Chapter 34 034 (Includes 20,000 nutrient solution, plus additional updates) [VIP]

A white chess piece was crushed in a slender hand.

Fine powder slowly fell from his fingers, landing on the chessboard before him.

The night wind, already swaying the candlelight on one side of the chessboard, now blew the powder away, leaving only a trace of it.

The bronze mask, half illuminated by the candlelight, made it difficult to discern the expression hidden beneath. It wasn't

until a soft, gentle voice echoed from behind him that the silence in the room was broken.

"I didn't think you'd act so soon."

The white-haired man in the bronze mask didn't turn around, simply allowing the woman who spoke to walk to his side before slowly speaking, "If I don't take action, Yuan Shisanxian and Di Feijing alone might not be able to kill Fang Geyin. Besides, you've already failed once."

Everyone in the martial arts world knew what a master Fang Geyin was.

Perhaps his misjudgment regarding his adopted son had tarnished his image as a hero in public, but no one doubted his martial arts prowess was a fabrication.

In terms of swordsmanship, he possessed the twenty-four uncanny swords passed down by Song Zixue of the Tianyu Sword School, as well as Xiao Qiushui's four ultimate sword techniques. In terms of internal energy, besides his own training, he also possessed the gift of deciphering the Hundred Days Ten Dragon Pill and the legacy of Wei Beihui's remains from the Xuehe School. With the three treasures of the Xuehe School in hand, his attacks became even more unpredictable.

Aside from Guan Qi, who had already shattered the void and departed, no one dared to claim victory over him.

"You're right. Without your restraint, even if Yuan Shisanxian had transformed his flesh and blood into arrows, the Sad Arrows wouldn't have been able to truly injure Fang Geyin." The woman who answered, unperturbed by the word "failure," simply followed the man's lead.

She might not have been a breathtaking beauty, but her face, bathed in moonlight, held a mysterious and tranquil beauty. It's just that no one here seems to be truly appreciating it.

"Fang Geyin probably wouldn't have guessed that Di Feijing, whom Lei Sun considered his right-hand man, despite being rumored to have a broken neck and unable to practice martial arts, had studied under Master Wei Lao and mastered the art of grappling with pieces, even capable of using his eyes." "

So, rumors are never to be trusted. I just want a result," the white-haired man replied, examining the chessboard before him.

The woman smiled. "Young Master Yu, who leads the Azure Dragon Society, wants more than just a result."

Having followed him for so many years, how could Tang Lan not know that the man before her, though seemingly pure and elegant, actually wanted far more, filled with desire and calculation.

Otherwise, why would he, who had studied under the former world's greatest knight, Shen Lang, and had grown up with him on an isolated island overseas, have a chance to rise to prominence as a rising star upon entering the Central Plains martial arts world? Instead, why would he have spent years planning this chess game, hiding behind the scenes for so many years?

She was already standing very close to Gongzi Yu, and as she spoke, she subconsciously reached out to touch his mask. She wanted to see what this ambitious man, whose hair was already graying before his age, truly looked like beneath the mask.

But as soon as she raised her hand, she was met with a cold gaze that fixed her on the spot.

"Mind your own business, and don't bother me. Fang Geyin's death has left the factions he led without a core leader, a perfect opportunity for the Azure Dragon Society to encroach upon them. I don't want you to make the same mistake as last time."

Tang Lan's gaze swept over the chessboard in front of Gongzi Yu.

If she had witnessed the earlier conversation between Shi Qingruo and Su Mengzhen within the Misty Heaven Alliance, she would have noticed that Gongzi Yu's chessboard layout was virtually identical to Shi Qingruo's. The

only difference was that

Fang Geyin's death had shattered the chessboard before her.

The black piece representing Fu Zongshu had a faint crack on it, as if, in Gongzi Yu's eyes, he wasn't a particularly important figure, unworthy of being the center of the game.

She smiled, replied "I know," and turned to leave.

Back then, she had been a rebellious woman, dissatisfied with the arrangements made for her by the Tang Clan in Shu, willing to abandon her status as the Tang Clan's eldest daughter to follow Gongzi Yu. Now that her great cause was nearing completion, why would she care about his tone?

