Chapter 462: One Pot Sweep

Duan Rong glanced at the secret letter.

Lu Geng looked at Duan Rong and said, "Disciple, for the matter of catching the spy, you can just continue taking Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng with you. Do you need me to say a word to them again?"

"No need!" Duan Rong said. "However, Senior Brother, you must inform the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen Shanmeng, as well as Lin Yuan of the Privy Council. You just said that the Li Shensi case is primarily handled by the Dali Temple, with the Advisory Office and the Privy Council assisting. When you take charge of the Dali Temple, you should be able to see those two. Please, Senior Brother, instruct them not to assign tasks to Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng during the trial period; I need to temporarily requisition these two."

Lu Geng nodded and said, "Fine! Disciple, I will deliver the message. I will be staying at the relay station for these few days; if there is anything, you can come find me at any time."

Duan Rong stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "For us fellow disciples to meet so hastily, we haven't even had a cup of tea. If this matter is concluded, I would like to invite you for a gathering, Senior Brother. I hope you will do me the honor then!"

Lu Geng grabbed Duan Rong's cupped hands with his large hand and said, "You have a heart, Disciple. Once the matter is finished, we shall have a proper drink. Disciple, I am leaving now!"

After Lu Geng finished speaking, he strode to the door, pulled it open, and walked out.

Seeing Lu Geng leave, Ruyi intended to return inside. Just as she reached the doorway, she heard Duan Rong say, "Ruyi, I have something to do. Keep watch for me. No one is allowed to come in and disturb me!"

Ruyi's expression froze, and her body seemed to stiffen for a moment; one of her feet had already stepped inside.

"Yes, My Lord!" Ruyi retracted the foot that had stepped into the room, closed the door that Lu Geng had opened, and stood guard to the side of the doorway.

Duan Rong sat there and picked up the secret letter from the desk. He narrowed his eyes to look at the seal of the letter, seeing a corner of the Inner History Department's official seal on the wax, and next to it, Zhu He's personal seal.

Duan Rong did not use a knife; he tore open the seal directly and tipped it over. A thin, square sheet of paper the size of a lotus leaf drifted out.

Duan Rong reached out, clamped it steadily between two fingers, and raised his eyes to look at the paper.

At one glance, Duan Rong's expression turned to astonishment. Immediately, with a *whoosh*, he flipped to the back of the paper, only to see that the back was completely blank.

Duan Rong placed the paper on the desk in front of him, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

The quality of the paper was clearly excellent; although thin, it did not deform or wrinkle when absorbing ink. However, at this moment, on the fair surface of the paper, there was only a solitary character: "Go."

Duan Rong stared at the character "Go" in the center of the paper, which took up about a quarter of the area, and was speechless for a moment.

"What kind of madness is this old man up to?!"

Duan Rong's eyelids twitched, as if he had remembered something. He suddenly stood up, walked to the Inner Room behind the screen, took a Fire Folder from the cabinet, blew a tiny flame, and lit a Candle Lamp.

Carrying the Candle Lamp, Duan Rong returned to the desk, set the lamp down, and held the paper over the flame for a while. He remembered that back in Xiangu County, Ximen Kankan had a type of medicinal liquid—which he had also used—that would disappear when heated by fire. Perhaps this ink-saturated character "Go" was just a distraction, and the place it covered was the true content of the secret letter.

Duan Rong roasted it for a while and found that the bucket-sized, solitary character "Go" on the paper remained unchanged. He sighed, examined the paper again for a while, and placed it back on the desk. He dipped his finger in some water from a teacup, dotted it around the "Go" character, and then held the paper up to the candlelight to look; he found that the watermarked area was also blank.

Duan Rong angrily slapped the paper onto the desk.

He had tried both water and fire. If there were a more complex method to reveal the text, Lu Geng would surely have told him just now. This meant that, originally, there was only a single "Go" character in this secret letter.

"Damn it, is this old man a lunatic?!"

"When the Jiajing Emperor plays riddles, he at least gives a poem!? Something like 'The bright moon rises above the sea'? At least there's some information to associate with. You just write a 'Go' and have someone send it over."

"I really want to slap it onto your old face!"

"Go what the hell? Go where? Go to hell? Or go to your grandfather?"

As Duan Rong spoke, he began to curse. After a bout of venting, he finally calmed down.

Although there was only the character "Go," he sat there dully for half an hour contemplating it. He thought about it over and over, even trying to deconstruct the character, but in the end, he gained nothing.

Half an hour later, he gave up while cursing Zhu He.

"What am I thinking about? It's just a 'Go' character, and I've been thinking about it like an idiot for half an hour."

Duan Rong took the paper and the envelope, walked to the window on the side wall, opened it, and slapped the envelope and paper together in his hand.

