As Bai Long stepped over the threshold of the Imperial Inspection Office, the candle flames in the main hall flickered simultaneously, casting a brighter glow. It seemed as though this leader of the zodiac had just suppressed the breath of the candle flames.

After the Spy filed out, leaving behind a lone chair in the spacious main hall of the Imperial Inspection Office, an unremarkable elm chair nonetheless seemed to weigh like a mountain over the main hall.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice sat behind the case, expressionlessly staring in the direction where Bai Long had disappeared, remaining motionless for quite some time.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice turned his head to him: "Mr. Zheng, the Eunuch Party went to such trouble just to delay this night, I’m afraid there will be variables tomorrow... are there any omissions in the witness testimonies or evidence?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s gaze flickered slightly, he forcefully recalled each and every detail in his mind, considering every possible point of error, eventually shaking his head slowly: "There’s no possibility of overturning the case."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice was perplexed: "Then what is the significance of the Eunuch Party delaying it for a night?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice did not answer the Minister, instead, his gaze fell on Chen Ji.

Chen Ji still stood upright, the iron shackles between his hands hanging to the ground, turning his head to look at She Dengke not far away.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice sneered: "Marquis Wu Xiang makes quite a spectacle, able to call upon the Eunuch Party even during the trial of the Three Judicial Departments. But I advise you not to celebrate too soon, tomorrow it’s merely a formality to go through the motions in the hall of the Ministry of Justice, the witnesses are all present, not to mention Bai Long, even if Xu Wenhe were still in the Imperial Capital, he couldn’t stir up trouble."

Chen Ji paid him no mind, continuing to look at She Dengke.

She Dengke secretly raised his head to glance at Chen Ji, upon seeing Chen Ji watching him, he hurriedly lowered his head again, repeating, "I don’t want to testify against you... I don’t want to testify against you..."

Chen Ji acknowledged him: "I know."

He looked up at the candle flames in the main hall, when She Dengke and Chunhua framed him for stealing Princess Consort Jing’s east pearl, that life debt was repaid in the inner prison of Luocheng City. But now, it was unclear who owed whom, becoming a muddled account.

At this moment, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice stood up and instructed the Vice Minister in a low voice: "Separate the two, don’t let them have the opportunity to collude. If She Dengke flips his testimony, you all can kiss your official positions goodbye."

The Assistant Minister quickly complied.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice pondered for a moment: "Is the Five Cities Military Department still guarding outside?"

The Assistant Minister replied: "To report to you, they are still there, should they escort the two to the prison of the Ministry of Justice?"

The Minister suddenly protested: "No, no, Mr. Zheng, that Qi Zhenzhuo is incompetent, the Five Cities Military Department is unreliable. If he impulsively releases Chen Ji, it would ruin the major affairs of the Qi family!"

The Assistant Minister thought for a moment: "Summon the Yulin Army for escort? That won’t work either."

"Jiefan Guard? Also not suitable."

The Minister pondered for a while, realizing in astonishment that within the Imperial Capital, the soldiers counted could all potentially have ulterior motives when escorting Chen Ji.

The Assistant Minister asked quietly: "Requesting the Ministry of War to dispatch the Divine Machine Camp outside the city to enter the capital?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice scolded in a low voice: "Nonsense, the Imperial Three Camps enter the capital overnight, any mishap would be a capital crime.

The Minister and the Assistant Minister dared not speak further.

After a moment’s silence, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice made the final decision: "Let the Five Cities Military Department escort them. Qi Zhenzhuo, despite being incompetent, is still a Qi family member. Only with Chen Ji dead can the Qi family survive, he wouldn’t fail to understand this logic. Quickly send the two to the prison of the Ministry of Justice, and await tomorrow’s public trial."

The Minister still wanted to say something but was stopped by a glance from Zheng Zhixian: "Do as I say."

The government officials lifted Chen Ji and She Dengke to leave, the iron chains between Chen Ji’s hands dragged on the ground, clattering.

Passing by Chen Lizun, Chen Lizun whispered: "Don’t be afraid, I’ll think of another solution, Uncle."

Chen Ji gave him a glance but did not respond. The chains dragged on the ground, their clanging echoing in the empty main hall, continuing all the way outside the door.

...

...

Outside the gates of the Imperial Inspection Office, two prison carts were already prepared. Wooden cages were mounted on the cart’s planks, enclosed by thick wooden bars.

She Dengke was stuffed into the front prison car, hugging his knees and curling into a corner.

Chen Ji climbed into the rear prison car himself. Sitting inside the wooden cage, he leaned his back against the wooden bars and closed his eyes.

