Chapter 113: Mutual Prey, Mutual Hook
rd to its sheath.Though the battle remained undecided, it was clear that Li Longchuan hadn't unleashed his full power and hadn't fought at his utmost.To test Li Longchuan's archery skills, he also hid...In the ruined crypt, corpses lay scattered everywhere. They were packed together densely.
The blasted skull, the shattered limbs, the charred remains... all together constructed a grotesque picture amidst the rubble. Everything was static, save for the crimson blood flowing everywhere, like sentient blood snakes, greedily seeking something in the gloom.
Among the broken walls and shattered bricks, Zhang Linchuan sat on the only intact chair. He was draped in black. At that time, she was under the oppressive gloom of those dark clouds. At that time, all evidence was erased, and at that time, her last remaining relative floated lifelessly in the sea. At that time, no one connected to the case many years ago was trustworthy, none were innocent!
The Four Great Qing Clans have continued from the time of Emperor Wu of Qi to the present day. Although their influence has waned, their network of contacts remains extensive. But at that time, looking around the entire state of Qi, there was simply no one they could trust.
This can't be said to be anything but a tragedy. Under the rule of the powerful, people's hearts become treacherous.
In the eternally flowing river of history, how many stories that should have been great were cut short and did not continue. The cruelty of history lies in this. The weight of history also lies in this.
Lost in the world of Taoism, time always seemed to fly by. The sun shifted, and before I knew it, dusk had arrived. The newly appointed Duke of Bo望, Da Qi, with his round face and big ears, hurried to the mansion. Pushing open the door, he filled the study, making it seem less spacious.
He was still wearing the opulent robes of a State Duke, and on his head sat a specially made Duke's jade crown - just from these outward signs of rank, he could earn more courtly stone than others with the same title.
Right behind him, taking small, measured steps, was Yi Si who wore a robe of formal imperial garments.
She, clad in heavy armor, was cold and hard, as solid as a sculpture. Unarmored, she was frail, thin, and timid. Now that her name was listed among the distinguished families of the court, and having married into a duke's family, she had also cultivated a degree of elegance and grace.
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Only the way this person follows Chongxuan Pang closely, step by step, can you still see a hint of the past.
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This couple, seeing that the ceremony of succession had just ended, hurried to his door.
Jiang Wang stood up to greet him, but before he could speak, Chong Xuan Sheng waved his hand with a commanding air and said, "Sit down and talk."
He was like being back in his own home, greeting the anxious, poor relatives who were waiting inside.
He walked over to his custom-made large chair very naturally, and sat down comfortably. He grumbled, "Honestly, I don't want to be a Marquis at all. What does it mean to inherit indefinitely Doesn't it just mean that my descendants will have to serve the court for generations to come Saying 'those who are capable should do more work,' isn't that infuriating"
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She impatiently yanked the jade crown off her head and tossed it onto the nearby table. "Too cumbersome! This crown is too large, I have so many gifts to receive on my side that I can't put them down for a moment. Let me leave it here with you for a few days."
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Jiang Wang sat down silently, his eyelids twitching.
He hadn't noticed it before, but today when Chong Xuansheng sat down so boldly, he realized that the position Chong Xuansheng chose was actually the main seat of this study.
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When the noble Marquis Bo Wang, adorned in splendid silks and fine robes, sat down there,
On both sides are stone screens carved with dragons and tigers fighting, as if they were alive. Sitting at this desk, I resemble a scholar!
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even give you the time of day.
But today, after all, they came to help.
After much deliberation, I could only purse my lips and reply, "I promise to take good care of it."
Zhong Xuan waved his hand: "Don't worry too much, this crown is nothing special. It's just hereditary and unchanging for four words, not worth much. Keep a level head, Xiao Jiang, keep a level head."
Jiang Wang looked as if she hadn't heard, only smiling and winking at Fourteenth Dao: "Sister, you sit too, let's talk."
At the beginning, when he asked Yi Xingchen to take Fourteen as his adopted daughter, one of the bargaining chips was that he, Jiang Wang, considered Fourteen his closest friend.
However, after Yi Huai-min arrived, he began to spread word everywhere that Wu'an Hou was Yi Shi's sworn brother, and his own Yi Huai-min's biological brother—it's unclear how he calculated this relationship.
But Jiang Wang didn't mind acting like the older brother in front of Chongxuan Pang. Especially since Shi Fourteen and Chongxuan Pang were both older than him, he felt particularly pleased to have the upper hand.
After taking off his armor, Fourteenth was no longer as taciturn as before. He even smiled and replied, "Alright, Big Brother Jiang."
