Ji Wen...
Dead!?
Shen Xiuhan's pupils contracted sharply.
The master of the Ji family's Martial Hall was the second most powerful figure in the family, and his cultivation had already reached the mid-stage Anjin Rank!
When Shen Xiuhan killed Qu Bushi, Ji Wen had secretly helped him dispose of the corpse!
And now...
He was dead just like that?
Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath. Looking at Ji Yao, who was weeping like a rain-drenched pear blossom, he said in a deep voice, “Do not panic. Tell me what happened from the beginning!”
Ji Yao grabbed his sleeve, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. “My... my uncle and Enshrined Expert Yuan were escorting the caravan... When they passed through Wanku Swamp, they were intercepted by bandits. The bandits intentionally let someone go to deliver a message, saying that if we wanted my uncle and the cargo back, we had to bring thirty thousand taels of silver as ransom within two days...”
She trembled all over, tears streaming down her face like broken strings of pearls. Choking on her sobs, she continued, “But Enshrined Expert Yuan sneaked back after escaping. He saw with his own eyes... saw with his own eyes that my uncle... and the guards were killed by them! Not a single one was spared, they're all dead...”
Before she could finish, she threw herself onto Shen Xiuhan, her entire body shaking with violent sobs.
Shen Xiuhan stood in place, his mind racing.
I already used Ji Xue to make it clear to all sides that I, Shen Xiuhan, stand behind the Ji family!
With my current reputation in Nanxiang Prefecture, ordinary bandits wouldn't dare touch the Ji family's fleet even if they had the courage of a lion!
Yet the other party not only plundered the cargo and took hostages, but they also intentionally let someone return to demand ransom, only to secretly execute the hostages anyway!
He Tunan just warned me that someone was selling information about my movements, and now these two events have happened back-to-back... This is absolutely no coincidence!
The various clues were like scattered beads being threaded together by an invisible string.
Shen Xiuhan lowered his eyelids, concealing the sharp, cold glint in his eyes as his thoughts became increasingly clear.
This matter is targeted at me!
Shen Xiuhan let out a heavy breath and patted Ji Yao on the back. “I understand. Go back and help Ji Xue keep the chamber of commerce stable. I will handle this.”
Hearing his calm and steady voice, Ji Yao's frantic mind seemed to settle slightly.
“Yes... yes... I will go back and tell Second Sister... Senior Brother, please avenge my uncle!”
Shen Xiuhan watched the delicate figure stumble away until she disappeared at the end of the path. He then pushed open the courtyard gate and strode into the house.
The wooden door closed, shutting out all external noise.
Shen Xiuhan sat on his bed and called out coldly in his mind:
Intelligence!
【Daily Intelligence refreshed!】
Whoosh!
Several lines of pale gold text cascaded down like a waterfall.
【Intelligence 1: A few days ago, someone secretly purchased intelligence on you from the Wind-and-Cloud Pavilion. Hou Yulin wanted to use this opportunity to push you onto the Young Tiger List, so he initially only sold some trivial details. After you rejected him, he immediately sold all of your intelligence at a high price without holding anything back.】
It really was you! What a Hou Yulin... What a Wind-and-Cloud Pavilion. Welcoming me with a smile one moment, then stabbing me in the back the next!
A cold sneer appeared on the corner of Shen Xiuhan's mouth. His doubts were finally cleared.
He looked at the second piece of intelligence without hesitation!
【Intelligence 2: The ones who purchased your intelligence are the Nine Anhuai Fiends, subordinates of Chou Ji, the Southern Sea Branch Leader of the Yinsha Sect.】
【Chou Ji is one of the four adoptive sons of the Yinsha Sect Master, Qiu Hen. Along with the Holy Aunt Qiu Yingying, he is known as one of the most talented, promising, and powerful disciples of the younger generation in the Yinsha Sect.】
【You executed the Six Cangwu Demons under Chou Ji's command, earning yourself the title of Moonlight Sword, which caused Chou Ji to completely lose face. Consequently, he dispatched the Nine Anhuai Fiends to infiltrate Nanxiang Prefecture to assassinate the Nanxiang Prefectural Governor, Jiang Qiliang, in order to restore his reputation and intimidate all sides.】
Hmm?
Shen Xiuhan's pupils shrank, a cold sweat breaking out across his back.
The Nine Anhuai Fiends!
He had seen this name before in the sect's internal newsletters.
These nine individuals were the most capable henchmen under Chou Ji, the Southern Sea Branch Leader of the Yinsha Sect!
