87: Chapter 87 Post-War Turmoil

In the backyard of the Jinyiwei Company Office, outside the quiet room where Centurion Shen Lian was recuperating, the atmosphere was as oppressive as an impending storm.

Several famous doctors from Heishan City, who had been urgently summoned, exited one after another with their medicine chests. Each of them wore a furrowed brow and shook their heads with sighs.

Squad Leader Zhao, the leader of the group, walked out with a pale complexion. He was immediately surrounded by Lin Tian, Senior Sister Chen Yu, and several other core squad leaders and warriors waiting outside.

"Squad Leader Zhao, how is Centurion Shen Lian?"

"Has the Centurion awakened?"

"Can the injuries be controlled?"

Everyone spoke at once, their faces full of worry and anxiety. Centurion Shen Lian was the backbone of the Centurion Office and one of the top combatants in Heishan City against the demonic cult. If he fell, the blow to morale would be devastating.

Squad Leader Zhao waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. He forced himself to stay composed, his voice heavy with fatigue: "Everyone, the Centurion's injuries... are extremely tricky. The demonic cultist's palm strike contained a cold and vicious foreign True Qi that is constantly eroding his heart meridian. Combined with severe external wounds and excessive blood loss, the doctors could only stabilize his condition and remove some of the evil poison. However, the Centurion... remains unconscious. When he will wake up is still unknown."

"What?!"

"Even those famous doctors are helpless?!"

"That cold palm strike is actually so overbearing?!"

The crowd was in an uproar, their faces filled with even greater shock. If even the best doctors in the city could barely maintain his condition, Centurion Shen Lian's injuries were likely more serious than imagined!

"Silence!" Squad Leader Zhao let out a low shout, suppressing the surging Qi and pain in his chest. He swept his gaze over the crowd and said in a deep voice: "The more we are in this moment, the more we must remain steady! The Centurion is seriously injured, the demonic cult is watching us like tigers, and who knows how many demons and monsters are hiding inside and outside Heishan City! If we lose our footing first, wouldn't we be playing right into the hands of the cultists?!"

He paused, took a deep breath, and slowly announced: "During the Centurion's recovery, all affairs of the Centurion Office will be handled by me and the other squad leaders. I am now announcing two things: First, after the battle at Tingtao Villa outside the city, the demonic cult's strength proved fierce. To prevent any accidents, from today on, all Imperial Guards are forbidden from leaving the city without a special order. You must remain in Heishan City and be ready to respond to emergencies at any time."

"Second," he looked at Lin Tian, "the case of the Wang family suspected of colluding with the demonic cult is complex, involves a wide range of people, and may be connected to the demonic cult stronghold at Tingtao Villa. To prevent any slip-ups at the County Yamen, or for them to be silenced or collude on their stories by interested parties, all prisoners of the Wang family will be transferred from the County Yamen prison to our exclusive Imperial Guard dungeon, to be personally guarded and interrogated by our office! Lin Tian!"

"Subordinate is here!" Lin Tian stepped forward.

"You are fully responsible for this matter! Take men to the West City County Yamen immediately, handle the handover, and escort all prisoners back safely! Remember, I want them alive and conscious! The clues to this case may lie with them!" Squad Leader Zhao looked at Lin Tian with piercing eyes.

"Subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail this mission!" Lin Tian cupped his fists, his expression solemn. He understood that this was both trust and a heavy responsibility. The Wang family was the key to this case, and possibly the key to breaking the deadlock.

Lin Tian selected ten capable warriors and headed straight to the West City County Yamen. The guards at the gate saw a group of Imperial Guards approaching with cold expressions and, not daring to block them, hurriedly went inside to report.

Soon, a duty officer hurriedly greeted them. Upon learning of Lin Tian's intention, he said: "Officer Lin, please wait a moment. I will go and inform Constable Lie Ming to handle the handover."

"Go quickly," Lin Tian said indifferently.

Before long, Constable Lie Ming, surrounded by several constables, walked quickly out of the Yamen. He had no expression on his face, as if he had expected the handover, or rather... he did not care.

In his mind, framing the Wang family was intended to throw out the clue of "demonic cult spy" to hook the Imperial Guard. Now that the trap at Tingtao Villa had been sprung, Centurion Shen Lian was seriously injured, and the Imperial Guard had suffered heavy losses, the utility of these Wang family hostages was no longer great. If the Imperial Guard wanted them, they could have them. After all, the Centurion had fallen; what waves could the remaining Imperial Guards stir up?

"So it is Squad Leader Lin." Constable Lie Ming approached, his gaze falling on Lin Tian. He cupped his hands casually, "Are you here to take the Wang family? I have received the order. The prisoners are inside. I will go and bring them out..."