“Enough with the pleasantries.” Chong Xuan’s face was grim as soon as he saw the situation. He got straight to the point, his expression sour as he looked at Jiang Wang: “Why didn’t you tell me about Lin Youxie going missing”
Jiang Wang explained, "Thinking about it, it's not a complicated matter to just find someone."
He was being stared at by Chongxuan's pair of piercing eyes.
He sighed and honestly said, "I don't want to drag you into this."
Zhong Xuan glanced at him slantingly: "Are you so certain that Lin Youxie's disappearance is related to the current Empress"
Jiang Wang shook her head. "I'm not so sure, but at least part of it is possible."
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Zhongxuan squinted his eyes and said, "When I just arrived, I ran into Bao Zhongqing. He was very enthusiastic and greeted me. I chased him away."
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Jiang Wang certainly wouldn't blame Zhong Xuan Sheng because of a Bao Zhong Qing. He just asked, "How did you manage to chase him away"
"Just let him go," Chong Xuan said. "My grandfather passed away, and he came to the mansion to perform, so I accompanied him out of courtesy. If necessary, I could even stage a reconciliation with him for appearances' sake. It wouldn't be a big deal. But he shouldn't have, absolutely shouldn't have, schemed in this situation. I don't have time to play mind games with him. So, I simply chose the easiest way."
Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said, “He came over yesterday just to tell me he would use the power of Bao Shi’s carriages and horses to help me find someone. I told him that if he found Lin Youxie’s whereabouts, I would owe him a favor.”
Zhong Xuan sighed, "You're actually a smart person. Why do you become careless when it comes to your friends I ask you to think carefully for a moment, what clues could Bao Zhongqing give you What kind of clues would he offer"
Jiang Wang was silent for a moment before saying, “I thought I’d use him, and I did. Whether the clues are real or not, I can always tell.”
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Zhong Xuan sighed again, his voice even heavier this time: "I don't know if you overestimate your own intelligence or underestimate Bao Zhongqing's cunning. Even I wouldn't dare say that I could discern truth from falsehood within his schemes. How dare you speak so confidently Furthermore, does a real clue always lead to the true truth"
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Jiang Wang frowned in puzzlement: "What could he possibly gain from this"
"He can achieve so much! If you give someone like him a chance, he won't disappoint you. "Zhong Xuan said, "You are a good piece, a sharp sword, but you don't realize it. Jiang Wang, have you ever considered what if Bao Zhongqing and the Bao family behind him wanted to bring down the empress What if they wanted to overthrow the current crown prince Are you prepared to be involved in the struggle for the throne"
Jiang Wang's eyelids twitched: "Where could I possibly do that"
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“You certainly can't do it, but you will become a trumpet, a symbol, and you will die tragically as the banner of the new Qi people!” Chongxuansheng was somewhat unable to contain his anger: “And your death would itself become a sharper weapon! Your value has increased tenfold! Jiang Wang, Lin Youxie's identity is so sensitive, you dare to easily step into his trap in this kind of thing. Do you think you can bear all the consequences Are you offering your head with both hands!”
"Some intel, from someone who's been right beside him all along." Zhen Xuan tapped his temple. "There's no use thinking about it here."
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Jiang Wang said, "It seems I really underestimated Bao Zhongqing."
“More than you underestimate Bao Ma Zi” Chong Xuan sighed: “I and he have the same fate. We were both disliked when we were young, but I always felt that one day when I held the reins of Chong Xuan Shi, he would be my opponent. That's why I bought people around him long ago. For all these years, I thought I knew him very well, I always felt that he was scheming but lacked courage. Until the War of Xia, he surprised me.”
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"This time, although I didn't get concrete evidence. But for someone like Bao Zhongqing, it's not an exaggeration to speculate with the worst intentions. You're in a bind right now, and so am I, too busy to play games with him. I might as well just tell him to scram. With his cunning, he'll just laugh it off and let it go. He won't bother us again."
Jiang Wang merely said, "Although Bao Zhongqing only wants to use me, what if Lin Youxie's affair is truly related to the current empress"
Zhong Xuan pressed his forehead, he had a terrible headache.
He knew Jiang Wang too well. The guy wasn't stupid, and he wasn't completely naive about Bao Zhongqing either, but for some inexplicable insistence, he still stepped into the trap willingly. He believed that deep down, this guy had even made some terrible preparations. Otherwise, why would he not contact him, or Li Longchuan, or Yan Fu in this matter, but accept Bao Zhongqing's help
Before the worst possible outcome, he was afraid of implicating himself, but he was willing to go all the way with Bao Zhongqing!
