Chapter 536: Separated Pursuit

Mai Xuewen was more patient than him and knew better how to hide himself.

Bai Ziqi mused, "This person spent ten years infiltrating your organization. Unless he has a deep-seated hatred for you, he must be an enemy spy."

Ten years is a long time. Who would have such perseverance to consistently find fault and gather evidence for a decade?

Wu Kai gave a wry smile. "I've been thinking about this repeatedly over the past few days, but neither Cen Boqing nor I have any enemies named Mai."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred slightly, and he interjected, "What we should consider more is why this person lay low for ten years only to act now."

Bai Ziqi clapped his hands. "Good question. What do you think?"

"Perhaps the time was ripe?"

"What do you mean?"

He Lingchuan inwardly sneered but outwardly spread his hands in feigned ignorance. "I'm a stranger here and don't understand the current situation. Has anything happened recently in Chi Yan?"

He then added, "Mai Xuewen must have considered the cost of his gamble. If there were any missteps, ten years of effort would be for naught, so his objective must be very clear and firm."

A flash of light appeared in Bai Ziqi's eyes when he heard the words "clear" and "firm."

Could it be related to another case he was investigating?

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that the courier case, the missing demon-folk case, and the item the Celestial God and the Emperor instructed him to find, all appeared in Chi Yan almost simultaneously?

Based on the timing and location of the incidents, Mai Xuewen fell within the reasonable range of suspicion!

The young man named He was not wrong; Mai Xuewen's actions required a suitable catalyst.

He pondered for a moment, then asked Wu Kai, "Was there any conflict between Cheng Yu and Mai Xuewen?"

"Uh?" This time it was Wu Kai who looked bewildered. "I don't know if they've met before."

Logically, these two should have been completely unrelated. But Wu Kai couldn't be sure, as he realized he knew nothing about the true Mai Xuewen.

He Lingchuan also subtly raised an eyebrow.

Why would Bai Ziqi connect these two people?

He had previously said that Cheng Yu might be able to help him with another case. Does that mean he suspected Mai Xuewen was involved in that other case?

The other case that also had the Celestial God's attention?

"For now, let's focus on apprehending Cen Boqing," He Lingchuan coughed, reminding Bai Ziqi of their most important immediate task. "If Cheng Yu is to cast a spell, they shouldn't be able to leave Baisha Que too far."

"Precisely. The maximum range for a killing curse is about fifty *li*," Bai Ziqi nodded. "At most, they'd need to find a safe spot in the suburbs to stop and cast the spell. Killing curses aren't spells that can be cast casually; the more powerful the curse, the more it's limited by favorable timing and location."

He turned and asked Wu Kai, "Where do you think Cen Boqing would hide?"

Wu Kai shook his head. "He had indeed prepared several hiding places. But he won't go to any of the places I know about now."

"He can go somewhere you don't know?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "You're his right-hand man. You should know what he knows, and even what he doesn't."

Wu Kai frowned and thought for a long time, so much so that even Bai Ziqi was growing impatient, before he finally spoke. "There are two places worth checking: Madam's personal maid, Xiao Qing, married a small merchant named Ye two years ago. Everyone thought they had moved to another region, but in fact, her husband lost all his money in business and had to return to their old family home in Xiaotan Town, south of the Liu River. Cen Boqing never mentioned this to me; I only heard about it last month from a gossipy old woman who said she ran into Xiao Qing in Xiaotan Town."

"I suspect that if Cen Boqing already knew their address, he might go there to lie low."

Bai Ziqi nodded. "And the other?"

"There's also..." Wu Kai swallowed. "A manor I bought in the western suburbs just before the new year."

Even He Lingchuan was surprised. "He would go to your place?"

"The manor is near Lang Mountain, and the environment is secluded; no one approaches it except the estate workers." Wu Kai gave a wry smile. "I bought it for my retirement, and it could also be for..." He had intended to say "for my grandson to play in," but seeing Bai Ziqi's sharp gaze, he realized his slip of the tongue.

He absolutely could not mention his grandson in front of this person.

"But now that I'm arrested and the manor has no owner, Cen Boqing might hide there."

"That's a good point; a place no one would think of is an excellent hiding spot," Bai Ziqi mused. "By the way, you still have informants among the constables, right? Cen Boqing didn't escape earlier or later, but precisely when Commander Lu led his troops into the Cen residence. That's probably not due to his composure, but because it was the most opportune moment."

He Lingchuan quickly chimed in, "What does Envoy Bai think?"

"Old Chen the stableman was also inside the residence and would certainly be detained by the constables. He couldn't have slipped out on his own."

"If the *Bili Dongtian* artifact could still be taken out, and Cen Boqing and Cheng Yu could still escape, then there must be someone else waiting outside to help them!"

"This person could not only contact Old Chen but also avoid arousing suspicion from others, which means—"

He Lingchuan let out a long "Ohhh." "A constable!"

When Commander Lu led his forces into the Cen residence, all the servants were held under guard. The only "outsiders" they could have contacted were the government soldiers.

Given that Commander Lu's troops were all from out of town, the most likely ones to be bribed were those under Magistrate Tian.

As the saying goes, "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked." Judging by Magistrate Tian's conduct, his subordinates were unlikely to be very incorruptible. If the Cen residence could bribe one jailer, Pi Linhai, why couldn't they bribe a second constable?

"Magistrate Tian's subordinates also need to be investigated."