Before he could finish, the moment his eyes met Lin Tian's calm gaze, his pupils suddenly constricted. The indifference on his face was instantly replaced by an incredulous shock. He stood frozen on the spot, as if struck by a immobilization spell. His voice changed due to extreme shock, and he blurted out sharply: "Lin... Lin Tian?! It's you?! You... how could you be here?!"

He stared wide-eyed at Lin Tian's unscathed face—which seemed even more composed and restrained than before—as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight! How was this possible?! Wasn't this kid supposed to have been intercepted and killed by his brother, Lie Yun, in the mountain forest outside the city?! His brother had taken the "burning blood demonic pill," his strength had skyrocketed to the Second Grade Middle Stage, and he had the advantage of terrain. How could he have failed in a surprise attack?! How could Lin Tian still be alive?! And standing right in front of him so brazenly?!

Lin Tian looked at Constable Lie Ming's ghost-seeing expression and sneered inwardly. However, he remained calm on the surface, merely raising his eyebrows slightly. His tone carried a hint of just the right amount of confusion and mockery: "Oh? Constable Lie seems very surprised to see me? Why, can I not be here? Or is it that... Constable Lie thought I should be somewhere else?"

Constable Lie Ming instantly realized he had lost his composure. He hurriedly suppressed the raging waves and ominous premonitions in his heart, forcing a smile onto his face that was uglier than crying: "No... nothing! Squad Leader Lin is joking! This subordinate was just... just surprised that Squad Leader Lin came to take the people personally. Squad Leader Lin is safe and sound, which is... great."

Even as he said "great," a monstrous wave surged in his heart. Brother Lie Yun failed? No, impossible! Could it be... did something happen to his brother?! A terrifying thought gnawed at his heart like a poisonous snake.

"By the way," Lin Tian added in a flat tone, as if he had just remembered something, "there is one thing I forgot to tell Constable Lie. Yesterday at Tingtao Villa outside the city, the demonic cultists were powerful. In the chaotic battle, while I was pursuing the remnants, I happened to catch a glimpse near the southern forest... Constable Lie Yun seemed to have encountered several black-robed demonic cultists. After a brief, fierce battle, he... sigh, Constable Lie, please accept my condolences."

"What?!" Constable Lie Ming felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His head buzzed, his vision went black, and he stumbled, almost unable to stand. His brother was dead?! Killed by demonic cultists?! How is this possible?! He and the demonic cult were clearly... Wait! It's Lin Tian! It must be Lin Tian! He killed his brother and framed the demonic cult! What a vicious heart! What despicable means!

His eyes turned bloodshot instantly. A violent killing intent mixed with heart-wrenching grief almost burst through his chest! He clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood seeped out, allowing him to barely maintain a shred of sanity with the sharp pain.

He wanted to roar, to question, to immediately draw his sword and hack this damned Lin Tian into ten thousand pieces! But he couldn't. Because if he delved into it, Lin Tian only needed to ask, "Why was your brother there? Why would he be in a 'fierce battle' with demonic cultists?" He wouldn't be able to justify it and might even expose his collusion with the demonic cult! He could only swallow his broken teeth and blood, burying this monstrous hatred and suspicion deep in his heart, while forcing a look of grief and "gratitude" onto his face.

"Th... thank you for telling me, Squad Leader Lin..." Constable Lie Ming's voice was hoarse. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying the taste of blood. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Lin Tian again, fearing that the killing intent in his eyes would leak out.

"Where are the prisoners?" Lin Tian no longer looked at him, his tone turning cold.

"They are... down below. This subordinate will go and bring them out." Constable Lie Ming turned around as if fleeing, taking two of his trusted constables and walking toward the depths of the prison with unsteady steps.

Before long, he brought out the haggard and suspicious Wang family patriarch, Wang Yu, and dozens of other prisoners, and handed them over to the Imperial Guard warriors brought by Lin Tian. Lin Tian finished the count, signed the handover documents, and without another word, escorted the prisoners away.

Constable Lie Ming stood at the entrance of the County Yamen, watching the backs of Lin Tian and the others as they receded. Resentment, hatred, grief, and fear... all kinds of emotions crazily intertwined in his eyes, almost swallowing him. He bit his teeth so hard that his gums bled.

"Lin Tian... Lin Tian! The hatred of killing my brother is irreconcilable! I want you dead! I want you to die without a burial place!" he roared crazily in his heart. But on his face, only a dull, hollow emptiness remained, as if he had lost his soul.

Lin Tian brought the Wang family back to the Imperial Guard dungeon and personally arranged for strict supervision to ensure no slip-ups occurred. When Wang Yu saw him, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but Lin Tian just shook his head slightly, signaling him not to be impatient.

