Chapter 248: Knock the Mountain to Shock the Tiger (asking for monthly votes)
"The prince has been replaced by a cat?"
A hint of disdain flashed in Chen Yi's eyes behind his black iron mask.
"That's not a good word to use."
It should be 'the cicada shedding its shell'.
"Unfortunately, I've arrived. Asutai, this 'golden cicada,' is destined to never escape its shell."
It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early.
Now that he's caught up with it, he can't let Liu Hong have his way.
Then, while concentrating his energy to investigate the surrounding movements, Chen Yi also paid attention to the situation inside the house.
After a series of muffled shouts in a barbarian language, only Asutai's suppressed sobs and growls remained in the house.
"I...I won't...I won't let you go..."
"I will kill you, kill..."
"Tergo, Ruli, Bach... I, Asutai, swear by the primal gods, I will kill you!!"
The person who spoke first still spoke with a contemptuous tone.
"Your Highness Asutai, your father, the Left King, led a large army but was defeated at Mengshui Pass. How much chance of victory do you have when you ascend the throne and make a comeback?"
"Besides, you are only the youngest son of the Left King, not the Left King of the barbarians."
"It's not too late to say these things to me when you become the Left King of the Barbarians."
"Ah—I'll kill you!"
Asutai seemed to have his mouth covered, only able to let out a muffled roar.
But it was quickly drowned out by the laughter of the person who had spoken earlier.
"Please forgive Your Highness Asutai, you will have to stay here alone for the rest of the time."
"But don't worry, I will instruct them to prepare the strongest liquor and the most delicious venison for you, so that you can have an unforgettable time in Shuzhou."
"Ha ha……"
Hearing the arrogant laughter, Chen Yi didn't pay much attention, only showing a hint of contemplation.
He had seen many arrogant people.
But it's not uncommon to see someone so arrogant.
In particular, the person he mocked was the youngest son of the barbarian Left King, someone Liu Hong risked his life to protect.
He pondered for a moment.
Chen Yi made two deductions.
Firstly, Liu Hong's request to send Asutai back to the barbarian tribe was not at the request of the Left King, but rather he was eager to curry favor with him in exchange for some benefit.
Secondly, Liu Hong and Zuo Wang had a deeper level of cooperation, and the two were of equal status.
Otherwise, Liu Hong's confidants would not have treated Asutai this way.
At least if it were Chen Yi, he would have countless ways to make Asutai return to the barbarian tribe without his knowledge.
Instead of having Asutai witness his people die tragically because of him, as is the case now.
Of course, there is also a third possibility—Asutai was not valued by the Left King among the barbarians.
Obviously, the probability is not high.
Chen Yi looked at the house thoughtfully, and subconsciously tapped on the window of the carriage.
"If it is the second case, it means that Liu Hong's interactions with the barbarians may have been going on for a long time."
"One year, two years... or perhaps before the barbarian Left King Muhag attacked Mengshui Pass?"
Chen Yi had no idea; all he knew was that Liu Hong was not only ambitious but also incredibly audacious.
Throughout history, many people have been obsessed with power, but most of them have formed cliques, pursued personal gain, and courted powerful families.
People like Liu Hong, who secretly colluded with foreign enemies, were extremely rare, and he was ruthless to the extreme.
No wonder he wanted to eliminate Liu Taofang, regardless of Lin Huai'an's status as a merchant in Jizhou, after discovering that Liu Taofang was having an affair with Lin Huai'an.
No wonder he dealt with Man Nu'er and Lü Jiunan immediately after learning about Liu Taoyao's experience last night, which might expose his ties with the Vaishsa Kingdom and the barbarians.
"If someone like Liu Hong isn't dealt with decisively, he'll only become a bigger problem in the future."
After thinking about all this, Chen Yi made a decision.
He lowered the curtain, got up, and walked outside.
Pei Guanli saw his movement and was about to follow when she heard Chen Yi say:
"You stay here and keep an eye on your surroundings."
