Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 90: Chapter 88 List

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Chu Zhiyuan’s eyes were fixed on him, suddenly becoming sharp.

Super Sense detected he was lying.

Clearly, he knew who the experts were; even if not all, he knew some.

”Elder Bai, many thanks.” Chu Zhiyuan’s expression softened as he smiled, ”Thank you for understanding the bigger picture.”

”No need for thanks.” Bai Jingrong quickly waved his hand, chuckling, ”Sir, your actions are just and fair; I greatly admire that, and it’s only right to repay you. Besides, I have a soft heart and can’t bear to see too many people die.”

Everyone knows that assassinating the Da Zhen Mission is suicidal.

Not to mention how formidable the Da Zhen Guards, the Lingshuang Iron Cavalry, are, even if the assassination succeeds, there will certainly be a thunderous reprisal from the Court.

No sect or expert, no matter how strong, could withstand the Court’s power.

Escaping from Da Jing would also be impossible; from Yujing to the borders is thirty thousand miles, a distance almost impossible to evade the Military Suppression Department’s pursuit.

So it would almost certainly lead to death.

The only sliver of hope lies in what the Court fails to uncover, leaving a few to slip through the net.

Moreover, during the assassination, deaths are inevitable, and some innocents will be swept away, dying without knowing why.

So informing the Court in advance to thwart this assassination is an immensely meritorious deed and greatly benefits the True One Sect.

”How did Elder Bai come to know this?” Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Did they ask for help from the True One Sect, or were some True One Sect experts involved?”

”Absolutely not!” Bai Jingrong hurriedly replied.

Chu Zhiyuan squinted his eyes slightly.

Those words seemed true; evidently, there were no True One Sect experts involved.

”Then a friend must have informed your True One Sect, prompting you to stay away.”

”Sir!” Bai Jingrong said helplessly, ”I’ve said everything I can say!”

”Were they experts from Yao Yue Palace?” Chu Zhiyuan inquired, ”Experts from Yao Yue Palace connected with each other to form an alliance?”

Bai Jingrong hurriedly waved his hand, smiling, ”No, no, how could that be? Yao Yue Palace disciples do not enter Yujing.”

Chu Zhiyuan was sure his guess was correct.

Even if Yao Yue Palace experts never entered Yujing, they still had ways to connect, the simplest being through the True One Sect’s communication.

He turned to look at Gao Lingfeng.

Gao Lingfeng promptly stepped forward, ”Sir?”

”Prepare a seat for Elder Bai and the others.”

”Yes.”

Gao Lingfeng responded and directed an assistant to bring two chairs and place them behind the guests, inviting them to sit and talk.

Bai Jingrong was reluctant to sit, wanting to leave immediately.

He felt as if Chu Zhiyuan could see through his thoughts, making him feel exposed and uncomfortable.

”Please sit.” Chu Zhiyuan gestured with his hand, smiling, ”Let’s have a good chat.”

”... Alright.” Bai Jingrong, seeing Chu Zhiyuan’s resolute expression, reluctantly agreed, cupping his fists, ”Sir...”

”Yao Yue Palace’s expert killed He Jiujie.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Court won’t pursue it; He Jiujie deserved to die, and so he did.”

Bai Jingrong relaxed visibly at the words.

It was indeed Yao Yue Palace that killed He Jiujie.

He Jiujie deserved death a thousand times over!

Chu Zhiyuan inquired, ”Surely Yao Yue Palace’s expert asked who hired He Jiujie?”

”No.” Bai Jingrong shook his head.

He laughed awkwardly thereafter.

These words confirmed that He Jiujie died at Yao Yue Palace’s hands and that their experts had reached outside Yujing.

Though they didn’t enter Yujing, they were not far from it.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned, ”Without figuring out who hired He Jiujie, wouldn’t your True One Sect find no peace?”

If the employer isn’t found, even with He Jiujie’s death, there might be another He Jiujie.

There is not just one assassin like He Jiujie in this world.

Bai Jingrong nodded helplessly, ”Indeed so.”

”The Court can continue to pursue the employer.” Chu Zhiyuan spoke solemnly, ”With He Jiujie’s body, the investigation can continue, and it’s possible to find the employer.”

”Really?” Bai Jingrong’s spirit lifted.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”If the Court is determined, nothing is impossible to uncover! Even involving a Great Grandmaster!”

”Even a Great Grandmaster might not find out.”

”Not all Great Grandmasters are the same; a Yao Yue Palace Great Grandmaster might fail, but not necessarily the Court’s!”

”... Very well!” Bai Jingrong hesitated but eventually gritted his teeth and said solemnly, ”I can hand over a list, but the Court mustn’t kill them for it.”

”Agreed!” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Yao Yue Palace treats your True One Sect well, linking up for a deal with the Court to continue this investigation, perhaps?”

