Dossier after dossier was spread out, lines of content leaping into view. Meng Qi closed his eyes, recalling the battle cases he had memorized earlier, letting them ferment and develop in his mind.
Since ancient times, aside from the mysterious Buddha of Evil whose origins were unknown, all great figures and powerful experts had risen from weakness to strength; no one was born with extraordinary might.
Meng Qi slowly opened his eyes, their depths like the sea before a storm.
He tidied away the dossiers, restoring them to their places, then returned casually to the room with a table, flipping indifferently through scrolls of records.
The night deepened, and the surroundings grew quiet, so silent that the sound of leaves sprouting could be heard. Suddenly, the figure of Liu Shengming appeared outside the garden, hurrying toward the Zhu Yi Mansion.
“Chief Investigator, we have new developments!” Liu Shengming transmitted mentally even before entering the small building.
Meng Qi’s expression remained calm as he leisurely rose: “What new developments?”
“As you predicted, the group behind Consort Hua has not yet withdrawn. They’ve located the ‘mysterious guest’ and created coincidences for our spies to discover,” Liu Shengming said, entering the room hurriedly. “It seems they’re also creatures of darkness!”
Meng Qi walked toward Liu Shengming as if strolling in a courtyard garden, showing no sign of urgency: “Has the ‘mysterious guest’ noticed his trail was exposed? Where has he gone now?”
“He seems unaware,” Liu Shengming explained in detail. “He just sneaked out of the city through a general guarding the gates affiliated with the Cui Clan of Pingjin and headed toward a large pleasure boat on the distant river.”
At this late hour, the city gates of Shen Du were already closed, and the formation was partially activated.
“It seems we still have time,” Meng Qi smiled. He strode forward, magically reducing distances, flying through the air. Liu Shengming followed closely behind. Within less than a breath, they arrived at the city gate. Meng Qi produced the Chief Investigator’s badge of the Six Gates, ordering the gate guards and soldiers to temporarily lift the restrictions around the gate.
While waiting, Meng Qi seemingly offhandedly asked: “Deputy Investigator Liu, do you have any guesses about the ‘mysterious guest’s’ identity?”
The slightly polite address made Liu Shengming somewhat uncomfortable as he forced a smile: “I have some vague deductions. Please guide me, Chief Investigator.”
“The world is vast, but few have the qualifications to collaborate with the two top aristocratic families, the Cui of Pingjin and the Zhang of Longnan. Such cooperation brings tremendous risks, and those who operate in darkness are even rarer.”
“You’re absolutely right. If it were a mysterious force we didn’t know, Zhang Baily could have simply introduced ‘that guest’ as an honored advisor. After all, we wouldn’t recognize him anyway,” Meng Qi nodded slightly, giving the impression of a leader affirming a subordinate’s words.
Liu Shengming straightened his back, appearing more confident after receiving the Chief Investigator’s approval: “Only a few meet these criteria. First, the remnants from the grasslands. Second, one or several among the nine heretical sects of evil. Third, the demon race. Fourth, the top martial arts sects. Fifth, the Northern Zhou court.”
“The grassland forces are already like stray dogs, living in constant fear. Unless Gourdo returns in full strength, they’ll soon be a thing of the past. Since the Cui and Zhang families haven’t shown signs of decline, there’s no need for them to huddle together for warmth, especially with the Northern Zhou between them making deep cooperation difficult.”
“Cui Qinghe was killed by Dai Li. The Cui family wouldn’t collaborate with demons unless they were truly desperate, and they’re still far from that point.”
(Note: I’ve made the following adjustments for accuracy:
1. Corrected “Tai Li” to “Dai Li” (戴笠), the historical head of the Republic of China’s military intelligence.
2. Translated “妖” as “demons” to convey supernatural/malevolent entities.
3. Used “collaborate” for “合作” to imply forced/unethical cooperation.
4. “At their wits’ end” → “desperate” for smoother idiom usage.
5. Maintained the conditional tone of the original Chinese.)
“The same applies to top martial sects. The contradictions between aristocratic families and sects have persisted through recent ages. Unless they were truly desperate, the Pingjin Cui and Longnan Zhang wouldn’t stoop to such humiliating measures.”
“Therefore, I suspect it’s either one of the nine heterodox sects or the Northern Zhou court.”
Meng Qi gazed at the nearly lifted restrictions near the city gate and murmured to himself, “What benefits could the nine heterodox sects possibly offer the Cui and Zhang families? Could they help them break through faster and form their Dharma Bodies more quickly?”
The world is bustling with people rushing for profit. Without tremendous benefits, why would the Cui and Zhang families take such risks?
