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Novel: [The Primordial Law]
Volume 4: [Shuangsheng Dao Sect (Twin Rice Sect)]
Chapter 128 (383): [Interrogation by His Fiancée]
(128th of Volume 4)
Translator: Shadow Knight AK
Editor: Shadow Knight AK
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Jiang Ning withdrew her Spiritual Qi, flashed behind Li Weiyi, and whispered, "What evidence does she have over you?"
A group of Imperial Court experts surged forward in relays, surrounding Long Xiangcen.
Li Weiyi stared at the face hidden behind her veil, her eyes still as cold and profound as ever, her aura eerily similar, showing no trace of weakness.
"Nothing major, just a minor issue. It's good they didn't kill her. We can interrogate her."
"Swish!"
Tai Shi Yu flew back in a rage, landing heavily on the ground nearby. He had clearly failed to capture the Dead Spirit powerhouse and Luansheng Linyou.
He roared, his voice like thunder, "What were you City Defense Corps doing? When the Demons and Dead Spirits have entered the city!"
He charged forward, his staff swinging down at Song Muchuan.
"Boom!"
The Dao Seed Realm Seventh Heaven expert was struck by the staff and immediately lost his combat ability, his bones shattered.
Tai Shi Yu stomped on Song Muchuan's chest, his fingertips emitting strands of Spiritual Light (Lingguang) light that pierced into Song Muchuan's body, attempting to extract the Dead Spirit within.
Song Muchuan's eyes remained fearless, and a dry, eerie laugh escaped his lips: "The bone flute calls forth Nether Soldiers, white bones become boats to cross the long river. The Netherworld travels west to east, and from this day forth, dawn and dusk shall cease to exist in the human realm... Hahaha..."
"Hiss!"
A massive surge of Death Spirit Fire erupted from Song Muchuan's body, enveloping him completely.
"What exactly are you trying to do? Why did you come to Lingxiao City?"
Tai Shi Yu desperately tried to stop him, but it was useless.
The Death Spirit Fire was terrifyingly powerful.
He retreated quickly, unwilling to risk contact, and watched helplessly as Song Muchuan burned into a charred corpse. Fury exploded within him, and he roared in rage.
Fortunately...
There was one survivor.
Experts from the City Defense Corps, the West Sea Royal Manor, Phoenix Terrace, Qilin Terrace, and the Embroidered Robe Divine Guard arrived on the scene.
Their leaders surveyed the shattered battlefield, the corpses, and the scattered spirit money. They approached Tai Shi Yu to inquire about the situation.
Tai Shi Yu had never faced such a perilous situation in Lingxiao City since childhood.
His fury was at its peak, "Is Lingxiao City your responsibility or mine? Why are you asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? One day, Lingxiao City will be breached, and you'll still be clueless. Useless! All of you are useless!"
"Tai Shi Qi, why did the City Defense Corps take so long to arrive? Even if this area was shrouded in darkness, there should have been anomalies. Your response should not have been so sluggish."
"Song Lin, what's going on with Song Muchuan? Why was a Dead Spirit hidden within him? The Song Clan had better investigate this thoroughly. Fortunately, you and your sister stopped him. Otherwise, this case would have to be taken all the way to Lingxiao Palace."
....
Tai Shi Yu was furious, not only because he had been ambushed and nearly killed, but also because he sensed an inexplicable crisis, realizing this was no ordinary matter.
He vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly.
Yao Qian and Song Yulou, two Immortal Realm Giants, had also pursued the attackers earlier but returned empty-handed.
"Hand the survivor over to me. Phoenix Terrace will uncover the truth and provide a satisfactory explanation to the First Commander."
Yao Qian, clad in a green official robe and a long-winged official hat, had a fair complexion, no beard, refined features, and an unparalleled heroic bearing, exuding a scholar's aura. Standing mid-air atop clouds, his Intent constantly enveloped the surrounding city.
Song Yulou added, "Qilin Terrace will fully cooperate with Phoenix Terrace."
