Don't mention him; even Wu Jinliang suddenly reacted, shouting loudly, "Brother Chun, someone is trying to mess with us!"
Having a loud voice was useless.
The leading armored officer waved a hand, and immediately two men rushed forward to seize Shi Chun.
Shi Chun wore a gloomy expression, but he neither resisted nor tried to escape.
He understood that resistance was futile; these armored guards were at least at the Advanced Martial Realm, and he was no match for any one of them.
Resisting inside Eternal Dawn City would only lead to more severe consequences, so he allowed himself to be pushed around and dragged down the stairs.
However, it was still necessary to defend himself, and he asserted seriously, "We don't know this rascal, and we didn't steal anything from him. He's falsely accusing us. I hope you Heavenly Guards can see the truth."
The dirty man, however, shouted, "They definitely stole it! After they bumped into me, my blue jade essence disappeared."
The leader waved his hand again, "Search!"
The men immediately began searching, publicly frisking Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.
They found nothing suspicious on them, but when they searched Wu Jinliang's bag, they uncovered a blue gemstone like an icy soul.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang's faces changed dramatically, knowing that it wasn't theirs.
The dirty man instantly yelled, "Yes, that's the blue jade essence! I mined it myself, and many people know about it."
The crowd erupted in a cacophony of pointing and gossiping, many mocking and ridiculing Shi Chun and his companion for their audacious folly.
Those who knew them dared not speak out, fearing Shi Chun's potential for holding grudges.
After all, it was none of their business; they were just here to watch the spectacle.
Wu Jinliang shouted in anger, "Brother Chun, someone is framing us!"
His shout carried more anger than anything else.
Saying it was a setup was useless; at least in the eyes of the public, the evidence and witnesses were clear.
The leading officer waved his hand again, shouting, "Take them away!"
Yet Shi Chun turned to look towards the Bowang Pavilion's main hall, searching for the boss lady's figure.
At this point, there was no need to think further; anyone could guess that Shen Youkun's forces had struck.
The situation he feared finally materialized.
He knew Shen Youkun's forces extended their reach into the Exile Lands, but he assumed they would not act too brazenly due to their own fears of breaking celestial laws.
However, he hadn't expected them to act so boldly in Eternal Dawn City, not even giving them a chance to leave the city.
At this stage, across the entire Exile Lands, the only person who might help them was the Bowang Pavilion's proprietress whom they knew.
The others were merely ants without the qualification to even converse with Eternal Dawn City.
But the entrance to the main hall was crowded with people, completely blocking his view of the boss lady's figure.
Nevertheless, he was convinced that such a significant commotion would not go unnoticed by the boss lady, especially with it happening right under her nose.
He immediately shouted towards Bowang Pavilion, "Boss lady, we didn't steal anything. We're about to leave; why cause trouble at this critical time? If we truly stole something, we would've fled long ago, not leisurely strolled around!" Then he shouted back to Wu Jinliang, "Quick, call for your mother!"
Wu Jinliang immediately shouted hoarsely, "Mother, save me! Mother, we are innocent, save us, Mother..."
The guards escorting them were also surprised by their outburst and found them noisy, so they quickly silenced them with a pressure point technique and kicked them a few times in front of everyone.
"Mother? Who's that big guy calling mother? Could it be the boss lady of Bowang Pavilion?"
The crowd murmured with renewed curiosity, many turning towards Bowang Pavilion situated there.
And this was the desperate measure Shi Chun could think of to save themselves.
He still held the judgment that the forces behind Shen Youkun were overstepping the celestial laws by doing this.
Hence, their actions were secretive and roundabout.
If the commotion got bigger, perhaps it would deter them from taking further steps.
If all else failed, he only had the purple sparkling nebula to fall back on.
Though it could bring endless trouble, if it came to that point, he would act one step at a time anyway.
He had no intention of letting himself fall here.
Bitterly resigned yet helpless, the two were taken away.
The onlookers slowly dispersed.
The young boy at the entrance still had ink marks at the corner of his mouth, a remnant from when he was holding a pen.
He stared blankly in the direction Shi Chun and his companion were taken, then suddenly turned and ran—running to the back hall, up the stairs, and to the second-floor hall.
There he spotted his quarry, Lan Qiaoyan and Old Tan, standing by the window, watching the increasingly peaceful scene outside.
The young lad hurried over to them and said, "Boss lady, Brother Chun and the big guy were taken by city guards."
Lan Qiaoyan turned, paid little attention to his words, and pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the ink marks from his mouth before saying, "Got it, go back to your account books."
The young lad hesitated but ultimately complied under the boss lady's smiling gaze, turning to leave.
Lan Qiaoyan returned to the window, looking towards where Shi Chun was taken.
She had been there as he was taken, witnessing the process clearly, yet she had neither the need nor the authority to prevent city guards from capturing people.
"Did they really steal something?" she mused to herself.
Old Tan hesitated, saying, "Actually, Shi Chun made a good point. After enduring so much hardship and now about to leave, why would they create trouble in Eternal Dawn City? If they stole something, why not leave immediately rather than wander inside the city? It doesn't make sense."
