Where Immortals Once Walked

“Besides, Beijia has recently resumed military operations. I originally hoped to raise another great general for the Lord Emperor.” With that, she sighed.

If not for the eruption of the elixir of youth case, this matter would have had a good chance of succeeding.

Bai Ziqi’s smile did not change, but inwardly, he felt only contempt.

State Preceptor Qing Yang always spoke of “doing it for Beijia,” but how could she ever work for anyone for free?

If Nian Zanli wanted her to act as a lobbyist, the price must have been considerable. One only had to look at how General Nian had been selling residences and shops in Lingxu City over the past few months, with the properties under his name shrinking by thirty percent in succession, to know that he had bled heavily to borrow troops. Most of that had probably gone straight into State Preceptor Qing Yang’s pockets.

From the elixir of youth case alone, Bai Ziqi could tell that this woman was truly greedy to the extreme.

And yet the Lord Emperor was doing everything he could to protect her, even clashing with the heavenly gods twice over it.

These past few days, the relationship between Heaven-Reaching Palace and the Heavenly Palace has been both tense and delicate. Even Bai Ziqi had been walking on thin ice. But State Preceptor Qing Yang had it easy, hiding inside the Molten Palace and watching the tigers fight from across the mountain.

Clearly, she was the source of all this trouble.

Bai Ziqi did not bother being polite. “With the state preceptor’s status and breadth of vision, what sort of sincerity would Nian Zanli need to show in order to move you?”

“Sincerity?” State Preceptor Qing Yang smiled faintly. “What is Deputy Cloud Envoy Bai referring to?”

Facing a prisoner, Bai Ziqi simply said it outright, “You helped him borrow troops. What benefit did he give you?”

Who did not know that State Preceptor Qing Yang’s favors were the most expensive?

State Preceptor Qing Yang slowly rubbed her thumb over the cup. “Why has Deputy Cloud Envoy Bai suddenly asked about Nian Zanli?”

Those who understood her knew this was what she did when she was thinking.

“Last night, the aberrant creature controlled by Xi Yunhe, the snail toad, suddenly appeared inside Nian Zanli’s warehouse and began devouring self-heal herbs.”

“Oh?” State Preceptor Qing Yang’s fine brows rose, her surprise quite convincing.

“You confessed that the source of the divine blood was Dong Rui, while the snail toad was Dong Rui’s creation. Yet the two most recent incidents in Lingxu City are both connected to Nian Zanli.” Bai Ziqi paused there. “You, the mastermind behind the case, have already been captured, so why has the elixir of youth case grown even more mysterious instead?”

State Preceptor Qing Yang pondered for a few moments before asking, “Then what has Nian Zanli himself said?”

“He naturally denies everything with all his might. He says the mutation of the old oak tree on Sweet Wheat Street has nothing to do with him, and that the snail toad and self-heal herbs have nothing to do with him either. He claims someone is deliberately framing him.” Bai Ziqi exhaled. He had handled countless cases, but very few were like the elixir of youth case, somehow able to link itself to other storms. “He even accused someone by name, believing this person set him up.”

State Preceptor Qing Yang was also interested. “Who?”

“Li Qingge, the sect master of Songyang Mansion.”

“Why?”

“He said he once held leverage over Li Qingge. Later, Li Qingge asked State Preceptor Shuang Ye to mediate, and she retrieved it. From then on, Nian Zanli could no longer threaten her.”

“He believes Li Qingge held a grudge and harmed him twice.” Bai Ziqi asked her, “What do you think?”

“I have heard of Songyang Mansion, but I have never dealt with them and do not know them well.” In Lingxu City, small sects and factions were as numerous as carp crossing a river. As the master of Spring Palace, how could she possibly recognize each one?

She had heard the name “Songyang Mansion” before, but only because the sect was skilled at artifact refinement.

On the surface, State Preceptor Qing Yang’s answer seemed to be a tactful “I don’t know.” But, on closer reflection, she had actually removed Songyang Mansion from the elixir of youth case, directly stating that they were not suspicious.

Since she had “never dealt with them,” how could they be her accomplices?

She had made up her mind. At a time like this, State Preceptor Qing Yang wanted to focus on placing the blame in one place and was unwilling to create unnecessary complications.

Bai Ziqi understood and nodded. “In fact, although Songyang Mansion originated in Yuan, it is actually one of Lingxu City’s official commercial partners as well. It’s just that few people know.”

“Official commercial partner?” Only now did State Preceptor Qing Yang show real surprise. “What do they transport and sell?”

“Jiang beads.”

State Preceptor Qing Yang understood at once and drew out a long “oh.” “So that’s how it is.”

The words “jiang beads” were the most sensitive in the entire elixir of youth case to ordinary monsterfolk. They were an important ingredient in refining the elixir of youth. Cen Boqing and the others had hunted monsters in secret precisely to extract jiang beads.

The elixirs of youth Lingxu City bestowed upon meritorious officials and the various vassal monster states were, of course, also refined from jiang beads. If the authorities wanted to obtain this ingredient, they had to import it from abroad.

Clearly, Songyang Mansion was one of their channels for procuring jiang beads.

No matter how Songyang Mansion obtained them, as long as it could help Lingxu City affix this importer label properly, it was a legal and qualified good merchant. It had value.

Was there any need for Lingxu City to go out of its way to punish one of its own official merchants? No. There were already plenty of people available to appease public anger.

“Nian Zanli doesn’t know either?”

Bai Ziqi shrugged.

Accusations required evidence, and accusing one of Lingxu City’s official commercial partners required even more evidence.

Nian Zanli was anxious and furious, but he could produce none.

State Preceptor Qing Yang asked him instead, “Then what does Deputy Cloud Envoy Bai think?”