“If they truly possessed such methods, why would each of the nine heterodox sects have only one Dharma Body or none at all?” Liu Shengming replied with a smile. Although the heterodox sects had a higher proportion of Dharma Bodies compared to the orthodox sects, it was because their cultivation techniques allowed for rapid progress in the early stages. These methods could not be imparted to the Cui and Zhang families. Even when the Zhao family previously collaborated with the heterodox sects, the breakthrough techniques were originally the Zhao family’s own; they merely required treasures capable of covertly absorbing the power of sentient beings. “Perhaps the heterodox sects could assist the Cui family in ascending to the throne?”
“But then how would the Zhang family position themselves? There’s only one throne.” As the gates opened, Meng Qi flew out of Shen Du. “If it were truly about the throne, at most the Cui family might secretly collaborate with heterodox sects, using other pretexts to bring the Zhang family aboard without revealing the truth. Most importantly, under current circumstances, the Jin Dynasty can’t withstand turmoil. Both families know this. Are they trying to pluck chestnuts from the fire for someone else?”
Moreover, the group behind Consort Hua were the true heterodox sects!
Liu Shengming suddenly looked enlightened: “Thank you for enlightening me, Chief Investigator! Now I understand who it is—the Northern Zhou court!”
Gao Lan wields the Human Emperor’s Sword, and his ambition to unify the world is widely known. Under his vigilant gaze, the Jin nobility temporarily set aside their disputes, no longer restraining the royal family. Each clan strives to nurture promising members in the cultivation of divine arts. Under such circumstances, wavering allegiances among the families are hardly surprising!
Meng Qi nodded slightly: “Gao Lan treats loyal aristocratic families well, at most purging past traitors. When a family’s strongest member is merely at the External Scenery Peak without immediate hope of advancement, joining him isn’t a bad path. After all, serving the Zhao family as emperor or Gao Lan as emperor makes little essential difference.”
As for having an invincible emperor above them, they had experienced such a situation before. But in this way, they wouldn’t lose their resources and influence, remaining as top aristocratic families under the powerful protection of the “Human Emperor,” no longer fearing heretical gods or demon kings. When forced to choose between two evils, they would opt for the lesser one.
“As for why the ‘Northern Zhou guest’ came to Shen Du, isn’t it precisely because they saw the emperor’s sudden death and Chief Investigator’s disappearance as opportunities? By inciting internal strife within the Zhao family and aristocratic conflicts, Gao Lan’s great cause would soon be achieved!”
Liu Shengming exhaled, appearing to have just realized this: “Chief Investigator’s brilliance! No wonder the mysterious guest wanted to interrogate Feng Zheng—it was to find clues and create internal chaos. No wonder Zhang Baily wanted to sacrifice himself then. Once exposed, the Zhao family and other betrayed aristocrats would tear them apart alive.”
“However, their bases are in Pingjin and Longnan. At worst, they could simply raise their banners and welcome Gao Lan southward. Why fear so much?”
The distant river came into view. Meng Qi suddenly slowed his steps, concealing his aura: “Cui Qingyu brought the Cessation of War Sword to Shen Du, waiting for internal strife opportunities. Would the Longnan Zhang family’s patriarch not come here? Would he not bring divine weapons? Shen Du is the Zhao family’s stronghold. With other families’ assistance, within the grand formation, they could kill both patriarchs and seize their divine weapons. Without divine weapons, heh, could they still be considered top aristocratic families?”
“Chief Investigator truly sees the big picture from small details!” Liu Shengming flattered exaggeratedly. “Judging thus, this ‘mysterious guest’ is extremely likely a Northern Zhou expert, but I wonder who exactly…”
A pleasure boat gently swayed on the river under the night breeze, exuding tranquility. Meng Qi spoke seemingly offhandedly: “Few experts would dare confidently seize Shen Du’s internal strife opportunities. Even fewer would be trusted by Gao Lan to undertake such an important mission. I have only one suspect in mind.”
“Gao Jia’s Gao Teng!”
The former Northern Zhou emperor, ranked eighth on the Earth List!
“Gao Teng?” Liu Shengming looked at the pleasure boat, instinctively stepping back before stopping himself, flattering with a smile: “With Chief Investigator here, what’s Gao Teng?”
Meng Qi suddenly smiled: “Unfortunately, there’s no Gao Teng on this boat.”
“Then who’s there?” Liu Shengming asked in surprise.
Meng Qi glanced sideways at him: “That’s for Deputy Investigator Liu to answer.”
“Chief Investigator, what do you mean? I truly am loyal to the court,” Liu Shengming feigned confusion and fear.