Among them were four Huajin experts and five at the Great Perfection of the Anjin Rank, serving as four altar leaders and five hall masters respectively.
They were the nine most loyal and elite blades in Chou Ji's arsenal!
Now, these nine had gathered in Nanxiang Prefecture, and their target was actually the Nanxiang Prefectural Governor, Jiang Qiliang!
The issue was...
The Nanxiang Prefectural Governor, Jiang Qiliang, carried the surname Jiang!
Jiang was the imperial surname of the Qi State!
Governor Jiang was a genuine descendant of the imperial lineage!
“These people are trying to tear a hole in the sky!”
Shen Xiuhan muttered in a low voice. Even as shock rippled through him, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
But... what does assassinating the Prefectural Governor have to do with the Ji family?
Shen Xiuhan's gaze grew solemn as he looked down at the third piece of intelligence.
【Intelligence 3: Chen Hongyuan of the Six Cangwu Demons and Cheng Du of the Nine Anhuai Fiends had long since privately betrothed themselves to each other. Because you killed Cheng Du's husband, Chen Hongyuan, Cheng Du harbors a bone-deep hatred for you. Thus, he dispatched people to hijack the Ji family's caravan to lure you to Wanku Swamp to seek his revenge.】
“Huh?”
Shen Xiuhan's mouth fell slightly open, and he stood frozen in disbelief.
“Chen Hongyuan?”
“And this Cheng Du... isn't he also a man?”
It took him a good while to process the information and grasp what was happening.
“So those two were actually a pair of tragic mandarin ducks?”
“However...”
A flash of coldness swept through Shen Xiuhan's eyes.
“Since you are mandarin ducks, do you not know the truth that parasol trees grow old together, and mandarin ducks die as a pair?”
Suppressing his turbulent emotions for the moment, Shen Xiuhan looked at the final piece of intelligence.
【Intelligence 4: The ones who intercepted and killed Ji Wen are Yan Xiao, Song Yanrong, and their disciple Feng Xiaobao of the former Tongbei Martial Arts Hall.】
【Upon hearing that Song Huatang was among those who annihilated the Bai family, Song Yanrong was utterly terrified. Meanwhile, Yan Xiao had been living in constant dread ever since Mei Shuangfeng broke through to the Huajin Rank due to his past actions against the Mei family. The two agreed to disband their martial arts hall and flee Changyun County with Feng Xiaobao.】
【The three of them originally intended to travel far away, but they crossed paths with the Nine Anhuai Fiends along the way. Sensing the other party's murderous intent, Song Yanrong desperately begged for their lives by offering to join the demonic path.】
【To avenge his husband's death while ensuring his own direct involvement wouldn't disrupt the plan to assassinate Jiang Qiliang, Cheng Du ordered Yan, Song, and Feng to intercept the Ji family's fleet as a test of loyalty to lure you into the trap.】
【Unable to quell his hatred, Cheng Du has secretly slipped off to Wanku Swamp, wanting to witness your execution with his own eyes to find peace of mind.】
Yan Xiao... Song Yanrong...
The Tongbei Martial Arts Hall!
A chilling glint flashed in Shen Xiuhan's eyes.
How could he forget these people?
Back in Changyun County, the Tongbei Martial Arts Hall had constantly targeted the Mei Family Martial Arts Hall. He had heard the academy disciples mention Yan Xiao's underhanded schemes on many occasions.
And Feng Xiaobao!
The cold light in Shen Xiuhan's eyes intensified. He slowly clenched his fists, producing a series of soft, popping sounds.
Back then, his attempt to scheme against me by giving me Ma Xianyang's fishing rod remained unresolved. I didn't expect to run into him here.
Good... I'll settle both old and new grudges together!
Whoosh!
Right at that moment, dozens of pale gold light dots suddenly appeared in Shen Xiuhan's field of vision.
Among them, eight were gathered in groups of twos and threes in the northern suburbs of the Nanxiang prefecture capital.
Are those eight of the Nine Anhuai Fiends?
Shen Xiuhan's eyes flickered. An impulse rose in his heart to immediately report to the higher authorities that someone was planning to assassinate the Prefectural Governor!
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
No...
That is the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, after all. There might very well be a Gangjin expert guarding the place. If I act rashly, I might end up unable to explain myself!
At the very least, I must capture or slay one of them first to obtain ironclad proof. Only then can I legitimately make my move in this game.
Therefore...
Shen Xiuhan's gaze darkened as he turned his attention toward the west.
Wanku Swamp!
Four pale gold dots were faintly shimmering there...
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