Chapter 356: I Swore Not to the Supervisor Chen, but to the Grand Tomb Overseer!

"What?!"

"What does that mean?!"

Yang Qin had already been eroded by Soft Sinew Powder into a completely limp body, his eyelids barely able to lift, and only his stubborn resilience kept him from collapsing.

But the word "inside agent" was like a needle chilled in ice, suddenly stabbing into his increasingly chaotic consciousness.

His whole body shivered, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over his head.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up with a "shhh" sound, and his scalp tingled numbly.

A chill crawled up his spine, forcing him to gasp in cold air.

Zhao Qian's previously scattered gaze suddenly fixed, like a reflected light, unexpectedly revealing a stubborn clarity.

He stared intently at Chen Yan, a cold smile tinged with frothy blood curling at his mouth corner; his voice was weak yet each word clear: "Great Supervisor Chen, now that it's come to this, why must you still sow discord?"

His gaze swept over Yan Zhi Tui and Yang Qin on the ground, then returned to himself; his gaunt fingers curled slightly, as if emphasizing: "Among the four of us, how could any of us be your inside agent!"

Speaking, he let out a low laugh, full of disbelief and fatigue.

Anyone who could take part in these schemes must be a trusted confidant, no doubt!

But before Zhao Qian's words had fully faded in the hall, a slightly flippant voice suddenly rose from a corner, shattering his confidence: "Lord Dugu Lao Zhuguo, that statement is wrong—"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Gao Bing, who had just been sprawled on the ground, tormented by Soft Sinew Powder to the point of near immobility, slowly straighten himself.

He brushed dust from his robe, his movements so crisp it bore no sign of having been drugged; a teasing smile curled at his mouth as he looked at Zhao Qian, his tone laced with a deliberate regret: "Precisely because it's come to this, the Supervisor's heart is merciful, unwilling to see you become fools!"

"Hmm?"

"Gao Bing, what are you saying?"

Zhao Qian was startled, his voice thin as a wisp, tinged with bewilderment, his gaze stuck on Gao Bing's crisp movements.

But the next moment, when Gao Bing brushed off his robe, his wrist turned with agility, and he stood there with a perfectly straight back, showing no sign of the Soft Sinew Powder's decay.

Zhao Qian seemed as if a needle had been driven into him; his scattered pupils suddenly contracted, a wave of incredulous surprise rising: "How are you still fine?!"

Clearly everyone drank the same wine, all poisoned by Soft Sinew Powder…

Because of the toxin's effect, Zhao the Old Pillar's thoughts had begun to lag.

But a terrifying thought, like a thunderclap, exploded in his remaining consciousness—

Gao Bing heard this, the teasing on his face faded a bit, replaced by a breezy composure as if stating something utterly ordinary: "Because I, Gao, had taken the antidote beforehand!"

Then, turning to Chen Yan, he bowed and respectfully said, "I have seen the Supervisor!"

"No need for the bow!"

Chen Yan watched the bowed Gao Bing, his gaze flickering; he stepped half a pace forward, extended a hand to gently rest on the other's arm, and slowly helped him up.

He paused, lowered his voice a bit, adding a touch of warmth: "You've endured hardship these days!"

When Gao Bing straightened fully, his back grew even more erect, his face no longer bearing any of the earlier teasing, only a scorching solemnity.

He looked at Chen Yan, his voice clear and imbued with unparalleled resolve: "To serve the Supervisor, to be loyal to the Grand Tomb Overseer, I dare not speak of hardship!"

"It's only natural!"

Gao Bing deeply understood a principle: when loyalty is well shown, a bright future follows.

"You… Gao Bing, you!"

Zhao Qian raised his hand, trembling as he pointed at Gao Bing, his jaw chattering, veins bulging on his cheek, a sour‑sweet taste flooding his throat: "How dare you betray this old man!"

Zhao Qian never imagined that the deepest hidden venomous snake would be Gao Bing?!

And the successive betrayals cut the old Pillar's heart like a knife…

His internal organs felt as if they were being crushed, like countless needles stabbing, the pain making his vision flicker black, nearly causing him to collapse.

Gao Bing heard this, gave Zhao Qian a faint glance, his eyes no longer showing any former obedience, only indifference: "It's just a good bird choosing a tree to perch!"

He paused, then continued: "Old Pillar Zhao, you and Dugu Lao Zhuguo never really promoted me, Gao…"

"Then why speak of betrayal?"

"Not even willing to grant a title, how stingy!"

Having said that, he spread his hands expressionlessly.

He, Gao Bing, chose to serve the Duke openly; any problem?

Having someone who is always placed at the end, receiving the fewest benefits and even lacking proper treatment, steadfastly choose you—don't you find that amusing?

He wouldn't even ask a baron to secure one for him…

Gao Bing is a father, the head of a household, must consider his children, grandchildren, and the prosperity of the clan!

"Grandfather, grandfather, look!"

Zhao Xingjian walked step by step to Zhao Qian's front, those eyes that once brimmed with admiration now held only years of accumulated resentment and mockery: "Those dissatisfied with you are more than just a single grandson."

He said, scoffing.

Indeed, there are still people who truly empathize!

Zhao Qian seemed not to hear Zhao Xingjian's words; his murky gaze passed over him, fixed stubbornly on Gao Bing, his eyes filled with resentment, disbelief, and angry venom, he demanded sharply: "Gao Bing, when did you pledge to Chen Yan?"

He needed to know exactly from when he had stepped into this meticulously woven net.

Gao Bing met Zhao Qian's gaze, his face showing no ripple, his tone as flat as if replying to a trivial matter: "It was a few months ago…"

He paused, then shifted his tone, correcting: "But I have pledged not to Supervisor Chen, but to the Grand Tomb Overseer!"