After dealing with all this, Lin Tian returned to his temporary office at the Centurion Office. He did not immediately participate in the follow-up case analysis or city defense arrangements, but closed the door and sat quietly by himself.

"This Constable Lie Ming... his Heart-Nature is gloomy, and he can endure what others cannot. To be stimulated like that today and still be able to forcibly suppress his killing intent without acting on the spot, only his eyes... he is a formidable enemy. Now that my brother's death is blamed on me, with new grudges and old hatreds added, this person will definitely take unscrupulous measures to retaliate. Keeping him alive will cause endless trouble. I need to find an opportunity to get rid of him justifiably, or... make him show his flaws."

But for now, Centurion Shen Lian is seriously injured, the Imperial Guard has suffered a great loss of vitality, undercurrents are surging in Heishan City, and the demonic cult is watching outside. Getting rid of one Constable Lie Ming is easy, but alerting the enemy and ruining the chance to expose the demonic cult forces behind him would be counterproductive.

"In the final analysis, it is still a lack of strength." Lin Tian slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his eyes becoming firm and sharp again. If he had the strength of a Rank 3 Martial Artist like Centurion Shen Lian, or even stronger, why would he need to worry about so much? He could just break the situation with force, capture Constable Lie Ming for interrogation, and storm the demonic cult's lair. Why fear any demons or monsters?

"I must break through to Rank 3 as soon as possible!" This thought was unprecedentedly strong. There was still one-third of the red blood vermilion fruit left. Perhaps it was not enough to directly help him break through the Rank 3 barrier, but combined with the resources the Imperial Guard could currently mobilize, plus his own hard cultivation and insights, it was not impossible.

He sat cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing, sorting out the Qi and blood in his body that were slightly restless due to taking the red blood vermilion fruit yesterday and the subsequent fierce battles, yet were also surging with power. His Second Grade Late Stage cultivation was already stable and was moving toward the Peak.

The Rank 3 realm lies in the "Bright Energy" reaching the whole body, with Qi and blood condensed into one. It can be released to injure enemies and can also nourish the internal organs, opening up deeper potential. This is a qualitative leap, not something that can be achieved by simple accumulation of Qi and blood; it requires a deep understanding and control of force, the body, and the Dao of martial arts.

"I have already obtained four of the Five Elements Fist, and only the Earth Fist is missing to have all five. If I can borrow the principle of the Five Elements generating each other and master it, perhaps it can help me glimpse the threshold of Rank 3... There might be inspiration in the 'True Explanation of Five Elements Combined Strike'... And that 'Wind-Facing Slash', it seems to have touched upon a state of 'Unity' where the whole body's Qi, blood, and spirit are instantly condensed into one strike..." Lin Tian's thoughts raced, deducing various possibilities.

Meanwhile, in the inner courtyard of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall. Constable Lie Ming locked himself in his room, like a wounded trapped beast, crazily smashing everything he could see. Tables and chairs shattered, porcelain bottles splashed, and deep claw marks were left on the walls.

His eyes were bloodshot and filled with red veins, and low roars like a wild beast emitted from his mouth. "Brother Yun... my Brother Yun..." He threw himself on the cold ground, clutching his head with both hands, his body trembling violently due to extreme grief and hatred.

His brother Lie Yun actually died at the hands of Lin Tian and was slandered as having died in a battle with the demonic cult! How could he endure this great humiliation and blood feud?!

"So what if you are an Imperial Guard? Centurion Shen Lian has fallen, how much longer can you Imperial Guards be arrogant?" He suddenly raised his head, tears and ferocity intertwined on his face, "The demonic cult... the demonic cult will not let this opportunity go either! Heishan City... will change sooner or later!"

A crazy and resentful light flashed in his eyes. Centurion Shen Lian was seriously injured, and the Imperial Guard's strength was greatly damaged. This was a perfect opportunity for the demonic cult to take advantage of the emptiness! As long as the demonic cult experts killed their way into the city, with inside and outside coordination, all the Imperial Guards, all the Lin Tians, would be wiped out!

At that time, he, Constable Lie Ming, would be a hero of the demonic cult's occupation of Heishan City. He would have whatever he wanted, and he would be able to personally torture and kill Lin Tian to avenge his brother!

"Right... go find the 'Envoy'! He must have a way! There must be a next step in the plan!" Constable Lie Ming seemed to have grabbed a straw, immediately crawled up from the ground, wiped his face messily, and put on an inconspicuous black suit. He wanted to go to the black market again to find the black-robed demonic cult envoy. He wanted to ask clearly, what should be done next? How to cooperate with the demonic cult to completely overturn this Heishan City, and bury Lin Tian, the Imperial Guard, and all his enemies!