Chapter 540

Mai Xuewen is more patient than him, and better at knowing how to hide himself. Bai Ziqi pondered, "This person spent ten years infiltrating your ranks; if he doesn't have a deep-seated hatred for you, then he must be a spy for the enemy."

Ten years is so long; what kind of person has this kind of perseverance, spending ten years like a single day finding fault and collecting evidence? Wu Kai gave a bitter smile: "I have been thinking about this repeatedly these past few days, but whether it's Cen Boqing or myself, neither of us has an enemy with the surname Mai."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred slightly, and he interjected: "What should be considered more is why this person lurked for ten years only to make a move now, right?"

Bai Ziqi clapped his hands: "Well asked, what do you think?"

"Could it be that the timing is ripe?"

"How so?"

He Lingchuan sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he had to spread his hands in confusion: "I am an outsider and don't understand the current situation. Has anything happened in Chiyan recently?"

He immediately added: "Mai Xuewen must consider the cost of his risk. If there is a slip-up, ten years of hard work will be reduced to ashes, so his goal should be very clear and firm."

Upon hearing the words "clear" and "firm," a flash of light appeared in Bai Ziqi's eyes.

Could it be related to the other case he is investigating?

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that the messenger case, the missing demon-folk case, and that thing entrusted by the Heavenly God and the Emperor all appeared in the Chiyan nation almost at the same time? Judging from the time and space of the crimes, Mai Xuewen is within the range of reasonable suspicion! This young man surnamed He was not wrong; Mai Xuewen needs a suitable incentive to make a move.

He pondered for a while and then asked Wu Kai: "Is there any bad blood between Cheng Yu and Mai Xuewen?"

"Ah, this?" This time it was Wu Kai's turn to be confused, "I don't know; I don't know if they have met before."

Logically speaking, these two had nothing to do with each other. But Wu Kai dared not be certain, because he discovered that he knew nothing about the real Mai Xuewen.

He Lingchuan also raised his eyebrows imperceptibly.

Why did Bai Ziqi want to link these two people together? He had said earlier that Cheng Yu might be able to help him with another case. In other words, does he suspect that Mai Xuewen is related to the other case?

Another case that is also highly regarded by the Heavenly God? "For now, let's bring Cen Boqing to justice first," He Lingchuan coughed, reminding Bai Ziqi of the most important task at hand, "If Cheng Yu wants to cast a curse, the two of them shouldn't be able to leave Baishajue too far."

"Not bad. The maximum distance for a curse-killing technique is about fifty miles," Bai Ziqi nodded and said, "At the furthest, they have to find a safe place in the suburbs to stop and cast the spell. Curse-killing is not a spell that can be cast casually; the more powerful the curse, the more it is limited by the time and place."

He turned his head and asked Wu Kai: "Where do you think Cen Boqing will go to hide?"

Wu Kai shook his head: "He really had several prepared hiding places. But the places I know, he won't go to anymore."

"He can still go to places you don't know?" He Lingchuan laughed, "You are his right-hand man; what he knows, you should know, and what he doesn't know, you should also know."

Wu Kai frowned and thought for a long time, until even Bai Ziqi was almost impatient, before he said: "There are two places that can be checked: the Lady's personal maid, Xiao Qing, married a small businessman surnamed Ye the year before last. Everyone thought they went to another town, but actually, her husband lost all his money in business and had to return to the old house in Xiaotan Town on the south bank of the Liuhe River. Cen Boqing never mentioned it in front of me; I only heard it from a gossiping old woman last month, who met Xiao Qing by chance in Xiaotan Town."

"I guess if Cen Boqing knew their address long ago, he might go there to avoid the limelight."

Bai Ziqi nodded: "Anything else?"

"There is one more..." Wu Kai swallowed, "It's the villa I bought in the western suburbs of the city at the end of last year."

Even He Lingchuan was stunned: "He would go to your place?"

"That villa is close to Langshan, the environment is secluded, and no one will approach it except for the farmhands." Wu Kai gave a bitter smile, "I bought it for retirement, and it could also give..." He originally wanted to say for my grandson to play in, but seeing Bai Ziqi's burning gaze, he realized he had made a slip of the tongue.

He must never mention his grandson in front of this person.

"But now that I have been arrested, the villa has no owner, and Cen Boqing might be hiding there."

"Well said, a place no one can think of is a good place to hide," Bai Ziqi pondered, "By the way, there are still your insiders among the government officials, right? Cen Boqing didn't escape sooner or later, but chose to escape when Commandant Lu led his troops to attack the Cen Mansion; it's probably not because he has good composure, but because that timing was the most appropriate."

He Lingchuan hurriedly spoke up to support him: "What does Commandant Bai think?"

"The groom, Old Chen, is also in the mansion and must be controlled by the government officials. He couldn't have slipped out on his own."

"If the magic treasure, the Bili Cave Heaven, could still be taken out, and Cen Boqing and Cheng Yu could still escape, then there must be someone else outside to meet them!"

"This person can not only contact Old Chen but also not arouse suspicion from others, which is—"

He Lingchuan gave a long "Oh": "Government officials!"

Commandant Lu led the crowd to attack the Cen Mansion, and the servants in the mansion were all under guard and detained; the only "outsiders" they could contact were the government soldiers.

Given that the soldiers brought by Commandant Lu were all from out of town, the ones most likely to be bribed were those under County Magistrate Tian.

If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked; looking at how County Magistrate Tian is an official, one knows that his subordinates are not very honest either. If the Cen Mansion could bribe a jailer like Pi Linhai, why couldn't they bribe a second government official?