Zhong Xuan took a deep breath, feeling both touched and exasperated. "It couldn't be her," he said, "You have a prejudice against her. Besides, you think of the Empress Dowager as too naive!"
The newly appointed Marquis of Bo望 spoke with great confidence: “The Emperor's words at the time, 'A national scholar should not be treated lightly,' clearly showed his attitude. Even if the Empress hated Lin Xiang and could not tolerate anyone, she would not openly defy the Emperor's wishes. I ask you, what benefit would there be for her to deal with Lin Youxie What benefit would it bring to the current Crown Prince's status as heir apparent At such a crucial time in succession, she wouldn't create unnecessary trouble!”
“I really can't forget what she did.” Jiang Wang paused, then asked, “But if it wasn't her, Lin Youxie was fine and there were no other grudges against her. Who would have targeted her”
"Firstly, she was just missing, not necessarily dead. Secondly, even if she were dead, it wouldn't be a murder."
Her ancestors' feuds had long since dissipated along with the four great prominent families. After Li Yougui was executed, everyone wished to sever ties with the four great prominent families completely, except for you. Who else would be willing to get involved in this mess Her network of connections is actually very clear and can be seen at a glance.
"Zhong Xuan said calmly, 'The forces involved with Lin Youxie definitely wouldn't include the Empress and the Crown Prince. This matter likely has nothing to do with the Tian family either. There's no benefit for them, nor any emotional motivation.'"
Speaking of this, he couldn't help but frown: "But there's Tian Anping in the Tian family. What he will do is really unpredictable."
Tian Anping is too crazy, he does everything too selfishly. It's impossible to guess his actions based on logic of interests or emotions.
Jiang Wang recalled what he had confirmed from Tian Chang at the time. Wu Lie was killed by Tian Anping himself, and then his body was thrown into the sea, deliberately leaving some clues behind.
At that time, he also asked Tian Chang and Tian Anping the purpose of doing this.
Tian Chang's answer was: — "Do you think Tian Anping's behavior could be logically deduced Would he be so crazy"
Whether inside the Tian family or outside of it, no one could fathom Tian Anping's thoughts.
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> Because he was such a madcap, even someone as intelligent as Chong Xuan Sheng couldn't tell if they could exclude him from the situation.
Jiang Wang said, "Actually, during that time in the Qixinglou Secret Realm, I had an unexpected gain. In the Hidden Star World, I exposed Tian Anping's plan and obtained the flower that replenishes lifespan. During the process, I encountered a member of the Tian family named Tian Chang."
At that moment, he recounted to Chong Xuansheng his interactions and exploitation of Tian Chang and Tian He in the Hidden Star World.
He emphasized the news he received later from Tian Chang, namely that Tian Anping had personally killed Wu Li.
Zhong Xuan pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said, "Tian Chang, this is indeed a good move. You're lucky to have obtained such an opportunity in the Qixing Secret Realm. In the future, unless absolutely necessary, don't contact him again. Such a move should only be used when making a final decision."
"Do you have any feelings for Tian Anping" Jiang Wang asked.
The four words "one hammer settles the matter" made him a bit sensitive.
Zhong Xuan shook his head. "As long as he doesn't go crazy on us, why would I have any thoughts about him"
He suddenly stated firmly, "It couldn't be Tian Anping." Jiang Wang asked, "Why do you say that"
"He threw Ulie's body into the sea, that was proof enough." Chong Xuan sighed, "That itself is a signal. He's using Ulie's corpse to tell those who can see the clues, he is the murderer. He takes responsibility for everything Tian Jia did in Lei Gui Fei's case. He awaits his revenge, he craves an exciting revenge!"
Jiang Wang originally wanted to say, "Is this person crazy" But when he thought about this person's name being Tian Anping, he felt it was quite reasonable. So he said, "He is waiting for Lin Youxie to prepare to kill him, so he won't take the initiative to find Lin Youxie"
Zhong Xuansheng rose from the exceptionally wide chair and clapped his hands. "Correct," he said.
"Where could Lin Youxie's evil deeds have landed" Jiang Wang's voice was finally a little bitter. Chong Xuan Sheng was certainly much smarter than him, and he also drew out the clues, analyzing them bit by bit. But now that all the clues had been ruled out, where else could they find Lin Youxie
Zhong Xuansheng walked and said, "I had Qing Zhu tell you that this matter might not be complicated. In fact, Bao Zhongqing has already given you the answer."
