499: Chapter 65: Leaving the Ship_2 499: Chapter 65: Leaving the Ship_2 This is a face-to-face hunt.
Both parties are both the hunter and the prey.
“Are you suggesting…
that I’ve exposed myself?”
Qian San communicated via telepathy.
“Not exactly.”
Xie Xuanyi said, “Or to put it another way…
Whether you expose yourself or not doesn’t really matter.
As long as Yuan Jimo cannot confirm the situation with this treasure ship, he will not show himself.
Three two-hour periods later, when the treasure ship enters the ferry dock, the hunt will be declared over, and Yuan Jimo will choose to hide and quietly wait for the next opportunity to assassinate.”
“Is this why you’re seeking me out?”
Qian San’s expression turned solemn.
“For one thing, I wanted to confirm if Chen Jingxuan has arranged any contingencies.”
Xie Xuanyi cracked a smile: “On the other hand…
I am indeed very worried about their safety.”
He turned his head.
Not far away, Deng Baiyi was pushing Mi Yun’s wheelchair, looking worriedly in the direction where Xie Zhen was.
She did not know the specifics of the negotiation.
Deng Baiyi only knew that Xie Zhen had gone to seek help from Fangyuan Square.
“Whether it’s Miss Deng or the Buddhist monks, I will do my best to take care of them.”
Qian San spoke solemnly: “It’s just that I couldn’t show face just now…”
True Master Xiao You was challenging others by knocking on the ship.
If Qian San made a move—
Then all the arrangements made by the Book Tower would become futile.
Yuan Jimo, being naturally timid, is very likely to give up on this assassination…
Even though Qian San was hiding inside, he was observing everything all the time.
If…
If Jun Mountain and Xie Zhen couldn’t handle “True Master Xiao You.”
Then he would have no choice but to intervene.
It was the worst-case scenario, but everything was still going as planned, it was just that an unexpected event had occurred.
“Master instructed that I should not make contact with anyone from the envoy.”
Qian San, outwardly calm but inwardly sighing, communicated telepathically: “Yuan Jimo will definitely investigate this Purple Green Treasure Ship…
The Imperial City Department will find my records, those of a Guest Elder from Fangyuan Square who has lived in Li Kingdom for twenty years.
The Book Tower has prepared this file for a long time, and there will be no flaws.”
Because everything was true.
Years ago, when Yan Xin took over the Book Tower, he began the lengthy cultivation.
The Book Tower spent a huge cost and effort to cultivate many pawns.
Qian San was one of them.
Such pieces, once exposed, can never go back.
“It’s been hard on you.”
Xie Xuanyi said, “But…
there is no need for you to expose yourself.
Right now, there is a better solution.”
“Xie Zhen, are you really leaving the ship?”
Qian San clenched his teeth.
This was not part of the plan made by the Book Tower.
Miao Zhen, Jun Mountain.
These two experts had been lured away.
Next, it would be the real assassination by the Imperial City Department—
Qian San, staying on the Purple Green Treasure Ship and hiding his identity, only had to quietly wait for Yuan Jimo’s arrival.
“If I don’t leave, he won’t come.”
Xie Xuanyi silently looked toward the riverfront.
“This point, the master has mentioned…”
Qian San anxiously communicated telepathically: “If Yuan Jimo doesn’t come, then let it be.
Some people don’t have to be killed right now.
Isn’t it best for the envoy to safely cross Qu River?”
“In a sense, he’s quite right.”
Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, “Your master indeed has a plan for every eventuality.
But he miscalculated one thing.”
Qian San was again taken aback.
“Some people, if not killed now, will become a great trouble later.”
Xie Xuanyi softly said, “Yuan Jimo and I both think so.”
…
…
At the riverfront, at the end of the mist, cavalry stood still.
“Woo woo woo…”
The sobbing sound came from below, as the Chief of the Imperial City, wrapped in black armor and sitting on a tall horse, silently looked down at the man kneeling before him.
“Chief.”
Special Enforcement Officer Que Qi spoke coldly, “Huo Qu is dead, and all his sect members have been killed as well.
This is his only disciple, named Xuan…”
“It’s unimportant.”
Mid-sentence,
Yuan Jimo waved his hand, cutting off Que Qi’s words.
He sat on his horse, circled around Xuan Wu, and gently_asked, “Your master is dead and your fellow disciples are dead too, then why are you still alive?”
“…”
Xuan Wu slowly raised his head.
He blankly gazed up at the man before him.
The eyes of the two met for a moment.
Silence fell over the riverfront.
“You were given face…
The Chief asked you a question!”