The infantry of the Five Cities Military Department gathered around, shielding the two prison carts in the middle. The torches lit up the surroundings, and the soldiers whose faces were hidden in shadows all tightened their bodies.

Qi Zhenzhuo glanced at Chen Ji while mounted, quickly averting his gaze: "Set off."

The coachman cracked his whip, and the carts slowly moved. The wooden wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, rumbling clearly in the quiet of the night.

The prison carts moved south along Chang’an Street.

The night wind blew, carrying the chill of autumn. Chen Ji kept his eyes closed, hearing only the sound of wheels rolling and soldiers’ footsteps. Occasionally, torches crackled, splattering sparks that fell onto the bluestone slabs and extinguished instantly.

After a while, the prison carts passed Fuyou Street.

Suddenly, Chen Ji opened his eyes.

He lifted his head, looking toward the direction of the Zhengyang Gate tower.

From afar, he could see someone clad in white standing against the wind on the parapet of the majestic Zhengyang Gate tower, silently overlooking them.

Bai Long?

Beside Bai Long, Treasure Monkey squatted on the parapet, using his fingertip to write and draw on the blue bricks. Jiao Tu sat on the edge of the parapet with her legs dangling outside, swinging playfully as if relaxing on her own doorstep. Yun Yang stood quietly beside them, hands folded in his sleeves, like a statue.

Their silhouettes appeared small against the grand city walls, yet they seemed like four mountains pressing down on the moonlight.

Chen Ji suddenly found it strange, Bai Long should have been waiting here since leaving the Imperial Inspection Office. What was he waiting for?

As the prison carts proceeded, Chen Ji continuously felt that Bai Long and his companions’ gaze were following their procession through the streets and alleys, seemingly never leaving them for a moment.

Just as the prison carts were about to pass Chessboard Street, a sudden change occurred.

On the roof of the third floor of Lubiji, stood a hulking figure, his head covered by a bamboo hat and his face masked with black cloth, his eyes hidden in the shadows of the hat, indistinct.

The shadow’s hands formed the seal of the Great Wheel Vajra Dharani, muttering under his breath.

On Chessboard Street, the faint sound of scripture penetrated everyone’s eardrums: "...letting all sentient beings break free from the shackles of suffering, returning it to the underworld’s official karma path. All ghosts, gods, and the residents of Abi Hell, those who suffer, may be liberated..."

In the next moment, the shadow cast by the moon beneath the black figure’s feet twisted and fragmented, the head and bamboo hat shadow struggled to transform into a Taotie.

The left arm shadow transformed into a Zhen, its shape resembling a red leopard with five tails and a horn.

The right arm shadow transformed into a Tao Wu, resembling a tiger, with long fur, a human face, tiger legs, pig mouth and teeth, and a tail long as a snake.

The upper body shadow transformed into Fei Yi, the left leg shadow transformed into Xiezhi, the right leg shadow transformed into Bi’an.

Six fierce beasts, all transformed from shadows, pounced down from the rooftop!

Taotie opened its huge mouth, lunging at the rear of the escort team. Zhen charged towards the prison carts with its four paws. Tao Wu swung its long tail, sweeping at the infantry. Fei Yi descended with flapping wings, bringing forth a gust of dark wind. Xiezhi lowered its head to ram into the crowd, where its single horn traveled, men and horses overturned. Bi’an roared in anger, its voice like thunder.

The Five Cities Military Department was immediately thrown into chaos: "Enemies trying to snatch prisoners!"

People shouted in fury, others drew their blades.

But in an instant, another group sprang from the shadows lining Chessboard Street, disrupting the infantry’s originally tight formation, the firelight flickered, silhouettes swaying, combining screams and shouts.

Chen Ji stared fixedly at the figure on the roof.

Third Master Hu!

The soldiers of the Five Cities Military Department regrouped, firmly protecting the two prison carts in their midst, only Qi Zhenzhuo remained grasping his reins, unsure of what to do.

Chen Ji turned his head again to look at the Zhengyang Gate tower, Bai Long still standing with hands behind his back, Jiao Tu still swinging her legs, Treasure Monkey still drawing on the blue bricks, Yun Yang still standing quietly.

They watched the chaos here, yet had no intention of moving, remaining detached.

Bai Long joined forces with Lamp.

Bai Long had gone to the Imperial Inspection Office earlier, using the Da Ning Law to restrain the Three Judicial Departments, not for anything else, only to await the moment when the Three Judicial Departments would transfer him to the Ministry of Justice Prison, giving Lamp an opportunity to snatch him away?