Tai Shi Yu looked up at them with a cold laugh: "With only one survivor left, I trust no one. The Tai Shi Clan will handle this investigation ourselves. Luansheng Linyou and the Dead Spirit powerhouse are still in the city. You two should focus on tracking them down and searching for them."
Yao Qian urged, "Luansheng Linyou entered the city personally, indicating a critical mission. We must ascertain its nature swiftly. Tai Shi Yu, can you bear the consequences if your actions delay a matter of such importance?"
Tai Shi Yu remained unmoved, unfazed by their Immortal Realm cultivation: "Phoenix Terrace is responsible for intelligence gathering and monitoring the entire city. How could Luansheng Linyou and the Dead Spirit powerhouse appear without your knowledge? Can you bear the consequences of such negligence?"
...
"You've seen it, haven't you? The Imperial Court is utterly rotten. When trouble arises, everyone shuffles responsibility. When there's glory to be gained, they claw at each other. Those who actually want to get things done are constantly hamstrung by various factions. It looks like there are countless government offices and experts everywhere, but in reality, it's a chaotic mess, and efficiency is abysmal."
Jiang Ning and Li Weiyi had traveled several miles away, sitting across from each other in a small boat about twenty feet long.
The Azure Boat, a Spiritual Artifact, drifted along a Spiritual Stream about a hundred feet wide, following the current.
"I hope Tai Shi Yu can withstand the pressure and keep Long Xiangcen alive. Otherwise, she'll just be another Jiang Xin, silenced in prison," Li Weiyi said.
Jiang Ning leaned back against the boat's awning, sitting languidly with her long, black hair cascading down and her skirt spread out like white petals.
She said seriously, "Shouldn't we just tell Tai Shi Yu directly? He seems trustworthy and capable. The Tai Shi Clan has serious problems, and someone needs to investigate from within."
Li Weiyi pondered: "Luansheng Linyou's failed attack is a golden opportunity to eliminate thirty Undead experts. As for Tai Shi Yu... I'll find a chance to talk to him. How many people from your Zuoqiu Clan have arrived, and what are your plans?"
Jiang Ning pulled out a folding fan, snapped it open with a flourish, and smiled radiantly.
"The Jiu Li Tribe and the Zuoqiu Clan are allies, advancing and retreating together. Whatever your plans are, so are ours. Rest assured, we won't intentionally create chaos that leads to Lingxiao City's downfall. In this race war, we must first eliminate the outsiders."
Li Weiyi gazed at her crystal-clear, jade-like face, a sense of unease stirring within him.
"How about you disguise yourself and return?"
"What? Do you like Jiang Ning? Afraid of revealing your true feelings before my all-seeing wisdom?"
The voice coming from Jiang Ning's mouth had transformed into Zuoqiu Hongting's, even her demeanor completely different.
Li Weiyi said, "I have a fiancee."
"Then what about Zuo Ning? Zuoqiu Hongting in your left hand, Jiang Ning in your right? You're quite greedy, aren't you?"
Zuoqiu Hongting stared at him with a smile.
Li Weiyi nearly choked on air, quickly waving his hand: "It was just a random name I picked. It doesn't have any deeper meaning."
"Relax, just be honest with me! Aren't we brothers who have faced life and death together? If you truly love them, I'll definitely help you in the future. A marriage certificate is nothing compared to a brother's happiness."
Zuoqiu Hongting gently fanned herself, her crimson lips glistening, completely dominating the conversation.
Li Weiyi said, "I praised you to the heavens to Jiang Ning, saying you were like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm. How could a celestial maiden be so aggressive... Wait, I heard that a peerless figure named Fu Wenyan from the Calamity Crossing Temple has arrived in the Lingxiao Realm, seemingly after Zuoqiu Hongting's fiancee. Do you know this hero from the Calamity Crossing Temple?"
Zuoqiu Hongting said solemnly, "Fu Wenyan is not to be underestimated. He's far more talented, gifted, and intelligent than Xie Chucai. He's a true Young Celestial Emperor."