When the fragrant breeze left the place, Gongzi Yu was the only one left atop the high building.

He hesitated for a long time before reaching out and, from the circle of pieces closest to the black ones,

he picked up the white piece he had been contemplating for so long. The candlelight beside him made his fingers caressing the white piece seem almost transparent, as if, in this warm yellow glow, his previously cold gaze had regained a touch of warmth. It

even gave the illusion that he was looking beyond the chess piece to another place, another person—his lover.

But the next moment, the hand that had previously pierced Fang Geyin's body suddenly exerted its force, crushing the white piece in its grasp.

As the white ash settled, three words, half whispered and half gnashed, echoed from the moonlit tower.

"You lied to me..."

Shi

Qingruo gazed intently at the remains of Fang Geyin and Sang Xiao'e before her, finally letting out a long sigh.

That day, she and Su Mengzhen had analyzed the situation in Bianjing City and, upon realizing Fang Geyin was in danger, had dispatched the members of the Misty Heaven Alliance, and the spies from the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower had followed suit.

However, after repeatedly comparing and inquiring with them, they traced Fang Geyin and his wife's movements from the deceptive clues they had left behind, and when they finally caught up, they found their bodies.

Fang Geyin, the renowned hero, had lived a glorious life, yet his death was so disastrous, his murderers treating him with indifference, their bodies abandoned in the fabricated post station.

Members of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower and the Misty Sky Alliance packed the hearse with ice along the way and rushed it to Bianjing, but they were unable to prevent a major event. Even

in this already summery weather, the temperature was already high.

So when the bodies of Fang Geyin and Sang Xiao'e were found, they were already showing signs of decomposition, with only faint traces of the battle they had fought before their deaths.

Shi Qingruo accepted the mint leaves Wuqing offered her and felt a slight relief.

"Madam Sang suffered only one fatal wound, an arrow. The number of martial arts masters capable of inflicting such a wound can probably be counted on one hand."

"Indeed," Wuqing nodded.

Lengxue, standing behind him, sword in hand, felt a flash of embarrassment on his face.

He couldn't help but think of Shi Qingruo's earlier remarks.

She had said that the Divine Marquisate was blindly rigid in its adherence to established rules. Despite their considerable capabilities, they hadn't yet adapted to the demands of eliminating villains and preventing the sacrifice of righteous warriors... The deaths of Fang Geyin and his wife today seemed like yet another blow to him.

The number of martial arts capable of inflicting this kind of wound could be counted on one hand. There were only two that could injure Sang Xiao'e right in front of Fang Geyin. One was Fang Geyin's own Wandering Blade Arrow, but that was clearly impossible. That left the last option—

Yuan Shisanxian's Heartbroken Little Arrow!

And Yuan Shisanxian was none other than Zhuge Shenhou's junior apprentice.

If his uncle had disregarded the camaraderie of the Zizai Sect and slew his junior fellow disciple earlier, would he never have had the opportunity to cultivate villains like Liuhe Qinglong and Wen Xue'an, become one of the treacherous backers of the treacherous Prime Minister Fu Zongshu, and wouldn't this tragedy have happened?

Lengxue couldn't answer.

On Fang Geyin's body, the marks of this arrow wound were even more obvious. The one that nearly cost him half his life was a more brutal wound.

A heartbroken man, a heartbroken arrow. Yuan Shisanxian's heartbroken arrow, concealing years of frustration and indignation at his inability to openly challenge Zhuge Shenhou, was particularly recognizable.

And the fatal blow...

"Wait," Wuqing began to speak, but Shi Qingruo interrupted him.

She leaned over, grasping a barely visible thread from the bloody wound with her gloved hand, and slowly pulled it free.

After washing it in a basin of clean water, a single, slightly longer, white hair appeared before everyone.

This white hair seemed completely different from the black hair that turns white in the aging body of ordinary people. It even had a slight silvery tint, with no trace of black left.

"This shouldn't be... Yuan Shisanxian's hair?" Wuqing frowned.