Wu Kai whispered, "No need. I'll give you a few names."

Bai Ziqi looked at Wu Kai and still handed him the Heart-Cleansing Talisman for self-defense.

After all, he was an important witness, and it would be best to escort him back to Lingxu City.

Just now, when Bai Ziqi sent guards to deliver a message to the Cen residence, Fu Shanyue immediately dispatched over a hundred cavalry to Xiaotan Town near the north gate of the city and another hundred to the manor in the western suburbs.

Time was of the essence; they absolutely could not give these two another chance to escape.

Once more information from Wu Kai arrived, the government soldiers found Old Chen the stableman among the Cen residence's servants and questioned him about the whereabouts of the *Bili Dongtian*.

Old Chen tried to conceal it, but Commander Lu had brought his wife and children over, and with a gleaming saber held against their throats, he immediately caved in.

As soon as he confessed, the mole within the county yamen was also identified. It was a constable named Zhou Tailai, whose name was on the list Wu Kai provided. When the soldiers stormed the Cen residence, Zhou Tailai had been assigned to guard the servants, and Old Chen the stableman seized the opportunity to hand him the *Bili Dongtian*.

Fu Shanyue ordered Zhou Tailai's kneecaps to be shattered, leaving him no room for hesitation, so the man immediately confessed to transporting the *Bili Dongtian* to an empty house on Hutao Street in the northern part of the city, near the north gate.

However, he didn't realize that the artifact could conceal people, nor did he know that the fugitives were hiding inside it. He merely thought he was smuggling a valuable item out of the residence.

Throughout Beijia's almost six hundred years of history, countless powerful figures had fallen, and the soldiers confiscating their homes invariably rushed in like wolves and tigers, fearing they might miss a single piece of jewelry.

Treasures that had been gathering dust in manor treasuries for one or two hundred years would soon see the light of day on the market and realize their true value, largely thanks to the private pilfering of numerous soldiers. He thought this time would be no different.

"The north of the city?" Fu Shanyue sneered slightly. After He Lingchuan brought Wu Kai back this morning, all city gates had lifted their alert status and stopped strictly checking people entering and exiting, which inadvertently provided Cen Boqing and his accomplice an opportunity.

He re-deployed his forces.

Commander Lu's three hundred men, along with the Crown Prince's dozens of personal guards, all rushed to Xiaotan Town, near the north gate of the city. This was the primary focus of the pursuit.

As for the manor in the western suburbs that Wu Kai had revealed, he only sent Magistrate Tian's constables to search it.

Western suburbs.

Fu Shanyue, Fan Sheng, and Commander Lu all went north, so Bai Ziqi chose to go west.

"I wish you success. I'll try my luck in the west; perhaps a blind cat will catch a dead mouse," Bai Ziqi said, not vying for credit. After all, once the Crown Prince of Chi Yan apprehended the fugitives, it would ultimately be Bai Ziqi's responsibility to escort them to Lingxu City.

At Fu Shanyue's gesture, He Lingchuan also followed. The group galloped along the official road in the western suburbs.

Fortunately, Baisha Que's official roads were wide, flat, and straight, making night travel feel safe.

To be honest, he didn't like being close to Bai Ziqi. His sixth sense always warned him that this man was dangerous, and it was best to keep his distance.

Yet, his reason told him it was a good opportunity to observe the "Envoy" from Lingxu City up close—under the cover of the Chi Yan Crown Prince's presence.

Bai Ziqi's mount was a pure-blooded spiritual deer, entirely white, with only a few light blue markings on its neck and hindquarters.

And its eyes were blue as well.

Such an ethereal mount was indeed very fitting for the Du Yun Envoy of the Star-Plucking Tower.

He Lingchuan observed the spiritual deer twice, and Bai Ziqi noticed, turning his head with a smile. "Your mount is also quite good."

Why "also"? Because these spiritual deer were specially bred mounts in Lingxu City, used by nobles, ministers, and prominent families. They combined beauty with speed.

Of course, appearance was paramount; the purer the bloodline and the better the looks, the more expensive they were.

There were always those better than the best; the most expensive were limited editions that could emit a hazy white glow at night, known as "Night Illumination." These were so rare that even with money, one might not be able to acquire them, such as the one Bai Ziqi rode.

In contrast, He Lingchuan's large-horned rock sheep appeared travel-worn, its fur dull, and its body proportions not as perfect as those of the spiritual deer.

He Lingchuan chuckled.

He didn't need a tool for showing off right now.

Such a glowing creature would be a live target on the battlefield, even more conspicuous than a white horse. It would be illogical if it didn't get shot.

Bai Ziqi then said, "I heard you and Zhongsun Mou made a wager at Chaohu Tower, and you personally went down to Lotus Palace to collect the chips. Did you not consider that Fan Sheng might take advantage of the chaos to seek revenge?"

He Lingchuan's face was solemn. "I assumed a dignified Deputy Commander of the Tongxin Guard would value his reputation and, if he wished for another contest, would approach me honorably for a challenge."

He knew the envoy from Lingxu City would definitely notice this matter.

He looked at Bai Ziqi and sighed. "If I understood Commander Fan as well as Envoy Bai does, I likely wouldn't have descended myself. How much safer it would have been to stay atop Chaohu Tower?"

Two barbs were hidden in his words, but Bai Ziqi seemed oblivious. "He planned it while you were unsuspecting, yet you still won."