Chapter 508: Complex and Intricate

After another quarter of an hour, the ringing stopped. All sixteen bells ceased ringing simultaneously, and the room suddenly fell silent. That thing was finally gone.

After breakfast, feeling refreshed, He Lingchuan, a toothpick dangling from his lips, finally said, "Let's go for tea."

This time, they went to the Xiang Estate.

Although Xiang Yan had taken an elixir of longevity, he was genuinely eighty-four years old this year. The elixir wasn't truly a potion of eternal life; like other elderly people, he slept lightly and woke early. The entire Xiang Estate woke with him, with servants already sweeping and tidying the courtyard.

Xiang Yan himself was feeding two red-billed pearl birds. Even though these two were avian demons, their bodies were actually smaller than their ordinary counterparts. They hopped among the branches and leaves, their forms and plumage exceptionally beautiful.

The morning sun had just risen, and the heat had not yet set in, so Xiang Yan was in a very good mood. Just then, a servant reported, "Master, the Crown Prince's special envoy has arrived."

Xiang Yan's hand trembled, and a dozen millet grains scattered onto the ground. Sparrows from the treetops flew down, scrambling to peck at them.

Why was the Crown Prince's special envoy here again?

Xiang Yan suddenly lost his desire to feed the birds, tossing the small scoop aside, and stood there in a daze for a moment.

"Master?" a nearby servant prompted.

Only then did Xiang Yan adjust his attire, let out a breath, and head towards the main hall. The servants had already invited the envoy into the hall for tea.

The tea at the Xiang Estate was excellent. He Lingchuan finished one cup and was pouring a second when he saw the old man, Xiang Yan, approaching from the back.

"I apologize for disturbing you again, Elder Xiang, I hope you don't mind."

"Your Excellency gracing my humble home with your presence brings me immense joy, more than words can express." Having served as an official for decades, Xiang Yan was adept at speaking insincerely, exuding only warmth and showing not the slightest hint of stiffness. "Have you, have you had breakfast yet?"

He Lingchuan looked at him and smiled, "Just finished, actually. It was that savory porridge you recommended. The cooking was perfect; it truly is a venerable establishment."

After a few pleasantries, He Lingchuan said, "The weather is beautiful; shall we take a stroll in the garden?"

Xiang Yan naturally assented.

They went to the garden, chatting as they walked.

"I heard, Elder Xiang, that you are originally from Baishaju?"

"Indeed. I've lived here for decades, from childhood to old age. Even when serving as an official in the court, I would return several times a year."

He Lingchuan smiled and got to the point, "Has the Cen family also been in Baishaju for many years?"

"The Cen family, which Cen family?" Xiang Yan's heart sank. Was the envoy about to provoke the Cen family? Surely not.

"Cen Boqing."

"His family, his family is related by marriage to the Grand Minister of Agriculture of Lingxu City!" The unspoken message was that no official or powerful figure in Baishaju wanted to offend that family.

He Lingchuan seemed not to have understood. "Right, so does the Cen family reside here permanently?"

"Baishaju boasts beautiful scenery and customs, and Cen Boqing brings his family here every year—specifically, the eldest daughter of Beijia's Grand Minister of Agriculture. Whenever she visits, everyone pays their respects, and the Cen residence becomes bustling with visitors. However, she didn't come this year."

At this point, Xiang Yan cleared his throat slightly. "Your Excellency, I heard there was some misunderstanding between you and the Inspector?"

The Crown Prince's special envoy had actually seized a wanted criminal from Lingxu City right out of the Inspector's hands! When Xiang Yan heard this news the day before yesterday, he was momentarily at a loss for words. So, after the envoy thoroughly humiliated the Inspector that day, he had then come to seek out old man Xiang. What an honor.

He Lingchuan chuckled, "There were some misunderstandings, but they will be resolved soon." Once the truth of the case is uncovered, there will be no misunderstandings. Only a definite outcome.

Xiang Yan finally couldn't help but sigh. "It's one thing to have a misunderstanding with the Inspector, but Master Cen, the Cen residence... even the Crown Prince would show them great deference."

He Lingchuan looked at him and said, "Why wasn't the Cen residence on the list you gave me a few days ago?" The last time he had come to Xiang Yan, he had asked about residents in the northwest corner of Baishaju who were from Lingxu City and also on good terms with the Zhongsuns. Xiang Yan had listed five families for him, and the Cen residence was not among them.

"Although both the Cen family and the Zhongsuns serve as officials in Lingxu City, they have little interaction. During the years I was assigned to Lingxu City, the two families even had some minor unpleasantries." Xiang Yan stroked his long beard. "However, it's been over twenty years since I returned to Chiyan, so I'm not clear if their relationship has improved. No one in this city usually mentions it."

He knew it was useless to feign ignorance now, so he simply asked, "Your Excellency, have you truly found evidence of the Cen family's involvement in this case?"

He Lingchuan nodded. "All clues point to the Cen residence."

"Is the evidence conclusive?"

"We still lack critical evidence," He Lingchuan sighed. "Frankly, I apprehended two of their guards. Those two rascals were sent to silence someone, but I intercepted them."

Xiang Yan shook his head. "Two guards aren't enough for a conviction."

"Elder Xiang is a perceptive man," He Lingchuan said seriously. "I lack a single piece of evidence that can directly link the case to the Cen family."

Fierce Tiger Jiao Yu, standing nearby, interjected, "Mr. Mai."

"Mr. Mai certainly could, but he's currently missing, and it seems he has no intention of reappearing." He Lingchuan shook his head. "I don't know if it was the Cen residence or Zhongsuns Mou, but last night, a nightmare creature was sent to kill me."

This clearly wasn't a conventional method, and Xiang Yan was startled. "Your Excellency, are you alright?"

