Chapter 25

Gao Lishi personally came to inspect the examination grounds, accompanied by the Minister of Rites, the Assistant Minister of Rites, and two scholars from the Imperial Library and the Hongwen Pavilion. As soon as everyone arrived, the examiners hurriedly gathered in the center of the examination grounds to listen to the teachings. Just as they were talking and laughing, a voice suddenly came from outside.

"Imperial Examination Hall, unrelated people are not allowed to enter!"

"The Exorcism Division is on official business. Unrelated people, please leave!"

Gao Lishi, "…"

There was a commotion among the examiners. They all walked out of the corridor and looked out the door. At this time, Qiu Yongsi shouted, "Senior Official Li Jinglong of the Supreme Court's Exorcism Division has arrived —"

Li Jinglong, "…"

Gao Lishi said, "Li Jinglong! What are you doing?! "

The guards wanted to stop him, but Hongjun, who was behind Li Jinglong, scattered the five-colored divine light. How could mortals block it? They were immediately pushed out. In an instant, the examination grounds were in an uproar. The guards took out their weapons and pointed them at Li Jinglong and the four people behind him.

The examiners only saw a blur in front of them. They didn't know what method Li Jinglong's attendants used to put them down, but Gao Lishi knew that trouble was coming. If that night's words were true, this group of people were the exorcists Li Jinglong mentioned! Regardless of whether that move was a smokescreen or not, he was afraid that the guards at the door wouldn't be able to handle it. He had to find a way to stabilize him first.

"Let him in!" Gao Lishi said sternly.

The group entered the examination grounds. Li Jinglong first bowed to Gao Lishi in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.

Gao Lishi said, "Li Jinglong, your Exorcism Division has been officially disbanded. The time given to you is for you to go back and move. Why are you still causing trouble here?"

The Minister of Rites snorted and sized up Li Jinglong with a fake smile.

Only then did the people from the Exorcism Division know about it. They were extremely surprised and looked at Li Jinglong.

Li Jinglong said, "Today, I'm here on His Majesty's orders to supervise the examination and eliminate the demons in the examination grounds."

The examiners looked at each other, and some of them laughed. The Minister of Rites said, "Li Jinglong, are you crazy? I need to find you a doctor … "

Li Jinglong said, "His Majesty is on his way back from Mount Li. Let's not wait for him. Sirs, please be our witnesses."

Finished speaking, without paying attention to the crowd, he walked toward the corridor. Gao Lishi shouted, "Li Jinglong! What are you doing?! "

Hongjun and the others followed closely behind, followed closely by Gao Lishi, who quickly caught up with them. Everybody then made way for the officials. The Imperial Library scholar angrily said, "Li Jinglong! The examination venue is a place that concerns the fate of the nation. How dare you act so presumptuously here! "

In each of the rooms, the examinees heard the commotion outside and all gathered in front of the windows to look out curiously.

Li Jinglong walked over quickly. Gao Lishi roared, "Li Jinglong! You're crazy! Someone come quickly! Take him down — "

"Who dares to attack?!" Hearing Hongjun's voice, the guards did not dare to step forward. In the blink of an eye, Li Jinglong arrived in front of a room and lifted his foot to kick it.

That kick immediately broke the door lock.

"What are you doing?!"

One of the examinees inside immediately shouted. Still in shock, he sized up Li Jinglong. At that moment, Hongjun's heart thumped loudly. It was as if cold water had been poured over his body from head to toe. The surroundings were completely silent. Everyone had the same thought — it's over.

"I kicked the wrong door. Sorry." Li Jinglong closed the door.

Everyone: "…"

Li Jinglong kicked the door again. Gao Lishi finally could not bear it and roared, "Li Jinglong!"

Li Jinglong moved to the side, and Gao Lishi instantly quieted down.

One room, one table. In front of the table were scattered clothes, and in the middle of the scholar's robes lay a gray fox.

Hongjun almost cheered out loud. Everyone else heaved a sigh of relief.

"What's going on?" Gao Lishi seemed to have seen the biggest joke in the world. He looked at the examiners. The Minister of Rites came over to take a look, took half a step back, and fell to the ground in shock.

"This … this …" The Minister of Rites said in a trembling voice, "What does this mean?"

"Where is he?!" The examiners exclaimed.

Li Jinglong scanned the crowd. At the same time, everyone in the Exorcism Division was quickly sizing up the people present, trying to find clues.

Mo Rigen shook his head imperceptibly, meaning that there was no mastermind here. The examinee next door stuck his head out to take a look. Qiu Yongsi stuffed him back in. Hongjun twisted the door and locked it again.

