Chapter 606: Heart and Shadow Transmission Technique

Grand Tutor Shuangye and Nian Zanli must have had prior dealings. After all, Shuangye had allocated primal power to Nian Zanli and sent Hong Chenglue to provide support.

Although the outcome of that major battle was less than ideal, regardless of Nian Zanli's opinion of Grand Tutor Shuangye and Hong Chenglue, he certainly would have paid his respects to Grand Tutor Shuangye upon his arrival in Lingxu City this time and presented his request for troops.

When one is beholden to others, one must humble oneself.

Now that Grand Tutor Shuangye is willing to help, he didn't deal with Nian Zanli directly. Instead, he approached Fushan Yue / He Xiao first, clearly intending to let them be the ones to grant the favor.

The Grand Tutor truly conducts affairs meticulously.

Xi Yunhe nodded, "To be entrusted by one's lord is to serve his interests faithfully."

This meant: "We have fulfilled your request; now it is your turn."

He Lingchuan sat up straight and said, "I'm listening intently."

"The Elixir of Immortality case is connected to Cen Boqing," Xi Yunhe began. "The day after the document regarding this matter was sent to the Emperor, Qingfu Temple caught fire. All 121 people in the temple, from the abbot down to the night watchmen, water stewards, and bell ringers, were burned to death; not a single person escaped. Bai Ziqi's investigation hit a dead end there, as the trail went cold." Xi Yunhe continued, "That's why Grand Tutor Qingyang has been acting as usual, going about her business as if nothing happened, knowing that no one else can find concrete evidence."

"Where is this concrete evidence?"

"Arson is the best way to destroy evidence," Xi Yunhe stated. "However, it's also the method most prone to error. Because everyone was burned beyond recognition, making identification impossible."

He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "Is that how Grand Tutor Shuangye helped you fake your death back then?"

Xi Yunhe ignored the question.

"The number of bodies was off. Didn't the Azure Palace suspect anything?"

"Only 103 bodies were recovered afterward. In such a massive fire, it's not unusual for a few bodies to be unaccounted for."

After such a colossal blaze, there are always some individuals who go missing. Furthermore, this particular fire at Qingfu Temple was a bit peculiar; eyewitnesses reported a faint purple glow. What's so surprising about a few people being completely incinerated under those circumstances?

Xi Yunhe continued, "Qingfu Temple had a temple attendant named Kong Jiaxiang. That night, he secretly went to the Nanli district to visit his old flame and stayed out, without informing the temple. He woke up the next morning to hear that Qingfu Temple had been completely gutted by fire. He was quick-witted; he didn't even go back to check, but instead promptly slipped out of the city and headed south to his hometown of Yangshui to lie low."

"Is he still in Yangshui?"

"Yes," Xi Yunhe chuckled softly. "We have people discreetly watching him, but he's unaware."

"Even Grand Tutor Qingyang believes Kong Jiaxiang is dead. How did you know he was alive and in Yangshui?" He Lingchuan looked at him with a hidden flicker of suspicion. *That massive fire at Qingfu Temple... surely Grand Tutor Shuangye didn't send his people to start it, did he?*

Given that Xi Yunhe himself could operate under the alias Mai Xuewen, kill monsters under Wu Kai's command to retrieve pearls and leave clues, it almost seemed plausible that Grand Tutor Shuangye might have smoothly orchestrated the Qingfu Temple fire.

"You think we started the fire?" Xi Yunhe shook his head. "That temple was the most crucial site and repository of evidence for the illicit trade of the Elixir of Immortality. How could we possibly burn it down? We initially thought everything was lost in that fire too, until a couple of days later, someone noticed that Kong Jiaxiang's old flame was acting completely normal, even laughing heartily while chatting with neighbors, showing no sign of distress or sorrow."

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered. "Kong Jiaxiang had a lover? Who discovered that?"

"Naturally, I did," Xi Yunhe said flatly. "I've been watching him for three years."

"Once that question arose, the investigation became straightforward," he stated, enunciating each word. "This time, Grand Tutor Qingyang's luck has run out; Heaven itself means to claim her!"

