Chapter 53: Come, Take the Blame

Xu Yuan emerged from the alley, circled around to the main gate of the residence, and looked up; above the gate hung a blue plaque with golden characters: Chen Mansion.

Xu Yuan left Wangjing Ward, found a teahouse at random in the city, and learned that Master Chen was a prominent figure who had recently retired from Nandu, once holding a fourth-rank official position!

Emerging from the teahouse, Xu Yuan frowned slightly: A fourth-rank official from Nandu? Why would such a great figure take an interest in me?

Is Master Qiao their pawn?

What exactly is it they are looking for?

The items found in Qiao Ziang's study last time didn't seem suspicious at all...

Thinking as he walked back, Xu Yuan knew most of those items were still at home; he had to return and examine them carefully again.

Xing Guolong emerged from Master Chen's residence and immediately rushed back to his base—a carriage and horse inn located in Xicheng.

In this area at the southwest corner of the city, several cargo warehouses and carriage inns operated. It was convenient for entry and exit, being close to the official road and the docks.

This carriage and horse inn was the Chen family's property.

Xing Guolong's subordinates were all waiting here.

"Old Qiao has fallen; now it's up to us!" As soon as he finished speaking, his seven brothers immediately glowed with excitement in their eyes: "Our chance has come! Haha..."

Xing Guolong and his brothers had done more tasks for Master Chen and received more rewards.

But Master Chen obviously trusted Old Qiao more, entrusting him with the critical matters. The group had always been holding back a surge of energy, determined to step on the surname Qiao's head.

Xing Guolong had already made preparations; he spread out a hand-drawn simple map and began to arrange: "This is Heigong Alley; there are three roads in total leading to Heigong Alley. Now, divide the tasks and guard all of them! As soon as that boy appears, capture him immediately!

Try to take him alive.

If you cannot take him alive, then decisively kill him!"

Xing Guolong patted a man with a greenish-black complexion beside him: "Fourth Brother, issue one Spirit-Weaving Spider to each person; after killing that boy, immediately capture his soul.

Additionally, prepare a signal firecracker for each person; if the target proves difficult, set off the signal firecracker! Eighth Brother and I will support immediately!"

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!" The crowd shouted in unison.

Xing Guolong tapped the table, emphasizing: "Remember this above all: You must resolve it outside Heigong Alley!

I have investigated; the people in this alley are somewhat sinister! Old Qiao disappeared right inside the alley.

The message returned from Qihe Tai Town says that boy is only an eighth-rate; how could he possibly kill Old Qiao? Therefore, we absolutely cannot let that boy return to Heigong Alley!"

Master Chen felt Xing Guolong was not a local and did not understand the situation, but in fact, Xing Guolong had already investigated thoroughly.

Xing Guolong was not stupid either; he was doing a life-risking job; how could he dare not be cautious?

His group of brothers included three seventh-raters, while the rest were eighth-raters.

Facing Xu Yuan alone, any of them could finish off that boy—if they blocked him outside Heigong Alley, acted fast enough, and prevented the people inside the alley from arriving in time to rescue him.

Seeing Fu Jingyu and Song Lu had been rushing about all morning.

In the morning, they went to Heigong Alley but could not find Xu Yuan, so they immediately rushed back to the county yamen to ask Master Yan for help to "calculate."

Song Lu had initially been somewhat dismissive, but after Master Yan's arduous calculations, he provided the general location range for Xu Yuan: Wangjing Ward!

Seeing Fu Jingyu had actually guessed correctly!

Otherwise, why would a poor boy from Heigong Alley run off to Wangjing Ward!?

The two hurried to Wangjing Ward but could not go wearing official robes; they changed into plain clothes, waited outside Chen Mansion for quite a while, yet never saw Xu Yuan's figure.

Feeling somewhat tired at noon, the two discussed it, decided to return to the county yamen first to eat lunch, then report the day's situation to their teacher before making further plans.

However, just as they reached the front of the county yamen, Seeing Fu Jingyu whispered: "We have a tail."

Song Lu raised her delicate eyebrows: "They are tired of living!"

