Chapter 1562: The Real First Crime Scene

"Correct. Bai Qi comes from a military background, so he knows the limitations of an army. The men and horses of the Black Armored Army all need to eat and rest." Bai Ziqi continued, "In fact, supporting such a unit of elite cavalry is not easy. Logistics, medical supplies, concealing tracks—which one is easy to do? Especially in the later stages, the number of Black Armored Army troops clearly increased, so the pressure on logistics and concealment must have increased accordingly. When they aren't on missions or killing people, they certainly wouldn't be wandering around wearing black armor, so what do these people do for a living normally? Why wouldn't one or two thousand people gathering together attract attention, and where do they find places to eat and treat wounds?"

Bai Qi immediately said, "Perhaps it's an army organized by local powerful families?"

"Not impossible. But to be able to lead an elite force to act like this, their leader shouldn't be a nobody."

He pointed to the red dots on the map. "These red dots delineate the range of their appearances. That is to say, they can obtain supplies within four days of travel. Considering that their actions must be very secretive and the fewer people who see them, the better, we can shrink this range to one day of travel."

After speaking, he drew red circles centered on the red dots. "The strongholds where the Black Armored Army obtains supplies and changes back into civilian clothes are roughly within these red circles. As long as we figure out what mountain villas, forces, or even commercial organizations are within these red circles, we can screen out the target."

Bai Ziqi paused and then said, "The fact that they have been able to hide for so long shows that their surface cover is very thorough. We are new here and may not be able to find out immediately; it is best to cooperate with local forces."

This is not Beijia; he has no way to rely on the Heavenly Palace or mobilize endless resources.

Many clues must be investigated personally.

However, the dozen or so actions where the Black Flood Dragon mark appeared are being recounted everywhere on the Glittering Gold Plain, so the time, place, and process of the incidents are not hard to obtain; there are even special ballads, storybooks, and storytelling recounting the demeanor of the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds. In which teahouse in Julu Port could there not be stories about the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds? Bai Ziqi had been listening for many days, and although he felt that every account was exaggerated and distorted, he had basically understood the fundamental facts.

Bai Qi also said, "The Glittering Gold Plain is filled with temples; it shouldn't be hard to find them to ask for information."

Small temples have big demonic winds.

The Glittering Gold Plain has many small and wild gods, and there is also a lot of gossip. The composition of the believers is complex and deeply rooted in the local soil, so they know the local situation best.

"This line of thinking is good. Bai Thirteen, you take people to handle it."

Bai Thirteen agreed.

Bai Ziqi supported his chin while watching the map. "When collecting clues the past two days, Bai Qi said that this Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds isn't very formidable either, basically picking on soft persimmons."

Bai Qi felt ashamed. "This subordinate spoke without thinking."

"No, what you said is basically correct. Although the targets of his dozen or so actions can all be called heinous, there were indeed no thorny issues. This is a very smart approach; on one hand, it quickly builds a reputation, and on the other, it minimizes his own losses. However, there is an exception, which is—" Bai Ziqi pointed to a small dot on the map, "the action of killing Xue Zongwu and Qi Yunsheng!"

"These two not only have profound cultivation and formidable martial power, but they are also important figures in the Yao Nation themselves. In particular, Xue Zongwu held heavy troops, and on the day of the incident, he was even carrying hundreds of guards, yet he was killed in his father-in-law's house. That night, Qi Yunsheng's Xiaotao Shanzhuang was bustling with noise and filled with guests." Bai Ziqi pondered, "I want to know why the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds went against his usual practice and insisted on pulling such a difficult nail?"

Even from his perspective, Xue Zongwu was a thorny issue. Why did the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds abandon the easy for the difficult and choose Xue Zongwu as the target for killing?

What benefits could he gain from the deaths of Xue Zongwu and Qi Yunsheng? The page boy said, "Could it be because Xue Zongwu is powerful and famous, so killing him is the best way to boost his momentum?"

"This is of course one of the reasons, but it is not sufficient." Bai Ziqi's gaze was deep. "The risk and the reward are not proportional."

"Let's connect it by time. Assuming the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds first appeared in Keshan, the second time was in Liuping and Shizhoutou, what about the third time?"

The page boy immediately found the times of the remaining sixteen Black Armored Army actions for him and connected them in order with black lines.

Once marked like this, everyone understood. Sure enough, just as Bai Ziqi had said earlier, the actions of the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds were basically revolving around the central and eastern parts of the Glittering Gold Plain.

"The last action of the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds was more than two months ago—" The page boy drew the last stroke, "which is Xiaotao Shanzhuang in the Yao Nation!"

"He entered the Yao Nation, ran to Mangzhou to kill people, and then disappeared." Bai Ziqi stroked his chin. "Why stop? Is he busy with other things? What could be more important than the 'acting on behalf of Heaven' he claims?"

The actions of the Black Armored Army and the righteous army on the Glittering Gold Plain are still in full swing. But in Bai Ziqi's view, those are all cover.

To cover up the true whereabouts of the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds.

"After killing Xue Zongwu, what exactly did the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds go to do?"

As long as he figures out this reason, Bai Ziqi feels that he will take a big step toward the truth.

Of course, now he has to go back the way he came and make a trip to Bai Mao Mountain.

