What kind of people are your Fang family?
Wen Congren looked serious and slowly told everyone his conclusions so far, word by word.
The wind in the corridor was blowing slightly harder, and the expressions of everyone in the hall changed.
An old favor, a new situation, and a wrong move affect the situation in southern Xinjiang.
Fang Ci's brows were filled with anxiety, and he changed his usual calmness. "The art of taking over another's body is the most difficult. He is occupying Jing Yuan's body. If he refuses to retreat on his own, we have no way to start."
Qin Shu raised his eyes and spoke calmly, but suddenly changed his tone: "Ren Xuan."
"Generals of the Southern Prefecture, why would you rather abandon the battle for Southern Border than put me to death? Is this another so-called cause from a past life?"
Qin Shu didn't wait for anyone to respond before speaking up. "The encirclement and killing that day was a utterly foolish move. If I die, Qin Xuan will definitely not tolerate Southern Xinjiang. If Xiyun gets into trouble along the way, I will make sure that not a single blade of grass survives in Southern Xinjiang."
He turned to look at Fang Ci, his eyes like a cold blade covering snow: "Fang Ci, this person is not going to deal with me, but with you in Southern Xinjiang."
Fang Ci was slightly startled. Qin Shu's words were not false. No matter which outcome, Southern Xinjiang would be doomed.
Qin Shu continued, "Yet your Southern Commanders are still determined to attack. It's not that they are unaware of the situation, but they are willing to be the blades in the hands of others, just to kill me."
He said in a deep voice: "So, what is the reason?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the inn suddenly became gloomy.
Fang Ci lowered his eyelashes, sighed, and said, "It's just an old story."
Ren Xuan knew it was difficult to put it into words. He pondered for a moment and then told the truth, "Back then, Your Highness, you issued an order to reduce the power of the feudal lords. The barbarians in the south took advantage of the situation and invaded the north. The Southern Palace fought the barbarians while resisting the royal army. With enemies on both sides, they were ultimately defeated."
"Your Highness, you made a deal with Xiao Jingyuan. He alone took the blame for treason, solidifying the reputation of the royal army's punishment, in exchange for the release of seventy-six Southern Palace generals."
"Afterwards, the barbarians were pacified and Xiao Jingyuan was executed, but Southern Xinjiang...did not settle down."
"Over the past few years, the Secret Guards have reported five times that those Southern Palace generals were secretly colluding with each other and had ulterior motives. Ultimately, without trial, you executed all of them."
As soon as these words were spoken, Fang Ci's knuckles turned white and his face looked so gloomy that it seemed as if ink could drip out of it.
Ren Xuan sighed softly, his feelings a bit complex and inexplicable. "They did have some private dealings... but it's still a long way from treason."
The dog emperor killed everyone without asking any questions, which is indeed a bit anthropomorphic.
Qin Shu's eyes narrowed slightly, and he understood a little bit. His tone was calm and frightening: "So, if Xiao Jingyuan dies in my hands again, it will become that I have taken him hostage on the way, but once again betrayed my trust and killed him."
He turned his gaze towards Fang Ci, a cold glint in his eyes: "Fang Ci, do you think that this time, you alone can suppress the thousands of miles of war in southern Xinjiang?"
Few in the army believed in the theory of "possessing a body." The generals of Southern Xinjiang, led by Han Chenglie, were determined to launch a revenge operation regardless of their own lives.
The siege last time had already made it clear that the generals were all prepared to fight to the death and have blood splattered within a few steps.
Now that the Southern Barbarians are weakened, the Southern Palace can even march north without any scruples.
The person behind the scenes is deliberately leading the situation to a conflict between the two, waiting for the opportunity for the fisherman to benefit.
Upon hearing this, Wen Congren was stunned for a moment and glanced sideways at Qin Shu.
Even he hadn't thought of this inference. Qin Shu's insight into the situation was always sharp and unmatched.
At this moment, Fang Ci felt a chill running down his spine, as if sweat was slowly seeping down his neck. "What... is this thing? What exactly does he want to do?"
Ren Xuan slowly shook his head, his voice solemn: "I can only ask 'him' in person."
Wen Congren understood and was about to speak: "Get a rope——"
Xiao Wujiu said calmly, "No need."
Before he finished speaking, he raised his finger and pointed. The barely perceptible green light on Xiao Jingyuan's chest suddenly blossomed, dim and indifferent. In an instant, several vines as thin as snake tongues snaked out from the depths of the light and instantly wrapped the sleeping man tightly.
The vines seemed to have a soul, growing flexibly, winding themselves into bundles layer by layer, and finally embedding the ends deeply into the wood grain of the chair. The vines were strong but did not hurt anyone, but instead appeared quiet and eerie.
Fang Ci had been wondering since he arrived at the palace, and now he couldn't help but ask, "What is this? Why is it on Jing Yuan?"