"Managing, wasn't killed," He Lingchuan sighed. "I pursued it back, and it turned out Fan Sheng of the Tongxin Guard was waiting there. He immediately engaged me in a fierce battle. He's incredibly difficult to fight. He also has a giant bear brother named Fan, Fan..."

No sooner had he mentioned Fan Sheng's name than Xiang Yan stood still, sucking in a breath through his teeth. "Fan Bao?"

"Exactly," He Lingchuan smiled. "Elder Xiang knows him too?"

"More than just knowing them! The Fan brothers of the Tongxin Guard are no ordinary individuals. That you could return alive from Fan Sheng's grasp is truly, truly..." Xiang Yan had intended to say "good luck," but on second thought, he realized it couldn't have been entirely luck. It seemed he had underestimated this young envoy all along.

"The Tongxin Guard is Lingxu City's southern garrison, responsible for the security of the city's southern parts and surrounding areas. They are always carefully selected, battle-hardened talents from the Barbarian Dragon Army." Having traveled in Beijia for so long, He Lingchuan had heard of the Barbarian Dragon Army's formidable reputation. It was one of Beijia's elite military forces. "The three Fan brothers serve as the commander and deputy commanders of this legion."

"Oh, wait a moment," He Lingchuan said curiously. "Three brothers? I only saw Fan Sheng and Fan Bao last night."

"The Great Commander of the Tongxin Guard, the eldest of the Fan brothers, is named Fan Long. He has distinguished himself in battle and possesses formidable cultivation." Xiang Yan clarified, "He and Fan Sheng are blood brothers. As for the giant bear, Fan Bao, he is their sworn third brother, personally named by Fan Long."

"I knew it; Fan Sheng looks so much like a human." Humans and bears certainly couldn't be blood brothers, right...?

"Among the three brothers, Fan Long is the most powerful; that's widely acknowledged in the military. Fan Sheng's martial arts and cultivation were all taught by his elder brother." Xiang Yan glanced at him. "I'm not trying to inflate others' reputations, but Fan Long once single-handedly slew the great demon Chifeng. If Your Excellency He were to face him, the odds would likely be stacked against you."

He Lingchuan scratched his head. Fan Sheng was already difficult to handle, and he hadn't expected them to have an even more formidable elder brother. If he struck down the younger, would it draw out the elder?

On another note, "What's the story behind Chifeng?"

"It was a great demon that ambushed Mount Xu, rumored to have an ancient demon-immortal bloodline. Some demons have always refused to submit to Beijia, and this was one of them. At the time, Lingxu City deployed many forces, but none could defeat it." Xiang Yan shook his head. "Fan Long's demeanor is completely different from his two brothers: astute, ruthless, and worldly. No one dares to easily offend a man like that."

"Well, he didn't show up anyway," He Lingchuan said nonchalantly. "It seems his status is too high for Zhongsuns Mou to summon him."

Xiang Yan didn't know what "status" meant and didn't intend to ask further. "Fan Long has his duties and doesn't easily leave Lingxu City."

"Then it's nothing to worry about," He Lingchuan sighed at length, changing the topic. "Clues are hard to find; these dirty dealings were handled too cleanly."

"So, Your Excellency, are you here today to...?"

"Oh, I'm looking for another lead, and I was wondering if Elder Xiang could assist."

Xiang Yan cupped his hands. "Please, Your Excellency."

This matter was becoming increasingly difficult.

He Lingchuan said solemnly, "The progress of this case has been reported directly to the Crown Prince by Jiao Yu. The Crown Prince also sent me a dispatch, stating that this matter must be thoroughly investigated, regardless of the other party's background or identity." With that, he handed over Fu Shanyue's handwritten letter.

Xiang Yan respectfully took the letter, opened it, and read it word by word. The content clearly conveyed the Chiyan Kingdom's stance on the matter: "Those who disrupt the front lines and harm our demon populace will be investigated to the very end, with absolutely no leniency!" The words were firm and unequivocal, devoid of the usual ambiguities and carefully chosen phrases found in official documents. At the end was the Crown Prince's prominent red seal.

After finishing, he returned it to He Lingchuan, and said in a deep voice, "This old man understands. I will cooperate fully, hoping not to fail Your Excellency's trust." As a seasoned official who had served for decades, Xiang Yan clearly understood He Lingchuan's intention in showing the letter: it was to tell him not to try any more tricks. But he was, after all, retired, now an octogenarian old man with no power or influence.

He Lingchuan smiled. "Elder Xiang, just do your best. I only want to ask you for a favor."

Xiang Yan subtly exhaled in relief. "Please instruct me. I will not reveal this to a third party."

He Lingchuan wanted precisely that promise from him.

"The current difficulty is, we need to find a second piece of material evidence or a witness that can directly link to the Cen family."

"You mean Cheng Yu, the spellcaster who released the nightmare creature?" The Fierce Tiger passed a large tree and couldn't resist sharpening its claws on it. The Zitan tree was very valuable, but Xiang Yan didn't mind. "Even if we can capture him, and even if he can testify, oral testimony alone isn't enough without material evidence."

Why would they send Cheng Yu to assassinate He Lingchuan? Precisely because killing in dreams leaves no traceable evidence.

"He would at most be corroborating evidence," He Lingchuan said slowly. "I think there's someone suitable."

Instead, Xiang Yan showed concern. "Your Excellency, there are many deadly intentions around you; you must be extremely careful."

He Lingchuan smiled. This old man clearly knew the situation in the city well, yet had previously feigned ignorance.

Xiang Yan sighed again. "Fortunately, Cen Boqing's wife, the eldest daughter of Lingxu City's Grand Minister of Agriculture, is not in Baishaju. Otherwise, this case would be even more difficult to handle."