Grey Zone

The next morning.

In Yuzhou City, at the Demon Suppression Bureau's medical hall.

"What kind of miraculous elixir did you take? It worked so well," Ah Nian said as she unwrapped the bandages on Zhao Wanqing's hand, revealing that the deep, bone-exposing wound had already healed by eighty percent.

Zhao Wanqing's expression was slightly strange as she replied, "I took a medicinal liquid refined by a senior."

"Stretch out your hand, let me check your pulse."

Ah Nian didn't pay much attention to what kind of pill Zhao Wanqing had taken. As long as she hadn't died from it, it was fine.

Zhao Wanqing rolled up her sleeve and placed her hand on the table.

Ah Nian placed her small hand on Zhao Wanqing's wrist and after a while, she gave Zhao Wanqing a strange look.

"Did you suffer a severe internal injury not long ago?"

Zhao Wanqing frowned slightly. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"Your pulse is a bit unusual. It seems to have healed too quickly, probably because of the medicinal liquid you took," Ah Nian said, lifting her hand and speaking in a relaxed tone. "The examination is done. There's nothing serious. You're recovering quite quickly, and there's no sign of poisoning. Just rest for a while, and you'll be back to your lively self."

"Thank you..."

Before Zhao Wanqing could finish, someone called from outside the door, "Captain Zhao, someone named Chu Xingchen is asking for you at the entrance."

Hearing this, Zhao Wanqing quickly stood up and said apologetically, "Sorry, I have to go."

Ah Nian watched Zhao Wanqing's hurried figure and shouted, "Don't forget, you need to rest for a while!"

Otherwise, she might end up being carried back here, and it would be Ah Nian who would have to take care of her again.

Unfortunately, Zhao Wanqing didn't respond to Ah Nian's reminder.

Zhao Wanqing hurried out of the Demon Suppression Bureau's main gate and saw Chu Xingchen standing under a tree not far away. She quickly walked over.

Chu Xingchen was the first to speak. "Did you report the situation in that village to the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

"Yes, I did. It's going through the expedited process now."

"Expedited? How long will that take?"

Zhao Wanqing smiled bitterly. "About half a month."

"That is quite urgent. So, what now? Are you planning to continue investigating on your own?" Chu Xingchen looked at Zhao Wanqing. "Even if you don't investigate, you still owe me the agreed-upon spirit stones."

Of course, the investigation had to continue. If they waited half a month for the official process to complete, the culprits would have long since fled.

Zhao Wanqing sounded puzzled. "Of course, we have to investigate. But why isn't the person who was with me yesterday here?"

"You mean Li Xingtian?" Chu Xingchen's tone was odd. "You spent four hundred spirit stones and still want to hire more people?"

Zhao Wanqing quickly replied, "No, it's just that Brother Li is very skilled."

After all, that sword strike had left a deep impression on Zhao Wanqing. It was a level of power that shouldn't belong to someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Moreover, he had remained calm throughout the entire investigation.

Chu Xingchen didn't press further on the matter and instead asked seriously, "Alright, do you have any leads now?"

Zhao Wanqing was momentarily speechless.

The peak Foundation Establishment stage evil cultivator from yesterday was likely left behind by the group of evil cultivators to monitor the Demon Suppression Bureau's progress and adjust their plans accordingly.

And since that evil cultivator hadn't been killed by Li Xingtian, they had probably been alerted.

If they continued to investigate using the previous approach, they would likely be led in circles by the evil cultivators, always arriving too late.

They would need to change their approach to keep up with the evil cultivators.

But that was easier said than done. The clues were already scarce to begin with.

Chu Xingchen smiled and suggested, "If you're out of ideas, why not come with me?"

Zhao Wanqing looked at Chu Xingchen in surprise. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded in agreement.

Since she had no leads, and Yaoqin had recommended him, it was probably reliable. She might as well see if this senior had any good ideas.

Moreover, as Li Xingtian's master, this senior in front of her should be even more meticulous than his disciple.

Seeing Zhao Wanqing nod in agreement, Chu Xingchen turned and walked toward the outskirts of Yuzhou City, saying with a smile, "Actually, solving cases isn't always that difficult. You need to see beyond the surface and not get stuck on fixed clues. Use your imagination."

Zhao Wanqing frowned slightly at his words. What he said made sense, but imagination had to be based on some reality, or else it would just be daydreaming.

Chu Xingchen glanced at Zhao Wanqing's silent expression and knew that she wasn't taking his words to heart.

But it didn't matter. Soon, Zhao Wanqing would understand what it meant to take a different path.

To the south of Yuzhou City, the Yuzhou River connected inland areas to the coast, making waterway transportation highly developed.

In such a terrain, the most lucrative business was smuggling.

Ordinary merchants smuggled salt, hoarded grain to drive up prices, while the more high-end ones dealt in exotic foreign artifacts.

But it wasn't just ordinary people who smuggled.

Cultivators did it too, after all, they didn't cultivate to become delivery men. Traveling by boat up and down the river wasn't exactly slow.

Most cultivators with poor talent but a desire to pursue the path of immortality would smuggle medicinal herbs, pills, or other unsavory items to earn some spirit stones.

Everything in the world was about supply and demand. If there was a need, someone would sell.

These people might not be evil cultivators, but they certainly weren't good people either.

They could be considered part of the gray area.

For an official like Zhao Wanqing, who dealt with evil cultivators and demonic beasts, she didn't have time to bother with these low-level, shameless cultivators in the gray area.

Moreover, these low-level cultivators weren't united. They operated in small groups, each protecting their own territory, and posed no real threat.

But what Zhao Wanqing might not know was that those who could protect their territory in such a place might not be the strongest, but they were certainly the most well-informed.

If Zhao Wanqing understood the characteristics of this area, she wouldn't be wearing such a puzzled expression now.

Chu Xingchen and Zhao Wanqing were standing at a remote dock of the Canal Gang.

Not far away, an old cargo ship was being unloaded, with people carrying large crates.

Zhao Wanqing frowned as she looked at the dilapidated dock. A few Qi Refining stage cultivators were holding rusty swords, eyeing her with hostility.

She really didn't understand what they were doing here. Did he want her to arrest these low-level smugglers?

The dock guard spoke to them in an unfriendly tone, "What are you here for?"

Chu Xingchen gestured, "Show them your Demon Suppression Bureau captain's badge."

Although she didn't understand the purpose of this visit, Zhao Wanqing complied and took out her Demon Suppression Bureau badge.

Without Zhao Wanqing saying a word, Chu Xingchen stepped forward and said, "We're here on official business. Call your boss out for questioning."

"Oh, it's the officers. Please wait a moment, I'll call him right away."

The dock guard, seeing the badge, immediately lost his earlier arrogance and began to bow and scrape.

The Demon Suppression Bureau's badge was particularly effective in this place.

After all, these people didn't have the courage of desperate evil cultivators. At their core, they were businessmen and wouldn't dare to harm officials from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Thus, they were easily controlled by the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Soon, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator adorned with gold and silver hurried over, speaking in a very humble tone, "Officers, we're just small-time businessmen here. We haven't broken any laws. If you want to arrest someone, you should go to the next dock and catch Wang Ermazi! That guy deals in human trafficking!"

"And he lends money at exorbitant rates, forcing innocent women into prostitution. His crimes are truly heinous!"

"That guy is utterly wicked. If you want to catch him, I can lead the way for you, officers!"