Chapter 140: The Registrar's Capture

Witch Temple, Side Hall.

The space inside the hall was limited. Aside from Shang Lu, Zheng Quan, and the county magistrate, only the heads of the Six Departments, the leaders of the three squads, and the hundred rural militia captains were allowed inside the side hall to undergo the inspection.

The remaining clerks, militia, and newly recruited personnel were arranged by the two witch officers of the Discipline Department to wait in the courtyard outside the side hall.

At this moment, the doors of the side hall were thrown wide open, allowing those in the courtyard to see the strange ancient deity statue enshrined within.

Among the crowd, only Shang Lu had previously experienced an inspection by the Discipline Department; for the others, this was their first time.

Uncertain of what would happen next, and gazing nervously at the statue covered in countless eyes, the group felt tense and uneasy.

They wanted to whisper to their companions but dared not speak, which only thickened the oppressive atmosphere.

The two witch officers offered incense to the statue inside the hall and chanted incantations.

The incense smoke rising from the censer thickened and multiplied with the chant.

Though it was just one stick of incense, the smoke billowed out and enveloped the courtyard outside.

More than that, the smoke seemed to block out both light and sound.

The instant it blanketed the courtyard, everyone inside and outside the hall was plunged into pitch darkness, unable to see their own hands.

At the same time, all surrounding noises vanished.

They could even distinctly hear their own breathing and heartbeat.

Those inside the side hall, being worldly, remained calm despite the sudden change, recognizing this as a tactic of the Discipline Department’s witch officers signaling the start of the interrogation.

But those outside in the courtyard, especially the newly recruited, were startled and cried out in alarm.

No matter how much they shouted, they could only hear their own voices; no other sounds reached them.

It was as if the darkness severed their connection to everything around.

Fortunately, soon a deep, authoritative voice emerged from the darkness: “Silence!”

Unwillingly, everyone obeyed, closing their mouths and ceasing their cries.

In the next moment, many felt a strange sensation.

They sensed countless pairs of eyes in the darkness, staring at them, piercing through their bodies and souls, seeing through all their secrets.

Inside the side hall, Zheng Quan felt the same sensation and quickly braced himself.

Then the deep, oppressive voice spoke again: “Have you colluded with demons, ghosts, or foreign spies?”

“No!” Zheng Quan answered firmly.

After a brief silence, the second question arose: “Do you harbor intentions against the secret realm of Yunhua Mountain?”

Zheng Quan thought for a moment and spoke truthfully: “I intend to use the Yunhua Mountain secret realm to achieve merit and earn rewards.”

He breathed a silent sigh of relief, thinking the inquiry was indeed focused solely on the secret realm. He had no designs on it and was not afraid of the investigation.

But then the third question came immediately: “Have you committed acts against the law or regulations?”

Zheng Quan was taken aback, feeling a chill of foreboding. He wanted to deny it but changed his mind at the last moment, deciding to confess some minor offenses to make his answer seem genuine.

Yet when he began to speak, he ended up detailing all the various misdeeds he had committed over the years.

He was horrified and desperately tried to retract his words or fall silent.

But he found that though his mind was clear, he could not control his mouth.

No matter how hard he tried, he could only keep silent briefly and could not lie.

Meanwhile, strange voices echoed in the darkness.

These voices shattered his consciousness, stripping away his resistance to the interrogation, forcing him to continue confessing.

By the time his mouth finally closed and he fell silent, Zheng Quan had fully disclosed all his illegal and unruly actions over the years.

At that moment, he was drenched in cold sweat, filled with fear and shock.

He could only pray silently, hoping the Discipline Department’s witch officers would consider the bigger picture and show mercy for the time being.

If given time, he could find ways to maneuver and minimize the fallout.

As he prayed, he suddenly sensed someone approaching in the darkness.

Upon focusing, he saw the two witch officers of the Discipline Department standing before him.

Zheng Quan’s heart sank. Before they spoke, he collapsed to his knees and repeatedly kowtowed.

“Please, sirs, grant me a chance to redeem myself through meritorious service!”

Witch Officer Cui’s face was stern as he said, “Local matters are not normally our jurisdiction, but the secret realm is of great importance. You once colluded with gangsters for profit and disregarded human life. There’s no guarantee you wouldn’t again conspire with demons or foreign spies to plot against the secret realm!”

Witch Officer Jiang sneered coldly: “Clerk Zheng, you have no chance to redeem yourself in Luoshui County. We will hand your confession and your associates over to the prefectural government for processing!”

Zheng Quan was utterly panicked.

Though he had some connections in the prefectural government, cases handed over by the Discipline Department would surely be handled severely.

His contacts could not and would not intervene now.

It was even likely that he would be pressured to “commit suicide out of guilt” to avoid implicating others.

Zheng Quan did not want such an end.

Clenching his teeth, he threatened, “Sirs, everyone in Luoshui County’s government answers to me. If you arrest me, all county affairs will halt, inevitably affecting the development of the secret realm...”

Before he could finish, Witch Officer Jiang interrupted.

“Threaten us? Ha, you overestimate yourself. Luoshui County will function just fine without you—perhaps even better.”

Without wasting words, he chanted an incantation and pointed. Two armored shadow soldiers materialized behind Zheng Quan.

Zheng Quan was terrified and tried to flee, but it was too late; he was captured immediately.

Time passed, though unknown how long, until finally the darkness enveloping the side hall and courtyard dissipated.

Those who regained sight and hearing looked around.

They noticed several people were missing and guessed those few had been taken away for further investigation after being found problematic.

At that moment, low murmurs of surprise came from inside the side hall.

The crowd in the courtyard leaned in curiously and soon realized that Clerk Zheng Quan was no longer inside.

Many immediately realized that this time, Luoshui County was truly about to change hands.

The clerks of the Six Departments mourned as if bereaved.

They were all Zheng Quan’s men, yet not one dared to stand up in his defense or stir up trouble as Zheng Quan had hoped.

During the inspection, many confessed to various illegal acts themselves; because they were not the ringleaders, they had not been arrested immediately.

Now they only wished to redeem themselves and were unwilling to risk their lives for a clearly doomed Zheng Quan.

Some even contemplated providing evidence to the witch officers to become tainted witnesses.

As Witch Officer Jiang had said, Zheng Quan was not as indispensable in Luoshui County as he had imagined.

Once he fell, everything collapsed instantly.

Meanwhile, many in the government cast fearful glances at Shang Lu.

The county magistrate was overjoyed upon learning Zheng Quan had been arrested.

Though he too had confessed to some issues, they were not severe.

After all, in Luoshui County, he had long been overshadowed by Zheng Quan and had no chance to err even if he wanted to.

Now that Zheng Quan was in custody, the magistrate could finally hold his head high without fearing his subordinates’ glances.

“The inspection is over. You may return,” the two witch officers announced simply, allowing Shang Lu and the magistrate to lead those who passed back to the government offices.

Those found problematic were detained for further interrogation and investigation.

Shang Lu bowed his thanks and took his leave, but Witch Officer Jiang suddenly smiled and invited him:

“Captain Shang, if you ever join the Witch Institute, consider coming to our Discipline Department. I think you’d be a great fit, and we need talents like you.”