Otherwise, why was it Grand Tutor Shuangye, and not Grand Tutor Qingyang, who first discovered Kong Jiaxiang was still alive?

"More than a hundred people in that temple... were they all involved in selling the Elixir of Immortality?"

"Of course not; only three to five people were in the know," Xi Yunhe replied. "Kong Jiaxiang was responsible for the handovers and record-keeping. As soon as Bai Ziqi apprehends him, he'll naturally be able to trace the trail directly to the Azure Palace."

He sneered, "Bai Ziqi actually knows perfectly well that the Elixir of Immortality is secretly manufactured by the Azure Palace. However, to confront an opponent like her, concrete evidence is indispensable."

He spoke casually, but He Lingchuan understood that this lead was hard-won, like finding a way out of hundreds of dead ends, a task that must have required an immense amount of effort.

Xi Yunhe's personal investigative skills were indeed exceptional. It was no wonder Grand Tutor Qingyang had been driven to frustration by his various investigations, eventually having no choice but to eliminate him.

He Lingchuan exhaled. "Then I must ask, if even the Capital Envoy was helpless in the face of the Qingfu Temple fire, by what right could I, an outsider, possibly discover that Kong Jiaxiang is still alive?"

Bai Ziqi would inevitably demand that either he or Fushan Yue reveal the source of the information, and this question could not be sidestepped.

"Because Kong Jiaxiang has another identity: he's not only from the same hometown as Wu Kai but also the elder brother of Wu Kai's daughter-in-law," Xi Yunhe said flatly. "You can claim that while investigating Wu Kai's background and hometown, you uncovered a living person, only to then realize he was on the official death list for Qingfu Temple."

"Since Yangshui is within Chiyan territory, it's perfectly logical for you to have found him."

He Lingchuan considered this. "That's a good approach. However, for the sake of caution, I'll need to send an operative back to Yangshui."

Although Xi Yunhe's competence was undeniable and the likelihood of him lying about this case was minimal, the matter was too significant for He Lingchuan to feel at ease without dispatching his own scout to verify the information.

Xi Yunhe showed no surprise. "As you wish, but act swiftly; any delay could lead to unforeseen complications."

Kong Jiaxiang was their hard-won trump card. If the Azure Palace were to eliminate him again, the truth of the Elixir of Immortality case would likely never see the light of day.

He Lingchuan thought for a moment, then added, "By the way, you heard about Prince Huan's rampage at the Panshan Residence last night, killing and setting fires, didn't you?"

"The whole city knows."

"Do you know who orchestrated it?"

Xi Yunhe replied, "You have so many enemies; don't you have a rough idea yourself?"

He Lingchuan gave a wry smile. "Can it be investigated?"

"I advise you against any rash actions," Xi Yunhe's puppet said with a stern face. "Just diligently carry out your assigned task."

"The Grand Tutor is supposed to ensure my safety," He Lingchuan said with a chuckle. "What if these individuals attack again?"

"Didn't the Emperor bestow a residence upon the Crown Prince of Chiyan?" Xi Yunhe said calmly. "He also assigned the Concord Guards to protect you."

"You know perfectly well my relationship with the Concord Guards," He Lingchuan said, rubbing his nose. "It would be an act of great generosity from the Fan brothers if they simply don't bother me. If some villains were to sneak in and try to take my life, they might very well just stand by and let it happen."

"If anything happens to the Chiyan people again, it wouldn't reflect well on the Emperor's prestige," Xi Yunhe said with a faint smile. "If we learn that someone is targeting you, we will inform you in advance. Oh, and I'll teach you 'Heart Shadow Transmission'."

Heart Shadow Transmission is a divine ability that transforms a living person into a puppet, allowing one to control their words and actions for a short duration.

During this period, the controlled individual retains no memory of their actions and won't even perceive the passage of time.

However, this spell typically only works on idle individuals, rogue demons, or those who are sick, weak, or unconscious. It has almost no effect on people with strong willpower. Otherwise, Xi Yunhe could simply control He Lingchuan to go find Bai Ziqi; there would be no need to negotiate terms with him.

