"You're spouting nonsense!" Tian Zechuan finally panicked, pointing at Zheng Yunxuan with a look of shock and anger in his eyes.
Tian Jiufeng couldn't stand still either, quickly bowing to Lin Ji.
"Master Lin, about this matter..."
"Shut your mouth! It's not your turn to speak now!" Lin Ji reprimanded.
After scolding Tian Jiufeng, Lin Ji walked to the hall and stood in front of Zheng Yunxuan.
"Speak." Lin Ji asked coldly, hands behind his back.
Zheng Yunxuan knelt down, forehead touching the ground, his whole body trembling, his voice filled with determination.
He could have remained silent, considering the Tian family. But now that he had spoken, there was no turning back.
"In response to Master's inquiry, it was the Tian family who approached me, offering three shops in the city as a condition for me to hide the monster in my home."
"You're talking nonsense!" Tian Zechuan roared.
Zheng Yunxuan trembled all over, clearly frightened by Tian Zechuan's outburst.
Lin Ji glanced at Tian Zechuan, squinting slightly.
The pressure of the fourth realm belonged to Lin Ji, something an ordinary person like Tian Zechuan couldn't bear.
Tian Zechuan immediately took two steps back, sitting down in embarrassment on the ground.
Tian Jiufeng quickly stood in front of Tian Zechuan, smiling bitterly as he clasped his fists towards Lin Ji.
"Master Lin."
"Hmph." Lin Ji snorted, turning to Zheng Yunxuan. "Continue."
"After the previous Chief Constable met with an accident, the position became vacant, and many families in the city coveted it. But as soon as you arrived, Master, and took the position of Chief Constable, many people's schemes were foiled. Therefore, many families in the city are quite dissatisfied with you."
"Can the Chief Constable of the Monitoring Bureau be schemed against by others? What a ridiculous idea!" Lin Ji's gaze shifted to Tian Jiufeng.
"Yes, it is," Tian Jiufeng lowered his head.
Things had spiraled out of control.
"Zheng Yunxuan, continue," Lin Ji ordered.
"After you arrived, the Tian family approached me, asking me to use the monster to create disturbances and lead you to investigate the matter."
"At first, when I heard it was a scheme against the Chief Constable, I was afraid and dared not agree! But the Tian family insisted that the monster was harmless, at most a bit eerie, and they had no intention of harming... harming your life."
"Of course! If the Chief Constable of the Monitoring Bureau were to be killed by someone, that would be a huge joke!"
The Chief Constable was just a sixth-grade official, but he could handle the affairs of a whole province. Although there was a town official overseeing him, everyone knew that this sixth-grade official was meant to train newcomers!
Those who could become Chief Constables were people with connections in high places.
As long as they didn't die prematurely, their future in the Monitoring Bureau was limitless.
If they died at the hands of evil spirits, it would be acceptable, as that would be a fitting end.
But if they were killed by someone...
The higher-ups in the Monitoring Bureau would never agree.
Zheng Yunxuan knocked his head fiercely, then continued, "The Tian family told me to let the monster roam in the garden, then report the incident. The city's demon hunters would not interfere, and ultimately it would be up to Master Lin to personally handle it."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji suddenly looked at the several constables beside him.
"Even you are involved?!"
Chu Qin's face changed suddenly, shaking his head, "I don't even have time to cultivate, how could I have time to deal with these matters?"
Lin Ji looked at Sun Hai.
"The west of the city belongs to Li Butou, and I can't intervene," Sun Hai said with a bitter smile.
"I'm out killing demons outside the city at night, this matter has nothing to do with me," Li Wushuang hurriedly said.
"You all have your reasons." Lin Ji smiled wryly, gesturing for them not to be nervous.
Then Lin Ji looked at Tian Jiufeng again.
"Chief Tian, should I continue to inquire about this matter?"
Tian Jiufeng remained silent.
Lin Ji coldly kicked Zheng Yunxuan, signaling him to continue speaking.
"When the monster embarrasses the Chief Constable, this matter will be publicized, naturally..."
"I won't be able to hold onto the position of Chief Constable! What a clever scheme!" Lin Ji couldn't help but applaud.
Clap. Clap.
Applause rang out, while Tian Jiufeng and Tian Zechuan remained silent with their heads down.
"It's amazing! Everything is interconnected, without shedding blood, just let me leave."
"So you also know the power of rumors! As a Chief Constable of the fourth realm, I was played by a small monster. If this matter spreads, it might not end well."
Lin Ji pondered and said, "The new Chief Constable is a useless person, unable to even handle a monster. This statement is too light."
"They say my position is not legitimate, that I relied on connections to become the Chief Constable!"
"Or maybe they say I'm a coward, valuing money over life and so on."
"Anyway, no matter how outrageous it is! Then spread it far and wide, rumors are fearsome, and gossip is even more fearsome! When my appearance is spread out, the people will recognize me, and when they see me on the street, they will surely whisper behind my back."
"If this continues for a long time, if I become thin-skinned, I will naturally resign! If I become thick-skinned and refuse to leave, the higher-ups will eventually have some opinions about me, my future will be cut off, and I might even be transferred elsewhere, isn't that so?"
At this point, Lin Ji walked in front of Tian Jiufeng.
"When that time comes, you will have a chance! Chief Tian, do you think what I said makes sense?"
"Master, you..."
"Don't 'master' me." Lin Ji sneered, turned and returned to his seat on the high platform.
After sitting down, he slammed the table.
"The Tian and Zheng families colluded to instruct the monster to harm people, the evidence is clear and indisputable!"
"As the official in charge, I have the authority. Since this matter has not been carried out, I will consider it unsuccessful and will not pursue it."
Upon hearing this, Tian Jiufeng raised his head in disbelief, looking at Lin Ji.
After all this commotion, it was just going to be let go?
Tian Zechuan, on the other hand, smiled, thinking that Lin Ji was still considering the influence of the city's families.
But at that moment, Lin Ji said, "But I will not overlook the deaths of the two elders of the Zheng family!"
"Master, the two elders of the Zheng family were killed by Zheng Yunxuan!" Tian Jiufeng quickly defended.
"Nonsense!" Lin Ji was furious but then laughed, "This is a huge lie! Who would have such a heartless and cruel nature, worse than a beast, to kill their own parents? This matter is clearly the work of the monster!"
"Zheng Yunxuan, is that true?!"
"Yes, the monster killed my parents," Zheng Yunxuan quickly replied.
For a moment, everyone in the hall looked at Lin Ji, and not a single person could refute him.
"The Tian family instructed the monster to harm lives! Tian Jiufeng, I ask you, how should this crime be punished?"
Taking a deep breath, Tian Jiufeng looked at Lin Ji, then at Tian Zechuan beside him.
"In response to Master's question, instructing the monster to harm lives, depending on the severity of the circumstances, should..."
Lin Ji interrupted, "You are talking about the old law, I am asking about the new law!"
Since the incident at the Demon-Sealing Tower, the punishments of the Monitoring Bureau had changed.
In short, in turbulent times, strict and severe punishments were used.
Tian Jiufeng couldn't say a word, just staring at Lin Ji.
"Do you really not give our Tian family any face?"
"If you won't say it, then I will!" Lin Ji's eyes were filled with naked killing intent. Who will give me face?
"Instructing the monster to harm lives is no different from being an evil spirit! The mastermind shall be executed, and the family members shall be exiled!"
The table was slammed again.
Bang!
"Tian Zechuan, do you accept this judgment?!"
(End of this chapter)