Over the past decade or so, Shishu and Yuanxian had clashed several times, and he had mentioned it to his disciples. The Mountain Scripture Yuanxian held was a unique Buddhist breathing technique. It allowed Yuanxian's "Sad Arrow" to be mastered, despite not being mastered at the right time and suffering daily mental and physical strain, but it had significantly slowed his aging.

It was also this martial art that enabled him to use his flesh-and-blood arrows as a strange attack.

His hair was more like half black and half white, unlike this.

Wuqing's expression suddenly froze. "So this is a clue left by another attacker?"

Even if Fang Geyin had been attacked by surprise, he wouldn't have been pierced through the chest so easily. Unfortunately, the bloody wound, now decayed, made it even harder to discern the method used. This hair might indeed offer some clues.

Shi Qingruo stepped back, her voice audible only to herself, and said, "...No, this isn't a clue or evidence, it's a provocation."

Perhaps more accurately, it was a declaration of war, addressed to her.

Others might not recognize that strand of hair, but Shi Qingruo certainly did.

When a person desires too much and must resort to endless calculations to obtain it, how can their hair not turn gray from mental strain?

He should even be thankful for his advanced martial arts skills; otherwise, he wouldn't just have "grew gray with worry" but would have prematurely become an old man.

That was the hair of Gongzi Yu, the leader of the Qinglong Society!

It shouldn't have been there.

He was meticulous, having operated behind the scenes for years, and had established his own code of conduct. He wouldn't have changed his plans just because of a sudden assassination attempt.

He hadn't been able to find the distinctive injuries on Fang Geyin's body, making him the target, and he certainly wouldn't have mixed such a distinctive strand of hair with Fang Geyin's wounds.

Unless... he hoped someone who saw Fang Geyin's body would notice the hair and lock their gaze on him.

He was waiting for someone to "discover" him.

If Gongzi Yu's suspicions were correct, and someone had already linked the magic needle, Tang Lan's replica for the Prime Minister's residence, to his head, then the hair on Fang Geyin's body would be another piece of "ironclad evidence" for that person.

"...He's such a lunatic!" Shi Qingruo couldn't help but curse.

Wuqing turned to the sound, "What's wrong, Madam Shi?"

Shi Qingruo replied, "Nothing. I'm a little upset to have seen such a tragedy happen and not been able to prevent it. I

'm going out for some fresh air." As she finished her words, she turned and walked out of the room.

The hot air outside had already brought an unpleasant temperature, but the cooling water cascading from the eaves brought a slight coolness.

The curtain of beads draped before her, reflecting the greenery of the courtyard, slowly calmed her previously agitated mood.

Gongzi Yu's "declaration of war" undoubtedly disrupted her plans.

Although she had previously included the Azure Dragon Society in her list of opponents due to Tang Lan, she had only urged Su Mengzhen to be aware of the potential threat lurking along the way.

But what if... what if Gongzi Yu, Su Mengzhen, and Ye Gucheng were different, not just retaining fragments and a fondness for each other, but actually remembering the events of that other "parallel universe" and personally orchestrating this sudden attack, targeting her? Then her previous preparations would seem too inadequate.

As the owner of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, Su Mengzhen had already aligned herself with her, committed to the interests of her country, so there was no need to worry. Although Ye Gucheng was obsessed with the sword and showed signs of straying, he could still be considered an upright man based on their two previous encounters.

Gongzi Yu was different.

He wanted too much, and it was inevitable that he would resort to extreme means.

No one else would dare to attack her directly. Gongzi Yu knew she had great potential, but he might not be incapable of capturing the leader first.

Even the internal skills Guan Qi had taught her, combined with the power-ups unlocked by the system, were still far from enough.

The deadlock between the two factions in Bianjing had already been broken by Fang Geyin's death, leaving her with little time to spare.

To quickly gain the strength to fight Gongzi Yu, she would either have to experience a quick-learning martial arts adventure like Fang Geyin's early years, or... Just as

Shi Qingruo was thinking this, something suddenly appeared before her eyes.

She looked up and saw a clumsily fluttering tin bird.