”Absolutely not!” Bai Jingrong’s complexion changed slightly, waving his hands, ”How could we use such a matter for transactions? Sir thinks us too despicable!”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”That’s best.”

He believed Bai Jingrong’s words were truthful, then gestured at Gao Lingfeng with his mouth.

Gao Lingfeng directed an assistant to move a desk over, presenting paper, ink, and inkstone for Bai Jingrong to write the list.

Chu Zhiyuan continued, ”As the Court continues to investigate who was behind He Jiujie, Yao Yue Palace’s experts should retreat. Yujing is already lively enough, no need to add more excitement.”

Bai Jingrong remained silent, concentrating on writing the list.

With fluid movements, he deftly penned names in elegant small script, hundreds in just a blink.

Super Sense noted this disparity with his appearance; Bai Jingrong was unexpectedly a person of inner refinement with such neat writing.

...

Chu Zhiyuan said no more, not bringing up Yao Yue Palace again.

Bai Jingrong could only relay the message, but what Yao Yue Palace’s experts decided was beyond his control.

Extracting this list from Bai Jingrong was already a feat; as for Yao Yue Palace, it was not under his influence.

As a Princely Heir and Junior Minister, he held no sway in Yao Yue Palace.

Yao Yue Palace’s relationship with the Da Jing Emperor was complex and subtle, beyond his reach, with no qualification to meddle.

Yet, could it be that Yao Yue Palace, lacking male disciples for five hundred years, was reminiscing about old ties, looking after the True One Sect?

Yao Yue Palace’s connection with the True One Sect was tighter than anticipated; what was the reason?

While he pondered, Super Sense monitored Bai Jingrong, seeing if he was writing the complete list or playing tricks.

Bai Jingrong wrote swiftly indeed, dense small script listing over a hundred names fluidly.

One must always be cautious.

There was a need to guard against Bai Jingrong using the Court as a tool for revenge.

However, Fang Haiyang seemed a bit restless.

He appeared dissatisfied and agitated by his master’s betrayal, suppressing his anger by keeping his head down to hide his emotions.

Once Bai Jingrong laid down the Purple Brush, Gao Lingfeng received it, dried the ink, and presented it.

Chu Zhiyuan observed only Fang Haiyang, smiling, ”This young brother, are you Elder Bai’s direct disciple?”

Bai Jingrong glanced at Fang Haiyang and chuckled, ”Yes, my last disciple, with decent talent, Fang Haiyang.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Young Fang seems to disagree with your master’s decision, thinking these people shouldn’t be exposed, right?”

Bai Jingrong was taken aback and quickly glared at Fang Haiyang.

Fang Haiyang remained silent, his head bowed.

”Yang’er, you...” Bai Jingrong’s expression darkened.

He understood Fang Haiyang, seeing his expression knew Chu Zhiyuan was right; he disapproved of his actions, felt repulsed by the betrayal.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Young people naturally tend to be idealistic; likely he hasn’t witnessed the Court’s thunderous methods.”

He himself had seen much in the Tongtian Pavilion.

Not to mention the current Emperor, who has annihilated ten sects since taking the throne.

These sects varied in size, with two large ones comparable in scale to the True One Sect. Fang Haiyang was young and inexperienced whereas Bai Jingrong had likely seen and understood the severity.

If those on the list dared act, the result would inevitably be rivers of blood, heads rolling.

Fang Haiyang was youthful, full of passion, disdainful of betrayal and selling out.

”... My apologies,” Bai Jingrong said awkwardly, ”I shall have a good talk with him.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Ensure he doesn’t do anything foolish.”

Prematurely warning could introduce many complications and variables.

”He absolutely will not!” Bai Jingrong declared solemnly.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, ”There are no issues with the list, right? Nothing missing or incorrect?”

”It might not be comprehensive, but they’re definitely not wronged.” Bai Jingrong assured.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded contentedly, cupping his fists.

Bai Jingrong sensibly took his leave.

...

The room fell silent.

Chu Zhiyuan’s face grew somber, and Gao Lingfeng’s face was equally stern.

The atmosphere became tense.

After a long silence, Gao Lingfeng spoke, ”Sir...”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, ”Such are martial artists, truly unafraid of death; how should one describe them?”

These people were genuinely risking their lives for vengeance.

They must have a deep blood feud with Da Zhen.

For these people, punishment needed to instill fear in their hearts, while also avoiding inciting public outrage by excessive killing, thus losing public support.

Forceful suppression could lead to greater losses.

Careful navigation of these intricacies was necessary, avoiding a purely forceful approach.

”Sir, how should we proceed?” Gao Lingfeng asked through gritted teeth.

He was consistently discontent with martial artists, considering them sources of chaos, unaware of how many innocent lives are lost annually to their hands.

To achieve peace, they must first be subdued.

But he also knew this was impossible; the focus could only be on maintaining the Court’s prestige and deterrence.

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