Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

"Insolence! You ungrateful scoundrel!" Seeing Long Cheng's arrogance, Ye Tingxiu stepped forward, grabbed Long Cheng's hair, and slapped him twice across the face. "This is my newly appointed Commissioner of Public Security of the Censorate. I have deigned to question you, and you still dare to speak rudely?"

Long Cheng's mouth bled instantly from the slap, and several teeth fell out. However, instead of giving in, Long Cheng became even more arrogant, laughing with his head held high, looking like a complete scoundrel: "Hit me, if you have the guts, kill me! If you don't dare to kill me, I'll despise you!"

Ye Tingxiu laughed in anger. Even on the verge of death, he still dared to be so arrogant. If he didn't teach him a lesson, would he think he was on vacation? "Fine, I'll see how tough your mouth is. Guards, drag him away and have his teeth pulled out and his tongue cut out a hundred times. He can be brought back when he learns to speak like a human being."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Tuo, one of his subordinates, stepped forward, grabbed Long Cheng by the back of his collar, and dragged him out of the teahouse like a dead dog.

Ye Tingxiu walked to the tea table, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and calmed himself down.

Zhou Qingfeng smiled slightly: "Old Ye, why get angry with thieves?"

Ye Tingxiu snorted coldly: "He can insult me, but if he insults you, then I'll have to deal with him. I can't stand it!"

Zhou Qingfeng shook his head and chuckled, then picked up the teapot and poured Ye Tingxiu a cup of tea: "You... never mind, it's good to wear down this thief's spirit first. Did you seize two cartloads of stolen goods before? Why don't we go take a look together? Maybe we'll find something new."

Zhou Yexiao and his two companions left the main hall of the Plum Blossom Bureau and went to the warehouse where the stolen goods were stored. The two carts of stolen goods were still being counted, valued, and put into storage by several clerks. As soon as the clerks saw their superiors arrive, they stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

Zhou Qingfeng held the scepter and nodded slightly: "Have you discovered the purpose of these two carts of stolen goods, or anything unusual about them?"

An official bowed respectfully and said, "Reporting to the Admiral, these two carts of stolen goods contained Xuan Yin Crystal Sand, Nightmare Glue, Tian Gang Condensed Dew, and Xuan Ming Stone Powder. These are all evil-grade raw materials used for alchemy and weapon forging. I led my men to inspect them repeatedly, and there was nothing unusual."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng frowned slightly: "Something's not right. These foreign thieves must have something to do with bringing these raw materials into the city. Have you investigated what these raw materials can be combined to make?"

Upon hearing this, the clerk replied in a panic, "This subordinate was negligent; please punish me, Commander."

Zhou Qingfeng waved his hand, signaling the official to leave, and then asked, "Xiao Xiao, what do you think?"

Xiao Hongyun shrugged: "I don't understand, I can't see anything."

Ye Tingxiu quickly added, "Don't look at me, I'm practicing with my sword."

Zhou Qingfeng: "..."

In this turbid and evil world, where every day is uncertain, everyone is pursuing the ultimate combat power. If one's energy is diverted to studying alchemy and weapon crafting, it will inevitably hinder cultivation. These non-combat cultivators make up a very small percentage, and even those who are there are mostly logistics personnel intentionally cultivated by various forces.

Fortunately, Zhou Qingfeng is no small fry either; he now holds considerable power and temporarily leads various departments.

He only needs to say what kind of talent he needs, and he can quickly transfer and appoint them.

After all, the entire Censorate consisted of seven departments, and these departments were full of hidden talents. There were at least a thousand officials in total. Having a background, connections, and influence was just the most basic stepping stone. Without some ability, one simply couldn't get in, and even if one did, one wouldn't stay long.

Zhou Qingfeng said calmly, "Issue the order to summon all those skilled in weapon crafting and alchemy from the Seven Departments to come and await appointment. Lord Xiao, go and do it."

"I will obey the Admiral's orders." Xiao Hongyun nodded in response, and his body scattered into sand in the wind.