It somehow managed to stay aloft, relying on some mechanical device. While its flight was comical, as if it were about to plummet, a closer look revealed the bird's meticulous craftsmanship, even its feathers meticulously carved. It must have been the work of a skilled hand.

But what was even more interesting was that this little tin bird, originally a cold, icy lump, wore a particularly lovely straw wreath on its head, giving it a sudden burst of life that made one want to laugh.

Seeing the whirring of the bearings in the bird's belly suddenly stop and it plummeted to the ground, Shi Qingruo quickly reached out and caught it.

"Madam Shi, you're finally smiling,"

Shi Qingruo said, turning to see Lu Xiaofeng leaning against the other end of the corridor, stroking his meticulously groomed beard.

Now that he had spoken, he didn't need to stand so far away. He simply stretched out his legs, stood up straight, walked over to Shi Qingruo, and took the tin bird from her hands.

"This is a masterpiece of a friend of mine."

"Master Zhu Ting," Shi Qingruo continued.

"That's right." Lu Xiaofeng nodded. "Boss Zhu, I sometimes can't keep up with his ideas. For example, he always thinks that sooner or later people will be able to sit on a small iron bird like this and fly into the sky. If I were to sit on it, I would never suddenly fall down and die with this iron bird."

Shi Qingruo said, "But he can give this thing to you for safekeeping. Does it mean that you still believe in his invention? Besides, who knows what will happen in hundreds or thousands of years? Maybe his idea can really be realized." "

Yeah, who knows?" Lu Xiaofeng answered with high spirits, "Anyway, Boss Zhu is not so arrogant as to hide it from his wife as soon as there is a little sign, and entrust his life and property to it to try manned flight. As his friend, I just need to respect his creation and listen to his ideas. Besides, there are so many difficulties and troubles in this world, and there will always be a time to overcome them. Why always think about what can't be done and add to your own troubles."

Shi Qingruo lowered his eyes and chuckled again: "What you want to tell me is actually just that last sentence."

"No, no, no," Lu Xiaofeng replied seriously. "It's just that I rarely see Madam Shi, who's so capable of planning and strategizing, look like she's faced with something incredibly difficult. If you don't want to tell me what's bothering you, I'll show you something a little more unusual."

Shi Qingruo suddenly held out her hand.

Lu Xiaofeng was startled.

"That little tin bird is Boss Zhu's favorite invention. I'm keeping it in your hands, Lu Xiaofeng, for safekeeping. I can still play with the garland, right? If I'm not mistaken, the flowers were picked from the garden of my Misty Heaven Alliance. Since I'm offering you flowers, I can't possibly not even get a single one."

Seeing the gloom on Shi Qingruo's face, like the summer heat from the eaves, evaporated invisibly, Lu Xiaofeng's smile brightened a little. He handed the garland, adorned with small white and yellow flowers, to her.

"Thank you very much," Shi Qingruo waved, then headed back toward the house she had left.

Lu Xiaofeng gazed at her back, gave a rather helpless smile, and tucked the previously activated mechanical bird back into his brocade pouch. He thought to himself that if he couldn't help with things here, he might still seek help from his friends in Bianjing.

But as soon as he turned around, he met Sikong Zhaixing's subtle gaze.

No, perhaps subtle wasn't quite the right word...

it was more like a look of murderous intent.

Lu Xiaofeng coughed sharply and quickly approached Sikong Zhaixing, acting like a friendly friend. "Let me explain first."

Sikong Zhaixing almost rolled his eyes at Lu Xiaofeng.

It would have been fine if he'd been more forthright when "caught," but he had to start with that. It was practically a confession

! No wonder he'd suspected something was wrong with Lu Xiaofeng!

Even though Sikong Zhaixing's face was still masked by a common face, Lu Xiaofeng could still see the menacing expression on his face.

Although Lu Xiaofeng carefully considered the situation, he felt he had little to feel guilty about.

After Guan Qi shattered the void, Shi Furen was no longer considered "married." While Sikong Zhaixing's secret crush was well known, there was no sign of it actually coming to fruition. Lu Xiaofeng was known for his thick skin. At most... he

'd tried to dissuade his friend from taking the risk, but now he was the one who got caught.