"Take down anyone who comes."
Chen Yi tossed her a bottle of Divine Intoxication, pulled his cloak tighter around himself, and quietly walked toward the house.
Pei Guanli glanced at the medicine bottle in her hand, then looked at Chen Yi outside through the gap in the carriage. Her lips twitched as she looked at him through the mask.
"Didn't you say you were taking me out to see a play?"
"What chance do you have?"
Her cultivation level was too low; even with her true essence flowing into her ears, it was difficult for her to hear clearly the conversation between Asutai and the others in the quiet room of the house, which was blocked by the noise of the rain.
It's not entirely Chen Yi's fault.
Chen Yi ignored Tiger Girl's nagging and quietly arrived at the house.
After confirming the location of everyone inside the house, he did not hesitate to use the Meteor Butterfly Step.
The Great Martial Arts Step, by invoking the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, caused his movement speed to soar to its extreme.
It was barely visible, just a blurry afterimage, as it passed by the guards standing around.
Before they could react, Chen Yi delivered a lightning-fast chop to the back of their necks.
Then Chen Yi took out a bottle of Divine Intoxication, uncorked it, and held it under their noses to smell it.
Only after confirming that the eight people dressed in gray on the outside were completely unconscious did he leisurely walk into the main hall of the inner courtyard.
Head straight to the west wing room—above the quiet room where Asutai was located.
The two martial artists guarding the door were startled when they saw him enter.
"Who...who are you?!"
"Boss, an outsider has broken in!"
The two questioned the people in the quiet room while reminding them, then drew their knives and charged forward.
Chen Yi swayed slightly before heading to meet him.
Like a gentle breeze passing by.
Then the two seventh-rank martial artists fell to the ground.
Using his Qi Observation Technique, Chen Yi had already discerned the cultivation levels of these people, most of them being at the lower third rank.
There's nothing to worry about.
However, when he looked at the entrance to the quiet room, his eyes showed a slight surprise.
Lower fifth rank?
Liu Hong has such skilled men under his command.
Waited for a moment.
Seeing that the people below did not move, and even the previously roaring Asutai had fallen silent, Chen Yi couldn't help but smile.
"You're not coming out?"
As he spoke, he let the person lying on the ground smell the "Immortal's Intoxication" in his hand, as usual, before throwing it directly into the quiet room.
*Snap*
The medicine bottle broke.
The person who spoke first said something bad, it was poisonous, and then reminded the people around to cover their mouths and noses.
However, the Divine Intoxication was not something that ordinary martial artists like them could withstand.
After waiting for about ten breaths and seeing that there was no more movement inside, Chen Yi slipped inside.
Inside the small, quiet wooden room, lay the corpses of several barbarian slaves lying haphazardly.
There were also three masked warriors dressed in gray.
One of them was guarding the stairwell; judging from his aura, he was the fifth-rank cultivator who had spoken earlier.
The other two were lying next to a barbarian boy.
Chen Yi glanced around, his gaze landing on the corpses of the barbarian slaves, confirming that they were the people who had attacked the grain store warehouse in the East Market earlier.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, hoisted the barbarian boy onto his shoulder, and headed outside.
But after arriving at the stairwell, he thought for a moment and then took the fifth-grade martial artist with him as well.
"A person with such cultivation level is still so arrogant. He must know something about Liu Hong. He is of some value."
Chen Yi arrived outside the house and, after confirming that no one was watching, returned to the carriage and shoved the person inside.
Pei Guanli looked at this one and that one suspiciously, "Sister... cough cough, sir, who are these two?"
"Cheers".
As Chen Yi spoke, he sat down in the carriage, patted Zhang Dabao on the shoulder, and gave the instructions:
"I remember you found another house near the East Market?"
"Let's go there first."
Zhang Dabao responded and drove the carriage along the quiet alley into the bustling Chuandong Street.
Inside the train carriage.
