Go. Remember, the matter of the Demonic Cult is of great importance. If you investigate, you must get to the bottom of it! But also pay attention to your own safety; since the other party can produce 'evidence,' they are likely not easy to deal with." Centurion Shen Lian warned at the end.

"Yes! I understand!"

Leaving the back hall of the Centurion Office, Lin Tian immediately found Squad Leader Zhao and conveyed Centurion Shen Lian's order. Squad Leader Zhao, who was also a man of swift and decisive action, immediately dispatched eight trusted guards to the County Office prison to handle the transfer procedures, moving all dozens of Wang Family prisoners to the Imperial Guard's more strictly guarded and independent internal prison.

After handling this, Lin Tian gathered Senior Sister Chen Yu, Liu Yunfeng, and several other new Imperial Guard members, briefly explained the suspicious points of the case and Centurion Shen Lian's order, and instructed them to disperse and investigate in the city in secret, focusing on whether any strange faces had appeared recently, if there were any abnormal herb transactions, and the movements of Constable Lie Ming and his subordinates. He himself confirmed the surveillance arrangements for Constable Lie Ming with Senior Sister Chen Yu once more.

Everything was arranged, and the sun was setting. Lin Tian stood at the street corner outside the Centurion Office, watching the twilight fall, a flash of determination in his eyes. He did not join the search team, but instead turned and headed straight back to the Lin Family Mansion in the east of the city.

Dismissing the servants, closing the courtyard door, and lighting the candles in the quiet room, Lin Tian sat cross-legged on the prayer mat in the center of the quiet room. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, but deep inside, a flame was quietly burning.

"Demonic Cult… framing… Constable Lie Ming's sudden Breakthrough… a conspiracy targeting me or the martial arts hall…" Clues and suspicious points spun in his mind. He had a strong premonition that the Wang Family matter was merely the beginning, or rather, it was a lure, a probe. Behind Constable Lie Ming, there must be a deeper mastermind hidden, and the target would likely eventually point to himself.

"Strength… in the final analysis, my strength is still insufficient!" Lin Tian clenched his fists. If he had the strength of the Third Grade, or even Fourth Grade, why would he need to be so cautious? Regardless of any conspiracy or frame-up, he could just use force to break it, capture Constable Lie Ming, search his soul, and the truth would naturally be revealed! Even if there were real Demonic Cult demons causing trouble, he would just slay them with one sword!

But now, he was only at the Second Grade Middle Stage. Although his sword technique was at Major Achievement, his movement technique was at Perfection, and he had the Three Element Combination Attack, enough to crush those of the same rank and even contend with ordinary Second Grade Late Stage experts, he was still lacking if he were to face a true Third Grade expert, or if he were to fall into an encirclement or encounter the treacherous methods of the Demonic Cult.

"Three days… The Centurion only gave three days to investigate clues. But the real crisis likely won't wait three days." Lin Tian was clear-headed. Relying on those new colleagues to search aimlessly might lead to discovering some clues, but hoping to break this situation and drag out the mastermind within three days was a slim hope. He had to prepare for the worst—the other party might have already laid the trap and was just waiting to close the net. And he needed to possess the power to tear this net apart before it tightened!

His gaze fell on the inconspicuous secret compartment in the corner of the quiet room. There, the remaining half of the "red blood vermilion fruit" was hidden.

"I originally wanted to settle down for a while longer, stabilize my Realm, and plan slowly. But now… time waits for no one!" A ruthless look flashed in Lin Tian's eyes. The dark clouds of the Demonic Cult had appeared, the enemy was in the dark while he was in the light, and the crisis was imminent. He could no longer proceed step-by-step. "Second Grade Middle Stage is not enough… then, I will Breakthrough to the Second Grade Late Stage!"