"I..."

"Giant hero!"

Sikong Zhaixing was about to throw the bastard over his shoulder the moment Lu Xiaofeng opened his mouth, but a distant cry interrupted his attempt.

He and Lu Xiaofeng turned to see a young man in plain clothes, carrying a saddlebag, sprinting towards them from the other side of the courtyard. Leading the way was a member of the Misty Heaven Alliance, followed by Wang Xiaoshi, Qi Shaoshang, and someone familiar to Lu Xiaofeng.

He was heading in the direction Shi Qingruo had previously returned.

Combined with the name he'd called out earlier...

it seemed self-evident who he was.

"Let's go and take a look!" Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing exchanged a glance, their decision unanimous.

When they arrived at the room where the bodies of Fang Geyin and his wife lay, the young man had already collapsed in tears. Even as he was being helped to his feet, he stared blankly ahead, as if he couldn't believe how it was possible, mere days after his separation from his master and his mistress, to suddenly find himself separated forever.

Why had Fang Geyin and Sang Xiao'e, both considered masters of the martial arts world, been murdered by a treacherous scheme?

Gao Xiaoshang suppressed the grief on his face, wiped away his tears, and tremblingly asked Wuqing, "Who did this?"

"There are only a few people in this world capable of killing Fang Juxia. Was he the victim of a conspiracy, or was he attacked?"

He kept the word "Juxia" in mind, a gesture of respect from the new disciple to his master. Just as the Four Great Constables addressed Zhuge Shenhou as "Uncle," Gao Xiaoshang also addressed Fang Geyin as "Great Hero" rather than "Master."

But now, situated in this simple mortuary, the word "Great Hero" felt ironic.

Gao Xiaoshang didn't bother to dwell on this. He stared intently at Chief Constable Wuqing, hoping to extract an answer.

Wuqing paused, then replied, "At this point, we can only confirm that one of the perpetrators is most likely Yuan Shisanxian."

"Yuan, Shi, San, Xian..." Gao Xiaoshang enunciated the name, a fierce glint flickering across his face, pale with grief over Fang Geyin's passing. "Fu Zongshu's Master?"

He had already earned the nickname "Dragon of Troubled Times" for his long association with Fang Geyin. Now, seething with rage and intent on finding his master's murderer, he possessed an unstoppable aura.

However, just as he was about to start walking out, a voice came from the corner: "I think it's better for Mr. Gao to be cautious."

Gao Xiaoshang glared at the person who spoke: "What do you mean by that?"

Although facing such a tense situation, the man's smile was still a little shy: "I don't mean anything else. It's all about catching thieves and seizing stolen goods. The Six Gates want to put the blame on Yuan Shisanxian, but my Ministry of Justice may not make such a judgment." "

Besides, Madam Shi was able to use this magic needle that was different from that magic needle to temporarily clear the suspicion of Chief Constable Wuqing and Sikong Zhaixing, and instead let a few of us supervise the trial. Now Prime Minister Fu can also say that there are only arrow wounds on Fang Juxia's body, but no arrowheads, and the injuries are very different from those who died of sad little arrows in his early years. Why should Yuan Shisanxian be convicted directly?"

Ren Yuan, a cruel official from the Ministry of Justice, answered in a soft voice, but it was like a basin of cold water poured directly on Gao Xiaoshang's head.

If he followed Ren Yuan's words, and directly summoned Fang Geyin's old subordinates to the Prime Minister's Mansion to question them, not only would he not get any results, but he would be beaten to death by Fu Zongshu!

Gao Xiaoshang lowered his eyes, making it impossible to tell that in the brief moment just now, he had exchanged glances with Ren Yuan who had challenged him. What

Wang Xiaoshi saw was that this poor young man suddenly lost his master and mistress whom he regarded as his parents, and that villain was so difficult to deal with. He obviously had a lot of connections, but he couldn't even avenge them in a legitimate way.

