Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

This was Ning Che's first time visiting the City Lord's Mansion, including the original owner of the body.

The two golden lions in front of the gate were dazzling. In the center stood a tall, vermilion gate with rows of copper nails, and a black plaque with gold characters hung under the eaves. The characters on the plaque were written in a vigorous, flowing style, which Ning Che didn't fully recognize. After some guessing, he felt that the three characters meant "Fat Lake Prefecture."

Below the plaque, two armored guards stood with their hands on their swords, their armor plates gleaming so brightly they were almost reflective. They were quite different from Ning Che, who looked so travel-worn.

He withdrew his gaze and strode up the steps.

The gatekeeper raised his hand to stop them: "This is the city lord's mansion, no unauthorized personnel allowed."

Ning Che took out the iron plaque that Yu Congrong had given him.

The man took it and glanced at it. His expression immediately changed, and his businesslike tone softened considerably. He tentatively asked, "Is this the token of the mountain guardian commander?"

Ning Che cut to the chase: "Report the case for investigation."

"Wait a moment, I'll go and inform them for you." One of them said, turning and going inside, jogging all the way.

Shortly after, footsteps could be heard coming from inside the door.

The person who came was a woman.

She wore a dark blue police uniform with tightly bound cuffs, a short knife and a copper ruler hanging at her waist, her hair tied up high, her eyes bright, and her eyebrows sharp and pointed.

She walked up to Ning Che, first looking at the token, then at Ning Che's face, and finally at his right arm, her gaze lingering for a moment.

"You are a star?"

"Yes."

"My name is Han Qingluan, Chief Constable of the City Lord's Police Department."

She reached out her hand.

Ning Che handed over the iron plate.

After reading it, Han Qingluan said directly, "Commander Yu's order is genuine. I'll take the case."

The gatekeeper next to him paused for a moment, then asked, "Chief Constable Han, shouldn't we consult the Prefect first?"

Han Qingluan turned her head to look at him: "The Prefectural Magistrate is hosting a banquet."

The gatekeeper bowed his head and said, "Yes."

Han Qingluan returned the token to Ning Che: "Come in."

The city lord's mansion is more magnificent inside than outside.

The long corridor is paved with blue bricks, and neatly trimmed flowers and trees are planted on both sides. The pillars are decorated with gold-lacquered cloud patterns. In the front hall, incense burners are emitting restless smoke that seems to be shifting and turning.

There was no wind in the room, so Ning Che couldn't help but take a second look, but unfortunately he couldn't figure out what was driving the smoke.

Stepping into the front hall, one is greeted by a uniform array of mahogany furniture, exuding elegance and grandeur. Landscape paintings adorn the walls, and even Ning Che, who is unfamiliar with art, can discern their extraordinary quality.

Just then, a round-faced clerk hurriedly came to greet him.

"Chief Constable Han, the Shi family's affair has far-reaching implications. The Prefectural Magistrate says—"

Han Qingluan didn't stop: "What did the Prefectural Magistrate say?"

The clerk lowered his voice: "Let's hold off for now, lest we incite a popular uprising."

Han Qingluan finally stopped.

She turned to the clerk and asked, "Why have the people changed?"

The clerk got stuck.

Han Qingluan said, "They only change their minds when they've been murdered and have nowhere to seek justice. They won't change their minds if someone is investigating the case."

The clerk's forehead was beaded with sweat: "But the Shi family, after all..."

"After all what?"

"After all, they are a prominent family in the city."

Han Qingluan nodded: "Then we should investigate even more. If the prominent families are innocent, the investigation will allow them to rise even higher. If they are not innocent..."

The clerk opened his mouth.

Ning Che glanced at Han Qingluan with some surprise. This person spoke even more forcefully than Lin Ye, though not as loudly. He wondered how she had risen to such a high position in the officialdom.

But considering that this life is different from her previous one, perhaps she is exceptionally talented and has profound cultivation, who knows?