"County Magistrate Tian's subordinates must also be investigated."

Wu Kai whispered: "No need, I'll give you a few names."

Bai Ziqi looked at Wu Kai and still handed him the Cleansing Heart Talisman for self-protection.

After all, he is an important witness, and it is best to escort him back to Lingxu City.

Just now, Bai Ziqi sent guards to the Cen Mansion to pass the message, and Fu Shanyue immediately sent more than a hundred cavalrymen to Xiaotan Town in the suburbs near the north gate and the villa in the western suburbs.

Time is everything, and these two must never be given another chance to escape.

When more information from Wu Kai was sent, the government soldiers found the groom, Old Chen, among the servants of the Cen Mansion and asked him about the whereabouts of the Bili Cave Heaven.

Old Chen still wanted to hide it, but his wife and children were all tied up by Commandant Lu, and with a bright, sharp sword held to his neck, he immediately lost his nerve.

Once he confessed, the mole in the county government was also ferreted out; it was a government official named Zhou Tailai, who was among the names provided by Wu Kai. When the government soldiers rushed into the Cen Mansion, he went to watch the servants, and the groom, Old Chen, took the opportunity to pass the Bili Cave Heaven into his hands.

Fu Shanyue ordered people to break Zhou Tailai's kneecaps, not giving him any room for hesitation, so this person immediately confessed that he transported the Bili Cave Heaven to an empty house on Hutao Street in the north of the city, which is close to the north gate.

But he didn't know that this magic treasure could hide people, nor did he know that the fugitives were hiding inside; he only thought he was stealing a treasure out of the mansion.

The Beijia has lasted for nearly six hundred years, and countless powerful people have collapsed one after another. When the government soldiers who raided the homes rushed in, which one wasn't like a wolf or a tiger, fearing they would grab one less piece of jewelry? The treasures that had been gathering dust in the mansion treasury for one or two hundred years could soon see the light of day in the market and realize their original value; wasn't it all relying on the private smuggling of the vast number of government soldiers? He thought this time would be the same.

"North of the city?" Fu Shanyue sneered slightly. After He Lingchuan brought Wu Kai back this morning, the city gates were lifted from alert and no longer strictly checked people entering and leaving, which gave Cen Boqing and the other a chance.

He dispatched manpower again.

Commandant Lu's three hundred subordinates, plus the Crown Prince's dozens of personal guards, all rushed to Xiaotan Town in the suburbs near the north gate. This is the focus of this pursuit.

As for the villa in the western suburbs that Wu Kai confessed to, he only sent County Magistrate Tian's government officials to search it.

Western suburbs of the city.

Fu Shanyue, Fan Sheng, and Commandant Lu all went north, so Bai Ziqi chose the west side.

"I wish you success; I'll go to the west side to try my luck; maybe a blind cat will catch a dead mouse." Bai Ziqi did not snatch this credit, because after the Crown Prince of Chiyan catches the person, he will eventually have to escort them to Lingxu City.

At Fu Shanyue's signal, He Lingchuan also followed. The group galloped on the official road in the western suburbs.

Fortunately, the official road of Baishajue is also wide, flat, and straight, so traveling at night doesn't feel dangerous.

To be honest, he doesn't like being close to Bai Ziqi. His sixth sense always reminds him that this guy is dangerous and it's best to stay away.

But his reason tells him that this is a good opportunity to observe the "High Envoy" of Lingxu City at close range—under the cover of the Crown Prince of Chiyan's halo.

Bai Ziqi's mount is a spirit deer with a pure bloodline, pure white all over, with only a few light blue patterns on its neck and thighs.

Well, its eyeballs are also blue.

Such a fairy-like mount is indeed very suitable for the Douyun Envoy of the Zhaixing Tower.

He Lingchuan looked at the spirit deer twice, and Bai Ziqi noticed it, turned his head and smiled: "Your mount is also very good."

Why say "also"? Because this kind of spirit deer is a mount specially cultivated by Lingxu City, for nobles, ministers, and prominent wealthy families to ride, combining beauty and speed.

Of course, the most important thing is the appearance; the purer the bloodline and the better the appearance, the more expensive the price.

There is always someone better; the most expensive is the limited edition, which can emit a hazy white light at night and is known as "Night-Illuminator." This is something you can't necessarily buy even if you have money, such as the one under Bai Ziqi.

In contrast, He Lingchuan's Big-Horned Rock Sheep looks dusty, its coat is dull, and the proportions of its head, body, and legs are not as perfect as the spirit deer.

He Lingchuan gave a haha laugh.

He doesn't need a tool for showing off for the time being.

This kind of glowing thing is a living target on the battlefield, more conspicuous than a white horse; it would be unreasonable if it didn't get shot.

Bai Ziqi added: "I heard that you and Zhong Sunmou made a bet at the Chaohu Tower and went down to the Lotus Palace to pick the lotus chips yourself. At that time, didn't you consider that Fan Sheng would take advantage of the chaos to come and take revenge?"

He Lingchuan had a solemn face: "I originally thought that the dignified Deputy Commandant of the Tongxin Guard would value his status, and if he wanted to compete again, he would openly find me for a sparring match."

He knew that the envoy from Lingxu City would definitely notice this matter.

He looked at Bai Ziqi and sighed: "If I knew Commandant Fan as well as Commandant Bai does, I probably wouldn't have gone down myself. How safe is it to stay on the Chaohu Tower?"

There were two thorns hidden in the two sentences, but Bai Ziqi seemed completely unaware: "He had the intention to calculate against the unintentional, but in the end, you still won."

(End of chapter)