She quickly scanned the surroundings and signaled her senior brother with her eyes: "Lead them into that alley over there and deal with them."

The two turned into the alley; as soon as they entered, footsteps behind them quickly caught up. The senior and junior disciples blocked the alley front and back, only to be met by Xu Yuan's huge smiling face: "Captain Fu, I have finally found you."

The senior and junior disciples were somewhat speechless; we searched for you all morning, and you were waiting for us at my door?

But Master Yan clearly calculated that you went to Wangjing Ward this morning.

Don't tell me you went to Chunxiang Pavilion.

Seeing Fu Jingyu remained rigid and formal: "At our last meeting, I indeed said that if you had figured it out, you could come to the county yamen to find us."

"Yes, yes," Xu Yuan said repeatedly: "I am a good subject of the Huangming Dynasty; after you two visited me last time, I also actively wanted to assist the Pollution-Exorcising Bureau in solving the case, so I meditated day and night without eating or sleeping..."

"Enough," Song Lu interrupted him: "Say what you want to say quickly."

Xu Yuan was not embarrassed; he chuckled and said: "I suddenly remembered this morning that before I returned from the town, I picked up some scraps from the ruins of Master Qiao's inn. Do you two, my lords, have any interest in taking a look?"

Xu Yuan had figured it out halfway through his journey just now: First, the thing Master Chen and the others are looking for might not actually be in my hands; why should I take the blame?

Second, even if I accidentally did take their thing... that thing is not a treasure to me, but a bomb!

I have no idea what that thing is actually used for; if I risk my life over it, or cause my stepmother injury, that would be a huge loss!

So Xu Yuan immediately changed direction and headed straight for the county yamen.

The Pollution-Exorcising Bureau is currently investigating Qiao Ziang; it is the perfect time to take the blame!

Whatever it is, I will hand over all the items I found in his study to the Pollution-Exorcising Bureau.

Anyway, what I truly need is just that gunpowder, which is already inside my Golden Core.

Hearing Xu Yuan's words, Seeing Fu Jingyu and Song Lu exchanged a glance; both had the same thought in mind: This boy is truly as cunning as a ghost.

You only just remembered that you brought some things back from the town?

And "scraps"... if it were truly scraps, could you have brought it back?

Yet this fellow knew nothing yesterday, but today suddenly produces some items to hand over to us; why has his attitude changed so suddenly?

He went to Wangjing Ward this morning...

Fu Jingyu had some guesses in his mind.

"Come in with us. I'll ask an elder to go along; this elder has extensive experience in evidence appraisal."

"Good." Xu Yuan agreed and followed the two through the side gate into the county yamen's rear courtyard.

"Sit here for a moment." Seeing Fu Jingyu temporarily settled Xu Yuan in a side hall, then went to find his teacher.

After Ma Tianshou heard him explain the situation, he nodded approvingly: "You are right to be cautious. Go find Yan Lao and ask him to accompany you on this trip."

Seeing Fu Jingyu and Song Lu changed back into their official robes, invited Yan Lao along, and went to meet Xu Yuan: "This is Yan Lao, one of our elders."

Xu Yuan smiled broadly, clasped his fists in greeting, and said: "Greetings, Master Yan."

Song Lu couldn't help but say: "You should address him as Elder!"

Xu Yuan spoke with righteous indignation: "That's how everyone in our alley addresses people. Calling someone 'Elder' at every turn makes things distant!"

Yan Lao gave a bitter smile, waved his hand, and said: "Let him be; it's just a form of address. Let's set off now."

Because Yan Lao was present, Seeing Fu Jingyu arranged a carriage, and before long they approached River Work Alley.

Suddenly the coachman let out a cry of alarm; immediately after, the horses pulling the carriage neighed in fright, and the carriage shook violently, nearly overturning.

The four people inside the carriage came out to check: "What's going on?"

The coachman was also puzzled: "This horse has always been gentle; I don't know what's wrong with it today..."

Xu Yuan scanned the surroundings, activated "Wang Ming," and indeed found two cultivators, both at the eighth-rank level!

Requesting monthly tickets!

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(End of this chapter)