Chapter 19 Birds and Fish (VII) “——If you insult her again,…
The girl's words sounded like a joke, but Lian Qiang didn't get angry. She became serious again and looked at the girl carefully.
Her gaze was too presumptuous, and the girl couldn't help but feel offended. The look in her eyes became increasingly cold, like the condescending look of a superior.
"What do you want to do?" the girl asked, "Who sent you?"
Although she was asking, it revealed a bit about her situation. Lian Qiang seemed to have a plan, and took the initiative to ease the atmosphere. "I don't want to do anything. If you are the person I'm looking for, I won't harm you. I was asked to do this, but I can't tell you who this person is for now."
The other person's brow was still furrowed. Lian Qiang continued, "I know you can't completely trust me right now. If I were in your situation... I really wouldn't trust others so easily. But I hope you won't tell anyone else about what happened today."
The girl remained silent and stared at her. Lian Qiang's hands clenched where she couldn't see. Although the possibility was small, if she were the Princess Shao Yu, many problems would be easily solved, and she could easily reveal everything. If she wasn't, it would alert the enemy. If she still knew Huai Xu and wanted to tell him about this, that would definitely be the outcome she least wanted to see...
There may be inevitable battles in the future, but at least for now, they cannot let others know their purpose.
"Yes," the girl replied decisively this time, "I can promise you this."
Lian Qiang raised her eyebrows slightly, not quite understanding her thoughtfulness at the moment.
"I just wanted to know which faction you belong to. After all, your power is too weak, too weak to do anything," the girl said without emotion, not realizing that her words were harsh at all. "But I also don't want to tell this to anyone else. If you can see me again, I will tell you my name."
Lian Qiang smiled and said, "Do you want to see how far I can go before you tell me the truth?"
"Yes." The girl said without hesitation.
The other party's attitude was truly arrogant, but Lian Qiang didn't take it as an offense. Instead, she felt a pity. The girl was imprisoned in this enormous birdcage, clearly being treated as... a plaything. Lian Qiang didn't want to use that word to describe her, but that was indeed the situation.
She looked imposing, but in fact she was at a disadvantage.
"Then, see you next time." Lian Qiang had a vague premonition that they would definitely meet again.
Even... she could guess who the "that guy" the girl was talking about was.
It is much easier to escape than to sneak in. Lian Qiang and Chi Xingji met successfully. He first looked her up and down to make sure she was safe before leading her to the room to sit down.
"How's your investigation going?" Chi Xingji didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.
Lian Qiang then told him everything she had seen: "...but from what I saw, she didn't look like she had wings."
Even if the temperament and appearance are similar, these can be faked. Only the wings can never be matched by others.
"Of course these wings cannot be fake, but as you said, her appearance there is indeed strange... It doesn't seem like the work of an ordinary person." Chi Xingji frowned and thought, as if he was determined to come up with an answer.
Seeing his serious expression, Lian Qiang suddenly felt like teasing him: "You trust me so much? Aren't you afraid that I might lie about military intelligence?"
She thought Chi Xingji would ask for a few more details, but she didn't expect that he would listen to her after she only said it once.
"Why did you lie to me?" Chi Xingji sat upright, looked up at her, and asked righteously, "You need help after all, and right now I am your strongest support. It will do you no good to deceive me, right?"
He answered frankly and confidently. It was Lian Qiang who started teasing first, and she was the one who was speechless at the moment.
As if to ease her embarrassment, Chi Xingji lowered his eyes and said, "Besides, if you believe it, you will believe it. There is no need for any reason."
The words sounded light, but when they fell into Lian Qiang's ears, they had extraordinary weight.
"...Let's not talk about this anymore," she said abruptly, changing the subject. "Who do you think locked her up there?"
Lian Qiang was so eager to interrupt that she posed a question with an obvious answer. Who could have the ability to see through the world and go to such lengths to build a cage in the Mermaid King's palace, just to imprison one person?
The reason she asked this was that she just wanted to check the answer with Chi Xingji so as to lay the groundwork for the next plan.
"You and I have both thought about this, right..." Before Chi Xingji finished his words, he suddenly jumped behind Lian Qiang!
"how……"
Before Lian Qiang understood what was happening, someone broke in and interrupted the conversation with brute force!
The broken debris splashed in the rippling water. Lian Qiang, who was firmly protected by Chi Xingji, naturally did not suffer any harm. What attracted her attention were the privates who slowly swam out from behind and the people surrounding them.
"I'm really sorry for interrupting your conversation." Huai Xu said these words with apologetic intent, but his face didn't show any trace of guilt.
Chi Xingji's eyes met his, no less fiercely than his own. "Although every inch of this place is the Mermaid King's territory, Your Majesty, won't you explain why you broke into someone else's residence at night?"
After saying that, he grabbed a piece of the still floating wood and exerted a little force, and the spiritual power on it shattered together and turned into powder and fell to the ground.
Lian Qiang was still terrified. If she had continued to sit there defenseless, she would probably be covered in wounds by now...