Ren Yuan's voice was soft, but his words were particularly unpleasant: "I think the most important thing for Master Gao is to bury Fang Juxia and his wife. I don't know if you, Gao Xiaoshang, who are proficient in three kinds of weapons, can take on the responsibilities of the three gangs. If you can't even do this, what's the point of talking about revenge!"

Gao Xiaoshang clenched his fists tightly, gritted his teeth, and raised his head again, glaring at Ren Yuan and cursing, "When my master was alive, you fawned over him. Now that he's dead, you in the Ministry of Justice have become lackeys for that old scoundrel Fu Zongshu. Such double-dealing will only lead to a bad end."

"I'll gather the heroes' followers right now, and swear before his spirit that if I can't bring his killer to justice and offer a blood sacrifice, what kind of disciple am I!"

"Well said!" Shi Qingruo clapped her hands, as if deeply impressed by the young man's courage. Considering he was to succeed Fang Geyin, such courage was indeed necessary.

But when Gao Xiaoshang looked at Shi Qingruo, he was shocked to find that, aside from applauding, neither her expression nor her eyes showed any sign of support. Instead, she glanced from Gao Xiaoshang to Ren Yuan, who was standing beside her, with a hint of amusement, as if she had treated their recent encounter as a spectacle.

Gao Xiaoshang had seen this kind of eyes before...

When Shi Qingruo and Su Mengzhen teamed up to help the blind girl kill Fang Yingkan personally, she looked at Fang Yingkan with the same eyes. That was the look she gave to a scum of the world.

Gao Xiaoshang couldn't help but be shocked.

Shi Qingruo didn't show him any mercy when she spoke next. "Young Master Gao said that he wanted to gather the old subordinates of Fang Juxia to swear revenge. That's great, but before that, I would like to ask Young Master Gao a question-" "

Everyone knows that Fang Juxia has a high status in the martial arts world, but there are many people who admire him, and there are also many who want to kill him. That's why Fang Juxia and his wife returned to Hubei and hid their whereabouts along the way. Otherwise, with the ability of Jinfengxiyu Tower and Mitian League to jointly explore intelligence, how could it take several days to find someone."

Gao Xiaoshang's lips trembled slightly: "What do you mean?"

"What do you mean?" Shi Qingruo raised her eyebrows and sneered, "Several miles away from the remains of Fang Juxia and his wife, our people found the horses they rode, and discovered that someone had ambushed them on this road in advance, causing the two horses to die in the first wave of confrontation. That's why Fang Juxia had to enter the post station to find new horses. So please tell me how the whereabouts of the couple were leaked!"

If no one had tipped off Fang Geyin, as he had not been in the martial arts world for several years and had always kept a low profile, it would be difficult for him to be ambushed in this way.

Gao Xiaoshang's face paled. "Are you suspecting me of leaking my master's whereabouts? Absurd! He treated me like his own son, so why would I betray him like this?"

Shi Qingruo spread her hands. "I can't explain that, but his adopted son, Fang Yingkan, is quite capable. I heard he's even challenged you on several occasions. So who can guarantee that your pain today isn't just feigned? Captain Jin—"

"You're late, unlike the ruthless Chief Constable and the others, who have preconceived notions? Why don't you come and judge for yourself and see if what I'm saying makes sense?"

Jin Jiuling, who had arrived here after Wang Xiaoshi and Qi Shaoshang, was taken aback. He hadn't expected Shi Qingruo to suddenly lob this question at him.

But then he thought about how he'd helped Lu Xiaofeng find Fang Geyin, and perhaps even had a reputation with Madam Shi. It wasn't surprising that he was being questioned now.

This captain of the Six Gates clearly had a different approach from the Four Great Constables.

Judging solely by his attire, he looked like a wealthy young man from Bianjing. The fabrics were the most fashionable, and even the jade pendant on his fan was a fine, luxury item. One could hardly help but wonder if the salaries of constables these days were truly so high as to justify such expenses.

But hearing that he had other profitable assets, Lu Xiaofeng, at least, never considered his friend's attire inappropriate.