A spy from the Imperial City Department, with sudden anger, kicked fiercely, causing Xuan Wu to lose balance and fall forward with a muffled groan, his cheek smashing heavily into the mud, kowtowing forcefully to Yuan Jimo.
Yuan Jimo sneered.
“My lord…”
Que Qi, with a tone of disdain, reported softly: “This guy took your treasure.
He must have been trying to escape because he feared punishment.
Fortunately, he was caught; otherwise, who knows where he would have fled!”
He held the treasure “Smoke Burning Bowl,” surrounded by swirling smoke.
Yuan Jimo glanced at it only briefly before turning away and said indifferently, “It isn’t any valuable treasure.”
Que Qi blinked but reacted quickly, hastily retracting his scornful tone: “…What do you mean?”
“This guy seems pretty young.”
Yuan Jimo suddenly changed the subject.
Looking at Que Qi, he lazily asked, “How long did it take you to reach the Cave Heaven Realm?”
“My inferiority…
It took twenty years.”
Que Qi bowed his head.
“Your twenty years are not the same as his.”
Yuan Jimo chuckled lightly: “The richness of Primordial Energy in Yu Province cannot be compared with that of Imperial City.
You joined the Imperial City Department early on, dressed in silk and jewels, never short of Primordial Stones or resources…
This guy is from humble origins, recognized a master with little skill, the whole sect is useless, and yet, he alone…
managed to cultivate to the Cave Heaven.”
“This young man truly has some talents.”
Que Qi gritted his teeth, cautiously probing: “My lord, are you thinking of bringing him into the Imperial City Department?”
“The Imperial City Department doesn’t just take anyone.”
Yuan Jimo shook his head.
Hearing this, Que Qi breathed a slight sigh of relief, quickly saying: “Deserting before battle, stealing treasures, I will kill him now!”
Clang!
The sound of drawing the sword abruptly halted.
Yuan Jimo dismounted and, at the same time, reached out to push Que Qi’s long sword back into the sheath.
“No…
no hurry.”
Yuan Jimo crouched down, gently saying: “Look carefully.”
“My lord…”
Confused, Que Qi did not understand what Yuan Jimo wanted him to see.
Yuan Jimo grabbed Xuan Wu by the head, making him slowly raise his head, looking with a piteous expression at the young man’s face covered in blood and mud.
Xuan Wu’s eyes were dull.
“These are the ‘eyes of a dead man’.”
Yuan Jimo said with a smile: “The Imperial City Department’s dungeon has interrogated many people, you should be quite familiar with this look…”
Que Qi was momentarily stunned.
Indeed.
This was the expression of someone on the brink of death…
the Imperial City Department had interrogated many over the years.
The more fiercely someone resisted, the easier it was to extract a confession.
There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart; if a man’s eyes are like this, he probably no longer cares about death, making torture meaningless.
“He knows whichever choice he makes, it’s a dead end.”
Yuan Jimo said, smiling: “Such a pitiable person, to either die by Xie Zhen’s sword, or within the Red Immortal Soul Banner, or in the Miao Zhen Buddha Country…
You fled this way, likely never hoping to survive.
Did you know the Imperial City Department was at the riverfront?
Did you deliberately come seeking death with me?”
…
Xuan Wu expressionlessly closed his eyes.
Clang of a sound.
The sword sang again as Yuan Jimo reached for Que Qi’s long sword, a cold gleam reflecting on Xuan Wu’s cheek.
Even with closed eyes.
The chilling cold could still be felt.
The blade slowly skimmed by, pausing over his eyelids.
Yuan Jimo’s fingers wiped the blade, under the reflection of the sword light, he silently gazed at the younger man’s grim demeanor, not striking, contemplating something.
“Chief Lord—”
Just then, from the far end of the riverfront, a wooden boat rushed over.
A spy’s voice reached him: “From the Purple Green Treasure Ship, a small boat split off!
Someone is approaching the riverfront alone on it!”
Que Qi asked in a deep tone: “Who?”
“Xie Zhen!
It is Xie Zhen!” the spy replied.
Clang!
The sword sang again.
But this time, it was being sheathed.
…
Xuan Wu blankly opened his eyes, beholding the man before him.
“For a man so intent on dying, why not just cling to life?”
Yuan Jimo, against the light of the sky, stood up, sheathing the long sword into Que Qi’s scabbard, indifferently stating: “I’m in a good mood today…
I will not kill you.
Take him away, let him live!
All personnel heed my command, at the Qu River area, hostile camps are forming, evil cultivators causing chaos, crossbowmen stand by at the riverfront, anyone suspicious encountered, kill without mercy!
The rest follow me onboard, personally investigating this case, exterminating evil spirits!”