His palm's Qi surged slightly, like a millstone; with a twist, the envelope and paper in his palm turned into powder.

Duan Rong waved his hand to scatter it, watched the paper dust drift away, and cursed, "Go to hell!"

Feeling somewhat stifled, he decided to go out to clear his head. He had been staying in the Separate Courtyard for over ten days; there was no longer any need to hide his identity, and he could walk on the street openly.

Just as Duan Rong turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He reached out and touched his chin; the stiff stubble was a bit prickly.

He was still wearing a glued-on circle of whiskers.

Duan Rong slowly tore off the circle of whiskers. Because it was glued on so tightly, the skin on his cheeks stung as he pulled, so he hissed a few times while tugging.

After tearing off the whiskers, Duan Rong tossed them out the window, then walked to the front of the room and opened the door with a creak.

Ruyi was standing guard at the door; hearing the sound, she turned her head and stared blankly at Duan Rong in the doorway.

Duan Rong glanced at Ruyi and said, "Ruyi, I'm going out for a stroll!"

Ruyi asked in surprise, "My Lord, where is your beard?"

Duan Rong touched his chin and said, "Oh, I just took a moment to shave it off."

After speaking, Duan Rong stepped out of the room, crossed the courtyard, and went straight out of the Separate Courtyard.

Just as he walked out of the courtyard gate, he noticed that Chou Luan had followed him out.

Duan Rong stopped and turned back, looking at Chou Luan, and said, "Chou Luan, you don't need to follow."

Chou Luan stubbornly said, "Chou is under orders to protect My Lord!"

Duan Rong said, "Anyone who can hurt me, you wouldn't be able to stop either. Just stay behind and watch the courtyard. Also, go back and give a word for me; tell Ruyi not to run around."

After saying this, Duan Rong walked away without looking back.

Seeing Duan Rong leave the courtyard, the expression on Ruyi's face instantly turned cold. She walked into the room and immediately saw the lit Candle Lamp on the desk.

It was broad daylight now; this was certainly not the time to be lighting a lamp.

A flash of doubt crossed Ruyi's eyes. She then noticed the side window was open, and with a calm demeanor, she walked over, poked her head out to look, and saw a circle of dark whiskers lying on the grass. Ruyi stood on tiptoe, stretched her head out to look around the window, and seeing nothing else, she pulled her head back in.

Her actions and expression were all clearly observed by Duan Rong, who was hiding in a corner of the Separate Courtyard, using his Divine Sense to probe.

He had left the Candle Lamp and the open side window specifically to observe Ruyi's reaction, to further confirm her identity.

At this moment, Duan Rong could be absolutely certain that Ruyi was an eye placed by his side.

He sighed, bypassed the large zelkova tree beside him, and walked along a small path toward the exit of the manor.

As he walked, he pondered another question: since Zhu He had asked him to catch the spy and his order was to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, why did he instruct him not to move on Ruyi's line yet?

Following Ruyi, along with the matchmaker or agent who sold her to Zhu Zhengfu, one could probably drag out a whole group of people.

Since he was asked to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, yet was told not to touch the ready-made leads, what kind of medicine was this old man selling in his gourd?

And as for that secret letter, what exactly was the meaning of that single "Go" character? Would it kill him to speak clearly?

In truth, regarding the case of Li Shensi, despite the great fanfare, Duan Rong really felt nothing, because he knew very well that he had not left behind any evidence that could confirm his guilt.

The only suspicion was that he just happened to be within Shenyun Prefecture during this period. However, Zhu He had already explained this for him in the Elder Council.

He had come secretly this time to investigate spies.

If he were truly just glossing over the aftermath of the Li Shensi case, he could have just grabbed two spies to deal with it, and the matter would have passed. But Zhu He's order to him was to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, to pull them out entirely.

Added to the various mysteries he had yet to figure out, and the Yinlu Cicada for life-preservation that Zhu He had given him two months ago, Duan Rong had a feeling that the death of Li Shensi was likely just a prelude; the real show had only just begun.

And as for this show, the guy hiding behind the scenes who understood everything was likely that old man, Zhu He.

Although the death of Li Shensi was only a prelude, Duan Rong could also sense that every step had a deep meaning, and they were all linked together.

For example, after Li Shensi died, it was almost a matter of course that he would begin arresting spies within Shenyun Prefecture. Duan Rong did not believe that this was a pretext Zhu He thought of on the spot to deal with the trouble Ge Rusong and the others were making; if that were the case, it would not explain the order he gave him to cut the weeds and dig up the roots. This was clearly not a spur-of-the-moment order; it was likely already prepared when the old man appointed him to come to Shenyun Prefecture to kill Li Shensi.

Otherwise, why would he not have sent Wu Shidao, who was obviously more suitable, to kill Li Shensi, but instead sent him?

