Chapter 85: Jishi Factory Covert Agents

After dodging the surging river, Xiong Zhigang’s face darkened with uncertainty.

He himself was unharmed, but breaching the dike would bring endless suffering to the people.

Such a mad act could not possibly be for his three thousand taels of gold—it seemed aimed squarely at his life.

“Master Chu, can your Dujiaojiao summon wind and rain, divert rivers, and carve through mountains?” Xiong Zhigang asked.

Chu Danqing’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment: “No, it’s just a venomous Jiao —good for fighting, spitting poison, and eating people.”

If it truly possessed such divine powers, how could the Dujiaojiao have been killed by the Fierce Fist to begin with?

At this stage, the Dujiaojiao is nowhere near as powerful as imagined—it relies entirely on its innate talent and skills.

【 Dujiaojiao 】

【Attributes】

【HP: 100%】

【MP: 94】

【Strength: 7】

【Agility: 10】

【Constitution: 10】

【Spirit: 10】

【Perception: 10】

【Innate Talent】

【Xiji Venomous Jiao 】

【Skills】

【Poison Dragon Green Pool Scripture (Inherited · Fragmented) LV.10】

【Bone-Eroding Yin Poison (Passive) LV.10】

【Horn Blood Poison (Passive) LV.10】

【Rotting Bone, Burning Heart (Passive) LV.10】

Despite its massive size, the Dujiaojiao is a spellcaster, specializing in poison-based spells.

Both its innate talent and skills enhance poison damage.

Had it not been killed, once it evolved into a Venomous Dragon, it might have gained the abilities Xiong Zhigang described.

“We can’t possibly resolve the dike issue—let’s kill the White Demon first and eliminate the threat.” Chu Danqing had limited power; what else could he do?

“I just can’t understand why they had to destroy the dike,” Zhao Mingqian muttered in confusion: “Whether they wanted the gold or to kill us, using the river was unnecessarily complicated.”

“Of course—it’s to justify the killing,” Chu Danqing realized after a moment’s thought. These people conceal their cannibalism, so they must also destroy their victims’ reputations.

“Once Xiong Zhigang is dead, they’ll pin the dike’s destruction on him. A dead man can’t speak to defend himself.”

“Then they’ll be hailed as righteous heroes who eradicated a tyrant—eliminating the threat while gaining fame for themselves.”

Xiong Zhigang opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

If they dared destroy a dike, what wouldn’t they do?

“They’ve lost their minds,” Zhao Mingqian murmured. He’d been off the mountain long enough to know how cruel people could be.

But he’d never encountered anything this utterly insane.

Meanwhile, Da Bao straightened up, his gaze growing fiercer, blood-rage energy swirling around his body.

“Master Chu, they’re here,” Da Bao bared his fangs, waiting for Chu Danqing’s command.

After a brief pause, Chu Danqing had Da Bao indicate direction, then ordered the Dujiaojiao —whose time was running out—to launch a ranged strike first.

Da Bao used his perception and instinct to estimate the distance.

Green mist gathered atop the Dujiaojiao ’s horn, forming a poisonous cloud.

It opened its mouth and exhaled a venomous wind.

The wind carried the cloud forward.

The wind and cloud moved swiftly, vanishing along the direction in moments.

【 Dujiaojiao dealt 50 Poison-element spell damage to target, and 5 Poison damage per second as DoT】

【 Dujiaojiao 】

“Pah! What kind of Grand Coordinator is this? So despicable—using poison? What kind of hero is that?!” A roar rang out.

From the direction of the venomous wind and cloud, several riders charged forth.

The lead brute bore a striking resemblance to the Western Sichuan Black Demon—clearly the White Demon.

The man’s accusation against Xiong Zhigang made Zhao Mingqian laugh bitterly.

A band of thieves who destroyed the dike and ruined livelihoods dared call themselves heroes? Utterly absurd.

Without hesitation, Zhao Mingqian drew his slingshot, loaded an iron arrow, and hurled it at the White Demon.

“Cowardly ambush! Dishonorable!” The White Demon dodged sideways; the iron arrow grazed his cheek, narrowly missing.

Just as he opened his mouth to curse further, a massive blood-shadow lunged at him.

Before he could react, the crushing force of the charge struck him.

He and his horse were flipped upside down.

The attacker was Da Bao.

On the other side, Chu Danqing’s Five Elements Spell Orb struck the remaining riders’ horses with uncanny precision—hitting their eyes and noses, the most vulnerable points.

The crossbowmen’s figures materialized instantly, raising their weapons and unleashing rapid volleys—each bolt striking an enemy’s vital spot with deadly accuracy.

The trio’s coordination flowed like water, leaving Zhao Mingqian and Xiong Zhigang no chance to intervene.

This was precisely Chu Danqing’s plan: if natives interfered, the quality of the loot chest would drop.

Strong enemies required networks to handle—but weak ones didn’t.

The chance of rare drops was already low; interference made it worse.

In no time, all the bandits lay dead.

Da Bao returned with an Excellent-grade loot chest; Zhao Mingqian moved to search the bodies for clues.

The last Black Demon had died too gruesomely, his body swept away by the river—no chance to search him.

After searching, Zhao Mingqian found a token on the White Demon’s person.

He handed it to Xiong Zhigang and said: “It’s an agent of the Jishi Factory.”

“But I recall the Qiutan Faction despises eunuchs above all—how could they...”

Xiong Zhigang stared at the token, lost in thought, saying nothing.

“Grand Coordinator, tell me the truth,” Chu Danqing leaned in: “What are you really going to the capital for?”

“In the Taichang court, the Qiutan Faction ranks first; the Jishi Factory comes second.”

“To become the target of every official’s hatred—that’s no small feat,” Chu Danqing said, recalling what Xiong Zhigang had told him about court and wilderness politics.

The Jishi Factory’s duty is surveillance—an instrument the Taichang Emperor uses to monitor and apprehend subjects to consolidate imperial power.

Those in power are all eunuchs; the operatives are not.

“Military authority,” Xiong Zhigang said. “If I return to power, I must march to Su Shen to subdue the Su Shen people.”

“A large army on the move consumes incalculable grain, supplies, weapons, and equipment.”

“Too many interests are at stake.”

War costs money—it’s not enough to issue an order and have the army march out without spending a single coin.

So much silver scattered abroad—better to negotiate peace.

“Sss... the court is this ruthless?” Chu Danqing drew a sharp breath: “Are there no ministers who favor war?”

He couldn’t understand: the enemy’s at the gates, and all they want is peace.

“The emperor sets the tone...” Xiong Zhigang sighed. Though he neglects court affairs, he still wields absolute power through the Jishi Factory.

His reappointment was a last resort.

(End of Chapter)