Jiang Wang frowned: "Bao Zhongqing"
"Remember when I told you about how Bob Zhao died" Chong Xuan Sheng asked.
Jiang Wang shook his head. "That's just your private speculation, there's no evidence."
"Many things don't need evidence," Zheng Xuan said.
"Even if he died amidst thousands of soldiers, crushed into a paste, there would be some trace left behind. It wouldn't disappear without a sound. In the Battle of Sheshan, Tai Yin moved the Dao and killed so many people, and there were still witnesses. What about Bobo Zhao's death The soldiers from Wuyang City, and then the person was gone. If he had been chased and killed by Tai Yin, where is his head Where is his body Where are the Xia Guo military records There's nothing, he died so clean, this itself is a problem. Of course, as long as Bao Zhongqing bites back hard, no one can force him to confess. Back to Lin Youxie's disappearance, don't you think she disappeared too cleanly"
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He stressed the pronunciation of the two characters "clean." Jiang Wang seemed thoughtful, his expression dimmed.
“So, Lin Girl’s disappearance was done by Bao Zhongqing!” Fourteenth, who had been silently listening for a long time, suddenly realized.
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Zheng Xuan sighed and said with a weary voice, "The answer should still be in Lushuang County."
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He walked to the bookcase, with a fat hand he drew out a scroll of the Daqi Territory Map, and turned back, spreading it on the table.
With his large fingers, he drew a big circle along the border of Lu Shuang County.
Moreover, after time passed, Lin Youxie never again mentioned the nameless book he had given her at that time.
Unfortunately, Jiang Wang didn't open it until today.
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Where are you, Lin Youxie Where have you gone
The lamp in the study of Hou Bo's mansion stayed lit all night.
The steward Xie Ping arranged the day's affairs in the mansion after getting up early that morning, and specifically instructed the servants passing by the study to be quiet. The troupe of dancers from Chu who were being kept in the backyard were also told to stop rehearsing ahead of time.
To speak of it, ever since the Marquis brought this group of beauties back from the grassland, he had never admired them even once, merely keeping them.
Could it be that you find this path disagreeable
Of course, Xie Ping only dared to think this in his heart and not speak it aloud. Even a loose-lipped maidservant who actually voiced such a question was kicked out of the Hou's mansion that day.
When Zhu Yao woke up in the morning to practice his punches, his master was still in his study. He quietly practiced yesterday's routines without disturbing him.
He was a country boy who wasn't afraid of hard work. He hated studying, but he wasn't afraid to sweat. He could do work and earn money since he was young.
It's because I know Master treats me well that I dare to be occasionally willful and playful.
Whether or not the entire Wuhou Mansion was quiet had no effect on Jiang Wang at this time. He was completely immersed in the world of the Nianchen Art.
At first, it was just a sudden thought. I wondered if, after achieving "Nianchen," could I use this secret art to find Lin Youxie's whereabouts
The principle of the Dust-Tracing Art was roughly clear to him. It started from a person's "thoughts," using "subconscious strands" to leave an imprint on the target, intangible, massless, and untraceable.
Starting from the main thought of oneself, one can always connect with subsidiary thoughts and respond to them, thus capturing traces.
This thought-dust can not only linger in a target's mind, but can also be entrusted to objects. When he teamed up with Lin Youxie to capture Wu Yiyu, they relied on Lin Youxie's thought-dust residing within Cui Fangluo.
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If one cultivates the art of Nianchen, can there be a connection between Nianchen and Nianchen Can one's main Nian sense Lin Youxie's main Nian
At the very end of this nameless book, Jiang Wang vaguely sensed that the art of Nianchen might just be the key he had overlooked.
>When truly immersed in the study of this arcane art, one can fully appreciate the preciousness of the dust-thought technique.
The scenery here lives up to its reputation. This unique set of secret techniques he possesses is truly a genius's creation. In Jiang Wang's understanding, it is in no way inferior to the Burning Flower City. The development of "thoughts" holds immeasurable significance.
If one were to say that Zuo Guanglie's fireworks represent the pinnacle of innovation in fire-based Daoist techniques, establishing a foundation for his own Daoist system, then Lin Kuang's Dust Thoughts are almost like blazing a completely new path.
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One heart, a thousand thoughts in an instant. Throughout history, countless practitioners have begun their cultivation with a mind filled with complex and varied thoughts. However, Lin Kong's contemplation of mental dust is the first to dissect thoughts and apply them.
Such a person, if not involved in the case of Concubine Lei back then, who knows what they would be like now! Du Fang was Lin Kuang's half-disciple, yet he personally threw Lin Kuang's body before the young Lin Youxie.
