The middle-aged scribe named Zhou Wentao was listening intently to the report from Magistrate Zhang Qingyang.
Meanwhile, Ji Yuan was also silently observing the group that had suddenly arrived at Linfu County, his gaze discreetly sweeping over several individuals.
The four guards were unremarkable; their cultivation was merely passable, at the early stage of the second realm, which would be considered a solid pillar in ordinary sects and factions.
It was the young man and the elder who were truly out of the ordinary.
The former was a martial artist at the middle stage of the Bone and Tendon realm. While his cultivation was not particularly outstanding, his eyes were exceptionally sharp, and his observation of his surroundings was incredibly meticulous.
Often, with just a few words from Zhang Qingyang, this individual would seize upon a flaw and pose a question that cut straight to the heart of the matter, leaving the young magistrate sweating profusely.
As for the latter, though he appeared to be an ordinary old man, the powerful energy within him had already reached the middle stage of the third realm.
Undoubtedly, this was a cultivator who had achieved success in the third realm, and by no means a weakling within it, otherwise, he would not have been honored as a guest official by the Prefectural Governor's office.
It was the middle-aged scribe, Zhou Wentao, who, no matter how he observed, seemed no different from an ordinary person. He exhibited neither the presence of someone in high office nor any aura exceeding that of a common man.
However, according to the intelligence gathered by Lin Yubai, this individual had broken through just two years prior and was a genuine third-realm cultivator.
And someone who could conceal their cultivation and aura to such an extent that even Jiang Yunzhou could not detect it could not possibly be an ordinary person.
"It seems the situation at the Prefectural Governor's office is somewhat different from what we initially anticipated," Lin Yubai subtly transmitted his thoughts to the two beside him.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan and Jiang Yunzhou both nodded. From the current situation, it appeared that the circumstances at the Prefectural Governor's office indeed exceeded expectations.
If their initial assumptions were correct, the county city should have been seething with hidden currents, with everyone involved doing their utmost to suppress everything and obstruct the prefectural governor's investigation.
The best-case scenario, under the mutual influence of various parties, would have been to dispatch officials of middling rank to go through the motions.
Yet now, the prefectural governor's confidant, Zhou Wentao, a figure arguably second only to the governor in the county's officialdom, along with a newly renowned constable from the county city, and a powerful guest official from the Prefectural Governor's office, had arrived.
Such an entourage was far from a mere formality; it indicated a determination to uncover the truth of the matter.
Of course, whether these individuals would actually follow through remained to be seen, and it was still possible they were merely going through the motions, intending to dismiss the matter with various excuses later.
Ji Yuan did not doubt the ability of the forces behind the scenes to accomplish such a feat.
Based on the current findings of the Nine Profound Sect, similar incidents had occurred in more than five or six locations besides Linfu County, and these were only the ones discovered; the number of undiscovered cases was unknown.
Such a vast network, and the annual profits it generated, were already astonishing, let alone the power it spawned.
It was no exaggeration to say that the strength of this force was no less than that of powerful sects with hundreds of years of history.
At the very least, a powerful sect could not afford to lose two third-realm cultivators, one of whom was even a formidable divine being, and remain completely unresponsive.
And while the group was discreetly communicating, the River God, whose cultivation realm had been suppressed, was brought into the main hall under the direction of Zhou Wentao, the scribe from the county yamen.
"The authorities are interrogating the suspect. We ask that you temporarily withdraw to the side."
As the River God knelt in the hall, Zhou Wentao suddenly looked towards them.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan and the others were taken aback. They had not expected the official to be so uncompromising and to disregard the reputation of the Nine Profound Sect.
They exchanged glances, and although they wished to remain and observe, due to the authority of the court, they could only temporarily exit the hall.
As soon as they returned to the adjacent side hall, Lin Yubai spoke without reservation, "Such overbearing authority! If not for Ji Yuan, perhaps in another three hundred years, no one would have known about this matter!"
Indeed, if not for Jiang Yunzhou's intervention, the people in the county yamen would have long since perished, and even the City God, imprisoned beneath the court, would have had no chance of seeing daylight again.
And now, during the interrogation of the River God, they were being asked to step aside!
"Hmph, these people were useless until the situation became too much to handle, and then they emerge," Lin Yubai snorted, a hint of worry in his heart.
He was not afraid of them taking credit; the status of a Nine Profound Sect disciple was undeniable, and no one could treat them unfairly.
It was only Ji Yuan's position that was slightly precarious.
Although he also had the backing of the Nine Profound Sect, he had become a deity. Even if Little Yuan Mountain was private property, it was still subject to the laws of the court.
If the authorities were inclined to act, his situation would not be too easy. There were too many ways for them to affect the foundation of his divine incarnation.
"Calm yourself, the situation is not nearly as dire as you think."
Ji Yuan smiled and shook his head, also admiring Lin Yubai's intellect.
When it came to serious matters, unless it involved combat, he often struggled to grasp the critical points.
However, at other times, he was remarkably effective, capable of extrapolating so many possibilities from a single attitude.
Ji Yuan could not help but feel genuine admiration for this trait.
But as Lin Yubai had said, the situation was far from severe. Although the current attitude was not particularly cordial, it was generally within the bounds of propriety, and nothing overtly outrageous had occurred.
Moreover, while the demeanor was somewhat lacking in warmth, at least no explicit hostility had been shown towards them.
With these individuals now involved, the subsequent proceedings would undoubtedly be more legitimate, and the group could relax a little.
Now, they only needed to remain here, waiting for the interrogation and investigation results from Zhou Wentao and his team. Whatever happened next, at least they would not be the primary targets.
And while the River God was being interrogated in the main hall, Ji Yuan and Jiang Yunzhou's expressions suddenly shifted. They quickly left their side hall and gazed into the distance.
Lin Yubai and the other inner disciples followed them outside the side hall, looking at their actions with confusion.
A short while later, as if sensing something, Lin Yubai also looked in the same direction.
About twenty to thirty breaths later, several brilliant divine lights flashed from the horizon, rapidly approaching their location.
Before they had fully reached the City God's pavilion, Zhou Wentao and the others emerged from the main hall with displeased expressions. It was evident they knew who was arriving, but they seemed unwelcoming.