Moreover, just now Lu Geng relayed Zhu He's words, saying that the old man said you had long known the details of the spies.

This matter likely had to be traced back even further, to more than half a year ago, when he was assisting in the investigation of the lightning strike case of Zhu Shizhong in Shenyun Prefecture.

The meaning in Zhu He's words was clearly that back then, when he was investigating the lightning strike case of Zhu Shizhong, he had already discovered some clues about the spies, but had not spoken of them.

Duan Rong was certain that this statement by Zhu He was merely a deduction.

And the basis for the deduction was that Zhu He had seen through his thoughts at the time, knowing that he did not want to get too deeply involved in the fight between the two sides, and even if he had clues about the spies, he would not have said them. Furthermore, he was wearing the title of a "master detective" at the time, so how could he have had no insight into the spies who were already involved in the case?

After Duan Rong deduced Zhu He's deduction, he put the matter aside. After all, how Zhu He deduced that he knew the details of the spies was no longer important; what was important now was, how was he going to handle this?

Should he really do as Zhu He said, to cut the weeds and dig up the roots? If he did that, he would likely be in danger!

This was, after all, the spy network that Ge Rusong had spent many years painstakingly managing; how could Ge Rusong sit by and watch him destroy it in one fell swoop?

Duan Rong subconsciously touched the Yinlu Cicada hanging on his chest inside his lapel.

At this moment, he could better understand Zhu He's intention in giving him the Yinlu Cicada; it was likely not just to protect him, but also to increase his confidence at a critical moment, so he would not back out.

At this time, if he did not have the Yinlu Cicada, he would absolutely not execute Zhu He's order to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, because that would simply be courting death.

Moreover, not executing the order was also simple; he only needed to pretend to be incompetent and unable to discover the spies. At most, Zhu He would not welcome him on Yunfu Peak and would cut off his cultivation resources, but he would not really do anything to him.

It was just that Duan Rong did not want to do that!

More than half a year ago, when he was apprenticed at the Longyu Hall on Cuiwei Peak, the reason he chose to apprentice under Zhu He was that he felt this person had a very high probability of becoming the next Sect Master.

After more than half a year, Duan Rong's judgment not only had not changed, but he was even more convinced.

In other words, regarding the matter of Zhu He becoming the Sect Master, his interests and Zhu He's were actually highly aligned.

And now, destroying in one fell swoop the spy network that Ge Rusong had painstakingly managed within Shenyun Prefecture for many years was clearly of great benefit to Zhu He becoming the next Sect Master.

Why should he not do it?

Furthermore, the old man had even given him the Yinlu Cicada, which could be called entrusting him with a precious treasure, and now that the matter was at hand, if he were to shrink back, would he not be failing Zhu He?

All who have blood and spirit have a competitive heart!

This spy network managed by Ge Rusong—he would wipe it out in one go this time! To use Zhu He's words, it was to cut the weeds and dig up the roots, to pull them out entirely!

When Duan Rong walked out of the alley of the residence of Zhu Zhengfu, he had already thought through the pros and cons of this matter, and his eyes instantly became bright and sharp.

Since he had decided to destroy Ge Rusong's spy network in one fell swoop, he had to think carefully about how to do it specifically.

Duan Rong walked out of the alley and headed toward the nearest teahouse in this area; having not gone out for more than ten days, he really wanted to hear the public opinion of the marketplace with his own ears.

Inside the Separate Courtyard, after Ruyi extinguished that Candle Lamp and put it back in its original place, she stood in the empty room and hesitated for a while. Duan Rong had already stayed in this Separate Courtyard for more than ten days; this was the first time he had gone out to stroll, and he had even thrown away his beard. These things had changed from the norm and needed to be reported.

Ruyi's expression shifted, and she walked out of the room. She glanced at Chou Luan, who was sitting on a large bluestone drinking, then walked down the steps and headed toward the gate of the Separate Courtyard.

Just as Ruyi had walked a few steps, Chou Luan put down the wine jar, looked at her, and said, "When the master left, he told me to instruct you not to run around!"

Upon hearing this, Ruyi's footsteps stiffened, and a flash of anger clearly appeared on her face as she said, "Who is running around?!"

"I was brewing medicine for you, you ungrateful person!" Ruyi gave Chou Luan a look, turned her steps, and walked toward the side room.

Chou Luan looked at Ruyi's back, shook his head, and smiled bitterly, "Women, they are just troublesome!"

As Chou Luan said this, he poured another large gulp of wine down his throat.

The strong liquor was like fire, cutting the liver and intestines to pieces!

It was just that he was already a mere shell, and he had long since become numb to the bitterness of having his liver and intestines cut to pieces...

Some people, the reason they are still alive, is only because they can only live on.

(End of this chapter)