"Catch the fox." Li Jinglong said coldly, "Take the waist token and clothes. Go to the next room. "

"There's more?!" The examiners were shocked.

Li Jinglong kicked open the next door. Gao Lishi still had not recovered from his shock and hurriedly said, "Wait!"

"What are you waiting for?" Li Jinglong said, "General Gao, the people participating in the Tang Dynasty's imperial examinations are actually a group of foxes. In the future, the officialdom will be filled with demons. Aren't you afraid?"

That sentence instantly revealed the nature of the problem. The examiners, the Grand Scholar, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Rites … all the officials present felt a chill down their spines. They finally realized the severity of the situation.

"Look carefully." Li Jinglong kicked open several doors in succession. He first let everyone look one by one, then let Mo Rigen catch the foxes. Qiu Yongsi stuck talismans on the drill ground and used talisman paper to set up a formation. He threw all the sleeping foxes inside.

"Wait!"

More and more foxes appeared. Gao Lishi was completely stunned. He shouted, "Li Jinglong! Explain to me clearly, what is this … "

Hongjun said, "Kick one for me too."

Li Jinglong said, "Go ahead. Atay, you and the others catch the rest."

"Stop, stop." The Grand Scholar kept panting. It was as if every door Li Jinglong kicked open would turn the examinees inside into foxes. Gao Lishi shouted, "Li Jinglong! What kind of sorcery are you using?! "

Hongjun kicked twice, satisfying his desire to destroy. After kicking open the door, Li Jinglong pulled out the foxes. After two or three consecutive slaps, the Minister of Rites said, "This matter has not been investigated yet! Li Jinglong! Explain to me clearly! Otherwise, you are not allowed to kick open the door! "

Li Jinglong said, "The Exorcism Department is not under the jurisdiction of your Ministry of Rites. Go and invite the Minister of Justice over."

Gao Lishi roared, "Li Jinglong! This is your sorcery! You … you want revenge! "

Li Jinglong stopped, glanced at Gao Lishi, then turned around and walked towards him. Gao Lishi and the others were suddenly incomparably terrified, and couldn't help but retreat. They were afraid that under his foot, they would also be kicked into a fox.

But at this time, an announcement sounded throughout the examination hall.

"His Majesty has arrived — —!"

The entire examination hall was in an uproar. The examinees who did not know what was going on all rushed to the window, fighting to see Li Longji's true appearance. At this time, they saw Li Longji in casual clothes walking in front with large strides. Feng Changqing followed behind Li Longji with a crutch.

Li Longji stopped when he passed by the empty space. He glanced at the foxes in the glyph array, his eyes full of shock. He turned to Feng Changqing, but Feng Changqing made a "please" gesture.

"Your Majesty."

Li Longji walked over, and everyone hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Li Jinglong cupped his fists and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, General Gao and the others are assisting this subject in capturing these fox demons."

Li Longji turned to glance at Gao Lishi and said in a low voice, "Is that true?"

Gao Lishi could not help but tremble. Li Jinglong's move was extremely beautiful. He had to nod even if he did not want to. He could only say, "Yes … yes … but this subject also does not know why …"

"Open the door and let this Emperor take a look." Li Longji stood in front of another door.

The examiner took the key, but his hands could not help but tremble. He could not open the door. Hongjun rushed forward and helped Li Longji kick the wooden door open.

Li Longji quickly walked into the room. Li Jinglong wanted to stop him, but Feng Changqing indicated that it was fine. The majesty of the Emperor was still present. Li Longji personally entered the side room, picked up the fox's ears, and took a look.

"How many more?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, a total of two hundred and sixty-six." Li Jinglong replied.

Li Longji's eyes were filled with anger. He went to the next door, and without waiting for others to open the door, he lifted his leg and kicked the door open.

As expected, they were all foxes!

After a full two hours, the open space of the examination hall was filled with foxes. Hongjun's drug was extremely strong, causing the fox demons to not wake up for a while.

Li Longji sat on the chair and panted. When he looked at Li Jinglong, there was a tacit understanding of fear in his eyes.

"This one is for you." Li Jinglong held a little fox and handed it to Hongjun. There was a jade Buddha statue tied to its front leg.

Hongjun felt relieved. Just as he was about to thank him, Li Jinglong said, "You still have to do me a favor, Hongjun."

At dusk, in the imperial study, the little fox in the cage woke up. It suddenly trembled and opened its eyes wide. It glanced left and right at the talisman stuck on the cage.

"Don't worry." Hongjun's voice sounded from the side of the study. "It's very safe to hide here. They won't find you."

