Han Su Fairy suddenly sat up straight, "Zhao Leng, Shen Muqing, those who stumbled, which one wasn't in cahoots with Qi Lin? Now Shen Liangzhang has taken over, and he's still calling the inspector his brother. Who was it that decided on this self-serving scheme in the first place?"
Leng An's sword sheath struck the ground heavily, startling two or three night crows.
Han Su Fairy stuck out her tongue, grabbed the teacup, and gulped it down.
Qing Feng lowered his eyes and smiled. Wasn't it he himself who strongly recommended Qi Lin? Saying things like, "I trust Senior Brother Qi's integrity," and "it's easier to investigate cases with acquaintances." Now that the inspector has become a protective umbrella, it has become proof that Hu Ji Peak couldn't withstand the test.
"Let's talk about business. Zhao Leng was frozen in the Cold Ice Prison for seven days, and he confessed everything he should and shouldn't have."
Han Su Fairy suddenly lowered her voice, "Zhang Gao from Hu Ji Peak has recently contacted them, saying that he'll soon send you, the 'culprit,' to the Law Enforcement Hall's prison, and told them to 'patrol' more around Xiao Yao Peak."
Qing Feng made a gesture to slap the table: "Using public office for personal gain! How outrageous!"
"Why are you pretending to be so innocent?" Han Su Fairy's willow brows shot up, "You sensed something was off early on, that's why you came to me to report it, right? How did you guess that I also serve as a Bixi secret operative?"
The night wind carried bamboo leaves across the stone table, and the moon in the tea shattered into tiny silver scales. Leng An's sword tassel moved without wind, and the dark patterns on Qing Feng's sleeves glowed faintly under the moonlight. The shadows of the three stretched across the mud wall, forming an elusive shadow play.
"All the clues were discovered by Xuan Ying." Qing Feng gently stroked the collar of the Black Dog beside him, "Although I'm not clear about the specific structure of the Bi An Squad, looking at the entire Beast Taming Sect, you are the only one who can properly handle this matter."
"Woof!"
The entirely black spirit dog raised its head in response, its amber beast eyes flowing with human-like pride. As an exotic beast that had awakened the divine ability of Heavenly Scent, although it hadn't opened its other five senses, it always boasted of possessing the ability to comprehend everything.
Peak Lord Han Su of Qingluan Peak gazed at the master and pet, and couldn't help but smile, "Before Xue Yun went on her expedition, she specifically entrusted me to look after you. Little did she know that with this protective spirit dog, no one in the entire Lingxiao Mountain Range would dare to approach within three feet of you."
Then, she changed the topic, "However, there's no need to interfere with the subsequent investigation. The Law Enforcement Hall will personally 'invite' Zhang Gao to the Cold Pond Grotto-Heaven for tea."
"But the current evidence only confirms Qi Lin's bribery. If we want to catch the mastermind..." Qing Feng lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, "Why not fight fire with fire? Wouldn't it be less effort to wait for them to fall into the trap themselves?"
"Do you know the risks involved?" Han Su's wide sleeves moved without wind, "Although Yixian Palace is weak, if it truly escalates into a conflict between the two factions, the Sect, to protect the overall situation..."
"At worst, I'll return to Han Ming Peak for a hundred years of secluded cultivation." Qing Feng, the sword cultivator, leaned lazily against the green jade table, "It's a good time to complete the love tribulation of the Peony Immortal in 'Journey to the East' and add a few new chapters to 'Journey to the West: Dispelling Calamities'."
"You dare to mention it again!" The usually aloof Immortal Maiden suddenly slapped the table, and the Frost Radiance Sword at her waist hummed as it unsheathed, "Last time, you stopped updating for three months after writing about Lu Dongbin's three tricks on White Peony. Now Tang Sanzang is still pressed under the Five Elements Mountain. Do you believe I won't really lock you in the Cliff of Contemplation?"
Qing Feng quickly raised his hands in surrender, catching a glimpse of Law Enforcement Hall Master Leng An sniffing his own collar, and couldn't help but chuckle. Just then, a sword cry pierced the air from outside.
"Senior Brother Qingfeng, Elder Su Yan has summoned us." Lu Ran's sword landed, and his words stopped abruptly as he saw the three powerful figures in the courtyard and hastily bowed. When his gaze swept over "another himself," his pupils suddenly contracted; Han Su had actually used a Thousand Illusions Talisman to transform into his appearance!
