Under the bridge, whitebait emerged from the water at night, spitting out a few bubbles and blowing a few water plants.
A breeze blew by, bringing the fragrance of rouge.
Tie Tang and Tian Wen each stood on the bridge with their hands folded on their chests.
"Are you sure the person is inside?"
"There is no mistake. Don't underestimate my strength. How do you think I found you before?"
After receiving a positive answer, Tie Tang took the first step and walked on the long corridor and water bridge.
On both sides of the water bridge, frogs and toads chirped everywhere, and lotus flowers reflected the sun with their faces lowered, like a shy woman who didn't want to see anyone.
"Why are you so sure you are this person?"
Tianwen followed him and threw the token after hearing this.
"Ten years ago, a major incident occurred in Qingshui City, which resulted in not many grand events being held that whole year.
And among the few grand events...
There is only one trial in the name of ‘demon’!”
Tie Tang instantly clenched the token in his hand. This trial token obtained by the genius of the Qi family was engraved with the word "demon".
"That trial...approximately how many people participated?"
"There were so many, so many that even the county officials did not record them completely. They only described them as 'a sea of people' and 'a deserted alley'."
"How is that possible?" Tie Tang was slightly shocked.
There are definitely screening requirements to participate in the trial. Not everyone can participate, and it is impossible to really have a huge crowd.
"It's not impossible. You can participate in that trial, from the primordial witch to the skin refining and bone refining.
Even Jiangdu Prefecture sent a large number of manpower to support.
And among these people who came to help, 99% of them went to participate in that trial, either openly or covertly."
Tie Tang was confused, stopped, stood in the middle of the water bridge, and looked at the Xinyuan Lake beside him.
"What kind of trial is it? It sounds more like a grand party. Everyone wants to go and share the benefits."
"Yes, it's a gluttonous feast!"
"This trial...actually involves that major event that year."
Tianwen also stopped and pointed to the north of Qingshui City.
"About that direction, a mysterious gate of heaven and earth suddenly appeared. At that time, the officials of Qingshui City gathered people and entered it first to explore.
Not long after entering, police officers came out and reported the situation inside.
And the strength and cultivation of these agents who came out have increased slightly.
Although the government tried to block the news.
But the wealthy families in Qingshui City still used various clues to find out that behind the mysterious gate of heaven and earth, there must be a treasure place.
So the major powerful men in Qingshui City also began to gather their troops and enter Xuanmen in batches.
After all, paper cannot contain fire.
Such a big thing immediately spread throughout Qingshui City.
Now others are unwilling.
"Why can you enter but we can't?"
Especially some children from poor families, combined with scholars, Confucian scholars, major martial arts academies, and some officials from poor families in the court.
Once all the forces unite, the momentum is unstoppable, and even the Holy Capital Chaoge knows about it.
The next step is very simple.
With the government forces of Jiangdu Prefecture and Qingshui County as the main force, and the powerful local families in Qingshui City as the supplement, they united and held the unprecedented grand trial."
After listening to this, Tie Tang frowned and said, "In other words... Even if those children from poor families have obtained benefits, they still cannot be independent?"
"If you can get in and get a share of the pie, you have already achieved your goal. You still want to lead the trial? If a poor family has this ability, it will not be called a poor family.
I almost forgot that you also come from a poor family, so this is a moment of excitement."
"As a great monk, if you hadn't come from Buddhism, you wouldn't be much better than me, right?"
"Yes, I was born a poor monk and an orphan. Is there any problem?" Tian Wen had a smile on his face, but there was also some sadness in his heart, but he didn't show it.
Tie Tang waved his hand, "Let's not talk about this. Is there any record of what is in the trial?"
"Historians record that behind the Mysterious Gate of Heaven and Earth is called the 'Outer Territory Heaven', and those who enter more or less receive some benefits.
Some people have made great progress and their strength has greatly increased; some people are almost alive, but at the last moment, they break through the realm barrier and their life span is greatly increased, which is equivalent to reviving their lives.
