Chapter 986: Meeting and Mediation

Before he could finish, Yu Zecheng interrupted: "Panshan Residence!"

He remembered! In the Immortal Medicine Case that rocked Lingxu City last year, the Crown Prince of Lingxu had actually broken into the private residence of the Crown Prince of Chiyan to kill and set fires, all just to vent anger for Lady Cen!

The phrase "by accident" was simply too ironic.

The Sovereign of Chiyan was furious and submitted a petition to the Emperor demanding an explanation.

The post house in the south of the city, Panshan Residence, Pianxiang Villa—these places were all related to the Crown Prince of Chiyan and the Immortal Medicine Case! Yu Zecheng looked at the youth before him with a strange gaze: "Wait, you wouldn't happen to have some connection to the Immortal Medicine Case, would you?"

He Lingchuan sighed ruefully: "I truly wish I didn't. Unfortunately, I was entrusted by the Crown Prince of Chiyan to start investigating from the missing messenger case. I never expected it to be so far-reaching at the time, otherwise, I certainly wouldn't have accepted this commission."

Yu Zecheng was finally shocked and blurted out: "You are the Chiyan special envoy from back then? You are He..."

Right, this kid’s surname is He!

He Lingchuan scratched his head: "I went by the name He Xiao back then."

The Beijia people behind Yu Zecheng also looked at each other in disbelief. They had actually encountered a former legendary figure of Lingxu City in a remote corner of the sea, on an obscure archipelago?

If one were to speak of the most popular names in Lingxu City before the Heavenly Palace upheaval last year, aside from the Crown Prince of Chiyan, Fushan Yue, it was the Chiyan special envoy, He Xiao.

When encountering the Immortal Medicine Case, even the Crown Prince of Chiyan was thwarted everywhere in Lingxu City. Yet, as a key figure in the early investigation, He Xiao was at the center of the most dangerous whirlpools and frequently encountered peril, but it seemed he had come out unscathed in the end.

This result was, in fact, beyond many people's expectations.

He Lingchuan continued: "I stayed in Lingxu City for several months, but I never met Mr. Yu."

"A month before the Immortal Medicine Case occurred, I was transferred to the eastern front, so I missed the chance to meet you." Yu Zecheng was somewhat curious, "Many people thought you had returned to Chiyan to serve as an official; how did you drift to this remote place ten thousand miles away?"

"The Crown Prince of Chiyan invited me with sincerity, but I am by nature a wanderer who makes his home wherever he goes; I cannot be an official." He Lingchuan could sense that as soon as he revealed his former identity, the way Yu Zecheng and the others looked at him changed immediately, and their attitudes became more restrained, no longer overbearing.

Anyone who could roll through the great whirlpool of the Imperial Capital and survive the multi-party power struggle between the State Preceptor of Qingyang, the State Preceptor of Shuangye, the Emperor, and the Heavenly Gods was certainly no ordinary person! Respect is earned; He Xiao was worthy of Yu Zecheng’s regard.

"Besides, after experiencing the Immortal Medicine Case and narrowly escaping death several times, I like officialdom even less." He Lingchuan sighed, "It is better to be far away in the wilderness, free and unfettered."

Yu Zecheng was silent for a moment before saying: "He Xiao sees things clearly."

He himself was an official at court; how could he not know the sordid dealings of officialdom? He felt deeply touched by He Lingchuan’s words. It was just a pity that there were truly few who could break free, and he was not one of them.

At this moment, a maid brought sweet soup, and a bowl was placed in front of each of them.

He Lingchuan raised his small bowl: "Using soup in place of wine, I offer a toast to Mr. Yu."

Yu Zecheng smiled, raised his bowl in return, and then scooped a spoonful to taste: "Not bad, refreshing and sweet."

"This is osmanthus sugar taro seedlings." He Lingchuan introduced it to him, "Osmanthus from the Yangshan Archipelago, taro seedlings freshly dug on Suoding Island, and a bit of arrowroot starch added." The refreshing sweetness of the osmanthus paired with the thick, smooth texture of the arrowroot starch made the soft taro seedlings particularly satisfying.

The two chatted for a while longer, the atmosphere warm and harmonious, completely different from the previous mutual suspicion and deceit.

Finally, Yu Zecheng said: "Then, I must trouble He Xiao to arrange a meeting for me with Zhu Xiuer."

He Lingchuan agreed immediately: "I will certainly do my best to help the two of you resolve this misunderstanding."

Yu Zecheng added: "The scenery on your island is charming; may I stay here?"

"Naturally, you may." He Lingchuan was exceptionally generous, "Suoding Island welcomes travelers from all directions; Mr. Yu, feel free to rest here for as long as you wish."

With the business concluded, He Lingchuan stood up to take his leave, and Wang Fubao followed closely behind him as they departed.

Watching their backs disappear outside the courtyard gate, the Beijia guards behind Yu Zecheng said: "My lord..."

"Shh!" Yu Zecheng raised a hand to interrupt him and immediately cast a barrier, "On someone else's turf, be careful with your words."

"Yes," the guard said, "Island Master He is actually He Xiao. My lord, our mission...?"

"The mission proceeds as usual." Yu Zecheng’s face darkened, "It will not be any different because of his identity."

Everyone acknowledged this, and the guard added: "Then, since he is harboring the spider demon, could he be an accomplice of the spider demon?"

Yu Zecheng’s eyes flickered, and he remained silent.

The situation here was a bit complex, and the existing clues were insufficient to make a judgment.

He Lingchuan returned to his office on Suoding Island and found a white egret to send a message to the Silk-Spinning Cave.

The mirror asked him: "Since the one surnamed Yu is a subordinate of the State Preceptor of Shuangye, why didn't you mention that you have an old acquaintance with the State Preceptor?"

