After returning to the inn, Shang Xiangyu pondered repeatedly but still couldn’t make sense of it. However, he soon set the matter aside.
His time was limited, and thirty-six Blood Spring Pills would only last him half a year at most. With unknown changes in between, he had no time to attend to anything else.
Days and months passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month had gone by.
Pan Yong had long vanished from the world. Even with a Sea Arrest Document issued across the entire region, how could they catch someone who essentially didn’t exist?
On this day, Yang Yi once again arrived at the bamboo building in the mountain hollow.
It was early morning, and Yang Sixuan had someone summon him.
Yang Sixuan stood by the window of the bamboo building, looking at the faint light over the bamboo forest and listening to the birds chirping from the woods...
Yang Yi stood behind him.
Yang Yi had already reported to Yang Sixuan about the progress over the past month concerning the search for Pan Yong and the secret investigation into Shang Xiangyu.
In truth, the progress was essentially no progress.
Neither Pan Yong nor Shang Xiangyu left any trace, as if they had disappeared from the world.
Pan Yong was being openly searched for.
As for Shang Xiangyu, the Ministry of Communications and secret agents were covertly investigating. If any information arose, they were not to alert Shang Xiangyu and were to report immediately to the sect.
Yang Sixuan sighed, rubbing his temples in exhaustion.
It seemed Shang Xiangyu had prepared well against counter-surveillance once he left the mountain. Although he had issued secret orders immediately, he still couldn’t find any trace of Shang Xiangyu.
Pan Yong and Shang Xiangyu had only left the mountain not long ago. The first month was the easiest time for them to leave traces. Once this window passed, it would all depend on luck to find them.
Yang Yi suddenly said, "Chairman, how about issuing a Sea Arrest Document for Shang Xiangyu as well? Acting both openly and covertly might give us a better chance."
Yang Sixuan turned and glared at Yang Yi, coldly saying, "Use your brain!"
Seeing his uncle’s anger, Yang Yi immediately lowered his head, not daring to speak.
"Shang Xiangyu left the mountain intending to join the Filthy Blood Sect. By issuing a Sea Arrest Document to hunt him down, aren’t you afraid he’ll join the Filthy Blood Sect without reason?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Yi’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately understood Yang Sixuan’s meaning. If they issued a Sea Arrest Document, it would serve as a tool for Shang Xiangyu to gain the trust of the Filthy Blood Sect.
Moreover, seeing that Shang Xiangyu was an Inner Sect Disciple yet hunted by the sect, and being a pharmacist, the Filthy Blood Sect might even actively reach out to him.
In that case, wouldn’t they be helping Shang Xiangyu greatly?
Yang Yi said, "This case was handed to us by the Internal History Department of the Elder Hall. After more than a month, we should give them a written response."
Yang Sixuan angrily said, "Those people from the Internal History Department only know how to do bureaucratic work and neglect their proper duties."
Sighing deeply, Yang Sixuan continued, "In a sect that has lasted for eternity, it has become a melting pot. He knows well that many deep-seated practices can’t be changed just because he wants to. Even within the Elder Hall, hidden currents flow."
Yang Sixuan said, "Write a draft for me to see."
Yang Yi looked somewhat unwilling but still respectfully replied, "Yes."
Yang Yi was most annoyed with drafting case documents. Even though there were plenty of old Attendants in the Judgement and Rectification Department, why would his uncle frequently assign him the task of drafting case files?
Yang Yi asked, "That Registered Disciple Duan Rong is still in prison. He’s unrelated to the case, and his testimony has been quite valuable. Should we still keep him locked up?"
Although Duan Rong was unrelated to the case, as a Registered Disciple, as long as the case was unresolved, no one would dare object to the Judgement and Rectification Department keeping him detained.
"Let that kid... go... he has confessed everything he could."
After thinking briefly, Yang Yi added, "As per the rules, Old Qin from the Lower Courtyard should be punished too. He improperly authorized the exit pass for Pan Yong."
Yang Sixuan replied blandly, "Give him a verbal warning."
Hearing this, Yang Yi frowned in confusion. He thought at least Old Qin’s title as the Steward of the Lower Courtyard would be revoked.
Yang Sixuan glanced at him and said, "Do you not know that the Director of the Internal History Department in the Elder Hall also has the surname Qin? Old Qin from the Lower Courtyard is his cousin. You must consider the owner when hitting a dog. If you punish him too harshly and the case file reaches the Internal History Department, they’ll simply send it back. That group excels at factionalism, forming cliques, and setting up boundaries."
With a hint of resentment in his voice, Yang Sixuan continued, "In this sect, already stagnant, there are matters you can’t avoid even if you want to. Go now, I wish to rest for a while."
Noticing the weariness and frustration in Yang Sixuan’s eyes, Yang Yi felt a twinge of sympathy for his uncle. He wanted to advise him not to be too serious about certain things, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he merely said to rest well and not to worry too much about the case, then retreated from the bamboo building...
The day after Duan Rong was released, he first went to Xia Honghua, fearing she would be anxious and fire him, which would mean losing the sixty Contribution Points he earned each month.
Upon seeing Duan Rong, Xia Honghua was taken aback and asked after a moment, "You’ve been released?"
Duan Rong sighed and nodded.
It seemed Xia Honghua already knew, which was good as it saved him the trouble of explaining.
Pan Yong had stolen the sect’s precious medicaments and exchanged them using Shang Xiangyu’s Star Disc in this very pavilion. Yang Yi had investigated the place at least three times. When Duan Rong didn’t show up for days, Xia Honghua even went to Shang Xiangyu’s mount to look for him, but naturally found no one.