Chapter 541

He Lingchuan shook his head: "It's not good to compare like that. I used up all my tricks, but Commandant Fan still had his trump card that he didn't release." Bai Ziqi stroked the deer's mane and said: "You are a humble child, but also too bold; you bet fifty thousand taels as soon as you made a move. There are hundreds of lotus-picking teams; how were you sure you could find the Overlord Lotus and take the top spot?"

He Lingchuan smiled cunningly: "Of course I also have some unconventional means. Among those who have picked lotus chips over the years, how many really found them by their own eyes and by great luck?"

He only found out later that there was a winner a few years ago whose method of winning the championship was to release a nest of more than two thousand bees to fly around the Lotus Palace looking for the Overlord Lotus.

How could ordinary people compare to that kind of efficiency?

So after that session, Baishajue patched the rules and forbade the release of group pets.

But the old saying always holds true:

As the path rises one foot, the devil rises ten.

Eternal fairness is impossible.

Both of them knew that Bai Ziqi had one sentence he didn't say:

Zhong Sunmou happened to be murdered at that time.

But neither of them mentioned it, because there would be no result even if it were brought up.

Bai Ziqi said leisurely: "You have dealt with Mai Xuewen the most; what kind of person do you think he is?"

He has dealt with Mai Xuewen the most? Is Bai Ziqi setting a trap for him? He Lingchuan shook his head repeatedly: "I just tracked a few clues he left behind; it can't be called dealing with him. Wu Kai should know this answer better than I do."

But Wu Kai only saw the false image created by Mai Xuewen.

Bai Ziqi naturally understood the implication: even the cautious and careful Wu Kai fell into someone else's hands, so how could he, He Lingchuan, understand Mai Xuewen?

But He Lingchuan still said: "But Mai Xuewen sparing no effort to expose his old superior, and even hijacking the Inspector under the eyes of the public, can no longer be described by the word 'crazy.' When hunting this person, one must be careful that he is desperate."

"But this person is not crazy at all; he does things in a very orderly manner."

He Lingchuan shrugged: "Madmen can also be very orderly, right? Commandant Bai has handled so many cases, what do you think?"

"This case is very complicated; I'm afraid the part buried under the water is even larger." Just the identity of Cen Boqing made both Fu Shanyue and Bai Ziqi feel tricky.

"Oh, by the way, I saw in the case file that the monster Snail Toad driven by Mai Xuedong once committed crimes on the southern border of the Chiyan nation?"

"Yes." At that time, it almost snatched away his Big-Horned Rock Sheep.

"When?"

"About forty days ago." He Lingchuan was alert in his heart and didn't mention at all that he and Fu Shanyue were at the scene, "A caravan lost two demons, a cat demon and a hedgehog demon; they waited on the spot for two days and didn't see them return, so they reported it to the officials."

Fu Shanyue killed his brother in the ruins of Qianxing City; the Chiyan Emperor actually issued a gag order on this matter, and the Chiyan people present at the time were not allowed to mention it, let alone spread it. Of course, this order was also sent to the Shimen Society, and the Second Master Shi indicated that he would definitely comply.

"Forty days ago, huh?" Bai Ziqi seemed to be pondering something, "How could such a small matter attract your attention?"

"The Crown Prince ordered all localities to report cases of missing demon-folk. At that time, we had already discovered that the Snail Toad often appeared on rainy nights, and this one happened to occur after a heavy rain. Moreover, the local townspeople said that demons occasionally went missing on rainy nights in the suburbs; firstly, the number was small, and secondly, it was located at a border checkpoint, so no one was sure whether the demons were missing or had crossed the border on their own, so the local government didn't pay much attention."

Bai Ziqi frowned slightly: "No eyewitnesses?"

That was a suspected case.

After all, there are too many reasons for the disappearance of humans and demons.

"Even if there were, they would have been eaten, right?" He Lingchuan gave a bitter smile, "I have seen that monster with my own eyes; it launches attacks from underground, which is truly impossible to guard against."

"In other words, if this case was indeed committed by Mai Xuewen, his hunting of demons and taking of pearls this time was from the southern border of Chiyan heading north, hmm..." Bai Ziqi seemed to be deep in thought, "From south to north, it matches."

"Huh? What matches?"

"Nothing." Bai Ziqi smiled, "By the way, when you were collecting cases of missing demons, did you notice that several government officials also went missing at the checkpoint between the Twilight Plains and the southern border of Chiyan at that time?"

He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat.

How could he not remember? Those government officials followed Zhong Sunmou to trip up Fu Shanyue, and under the pretext of looking for the Witch Child, they dismantled and smashed the goods of the Shimen Society. How could Fu Shanyue stand such bird-like anger? A few days after he entered the country, he sneaked back; besides Zhong Sunmou's guards, he also killed all the government officials who were making things difficult for him at the time, leaving only Zhong Sunmou untouched.

In the end, Zhong Sunmou was also designed by He Lingchuan to be killed, which could be considered as taking revenge for Fu Shanyue.

He Lingchuan had also asked, and Fu Shanyue indicated that he didn't suck blood, but just dragged the government officials to the suburbs and buried them after killing them.

Why did Bai Ziqi go to the Twilight Plains, and why did he want to investigate these things?

He pondered for a moment and shook his head: "The case file sent to me by the Crown Prince did not contain this one, probably because the deceased were humans."

Every word of this sentence was true.

As an outsider with no power or influence in Chiyan, what ability did he have to collect cases from all over the place on his own? Wasn't it just looking at whatever the Crown Prince gave him? Bai Ziqi also thought of this point and stopped asking.

He Lingchuan's heart immediately settled down.