"I cannot say it; it would have the opposite effect if I did." He Lingchuan shook his head, "The State Preceptor of Shuangye acts with caution and leaves no trace. Although Yu Zecheng is his subordinate, he may not necessarily know of the relationship between me and the State Preceptor. If I were to bring it up rashly, it would only incur the displeasure of the State Preceptor in the future."

The transaction between the Prefect of Songyang, Li Qingge, and Nian Zanli was guaranteed by the State Preceptor of Shuangye. But He Lingchuan was the one who facilitated this guarantee, and even fewer people knew about that.

Based on his understanding of the State Preceptor of Shuangye, he would never reveal unrelated secrets to his subordinates.

"But Yu Zecheng will certainly report this to the State Preceptor of Shuangye." He Lingchuan took a light breath, "After getting through this immediate hurdle, the State Preceptor of Shuangye is the key!"

Zhu Xiuer was very straightforward, and He Lingchuan’s efficiency was high; the meeting between Yu Zecheng and the spider demon took place on the western beach of Suoding Island the next morning.

He Lingchuan had originally wanted to arrange it for them at Fishbone Reef, but Yu Zecheng disagreed, hoping to change it to the high-traffic Suoding Island.

The supply dock was not here, but the southwestern end of Suoding Island had beautiful scenery and always had tourists walking about for leisure.

Of course, He Lingchuan did not inform him of the specific location beforehand, but led him there directly.

To show sincerity, Yu Zecheng brought only two guards.

Zhu Xiuer came alone.

This beach was very open; let alone anyone approaching, even if a duck were to waddle across the sand, it would be very conspicuous.

Both sides had their own reliance.

There was no need to mention Zhu Xiuer; Suoding Island was He Lingchuan’s home turf, which was effectively its home turf.

Since Yu Zecheng had already revealed his identity as a Beijia Captain, he was not afraid that He Lingchuan would collude with Zhu Xiuer to ambush him. If he were to fall here, Beijia would never forgive the Yangshan Archipelago.

But as the host, He Lingchuan sent over a hundred Yangshan guards to surround the meeting place, serving as both a display of power and security.

This was his territory; he could send as many people as he liked.

It was also a silent warning to Yu Zecheng: Don't try anything, I have many people.

Yu Zecheng certainly received the message, but looking at the formation He Lingchuan had set up, he sneered inwardly.

This was the Yangshan Archipelago’s guard team? Having fought in Beijia’s elite armies and struggled on the front lines of life and death, he could tell at a glance that these guards had sloppy stances, wandering eyes, and lax expressions; they had no military bearing at all.

Even the backyard guards of a wealthy household were not this lethargic.

Right, He Xiao had apparently just subdued the pirates of the archipelago. Heh, pirates are pirates; they wouldn't truly change just because they changed their clothes.

Beside He Xiao, it seemed only a few guards could truly be considered elite.

When Yu Zecheng and He Lingchuan arrived, Zhu Xiuer had already arrived. Her massive body moved forward two steps, and she said coldly: "You have quite the nerve to dare stand before me!"

The Beijia people had killed many of her offspring, and Zhu Xiuer held a grudge.

Before Yu Zecheng could speak, He Lingchuan stood between the man and the spider, waving his hands repeatedly: "Don't be so hot-tempered. Give me some face; can we just talk and not fight today?"

Zhu Xiuer snorted, her twelve eyes fixed on Yu Zecheng: "I was merely taking back my own spider molts, yet you chased me to the ends of the earth! What kind of demon kingdom is this? You seize people's treasures and then slander them as thieves; how unreasonable!"

He Lingchuan asked curiously: "So the secret treasure lost by the Heavenly Palace was actually your spider molt?"

Yu Zecheng’s face was cold: "Of course not! Zhu Xiuer, do not try to confuse the issue. Where is the accomplice who burned the Heavenly Palace, and where is the secret treasure he snatched?"

Zhu Xiuer answered bluntly: "Isn't it still under the Heavenly Palace's rear end?"

The Beijia group was stunned before they realized she was referring to Zuju.

This answer had no flaws; it was the great fire spirit Zuju that smashed half of the Star-Plucking Tower, and it was indeed Zuju who snatched the Ling-Sealing Canopy in front of everyone.

But whose orders was Zuju following, and who did it cooperate with? "Don't try to evade the question. Who broke the Xushan Great Array back then and released your remains?" Yu Zecheng said with a straight face, "As long as you hand over this person, or even just provide a name and background, your past crimes can be wiped clean, and Beijia could even grant you the title of a regional lord!"

He Lingchuan nodded repeatedly from the side: "That is indeed a generous offer."

But Zhu Xiuer’s answer was just three words: "I don't know."

He Lingchuan was anxious on the side: "Xiuer, I am helping you. You must show some sincerity."

"I want to give it, but I can't. I never saw his true face." Zhu Xiuer stretched out a front claw to scratch her belly, "I don't know how he found out that my spider molt was suppressed in the Xushan Great Array as a formation-eye treasure, so he came to discuss with me, saying he could help me retrieve it. As long as I drove the spider molt away from the formation eye, the array would naturally be broken."

Yu Zecheng frowned: "You agreed without seeing his true face?"

He didn't believe a single word! "When I heard there was such a good deal, how could I refuse?" Zhu Xiuer said with a mocking tone, "What, someone is willing to help me snatch my treasure back from robbers, and I should refuse?"

"Besides, I just agreed casually; I had nothing to lose if he failed, how was I to know he could actually do it?" Zhu Xiuer chuckled, "There are plenty of people who want to smash the Heavenly Palace; has anyone succeeded in these six hundred years? Why should I have thought he would be an exception?"

(End of chapter)