Xiao Wujiu answered simply, "When he detoxified me, he exchanged techniques with me. I buried this technique with me. It can save my life at the critical moment, and naturally, it is also under my control."
Ren Xuan suddenly seemed to recall something and turned to Fang Ci, "Princess, is that jar of 'Thousand Day Drunk' that you poured into Hall Master Xiao that day still there?"
Fang Ci nodded and took out an ancient porcelain wine jar from the Qiankun bracelet on his wrist.
Ren Xuan took it and couldn't help but sigh that things change.
He took a step forward, held Jamel Xiao's shoulders, raised his chin, and poured half a jar of medicinal wine into his mouth.
Now, even if the person behind the body is a god, don't think about using this body to hurt yourself.
Ren Xuan put his palm behind Xiao Jingyuan's back, condensed his internal force between his fingers, first unsealed the sealed acupoints, and then injected a stream of Qi into the Tianjing acupoint.
The man's breath trembled slightly, as if he instinctively sensed the weakness and unfamiliarity of his body, and the person on the chair slowly opened his eyes.
He said nothing, but looked at everyone with a pair of dark eyes.
Fang Ci's heart suddenly sank, and his voice was as urgent as an arrow on a bowstring: "Who are you?"
The man remained silent.
Fang Ci gritted his teeth and lowered his voice: "Leaving him, you name the conditions. No matter what, I will agree to it."
This time, the other party finally moved.
The corners of his lips slowly curled up into an extremely sarcastic arc, and his voice was low, with sinister and sarcastic tone:
"Stop being so hypocritical."
"How could I not know what kind of people your Fang family is?"
"Everyone pretends to be affectionate and loyal, but secretly plots against you."
He suddenly turned his eyes, his coldness pressing towards Fang Ci, his smile becoming increasingly cold, and every word was as sharp as a knife:
"This unworthy creature actually bowed down to your Fang family—"
"He has brought shame upon our ancestors."
His tone suddenly turned cold, and his voice cut through the silence in the room like a blade:
"You want to protect him? I'm going to kill him."
Ren Xuan cursed in a low voice, if he wanted to kill someone, he would kill them, if he wanted to take revenge, he would take revenge, openly and without hesitation, blood debt must be paid with blood, even if it was a matter of life and death, it would be a relief.
Back then, the most unwelcome type among the secret soldiers were those who hid their heads and tails. They were sneaky and relied on their ability to take over other people's bodies to commit murder.
Ren Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone was full of sarcasm: "What are you yelling about? You think I can't cure you, right?"
In the secret torture chamber, the sword does not need to be unsheathed, blood does not need to be splattered on the ground, and there are countless methods that do not harm lives but are enough to torture people to the point of mental collapse.
He turned around, clasped his fists and said to Qin Shu, "Your Highness, please give me some time."
Ren Xuan looked at Fang Ci again and said, "Princess, please step aside. I won't hurt him in the slightest."
Qin Shu's eyes darkened, his fingers clicked lightly, and he finally nodded: "Everyone, step back. I'll leave this place to Ren Xuan."
···
Inside the house, everyone left.
Ren Xuan lowered his eyes to look at the person on the chair, moved his fingertips slightly, and took out a black pill from his sleeve.
The man struggled, but the vines were still binding him and his body was weak, so he had no choice but to swallow the medicine.
This substance is called "Thousand-Time Error"—it can disrupt a person's consciousness, disrupt their sight and hearing, and confuse their sense of the four seasons. The sight of a stick of incense may be like years in the user's mind.
Darkness is the most common thing; but if it lasts long enough, it can drive people to mental collapse.
Ren Xuan sighed inwardly. If only Lu Xingchuan were here at this moment, it would be great. With the Five Prohibitions and Seven Breaks combined with this medicine, he had never seen anyone last more than half a day.
He took a half step back and stopped talking. The silence in the room spread.
At first, it was just an imperceptible tremor at the fingertips, an instinct that was difficult to suppress but difficult to hide.
Then, his teeth clenched, his Adam's apple rose and fell, and his breathing became shallow and rapid, like a trapped animal on the verge of suffocation, shackled by an invisible force.
The fine sweat oozing from the forehead soon formed into a dense patch, soaking the collar.
The man struggled slightly, but was only met with a muffled groan.
Time is in disarray, seemingly flowing yet stagnant. There is no beginning and no end.
He began to lose track of time. Half a day? A day? Seven days? He didn't know.
The memory began to become disordered and fragmented bit by bit.
He remembered the blood, the hatred, the fire of the battlefield.
I also remember the bright, shining lights in the night rain.
But that warmth seems to be separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, like watching someone else's old dream.
He saw that the person in his dream had also stood before an army, like a solitary snow-capped cliff.
——That’s Jamel Xiao, not him.
Panic surged up like a tide - who is he...?
The body began to tremble slightly.
