Chapter 252: Jackals, Woodworms, and Chivalrous Scholars
Chen Jiayu was immediately shocked and said, "Don't say that. I'm just a seventh-rank demon. How could I penetrate the silver vault guarded by ghosts and gods, and how could I steal the silver without making any noise?"
"Besides, although I'm not a monk, I'm also a practitioner. The material possessions I have are enough to keep me warm and well-fed. What do I need so much money for?"
Gong Mengbi asked, "If you didn't steal the treasury silver, why did you come to the Rat King?"
Chen Jiayu said, "It's a private matter, I really can't tell you."
Gong Mengbi said, "It's no use hiding it from me. The City God has already raided the Rat King's lair. While the Rat King was alive, he might have been able to hide it, but now he's dead. With the City God's abilities, his lair is definitely not hidden. Who knows what evidence might be hidden inside?"
Chen Jiayu's expression suddenly became complicated. He sighed softly and said, "Well, based on my understanding of Ziyang, he will definitely find a way to exonerate me."
Knowing he couldn't hide it anymore, Chen Jiayu's expression relaxed and he said, "It was indeed me who stole the treasury silver."
Gong Mengbi shook his head and said, "No, it's not you. It's you all. You, the Rat King, and at least a third person, or even a fourth person."
"If you want to steal the treasury silver, you must first be able to hide it from the eyes and ears of the gods and spirits. Among you, only the Rat King can do this. But to steal things under the noses of the gods, the Rat King alone is not enough. At least someone is needed to distract the eyes of the gods and spirits, and even someone else is needed to tip off the gods and spirits."
Chen Jiayu began to sweat. He forced a smile and said, "I made the noise outside, allowing the Rat King to steal the treasury silver."
Gong Mengbi ignored his quibbling and continued to speculate, "That means someone must have tipped you off, allowing the Rat King to dig a rat tunnel to the warehouse without being discovered. You might have been the one creating the disturbance outside, but you couldn't have tipped off the attacker. This person could only be one of the government officials or the prefect's men."
"After stealing the treasury silver, you couldn't leave the city, so you hid inside. Later, you used a feint to the east and attacked in the west, deliberately letting the ghosts discover you. You had the Rat King release black rats to confuse the viewer, making it look like you were attacking the south of the city, but you were actually heading north. The treasury silver is definitely a huge amount, and you don't seem like someone who's greedy. There must be others who need money, and there must be someone to help you."
"Stop talking!" Chen Jiayu interrupted him abruptly, taking his sword in his hand. "Why are you guessing? No one else helped me. I stole the treasury silver. What do you want to do with it?"
Chen Jiayu had murderous thoughts in his mind, and his thin body and delicate face took on the ferocity of a skinny tiger.
Gong Mengbi quietly watched Chen Jiayu, watching his magic power continue to accumulate, ready to make a shocking move at any moment. He suddenly laughed and said, "I don't plan to do anything. I'm just curious what you want the treasury silver for."
Chen Jiayu sneered, "Do you know that the Tangxi River burst its dike, flooding an entire county and killing countless people? The county seat of Tangxi County was breached by the water, and the county magistrate was devoured by a demon in the water while trying to control the flood. The county repeatedly reported the situation to the county seat, but there was no response. The refugees wanted to seek refuge in the county seat, but were driven away by the soldiers."
"I don't need silver from the treasury, but the people of Tangxi need food, the river in Tangxi needs repairing, and the demons in Tangxi need to be subdued. All of these require silver."
Chen Jiayu slowed down his tone and said, "Fox Fairy, if you can spare Ziyang and let me free him, I will accept your kindness. But please don't interfere with the matter of the treasury silver. Otherwise, I will not let you go even if it costs my life."
Gong Mengbi sighed, "So that's the reason. You stole the treasury silver to provide disaster relief. That's incredible."
His tone was gentle and respectful, and Chen Jiayu was a little confused about what Gong Mengbi wanted to do.
