Han Zheng, along with the Jing''an Guard, escorted a number of remnants from Heaven Net Martial Sect and Blood Demon Sect, returning grandly to the Capital Demon Suppression Department.

    This scene astonished everyone in the Capital Demon Suppression Department.

    Han Zheng had just solved the Arsenal case, then went to Heaven Net City and reaped great rewards, clearly earning significant merits.

    This young man had only recently joined the Capital Demon Suppression Department and already stood out so prominently; everyone could almost be certain that he would become a close and favored general of the Grand Commander, his rise unstoppable.

    At this moment, in a tall building within the Demon Suppression Department, He Tianxiong was coldly watching below as Han Zheng returned to headquarters with the Jing''an Guard.

    "Tsk tsk, is this the youngster who didn''t pay attention to you last time? Tsk tsk, no wonder he was mentored by Chen Baxian; he doesn''t seem to be an ordinary person either.

    I say, Old He, why do you always offend these promising newcomers? sea??h thё N??elFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    By the time you retire, they might already be in high positions, and you may have to curry favor with them."

    Behind He Tianxiong, a young man in his thirties with a handsome appearance, wearing gold-plated Heavenly Eagle Armor, teased He Tianxiong with a jug of wine.

    Although this man appeared young, he was slightly older than He Tianxiong. He was Li Zongyuan, the Central Capital Commander among the six Commanders of headquarters.

    He Tianxiong snorted coldly, "I offended them? Li Zongyuan, have you drunk too much? Shouldn''t they be afraid to offend me?"

    He Tianxiong targeted Han Zheng from the start because he was associated with Chen Baxian.

    He Tianxiong had suffered at the hands of Chen Baxian and couldn''t do anything to a Garrison Commander despite being a Commander, which had once left him quite embarrassed.

    So upon learning that Han Zheng was Chen Baxian''s man and had killed his confidant Lu Tianfang, He Tianxiong was furious.

    Who would have thought Han Zheng''s rise would be quicker than Chen Baxian''s, becoming the Chief of Thirteen Guards and gaining significant merits, gradually catching the Grand Commander''s attention.

    Going forward, even if he wanted to make a move against Han Zheng, it wouldn''t be easy.

    Li Zongyuan took a sip from his wine jug, laughing, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river— we now stand in high positions, but our cultivation is almost at its end.

    For individuals like Chen Baxian and Han Zheng, there''s still room to grow; who knows what heights they can reach in the future?

    So I''d rather offend those old but undying fellows in the Elder Court than offend these young and brilliant upstarts."

    He Tianxiong replied coldly, "That can wait until they reach such heights! Li Zongyuan, I notice you''ve been getting more cowardly lately, no wonder the Grand Commander doesn''t want to use you!"

    Li Zongyuan was the Central Capital Commander, with jurisdiction radiating from the Capital City to the Sixteen Cities.

    Logically, the Grand Commander should have sent Li Zongyuan to handle the Heaven Net City affair, but instead, he sent his Jing''an Guard.

    The reason being Li Zongyuan often pretended to be confused while knowing fully well, doing the work without effort, leading the Grand Commander to gradually stop relying on him.

    Li Zongyuan walked to the window, looking at Han Zheng and others, squinting his eyes, "That''s great! Not doing things wrong means nothing done wrong, more done, more mistakes.

    The waters here run deep, only these youths dare to plunge in."

    He Tianxiong frowned, "Do you know something?"

    "Don''t accuse me, I said nothing."

    Li Zongyuan shook his wine cup at He Tianxiong, "Take my advice: as long as Han Zheng is investigating this matter, don''t go looking for trouble, or you might get caught up in it. Don''t say I didn''t warn you."

    ...

    Han Zheng could sense that ever since he entered the headquarters of the Demon Suppression Department, someone had been watching him closely.

    However, this didn''t bother him much.

    To the Capital Demon Suppression Department, Han Zheng was a complete newcomer, yet such a high-profile one, surely attracting all sorts of attention.

    Whether malicious or merely curious, at least within the headquarters of the Demon Suppression Department, no one could do anything to Han Zheng.

