Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Regarding your question, Taoist, that's right."

"Professionals should indeed handle it. In just half an hour, your night watchmen managed to pry open his mouth."

The Taoist couldn't help but praise upon hearing the reply.

Kui Lei's ears turned even redder at this. She adjusted the loose hair on her forehead and said shyly,

"Cough, we didn't really do much. Once the Mystic Ice melted, he confessed on his own.

The reason it took half an hour was solely to verify the truth of his claims, which caused the delay."

"He confessed!?"

"Yes, he confessed."

"Voluntarily?!"

"Yes, voluntarily, but he said he has a final secret that he will only reveal to you."

Jin Xu, somewhat disbelieving, confirmed once more, then his lips twitched.

If he could confess so easily, why the hell did he attempt suicide by poison earlier!

Kui Lei seemed to notice the fluctuation in the Taoist's emotions and stealthily glanced at him.

Well, the mask was covering it, but his eyes seemed quite nice.

This thought naturally appeared in her mind.

Meanwhile, Jin Xu had already composed himself.

He said, "In that case, would Miss Lei please lead the way? After all, I am quite curious about what this final secret is that he will only reveal after meeting me."

Kui Lei turned to look at Empress Xia Yunzhao beside her, and seeing her nod, she voiced her agreement and started walking out of the hall first.

Jin Xu and Yu Yaoer followed closely.

After leaving the Taiji Palace, Xia Yunzhao's demeanor regained its authoritative aura.

On the way,

Xia Yunzhao initiated a conversation with Jin Xu about what he intended to do in Shangjing City.

Jin Xu: "I came to Shangjing to handle three matters . . . "

"Fair, fair, and damn fair?"

The Taoist hadn't finished speaking when the husky by his side suddenly interrupted.

"... Little White, don't interrupt!"

Jin Xu scolded and regretted why he had wasted time telling his demon pet stories about Goose City!

"Oh, understood, temple master. I just couldn't help myself, couldn't control it."

The husky replied quietly, then Yu Yaoer pulled him into her arms and restrained him.

"What fair?"

The Empress of Great Xia was somewhat puzzled.

"Cough, it's nothing, just a folk tale. Besides treating Xu Qian's injuries and investigating the person behind the assassin, I also intend to fulfill the promises I had made.

I wonder how many cultivators in Shangjing City have already traded the heads of Demon Sect followers by now?"

Jin Xu deflected the question and quickly brought up official matters.

Hearing the Taoist's inquiry, Xia Yunzhao put on a thoughtful expression, silently calculated for a moment, then reported a number to Jin Xu: "We've collected three thousand one hundred forty-one heads of Demon Sect cultivators. We've verified all the cultivators using various methods, such as the Confucian Skill 'Truth-Telling Skill', to ensure authenticity and reliability.

And we've recorded all the details in the register.

By the way, would you like to see those heads? Mr. Li must have stored them all by now. He said he'd wait for you to personally inspect them before their destruction."

Hearing that the other party had preserved all the heads, Jin Xu couldn't help but be impressed by how considerate they were, though envisaging the scene made him feel a drop in his SAN points.

However, since he had initiated the Demon Sect eradication campaign, it was both reasonable and appropriate for the Taoist to take a look.

He nodded slightly, indicating that once he had treated Xu Qian's injuries, he would handle this matter.

Meanwhile, as they conversed,

They had already arrived at the great gate of the Prison.

At the gate of the prison.

A familiar old man, holding a scroll and dressed in a light blue official robe with slightly graying hair, was waiting there.

This person was none other than Li Mi, who had a touch of vicissitudes.

Jin Xu had speculated before that Mr. Li, mentioned by Xia Yunzhao, was Li Mi, but he did not ask further.

Seeing the man appear here also confirmed his suspicions.

It also proved what he had said earlier in Gusu City and Su City.

"Mr. Li, long time no see."

The Taoist stepped forward and took off the mask from his face.

"Jin Xu, long time no see."

Li Mi responded with a hint of emotion.

The two did not exchange pleasantries further, nor did they say congratulations on being released.

Why? Of course, because mentioning it would unavoidably make others think of the Emperor of Great Xia—Xia Xuanmin.

Right now, Xia Yunzhao was still here, so neither Jin Xu nor Li Mi would stir up painful memories intentionally.

Even the undisturbed like Yu Yaoer and Little White, after seeing Xia Yunzhao, only talked about amusing stories from Qing State and did not bring up any touchy subjects.

After greeting Jin Xu, Li Mi bowed to Xia Yunzhao standing beside him and said, "Your servant, Li Mi, greets Your Majesty."

Xia Yunzhao verbally responded that it was unnecessary to be too courteous, then lightly waved his hand, signaling the other to stand up and lead the way.

Li Mi stood up at a measured pace and then led everyone towards the interior of the Prison.

In the interrogation room of the Prison.

Jingyu Building's Brother Li hung his head low, bound to an iron column with fine gold chains, with three-inch-long Spirit Transformation Nails inserted into his Dantian and clavicle bones, and a large pool of water stains was left underneath him.

Don't mistake it; he did not pee himself.

It was due to the melting of the Mystic Ice on him.

As footsteps arose, Brother Li lifted his drooping head and shook his moist long hair in an attempt to see who the newcomers were.

From his face devoid of any interrogation marks, it was obvious he had confessed without waiting for the interrogators to begin their methods.

With a creak.

The door to the interrogation room was pushed open, and Jin Xu's group filed in, making the spacious room seem somewhat crowded momentarily.

Upon entering the room, the Taoist did not look at the Jingyu Building assassin tied to the pillar but first scanned the various torture devices around the room.

His gaze carried a scrutinizing intent as he swiftly assessed the uniquely shaped torture devices, eventually concluding,

"Hmm, these don't seem as fierce as the kitchen tools Little Yu uses for plucking and shelling ingredients."

While the Taoist was assessing, Li Mi and Kui Lei walked towards Brother Li on the pillar.

Kui Lei raised her hand and conjured a large spiritual hand from the air, fixing the assassin's head in place by lifting it.

Li Mi then solemnly stated, "Jin Xu is here now; speak any final secrets you have."

Brother Li slightly twisted his head, as if trying to find a comfortable position, but was unsuccessful.

He rolled his eyes towards the unmasked, black-robed Jin Xu and a thought naturally arose in his mind.

"Hiss, this man is so handsome, like a celestial being exiled to earth! If I had looked like him back in the day, Ah Zhen..."

Before he could think further, he felt the spiritual hand pressing by his temple exert a slight force, the pain snapping him back to reality.

"This final secret is my trump card; you have to promise to release me once I've told you."

Brother Li seemed very confident, already negotiating terms.

Hearing this, Li Mi, who shared the surname, was about to scold him.

But before he could speak, he heard Jin Xu, who had already picked up the Recording Ball to watch the previous interrogation, speak softly from the side.

"Mr. Li, this assassin is useless now, finish him off."