What do you mean by saying that the corpses I sew are all ominous creatures?

"Come in." I stepped aside.

Lu Yan nodded and quickly walked into the lobby on the first floor.

Seeing the array formations scattered across the ground and Li Qing and Jin Wanliang standing ready for battle, a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.

"Master Li's feng shui arrangement is quite solid."

Lu Yan placed the sword case on the coffee table and pulled out a chair to sit down.

"It seems you've also noticed that something's wrong."

"Director Lu, you're finally back."

Jin Wanliang quickly poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over.

"If you don't come back soon, we few ordinary folks really don't know how to deal with all the demons and monsters in this city."

Lu Yan picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at us with a serious expression: "I rushed back early this time not only because of the surge in folk customs cases in Jiangcheng."

There's another reason.

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the three of us.

"Just three days ago, Director Song suddenly received an emergency transfer order from the General Administration and was transferred to the Northwest overnight."

"He was transferred?"

Jin Wanliang's shrewd little eyes suddenly narrowed.

"At this critical juncture, to change generals on the eve of battle, and even take away the commander-in-chief?"

"Not only that."

Lu Yan's voice grew even colder.

"Not only in Jiangcheng, but also in the past week, several prefecture-level cities around Jiangcheng have seen an extremely unusual surge in folk custom cases."

The provincial bureau's special operations forces have all been dispersed and redeployed.

The provincial bureau is now practically an empty shell, except for a few clerical staff and peripheral agents.

Upon hearing this, Li Qing, Jin Wanliang, and I exchanged glances.

This is exactly what we predicted last night.

"Lure the tiger away from the mountain, and remove the firewood from under the cauldron."

I spoke calmly, breaking the silence.

"It seems that the other side not only has a huge influence among the people, but also has put a lot of effort into its information channels with the high-level officials."

They are deliberately trying to muddy the waters and turn Jiangcheng into an isolated island.

"What do you mean?"

Lu Yan looked at me, her eyes questioning.

"Last night, after you called to tell me that Master Zhang Xuanqing had gone missing, the three of us discussed it."

I pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Lu Yan.

I recounted to Lu Yan everything that happened in the private room last night.

"The Three Killings hang upside down, the earth's energy churns..."

After I finished repeating it, Lu Yan murmured.

Lu Yan knew about Li Qing's lineage, and as a descendant of the Celestial Master's Mansion, she understood the true value of the word "master" better than anyone else.

The words spoken by someone of this caliber are never baseless.

A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she thought this: "So, the other side's scheme is actually in Jiangcheng?"

I nodded: "They went to such lengths, destroying the array's core, trapping Master Zhang, diverting official forces, and creating chaos in surrounding cities..."

Now that the clearing is complete, they're ready to overturn the table.

A deathly silence fell over the hall.

Suddenly, a pale white flash of lightning streaked across the sky outside the window, followed by a muffled clap of thunder.

The torrential rain finally poured down.

Large raindrops pounded on the wooden roof of Tingyuxuan, making a dense "pitter-patter" sound.

"If that's the case, then our current situation is even more passive than we imagined."

Lu Yan broke the silence first.

Her fingers gently stroked the sword case beside her, her eyes revealing a cold, thoughtful expression.

Thunder rumbled outside the window, and heavy rain pounded on the bluestone slabs.

"Although the manpower and structure of the Jiangcheng branch have not changed, they are still under my control."

However, the provincial bureau's resources have been deliberately dispersed, which means we won't receive any strong external support in the short term.

Lu Yan raised her head and glanced at the three of us.

"The other party has made such a big move that it could even affect the General Administration's transfer order for Director Song. Their plans in Jiangcheng are definitely not to be underestimated."

With our current strength, our chances of winning a head-on confrontation are extremely low.

"So, what does Director Lu mean?"

Jin Wanliang stopped playing with the walnuts in his hands, leaned forward slightly, and asked.

"Report this and request assistance."

Lu Yan's tone was decisive, without any hesitation.

"I will immediately compile a top-secret report on the situation here, including Li Qing's 'Three Killers Hanging Upside Down' deduction, and report it directly to the higher-ups of the General Administration, bypassing the Provincial Bureau."

"at the same time……"

She paused, a resolute glint in her eyes:

"I will personally request assistance from the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain."

Although my senior brother's disappearance has diverted some of the attention of my Celestial Master's Mansion, Longhu Mountain still has the resources to spare.

"As long as the high-ranking martial arts masters from Longhu Mountain descend, the situation in Jiangcheng can be stabilized by half."

Upon hearing this, I slowly nodded: "This is the safest way."

Leave professional matters to professionals. The official and orthodox forces of Taoism are the main force in suppressing such conspiracies.

"We need to change our strategy before the General Administration replies or someone from Longhushan comes."

Lu Yan looked at me, her tone serious.

"Chen Yang, none of the three of you have official status."

I suggest you remain hidden in Tingyuxuan and refrain from any rash actions for the time being.

"As a surprise attack?" Li Qing stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

"Yes, as a surprise attack."

Lu Yan nodded.

"I reckon they've already figured out the staffing of the Jiangcheng Folk Customs Bureau."

On the contrary, if you appear as a vital force at certain times, you can definitely catch the other side off guard.

"I have no objection."

I smiled, picked up my teacup, and took a sip.

"Li Qing has made this Listening to the Rain Pavilion as solid as an iron barrel, and with a torrential downpour outside, it's perfect for sleeping."

As long as they don't provoke us, I'm happy to have some peace and quiet.

Lu Yan nodded: "Okay, stay in touch and wait for reinforcements."

After the exchange, Lu Yan did not linger.

She had to get back to the branch office as soon as possible to send a report via encrypted lines and contact headquarters and Longhushan.

I escorted her to the alley entrance, watching her figure, holding a black umbrella and carrying a sword case, gradually disappear into the rain.

Then, I turned around and walked back to Tingyuxuan, closing the heavy wooden door tightly again.

The rain in Jiangcheng showed no signs of stopping throughout the afternoon; in fact, it got heavier and heavier.

The sky was so overcast it looked like we were underwater, so a few dim wall lamps had to be turned on in the lobby.

After Lu Yan left, the three of us didn't actually go to sleep.

At this critical juncture, no one dares to completely let their guard down.

Jin Wanliang occupied the grand master's chair, with power banks piled up on the coffee table in front of him. He wore Bluetooth headphones and his fingers flew across several tablets, switching between interfaces rapidly.

Although he agreed to lie low, the passive reception of intelligence by the network did not stop.

He needs to keep a close eye on the undercurrents of Jiangcheng's underground forces.

Li Qing, like a tireless bricklayer, continued to hammer and tinker in every corner of the first and second floors, reinforcing his feng shui formation.

"Old Chen, force out a bit of that murderous aura of yours, let me borrow it."

Li Qing was squatting in front of a load-bearing pillar, holding a carving knife in his hand, carving an extremely complex rune on the wood.