“These two recent incidents in Lingxu City both involve Nian Zanli. In terms of timing, they are a little too coincidental.” Bai Ziqi also took a sip of wine. “The snail toad had been missing for so long. Not earlier, not later, but just last night, it appeared in his warehouse. I wondered whether someone might be trying to harm him.”

“That is why I came to ask you.” Bai Ziqi leaned forward, his expression turning serious. “Does Nian Zanli have any connection to divine blood or not?”

State Preceptor Qing Yang turned her head and gazed at the last faint glow of sunset.

The natural light shining into the prison was about to disappear.

State Preceptor Qing Yang knew her testimony would determine the direction of the elixir of youth case.

Should the case be closed immediately, or should it continue to grind on?

Should she remain in this dungeon, or get out as quickly as possible and plan for the future?

She thought for a very long time before finally speaking at a slow, unhurried pace.

* * *

He Lingchuan practiced saber techniques for two hours and only stopped once the exertion had left him thoroughly satisfied.

The Soul-Stealing Mirror said, “You’ve improved a lot, but your killing intent is heavy too.”

Even it felt a chill run through it when its master trained with the saber. That kind of overflowing killing intent, tsk tsk.

He Lingchuan gave a murmur of acknowledgment, quickly poured two basins of cold water over himself, then wiped himself dry with a towel.

The closer the day of the operation came, the more turbulent his heart became, surging until he could barely restrain himself.

The raging tide was finally about to arrive, and it was a tide he had stirred up with his own hands. Every time he thought of it, his fighting spirit boiled, and he had no choice but to vent it through martial practice.

Over the next few days, he had to adjust his fighting spirit and physical strength to peak condition.

The Soul-Stealing Mirror asked, “That move of yours framing Nian Zanli was beautiful, but aren’t you worried?”

“Worried about what?”

“What if Lingxu City doesn’t believe he’s connected to the divine blood?” He looked calm and unhurried, but the Soul-Stealing Mirror felt that it was the one worrying on his behalf, truly born with the fate of an old nursemaid. “If they let him go, won’t your and Li Qingge’s tricks be wasted? Won’t he borrow soldiers and go attack Yuan?” The mirror added, “Lingxu City should have plenty of smart people. Leaving everyone else aside, just take Bai Ziqi alone, could he really fail to see that Nian Zanli has been framed?”

Even it felt that these two frame-ups were too obvious.

Only after confirming no one was nearby did He Lingchuan say quietly, “If someone is truly smart, then they should understand that whether Nian Zanli was framed is not important. Who framed him is not important either.”

“Huh?” The mirror was confused again. Ever since He Lingchuan got involved in the elixir of youth case, it often felt its own intelligence was not quite enough. “Can’t you say everything clearly all at once?” Can you stop making me seem stupid?

“State Preceptor Qing Yang, the mastermind behind the elixir of youth case, has already been captured. Lingxu City must confirm the source of the divine blood through her.” He Lingchuan smiled. “Last time, she named Dong Rui.”

“Right, and that had you all scrambling.”

“But actually, we all know there’s a ninety-nine percent chance a god stands behind her,” said He Lingchuan lightly. “If she doesn’t want to give up that god, she must find another definite source for the divine blood.”

He put emphasis on the word “definite.”

The mirror grew thoughtful. “You mean she’ll give false testimony and identify Nian Zanli? Hoh, can there really be something that good?”

“Putting myself in her place, if I were her, I would identify him.”

“Why?”

“The case can only be closed once the source of the divine blood is found.” He Lingchuan said leisurely, “After dragging on this long, I imagine Lingxu City and the Monster Emperor are both irritated and tired. They can hardly wait to close the case. That includes State Preceptor Qing Yang herself. But if she insists on naming Dong Rui, a vague and elusive figure whose whereabouts are unknown, then who knows when this case would ever reach its end?”

“Dong Rui, whose location is unknown, or Nian Zanli, who is right before their eyes. Since it’s all false accusation anyway, which one do you think she’ll choose?”

“Even if Lingxu City can ignore the questioning of ordinary commoners, the vassal monster states, including Chiyan and Baoshu, are pursuing this case very closely. They all have their own purposes. Lingxu City must give an explanation as soon as possible before this page can be turned.”

The mirror did not understand. “Then are you saying that the heavenly gods will just willingly let themselves be fooled?”

“Not necessarily willingly.” He Lingchuan pointed out. “But there isn’t only one god. I imagine their internal relationships must also be complicated. Besides, the Lord Emperor’s opinion is very important too. If he intends to close the case quickly, perhaps the gods will give him some face?” He paused for a few moments, then continued, “What difference is there between placing the crime on Dong Rui and placing it on Nian Zanli? Either way, it’s nonsense. The forces at the center of this vortex should all know that State Preceptor Qing Yang’s true source of divine blood can no longer be found.”

“So, State Preceptor Qing Yang, the Lord Emperor, the Heavenly Palace, and even Bai Ziqi all hope to find a target and close the case quickly.” He Lingchuan looked up toward the north. Tonight, the stars were bright. “I gave them a target. I gave them a suspect. Do you think they won’t take the convenient way out?”

“So only Nian Zanli gets hurt, while everyone else is happy?” The mirror still found it unbelievable. Would the Lord Emperor and the Heavenly Palace really knowingly pretend ignorance and work together to manufacture a wrongful case?

“Who told Nian Zanli to be a surrendered general of no real importance? Framing him doesn’t damage any faction.” He Lingchuan smiled mockingly. “He’s a perfect scapegoat.”

The mirror found it hard to believe. “When you went to borrow troops from State Preceptor Shuang Ye, did you already calculate all of this?”

“More or less.” In any case, it was all framing someone.

The mirror sighed. Will those lofty, high-and-mighty figures truly follow He Lingchuan’s lead and frame Nian Zanli together?