More benefits...probably have not been recorded."
"What a great place. Once a place like this appears, people from other capitals, not to mention Qingshui County, will rush to come, right?"
"The Mysterious Gate of Heaven and Earth only lasted for a month, and then closed on its own. Moreover, there were restrictions on cultivation strength, and only those below the Wujin Secret Realm could enter.
Putting all this aside...
There are so many caves, heavens and blessed places under the sky, and there are so many adventures and secret places. You have the Xuanmen of Heaven and Earth in Qingshui County, and other counties naturally have similar things.
This kind of thing can be considered rare, but it is by no means rare, and others will not come all the way here."
Tie Tang fell into silence, secretly thinking about the unsolved case.
From the current point of view... his clues seem to be getting fewer and fewer.
Although it's a little weird, it's true.
Not long after the genius of the Qi family entered the blood exchange realm, he had penetrated about twenty or thirty acupoints, and for some unknown reason, he went to Qingshui City.
He obviously participated in this trial at that time and gained a lot of benefits.
Because when he returned to Yuncheng, he had penetrated one hundred and seventy acupoints.
The rapid progress in such a short period of time was obviously due to that trial.
But from now on...
There were too many people involved at that time, and there were countless powerful parties involved, and it was impossible for Tie Tang to investigate them one by one.
In other words...the clue ends here.
Even if he finds the person in charge of the trial now, the other party may not know anything. It is possible that the other party does not know the genius of the Qi family at all.
After all, there are too many people.
Even the great witch of Yuanshen may be involved. It’s just a person in the blood exchange realm... it’s hard for people to remember.
"What are you thinking... Do you still want to go in?" Seeing his silence, Tian Wen came up and pushed him.
"And... let's go and see, who is the other party? What is his cultivation level?"
"That man is a gatekeeper. Don't look at me. He is really a gatekeeper. Literally, he is standing in front of the Xuanmen of Heaven and Earth. Only those who have registered their names and received the trial token can enter."
Tie Tang shook his head repeatedly, "How could such a person know anything?
Even if he knew, he wouldn't say anything.
Even if he can say it, he may not remember it."
"He must know!" Tianwen was certain.
"How to say?"
"He was the chief arrester of Qingshui City back then, and was responsible for guarding the Xuanmen of Heaven and Earth. He may still have the original information on hand.
And...he is still an official in Qingshui City."
Tie Tang had a bad premonition in his heart and asked softly, "Who is it?"
"Qingshui County, County arrest, Yan Su!"
The moonlight is flawless and the breeze blows.
Inside and outside the lake, grass, trees and flowers sway in the wind, reflecting the bright moonlight on the lake surface, which is rippled by the breeze, just like Tie Tang's restless mood.
Yan Su?
Why did this matter involve him?
They are obviously two unrelated cases, and even the places where the crimes occurred are in different places. Apart from being related to Qingshui City, there is not the slightest similarity.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, let me figure it out." Tie Tang, who had two heads and two heads, waved his hand to stop Tian Wen from asking questions.
Li Chengyun was involved in corruption and bribery in You County, and his backer was Pang Feiwen, and Pang Feiwen's family was powerful, so he might be able to instigate Yan Su, or maybe Yan Su was his backer.
The Qi family massacre occurred in Yuncheng. At that time, Yan Su was still the chief arrest officer of Qingshui City, and his authority should not be so great that he could not extend his hands into Yuncheng.
Logically speaking... this matter should have nothing to do with him.
Maybe it didn't matter at the time, but it may not matter now... As the second largest county magistrate in a county, he has great authority, only under the chief county magistrate.
The powerful family in Qingshui City wants to do something... It should be difficult to avoid him. Besides, he was also a witness to the trial back then, so he might really know something.
But why is it Yan Su... Wouldn't it be better to change to someone else?
Tie Tang shook his head, a little helpless, feeling that all the cause and effect seemed to be predetermined.
