Chapter 326: Crane Inspector

Pei Ye looked at these two lines of words blankly, until the cold morning sun covered his eyes.

He had stood before the gate for a bit too long, and a beautiful figure walked out from inside first.

Shi Zanxue was stunned to see him: "Young Hero Pei, you're awake?"

Pei Ye came back to his senses. The woman before him was still as beautiful as clear snow, but she seemed a bit dimmer, and her headwear didn't look very new.

"Hmm." Pei Ye responded subconsciously. The woman didn't have the intention to talk much either and continued to walk out.

Pei Ye reacted at this time and called her to stop from behind: "Shi Gu Niang."

"Hmm?"

"Will Tianshan... still come to Shaolong?"

"I'm afraid there will be some interval in the short term... but I think they will." Shi Zanxue was silent for a moment, "However, we still have to wait for the reply from the sect and listen to the arrangements of the Qunyu Pavilion."

"... If there is anything that doesn't go smoothly, I hope Shi Gu Niang can strive for it a few more times... I will definitely remember this favor of yours."

The woman lowered her brows and revealed a faint smile: "Young Hero Pei, you are too polite. We also like Cuiyu and the Young Li Li Zhangmen very much these days. We definitely don't want Tianshan's efforts in Shaolong to fall halfway."

Pei Ye was silent again: "... If there are indeed any difficulties, you can send a letter to me. I will definitely do my meager part."

Shi Zanxue smiled again, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice: "It's not just polite words, Young Hero Pei. This involves some internal matters of Tianshan... In short, please believe that at least on my side, we are definitely moving toward Shaolong earnestly, and we are also supporting Cuiyu earnestly."

"Many thanks." Pei Ye bowed in salute.

Shi Zanxue returned the salute, and the two parted ways.

Pei Ye put away the little sword and stepped into this large courtyard.

This atmosphere was somewhat familiar, cruel and sharp. Everything was in a hurried busyness. Pei Ye walked through the courtyard where people were coming and going, asked for Wu Dong's location, and went straight up to the fourth floor of the Immortal Platform.

Wu Dong and the warlock he had met once were here, but when Pei Ye walked into the room, what he saw was beyond his expectations.

Pu Huaimeng was still sitting cross-legged before the array disk, the residual Mystic Qi analyzed in different bottles showing different colors. Wu Dong, however, was already dressed neatly. The injury from the night before seemed to have left no trace. He held his sword supported on the desk, explaining something to the warlock.

Turning his head to see the youth, he signaled him to wait a moment.

"The Sun-Swallowing Society doesn't have that much spare power. With the 【Cold Scholar】 folded, they probably won't come again, so it can be put aside for now." The old man's voice was very low and fast, "Shi Zanxue will come to identify the "West Sea Qunyu Record" of Tianshan later; the sample of "Bright Light Thunder" is here."

Wu Dong continued: "Analyze the strange Mystic Arts as soon as possible. Send those that are inconvenient to do to the Fucheng. I will look at the results directly there when the time comes."

Pu Huaimeng nodded.

Wu Dong turned his head.

Pei Ye looked at this scene: "Is the Lord leaving?"

"You're here, just right." Wu Dong walked to the table beside him, "Li Piaoqing has already told me about your affairs in Xiangzhou. You can supplement some details for me."

"... Including the matter of the Candle World Sect?"

"Everything." Wu Dong said, "I will transfer it to the Divine Capital when the time comes."

The two found a quiet room. Pei Ye told him about the events of these two days, and Wu Dong filled them in on the case files. Finally, looking at the recorded text, he hummed hoarsely: "After finishing this matter, maybe I will be transferred to the Divine Capital."

Pei Ye asked at this time: "Is the Lord leaving Bowang?"

"Yes." Wu Dong sealed the records and looked at him earnestly, "I know what you are here for. I have summarized the situation of the case so far, and now I will hand it all over to you."

"First, the news you brought from Xiangzhou regarding the Candle World Sect cannot find a thread for the time being. We sent the Immortal Platform of Xiangzhou to dig up the Yi family's grave, and Yi Duanzhi's coffin was empty. This matter is wrapped in the Soul-Taking Bead incident—an Edict, an empty coffin, a bit wireless. Here, we can only investigate the Candle World Sect through the Joy-Huan Si Lou, and cannot capture the Joy-Huan Si Lou through the Candle World Sect."

Pei Ye nodded.

"Second, the records you obtained in Qiyun regarding Heart Amber are very important. We previously traced it by the meager weight of the Soul-Taking Bead, which was really difficult to analyze, but now that we know there are one hundred and twenty catties of Heart Amber, we can definitely find something with this amount."

"So many years, so many transactions... they can accumulate it bit by bit from different sources—"

"I know." Wu Dong looked at him, "You can rest assured about this point. Since the Immortal Platform knows he holds this one hundred and twenty catties of Heart Amber, the Immortal Platform will definitely be able to find it."

"... Good."