Gong Mengbi said, "Don't worry. I admire chivalrous men like you so much, how could I possibly embarrass you?"
Chen Jiayu still hesitated and asked, "Aren't you going to expose us and collect the reward?"
Gong Mengbi asked, "Who do you want to receive the reward from?"
"To the governor and the city god."
Gong Mengbi said, "The governor's reputation is known far and wide, and he's called 'the sky is three feet high,' but he's a greedy and stingy person, a mere jackal. The City God 'performs diligently,' but does no good. He's a hypocrite, a mere pest."
"I don't associate with good men, but instead betray them and become an accomplice to wolves and borers. Doesn't that make me look foolish and incompetent?"
Chen Jiayu was so praised by Gong Mengbi that he didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Gong Mengbi said, "The Rat King is wise and capable of such a righteous act, which deserves my mercy. You refused to betray your accomplices because you were trying to protect the righteous men, so how could I blame you? Collect your belongings and go down the mountain. Don't waste the Rat King's efforts."
Gong Mengbi wanted Chen Jiayu to leave, but Chen Jiayu refused to leave.
He put away the two multicolored gems, wrapped up the Disaster God Spell and placed it in his arms, then asked, "What about you, Fox? What did you trade for your invitation to exterminate rats?"
Gong Mengbi said, "The Rat King is willing to sacrifice his life to raise your name, to help you emerge from the shadows. Naturally, I also need to use my rat-control work to achieve other goals. I plan to build a fox academy on Lanyin Mountain to gather the surrounding fox spirits, teach them the Dharma, and educate them to do good and avoid evil. This matter cannot be concealed from the City God, so I will use my rat-control work to ask the prefect to intercede on my behalf, and have the City God acknowledge this matter to prevent future troubles."
Chen Jiayu looked at Gong Mengbi carefully and said, "So you are Master Fox. No wonder you have such a magnanimous demeanor."
Gong Mengbi said, "This makes me happier than being called the Fox King."
Seeing Gong Mengbi's frankness, Chen Jiayu's suspicions gradually dissipated, but his curiosity became even stronger.
"Master Hu, do you know that Lanyin Mountain is not a good place?"
Gong Mengbi said, "Don't worry. You are now in Lanyin Mountain. Have you noticed anything bad?"
Chen Jiayu looked at Zhu Zhengxin.
Zhu Zhengxin suddenly revealed an innocent and aggrieved expression.
Chen Jiayu turned his head and observed the surrounding scenery. He took out a colorful gem and placed it in front of his eyes. Looking at Lanyin Temple through the colorful gem, he saw a spiritual and peaceful atmosphere, and there was indeed no fierce aura.
Chen Jiayu said, "You are really capable."
Seeing Gong Mengbi curiously looking at the multicolored gem in his hand, Chen Jiayu hesitated for a moment and said, "You didn't burn him to death, leaving him a chance to reincarnate. I'll give this Xun Gem to you."
He said, "It's not that I'm stingy, but I want to give the other one to Ziyang's chosen successor, so I can't give it to you."
Gong Mengbi took the gem and placed the colorful gem in front of his eyes. Looking through the gem, he saw that the whole world had turned into various colorful scenes.
He looked at Chen Jiayu and could see that the sword in Chen Jiayu's hand was emitting yellow light, the disaster god magic on his chest was emitting black air, and the other gem was emitting colorful light. It was very wonderful, but there was only one bad thing, that is, it was clear up close, but very blurry from a distance.
"The rat is short-sighted, even the Rat King is not immune to this." Gong Mengbi sighed in his heart and returned the gem to Chen Jiayu.
Seeing Chen Jiayu's puzzled expression, he said gently, "Your friend's relic is just a treasure hunting tool for me when you give it to me, but if you keep it, it will serve as a testimony."
Chen Jiayu took the Xun gem in his hand and stroked it carefully. Through the two gems, it seemed as if he was looking into the eyes of the Gray-haired Rat King and could still feel the warmth of his gaze.
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