Chapter 125: If You Want to Know, Ask His Mother

Yang Ling exchanged a glance with Yun Ruo, and from the look in her eyes, he could tell she had also guessed that his words were aimed at the Martial Monk Jue Ming from Bitter Awareness Temple.

"Oh? We arrested a monk from your Arhat Temple? I haven't heard anything about that."

Lu Yunchen frowned slightly: "Master Jie Hai, you can't say things like that without proof."

The Fourth Prince also looked at Lu Yunchen in surprise, then at Master Jie Hai, but did not speak right away.

Master Jie Hai smiled, then suddenly stood up and walked out of the pavilion. His gaze swept across the group of Seventh-Rank talents from the Ironclad Department before finally landing on Yun Ruo and Yang Ling:

"These two must be the Ironclad Department's talents from Changhe Prefectural Capital?"

The man had come prepared.

Yang Ling's mind stirred. This bald donkey had instantly recognized their origins, which meant he had done his research beforehand.

Or perhaps, someone within the Ironclad Department was on good terms with him and had passed along their information.

Lu Yunchen seemed to realize this as well, his eyes suddenly turning meaningful as he glanced at the Ironclad Department directors present.

None of those directors showed any unusual reaction, making it impossible to tell whether they were the ones who had leaked the information.

Following Master Jie Hai's move, the disciples from the various first-rate sects all turned their gazes toward Yang Ling and Yun Ruo in unison.

The Fourth Prince also stood up at this moment, looking at the two with some curiosity.

The Sixth-Rank experts from Nine Immortals Dao Palace, Extreme Flame Sword Manor, and Divine Sect also rose to their feet.

"I am Yun Ruo, Director of the Second Division, Public Security Department, Changhe Prefectural Capital Ironclad Department."

Yun Ruo's tone was cold and aloof, showing no fear even in the face of Sixth-Rank experts.

Yang Ling thought for a moment and chose to remain silent.

But Yun Ruo introduced him anyway:

"He is Yang Ling, Chief Constable of Green Mountain City, Changhe Prefectural Capital."

"Yang Ling!?"

That name struck like a boulder crashing into the sea of some people's hearts, sending up sky-high waves.

Two neatly dressed women, a young man in Daoist robes, and a young man dressed as a monk all turned their gazes toward Yang Ling in unison, a flicker of shock and uncertainty flashing in their eyes.

"Ironclad Department, Yang Ling—so that's him."

"This guy isn't as handsome as me, how could he be the top-ranked expert?"

"He went up three levels in a row a while ago, and it seems they cracked a big case over at Changhe Prefectural Capital. So as a Constable, he can level up by solving cases? If I'd known that, I would have become a Constable too! That's way more comfortable than chanting sutras!"

"It really is Yang Ling! He's my idol. Today I finally get to see him in person!"

These four had vastly different reactions, but right now, none of them could take their eyes off Yang Ling.

"The two of you arrested monks from Arhat Temple a while back?"

Lu Yunchen walked out and asked casually.

Yun Ruo clasped her fists: "We arrested a Martial Monk from Bitter Awareness Temple, the monk Jue Ming.

We suspect he is a spy for the Rong tribe."

"Heh heh."

Master Jie Hai couldn't help but laugh:

"You people from the Ironclad Department are so obsessed with catching spies you've gone crazy. We monks chant sutras and preach compassion. Even if we wanted to be spies, we'd be far too conspicuous, wouldn't we?"

Lu Yunchen gave a slight nod, sweeping a glance at Master Jie Hai:

"The case in Changhe Prefectural Capital hasn't spread widely yet, but the Capital's intent is to use it as a model example to inform the three Princely Capitals, the seven Provincial Capitals, and the ninety-seven Prefectural Capitals."

"Our Yunwen Provincial Capital has also received the notice and is preparing to draft a proclamation to inform the realm. Since the Fourth Prince is here today, I'll say a few brief words."

"Please speak, Director Lu. I am very curious about this matter as well."

The Fourth Prince said hastily.

The martial artists present all pricked up their ears.

Lu Yunchen smiled: "I'll keep it brief. This time, led by Yun Ruo and Yang Ling of Changhe Prefectural Capital, they rooted out the biggest spy leader the Rong tribe had hidden there—He Dongfeng, the Giant Spirit Sect Leader."

"This man is an Upper Seventh-Rank Expert with formidable strength. On top of that, he held the identity of a local Native of Changhe Prefectural Capital, which made him very deceptive."

"Furthermore, he was also an elder of the Mining Guild, deeply favored by the Mining Guild Leader."