Jin Jiuling approached, fanning himself. He was nearly stunned by the face, which looked even more captivating up close. He quickly fanned again, arguing, "If that's the case, Madam Shi's suspicions are plausible. If Young Master Gao wishes to replace Fang Juxia in leading the Blood River Sect and other gangs, he'd better clear himself of suspicion first."

Gao Xiaoshang was practically furious at Jin Jiuling's words. However, turning to look at Wuqing and the others, he saw they didn't seem to have any other reaction.

He wondered why Shi Qingruo's words had such a magical power.

"You... you're all fine. I'll gather the elders of all the gangs as soon as possible to retrieve the great hero's remains. I'll discuss the rest with my fellow martial artists!"

He finished his words, then swept off the threshold.

Some might see his behavior as a false accusation, and be furious. But what about Shi Qingruo? Seeing that

Shi Qingruo had temporarily dismissed Ren Yuan, the surveillance officer, Jin Jiuling couldn't help but ask, "Madam, aren't you afraid of wrongly accusing Gao Xiaoshang and causing him to harbor resentment towards you?" Fang Geyin

's adopted son, Fang Yingkan, was dead, leaving Gao Xiaoshang as the only person left to inherit his legacy.

If he could clear himself of suspicion and inherit Fang Geyin's position, he would instantly become a leading figure in the martial arts world.

In this way, Shi Qingruo, who had questioned him, would have already offended him.

This didn't seem like a good thing for the Misty Heaven Alliance.

Shi Qingruo shook her head calmly. "But haven't you noticed? Ever since I asked that question, questioning why Fang Juxia's whereabouts had been leaked, Gao Xiaoshang hasn't even looked at his master's body again. Not even when I said I would summon the elders. This doesn't seem like something a filial and honest disciple would do."

Jin Jiuling recalled the scene and realized that it seemed just as Shi Qingruo described. He immediately closed his fan and said, "Well, that kid really has something to hide."

Shi Qingruo continued, "Even if he truly hasn't done anything to offend Fang Juxia, my previous words were very effective."

She glanced briefly at Fang Geyin, a hint of pity in her eyes. "Some people choose Fang Geyin not just because of his integrity and martial arts prowess, but also because of the power he commands. With Fang Geyin's death, the Xuehe Sect, the Tianyu Sword Sect, and the Golden Signboard will be leaderless in an instant. Someone will definitely take advantage of the situation."

"Rather than letting Gao Xiaoshang inherit Fang Geyin's position as quickly as possible, forcing the mastermind behind this to act cautiously, it would be better to first let Gao Xiaoshang be questioned and unable to take over for a short period of time. By then, those with ulterior motives will be more likely to act radically and reveal their true colors. That will be our best opportunity to restore order."

"If Gao Xiaoshang really has nothing to do with this conspiracy, he won't mind me using such means to avenge his master."

Jin Jiuling was greatly impressed when he heard this: "I have long heard that Madam Shi is very wise, and seeing you today, it is indeed true."

Shi Qingruo sighed: "But in this case, there is one thing I need to trouble Captain Jin to do."

She suddenly cupped her hands and saluted Jin Jiuling: "Back then, I stubbornly exposed Fang Yingkan's true identity and killed him on the spot, causing Fang Geyin and his wife to lose their adopted son. Although I was acting in the name of justice, I was still somewhat unfair to them. Now that they have suffered such a misfortune, it is only right that I do something for them."

Jin Jiuling hurriedly said: "Madam Shi, there is no need to be so polite. You can speak at any time."

Shi Qingruo said, "I'm sure Captain Jin has heard about what happened in the Prime Minister's Mansion a few days ago. Chief Inspector Wuqing and his men have had a lot of inconvenience in their movements recently, so I'd like to ask Captain Jin to follow Gao Xiaoshang. Taking advantage of the fact that you agree with my judgment before, I'll investigate him and protect his safety at the same time."

"I heard that Fang Geyin and his wife live a simple life on weekdays, but the factions he controls have a transcendent status in the martial arts world, and they have many big businesses under their names. I think they have a considerable amount of savings. Now that Fang Juxia is dead, this wealth is in the hands of Gao Xiaoshang. If the mastermind behind the scenes wants to seize this property, there is no guarantee that he will not attack Gao Xiaoshang, so it's better to be careful."