The little fox's fur stood on end as it stared at Hongjun in disbelief. Hongjun sat on the windowsill, one foot on the windowsill and the other hanging down, forming a beautiful silhouette.

"I'm sorry." Hongjun said, "I entered the Imperial College that day to investigate your identities."

"You … You …" The fox opened its mouth. "Who are you?"

"An exorcist." Hongjun answered in a low voice.

"You lied to me!" The little fox screamed.

Hongjun said, "But I also saved your life. Otherwise, you would be dead now."

"Where are they?" The little fox asked in a trembling voice.

"They've all revealed themselves." Hongjun answered, "Who sent you here?"

The little fox immediately became alert. Hongjun tilted his head and smiled at it. "Tell me who's the mastermind, and I'll let you go."

The little fox didn't make a sound. Its eyes were filled with tears and it couldn't stop trembling.

"I don't know." The little fox said in a sobbing voice, "I'm begging you, let me go."

"You've killed so many scholars." Hongjun said, "I'm afraid you're not innocent."

The little fox screamed, "I didn't kill anyone! I really didn't! "

Hongjun said, "What about your other clansmen?"

The little fox didn't say anything.

Hongjun said, "You worked together and killed two hundred and sixty six scholars. Among them, there might be some officials from the Tang Dynasty. "

The little fox said, "But I really didn't. They were never willing to let me absorb the essence of mortals. When I arrived, that child had already been sucked dry by other clansmen."

Hongjun couldn't help trembling as the hairs on his back stood on end.

"They wanted me to replace the scholars, so I did it. I'm begging you! I'm begging you! Hongjun! "

Hongjun jumped off the windowsill and sighed. He squatted down to observe the little fox with a bit of guilt in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." Hongjun said in the end.

He stretched out his hand and wanted to sprinkle the powder in, but the little fox bit his finger and made a sound. In an instant, the little fox fell asleep again. Li Jinglong quickly rushed out from behind the bookshelf.

"Are you hurt?" Li Jinglong hurriedly said, "Let me take a look."

Hongjun's index finger was bitten. Li Jinglong hurriedly pinched his hand. Hongjun said, "It's okay. When I was in the mountains, I was often bitten by animals."

Li Longji walked out from behind the bookshelf and saw and heard the whole thing.

Hongjun stood up and Li Jinglong said on his behalf, "Your Majesty, this subject will plead for mercy for this fox demon on behalf of Hongjun. It has never harmed anyone …"

"Forget it." Li Longji flicked his sleeves and said, "You decide."

At that moment, Li Longji seemed to have aged quite a bit under the setting sun. His steps were a bit dispirited as he slowly walked out of the imperial study. Hongjun let out a sigh of relief and followed behind Li Jinglong with Li Longji.

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." Li Longji paced in front and said, "We probably wouldn't have believed in this lifetime that such a ridiculous thing could happen."

At dusk, Yang Yuhuan stood on the steps of Xingqing Palace's rear hall and looked at the sleeping fox piled in the middle of the empty space with shock in her eyes. The Madam of Guo and Yang Guozhong's faces instantly turned ashen. Feng Changqing and Gao Lishi stood on either side of her. The eunuchs brought out several chairs and invited the imperial relatives who had just returned from Pure Flowers Palace to sit down.

"This is what General Feng said …" Yang Yuhuan couldn't believe her eyes.

"That's right," Feng Changqing replied, "It's the fox demons who disguised themselves as imperial examinees and tried to cause chaos in the Tang Dynasty."

Qiu Yongsi, Atay, and Mo Rigen were standing guard in front of the pile of foxes. They each held their weapons in preparation for the fox demons to suddenly wake up.

Li Longji walked past the pile of fox demons without even looking at them. He sighed deeply and sat on a chair at the top of the steps. Yang Yuhuan looked at the fox demons, then looked at Li Longji. Li Longji placed a hand on the back of Yang Yuhuan's hand and said to Li Jinglong, who had followed them, "Jinglong, tell everyone."

Li Jinglong said seriously, "Your Majesty, Noble Consort, everyone, this matter started from when Hongjun entered Chang 'an …"

Li Jinglong stood at the bottom of the steps and began to narrate. He started from when Hongjun arrived in Chang 'an and discovered the Flying Mastiff. When he mentioned Pingkang, Yang Yuhuan frowned and said, "So that's how it is. You were in Pingkang that day to investigate a case?"

Li Jinglong: "…"

Li Jinglong braced himself and replied, "Yes, this subject had already discovered … there was demonic energy in Pingkang."