Leng An rubbed the image-recording stone in the evidence bag and said in a deep voice, "The Nine-Bend Cold Pond agreement will be handled by Senior Sister Han Su. Qing Feng and I will search Lin Qian's cave mansion. Remember, since the other party dared to use the trick of 'shifting flowers and connecting branches'…"
"We should return the favor in kind." The Immortal Maiden, transformed into Lu Ran, ran her fingers along the sword's edge, and the sharp sword qi startled the perching birds throughout the mountain.
The Illusion Talisman, a low-level disguise charm.
It can temporarily change one's appearance, but Golden Core Realm cultivators can easily see through it, and it can only modify appearance, not conceal aura. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators with keen perception can detect anomalies. Evidently, Lin Qian's cultivation is far from reaching this realm. "Lead the way." Leng An's gaze swept over Qing Feng and the accompanying spirit dog; he indeed didn't know the location of Lin Qian's residence.
"The prey has taken the bait, and Lu Ran has successfully fallen into the trap. However, to gain trust earlier, I promised to give Immortal Han Zhang Jade Fragrance Flowers and nine leaves, and there are many other gifts for social courtesies that need to be prepared. Bathing time is approaching, so I request Senior Brother to allocate the resources." The content in the communication jade slip made Zhang Gao's face turn cold. He used his five fingers to crush the jade slip into powder: "What a brazen hussy! Offering spiritual plants like Jade Fragrance Flowers, meant for Qi Refinement cultivators, to a Golden Core cultivator? She's trying to scheme against me!"
"Senior Brother, since this maid dares to act like this, she should be punished as a warning to others," a Hu Ji Peak Disciple beside him advised.
"Let her be for now; the plan isn't complete, and we still need this chess piece. It's not a bad thing if it can be settled with money; Master repeatedly warned me not to get too deeply involved," Zhang Gao waved his hand to stop him.
"Master is overly cautious. All connections have already been taken care of. In that fierce battle in the Bixi Mystic Realm, the Golden Core cultivators of Chen Ming Peak suffered heavy losses and will be difficult to recover even after a year of recuperation.
As for the Foundation Establishment Realm, Qin Yue has just broken through and her foundation is unstable, and Dong QiSheng is a cripple.
If we cripple Qing Feng again and cut off Lu Ran and Yixian Palace, Chen Ming Peak's luck will surely run out!" another Disciple said with disdain.
"How dare you question an elder's decision?" Zhang Gao glared at them, and only spoke when they fell silent: "I'll go deliver the supplies to Lin Qian first."
"Senior Brother, the meeting point is at Sunset Cliff, just a stone's throw from Xiao Yao Peak. When the Law Enforcement Hall captures Lu Ran and the others, we'll get to watch a good show," the Disciple said, holding up a letter.
"Are you all going?" Zhang Gao seemed slightly hesitant.
"Of course, we must witness it with our own eyes! If we can't mock them in person, wouldn't we lose all the fun?" everyone echoed in unison.
"Is Senior Brother perhaps worried that we'll interfere with your romantic rendezvous with Han Su Fairy? Don't worry, brothers, we know our limits," a certain Martial Brother teased.
"Very well, let's go together to witness the end of Chen Ming Peak." Thinking of Su Yan breaking ties with Lu Ran after the plan succeeded, a smile appeared at the corner of Zhang Gao's mouth.
The Disciples shouted, "United in effort, victorious in all endeavors," and cheerfully set off towards Sunset Cliff. Even if Zhang Gao tried to stop them, they would secretly go anyway; their long-cherished wish to suppress Chen Ming Peak had been anticipated for too long.
"The arrivals seem to exceed expectations."
At Sunset Cliff, Leng An sensed the dense sword energy fluctuations in the air. Through searching Lin Qian's residence, they had already set up a net here.
"No matter how many come, Senior Brother Leng can eliminate them with a flip of his hand," Lu Ran said, rubbing his fists.
When he learned the full extent of the conspiracy on the way, his back was already drenched in cold sweat—if he hadn't detected it in time, not only would his marriage be ruined, but he would also be imprisoned, making it impossible for him to gain a foothold in the Sect ever again.
Frost sword qi surged amidst the clouds, and Leng An lowered his gaze, looking down at the rapidly moving sword light on the mountain path. The chief Disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall lightly tapped the Xuanbing Mirror at his waist with his knuckles; twelve frost patterns flickered on the surface of the magical artifact. This was already the seventh wave of Hu Ji Peak Disciples heading to the secluded valley tonight.