Lan Qiaoyan continued looking out the window, "The one with a grudge against Shi Chun is Qi Yueru's son, right?"
Old Tan replied, "Yes, his name is Shen Youkun."
Lan Qiaoyan asked, "Is Qi Yueru still in the city?"
Old Tan replied, "Yes, she hasn't left. It's said she is still dealing with her son's and brother's affairs."
Lan Qiaoyan pondered, "Qi Yueru just entered the city, and her son and brother died immediately, while Shi Chun and the big guy are captured on their way out. If they're really being framed, and with such blatant scheming in Eternal Dawn City, it isn't something simple."
Old Tan added, "Lord Ba Yingshan personally investigated the murder scene, and it's said a mine buried hundreds of people, possibly poisoned before being buried, a very strange death indeed. The skeletal remains of some creature brought back are now displayed in the palace, with Du Huoguan still there, and that 'Warden' hasn't left either."
Lan Qiaoyan raised her chin slightly, "Send a note to Du Huoguan. It's been a while since I visited him."
Old Tan hesitated, "Boss lady, you want to get involved in this? Bowang Pavilion has rules; here, we don't get involved in unrelated matters, especially concerning their side."
Lan Qiaoyan smiled calmly, "How can it be unrelated? They arrested people at my Bowang Pavilion's entrance, caused such a ruckus, even called out my name. Isn't it reasonable for me to at least find out what's going on?"
Since she said so, Old Tan had no choice but to comply, slightly bowing as he left...
At a small gate tower in the inner city, Ba Yingshan watched from on high as Shi Chun and his companion were led towards the prison, satisfied nothing unexpected occurred.
He then turned slowly, continuing his patrol along the city walls.
As for interrogating Shi Chun and his companion, he had no intention of participating or even showing up to let them see him.
Halfway along the walls, a subordinate approached, informing him, "Lan Qiaoyan just entered the inner city to visit the Prison Overseer."
Ba Yingshan was startled and asked, "What for?"
The subordinate replied, "I don't know, just that she sent a card for a visit. However, it’s rumored one of the people captured might be Lan Qiaoyan's future son-in-law. Could it be related?"
Ba Yingshan found it both funny and irritating, "Nonsense. If Lan Qiaoyan were willing to marry her daughter to such riffraff, I'd cut my own head off."
Despite his words, he felt slightly uneasy.
Here they had just arrested someone, and Lan Qiaoyan immediately visited Du Huoguan; were the two events truly unconnected? On reflection, he still found it unlikely.
He couldn't believe Lan Qiaoyan would genuinely consider such low-level trash as a son-in-law, especially since Bowang Pavilion wouldn’t usually intervene in official matters here.
Besides, the deed was done; it was too late for regrets.
He could only instruct his subordinates to continue monitoring developments in related areas.
In a loft-like hall, spacious, rustic, and serene.
In the center, there was a pool two zhang wide and long, devoid of water, yet filled with irregularly shaped colored gemstones.
To the untrained eye, it might appear chaotic and random; those in the know would recognize it as a star map.
Dressed in green, exuding an imposing presence, Du Huoguan strolled by the pool, studying it intently, occasionally picking a gemstone from a nearby tall pedestal, placing it telekinetically into the pool, gradually completing the star map.
At the doorway, someone led Lan Qiaoyan to the entrance, gestured for her to enter, and then left.
Lan Qiaoyan lifted her skirt, crossed the threshold, and approached Du Huoguan, bowing respectfully, "Lan Qiaoyan pays respects to the Prison Overseer!"
Seeing no reaction from him, she followed him around, examined the star map, and remarked, clicking her tongue, "The Prison Overseer has such a great memory. Just looking at this gives me a headache."
Du Huoguan didn't even glance at her, fiddling with a gemstone in his hand, "Speak your mind; save the flattery for later."
Lan Qiaoyan said, "There's nothing much, really. I just wanted to ask the Prison Overseer why the city guards arrested those two at my Pavilion's entrance earlier."
"Arrested? For what offense?" Du Huoguan paused and turned around; he genuinely had no knowledge of the incident, unable to oversee every detail.
Lan Qiaoyan replied, "They were said to be two thieves."
Thieves? Du Huoguan sized her up, not believing she'd visit for mere petty theft, resumed pacing to focus on the star map in the pool, casually replying, "I don't meddle to the extent of managing city affairs over which the guards have jurisdiction in maintaining Eternal Dawn City's order. You'd better ask Ba Yingshan for details."
With a dismissive wave, he gestured for her to leave.
Lan Qiaoyan had come; she wasn't leaving easily.
Pretending not to understand his hint, she continued, "The incident just occurred. They were right at Bowang Pavilion's entrance when someone brought city guards against them, accusing them of theft. The guards searched them publicly, and indeed found stolen goods on one of them.
It's a minor matter, normally. Yet, considering they were about to leave the prison for the outside world today, why stir trouble at such a crucial moment? Even odder, if they were leaving, why not flee immediately after theft, yet loiter within the city, seemingly unafraid of trouble?
Of course, when they were arrested, both shouted their innocence, claiming they were framed."
(The chapter ends here.)