Li City is no minor place, and the Li City Xuanqing Guard Hundred Households Station is certainly not some petty government office. To say this is a critical location for the Dynasty is no exaggeration; in the hundreds of years since its establishment, such massive destruction has never occurred here.

One could even call it a disgrace!

Just last night, a group of thieves of unknown origin used an illusion array to paralyze and assault the Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon inside the garrison, demolishing the newly-constructed dungeon. More than ten Prison Guards inside died on the spot, their bodies mixed with the earth, and one of the prisoners incarcerated within was left with only scattered remains.

The only survivors were the ten or so who were trapped by the illusion array at the time. All of these people were immediately placed under control—first, to facilitate questioning; second, for the sake of investigation; and finally, to keep information contained and prevent the news from spreading wildly.

It wasn’t even Wang Jian, the Li City Hundred Households Officer, who got to vent his rage first. He was dragged straight to Fengri City, where, together with Shen Hao, the Black Banner Camp Commander, he was blasted with a furious outburst by Jiang Cheng and nearly got beaten for it.

This matter cannot simply be written off. Either they apprehend the real culprit and have him beheaded, or they pack up and get out of the Xuanqing Guard—there is no third choice.

When Tang Qingyuan and Shen Hao slunk out of Jiang Cheng’s Public Office, the entire Fengri City Thousand Households Station had already heard of what had happened in Li City. After all, Jiang Cheng’s roar could rightly be likened to "a voice that shakes the four corners." Unless you were deaf, you’d know these two had been thoroughly berated.

All along the way, Tang Qingyuan’s expression was iron-dark, and so was Shen Hao’s.

The two of them said not a word as they took the route from Fengri City back to Li City, and then Tang Qingyuan dragged Shen Hao into his own Public Office. With a bang, the door shut; his murderous aura made every man in Li City Guard Station bury his head in dread, not daring to pry or gossip.

"Hoo!" Seated in his chair, Tang Qingyuan let out a long sigh, working his facial muscles a few times. His face had been held tense all day until it was practically stiff, even his brows ached from frowning so much.

Showing his tact, Shen Hao brewed some hot tea, handed a cup to Tang Qingyuan, poured one for himself, and drained it in a single gulp as he sat in his chair.

"Sir, should I sit here a little longer, or is that enough? Or should we put on another show?"

"Another act? Forget it. There’s no need. There’s much to be done still. Get these matters sorted quickly—even though we took precautions, the losses are great, just as Lord Jiang said. This matter cannot be left at that."

"Alright, then I’ll take my leave."

"Go."

Shen Hao exited Tang Qingyuan’s Public Office, his face once again shadowed by worry, his eyes openly brimming with murderous intent.

Countless eyes in the Li City Guard Station were privately watching and listening in this direction. Even if the details were unclear, everyone understood: this Black Banner Battalion disaster was a calamity of the highest order.

When he returned to the Black Banner Battalion’s quarters, Wang Jian and Zhang Liao were already waiting at the door.

"Has everyone in the compound been investigated?"

Wang Jian followed Shen Hao by half a step and replied urgently, "Checked inside and out three times. Everyone included, even service staff—they’re all accounted for. As per your order, everyone is confined to quarters. Anyone who leaves without authorization will be treated as a deserter."

"Good. All brothers are to stay put. No one who isn’t already inside should be let in; have them wait at the Public Office. No one inside is permitted to leave for now. Keep everyone calm—don’t let anything go wrong."

They hurried along and soon reached the site of the dungeon.

Originally, this place was chosen for its open surroundings—ideal for a dungeon—but who could have guessed that scarcely two months after construction, it would be reduced to such ruins.

A giant pit, twenty zhang across, five zhang deep, the floor as smooth as rammed earth—one could imagine the terrifying force behind the strike. Only one corner showed signs of having been dug out.

"Commander, this morning we called in colleagues from the Arsenal to investigate. This was caused by a compound strike array disc called ’Mountain Stone Array,’ an item forbidden in the Dynasty. After the war, many such arrays flowed back into the country and are now widespread in the Black Market—it will be extremely difficult to trace through this."

After Wang Jian finished, Zhang Liao added, "Besides the ’Mountain Stone Array,’ we also found residue of a confusing smoke called ’Blue Dream’ beneath the soil. The Alchemy Room staff say it’s a very special type of magic smoke."

Shen Hao made no comment, but instead asked, "Are the people from the Alchemy Room and Arsenal who were assigned here for assistance still inside the compound?"

"All present, they wouldn’t dare leave without your command."

"Treat them the same as our men. If anyone dares step outside the compound so much as half a pace without permission—kill them."

"Understood."

With a cold face, Shen Hao circled the dungeon’s ruins five times. Apart from the collapsed location, traces of fighting and bloodstains were clearly present, but confined to a small area—primarily a few zhang outside the dungeon entrance.

"The survivors?"

"The wounded are in the small building. The rest are in the barracks."

Shen Hao nodded, and before leaving ordered the remains of the dungeon left untouched for now—seal it off and do not disturb the scene without his orders.

"Come, let’s see the wounded first."

The dungeon was reduced to that—could there still be wounded? Survivors?

Indeed, there are always some whose fates are tougher than others—what should have been certain death, some can survive against all odds.

Not far ahead, in a three-story building, the one who miraculously survived was Zhou Guangcai.

This fellow was already buried by the time he woke, but fortune was on his side. At the moment of the assault, he had stepped into the prison chief’s small room—a cramped structure on the dungeon’s edge. With some luck, a corner of wall kept him from being flattened, and he was eventually dug out alive with only some fractured bones—a miracle indeed.

Seeing Shen Hao enter, Zhou Guangcai quickly bowed low, exhaustion on his face, but anger burning all the brighter.

"What’s this? Escaped death and you’re not feeling lucky? Seem more sullen than relieved."

"Commander, Jia Sheng is definitely dead. That kid was so young—just yesterday I was telling my wife to find him a bride, and now..."

"In our line of work, who can say if tomorrow we’ll still be alive? Dead is dead—just remember the debt. Now, tell me what happened last night."

"Commander, I am ashamed. At the time I just felt thirsty, so I went to the prison chief’s room to get a drink. As soon as I walked in, it was eerily quiet, not like usual. I was still wondering when suddenly an overwhelming sleepiness hit—I couldn’t fight it. Barely a couple of heartbeats later, I lost consciousness. Next thing I knew, I was buried underground. If the others hadn’t dug me out, I’d have suffocated for sure."

Shen Hao frowned and asked, "Are you certain you felt no force or pressure pressing in from outside before you lost consciousness?"

"Yes, Commander. I am certain."

"Very well. Rest and recover. If you remember anything else, tell Xiaoqi Wang and Zhang immediately."

Leaving the building, Shen Hao went to the barracks, where in a large hall the thirteen dungeon chiefs and defense officers who had been subdued by the illusion array were gathered.

Just as with Zhou Guangcai, Shen Hao personally questioned each one about what they heard, saw, and felt during the incident. But so far, nothing had made his eyes light up. The current predicament still had no substantial breakthroughs.