Meng Qi smiled faintly: “I know you’re truly loyal to the court, which is why there’s no Gao Teng here.”
Upon hearing this, all expressions vanished from Liu Shengming’s face. The previous flattery, confusion, fear, and instinctive step back seemed never to have happened, leaving only fear and tension, his teeth chattering: “You, you know…”
“Your acting is truly superb. I’ve merely harbored slight suspicions until now, but upon seeing this boat and sensing a familiar aura,” Meng Qi’s eyes slightly narrowed, feeling an inexplicable connection from the so-called “Three Lives Fruit.” Gu Xiaosang was hiding near the pleasure boat!
Before his words finished, the surrounding world abruptly changed. The void seemed to gain life, solidifying into crystal. Within this crystal, chaos reigned, instantly separating Liu Shengming from Meng Qi.
Two figures flew out from the pleasure boat—not Gu Xiaosang or the Luo sect’s Dharma King, but the aged Fengdian Divine Envoy and the current Joyful Bodhisattva seated on a nine-tiered lotus throne!
The anticipated ambush seemed to have to shift to a frontal assault.
The Fengdian Divine Envoy’s left hand held a distorted, ever-changing broken small seal, exuding a mysterious aura that affected the surrounding void, seemingly making this place a separate world where Meng Qi had nowhere to escape.
The Void Seal? Meng Qi’s pupils slightly constricted. No, not the Void Seal—it was an artifact infused with one or two genuine meanings from the Void Seal. Using it as the core to manipulate space surpassed the Two Instruments Separation Scarf!
In his right hand, the Fengdian Divine Envoy grasped a translucent short blade, emanating divine energy—apparently a token forged by the Deliverance Dharma King. Holding this token was akin to standing in the presence of the sect leader himself, bestowing divine combat power!
“Pity the Dharma King faces a crucial breakthrough threshold and couldn’t come personally. But this token alone is sufficient!” the Fengdian Divine Envoy rasped with a laugh.
Meanwhile, the current Joyful Bodhisattva, wielding a divine weapon, smiled radiantly, brightening the void: “If you surrender willingly, I shall deliver you from the sea of suffering and grant you bliss.”
Such a formation could hold off a divine being for quite some time, capable of slaying any Grandmaster who lacks divine weapons—let alone a Mad Blade with comparable combat prowess!
Yet they saw Meng Qi keeping his hands lowered, unhurried, smiling calmly: “The emperor dying while the Bodhisattva chants—his death could be considered meaningful.”
No wonder the emperor’s mind collapsed merely from hearing the chant, suffering backlash from the cultivation technique.
Seeing Meng Qi’s steady aura, as if fully prepared, the Joyful Bodhisattva hesitated to act rashly, smiling sweetly: “You seem to have suspected this beforehand?”
“The Cui and Zhang families attempting to defect to Northern Zhou—how could the royal family lack countermeasures? The emperor’s death from cultivation techniques and Consort Hua’s affair made me realize, Prince Qin had sought help from the Luo sect and the Su Maiden Dao. No wonder he’s dared not meet me,” Meng Qi said, seemingly strolling casually forward.
The Joyful Bodhisattva covered her mouth with a delicate laugh: “He sought our help. He didn’t necessarily need to kill the emperor or Consort Hua. Simply exposing the Cui and Zhang families at the right opportunity would suffice.”
“Indeed, you didn’t have to. The reason you did this—persuading Prince Qin to ‘abandon’ them—was precisely to lure me to Shen Du, wasn’t it? Otherwise, with my unpredictable movements and ability to conceal celestial signs, even Shen would find it difficult to track my whereabouts.” Meng Qi’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
“I had just entered Shaolin on the second day of the second lunar month. On the fifth, the sudden death occurred. Three days were exactly the minimum required for my whereabouts’ information to reach Shen Du and fully ferment. Too much of a coincidence!”
Sighing, Meng Qi continued: “Therefore, Chief Investigator Sima had to disappear. With just the emperor’s death, I might not have come.”
The Fengdian Divine Envoy’s voice was heavy: “Since you know this, why still come?”
Here were the Divine Token of Law, a half-step divine weapon, and the ambush by Gu Xiaosang!
Meng Qi suddenly lifted his lips. His right hand grasped a knife handle, slowly pulling it from his sleeve:
“Of course I’d come. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I came to kill!”
An orange-yellow glow emerged, entering the Joyful Bodhisattva’s, Fengdian Divine Envoy’s, and Liu Shengming’s eyes, penetrating their pupils.
A divine weapon! Liu Shengming’s face changed drastically.
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