In fact, he also knows that major counties are like the roots of a big tree, and Qingshui County is this big tree.
No matter how dense the tree roots are, they will ultimately belong to the tree itself.
All events must pass through Qingshui County and Qingshui City.
And the person in charge of Qingshui City...
Just a few.
"You seem to have encountered a difficult problem?" Tianwen saw something was wrong.
"To be honest, Master, I also have other issues with this person, but the incident involved... should have nothing to do with the incident I am investigating. Can you understand me?"
The muscles at the corners of Tianwen's mouth twitched, "Who are you looking down on?"
"Since you know that Yan Su is inside, do you know what kind of cultivation he has?"
"The top of the sky is the great witch of the soul, because if you go higher up, I can't detect any trace of him.
Of course.
It cannot be ruled out that he deliberately pretended to be a pig to eat the tiger, forcibly lowering his own cultivation level and showing weakness to the enemy."
"He is a county magistrate, and his dignity cannot be violated lightly. He hopes that his cultivation level will be as high as possible, and he should not hide it deliberately.
But even if it’s the great witch of the soul...it’s not something we can touch.”
Tianwen looked indifferent and said, "Go and have a look first, maybe there is a chance?"
"It's okay for me, but Master... can you really go to such a place with fireworks and willows?"
"I'm afraid you don't know. Let me tell you first. I was kicked out by the master's school. They asked me to return to secular life."
After Tianwen finished speaking, he strode forward, leaving only Tie Tang who had not yet recovered.
Thumb thump thump...
Accompanied by steady and powerful footsteps, two majestic figures walked down the corridor and water bridge and arrived in front of a nine-story pavilion.
The front door is painted red and vermilion, with a black golden nanmu plaque hanging on the top, with five large characters inscribed with dragons and phoenixes flying on it.
"The Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon Pavilion"
The pavilion door only opened a gap the size of two fingers.
There was a continuous sound of piano and flute coming from inside, and from time to time there was cheering like a mountain.
In front of the door, several strong men with horizontal knives hung on their waists were patrolling and looking around. When they saw Tie Tang and his two men approaching, they turned a blind eye.
"Oh, where did these two great men come from? They look so majestic, I really envy you."
"Master, my name is Xiaofeng, come find me."
"Don't worry about this slut. I haven't left the palace yet. I just hope that the lord can take pity on her."
........
On the second floor, there were two or three waiters leaning against the railing. When they saw the figure downstairs, they all dropped their silk scarves and kept singing, flirting with Tie Tang and the others.
"I'm calling you." Tianwen deliberately bumped Tie Tang with his shoulder.
"If you like it, just pick up the scarf and walk up. Why do you need to use these tricks?"
Tie Tang joked with a smile, stepped forward and opened the heavy door.
The noisy sound reaches my ears, there are crowds of people in front of me, and the aroma of rouge and gouache hits my nostrils.
"Okay! Good play, let's play another one."
"How can I satisfy my cravings with one song? Here are ten more."
"Are you rich? Are you just making noise here? Ten songs are returned. If you can eavesdrop on one song here, it is considered a blessing from your previous life."
"What are you talking about? You look down on people, don't you? See if I don't beat you to pieces."
"Am I still afraid of you?"
The two of them were fighting, with glasses of wine and food flying everywhere.
Soon, guards came to stop it, and then someone came to clean it up, smoothing away all traces, as if it had never happened.
"Today's oiran must be Qiu Shui, I said so!"
"Young Master Pang is so heroic and brave, he will surely win the beauty in his arms tonight."
"Autumn water! Autumn water!"
........
After Tie Tang and others came in, they found a relatively secluded corner and looked at it carefully.
"This is too chaotic. I'm afraid no one knows if someone was beaten to death here. Maybe you know where Yan Su is?"
Without answering Tian's question, he stretched out the five fingers of his right hand and quickly jumped back and forth with his thumb on the other four fingers.