This is the crime of deceiving the monarch … All the subordinates thought at the same time. But forget it, we'll give you a chance to restore your good reputation. In any case, Hongjun was the one who caused the disaster.

Hongjun almost said "No," but was stopped by Li Jinglong's gaze.

Then, Li Jinglong talked about entering Pingkang twice, finding the fox demon, and then following the clues to find the Flying Mastiff. The only thing he didn't mention was the throwing knife that Hongjun had lost. At that time, Hu Sheng and the city gate guards were summoned to testify to prove that it wasn't a lie.

During the whole process, Li Longji and Yang Guifei trembled with fear. Madam Guo said in a trembling voice, "You also went to the Daming Palace to fight?"

Yang Guozhong frowned and said, "How can you be sure that these foxes are really examinees and not a trick …"

Li Longji raised his hand and interrupted, "I've already confirmed it myself. There's no need to doubt it anymore. Li Jinglong, continue."

Li Jinglong told everything that happened in the Daming Palace and said, "That demon was extremely difficult to subdue. When it struggled, it destroyed the gold and jewelry in the Daming Palace. Jinglong was really scared …"

"What you've done today." Li Longji said slowly, "It's already been paid. Don't worry about it. Just count it on me."

Everyone was relieved that they didn't have to pay any more compensation.

In fact, Li Longji had heard the details of the whole case from Feng Changqing, but now it was even more shocking from Li Jinglong's mouth.

In the end, Li Jinglong said, "These fox demons have caused chaos in the court and are extremely evil. I beg Your Majesty to eliminate them here."

"As you wish," Li Longji said coldly, "The Ministry of Rites will give the deceased examinees a pension and inform their families."

The minister of the Ministry of Rites hurriedly bowed and agreed. Yang Yuhuan's eyes were filled with pity and she sighed.

"Among my four subordinates, one of them is called Tegra Isai." Li Jinglong said, "He's a former Persian …"

"Isai?" Li Longji's expression changed when he heard this. He asked, "What's his relationship with Ni Nizhi?"

"He's my father." Atay stepped forward and bowed to Li Longji.

Li Longji looked at Atay and said in a deep voice, "You're back?"

Atay sighed and smiled. "Yes, I'm willing to do my best for the Tang Dynasty."

Li Longji frowned and looked at Atay, as if he was lost in his memories. Li Jinglong said, "Tegra is a disciple of the Zoroastrianism and is proficient in the art of fire. If he burns the fox demons, it will be a great success."

Yang Yuhuan, Yang Guozhong, and Madam Guo all looked sad when they heard this. Li Longji said angrily, "Burn them!"

The fox demons had deceived everyone and replaced the examinees. If this matter spread out, the Tang Dynasty's prestige and the Emperor's dignity would be ruined. The imperial examination would also become a joke. How could he bear it?

Li Jinglong stepped back and gestured to Atay, indicating that he could burn them.

"If you don't want to watch, you can leave for a while," Li Jinglong whispered to Hongjun.

Hongjun said, "It's okay."

Atay murmured an incantation. In the blood-red dusk on the square, the ring in his hand suddenly burst out thousands of red lights and turned into a raging fire. Then he shook the folding fan in his hand, and the fire and wind combined into a tornado that swept into the fox demons.

The raging fire burned, and the two hundred fox demons suddenly screamed and woke up. However, they couldn't escape. In just a few seconds, the screams quickly died down, and the square returned to silence. The raging fire rose into the sky with a pungent smell and crackling sounds. After the fox demons died, there seemed to be a terrible force rushing into the sky!

Li Longji couldn't help trembling, and everyone on the Drill Ground changed their expressions at the same time!

The force was like the resentment and hostility released by the fox demons before they died. It kept rising and turned into a black flame that rushed into the sky. Li Jinglong didn't expect this change and immediately shouted, "Protect His Majesty!"

At that moment, Hongjun felt a strong resentment, as if his heart was about to burst. A lot of sadness, anger, and other emotions gushed out. Li Jinglong immediately pulled him aside and protected him.

As soon as Li Jinglong stood in front of Hongjun, the strong resentment faded away. After the black flame rose into the sky, it turned into a meteor-like trajectory, shooting into the sky and disappearing completely.

Yang Yuhuan frowned and asked, "What's this?"

"Reporting to Imperial Concubine." Mo Rigen answered, "This is the resentment of the demons that absorbed the blood of mortals. Now that the demons have been killed, the souls of the candidates who died at their hands have returned to the heavenly veins. There's no need to worry."

Under the cover of the night, the fox demon corpses had been burned to ashes, and there was a crackling sound. The Drill Ground was dead silent. No one dared to speak, and everyone was thinking.