Chapter 153: Peace Society

Shen Qing couldn't be bothered to say more to this person, he slapped the man's face, knocked him out, picked him up and left.

Approaching Moon City, after all, is one of the nine major cities of Azure Province, and it's crowded here.

Just in this short while, quite a few people have gathered to watch; this place isn't suitable for an interrogation, and Shen Qing doesn't yet want too many to know he's come to Approaching Moon City.

After a while, at a secluded spot, a basin of cold water was splashed onto the man's face.

The man opened his eyes, ready to anger, but before he could see clearly, several slaps landed on his face.

Slap slap slap.

"Name."

Shen Qing bent over, looking into the man's eyes.

"I'm stating the name."

The man stammered: "My name is Jiang Dalong; I also have the nickname Yi Jiao Tong on the jianghu, and the other is called Gui Shou Qi."

"Why did you attack us?"

Jiang Dalong's voice trembled: "Sir Hero, we had a wicked thought and wanted your sword; I have eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai..."

Before his words finished, Shen Qing unleashed an Exploding Liver Fist that struck Jiang Dalong's chest; in an instant Jiang Dalong's eye sockets reddened and bulged, as if he were about to vomit up last year's New Year's feast.

"I don't like hearing lies; if you utter another lie, I'll make you a eunuch."

When Shen Qing said that, the four scholars behind him instantly understood, half-drawing the swords at their waists, revealing a chilling gleam.

Jiang Dalong hung his head, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth, he struggled to speak.

"I..."

"Someone offered us the price for two stalks of Grand Master Realm Treasure Medicine to kidnap Su Jiu Die...."

The scholar chuckled: "Just two stalks of treasure medicine? You say you only have two stalks of treasure medicine—what are you playing at?"

Shen Qing narrowed his eyes; indeed, he was really going to act against Su Jiu Die.

In an instant, Shen Qing contemplated several possibilities.

First, what Su Jiu Die and they speculated: they felt that the jianghu of Eternal Peace Commandery had joined the imperial court, which was a betrayal of the jianghu, so they sought revenge.

Second, someone secretly schemed, wanting to stir up trouble using Su Jiu Die's identity; she is the Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance established by the imperial court, and if she died the court would certainly not stand idly by.

Third, this person was actually targeting Shen Qing himself, but dared not act against him, so they turned to Su Jiu Die instead.

All three possibilities are not insignificant.

Shen Qing continued questioning: "Since it's a kidnapping, not a killing, you must intend to hand Su Jiu Die over to certain people."

"Right, if we succeed in the kidnapping we'll bring the person to a pavilion outside the city at Linyue Lake."

"Who hired you to do the kidnapping?"

Jiang Dalong shook his head: "Can't see clearly... they're all wrapped up tightly."

He's telling the truth; it looks like these two are just fools working for money.

The scholar stepped closer: "Boss, they're not after you, are they?"

Shen Qing's expression remained neutral: "It doesn't matter; anyway the lead isn't cut off, let's go straight to Linyue Lake to meet them."

"Jiang Dalong, you lead the way; I'll pose as Ghost Hand Seven, scholar you go find a sack to put Ghost Hand Seven in, disguising him as Su Jiu Die."

Jiang Dalong lifted his head to look at Shen Qing: "Sir Hero, if I cooperate well, do I still have a chance to live..."

Shen Qing glanced back at him.

"Do you think I'm bargaining with you?"

Linyue Lake, time drawing near midnight.

By now the lakeside was deserted; Shen Qing and Jiang Dalong, carrying the sack, arrived at a pavilion by the lake.

After waiting about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a man in black robes emerged from the lakeside woods, his head covered with a hood that concealed his face completely.

He quickly approached, his gaze on Jiang Dalong, his voice hoarse and obviously altered.

"One-Foot Pass, have you brought the person?"

Jiang Dalong was a bit nervous, patting the sack at his feet: "Success; where's the promised treasure medicine?"

The man then reached into his bosom and produced two scarlet treasure medicines: "The treasure medicines are here."

Jiang Dalong glanced back at Shen Qing, then carefully stepped forward to take the treasure medicine—but the instant he grasped it, a flash of cold light appeared and a dagger pierced his heart precisely.