"When dealing with guests, we should show hospitality. But when dealing with evildoers, why should we show mercy?" Huai Xu sneered, his sharp eyes fixed on Lian Qiang. "Half an hour ago, someone deliberately broke into the treasury under the palace. Although none of the treasures were lost, we discovered a trace of demonic energy there."
Huai Xu paused, as if giving them time to think. "Although many people have been entering and leaving the palace these past few days, there have been very few demonic cultivators... The remaining few were with their companions at the time. Only this Miss Lian Qiang is missing!"
He shouted loudly. Chi Xingji frowned: "Just based on this, are you going to arrest people indiscriminately?"
"The evidence is irrefutable. Why are you still quibbling? If you say anything more, I will only regard you as an accomplice!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Huai Xu raised his hand, and pure spiritual power shot straight at Lian Qiang! Lian Qiang didn't think twice, and the demonic energy in front of her rose, but it was undoubtedly unnecessary - Chi Xingji stood in front of her, like the most solid barrier in the world. He blocked the attack with his left hand, without any injury, but raised his right hand - something floated in the air and landed steadily in his palm.
We share the same sorrow.
Lian Qiang recognized the sword at a glance, and at this moment, she also understood why Chi Xingji drew his sword.
There is only one person who has ascended to heaven in a hundred years, and this person only has this sword.
"Relying on others to fight without listening to your explanation, is this how the mermaid royal family treats guests?" Chi Xingji's brows were cold, and when he raised his sword, something was quietly released, and he no longer suppressed the aura around him.
Seeing Huaixu's look of surprise, which quickly subsided, the two realized he had recognized Chi Xingji. Lian Qiang was certain that if Chi Xingji wasn't restrained, he would have been no match for Huaixu. However, he was bound by the laws of the lower realm, and this place was, after all, the merman's territory. Huaixu would be more thoughtful in his actions, but he wouldn't necessarily be so lenient.
Fortunately, Huai Xu was not a reckless person. With a gesture, he calmed the restless men behind him and said with a smile, "I was wondering who dared to act and boast like this... It turned out to be the Xingji Immortal Lord. I had no idea that such a distinguished guest would be at my wedding banquet."
His words were respectful, yet laced with sarcasm. Chi Xingji understood but didn't respond. "I originally just wanted to come and go peacefully, but unexpectedly encountered this. I can't just sit back and watch."
"Since he's the Immortal Lord Xingji, I can certainly trust him and will never associate with someone like him. But as for that demon cultivator behind him," Huai Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, "if we let him go so easily, won't the others think that the Mermaid Palace allows them to come and go as they please?"
There was a brief pause in their fight, and Lian Qiang finally got a chance to speak up: "I haven't even been to any treasure house. You're convicting me based solely on demonic energy. Isn't that arbitrary?"
"At the time of the incident, there was no trace of outsiders entering or leaving. It could only be an internal guest. Everyone else has verification, but you don't. Is this considered arbitrary?" Huai Xu retorted, with a hint of... pride in his eyes.
Lian Qiang continued to argue, "Besides that, you have no other evidence, and you didn't even question anyone else. With just this one thing, you're putting the blame on me? Are you convicted of it, or do you want it to be me?"
"If you could explain clearly what you were doing and who you were meeting, you wouldn't be held responsible for this crime." Huai Xu's words were full of nonsense and were annoying. Lian Qiang bit her lip, trying to stay awake and not get carried away.
He might know where she went and who she met, or he might not know - Lian Qiang was so certain, it was more likely that he was deceiving her, but she couldn't explain it.
If he denied this crime, he would be convicted of another, and there would be no one to testify. This was the ultimate dilemma.
Seeing Lian Qiang lower her head, Huai Xu signaled the men behind him to arrest her. At this time, Chi Xingji spoke again: "Wait a minute - as long as we can prove that she was with someone else when the incident happened, will the king show mercy?"
"good."
"Then I am her witness. She doesn't want to say it, probably because she still has some concerns. In that case, let me speak for her. I was with her at that time." Chi Xingji said loudly, frankly and generously.
A look of surprise appeared on Huaixu's face again. Lian Qiang thought that he might be even more surprised that Chi Xingji was willing to admit to this matter.
"It's late at night, and we're alone. Immortal Lord, please think carefully. Don't let good intentions lead to bad consequences and jeopardize your reputation." Huai Xu hinted. The sword-wielding young man remained unmoved: "It's the truth, how can I bring trouble to you?"
Hearing this, Huai Xu laughed twice, his cold eyes cast on Lian Qiang: "I just can't believe that the famous Immortal Lord would be hanging out with a demon cultivator. Could it be that the Immortal Lord has been deceived by her? Demon cultivators are always cunning..."
Tong Bei's sword, which was originally pointed at the ground, was suddenly grasped by someone and turned in the direction, pointing directly at Huai Xu's throat, forcing him to stop talking and also causing the sound of weapons to break out behind Huai Xu.
"—If you insult her again, it's the same as insulting me."
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