"I am going back to the Fucheng now to do this." Wu Dong said, "Everything involving the dispatch of Heart Amber, I will check it personally. Actually, I think it still has something to do with Yu Zhaocai being assassinated that year, and Qiao Changyue filling the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works. The Joy-Huan Si Lou did this, and it won't be without a purpose."

Pei Ye nodded: "Lord, I will go with you."

"No need." Wu Dong refused decisively, "Walking through the government offices, dealing with officials, you have no position or experience, you can't help."

Pei Ye was silent for a moment: "Is there anything I can help with?"

Wu Dong turned his head to look at him, quiet for a moment: "You saw the battle the night before last yourself. Three moves of the Mystic Gate and life is lost, pulse-cultivators have no status to enter the arena... With such good talent and future, why throw it away lightly here?"

The old man said hoarsely: "No one will blame you for not chasing the Mystic Gate with a pulse realm. I know your connections, that's why I told you the matter—step firmly and go to the Divine Capital."

Pei Ye shook his head and lowered his brows: "I can't stand it myself."

"..." Wu Dong was quiet for a while. He clearly wasn't good at or didn't like persuading people, and said: "Then I will point you to one thing. You go to Kongdong."

"... Kongdong?"

"Kongdong." Wu Dong said, "Thanks to the bravery of An Sibing and Li Li Zhangmen Li, we cut off one arm of the enemy, and the Bright Ming Ming Jianzhu came quickly. He only had time to burn it with a fire."

Pei Ye followed his gaze and looked. On the table, a bead that was half iron and half amber was placed on it.

"But this Soul-Taking Bead was left behind by us."

"..."

"We still don't know the use of the Joy-Huan Si Lou collecting it, but if it was just a guess before, now it is enough to confirm—this must be something they cannot lack." Wu Dong tapped this bead, "I am going to the Fucheng to trace the Heart Amber, and the results will be within ten days. They have lost this item now, so they must make it up before these 'ten days'."

Pei Ye frowned and nodded slowly.

"Then I will give it to you." Wu Dong put it into the youth's hand.

Pei Ye was stunned for a moment and took it.

"In this way, it will be impossible for them to take it back, and in Shaolong, wanting to find another sword technique of sufficient weight in a rush..."

"... Only Kongdong."

"Not bad." Wu Dong nodded, "Only Kongdong."

Pei Ye looked down at the bead in his hand. It was in a state of overflowing. The morning sun cast light and shadow, as if the souls taken were floating inside.

"If you must risk your life, this should be the most suitable errand. I have asked the Bright Ming Ming Jianzhu; she is just about to return to ask about the sword. You follow by her side, everything will be just right." Wu Dong said, "This green bird is lent to you. If there is any need for handover, just send a letter with it."

Pei Ye reached out and took the small pendant Wu Dong handed over. It was a small cage the size of a thumb cast in gold and iron, with a jade bead pecked away by a small half inside.

"【Flowing Wind】 doesn't recognize strangers, it has a lot of spirituality. It has seen you, so it recognizes you."

Pei Ye turned his head to look out the window. A sharp green bird stepped on a branch, its gray-white eyes meeting his. But in just an instant, the branch was empty, and the scene that flashed by just now was like a hallucination.

"Open the jade cage, and then pour your true Qi into the jade bead, and 【Flowing Wind】 will arrive in an instant." Wu Dong pondered for a moment at the end and looked at him: "Since you are determined to enter the game, I will make the pros and cons clear to you—the line handed to you is not a coping mechanism, it is one of the two true keys. I originally intended to do it with a trusted informant."

"But I trust your stance, and I admire your agility, so I handed this errand to you. I will definitely find the flow of the 'Heart Amber' line, but the key lies in time. The Joy-Huan Si Lou has made such a big commotion now. Once the matter they are planning is achieved later, there would be no reason to hide it anymore. But, by then, knowing the roots of their veins would be too late." Wu Dong said, "I even suspect that their layout for many years is just for this move now. After the matter is achieved, they will take away the key and throw away everything... Do you understand what I mean?"

"Understand." Pei Ye said, "If you can't find out the case before them, I will grab the neck they stretch toward Kongdong."

"Not bad." Wu Dong nodded, "Also, there is this line here in Bowang. You communicate with Li Piaoqing yourself, just don't leak messages to each other."

Pei Ye was stunned: "What?"

Wu Dong raised his brows: "Didn't you just meet? The person I sent didn't see you, saying you and the Cuiyu Young Li Li Zhangmen went out."

"... Didn't talk about this."

"It's just that Yu Zhaocai purchased five catties of Heart Amber at the Qiyun auction in Xiangzhou. After Li Piaoqing reported it, they have been checking the state treasury these two days."

"... Maybe it didn't enter the treasury?"

"Yu Zhaocai purchased it in the name of the Bowang Prefecture Government. This official is honest, he couldn't take out that much silver himself, and he is rule-abiding. Since it was bought with official silver, it must have entered the official treasury first, and then the purpose would be re-examined." Wu Dong looked at him.

