Chapter 225: Closing the Game

May 22nd.

Early in the morning, all the people from the provincial capital investigation team arrived at the Zhige General Academy.

"Lord Yan."

Ding Zhuowen, the current head of the Datong Prefecture Zhige General Academy, led a group of officials to personally welcome Yan Shijin and others at the main gate.

"If there's anything, just say it in advance; why come personally?"

Ding Zhuowen asked with a smile.

Yan Shijin's expression was serious: "I heard the case has made breakthrough progress, and the evidence collected is enough to close the case, so I rushed over to see. If we can close the case early, we can go back and report earlier."

His words made the group of officials from the Zhige General Academy behind Ding Zhuowen show expressions of surprise.

Who didn't know the investigation team was deliberately looking for trouble? They would stay for one more day if they could; how could the sun rise from the west today, that they actually took the initiative to urge the progress of the case and wanted to close it early?

"Haha, Lord Yan is right, but the case is complex and involves a wide range, and we are still missing a few key figures who haven't been caught, so I'm afraid it's still a bit difficult to close the case."

Ding Zhuowen said with a smile.

These words also made many officials behind him show expressions of surprise, starting to suspect if they had misheard.

How did everyone swap roles overnight?

"Is that so? Then let this official see what is still missing."

"Alright, Lord Yan, please."

While speaking, the two groups entered the building of the Zhige General Academy together.

A moment later, the news reached Governor Bian Jingru.

"My lord, Ding's side has tried their best to drag it out according to your wishes, but I'm afraid they can't drag it out for long, and..."

In the office, the secretary reported to Governor Bian Jingru.

"Speak directly."

Governor Bian Jingru looked at the document in his hand, unmoved.

"And the officials below are very dissatisfied with Ding's actions; if we drag it out forcibly, I'm afraid people's hearts will be unsettled."

The secretary said cautiously.

It was no exaggeration to say that since the day the investigation team arrived in Datong Prefecture, the entire officialdom of Datong Prefecture had almost not slept a single good night!

When the investigation team began to exert force, causing several imperial officials and over a dozen subordinate officials to be imprisoned, this emotion reached its climax directly.

From the second-rank subordinate officials upward, almost all officials in Datong Prefecture were hoping for the investigation team from the provincial capital to leave as soon as possible.

So now, when the investigation team had already taken the initiative to indicate that they could close the case early, the big shots above were demanding deliberate delay, which would definitely make those below complain and unsettle people's hearts!

Officialdom ultimately relies on people to do things; no matter how great the power, if one loses people's hearts and no one below supports them, it is just a castle in the air.

So Governor Bian Jingru giving such an order now would inevitably do more harm than good.

This was also the reason why he said 'riding a tiger and can't get off' to Qu Xun earlier.

"I understand, tell everyone to try their best to appease the people below."

Governor Bian Jingru said to the secretary.

"Yes."

The secretary turned and left.

Half an hour later, Governor Bian Jingru received a call from Ding Zhuowen:

"Yan Shijin has taken people and left."

"How was it?"

"Can't drag it out for long; the other party participated in the entire case from beginning to end and knows no less than we do. Now the evidence is as solid as a mountain; Zhang Shiwei and Shangguan Xiao are the masterminds, it's just that we haven't caught any significant Western spies, but closing the case is definitely not a problem."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work."

"My Garrison Commander, give me a firm word, how long do you intend to drag it out?"

"Old Ding, we have already lost this game; now we are just striving not to lose too much."

"... Alright, I understand, I will try my best."

Not long after hanging up the phone, Governor Bian Jingru received another call:

"My lord, the investigation team has gone to the General Supervisory Academy!"

"I know."

Governor Bian Jingru hung up the phone with an expressionless face.

Yan Shijin was showing off nakedly!

The other party was probably going to take the investigation team to 'visit' all six general academies of Datong Prefecture today, making people panic, thereby creating huge pressure on Governor Bian Jingru's side.

After being silent for a moment, Governor Bian Jingru picked up the phone and took the initiative to make a call:

"Have you made it clear to that side?"

"My lord, I have already said it."

"What is their attitude?"

"The other party should have already reacted and expressed their gratitude to us."

"Good."

Governor Bian Jingru hung up the phone.

Martial University.

In the dormitory, Li Fei had also just finished a call; it was from Xia Huan.

Xia Huan clearly stated on the phone that today Yan Shijin took the investigation team to the Zhige General Academy, demanding a quick closure of the case, but was dragged out.

Besides this, the investigation team also demanded an investigation into the Green-Faced Villa and the Qingyuan City Management Company in Xingcheng, but were also blocked.

Li Fei understood as soon as he heard it; this was Governor Bian Jingru and others showing goodwill to him.

Now that side had also reacted that this was a trap set by the provincial capital, so they sent someone to make it clear to Li Fei:

Don't hate us if you want to hate; we are also scapegoats for others.