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The Four Great Qing-shi Clans operated in the State of Qi for how many years
When it had completely vanished, who sighed for it
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Just as Lin Youxie asked that day——
"How many people in the world are trustworthy How many people can I trust"
Only Jiang Wang.
At that time, she entrusted everything to Jiang Wang, it was the last trust she gave. Besides believing that Jiang Wang could make good use of the clues left on her body after her death, it was probably also a way to leave behind a legacy for her father.
Lastly, Jiang Wang knocked her unconscious and stepped forward to do everything he could, then left for Chu.
But in the end, Jiang Wang didn't know whether he had betrayed her trust or lived up to it.
He didn't ask, and Lin Youxie didn't say anything.
“These days, Zheng Shangming should have checked everywhere he could. There's no trace of her in any of the border counties, no records of her passing through at all.” He glanced at Shi Fourteen: “Familiar, right”
This fat man tapped the map with his fingers twice and said to Jiang Wang: "Have you ever thought that Lin Youxie might not have left Luoshuang County at all"
At that time, when Fourteen left home, Chong Xuan Sheng was too anxious and overlooked the fact that it was dark under the lamp. He didn't even consider that Fourteen hadn't actually left the State of Qi at all.
But Fourteen was directionally challenged and had never ventured out alone, unlike Lin Youxie.
As an excellent Green Mark, a skilled tracker of criminals, she couldn't possibly get lost from any direction.
Jiang Wang spoke slowly: “But the Inspection Department has investigated, and I have too. There are no leads in Luoshuang County. It’s been over three months now. Even if there were leads initially, they would be…”
"Don't worry first." Chong Xuan looked at him and said, "The day we found the fourteenth, it was also the last time you met with Lin Youxie. After that, there was no contact between you two, right"
"Yes."
"She told you she was going to the Sanxing Palace" "Yes."
Besides, think carefully, is there anything unusual about her
"Are you saying she might have gone into hiding, secretly investigating the Tian family" Jiang Wang shook his head. "She's a very stubborn and principled person, but she's not stupid."
Lùshuāng is adjacent to a large marsh, so it's hard not to have such thoughts.
But for that year's case, Empress Yu had already reached its conclusion. For Yu Tian Anping, he didn't mind being hated. As for Yu Lin Youxie, she had obtained the best possible result she could have sought, restoring her father and Wu Grandpa's reputations.
That's about all we could learn by turning the place upside down. It’s impossible to find out anything more.
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The highest will enveloping the entire nation had long ago drawn a red line with its gaze. Lin Youxie wouldn't be ignorant of this, nor would he be foolish enough to challenge Tian Anping, who had already become a true master of the world, after things had been decided.
"The result is very clear now." Chong Xuan said slowly, "I am now very certain that Lin Youxie never left Lùshuāng County!"
March, early spring.
The blood-red rain, carrying a mournful air, falls upon the mortal realm.
The earth was hazy, and there stood a ruined city in the blood-red rain, silent and lifeless.
Within the city, broken walls and dilapidated structures stand as testaments to ruin. Everything withers and decays; collapsed houses litter the landscape, along with corpses of a bluish-black hue, and scattered remains, like shattered autumn leaves, silently falling into decay.
The once bustling streets are now deserted.
The path, once bustling with people, is now eerily quiet.
There was only a mixture of blood, minced meat, dust, and paper, indistinguishable from each other, horrifying to behold.
Not far away, a broken carriage was stuck in the mud, filled with desolation. Only a discarded rabbit toy hung on the yoke, swaying in the wind.
The white fur was already soaked in crimson, filled with an eerie and sinister feeling.
Its turbid eyes seemed to hold a lingering grudge, gazing blankly at the mottled stones ahead.
There, a figure was lying.
This was a boy of thirteen or fourteen, his clothes ragged and soiled, with a broken leather pouch tied around his waist.
The young boy squinted his eyes, completely still. The biting cold seeped through his tattered clothes from all directions, invading his body and slowly stealing away his warmth.
The website is about to shut down. Download the AiYue app for free to read the latest content. Even though rain fell on his face, he didn't blink. He stared intently into the distance like a hawk.
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Following his gaze, about seven or eight paces away, a gaunt vulture was pecking at the decaying carcass of a wild dog, occasionally glancing around with vigilance.
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It seems that in this dangerous ruin, even a slight breeze could send it soaring into the air.e quietly killed Jiang Wang, Qi State would not be able to find the culprit, and they wouldn't have to pay a price.Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!As for the matter o...