Bai Ziqi immediately said: "He Xiao, be careful!"

He Lingchuan coughed lightly: "I wanted to ask, is there any hidden secret in this?"

Bai Ziqi hesitated for a moment before saying: "A batch of treasures was stolen from the Qing Palace more than ten years ago, including this one."

"Even the Qing Palace loses things!" He Lingchuan was surprised, "Who has this ability, an inside thief?"

"... Yes," This kid, hitting the nail on the head, "It was done by an inside thief. Although the thief was killed later, many treasures have been missing since then and have not been recovered."

He Lingchuan didn't understand: "Such a big thing, how could Cen Boqing, who is in Lingxu City, not know?"

If Cen Boqing knew, Wu Kai would probably know too, so how would Mai Xuewen dare to use the Snail Dwelling casually? Bai Ziqi didn't answer, Fu Shanyue smiled: "Because, most people in Lingxu City don't know. The Qing Palace covered this matter up; even if the Grand Minister of Agriculture knew, he wouldn't necessarily tell his son-in-law."

"But the Emperor... hmm, I mean, did the people who should know know?"

"That's for sure," Fu Shanyue pointed to his own nose, "Doesn't my family know?"

"Then just forget about the lost magic treasure?"

Fu Shanyue's tone was teasing: "Spiritual energy is so thin, do you know how many ancient treasures become waste every year, only able to sell for an antique price?"

He Lingchuan shook his head without hesitation, like a bumpkin.

In this regard, he was originally a bumpkin. In terms of origin, ancient objects, and financial resources, how could the Yuan nation compare to Beijia? People have vast land and abundant resources, and there are so many antiques that they don't feel bad if they break them casually; the Yuan nation treats one or two pieces as treasures, and there is no family foundation to lose.

"Lost treasures, resold antiques, mostly reported as damaged or aged, and that's it; no one will come to hold anyone accountable. These things were originally hidden in the deep palace, and ordinary people don't know and don't care, so why tell them?" Fu Shanyue looked at Bai Ziqi with a smile, "Commandant Bai must also know this semi-public secret."

Bai Ziqi coughed lightly, but didn't deny it.

He Lingchuan suddenly realized: "So that's it!"

"The thief who stole the treasure from the palace died years ago, but the Snail Dwelling fell into Mai Xuewen's hands and was used to stir up trouble," Bai Ziqi said slowly, "When I go back to the Qing Palace, I have to visit the Qingyang National Teacher and find some more clues."

This sentence is a disguised admission that he has no other way to deal with Mai Xuewen for the time being.

He Lingchuan summarized for him in his mind: the fugitive Mai Xuewen who hijacked and killed Zhong Sunmou is still at large and cannot be caught, and there is no other way for the time being; the heavy criminal Wu Kai died suddenly, and the only result is that Cen Boqing has confessed and pleaded guilty, and the evidence about him is also conclusive.

Cen's wife Yao Xingning sent him an important witness, the actor from Tinghe Garden, Wu Kai's contact, but the clues investigated from this person also have to be handled after returning to Lingxu City.

So, the elixir of immortality case has reached the end in Baishajue, and Bai Ziqi has no reason to stay any longer.

Unless, the other task he wants to handle is also related to this place.

What will he do next?

Fu Shanyue had already opened his mouth to ask: "Then does Commandant Bai intend to return to Lingxu City to continue handling the case?"

He wants to track the progress of the case, so of course he has to ask about Bai Ziqi's next plan.

Bai Ziqi didn't seem to have made up his mind either, the teacup turned several times in his hand, and finally nodded: "Hmm, I will escort Cen Boqing back. He Xiao—"

He looked at He Lingchuan: "You have had dealings with Cen Boqing, Zhong Sunmou, Mai Xuewen, and others. As a witness, you also have to go with me."

"Ah?" He Lingchuan pointed to himself, looking surprised, "I have to go too?"

Heh, Bai Ziqi really made this request to him. Wanting to interrogate him on the road, right?

Bai Ziqi smiled and nodded: "The Crown Prince wouldn't be reluctant, would he?"

"How could I?" Fu Shanyue raised his hand to pour him a cup of tea, and said to He Lingchuan, "Not to mention the prosperity and smoke, Lingxu City is outstanding, which can be called the best in the world; we will travel and play all the way there, isn't it happy!"

Bai Ziqi's gaze condensed: "We?"

"Right," Fu Shanyue grinned, revealing his full white teeth, "I'm going too. Demon-folk were killed in Chiyan, and my father emphasized that I must investigate thoroughly. Alas, then I have to go and see!"

(End of chapter)

Bai Ziqi nodded: "Cen Boqing is also very cautious. In case that government official Zhou Tailai is arrested and interrogated, it is inevitable that his whereabouts will be leaked, so he spent time taking a detour and slipped to the west side after leaving the city."

"The wind is strong tonight," he added, "This kind of curse must be cast in a quiet, sealed, and windless environment."

That's why the two fugitives sneaked in here.

"But they just fled, and we can still catch up."

The government officials who went to search the surroundings also returned and reported: "There is no small path behind, but the mountain is not steep, and one can still climb down."

Bai Ziqi took out a candle from his arms again.

Others were puzzled: there were lights in the room, so why did he light a candle? He Lingchuan stood close and had good eyesight, so he discovered that the white candle he took out was still covered with faint gold fragments, looking very high-class.

After the flame ignited, it was white light from inside to outside.

Bai Ziqi pinched the candle wick, and this small group of flames actually stood steadily on his fingertips.

Only then did everyone see clearly that the flame had already taken shape, with a head, a body, and two hands, but it was still a group of light below the waist.

What is this, a ghost of light?

(End of chapter)