132: A loving mother, a strict father, and terrible cooking

“Will you talk or not! Will you talk or not!” Zhou Yan swung his short staff, striking Qiao Wenbin repeatedly.

Each strike seemed light, but the power of lightning attached to the staff continuously eroded his body. Due to the sustained damage caused by the lightning, almost every strike triggered true damage.

Thus, what seemed like gentle blows caused excruciating pain to Qiao Wenbin.

After dozens of strikes, Zhou Yan finally stopped. He took a deep, satisfying breath as he looked at Qiao Wenbin, who was trembling on the ground. Then, he beckoned a soldier to enter, returned the short staff, and casually wiped away non-existent sweat from his forehead.

“Old Zhou, you’re just hitting him without asking questions. Did you forget?”

Sage Xiao couldn’t help but speak up when he saw Zhou Yan hitting for a long time without getting any confessions.

He had wanted to remind him earlier, but seeing Zhou Yan so engrossed in the beating, and Qiao Wenbin putting on an act, Sage Xiao also found it displeasing. So, he decided to wait until the beating was over. After all, Zhou Yan knew his limits, and Qiao Wenbin hadn't suffered any serious injuries.

However, Zhou Yan explained to Sage Xiao with an air of matter-of-factness.

“Old Xiao, you don't understand this. People like him are usually very stubborn. If I asked first, he definitely wouldn't talk, wouldn't that be a waste of breath and make me angry?”

“It's better to just beat him up. When I'm in a good mood, he'll be more honest, and the subsequent interrogation will be more productive.”

After speaking, as if to prove his point, Zhou Yan turned and walked back into the cell, asking Qiao Wenbin, who was still trembling on the ground.

“Tell me everything you know about the Dragon Transformation, who your direct superior is, and how you usually communicate.”

Qiao Wenbin trembled all over, yet still gritted his teeth and said hatefully.

“You wish... if you have the guts, kill me!”

Zhou Yan stood up, spread his hands towards Wang Yao and Sage Xiao outside, with a “See, I told you” expression.

Stepping out of the cell, he said earnestly to the two.

“Originally, I just wanted you to watch out for any trouble they might cause, but our current plan needs to change.

“Although these people are related to the local Truth Cult of Great Yu, in the past, it was more of a cooperative relationship.”

“Now it seems they are plotting something big enough to shake the entire Great Yu.”

Next, you will regularly interrogate them, apply pressure, and try to dig out more information before the formal trial.”

“Shake the entire Great Yu!” (There’s Karma to earn!)

“Truth Cult!” (All idiotic demonic sects deserve to die!)

Zhou Yan’s words instantly ignited the emotions of the two.

He then suggested that Sage Xiao restart the “kindness return plan,” and instructed that if there was strong resistance, Wang Yao could step in to educate them.

Initially, the two did not fully understand the purpose of this arrangement, and Wang Yao didn't even know what the “kindness return plan” specifically entailed.

However, after the plan was implemented, the results were surprisingly good.

Sage Xiao didn't have to personally lay hands on these “children,” avoiding the loss of his own Karma, and Wang Yao was happy to punish these evildoers.

Later, it was heard that after the “military education,” Wang Yao would also give them Medicinal Pills he refined himself.

According to Yuan Chenling, he once smelled Wang Yao's Alchemy, and it always emitted an unpleasant odor that made it hard to sleep, but recently, a faint Medicinal Pill fragrance had begun to emanate from him.

Everything seemed to be moving in a good direction, but Zhou Yan no longer dared to go to the scene himself.

Why?

Because those two days he was busy organizing the continuous stream of criminal evidence, and the task of relaying messages was given to Shi Suiyan.

But Shi Suiyan only went twice before resolutely refusing to go again, even uncharacteristically rejecting his suggestion with a cold face.

Afterward, everyone sent there “went and didn't return,” meaning they completed the message delivery but came out looking pale and vomiting incessantly, protesting that they would never go a second time.

Zhou Yan's group even gained a bad reputation in the army because of this.