If it were Li Fei before breaking through, he certainly wouldn't have the qualifications to make Governor Bian Jingru, this Garrison Commander, act like this.

But his speed of breaking through was number one in history, he received the highest degree of attention from Martial University, and was accepted as a student by Shi Caiming.

Outside, there was also the Green-Faced Ghost King.

Such a combination was enough for Governor Bian Jingru to strive to win over.

The hostile relationship in the political arena was sometimes just this dramatic.

The day before yesterday, Li Fei received a copy of *The Tragedy of Heaven's Pride*, and today he had become the object of the other party's efforts to win over.

Li Fei was quite impressed by Governor Bian Jingru's decisiveness.

The other party might not know as much information as he did, but could decisively make a judgment, then make a decision, and minimize losses as much as possible.

However, this was already the limit of what Governor Bian Jingru could do.

Counting on the other party to overturn the case for Shangguan Xiao was impossible.

The other party couldn't let the investigation team stay in Datong Prefecture for a few months and slowly overturn this case for retrial.

Even if he agreed, the entire officialdom of Datong Prefecture wouldn't agree!

Dragging it out for a few days, not letting the Green-Faced Ghost be implicated, was the last thing Governor Bian Jingru could do.

In the dormitory, Li Fei sat in a chair, closed his eyes, and forced himself to calm down.

He began to re-examine the whole thing bit by bit:

Zhang Zongyang was killed, it was found to be related to Western spies, the Tiefeng Sect was sealed, the investigation team arrived in Datong Prefecture, the Tiefeng Sect was wiped out...

A moment later, Li Fei opened his eyes suddenly:

"Avenge the teacher is definitely not the ultimate goal of the person behind the scenes; the other party must have other plans. But the destruction of the Tiefeng Sect, no matter what, should not be taken lightly. What if the Tiefeng Sect itself is also one of the other party's goals?"

Li Fei found that because he had focused all his attention on Shangguan Xiao being imprisoned, he had ignored one point, which was the destruction of the Tiefeng Sect.

He subconsciously felt that the Tiefeng Sect was implicated and used as a scapegoat.

But if the person behind the scenes spent over ten years carefully planning this trap, would they really ignore such an important variable as the Tiefeng Sect?

A Martial Arts Grand Sect like the Tiefeng Sect, and Gu Xianfeng, a dignified Martial Arts Master—if one really wanted to talk about influence and value, they were actually much stronger than Hao Yi today!

"What if the Tiefeng Sect and Gu Xianfeng were also one of the main targets of the person behind the scenes?"

Li Fei tried to change his thinking.

Thinking this way, he suddenly found that many things were connected:

He received a mission from the General Supervisory Academy, 'fishing' out Chen Xiang, that special-grade lecturer of Martial University.

Afterward, it was discovered that Chen Xiang was colluding with Western spies, trying to kill Li Fei with the help of a martial arts gym.

And that martial arts gym belonged to the 'Saber King's' forces.

Just like that, the Tiefeng Sect and Western spies were officially linked.

Afterward, Zhang Zongyang was assassinated and found to have the aura of 'foreigners' from the West remaining on his body.

The Tiefeng Sect had just been linked to Western spies, and then Zhang Zongyang died, and it was related to Western spies; this was why the Tiefeng Sect was sealed...

As Li Fei thought, his back suddenly felt a bit cold.

If all these inferences were correct, it meant that he had already fallen into the other party's chess game from the very beginning!

The person behind the scenes had used over ten years to lay out the trap; by the time Li Fei arrived in Datong Prefecture, it had actually reached the closing stage of this chess game.

And Li Fei became the first move the other party made in the closing stage.

"To ensure the Tiefeng Sect is implicated, two people are key..."

Li Fei stood up suddenly, walked to the table, picked up the phone, and called Lu Mengyang:

"I want to see Xia Huan, now!"

Over an hour later, Li Fei rode the dark gold 'Qilin' to the bottom of a teahouse.

Because the investigation team was currently at the General Supervisory Academy, Xia Huan chose to meet Li Fei outside.

Li Fei was soon led into a quiet room and saw Xia Huan.

"Lord Xia, is that special-grade lecturer Chen Xiang who harmed me at Martial University still at the General Supervisory Academy?"

Li Fei asked straight to the point as soon as he entered the room.

Xia Huan was startled, not understanding why Li Fei suddenly asked about this.

However, Li Fei was now an object that even the Garrison Commander wanted to win over, so he was naturally extremely polite and answered:

"He is."

"What was the result of the initial investigation?"

Li Fei continued to ask.

Back then, Xia Huan said he would definitely give him an explanation, but later it was left unsettled.

Xia Huan coughed and looked at Li Fei: "Chen Xiang's mouth is very tight and he hasn't spat out any useful information. As for other suspects, because they are all lecturers at Martial University, it's not convenient for us to investigate directly, so we haven't found any results yet."