At the same moment, the lake surface erupted with huge waves, as several Masters and three Grand Master Realm cultivators surged toward Shen Qing.

The black-robed man let out a sinister chuckle, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Seeing a crowd about to rush him, Shen Qing raised his hand and lightly snapped his fingers; numerous blade auras shot out, wildly slicing the approaching martial artists.

Shen Qing walked unhurriedly toward the black-robed man, blood spattering like flowers along his path.

"You're really ruthless."

"You didn't even check the person in the sack before killing them."

"It seems you won't let One-Foot Pass and his lot leave alive, whether the mission succeeds or not."

The black-robed man calmly watched Shen Qing easily cut down his underlings; his voice trembled slightly, but he remained composed.

"You're strong, but you've provoked the wrong people by messing with us."

Having said that, the black-robed man clenched his teeth, trying to bite through the poison sac in his mouth.

The moment he saw Shen Qing strike, he realized he could never be a match for Shen Qing.

But a phantom flickered; a pale, bamboo‑joint‑like hand clamped onto his mouth, his teeth unable to close, as a surge of true qi pulled the poison sac from his mouth.

At that moment, he truly panicked.

Shen Qing removed the hood, and the smile on his face loomed huge in the man's eyes.

"Before me, death is a luxury for you."

The man cleared his vision of Shen Qing's face, his pupils widening sharply.

Shen Qing saw this reaction clearly.

"Looks like you know me; then everything will be easy."

The man reached out and patted Shen Qing's palm, his eyes showing a hint of compromise and pleading.

Shen Qing loosened his grip, and only then could the man breathe; he looked at Shen Qing.

"Lord Shen, I've heard of your methods, and I'm not ungrateful."

"I'm willing to tell Lord Shen everything I know, but could Lord Shen also agree to a small condition of mine?"

Shen Qing said in a flat tone: "Go ahead and say it."

The man took a deep breath, steeling himself mentally.

"Lord Shen, ask whatever you want to ask."

"What organization are you?"

"The people above call themselves the Taiping Society."

"Who is the leader?"

The man shook his head: "I don't know."

"Why kidnap Su Jiujie?"

"Based on my information, the higher-ups want to use Su Jiujie to stir up conflict between the martial world and the imperial court, and possibly also to provoke conflict between you, Lord Shen, and the martial world, but why they want to do this is beyond my knowledge."

Shen Qing continued to ask: "How large is the Taiping Society?"

"It's not small; at least there are many people in Qingzhou."

"Are there any of your people in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Yes!"

"Our contact in Linyue City is likely someone from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his official position is not minor."

Shen Qing nodded lightly; after this round of questioning, basically everything that could be asked has been covered. This person does have some status, but it's clearly not enough.

"Go on, tell me your condition."

The man nodded, reached up and pulled off the mask on his face; the moonlight shone down, revealing a face covered in scars.

"These scars are fresh; it's obvious the organization doesn't want anyone to recognize who he is."

"Lord Shen, I am Guihai Zhang Li Hai. Of course you surely haven't heard my name, but around here I still had some reputation in earlier years."

"As early as forty years ago I retreated to the mountains and forests, married an ordinary woman, had a daughter, and wanted to live a simple life."

"But back then I killed too many people and owed too many debts; in the end I couldn't stay clean, the Taiping Society came knocking, I joined them, and have since done many dirty deeds."

"My mission failed; the Taiping Society won't let me live, and they probably won't let my wife and daughter live either."

"But they are innocent; they followed me without enjoying any blessings, just toiling hard in the village. I ask Lord Shen to send them a message, so they can leave here."

Shen Qing's tone was flat as he raised a finger aimed at Li Hai's chest: "Is that all?"

Li Hai nodded, spreading his arms.

Shen Qing pointed with a finger, and a stream of true qi pierced Li Hai's heart; Li Hai leaned against the pillar and slowly sat down with difficulty.

Shen Qing slowly walked toward the outside of the pavilion, his voice falling into Li Hai's ears.

"Your answer satisfies me, and I will also agree to your condition."

"I will send people to escort them to Luoshui City in Yongning Commandery."