Pei Guanli asked, puzzled, "Brother-in-law, what are the stakes?"
Chen Yi lifted one side of the curtain and looked out the window, casually replying, "A bargaining chip that can make people feel very uncomfortable."
He had previously decided to disrupt the situation in Shu Province so that he could see clearly the circumstances of Liu Hong, the merchants of Ji Province, and others.
Before he could even try to boost grain prices, Liu Hong sent him a big gift.
In this way, his plans can be brought forward.
And the results will be better and faster than previously expected.
Pei Guanli wasn't annoyed by his unclear explanation; she simply poked the young barbarian boy beside her intermittently.
"How could a barbarian cause you any distress?"
Chen Yi smiled and didn't explain further, only saying, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you enjoy this show."
"real?"
"Brother-in-law, I knew you were the best to me."
"Once my cultivation level breaks through, I will definitely be able to help you."
"You? Just don't cause me any trouble."
"Oh brother-in-law, why do you say that..."
Despite saying that, Pei Guanli was still secretly delighted.
Ever since the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering, she has been determined to follow Chen Yi for the rest of her life.
That's why she's been working so hard in her spiritual practice lately.
She hoped that one day she could help Chen Yi, instead of just watching from afar like that night, unable to do anything to help.
Not long after.
The carriage drove into a house on the north side of the East Market.
It occupies a small area, consisting of only a two-courtyard house.
However, because it is located on the east bank of Quchi Pond, the scenery is quite pleasant.
Chen Yi stepped out of the carriage, looking around at the layout of the house while listening to the sounds around him.
After confirming that no one nearby had noticed, he carried the two people from the car into the main room.
As he walked, he instructed Zhang Dabao, "Later, have Wang Ji buy some ironwood and send it to the house on Chuanxi Street, where you can set up a quiet room."
"Remember, this matter should not be entrusted to others. How about... those guards from the Tianshan Sect?"
Zhang Dabao understood and replied, "The manager has mentioned a few people these past few days, saying that they have been quite dedicated since they came to Baicaotang."
"Then let them go."
"As for the people guarding this place..."
Upon hearing Chen Yi's words, Pei Guanli immediately raised her hand and said, "I, I, I can stay here."
Chen Yi looked at her with slight surprise: "Are you sure?"
Pei Guanli chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I guarantee there won't be any problems."
Seeing her pat her chest and guarantee it, Chen Yi thought for a moment, then nodded and gave her some advice:
"You can stay here and guard them, but you must not be careless and let them escape."
"Uh-huh."
"And we can't let them die."
"Uh-huh."
"You... forget it."
Tiger Girl's past "achievements" were too amazing, and Chen Yi really didn't dare to relax.
He decided to take matters into his own hands and directly shattered the three Qi Seas of that fifth-grade martial artist.
He then used the technique of "using qi to control needles" to tear apart all the meridians in his body, thus destroying his cultivation.
However, Chen Yi still felt uneasy, and finally, under Pei Guanli's astonished gaze, he severed the man's limbs.
After doing all this, he didn't forget to explain to Pei Guanli, "This person's cultivation level is at least fifth grade, which is very strong."
Pei Guanli wanted to say that she had a treasure, but seeing that Chen Yi had crippled the person, she could only nod and pout, saying:
"My lord, are you relieved now?"
Chen Yi paused, then said mischievously, "I'm still not at ease."
"Oh, you..."
Let's exchange a few jokes.
Chen Yi had Zhang Dabao find a rope to tie the two people up, and then instructed Pei Guanli:
"You stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll have Da Bao bring over some food and drinks."
"You can rest assured and leave it to me. I guarantee there won't be any problems."
Pei Guanli nodded repeatedly, making the bells around her neck jingle.
Since things had come to this, Chen Yi had no choice but to believe her this once.
After giving him a few instructions, he asked Zhang Dabao to drive him to the Provincial Judicial Office on Zhennan Street.