"What if the target is old and frail, but protected by primal power?" He Lingchuan, as was his habit, liked to press for details.

Xi Yunhe gave him an odd look. "Primal power? I'm not clear on how other nations distribute it, but in Lingxu City, most officials aren't equipped with primal power unless they're serving on the battlefield. Primal power is so precious; even Beijia wouldn't grant it to every official it encounters."

He Lingchuan suddenly understood. "I see."

"Furthermore, individuals controlled by the Heart Shadow Transmission spell cannot perform overly complex tasks, such as engaging in combat."

He Lingchuan chuckled again. "Which Grand Tutor taught you this Heart Shadow Transmission spell?"

"None of them," Xi Yunhe replied. "I chanced upon an ancient text and taught myself."

There are countless strange cultivation techniques in this world, many of which have been passed down from ancient and medieval times, not fully known to everyone.

"Do they know you possess this secret art?"

Xi Yunhe said dismissively, "That's none of your concern."

So they didn't know; He Lingchuan understood. It seemed this fellow had learned his lesson and was no longer revealing everything to Grand Tutor Shuangye, his rescuer.

In just a few words, Xi Yunhe clearly explained the spell's incantation and its key points. Then he added, "Although Grand Tutor Qingyang is unaware of our current operation, she won't simply sit back and do nothing. You should remain vigilant."

He Lingchuan's gaze shifted slightly. "What other tricks does she have up her sleeve?"

"She has been frequently visiting the Emperor recently," Xi Yunhe explained. Grand Tutor Qingyang shares a deep bond with both incumbent and former Emperors. Sometimes, even if there's nothing else, simply appealing to emotions is the most effective strategy. "Furthermore, she is adept at covert operations. Don't assume she's been completely forced back by Grand Tutor Shuangye without any means to retaliate. Ha, there might be no obvious signs of her involvement, but it's possible that many of the recent events in Lingxu City are connected to her."

"Recently?"

"It's possible, even including the incidents you've experienced."

He Lingchuan was startled. "Are you saying our recent attacks are connected to her?"

Apart from the inn explosion, which he had orchestrated himself, there was the poisoning attempt against him, and someone had incited Prince Huan to ambush the Chiyan people and set the Panshan Residence ablaze.

So far, the masterminds behind these cases have not been identified.

Could they be connected to the Azure Palace?

Indeed, how could Grand Tutor Qingyang remain indifferent in the face of the relentless pressure from Bai Ziqi and the Chiyan people?

"Perhaps," Xi Yunhe's puppet shrugged stiffly. "It's merely personal speculation, based solely on my understanding of her character."

He said no more, urging He Lingchuan to complete the task as quickly as possible before departing.

After Xi Yunhe left, He Lingchuan wasted no time and summoned Azure Eagle into the room.

"I have a new task for you," he told it. "Help me fly to Yangshui in Chiyan again, investigate someone, and gather some information."

For a winged creature capable of covering a thousand *li* in a day, a round trip to Yangshui would only take a few days.

As night fell, the first snow began to descend upon Panlong City.

As He Lingchuan walked along the street, he suddenly felt a chill on his face. Tiny, unexpected snowflakes began to fall, finding their way down people's collars.

Pedestrians on the street pulled their collars tighter and hastened their steps.

On such a bitter cold day, heading home to the warmth of a hearth was the only sensible thing to do.

He Lingchuan entered an apothecary and ordered several medicinal herbs, asking the shopkeeper to prepare a decoction of White Tiger Soup for him.

"Someone at home needs a hangover cure?"

He Lingchuan smiled. "Indeed."

He had initially planned to enter Panlong City by night after leaving Mount Xu, but that evening he first dreamt of the Questioning Tree, and the very next day he encountered Prince Lingxu coming to his residence, committing murder and arson.

Tonight, he finally made it into the city.

A moment later, the White Tiger Soup was ready. Unfazed by the heat, he picked up the earthenware pot and began his walk back.