Chapter 2617: Tracing the Cause, Seeking the Source

The point is, Lu Yongyan took a breath before continuing, "This is a coincidence—the innkeeper's nephew happened to pass through Tuo Town and was staying at his inn. His nephew is a waiter at the Yuchige Pavilion in Lingxu City, responsible for greeting all kinds of guests. That night he hid in the back kitchen and caught a quick glimpse, seeing a familiar face among the visitors. He rushed upstairs without seeing him, and he didn't dare come out."

Yuchige Pavilion is a scholar's residence in Lingxu City where guests can bathe, dine, drink, enjoy music, watch dance, or partake in other entertainments.

Lingxu City is the most prosperous place under heaven, with all kinds of entertainment facilities diverse and numerous. Yuchige Pavilion's main category is "enjoyment," to display the elegance of famous scholars, but besides master-level performers, there are also beautiful musicians who play music.

"He is quite certain this person visited their pavilion four or five times, named Gao Shanyang!" Lu Yongyan dared not let the Holy Sovereign interject, and reported in one breath, "With this clue, I sent people to secretly investigate Yuchige Pavilion, and it turned out the leader of the Xihai Merfolk clan had once lavishly entertained Gao Shanyang of Xiangtai Prefecture there."

Lingxu Holy Sovereign hummed: "So it is Xiangtai Prefecture of Nie Xiaolou."

Xiangtai Prefecture is a new institution established ten years ago by Nie Xiaolou, the State Preceptor of Qinggong, also incorporated under Qinggong. Outwardly it handles only document and desk work, but in reality it is an armed force specializing in espionage and assassination.

Qinggong has long been corrupt. After Nie Xiaolou took over Qinggong, he first established Xiangtai Prefecture as a handy tool, then proceeded to reform Qinggong with remarkable results, and Xiangtai Prefecture was retained.

"I checked—the female guest's check-in time was the night the Heavenly Palace funeral procession was ambushed. The innkeeper said the female guest had an ordinary appearance, dressed as a local, with sallow skin, but the hand that produced silver was very slender and long, not like someone who does rough work. She seemed somewhat clumsy, so the innkeeper recommended the nearby pharmacy, but she thanked him and didn't go, going straight to her room."

Clumsy? Probably she was injured.

In other words, on the night the Heavenly Palace funeral procession encountered the Mou people's ambush, Tong Yiyi escaped; shortly afterward, Nie Xiaolou's men also captured a female guest in Tuo Town, fifteen li away.

"Later we inspected that guest room—it was extremely clean, not even a spiderweb under the bed, clearly cleaned deliberately."

Gao Shanyang and others wanted to cover up what happened in the guest room.

So, could that female guest be Tong Yiyi?

"Appearance can be changed."

Lingxu Holy Sovereign finished speaking, and the hall fell silent, the air nearly congealed.

Lu Yongyan knew this would be the result, so he remained silent, waiting for the Holy Sovereign to speak.

Tong Yiyi escaped the Mou people's ambush, yet fell into the hands of Xiangtai Prefecture—no wonder her whereabouts have been unknown since; this makes sense.

Lu Yongyan had already said it was "reliable information," and Lingxu Holy Sovereign had no need to ask further, "Are you sure?"

Regarding the Heavenly Palace's overseas construction of the Lingyun Palace, both Between Between Between Beijia and Lingxu City were completely unaware—well, at least they had been unaware before. Between Between Between Beijia has stood for six hundred years; although it is still the sharpest blade in the hands of the Heavenly God, it has already developed its own will and thoughts, and using it no longer feels like moving an arm with a finger. Moreover, this current Demon Emperor, Lingxu Holy Sovereign is not particularly satisfied with him, so the Heavenly God would never voluntarily share such a major secret with him.

How so—now the Demon Emperor is also secretly using violent means to steal the secrets of the Lingyun Palace?

After a while, Lingxu Holy Sovereign's voice sounded again, cold and bleak like the north wind in December:

"The information obtained by the Demon Emperor was taken by Cangyan for use?"

Lu Yongyan immediately bowed and said: "I dare not say that."

The identity of the Demon Emperor, the Lord of Between Between Between Beijia.

Even if it were the Lord of Chief Du Yun, no one would dare so seriously accuse it of colluding with foreign enemies.

After a while, Lingxu Holy Sovereign spoke:

"On the day of your appointment, did you also hand over the prescription for 'Qianchang'?"

Lu Yongyan startled, then softly replied: "Yes."

Divine technique combined with the 'Qianchang' secret medicine is the Holy Sovereign's leverage to control the thirteen barbarian vassal states, binding the vassal kings' lives to the Heavenly God's—life and death together. Since the establishment of Between Between Between Beijia state, the 'Qianchang' formula has never been leaked.

But on the night the former Lord of Chief Du Yun passed away, he summoned Lu Yongyan and personally recited the prescription. Heart-to-heart transmission, leaving no written trace—this is the rule by which each generation of Chief Du Yun Lords passes it down.

Yet this time, the secret was not guarded by the Heavenly Palace!

If the location of the Lingyun Palace were leaked, could the 'Qianchang' formula escape? If the Demon Emperor obtained the formula, deciphered it, and developed an antidote, then...

Exposure of the Lingyun Palace would shake the Holy Sovereign's divine descent plan;

Exposure of the 'Qianchang' formula would shake the foundation of the Heavenly God's rule over Between Between Between Beijia.

Either would be bad news for the Holy Sovereign.

The temperature in the divine hall nearly dropped to freezing.

Lu Yongyan stood with hands lowered, respectfully awaiting further instructions from the Holy Sovereign.

After a long while, the Holy Sovereign's voice sounded again:

"Cease the investigation into Gao Shanyang, so as not to alert Nie Xiaolou. But you must confirm whether the Demon Emperor has obtained the 'Qianchang' formula."

Lu Yongyan thought for a moment, then replied:

"The magic finger beans used in the 'Qianchang' medicine are extremely scarce—only two vines are known to exist in the present age. If the prescription had been stolen, they would certainly use the magic finger beans in testing the medicine. I will send Du Mu Heng to investigate from this angle."

Lingxu Holy Sovereign hummed.

When leadership demands it, subordinates who can immediately propose concrete plans are truly capable.

"Moreover, the Heavenly Palace needs to be purged—too many spies have infiltrated."

Lu Yongyan agreed, performed another bow, and said: "Regarding the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, the newly appointed Jixiang Envoy Du Mu Heng has new advice, which I find sound—may I...?"

"Do you mean he could replace Bai Ziqi?"

"Yes."

This is high praise indeed—after all, Lu Yongyan is already the Lord of Chief Du Yun. The Heavenly Palace's top position is not just about making decisions, but also about employing people well. So far, those Lu Yongyan has promoted have all been quite capable.

To prepare for future great achievements after ascending, he has been preparing since long ago.

Lingxu Holy Sovereign only said: "Summon him here."

Lu Yongyan could not keep the Holy Sovereign waiting—Du Mu Heng had long been waiting below the Zhaixing Pavilion. This summons, he reached there in only a dozen breaths, then slowed his steps to enter the hall respectfully.

He is quite young, not yet twenty-five, tall and graceful, with handsome features.

Twenty years ago, Jixiang Envoys were all thirty-three or older—impossible for such a green youth to hold the post; but in these years of the Emperor's Elixir Great Eruption, as the heavenly and earthly environment underwent dramatic changes, officials in the Cangyan court have an average age of only thirty-five. Although the average age in Lingxu City is high, in various institutions and important positions, young faces are becoming increasingly common.

(End of Chapter)