The night was as dark as ink, and the water vapor on the Canal carried the chill of autumn.

Inside the cabin of the Lin Family Treasure Ship, the lights were bright.

After seeing off the last group of people seeking medical help, everyone showed no sign of fatigue and didn't hurry to rest; instead, they busied themselves and waited patiently.

Just when they thought nothing would happen tonight, a sudden turn appeared.

"They're coming!"

Li Yan sniffed a bit, his gaze penetrating the porthole.

On the pier, the distant shadows of a team with wavering lanterns appeared.

Soon after, the sounds of clattering footsteps and whispers approached, stopping at the end of the jetty.

But the arrival of these people was somewhat unexpected.

One of them was clad in Captain Bureau armor, having a leopard-headed ring-eyed appearance, burly and strong. During the day, Li Yan saw him in the imperial envoy's entourage; he was the Thousand Households with real power at the Yangzhou Captaincy.

The other person made him squint slightly.

This person was about fifty years old, with a sturdy and robust physique, standing there like a cast-iron pile, unmoving.

Underneath a dark-colored brocade robe, his muscles seemed slightly twisted and tense.

He had a square face with thick eyebrows tightly furrowed, his brows full of reluctance, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Sha Lifei hurriedly whispered: "Yangzhou Zhang Family's Zhang Tiankui!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan immediately frowned.

Earlier, when investigating the figures on the ground in Yangzhou, he had some understanding of the local aristocratic Martial Arts Family, known for the renowned "Zhang's Martial Scholar Fist" and the unparalleled "Seven Star Step," producing Martial Champions for generations.

The current Family Head, Zhang Tiankui, was a master who had attained Astral Force.

Could it be that the Zhang Family has an issue...

As soon as the new Thousand Households of the Captain Bureau stepped onto the deck, he quickly stepped forward, cupped his fist, and greeted: "Greetings to Young Hero Li, you've labored all day, and our late-night disturbance is truly unavoidable!"

Li Yan nodded slightly, "Commander Zhou, you are too polite. May I ask what is the matter?"

This Commander Zhou then stepped aside, presenting Zhang Tiankui, and spoke in a deep voice: "This is the Family Head of the Yangzhou Zhang Family, whom you likely already know. A distant relative of the Zhang Family had an incident near the city outskirts at Zhangjiawan."

"The whole family... regardless of age or gender, in one night, the entire household... not even chickens or dogs were spared!"

As he reached the end, his voice trembled slightly.

After speaking, he looked at Zhang Tiankui.

Zhang Tiankui appeared somewhat reluctant, casually cupping his fist at Li Yan, "This is not a visit for medical consultation. It's just that the site of the massacre is sinister, the Captain Bureau suspects... it might be the work of pirates or the previous demons."

The tone was stiff, and he immediately closed his eyes after speaking.

Li Yan's gaze passed over both their faces, thoughts racing, he had some speculations.

This Zhang Tiankui was a leading figure in the local Martial Arts, renowned for a long time, yet during the turmoil in Yangzhou three days ago, he happened to be absent, and his disciples were caught off guard, becoming mere spectators.

Li Yan unraveled the siege of Yangzhou, yet it highlighted their incompetence, naturally making them unwilling to come.

The matter with the distant relative of the Zhang Family should have been routinely reported, but now, at this junction, the Captain Bureau is cautious, unwilling to make mistakes, naturally dragging them to come.

It seems, these two have little suspicion.

However, the massacre of the Zhang Family's distant relatives coincidentally happened when the pirates were fleeing...

Thinking of this, Li Yan earnestly cupped his fist, saying: "Dealing with pirate and demonic evils is Li's undeniable duty. There is no time to lose, please Commander, and Senior Zhang lead the way, let's take the ship to investigate immediately!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flicked through Zhang Tiankui's eyes, while the Thousand Households was overjoyed:

"Young Hero Li, such nobility! The ship is ready, just at the pier!"

The Lin Family Treasure Ship had suffered some minor damage that night and was under repair, so they could only take the official ship.

Li Yan gave a quick glance, and everyone promptly packed up their valuable luggage and disembarked the ship.

Soon, an official fast boat quietly carried everyone, along with the Captain Bureau's elite, away from East Gate Pier, heading upstream along the Canal's tributary towards Zhangjiawan in the Southwest.

The night wind blew fiercely, making the clothes flutter loudly. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Along the way, the newly appointed Commander Zhou continuously cozied up to Li Yan.

This guy was seasoned, clearly aware of Li Yan's influence in the Capital.

As for Zhang Tiankui, he only brought two disciples, standing silently at the bow.

About an hour later, at a bend in the river ahead, a bay village came into view.

At this moment, the village was dead silent, shrouded in night.

As the fast boat neared the pier, a metallic iron-like bloody scent filled the air.

Sticky and pungent, a chilling coldness swept up.

"That's the big household up front..."

Commander Zhou struggled to endure the discomfort, pointing towards the dark outline of the enclosed courtyard, adding: "The village consists of one family. Two days after the incident, a peddler discovered it. I specifically instructed not to disturb the crime scene."

Li Yan nodded, leading the group ashore.

He first went to a nearby farmer's house to inspect; inside was foul stench and pitch-black bloody filth.

The others were all mangled flesh, while the robust male head of the household had only a few scars, holding a hatchet, it impaled his neck, eyes reduced to blood holes.

"This is demonic possession; he killed his family before taking his own life."

Everyone was experienced and immediately saw through the scenario.

Subsequent houses revealed scenes of mutual slaughter.

Upon reaching the village center, Zhang Tiankui was silent, his figure blurred, ghostlike, his toes touched the ground, his form gave rise to seven faint remnants, landing directly at the grand entrance of the main mansion.

The footwork was mysterious, precisely the famed "Seven Star Step."

Li Yan followed calmly, employing Shrinking Ground into Inches, his speed unimpaired.

Zhang Tiankui squinted slightly, glancing at him once. Then he approached the heavy vermillion-lacquered door of the mansion, placing a palm on it, expelling a slight Gang Qi, engendering a teeth-jarring "creak" from the door's hinges.