    After locking up the disciples of Heaven Net Martial Sect and the remnants of the Blood Demon Sect in the Black Prison, Han Zheng immediately went to report the matter to Grand Commander Qi Zhangwu.

    At this moment, Qi Zhangwu was leisurely drinking tea and reading documents in his study, appearing quite at ease.

    People always said the Grand Commander was busy, but every time Han Zheng saw Qi Zhangwu, he seemed quite relaxed, leaving one to wonder what he was really busy with.

    "Back already? I heard you gained quite a lot from your trip."

    "Indeed, I gained quite a bit, but in the end, I didn''t uncover the truth behind the Arsenal case, only noticed a few things."

    As he spoke, Han Zheng recounted his entire journey to Qi Zhangwu and also helped Bu Tiange secure a position as a Demon Exterminator.

    Normally, with Han Zheng''s status, he didn''t need to report to the Grand Commander Qi Zhangwu regarding who he designated as a Demon Exterminator.

    However, given Bu Tiange''s special status, it was better to bring it up to Qi Zhangwu.

    Qi Zhangwu, after hearing everything, was surprised, "Your trip wasn''t just fruitful; it was truly remarkable."

    Then Qi Zhangwu sighed lightly, "Zhou Qiaonian was a pity. He was always so stubborn, lacking flexibility in his youth, and even more so in his old age.

    It was merely about a woman from the Blood Demon Sect. Even if we exterminated the Blood Demon Sect, I could have spared one woman.

    Yet he chose to be manipulated by the Blood Demon Sect for a woman, making by far the worst choice among a pile of options."

    After sighing, Qi Zhangwu said, "As for Bu Tiange, since you have a good relationship with him, making him a Demon Exterminator is naturally fine.

    There''s no need to worry about the Qingming Sword Pavilion; they have no place to run wild in the Capital.

    Plus, later you''ll accompany me to meet His Majesty and explain the matter regarding Princess Liang."

    Han Zheng was surprised, "Though Princess Liang was once a disciple under Heaven Net Martial Sect''s Sect Master Chen Changqing, that was long ago, and we found no evidence of her collusion with Chen Changqing.

    Strictly speaking, this matter is just hearsay; is it alright to report this to His Majesty?"

    Qi Zhangwu stood up and smiled, "The Demon Suppression Department needs evidence, but His Majesty does not.

    This is indeed based on speculation, but the key question is whether His Majesty cares about this matter.

    The Demon Suppression Department''s duty has always been to cleanse demons and protect Great Zhou; it''s best to stay out of power struggles.

    However, a struggle is only a struggle, but if someone tries inappropriate tactics within such struggles, that''s seeking death."

    Though still smiling, Han Zheng sensed a hint of coldness in Qi Zhangwu''s tone.

    Han Zheng showed a thoughtful expression as if understanding Qi Zhangwu''s intentions.

    The Arsenal case, at its core, involved people trying to overturn royal power, a power struggle within the high ranks of Great Zhou, something the Demon Suppression Department typically doesn''t meddle in.

    After all, whoever becomes Emperor would need the Demon Suppression Department; whoever is Emperor, the department serves.

    From the beginning, Qi Zhangwu wasn''t overly concerned about the matter; otherwise, he wouldn''t have entrusted this mission to a newcomer like Han Zheng.

    Thus, whether Han Zheng could uncover the Arsenal case was inconsequential. As long as the Demon Suppression Department appeared diligent before His Majesty, that was enough.

    However, the subsequent discovery of remnants from the Blood Demon Sect is something that the Demon Suppression Department cannot tolerate.

    Recently, they''ve uncovered the Duke Wei Mansion, the Heaven Net Martial Sect, and discovered that Zhou Qiaonian, who once earned remarkable merit for the Demon Suppression Department, was being seduced and manipulated by the Blood Demon Sect; this is something Qi Zhangwu cannot tolerate.

    The Grand Commander, who always appeared cheerful and good-natured, was truly a bit angry.

    No matter whether Princess Liang and Prince Liang were involved, Qi Zhangwu intended to escalate the matter to the Emperor.