Chapter 398: Confession (II)

Chapter 398: Confession (II)

It was only now that Zhang Yuelu understood why her master, Sage Cihang, had vetoed her proposal to investigate the Ghost Kingdom.

Firstly, the Ghost Kingdom was indeed of great importance and could not be touched lightly. Secondly, the relationship between the Three Yin Beings and the Daoist Order was delicate. A reckless investigation could worsen the situation, possibly triggering unforeseen changes.

From the perspective of vying for the position of Grand Master, the Ghost Kingdom was a hornet’s nest. Until a victor was definitively determined, none of the three candidates would dare poke it.

“I have another question,” Zhang Yuelu said, pulling herself back from her thoughts. “Who is that little girl?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “Her name is Liu Hu. She’s a survivor of the Jiangnan Case.”

Zhang Yuelu was taken aback.

Qi Xuansu continued, “You were personally involved in the case, so you should remember Fang Linhou and the shares under his name. The Jiangnan Case involved shares processed through anonymous accounts in the Taiping Bank, which were hard to trace.

“These shares weren’t solely owned by Fang Linhou but also included profits distributed among his subordinates. However, they were all registered under Fang Linhou’s name. How they divided the profits among themselves was unknown to outsiders. After Fang Linhou was executed, his subordinates were either dead or arrested, and the few who escaped didn’t dare bring up the matter. Thus, the money remains in the Taiping Bank account to this day.”

Zhang Yuelu asked, “Is Liu Hu Fang Linhou’s daughter?”

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “Liu Hu isn’t Fang Linhou’s daughter. She’s the daughter of one of his subordinates. As a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master, Fang Linhou held a high position but was not skilled in financial matters, so he had someone manage the accounts for him. That person was Liu Hu’s father. Before the case broke out, her father was silenced, leaving Liu Hu as the sole survivor.”

Zhang Yuelu gave Qi Xuansu a deep look and remarked, “It seems you gained a lot from your undercover investigation.”

“I don’t know all the specifics,” Qi Xuansu replied. “I was ordered to escort her to Liaodong, but along the way, I encountered assassins from The Inn again.”

Zhang Yuelu immediately recalled, “The time we were ambushed...”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “They weren’t the same group, but they were related. You cut off the mastermind’s financial pipeline, so they targeted you. Liu Hu’s existence involves the ownership of hundreds of thousands of Taiping coins, so they needed her alive. As far as I know, the leader of the group that ambushed us at the dilapidated temple was called Third Master Chang, a ruthless figure far more dangerous than the group I encountered.”

Zhang Yuelu fell into deep thought and muttered, “When the Jiangnan Case broke out, it was Sage Donghua who advocated for a thorough investigation, claiming it as an opportunity to crack open a wedge in the veil of darkness. In the end, the case fizzled out. Now, it seems Sage Donghua hasn’t given up; he’s just shifted from an open to a covert action.”

Hearing Zhang Yuelu’s words and reflecting on his own experiences, Qi Xuansu began to piece things together.

Pei Xiaolou clearly knew about Liu Hu’s existence and approved of it.

According to Zhang Yuelu, Sage Donghua advocated for a thorough investigation of the Jiangnan Case.

Zhang Yuelu gained the favor of the Earthly Preceptor for her meritorious service in the Jiangnan Case and was promoted to Deputy Hall Master.

Liu Hu was taken in by Wild Bodhisattva, who was affiliated with the Qingping Society and closely connected to Madam Qi, who, in turn, had ties with Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan.

Sage Cihang was not initially involved in the Jiangnan Case but only intervened after her disciple, Zhang Yuelu, was endangered.

From this perspective, the situation became clearer. Pei Xiaolou, Sage Donghua, and the Earthly Preceptor were all from the Quanzhen Sect, and their stance had remained consistent from the beginning.

Qi Xuansu also raised his glass, gently clinking it against Zhang Yuelu’s.

Both of them downed the wine.

True to its reputation as a drink reserved for Heavenly Beings, the Dreaming Death immediately made Qi Xuansu feel intoxicated, leaving him groggy and forcing him to use his cultivation to dispel the effects.

Zhang Yuelu’s alcohol tolerance was much better, and her cultivation level was higher than his. Her eyes sparkled like stars, her face flushed with a rosy hue, looking exceptionally radiant.

Gazing at this beauty through tipsy lenses, Qi Xuansu found himself momentarily mesmerized.

Zhang Yuelu set down her wine glass and waved her hand in front of Qi Xuansu’s dazed eyes. “What are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at you, of course.”

Alcohol was usually referred to as liquid courage, but Qi Xuansu was never one to be timid anyway.

With her face already flushed from the wine, it was hard to tell if Zhang Yuelu was blushing from shyness. She giggled. “What’s there to look at?”

Qi Xuansu just continued gawking at Zhang Yuelu without saying a word.

Feeling a bit embarrassed under his infatuated gaze, Zhang Yuelu turned to look at the lake outside the pavilion.

It was near dusk, and the setting sun painted the entire lake an orange-red gradient.

Qi Xuansu followed her gaze.

Suddenly, he felt crestfallen. He had confessed much to Zhang Yuelu, yet he still withheld much. He only wished he could be completely open and honest with her.

Just then, Zhang Yuelu settled her emotions and stole a glance at Qi Xuansu, only to see him peering blankly into the distance.

Looking closely, she could discern a faint melancholia in his eyes.

The curiosity she felt when they first met bubbled up again in Zhang Yuelu’s heart. Why was he sad? What had he experienced in the past years after his master's death?

Before Zhang Yuelu could voice her question, Qi Xuansu had already concealed his sorrow. After all, he was never one to wallow in sadness.

When Qi Xuansu caught Zhang Yuelu sneaking a glance at him, he immediately turned to look at her again.

This was, by now, the nth time they had locked eyes. What began with a bit of shyness had now become more natural and confident.

Qi Xuansu asked, echoing Zhang Yuelu’s earlier words, “What are you looking at?”

Zhang Yuelu only mimicked his reply. “I’m looking at you, of course.”