Only then did Zhou Yan realize how brave Shi Suiyan had been to venture into the demon's den twice.

This Junior Sister was actually willing to endure such mental pollution for his casual remark, which was truly touching.

He also secretly rejoiced that fortunately, the sudden work had tied him down; otherwise, he would have been the one to witness that scene firsthand.

During this period, as many officials were temporarily absent from their posts, the retired officials Zhou Yan had previously visited were invited back to temporarily fill in.

Great Yu never lacked officials. These old officials, having been nourished by the national destiny, still maintained a certain level of cultivation even after retirement. Their lifespan was much longer than ordinary people, and handling official duties was no problem at all.

They retired not because of incompetence, but because of the court's term limit system.

Therefore, even when temporarily taking over, they handled things with ease, even outperforming the original officials.

Next, it would only be necessary for those clean-handed grassroots officials to gain experience under the guidance of the Seniors, and they could gradually take over the original positions, even doing better.

This change allowed retired officials to receive a few days of national destiny nourishment again, upright grassroots officials gained promotion opportunities, and corrupt officials were punished.

Zhou Yan's prestige in Jiangzhou also greatly increased among the populace as a result.

Although the common people didn't understand the significance behind the official changes, they could clearly feel that life had become much easier, and naturally attributed the credit to Zhou Yan.

Amidst everyone's admiration, Zhou Yan unexpectedly gained a buff ahead of time.

【Special Buff: Great Yu National Fortune Protection (Normal)】

He was quite satisfied with this. He had originally thought it would take some more time to see initial results, but an act of “abuse of power” unexpectedly allowed him to receive this reward in advance.

“Senior Brother, Daoist Priest Xiao is urging us to serve dinner again.”

Shi Suiyan walked in, her face not looking too good, indicating that the aftershocks of the visual impact from the past two days had not yet subsided.

“Everything's here. Give it to them to take inside, and don't forget to leave some for themselves.”

If Zhou Yan hadn't provided food as compensation, probably no one would be willing to risk mental pollution to enter the dungeon, and it might even cause protests.

Fortunately, these foods could be prepared with just a “ding,” making it effortless.

Seeing Shi Suiyan still a bit dispirited, Zhou Yan sighed softly and pushed a specially prepared meal to the table.

“This one is specially made for you; it helps restore mental energy. Rest more recently, and tell me if anything comes up.”

Zhou Yan felt somewhat guilty towards this Junior Sister, who was the only one to enter the dungeon twice and still persevere.

After Shi Suiyan left, Zhou Yan still watched her retreating figure, thinking, “She's just an ordinary girl after all...”

But as soon as she walked out of Zhou Yan's usual perception range, Shi Suiyan immediately shed her dejected demeanor, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

However, she quickly returned to her original state.

She thought: This method of increasing Senior Brother's favorability can probably only be used this last time; using it again might backfire... In the main hall at this moment, Zhou Yan was contentedly flipping through the “Great Confession Record” he had compiled.

Giving those officials his specially made food had a miraculous effect, something Sage Xiao first discovered.

At the time, he had complained a few times about working overtime for too long, so Zhou Yan sent some food down.

Perhaps due to the contrast after long-term suppression, those officials couldn't control themselves when they saw the delicious food, even begging Sage Xiao for some, and even calling out “Mama.”

Since that feeding, they became exceptionally cooperative, which made Sage Xiao's kindness return plan achieve several months' worth of results in just a few days.

A loving mother, a strict father, and a god in charge of cuisine in Great Yu — under the combined love of these three, this “Great Confession Record” was forged.

With it, Zhou Yan almost held absolute initiative in the subsequent trials. For anyone listed in the record, if he wished, the lightest crime would be enough to exterminate nine generations of their family.

“Drip-drop.”

A leak?

Zhou Yan subconsciously looked up at the ceiling, but found nothing.

But soon, he felt a warmth at the corner of his mouth.

Reaching out to touch it, his palm was actually covered in fresh red.

Zhou Yan was stunned.

“This is... a nosebleed?”