Zhou Qingfeng walked to the various materials displayed in the open air and examined them one by one. After looking at them for a long time, he still couldn't figure them out. So he decided that he must study the professional knowledge of alchemy and weapon crafting in his spare time in the future. He could learn it but not use it, but he couldn't be ignorant of it.

After waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Long Cheng was dragged outside the warehouse and dared not shout any longer.

He had already witnessed the cruel methods of the Censorate. When prisoners were tortured, they were even provided with a complete medical team. Their teeth and tongues were completely removed and then restored by the doctor's magic. They were pulled out and cut off their tongues a hundred times, without missing a single one.

It wasn't that he could endure it a hundred times; in fact, during the first tooth extraction and tongue cutting, he was already in so much pain that he regretted it and wanted to beg for mercy.

However, there was no use in regretting it. Ye Tingxiu had given an order a hundred times, so his subordinates had to execute it precisely a hundred times.

Seeing that Zhou Qingfeng was still studying the materials with great interest, Ye Tingxiu walked up to Long Cheng, looked down at Long Cheng kneeling on the ground, and said coldly with one hand on his sword: "Long Cheng, that was just an appetizer. If you dare to speak disrespectfully to the Admiral again, I have a hundred ways to deal with you. Do you understand? Look up and answer me."

Long Cheng slowly raised his head, unwilling to back down or continue to be tortured, so he spoke almost imperceptibly.

Ye Tingxiu watched as his lips moved, but no sound came out. He looked at Sheng Tuo with a questioning gaze, wondering if his men had been too ruthless and had rendered the man mute.

Upon seeing this, Sheng Tuo quickly went up and slapped Long Cheng on the back of the head: "Damn it, you left your voice at home?!"

Long Cheng recognized the situation and responded loudly, "I heard you, Lord Ye, I understand."

Ye Tingxiu chuckled: "A person who isn't disciplined will become arrogant, and a sapling that isn't pruned won't grow straight. Look at you now, your attitude is much more upright."

Long Cheng appeared obedient: "Yes, Lord Ye is right. I know I was wrong and will never dare to do it again."

Ye Tingxiu nodded in satisfaction, turned around and walked up to Zhou Qingfeng, leaning close to his ear and saying, "The man is done. Long Cheng is just a weakling who's all bark and no bite. He's been given an appetizer and is much more obedient now."

Zhou Qingfeng reached into the wooden box containing the 'Xuanming Stone Powder' and repeatedly thrust his hand in and out. The texture of the Xuanming Stone Powder made him feel extremely comfortable, like inserting his hand into a rice jar. He didn't know why he was thrusting, but his hand instinctively began to thrust.

Interrupted by Ye Tingxiu's words, Zhou Qingfeng turned around and glanced at Long Cheng kneeling on the ground not far away.

Zhou Qingfeng slowly stood up, casually waving his scepter in his palm, and walked slowly to Long Cheng: "This admiral asks you, what exactly is your intention in transporting these materials to Sword Tower City? Tell the truth."

Long Cheng stared at the pile of raw materials not far away, remaining silent. He dared not speak disrespectfully again, but he also did not intend to confess.

Seeing this, Ye Tingxiu chuckled and rolled up his sleeves, ready to personally deal with Long Cheng: "Hey, you rascal, you've forgotten the pain once the wound has healed, haven't you? The Admiral is asking you a question, and you're ignoring it. Do you need another beating?"

Zhou Qingfeng patted Ye Tingxiu's chest, signaling him to calm down. Then, holding his scepter, he circled around Long Cheng, saying slowly, "Long Cheng, I know you're prepared to die, but didn't you just survive and get captured alive?"

"Since you've been captured alive, whether you speak or not is not up to you, nor is your life or death. To put it bluntly, no one can keep their mouth shut under the torture of the Censorate. It's just a matter of how long you can hold out before you speak. Speak now, and you'll suffer less."

Long Cheng pursed his lips. Having endured the torture of having his teeth pulled and his tongue cut out repeatedly, he dared not shout anymore. In the blink of an eye, he became a well-mannered and polite child: "Admiral Zhou, you are right. I understand the reasoning, but I cannot and dare not say it. Please forgive me."