"Hiss—"

The martial artists present gasped in shock.

They only knew the outline of this matter; the specific details were unclear to them.

Now, learning that the spy leader was not only the head of a sect on the Rong tribe's side and a Seventh-Rank expert, but also held the identity of a Mining Guild elder, they were truly shocked.

After all, the various mine veins of Zhao State were the lifeline of the kingdom!

Many of these mine veins didn't exist elsewhere, and some were even extremely rare.

If these spies used their identities to transport Zhao State's ores out, how many divine weapons and magical tools could they forge?

Master Jie Hai's expression did not change at all, clearly already aware of these details.

"Because of He Dongfeng, we rooted out hundreds of Rong tribe spies and over a thousand people connected to him."

"In recent years, He Dongfeng used this identity to transport countless types of minerals to the Rong tribe."

At this point, Lu Yunchen glanced at Yun Ruo:

"Go ahead and continue."

Yun Ruo knew that her uncle might not be aware of the Jue Ming matter, so she immediately spoke up in a clear voice:

"Not long after this incident, the Martial Monk Jue Ming of Bitter Awareness Temple brought people to seek out Chief Constable Yang, using the pretext of a missing disciple from the temple to cause him trouble.

At the time, he assumed Chief Constable Yang was merely an Eighth-Rank martial artist, so he relied on his Seventh-Rank cultivation to attack him directly.

If Chief Constable Yang's strength hadn't already reached the Seventh Rank, he might not have been able to capture the Martial Monk Jue Ming. What do you think the consequences would have been?"

"Attacking an Ironclad Department Chief Constable under the guise of a monk, and choosing such a timing.

May I ask, Master Jie Hai, isn't that enough for us to suspect the Martial Monk Jue Ming of being a Rong tribe spy?"

Yun Ruo looked at Master Jie Hai, her eyes burning bright, showing no fear of this Sixth-Rank expert.

The Fourth Prince nodded thoughtfully.

Except for the monks from Arhat Temple, the disciples of the other first-rate sects also nodded subconsciously.

This Martial Monk Jue Ming was highly suspicious!

Master Jie Hai smiled gently: "Bitter Awareness Temple has already sent a message to Arhat Temple, explaining the ins and outs of this matter.

The key is not whether the Martial Monk Jue Ming is a spy or not, but that Bitter Awareness Temple has a missing disciple, whose Dharma name is Hui Wu.

His talent was quite good, and he had the potential to reach the Seventh Rank in the future.

A disciple informed the Martial Monk Jue Ming that he had gone to see Yang Ling, so as long as we find Hui Wu, this matter can be resolved."

Having said that, he turned to Yang Ling and smiled:

"Layman Yang, may I ask where is the monk Hui Wu?"

Lin Caiyi and the others' expressions shifted.

Hui Wu had disappeared from the Divine Realm Level Ranking a while ago. There was only one explanation: he was already dead!

"Master Jie Hai, if you want to know where Hui Wu went, you should ask his mother."

Yang Ling clasped his fists: "I have been busy with the Rong tribe spy affairs, and I truly do not know where a monk named Hui Wu from Bitter Awareness Temple has gone."

Master Jie Hai's face immediately darkened.

"The Ironclad Department has its procedures. If Bitter Awareness Temple had a missing disciple, why didn't they report it to the authorities? Instead, they went looking for an Eighth-Rank Ironclad of our department on their own?"

Lu Yunchen said thoughtfully:

"This matter is highly problematic. Later, I will personally lead a team to Bitter Awareness Temple and see if there are any other Rong tribe spies hiding there."

Master Jie Hai's expression turned grim.

Seeing this, the Fourth Prince quickly smoothed things over:

"Master Jie Hai, let the Ironclad Department handle this investigation. I believe that if the Martial Monk Jue Ming is not a Rong tribe spy, the Ironclad Department will not wrong him.

But based on what Director Yun Ruo has said, his suspicion is indeed very high. The Ironclad Department must follow its procedures. If there is suspicion, it must be cleared. Do not harbor resentment in your heart."

Master Jie Hai, having been given a way out, relaxed his expression slightly and nodded with a smile:

"What the Fourth Prince says is absolutely right. This humble monk was too fixated on appearances."

His tone suddenly shifted:

"Fourth Prince, when I arrived earlier, several of us were discussing how the younger generation of the four great first-rate sects rarely has opportunities to spar and exchange ideas in recent years.

This humble monk proposes that before heading to the Water Qilin Cave, we hold a sparring session.

We can also put up some prizes. No matter which sect's disciple wins, it will count as nurturing the younger generation of Zhao State."