He sat upright in the car, removed the black iron mask from his face, and smiled as he looked at the drizzle outside the window.
"I hope Lord Liu will be satisfied with this tactic of striking a chord to intimidate us..."
...
Half an hour later.
Upon receiving a letter, Fang Hongxiu immediately led her people to the residence in Pingyao Lane, East Market.
She looked at the unconscious warriors inside and the dead barbarian servants in the quiet room, a thoughtful expression on her face.
She then summoned a forensic officer and asked, "Did you get a clear look at the messenger's face?"
The chief magistrate shook his head: "Please forgive me, sir, but I only saw the letter and did not see anyone deliver it."
Fang Hongxiu was somewhat disappointed.
Although she knew it was Liu Wu who did it, and that the two were still working together, she still wanted to find out Liu Wu's true identity.
Unfortunately, Liu Wu was too cautious.
Thinking this, Fang Hongxiu ordered, "Take them all back to the Inner Prison of the Criminal Investigation Department and lock them up."
"Find some more doctors and bring them back to consciousness as soon as possible. I want to interrogate them myself."
"yes!"
Meanwhile, at the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office.
Liu Hong, dressed in a red official robe, sat upright at the table, writing a memorial to the throne.
With each stroke of his brush, Wei Qing's calligraphy is upright and neat, each stroke penetrating the back of the paper.
[The summer grain tax from Shu Prefecture totaled 3.3 million shi, and will soon be transported to the capital; the annual examinations are approaching, and students throughout the prefecture...]
As I was writing, a person suddenly rushed in from outside the door, "Sir!"
Liu Hong frowned slightly and looked at the newcomer, asking, "Shichang, what's the matter that you're so panicked?"
The man who arrived was Zhao Shichang. Without hesitation, he leaned closer and whispered, "Sir, something has happened!"
"The house in Pingyao Lane was somehow found by the Criminal Investigation Department."
"They've been found, so they're here anyway; they were going to be taken to the authorities..."
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Hong paused, turned to look at him, and asked in a serious tone, "Where is that 'distinguished guest'?"
Zhao Shichang replied in a low voice, "He's gone."
"Moreover, the people from the Criminal Investigation Department not only found the bodies of those barbarian slaves, but also..."
"What else?"
"They also captured our people."
He paused, then quickly added, "Fortunately, those people have fainted for some reason, so the Criminal Investigation Department is temporarily unable to interrogate them."
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong's expression changed drastically, and his eyes flickered with uncertainty.
Zhao Shichang fell silent, taking several steps back without daring to breathe.
A long silence followed.
Liu Hong put down his calligraphy brush, leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples, and asked:
"The people from the Criminal Investigation Department arrested them and should immediately lock them up in the inner prison."
"You need to find a way to shut them up forever."
Zhao Shichang bowed and replied, "Sir, before coming here I instructed my men to find an opportunity to act, but, but..."
"what else?!"
Liu Hong's tone was already extremely angry.
Zhao Shichang gave a wry smile and continued, "Besides Asutai, Zeng Zhifeng has also disappeared."
Liu Hong could no longer contain himself. He slammed his hand on the table and asked in a deep voice, "Are you saying that he betrayed me?!"
"No...it's not impossible."
"According to the Ministry of Justice, apart from the corpses of those barbarian slaves, the other guards at the scene were all unconscious due to poisoning."
"Good, very good!"
"You, go and inform the boss immediately, and have him tell those two—we want them alive or dead!"
Zhao Shichang naturally understood that he was referring to Lü Jiunan and Ge Muxiao.
After a slight hesitation, he bowed and quickly left.
After he walked away, Liu Hong sat quietly for a long time before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
He stared at the memorials on the table, his eyes icy cold.
"Someone must have betrayed us, but it might not be Zeng Zhifeng; it could be someone else..."
"Whoever dares to ruin my plans will meet the same fate!"
"die!"
(End of this chapter)
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