So Pei Ye understood his meaning and nodded slowly.

If it wasn't found...

Seeing that he understood, Wu Dong didn't say anything more, raised his sword, and said unsparingly: "I like you very much, but let's part ways here."

Pei Ye was stunned for a moment and remembered one thing: "Lord, has this matter been reported to the Fucheng? How is the reinforcement arranged?"

"Reported." Wu Dong tied the sword to his waist, put on a dark cloak, and then glanced: "Reinforcement... what reinforcement do you want?"

Pei Ye was stunned. He clearly remembered the powerlessness of the night before.

"Fighting is fighting, investigating a case is investigating a case, this is delicate work." Wu Dong fastened his hood, "In the territory of Shaolong, as long as you pull them out, reinforcements will be there at any time. Otherwise, even if a Heavenly Tower comes, it will just be beating the grass to scare the snake, a headless fly."

"And for things like investigating a case, isn't the Immortal Platform Crane Inspector right in front of you?" Wu Dong glanced at him and waved his robe to go out.

His movements finally showed some inconvenience left by the injury, but he was more like a sharp, blood-stained sword blade. The abrupt setback the night before clearly only made him see the enemy's appearance more clearly.

Pei Ye watched this figure leave. The sun outside the window was already a bit high. He stood blankly for a while again, forgot to say hello to the warlock, lowered his head, turned, and went downstairs.

————

Li Piaoqing looked at Pei Ye's departing back and stood blankly for a long time.

Before she came to find the youth, she had spent a whole night thinking it through. But when all this truly became reality, the emptiness and suppression in her heart were not discounted at all.

"Later."

This word spat out from the youth's mouth almost scalded her. She covered his lips quickly, but still didn't stop the suffocation in her heart.

She really dared not look directly at this word. It was too beautiful, simply a panacea. As long as she thought of it, the sunlight would pierce through the heavy haze, and her whole heart would suddenly become bright and relaxed.

But at the same time... it was really like a bait trying to drag her into a deeper abyss. She had already experienced the consequences of greed, and she knew how to choose.

It was just that the way the youth lowered his head and pushed her away gently really cut a deep and sharp blood wound in her heart.

When they promised each other, they were full of misunderstandings and guesses, but at this moment of parting, there was no need to say anything more. Thinking of a question, she immediately knew the answer in the other person's heart.

He knew everything, and he also knew how she would choose, which was why he was so silent.

The young girl's lips moved twice, looking down at the lake water under the willow tree unconsciously. The morning breeze cooled her clothes bit by bit, and the lake surface was gradually paved into a golden carpet.

Suddenly, footsteps came from beside her. Li Piaoqing turned her head and was stunned. The white-clothed woman like a god stood quietly beside her.

"Bright Ming Ming Jianzhu?"

Ming Qitian nodded: "The Immortal Platform came to find Pei Ye. Yang Yan said you came to the lakeside."

"Oh..." Li Piaoqing lowered her head, "He has already gone toward the Immortal Platform."

"Oh, that's good." The woman turned her head to look at the young girl and said softly, "Are you okay?"

Li Piaoqing's lips puckered immediately. She pursed her lips, and after a good while, she lowered her head and whispered: "I'm okay."

Ming Qitian looked down at her and didn't speak again.

Li Piaoqing suddenly felt that the cold lake breeze seemed much softer. She said in a low voice: "Miss Ming, have you... ever liked someone?"

Ming Qitian was stunned and shook her head.

Li Piaoqing was silent again. After a long while, she said softly: "Sister Ming, you also grew up in a sect since you were a child, right?"

"Yes."

"I used to always think about what you would do." Li Piaoqing revealed a somewhat sad smile to the woman beside her, "You are truly so powerful... nothing will ever entangle your heart."

"Things that are born with you, what's so powerful about them." Ming Qitian said softly, "When I was your age, I wasn't necessarily as good as you."

"... Liar." The young girl sobbed and smiled.

"I don't lie."

The expression on Li Piaoqing's face could no longer be restrained. She lowered her head and muttered: "Sister Ming, can I hug you?"

Ming Qitian was stunned for a moment and nodded.

The young girl immediately stepped forward, opened her arms, and threw herself into the woman's arms gently.

Once her face was hidden, her emotions began to flow wantonly. The young girl's sobbing became more obvious: "Sister Ming, do you think I have become a person like you?"

"Hmm." Ming Qitian said softly, "You are 'Jade' now."

But the young girl could no longer hold back her tears and cried out sobbing: "But... but I feel so sorry for Pei Ye..."

"He so firmly wanted us to walk on the same path, constantly encouraging me... no matter what difficulties we faced, he never wavered... He tried so hard to be with me, but when I decided to separate..."

The young girl cried: "... He just nodded..."

Ming Qitian stood quietly and patted the young girl's spine gently.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 327 =====