Li Weiyi replied, "For someone as proud as you to give him such high praise, he must be truly extraordinary."
"Extraordinary, yes, but he's also driven by immense ambition. Do you really think someone like him would come to the Lingxiao Realm just for a woman?"
Zuoqiu Hongting continued, "Xie Chucai and the Demon Child also have their own agendas. Be cautious around them... Huh? Jiang Ning is here to see you. We'll talk again later. Don't blame your brother for not warning you: be careful of Jiang Ning. She's deeply cunning. Try opening the tower and palace platform in her Intent - it'll shock you."
"That's all for today! Come find me when you have time. I want to hear all about what's happened in the last two years. My life has been quite exciting too. Remember to bring wine and snacks when you come."
Li Weiyi looked up and out of the boat.
Standing on the stone arch bridge ahead was a figure as beautiful as a painting. Her gaze was fixed straight ahead, her veil fluttering gently in the wind.
When Li Weiyi turned back, Zuoqiu Hongting had vanished.
In his hand was a crumpled note bearing an address.
He crushed the note into a ball and rubbed it into ashes.
He put away Zuoqiu Hongting's Spiritual Artifact, the Azure Boat, leaped onto the bridge, and landed beside Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning turned and walked away: "It was Zuoqiu Hongting, wasn't it? That incident over there - she disguised herself as me to do it? What exactly are you trying to achieve? You haven't told me the whole truth!"
Li Weiyi followed her: "Since she returned from the Calamity Crossing Temple, this is the first time I've seen her. We've exchanged less than ten sentences. I have no idea what she's up to."
"It's more like you don't want to tell me."
Jiang Ning stared ahead, walking quickly.
"With her status, she wouldn't risk coming to Lingxiao City unless something of great importance was at stake. The same goes for Luansheng Linyou and you."
"Miss!"
Zhuang Yue hurried over, glanced at Li Weiyi without recognizing him, and used Spiritual Qi to transmit a message to Jiang Ning.
Fifteen minutes later, Li Weiyi and Jiang Ning arrived at a nearby restaurant where Tai Shi Yu was interrogating Long Xiangcen.
Yao Qian and Song Yulou had already left.
Li Weiyi gave the name "Zhao Meng" and was escorted inside by soldiers of the City Defense Corps.
Jiang Ning was left in the courtyard, clearly because Tai Shi Yu was wary of people from the Phoenix Terrace.
They climbed to the second floor.
Tai Shi Yu emerged from the room, his fists still clenched and bloodied.
He looked nothing like his usual pampered self, his eyes icy cold.
Li Weiyi walked over and looked at Long Xiangcen, who lay on the floor inside, beaten to the brink of death.
"Let's just search her soul!"
Tai Shi Yu shook his head: "She's been implanted with Death Spirit Fire. The moment we touch her, she'll burst into flames. The presence of Luansheng Linyou and a Dead Spirit powerhouse in the city suggests a grand scheme. She's the only survivor, so we must handle this with caution."
Li Weiyi entered the room, carefully stepping around the blood-soaked floor to reach Long Xiangcen's side and examine her injuries.
"You were truly ruthless."
Hearing Li Weiyi's voice, Long Xiangcen forced her eyes open.
"We nearly died because of her! We haven't been ruthless enough," Tai Shi Yu said, considering other methods of torture, ready to resort to more extreme measures.
Li Weiyi said, "The reason she won't talk is because she knows that if she reveals the secret, we'll kill her. But if we give her a glimmer of hope, she might be willing to speak."
"What do you mean?" Tai Shi Yu asked.
Li Weiyi replied, "Perhaps Tai Shi Bai could handle this better than we can."
"You want Tai Shi Bai to interrogate her?" Tai Shi Yu asked.
Li Weiyi said earnestly, "He has to face this trial sooner or later. I think it's better for him to overcome it himself than for you to help him."
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END OF CHAPTER
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