Han Qingluan continued walking inside: "Send ten constables, along with seals, chains, and inkpads. Also send two clerks to accompany them and make a register on the spot."

The clerk whispered, "What about the Prefectural Magistrate...?"

Han Qingluan picked up a warrant from the table and patted it into his arms.

"Go and tell the Prefect that Commander Yu of the Mountain Guard has ordered the Police Department to assist in the investigation. Now that the City Lord is not here, I will handle all cases alone. If he has any objections, let him go to the Shi family's gate and speak in front of the people of the city."

The clerk, holding the edict, turned green with rage.

Ning Che watched the clerk flee in disarray, clutching the signed decree, then turned and asked, "Chief Constable Han, aren't you afraid of offending someone?"

Han Qingluan walked with incredible speed, saying, "I eat government food, not the food of the Shi family."

"Many people can't tell the difference."

"So they're just people, and I'm a constable."

Ning Che laughed out loud.

Han Qingluan glanced at him sideways: "What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing. There's still hope for Fat Lake City."

Han Qingluan ignored that question, her hand on the hilt of her knife, and went straight to the point: "How much evidence did you bring?"

"Account books, contracts, portraits, witnesses. Plus the eyewitnesses who framed Shi Mingxuan in the street, enough to turn the Shi family upside down."

"Where is Shi Mingxin?"

They ran away.

"He can't escape." Han Qingluan walked to the weapon rack and pulled out a black wooden command flag: "As long as he doesn't grow wings and fly out of Feihu territory, I can dig him out of the ground."

Ten constables in black uniforms stood in formation in the courtyard, short swords at their waists, utterly silent. Under Han Qingluan's rule, rules were paramount.

As soon as you step out of the city lord's mansion, the wind direction on the long street changes.

Seeing this, the people quickly made way and whispered among themselves.

A large crowd gathered in front of the Shi family's gate.

Yu Congrong was not there, and Shi Bingzhu and his men were guarding the bottom of the steps. Zhao He and Lin Ye were also standing nearby, while Song Changgeng was being helped by Qian Lao to sit on the stone lion base, panting.

The vermilion gate of the Shi family's house was half-open. Both inside and outside the gate were people.

Shi Chongshan, leaning on his cane, still stood there, his old face etched with wrinkles, the light and shadow flickering within it.

Han Qingluan stepped forward from the crowd, raising the black wooden command flag high.

"The City Lord's Police Department has been ordered to assist in the investigation of the rat swamp case, the medicinal herb field embezzlement case, and the frame-up murder case."

She looked directly at Shi Chongshan: "Master Shi, make way."

He nodded and stepped aside, saying, "Of course I will cooperate with the decision of the three officials. However, it is not appropriate to allow outsiders to trespass on the ancestral hall and forbidden grounds of our clan, which have been built up over a hundred years, and disturb the peace of our ancestors. I hope Chief Constable Han will understand."

Han Qingluan raised an eyebrow and pushed the command flag forward half an inch: "All places related to the case are within the scope of the investigation. If Patriarch Shi obstructs the investigation, he will be treated as an accomplice."

"Of course not."

Shi Chongshan raised his hand towards the door: "Open the door and welcome Chief Constable Han and Captain Xing Zheng into the manor. But let me make this clear beforehand—if no solid evidence is found and the Shi family's century-old reputation is tarnished, I will risk my old life to seek justice from the City Lord and the Prefect."

The vermilion gate was completely open.

Inside the gate, guards and servants stood on both sides, each with their hands at their sides, completely silent, even their breathing was extremely soft.

Han Qingluan waved her hand, and ten constables split into two teams, taking the lead in entering the mansion to guard the front and back gates.

Ning Che followed beside her, glancing at the layout of the courtyard—the Shi family guards, though seemingly well-behaved, had already silently guarded every intersection, ostensibly to guide them, but in reality to watch their every move, not giving them even the slightest chance to escape their sight.

When the city lord's mansion investigates a case, they can only watch; they probably know that's all they can do.

Why are they standing here?