Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

"According to Wang Laizi, on the day of the attack, the group originally planned to take a safer official road. It was a local guide who strongly encouraged the escorting officials to take the shortcut through Poyang Lake. However, the guide also died in the attack."

"When the attack occurred, Wang Laizi personally witnessed the black water serpent emerge from the water, bite wildly, then snatch your father from the crowd and plunge him back into the water, disappearing without a trace."

"That leper was very close to your father at the time. He was injured by that beast, fell into the water, and drifted downstream. He was eventually rescued by fishermen."

Li Yuan frowned in thought: "According to Wang Laizi's account, the Black Water Serpent attacked everyone else indiscriminately, but it only carried away my father without swallowing him?"

This does sound suspicious, and it seems like it's aimed at Li Chongwen.

A chill ran through him. Li Chongwen was just an exiled convict who had lost all his usefulness. If he still had any use, it was only in his identity as Li Yuan's father.

In other words, the person behind this is likely targeting him. If someone takes Li Chongwen hostage to threaten him, should he save him or not?

It was like a sword hanging over his head, ready to fall at any moment. However, so much time had passed, and for some reason, things had remained calm.

"That's true. Also, a few days ago, while we were investigating a group of demons, we captured one of their leaders."

Chen Shuo's expression was serious. "Under severe torture, he revealed that more than a year ago, he had received orders to secretly transfer a person in Jiangnan West Road and send him to the northwest."

"The person was wearing a mask, so they didn't see their face or know their identity. After they were taken to the designated location, they were never seen again."

"Based on the time and place he described, as well as some clues, after deduction, we suspect that the person they moved was your father, Li Chongwen."

Li Yuan deeply loathed Li Chongwen and wished he were dead. But if he were still alive, he would definitely be a threat to him.

"What clues are these? How can you be sure he is my father?"

He is now desperate to find out whether Li Chongwen is alive or dead.

"This person was placed under a spell on the way, unable to speak, but for some reason, he broke through the spell midway, shouting that he had been deceived and should not have believed him, and that his son would avenge him."

"However, they were quickly silenced. According to this demon, the person spoke with a Beijing accent, and his build matched your father's. Combined with other clues, that's why they became suspicious."

Chen Shuo explained it in great detail. Considering the cause and effect, there is indeed reason to believe that Li Chongwen is still alive, and the person behind him is after Li Yuan.

"Since this person said my father has already been transferred to the Northwest, why do we still need to go to Poyang Lake first?" Li Yuan had not participated in the investigation and was somewhat puzzled by this.

Chen Shuo smiled slightly, showing great patience: "No matter what, these are all our deductions, and they haven't been confirmed, so we can only start by peeling back the layers and searching from the scene of the crime."

Li Yuan nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, Captain Chen. This is my first time participating in an operation, and I don't know anything about it. Please forgive me if I have offended anyone."

"It's alright. I'm an old hand in the Demon Suppression Division, and it's my responsibility to teach you younger generations." Chen Shuo smiled slightly. "If you don't understand anything in the future, feel free to ask me."

"Yes, then I thank Captain Chen in advance." Although Li Yuan was not Chen Shuo's direct subordinate, since he was following him on a mission, he had to be under Chen Shuo's jurisdiction, so his attitude was quite polite.

Moreover, although Chen Shuo appears cold and aloof, he is actually quite easygoing when you get to know him.

The group traveled at breakneck speed, day and night, and several days later they arrived at the vast and misty shores of Poyang Lake.

The Demon Suppression Division of Jiangnan West Circuit is located in Raozhou City on the shore of Poyang Lake. After Chen Shuo showed his golden seal token, the head of the division dared not neglect him and immediately received him personally. He also brought out all the files and physical evidence lists related to the attack on the Poyang Lake exile team that year.

They even specially assigned personnel who had participated in the case to come and assist.

Xu Sheng was one of the people in charge of the old case, so he was very familiar with the process and quickly found an old coroner who was in charge of the on-site investigation back then, as well as two guards who were patrolling nearby at the time.

This tragedy caused a great sensation at the time, and the people involved still feel lingering fear when they talk about it.

Led by Xu Sheng, the group left Raozhou City and traveled by boat to a desolate lake beach on the west bank of Poyang Lake.

"This is it." The old guard pointed to a wide expanse of mudflats ahead. "I remember it clearly. Two years ago, in July, the exiled troops camped and spent the night around here. In the middle of the night, a terrifying black snake suddenly emerged from the lake... Alas, what a tragedy."

The old coroner hurriedly added, "Because the number of dead and injured was so high, coroners from the surrounding area were all called in to clean up the scene. Most of the bodies were incomplete, many of them were dragged into the lake, or corroded by the venom of that demonic snake."

He sighed repeatedly as he spoke: "There were few intact corpses at the scene, only some remains and fragments of clothing were found. As for your father Li Chongwen's fingers, they were found three miles downstream."

"At the time, we were tracking the Black Water Serpent all the way down to the lower reaches of the river. We mobilized almost all the experts in the area to surround and kill it, and we finally managed to kill it in a dangerous situation."

That battle was obviously extremely dangerous. Even among demon generals, there were differences in strength. This Black Water Serpent was much more difficult to deal with than an ordinary demon general because of its potent venom.

Logically speaking, such a powerful monster should have been seen by everyone before, but it just appeared out of nowhere.

Later, it could only be speculated that it came from the sea, sailing upstream along the Yangtze River, and happened to arrive here, where it happened to meet Li Chongwen and his group.

"This place has been thoroughly searched inch by inch back then, so there's no way we could have missed anything. Why don't we go and take a look at the place where we besieged the Blackwater Serpent?"

Following Xu Sheng's advice, the group continued downstream and soon came to a backwater, a desolate reed bed.

More than a year has passed, and with the wind and rain, and the rise and fall of the lake, there is no trace left of the great battle that took place back then.

Since they were already here, they couldn't just go back like this. So the group spread out and began to examine the area inch by inch.

Li Yuan secretly communicated with the Bronze Temple and released his spiritual sense. Sure enough, a slight tremor was felt shortly afterward.

Following the directions of the bronze palace, he gently parted the rotten mud under the reeds and continued digging. Soon, his fingertips touched something hard and cold.

He carefully took the object out and washed it clean with the lake water. It was a thin black piece about the size of a fingernail, smooth on one side and with some twisted lines engraved on the other.

"Lord Chen, Lord Xu, please take a look at this." Li Yuan held the black sheet in his palm and handed it to Chen Shuo, who had walked over.

Chen Shuo took it and examined it carefully. He then injected a trace of spiritual energy to test it, but the thin slice did not react. He carefully examined the twisted patterns and found them increasingly familiar.

"These patterns..." Xu Sheng's breathing quickened. "I feel like I've seen them somewhere before..."

Chen Shuo's eyes flashed: "This is not from the Central Plains. Judging from the style... it seems to be the mark of some ancient tribe in the Northwest."

On the shores of Poyang Lake, strange markings with a Northwest style have appeared, and they are even located at the site of a major battle from that year.