At that moment, he saw another dream.
The young man who once stood alone in front of thousands of soldiers with a sword when the spring snow began to melt.
Smiling, calm, with wind and light in his eyes.
And the shadow just smiled lightly.
——I am you.
The next moment, the man's whole body twitched violently, and the vines contracted in response.
Ren Xuan's eyes narrowed, and he walked a few steps to the chair, only to see that the man's face was as pale as paper.
Ren Xuan's eyes focused, and his figure flashed forward. He raised his hand and tapped several times at Tianjing, Shenque, and Xuanji, sealing his consciousness with Qi Yuan.
The struggle stopped, and the man collapsed in the chair, as if all consciousness had been drained away, only his chest was still rising and falling weakly.
Ren Xuan took a half step back, frowned and clicked his tongue.
After all these years of forcing confessions, this was the first time someone almost blew him up.
This was a profoundly asymmetrical occupation. A body so weak it was practically devoid of soul was forcibly crammed with a madman. The consciousness that nearly tore through the sea of consciousness threatened to drag this body into hell along with it.
Ren Xuan lowered his eyebrows, turned around and walked out quickly.
···
In the courtyard, the wind stops and the branches are still.
Qin Shu's gaze fell indifferently on the stone steps in front of the courtyard, but his tone was slightly sarcastic: "Fang Ci, your Xiao family in Southern Xinjiang is actually the royal bloodline of the previous dynasty?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Ci's expression changed slightly, and for a moment his expression was somewhat complicated and difficult to discern.
She paused for a moment before opening her mouth: "This... I never expected it."
This matter is indeed absurd and outrageous.
Qin Shu didn't press the issue, instead a hint of amusement crossed his brows. "The first Southern King, Fang Weian, murdered his master and then traded the prince's head for the Southern King's seal. Now, that 'ancestor' who's haunting Lord Xiao keeps accusing your Fang family of being ungrateful and betraying their roots... It all seems like the same old score."
Qin Shu smiled and said nonchalantly, "I'm afraid Xiao Dingyuan's wronged spirit has come to visit me."
Fang Ci was silent for a long moment, then finally let out a low sigh. She had always been sharp-tongued, but now it felt like she'd been poked in the soft spot, and even her words lost some of their confidence.
Ancestor Fang Weian was one of the few taboos in the Fang family. When she was young and studying history, her companion would read beside her. When the book turned to that page, she would not dare to look up, and the pages would be turned much faster - it was embarrassing.
Qin Shu glanced up at her and softened his tone, as if intentionally leaving her some wiggle room. "If a person in charge is bitten back by his own dog, it all comes down to the master's inability to judge people."
Fang Ci heard this, and the corners of her lips twitched. She looked up at him with a hint of helplessness in her eyes: "Just forget it. This sounds like comfort, but when you think about it carefully, it's almost like scolding."
Qin Shu didn't respond, his tone was calm and quiet, "Your Nan Mansion has relied on Fang Weian's soul technique for hundreds of years. Now it seems that you are also responsible for the debt."
Fang Ci lowered his eyes and was silent for a moment. Finally, he sighed, "That rotten soul, that rotten debt... actually entangled Jing Yuan. Even if there are many mistakes, it should be my Fang family's debt... What does it have to do with him?"
At this moment, hurried footsteps came from the corridor.
Ren Xuan stepped forward quickly.
Qin Shu raised his eyes and asked simply, "How is it?"
Ren Xuan stopped and shook his head, "He's mad as hell. I had to use my concentration to seal him off. His sea of consciousness will be stable for three days."
He paused, his voice low, "That thing...is definitely not an ordinary possession."
As the wind blew across the courtyard, Qin Shu's expression was grim: "How much longer can this last?"
Ren Xuan frowned and replied in a deep voice, "Seven days at most."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Wujiu beside him slowly spoke in a calm tone: "I exchanged techniques with him and connected with his Qi Sea. I can keep him stable for fifteen days."
Qin Shu's expression remained calm, his face stern. "We don't know who's behind this, and we don't know their purpose. Fifteen days is far from enough."
He paused, frowning slightly, and finally said, "Let's go to the Imperial City first. Qin Xuan should be able to help. I'll trouble you on the way."
Xiao Wujiu nodded slightly: "Since there is a problem with my technique, I will protect him."
Fang Xingfei didn't care. He just leaned against the pillar and yawned. After all, he always followed Xiao Wujiu but didn't do any work.
After the words fell, Qin Shu turned around, his eyes fell on Xiao Jingxiu, and his voice was deep but not fast: "Xiao Jingxiu."
Xiao Jingxiu stepped forward with a bow: "I am here."
"Send Xiyun back to the clouds." Qin Shu's tone was calm, but he didn't allow for any further arguments. "If he leaves without permission after recuperating for less than half a month, I will hold you accountable."
"Your Highness——Your Majesty..."
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