From Shizhoutou to Bai Mao Mountain, Guide Liu took Bai Ziqi and his party on a shortcut, saving two days of time.

Fortunately, the public security along the way had improved slightly; if it were more than half a year ago, Guide Liu would definitely not have dared to deviate from the official road.

Along the way, Guide Liu also vividly described to Bai Ziqi the history of the Bo Nation changing dynasties overnight.

Bai Ziqi had heard a little about it before, but only today did he know the various details, and he listened with great interest.

The money spent on hiring the guide was well worth it.

When talking about You Enguang uniting practitioners from many places to attack the royal city and the Bo King being unable to fight back, Bai Ziqi chatted inadvertently: "By the way, you said earlier that the Bo King had a Grand Steward named Nangong Yan who managed the Imperial Guard and killed people like flies?"

"Yes, yes, he ran rampant in Xuncheng, killed people without blinking, and could stop children from crying at night." Guide Liu nodded repeatedly. "I used to do small business in Xuncheng and inadvertently offended a Feather Guard, which scared me into fleeing overnight. My companion walked a step slower and was captured, and I never saw him again."

"Is the army under his command very powerful?"

"Ah, yes. It is rumored among the people that if Nangong Yan hadn't died suddenly, the Bo King might not have been overthrown so quickly." Guide Liu said, "I couldn't believe the news of Nangong Yan's death for several days, but the people around me all started burning incense and were overjoyed."

"How exactly did he die?"

"He was killed."

"Who has this ability?"

"That, I don't know. Nangong Yan died at the border. I heard that dozens of people were hung on the wall all night, and they were only discovered in the morning. There was also a banner set up on the wall, written with things like 'heinous crimes' and 'death is well-deserved'."

Bai Ziqi was just asking casually, but he kept it in mind upon hearing this: "Died suddenly for no reason, hung on a wall, and there was a message on the wall? Why does it sound like the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds' style?"

"Hmm, many people have been saying that recently too, saying could Nangong Yan have been killed by the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds? The Great Emperor specializes in killing great villains, and Nangong Yan fits perfectly. And besides the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds, who could forcibly kill this great villain? Nangong Yan was always accompanied by dozens of Feather Guards. Someone once tried to assassinate him, but was counter-killed by him and skinned alive to be put on display."

Guide Liu also said, "In fact, in the border cities we passed before, and the royal capital Xuncheng, many people worship the spirit tablet of the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds, just to thank him for killing Nangong Yan."

Bai Ziqi murmured, "It seems the Bo Nation was the first crime scene."

"Hmm? What?" Guide Liu didn't hear clearly.

"You said at the time that Nangong Yan led his subordinates to rush out of the pass and ordered the city gate to be closed tight, not allowing anyone to enter?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then who was Nangong Yan chasing?"

Guide Liu shook his head. "That, I don't know. There were quite a few people coming and going."

"Closing the city gate was probably because he was afraid that the person he was chasing would turn back and flee into the city." Bai Ziqi said immediately, "In that case, Nangong Yan's target at the time had also just left the city! He wanted to catch up to the other party, either to capture or kill!"

Guide Liu was shocked. "You, you mean, the target Nangong Yan was chasing at the time was the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds!"

Is this possible? Is it possible? Guide Liu felt it was incredible just thinking about it.

If Nangong Yan really ran headlong into the hands of the God of Death, then he deserved to die without a burial place.

"Either he was chasing the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds, or he was chasing someone else out and ended up being intercepted and killed by the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds halfway." Bai Ziqi asked, "Did the pedestrians outside the city hear or see Nangong Yan and the others fighting?"

"If there were, it would have spread long ago." Guide Liu said, "I heard there were very few pedestrians outside the city at that time. After the incident, the city sent people out to survey and found that the battle scene was not only bloody, but trees were knocked down and stones were crooked. Oh, it was in the dense forest on the outskirts of the city, less than three or four li from the pass. I suppose the mountain forest was too dense for the sound to reach the city."

Entering Xuncheng, the capital of the Peng Nation, Guide Liu only showed a token, and the customs clearance and accommodation in Xuncheng were handled exceptionally conveniently.

This token came from the Changlong Martial Arts Hall.

Bai Ziqi asked him casually, "When did the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce and the Changlong Martial Arts Hall obtain special privileges here?"

He had long known that You Enguang's coup to seize power was supported by the Mou Nation behind the scenes. The Yangshan Archipelago has a very good relationship with the Mou Nation, so it's not surprising that they obtained some commercial convenience here.

Guide Liu thought for a moment. "After the new monarch established the nation, it seems... not many days."

"Just established the nation, and Yangshan was treated favorably?"

"Yes, yes. I remember that less than seven days after changing the national title to 'Peng,' Yangshan products appeared on the market, and the large ships in Julu Port were also setting sail one after another, all traveling to and from Yangshan."

"Hmm, so fast?" The new nation was just established, and there were a thousand things to do. Even if this is a small country, the new monarch has major state affairs that need to be dealt with in the first few days of taking office, such as consolidating power, maintaining stability, distributing merit, rewarding, and issuing decrees. How could he have the heart to pay attention to a foreign merchant? Unless... unless the commercial privileges granted to Yangshan were also part of the distribution of merit and rewards.

Did Yangshan participate in the Bo Nation coup? ===== CHAPTER 1563 =====