Upon returning to the capital, Chen Xiao increased the number of guards on the Heavenly Prison to prevent Ling Xue or Li Chong from escaping or being broken into. At the same time, he and Chu Yanxi discussed further strategies to deal with the Shadow Cult.
Based on the existing clues, they drew a network diagram of relationships with people who had interacted with Li Chong, attempting to find more possible Shadow Cult spies in the court.
At the same time, Chen Xiao ordered local governments to pay close attention to any unusual movements of martial arts figures, especially those individuals or behaviors that might be related to the Shadow Cult.
Inside the prison, Ling Xue appeared calm, but in reality, she was secretly observing the guards' shift changes and the surrounding environment of the cell, looking for a possible opportunity to escape.
She knew that the Shadow Cult would not give up on her easily, and that as long as she could hold out until the cult's rescue arrived, there was a glimmer of hope.
Li Chongze fell into utter despair. He spent his days in prison weeping, constantly reflecting on his mistakes and regretting that he had been blinded by greed, fallen into the trap of the Shadow Cult, and ended up in this state.
A few days later, the atmosphere in the capital became increasingly tense.
Rumors of an impending attack by the Shadow Cult were circulating throughout the streets and alleys, causing widespread panic among the people.
To stabilize public morale, Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi personally went out of the palace to inspect the area, promising the people that they would ensure the peace of the Night Dynasty and protect their safety.
This move calmed public sentiment to some extent, but the threat of the Shadow Cult still loomed over the capital like a dark cloud.
Just then, a spy reported that some suspicious people had been spotted on the outskirts of the capital. They were acting furtively and seemed to be secretly spying on the capital's defenses.
Upon receiving the news, Chen Xiao immediately dispatched Ye Yu to lead a team of elite Imperial Guards to investigate. The goal was to ascertain the identities and purposes of these individuals. If they were related to the Shadow Cult, they were to be captured in one fell swoop. Their conspiracy must not be allowed to succeed, so as to gain more initiative in the upcoming battle between good and evil.
After receiving the order, Ye Yu quickly assembled the troops and set off. The sound of horses' hooves echoed through the streets of the capital, raising a cloud of dust.
They sped off like arrows towards the outskirts of the capital.
Upon arriving in the suburbs, Ye Yu signaled everyone to slow down and quietly approach the location of the suspicious person.
The suspicious individuals were scattered at the edge of a grove of trees. Some lingered nearby pretending to be passersby, while others hid behind trees, glancing towards the capital from time to time, holding simple drawings in their hands, as if they were recording something.
Ye Yu waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards, well-trained, dispersed to form an encirclement, gradually approaching the suspicious individuals.
As the encirclement narrowed to a certain extent, one of the suspicious individuals seemed to sense something amiss. Just as he was about to issue a warning, Ye Yu flashed before him like a ghost, his longsword drawn and pressed against the man's throat. He hissed, "Don't move! Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The man was pale and trembling slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Sir, we are just ordinary people passing through this area and have no ill intentions."
Ye Yu sneered: "Ordinary people? Then how do you explain the blueprints in your hand?"
By this time, the other Imperial Guards had also subdued the remaining suspicious individuals.
Ye Yu carefully examined these people and found that although they were dressed in the clothes of ordinary people, they had an undeniable air of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) about them, and their eyes revealed a cunning and vigilance.
He became increasingly certain that these people were no good and must have some connection with the Shadow Cult.
"Take them all back to the capital and hand them over to His Majesty for disposal!"
At Ye Yu's command, the Imperial Guards escorted these suspicious individuals back to the capital in a grand procession.
Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi waited quietly in the palace for news. When they learned that Ye Yu had successfully captured those suspicious people, they felt a little relieved.
They knew this might be a crucial breakthrough in uncovering the Shadow Cult's conspiracy.
Not long after, Ye Yu returned to the palace with the prisoners.
Chen Xiao immediately interrogated these people himself. However, these suspicious individuals seemed to have made a prior agreement, clenching their teeth and refusing to utter a single word.
Upon seeing this, Chen Xiao frowned deeply, knowing full well the extent of the Shadow Cult's brainwashing.
She turned to Chu Yanxi and said, "It seems that the Shadow Cult is extremely ruthless. These people would rather die than submit. We need to think of another way to extract useful information from them."
Chu Yanxi pondered for a moment, then said to Ye Yu, "We can interrogate these people separately to break down their psychological defenses. A thorough search of their belongings might yield some crucial clues."
Ye Yu nodded and immediately arranged for people to carry out the plan.
During the separate interrogations, a young Imperial Guard soldier noticed that the sole pattern of one of the suspicious individuals' shoes was extremely peculiar, resembling some kind of special mark.
He quickly reported the situation.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao immediately ordered his men to draw the patterns on the soles of all the suspicious individuals' shoes and send people to compare them to see if they were related to any known symbols or markings of the Shadow Cult.
Meanwhile, in the prison, Ling Xue was somewhat moved upon hearing that her accomplices had been arrested.
She knew full well that the Shadow Cult's plan could not afford to fail, but the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable to her side.
She began to reconsider her stance: whether to continue upholding her loyalty to the Shadow Cult or to seek a way out for herself.
Hearing the commotion outside his cell, Li Chong became increasingly fearful and uneasy.
He shouted at the jailer, claiming that he was willing to confess everything in order to receive a lighter sentence.
The jailer reported his request. Chen Xiao and Chu Yanxi exchanged a glance and decided to listen to Li Chong's words first to see if they could get any valuable clues.
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