All Heavens and Worlds Starting from the Night Watchman

Chapter 21: The Struggle Between the Directorate of Celestial Surveillance and Yunlu Academy

“Anyone who resists or obstructs the arrest shall be executed on the spot!”

Hearing these words, Lin Qiye chuckled lightly and said, “Well, if that’s the case, I suppose we should take a trip to the Ministry of Justice.”

Xu Qian also reassured Xu Lingyue, “Sister, don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”

“Take them away!”

Thus, Lin Qiye, Xu Qian, and Xu Pingzhi were apprehended and escorted away. Along the way, both Lin Qiye and Xu Qian knew exactly what to do.

Since the Directorate of Celestial Surveillance was involved, there was no need for concern; they were undoubtedly interested in anything related to alchemy.

Inside the dark prison of the Ministry of Justice, flickering candlelight cast shadows on the cold, stony walls.

Zhou Li, dressed in luxurious attire with a sneer on his face, held a confession document as he approached Lin Qiye and Xu Qian. He tossed the document disdainfully onto the ground, as if it were not just paper, but a blatant insult to their dignity.

Lin Qiye, clad in a simple green robe, with a firm expression and piercing eyes, picked up the confession and scanned it quickly. A cold smirk curled his lips as he glanced at Zhou Li. His voice was as frosty as ice.

“Sign and seal it? Oh, is Young Master Zhou planning to torture us into submission?”

Beside him, Xu Qian, tall and resolute, with a defiant glint in his eyes, also glanced at the confession and declared firmly,

“A man’s dignity is inviolable! Demanding our confession is utterly impossible.”

With that, Xu Qian tore the confession into pieces, the fragments scattering like snowflakes at Zhou Li’s feet and landing upon his stunned face.

Lin Qiye, on the other hand, chose not to tear the confession apart. Evidence had its own value; there was no telling when it might come in handy.

Zhou Li’s face darkened instantly, his fury barely contained. He laughed coldly, “The torture devices of the Ministry of Justice can make anyone beg for mercy. I believe it’s time for you both to experience them.”

“Guards! Seize them! If they resist, kill them on the spot!”

Yet, faced with Zhou Li’s threat, Lin Qiye and Xu Qian remained unfazed. They stood side by side, their gazes filled with contempt.

Zhou Li, the more arrogant you are now, the more wretched you’ll become later. You’ve dug your own grave by provoking us.

Seeing their unyielding stance, Zhou Li’s arrogance intensified.

“Just a couple of ants, thinking themselves mighty? Why aren’t you defiant now? Come on, resist! It takes only a finger to crush you!”

Lin Qiye chuckled coldly, his eyes sharp as blades.

“Zhou Li, let me tell you something—you’ve crossed the two people you should never have offended.”

“No matter how powerful you think you are, it won’t be long before you regret this.”

Zhou Li’s face twisted in anger.

“Take them away!”

At his command, the guards lunged at them like ravenous wolves. Yet Lin Qiye and Xu Qian remained composed, knowing their time for retribution would come.

Outside the Ministry of Justice, hurried footsteps echoed. The commotion soon reached the inner hall, prompting a guard to rush in and report:

“Lord Minister, two great scholars from Yunlu Academy and members of the Directorate of Celestial Surveillance are here, insisting on seeing you.”

The Minister of Justice paused, an ominous sense of foreboding welling within him.

Yunlu Academy? The Directorate of Celestial Surveillance? These factions do not tread here lightly—what could possibly bring them together today?

With a heavy heart, he hurried to the courtyard, only to see a formidable assembly at the entrance. At the forefront were two eminent scholars of Yunlu Academy—Zhang Shen and Li Mubai.

Bowing respectfully, the Minister addressed them:

“Honoured sirs, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Zhang Shen’s expression was grave, his tone slightly reproachful:

“The Ministry of Justice has detained two of my disciples, Xu Qian and Lin Qiye. We hope Lord Minister will release them.”

Li Mubai immediately retorted,

“Your disciples? They are mine! Stop claiming credit shamelessly!”

The Minister’s confusion deepened. As the overseer of justice, he knew that wrongful arrests were not taken lightly.

“This must be a misunderstanding. Our Ministry does not arrest without cause. Would you please clarify the situation?”

Before the scholars could respond, a young man in the robes of the Directorate of Celestial Surveillance stepped forward.

“Song Qing, a direct disciple of the Superintendent of the Directorate, greets Lord Minister. May I ask what crime my fellow disciples, Lin Qiye and Xu Qian, have committed to warrant their detainment?”

Stunned silence fell. The scholars of Yunlu Academy claimed the two as their disciples, and now the Directorate of Celestial Surveillance did the same. The Minister’s head throbbed.

Turning to his aide, the Minister inquired,

“Did the Ministry apprehend anyone named Lin Qiye and Xu Qian today?”

After a brief search, the aide responded,

“Minister, our records show no official arrest, but there are indeed two such individuals in the prison—they were brought in just recently.”

The Minister’s face darkened. Arrests required proper documentation—this was a breach of protocol.

Noticing the commotion, Huang Langzhong, who had orchestrated the arrest, attempted to slip away quietly. However, the Minister’s sharp gaze pinned him.

“Huang Langzhong, did you order the arrest of Lin Qiye and Xu Qian?”

With a nervous stammer, Huang Langzhong admitted,

“Yes, my lord. It was me.”

“Explain yourself before all present!” the Minister demanded sternly.

Under immense pressure, Huang Langzhong finally revealed the truth:

“Young Master Zhou accused them of assaulting him on the streets. Fearing they might flee, I acted swiftly without proper documentation, hoping to earn Zhou Li’s favour.”

Li Mubai’s eyes blazed with fury.

“Is this how you wield your power? Abusing authority to curry favour?”

The Minister, trembling with rage, barked,

“Guards! Release them immediately!”

Moments later, Xu Qian and Lin Qiye were released from their chains. Stepping into the sunlight of the courtyard, they saw the scholars of Yunlu Academy and the members of the Directorate of Celestial Surveillance awaiting them. A warm sense of gratitude filled their hearts.

They knew that without the support of these formidable allies, escaping Zhou Li’s clutches would have been impossible.