[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t":3,"chapter-living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-99":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Living Among All Heavens, Achieving Immortality Through Merit",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2323667,4545,"Chapter 99: A Single-Minded Plan Becomes Blocked at Both Ends","living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-99",99,"\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling was truly panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling had always been proud of his Embroidery Bandit scheme, convinced it was flawless—but after Gu Qing mentioned launching a grand investigation, Jin Jiuling felt every part of the plan was leaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eighty thousand taels of silver guarded by Zhenyuan Escort Agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nine thousand gold leaves from Jinsha River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The valuable goods of Zhendong Escort Agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventy scrolls of priceless calligraphy and paintings from Huayuxuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of these items could be taken by a single person, so Jin Jiuling naturally had accomplices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under severe torture, if even one cracked, Jin Jiuling would be plunged into irredeemable ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lord of White Cloud City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling suggested beside him: “These brothers are all devoted to protecting the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion—even if they lose their lives, they won’t blink. If we lay hands on them, it will break their hearts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling himself was a villain, and he knew human nature couldn’t withstand testing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Gucheng remained cold and unmoved; having decided to launch the grand investigation, he would see it through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if these men, unable to bear the humiliation, kill themselves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling appealed to emotion: “Lord of White Cloud City, when you think of their faces, won’t you feel guilt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never remember the faces of the dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Gucheng’s lack of emotion left Jin Jiuling’s next words choking in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say all these men are full of fiery loyalty?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling’s eyes welled with tears: “I know they are all true heroes, each one willing to die rather than be humiliated. Subjecting them to interrogation will drive them to despair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling was also laying groundwork for himself—if the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion launched a grand purge, arresting all guards and torturing them, some might inevitably spill secrets. After this setup, Jin Jiuling could then eliminate certain individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, all the dead would be blamed on Gu Qing and Ye Gucheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have deep feelings for these guards?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling spoke with heartfelt sincerity: “We share life and death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Slap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing clapped his hands hard: “Perfect. I have another idea: have the Chief Constable himself perform a self-inflicted punishment scheme. We gather everyone at the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion, publicly beat you severely, and tell them that losing the eighteen hu of pearls is more than they can bear—only Chief Constable Jin can shoulder this burden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chief Constable Jin is taking their punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they don’t want Chief Constable Jin to suffer, they must reveal whatever strange things they know—perhaps the clue lies hidden there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing’s method was borrowed from modern companies that use punishment of leaders to strengthen departmental cohesion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling’s face froze. Gu Qing had laid out two paths: one, torment every subordinate of the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion until they confessed; the other, torment Jin Jiuling himself to move his subordinates into confession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first path, Jin Jiuling feared his accomplices breaking under pressure; in the second, he feared the ordinary guards—should they be moved by his suffering, they might reveal vague, absurd rumors that could still lead back to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single-minded plan had become blocked at both ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a win-win-win situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing said: “Chief Constable Jin can win hearts, preserve his personal prestige, the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion solves the case, and the guards are spared from being implicated…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Gu Qing’s plan proceeded, it would be win, win, win, win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling’s face flushed red as he roared: “You don’t understand investigation at all—don’t come up with such chaotic ideas!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Gu Qing kept winning, Jin Jiuling would be utterly ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Xiaofeng…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling turned to Lu Xiaofeng: “You held the red silk—do you have any clues?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling knew Lu Xiaofeng had visited Xue’s house; now he wanted Lu Xiaofeng to say the red silk was stitched by a woman, thereby steering the clue toward the Red Shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Xiaofeng shook his head. After Gu Qing’s warning, he suspected the red silk was a lure, and from Gu Qing and Xue Bing’s words, he learned the Red Shoes likely harbored a traitor—but that traitor couldn’t have committed such a major crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So his visit to the Needle God Xue’s house yielded nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling was speechless at Lu Xiaofeng’s response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was the Needle God’s wife really that weak? Couldn’t she even recognize a woman’s embroidery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ye Gucheng turned and left. Soon after, news spread through the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion: martial lockdown and interrogation were underway; those who reported information would be rewarded, those who surrendered promptly would have their punishment reduced, and those who resisted to the end would be executed on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the pearls were stolen, all the guards who had watched the treasure vault were dragged away and interrogated rigorously—beatings were inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling watched the guards screaming in agony, his heart pounding. Seeing them beaten bloody, he went to the Pingnan Prince himself, resigned his post, then sought out Lu Xiaofeng to demand the red silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You resigned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaofeng frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling said coolly: “As Chief Manager of the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion, I failed to protect my brothers. The blame rests entirely on me. Now, I still hold my Six Shanmen  position, so I intend to investigate personally and clear my brothers’ names.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion launching its grand purge, if Jin Jiuling waited any longer, he’d be sitting idle awaiting death. So he could no longer let Lu Xiaofeng investigate—he would investigate himself, plant false evidence, and before his brothers spoke, seize Auntie Gongsun and pin the crime on the Red Shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By resigning his post, Jin Jiuling vanished from public view and could now act as the Embroidery Bandit, eliminating anyone nearby who might betray him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaofeng patted Jin Jiuling’s shoulder. He disapproved of the grand purge, but he couldn’t persuade Ye Gucheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I know this is all because of Gu Qing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling said: “Our friendship won’t be affected by this.” Jin Jiuling still intended to use Lu Xiaofeng once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaofeng was moved. How many such friends does a man have in his lifetime?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s Gu Qing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Jiuling suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaofeng glanced around: “He’s probably with Ye Gucheng. Gu Qing knows the Soul-Transference Technique—he can make people involuntarily reveal secrets. If the guards are beaten and their spirits broken, they’ll be even easier for Gu Qing to extract secrets from.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This statement was something Gu Qing had asked Lu Xiaofeng to relay; to Lu Xiaofeng, it seemed meant to reassure Jin Jiuling that the purge wouldn’t falsely accuse anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Jin Jiuling, it sent chills down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Jin Jiuling had doubted whether his brothers could keep secrets—but seeing them endure beatings in silence, he’d decided to act himself and frame Auntie Gongsun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qing’s Soul-Transference Technique shattered Jin Jiuling’s mental defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Embroidery Bandit, Jin Jiuling must now race against Gu Qing and Ye Gucheng to kill the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion’s inside agents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1190,"2026-06-20T17:04:26.501Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d7a914e92b5d9bbd65a44a649fad8ca6572d4a611e2af4984b45e1969e1f8c8e","living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-100","living-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-chapter-98",449,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliving-among-all-heavens-achieving-immortality-t-cover.jpg"]