Hearing the word wealth, Jin Jiuling's eyes lit up slightly, but for fear of being seen, he suppressed his eyes at an extremely fast speed.

He simply replied in a seemingly calm tone, "Madam Shi, rest assured. As long as Young Master Gao is in Bianjing, I will do my utmost to ensure his safety."

Shi Qingruo said, "If that's the case, I'm relieved."

Lu Xiaofeng, listening to this exchange, felt something was amiss.

While Shi Qingruo's words were clearly well-reasoned and Jin Jiuling's response was respectable for a detective, he simply felt there was something more to the story that he hadn't yet grasped.

But seeing that his old friend, Jin Jiuling, had immediately departed, preparing to monitor Gao Xiaoshang's every move, Lu Xiaofeng cast his fleeting doubts aside.

He turned to Shi Qingruo and asked, "Madam Shi, what are your plans next?"

The confusion that had previously graced Shi Qingruo's face had faded considerably, as if she had already made a rough decision in that short time.

However, the situation had been so sudden, and even with all the arrangements for Gao Xiaoshang and Jin Jiuling, a thin layer of frost still lingered on that bright face.

It was the urgency of impending doom.

"The other side is moving faster than I expected."

Her opponent also understood her better than she had originally anticipated.

"Fang Geyin's death is only the beginning of their plan, and they won't be satisfied with this result. Therefore, we must not only quickly restore order among Fang Geyin's former subordinates to prevent them from being misled by those with ulterior motives to side with Fu Zongshu, but we must also outpace them in other areas."

She was competing with Gongzi Yu for people, time, and opportunities.

Fortunately, she knew some things that Gongzi Yu might not.

One was the intelligence she had obtained in the previous two rounds, and the other was the system panel that had traveled with her.

She turned to Wang Xiaoshi and said, "Go and fetch the eldest young lady."

Wang Xiaoshi immediately responded and went to fetch someone. In just an incense stick of time, he had brought Guan Chun here.

Because she had once been the eldest young lady of the Liufenban Hall, and now Shi Qingruo had succeeded Guan Qi as the Holy Leader of the Mitian Alliance, the title of "eldest young lady" always seemed a bit awkward within the Mitian Alliance.

But Shi Qingruo found it easy to address Guan Chun, and since Guan Chun was indeed a brilliant and skilled figure, the alliance's attitude towards her was no longer as strange as before.

Her earlier awkwardness was barely noticeable upon entering this place, replaced by a composed demeanor. At most, she was puzzled as to why Shi Qingruo had asked her to come here. He

couldn't possibly have asked her to pay tribute to Fang Geyin.

But before she could react, Shi Qingruo had dragged her to Fang Geyin's body and pointed to a scar on his face.

She held Guan Chun's arm like a caring mother, her words cold, "You should know how this scar came about." The

sword power radiated from the eyes was so unique that if someone hadn't previously pretended to be incompetent, Wuqing wouldn't have failed to recognize the origin of the wound.

But if Wuqing didn't know, how could Guan Chun not know?

Shi Qingruo's words pierced her.

"Chun'er, I want to hear your opinion."

Guan Chun was stunned for a moment: "My... what opinion?"

Shi Qingruo answered with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes: "Di Feijing and Yuan Shisanxian jointly assassinated Fang Geyin, which will definitely be detrimental to my Mi Tian League. You are the eldest daughter of my Mi Tian League and the heir of my seventh brother. I want to hear what you say about how to deal with Di Feijing."

The author has something to say:

What is called "borrowing someone's strength to defeat them" (tactical retreat)

The additional update is finished, and I will try to trick some nutrient solution to continue tomorrow! (extending his hand)

See you tomorrow night at six o'clock.

By the way, whether it is Ming Yuexin or Gongzi Yu, they can be considered to be references to the original work, TV series adaptations and games, plus the magical changes influenced by last week. In general, the three ex-husbands each have their own positioning, which feels a bit more fun (mainly so that you can't guess the development of the plot hehe).