"The Grand Tomb Overseer is far more generous than you two…"

Choice outweighs effort.

It's not that the Supervisor is bad; it's that pledging to the Grand Tomb Overseer achieves the goal in one step, maximizing benefit!

Hereditary marquis…

Family wealth…

Post‑achievement official promotions…

There is also the promotion of the clan's younger members.....

In every aspect, in all matters great and small, can one not offer loyalty to the Grand Tomb Chancellor?

Supervisor Chen Yan's future prospects are limitless; after joining the Grand Tomb Chancellor's command, there will be plenty of opportunities to befriend him.....

Zhao Qian's chest surged violently, as if being yanked harshly, each breath accompanied by a tearing pain.

He stared rigidly at the self‑righteous Gao Bing, blood vessels bursting in his murky eyes; gathering his last ounce of strength, he spat a furious curse through clenched teeth, foaming with blood: "You treacherous, faith‑less, disloyal beast!"

"Can you live up to my trust in you?"

His voice was hoarse to the point of being unmelodic, yet every word was laced with deep‑seated venom.

How could such a shameless beast exist in the world?

He and Du Gu are truly blind!

Gao Bing listened to Zhao Qian's tirade, showing no hint of remorse; instead he straightened his back, his voice suddenly rising, bearing a righteous, imposing tone: "I, Gao, am a minister of Great Zhou; having received the ruler's stipend, I ought to share the ruler's worries....."

"How could I collude with you, the Elder Pillar of the State, who plots treason, and become a notorious eternal sinner?" He swept his gaze over the chaotic room, finally landing on Zhao Qian's face, his tone dripping with unabashed contempt, "I am merely fulfilling the duty of a subject."

What is meant by great loyalty and righteousness?

This is it!

Future histories will also record a line about him.....

Lying in wait beside the treacherous minister, enduring hardship, crushing his rebellious plot, and serving the nation and ruler with loyalty!

And these two Elder Pillars of the State, along with Yan Zhi Tui, Yang Qin and others, are the stepping stones for his name to be recorded in history.

Zhao Qian's nearly still chest suddenly surged again, as if Gao Bing's "righteous" words had shocked him back into life.

He clenched his fists tightly, knuckles whitening from the strain, as if recalling something; his murky eyes flashed a final feral light straight at Gao Bing: "What exactly is that powder you supplied that explodes upon fire?"

Gao Bing heard this and his mocking sneer softened; he gently shook his head, his tone deliberately distant: "Actually, I'm not sure either....."

Having said that, he turned his body, his gaze sweeping toward Chen Yan beside him with a subtle curl of his mouth: "If the Elder Pillar of the State wishes to know, he must have Supervisor Chen explain it for you!"

Zhao Qian's gaze struggled to shift onto Chen Yan; the fury vanished, leaving a near‑numb comprehension, a wheezing sound from his throat as if mocking himself: "Sure enough, that thing is still tied to you....."

From hidden weapons to blood bags, from Soft Sinew Powder to this strange powder, each link connects tightly, airtight.

Besides the deep‑minded Supervisor before us, who else could weave such a heaven‑and‑earth net?

Moreover, Zhao Qian was not surprised at all.....

After all, this kid has far too many miraculous qualities!

He gasped, his chest rising feebly like a dying candle in the wind, yet stubbornly stared at Chen Yan; his voice was as light as a wisp of smoke, still carrying a final plea: "Supervisor Chen, let me die as a clear‑sighted ghost!"

Chen Yan spoke slowly: "That powder is called gunpowder....."

"It is a little contrivance I, the Supervisor, concocted!"

He paused, then added meaningfully: "If the dosage is sufficient, it won't just blow up a cauldron; not to mention blowing up a city wall would be no problem....."

"So, Dou Yi was also arranged by you?" Yang Qin, who had listened to the whole thing, twitched his mouth and said, "He intentionally had him deliver the defensive map for the Laba Festival....."

At this moment, everything fell into place.

Gao Bing and Zhao Xingjian both betrayed, and Dou Yi is also very likely a false surrender!

All to make them follow the scheme of the great Supervisor Chen.....

Indeed!

Chen Yan snapped his fingers, producing a crisp click, giving an affirmative reply.

Immediately, his gaze fell on Yang Qin, as if recalling something; the mockery in his eyes deepened, his tone leisurely, playfully asking: "By the way, General Yang, do you wish to know the true cause of death of your most cherished eldest son Yang Gong?"

——

PS: A long‑awaited time‑travel mini‑class—Simple gunpowder making.

Ingredient ratios.

Saltpeter: Sulfur: Charcoal = 75%: 10%: 15%

Manufacturing process.

Step one, purify the raw materials.

Saltpeter: dissolve natural saltpeter in water, filter out sediment, heat to evaporate and crystallize, repeatedly purify to increase purity (excess impurities reduce potency).

Sulfur: heat solid sulfur to melt, remove impurities, cool into blocks, then crush into fine powder.

Charcoal: select dry wood (e. g., pine), incompletely burn it in a sealed environment to make charcoal, crush and sieve to obtain fine charcoal powder.

Step two, mix according to the ratio.

Weigh the three ingredients in proportion, then mix them in a dry, open‑flame‑free setting (ancient methods often used stone mills to avoid friction‑generated heat), ensuring uniform blending.

Step three, granulate and dry.

The mixed powder is combined with a little water or rice broth to form a wet paste, pressed into cakes, then broken into granules ("granular gunpowder"), reducing hygroscopicity for easier storage and even combustion.

Finally, air‑dry it in a ventilated, dry place (strictly avoid direct sunlight or baking to prevent spontaneous combustion).

Lastly, many thanks to the great benefactor Lu Renjie of Huayang Island for the divine endorsement, ((((((((((っ? ω?)っΣ(σ｀? ω? ′)σ