"I want to know the information of all other suspects, and besides, I want to see Chen Xiang."

Li Fei made his request.

If the Tiefeng Sect and Gu Xianfeng were also the targets of the person behind the scenes, then Chen Xiang was the key figure in this trap.

Because it was Chen Xiang who uncovered the connection between the Tiefeng Sect and Western spies.

What if he had retreated when he received the mission to kill Li Fei back then?

What if he hadn't chosen to use the power of the martial arts gym to kill Li Fei, but had taken action himself? (Note 1)

So Li Fei concluded that this Chen Xiang must be a key figure!

"This..."

Xia Huan hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, after the investigation team leaves the General Supervisory Academy, I will take you there."

Since Governor Bian Jingru was vigorously winning over Li Fei, he didn't have so many concerns.

"Thank you, Lord Xia!"

Li Fei bowed to the other party.

"Hahaha, Xiao Fei, no need to be so polite. Speaking of which, you can also be considered one of our own at the General Supervisory Academy."

Xia Huan smiled to get closer to Li Fei.

It was a pity Li Fei really wasn't in the mood to exchange pleasantries with him slowly, so he continued to ask:

"Where is Master Qi Yiming of the Zhengfa General Academy now?"

Back then, it was this Master Qi, who refined tracking magic treasures and was most adept at tracking, who said he sensed some aura similar to exotic beasts on Zhang Zongyang's corpse, which was why Datong Prefecture speculated that this was a killer sent by the West.

Qi Yiming's reputation had resounded throughout Feng Province for decades, and he was even very famous in other provinces; from time to time, government officials from other provinces would invite him to assist in handling cases, so no one doubted the conclusion he stated.

And logically speaking, apart from Western spies, who else would be crazy enough to murder a seated official?

Western spies were the ones with the most motivation.

So this matter naturally led from Zhang Zongyang to Western spies, and then to the Tiefeng Sect.

But Li Fei had obtained part of the truth from Feng Sanniang last night; judging from Feng Sanniang's degree of hatred for the Zhang family, would Feng Sanniang have missed killing Zhang Zongyang?

Li Fei felt that this woman would likely choose to take action herself, personally pushing the Zhang family into the abyss, so that she could have the pleasure of revenge.

And if Zhang Zongyang was killed by Feng Sanniang that night, the Western foreigners were a non-existent existence.

Then the conclusion Qi Yiming made back then was problematic!

"Master Qi Yiming?"

Xia Huan was startled, "He was borrowed by the provincial capital over a month ago to handle a case and hasn't returned yet."

Li Fei narrowed his eyes.

Now he could basically conclude that his inference was correct, just waiting to see Chen Xiang.

Xia Huan was, after all, in intelligence, and at this time, he also sensed some clues from Li Fei's questioning.

"Could it be that Qi Yiming has a problem? Then isn't this Zhang Zongyang case..."

Xia Huan's face was uncertain.

In the quiet room, neither of them continued to speak, each immersed in their own thoughts.

After waiting for over thirty minutes, a subordinate from the General Supervisory Academy knocked on the door and entered, telling Xia Huan that the people from the investigation team had already left the General Supervisory Academy.

"Let's go, I'll take you there now."

Xia Huan said to Li Fei.

So the two stood up quickly and left the teahouse.

Ten minutes later, Li Fei's 'Qilin' drove into the General Supervisory Academy.

Xia Huan took him into the dungeon and arrived at the cell where Chen Xiang was.

"Open it."

Xia Huan ordered directly.

After the cell door was opened, the person inside moved and sat up from the ground.

Li Fei almost couldn't recognize that the person in front of him was the special-grade lecturer who had taught him wrestling and grappling back then.

Chen Xiang wore a prison uniform full of filth and bloodstains, and almost no intact skin could be found on his body.

This Qi Transformation peak martial arts master now had an aura as weak as an ordinary person.

When Chen Xiang saw Li Fei, he was stunned for a moment.

"Teacher Chen."

Li Fei stepped into the cell, came before Chen Xiang, and then suddenly drew the Ghost-Slaying Saber in his hand.

This action startled Xia Huan behind him, and he shouted hurriedly: "Xiao Fei, what are you doing? Quickly put the saber away!"

Li Fei ignored Xia Huan, held the Ghost-Slaying Saber against Chen Xiang's neck, looked into the other's eyes, and said earnestly:

"I don't have much time left, so I will only ask the following question once. If you don't answer, I will kill you directly!"

Note 1: When writing the plot of Chen Xiang killing Li Fei back then, some readers questioned why Chen Xiang had to trick Li Fei into the martial arts gym to kill him; wasn't it more convenient to take action directly outside? Now the explanation is given.

In the future, when everyone encounters similar plots, don't rush to spray; what if it's foreshadowing~

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 226 =====