Chapter 631: Oath Chains

## Chapter 626: Oath Chains

He Lingchuan started to concoct a story. "Do you know about the ruins of Thousand Star City?"

"Yes. It's the old capital of the Ancient Yuan Kingdom," came the reply. It's renowned for the war that destroyed the kingdom over a hundred years ago.

"In the ruins of Thousand Star City, after a furious sandstorm, illusions sometimes appear, replaying the war that brought down the Yuan Kingdom." He Lingchuan shrugged. "What I saw was similar, just in a different place."

Fang Canran licked his lips. Although he knew the other party was trying to bait him, he couldn't help but ask, "Where?"

"Not within Beijia," He Lingchuan smiled. "Further west, even further west."

"What did you see?"

"I saw Shao Jian traveling through an ancient city. Oh, that place was very prosperous over a hundred years ago, not as grand as Lingxu City, but more orderly and wealthier than most cities."

To pry open Fang Canran's mouth, He Lingchuan had to make him believe that both of them were connected to Shao Jian.

For someone familiar with Shao Jian's life, it wouldn't be difficult to guess where the "ancient city west of Beijia" he mentioned was.

"I also saw Shao Jian talking with a friend in a secret room, saying he had a daughter, seven years old, nicknamed Swallow, and named Yingying," He Lingchuan said slowly. "He grinned from ear to ear, brimming with pride."

He sighed. "Although he was obsessed with revenge, he hoped his daughter, Shao Yingying, would live a peaceful, ordinary life." He Lingchuan still remembered how Shao Jian's eyes lit up when he spoke of his daughter.

Fang Canran was silent. "And what else?"

"He said that when he took his daughter to the West Street Temple Fair in Linhe City, Xuanguo, he sought a fortune teller. The divination the person gave him consisted of the fourteen characters I mentioned earlier." He Lingchuan feigned a sudden realization at this point. "Oh, right, Xuanguo ceased to exist long ago, and I don't know if Linhe City is still around."

So, when Fang Canran heard the place name "Linhe City," he knew He Lingchuan was toying with him.

Fang Canran swallowed, pondering for a moment before asking:

"So, you're saying everything you saw was by chance and unrelated to your coming to Lingxu City?"

"As you know, I came to Lingxu City by chance, commissioned by Crown Prince Chiyan to investigate a case," He Lingchuan said, enunciating each word. "But seeing this ring on your hand, I felt I needed to ask for clarification."

Fang Canran immediately retorted, "Why do you need to know? What's Shao Jian to you?"

"Of course there's a connection," He Lingchuan whispered. "He never took center stage in history, yet he disrupted the order of the divine realm. So, broadly speaking, his actions are connected to everyone. Thanks to him, the rate at which spiritual energy disappears from this world slowed down. From over a hundred years ago to sixty years ago, Emperor's Dew was a frequent visitor to the human world."

Fang Canran listened expressionlessly, his mind churning.

Honestly, the relationships between the divine realm and the human world, and between Emperor's Dew and spiritual energy, weren't exactly earth-shattering secrets among the true upper echelons. After all, there were plenty of intelligent people in the world, and those in the know often feigned ignorance.

But the fact that He Lingchuan could accurately state the connection between Emperor's Dew and Shao Jian — that was terrifying!

This meant that the young man before him had a significant understanding of Shao Jian's life and beliefs.

Fang Canran even felt transparent in front of He Lingchuan. This fear of having his entire ancestry seen through left him feeling cold to the core.

Where did such a person come from, capable of exposing his carefully guarded secrets one by one?

He Lingchuan stared at him and continued, "I'm telling you all this to make you understand, Steward Fang, that I bear you no ill will. Otherwise, I would have reported you to the Heavenly Palace long ago. You know the attitude of the gods and demon emperors towards the descendants of the Yuan Kingdom, especially anyone connected to Shao Jian. Regardless of whether I was telling the truth or not, they would immediately apprehend you and interrogate you severely!"

Had Fang Canran not suddenly attacked him, he would have preferred to observe cautiously, as he already had enough troubles of his own.

But Fang Canran was the first to break through this 'paper window' (covert understanding), so He Lingchuan decided to go with the flow. He didn't demand that Shao Jian's descendant become his friend, but he needed assistance.

He had too little support in Lingxu City. This particular operation was something he couldn't accomplish alone.

Fang Canran had diligently cultivated resources and connections in Lingxu for years, possessing far more than He Lingchuan. If he could be utilized, he would be a great asset.

Of course, first, both parties needed a foundation of honest mutual trust, which was the most difficult step to take.

Fang Canran remained silent.

Indeed, as He Lingchuan said, whenever matters concerning the Ancient Yuan Kingdom came up, Lingxu City would become irrationally frantic; their reaction could only be described as "stress-induced." And mentioning Shao Jian's name...

This young man also seemed to know the Heavenly Palace's Cloud Emissary. If he simply said a word or two to Bai Ziqi, swift punishment would follow.

The Grand Steward of the Golden Horn family sounded powerful to ordinary people, but in the face of divine authority, he was worthless!

Many thoughts ran through his mind. "Why didn't you report me?"

"No matter how others judge him, I admire Mr. Shao's character, and I certainly don't wish for his descendants to suffer further persecution," He Lingchuan said earnestly. "Of course, we still need to calculate the losses you inflicted upon me tonight."

"..." Fang Canran felt a wave of relief. Since the other party was now talking about money, his greatest crisis was over. "Of course, I'll give Young Master He fifty thousand taels as compensation for the shock."

Money makes everything easier. Just a few days ago, He Lingchuan had run up a tab with Li Qingge to buy Frost-Patterned Silver. "That flash grenade you threw earlier was quite good. What's it called?"

"Soul-Shaker Bomb," Fang Canran swallowed. "I have two more, which I acquired from abroad over a decade ago."

"I want five," He Lingchuan said, pointing to the shattered mirror by the door. "Can this Heart-Piercing Mirror be repaired?"

"...I'll find someone to repair it."

"Good. Once it's repaired, it's mine."

The treasures this young man wanted were all very expensive. But what right did Fang Canran have to refuse now?

"By the way, I'll need a lot of information in the future, Steward Fang. You have many connections and extensive networks—" The last few words were drawn out.

He was giving Fang Canran a chance to prove useful.

Fang Canran closed his eyes. "I will do my best to inquire."

Seeing that most of the benefits had been secured, He Lingchuan rubbed his hands together. "Alright, if you, Brother Fang, don't cause me any more trouble, we can shake hands and make peace now, acting as if nothing happened tonight. What do you say?"

Fang Canran stared at him for a long time before finally nodding. "It's a deal!"

He Lingchuan gently tugged at the knot on Fang Canran's arm. The intricate fastenings suddenly unraveled by themselves, so quickly that Fang Canran didn't even understand what had happened before he felt a lightness at the back of his neck—

He Lingchuan had removed the silver needle that sealed his acupoints.

Fang Canran flexed his wrists, his gaze at He Lingchuan complex and unreadable.

Although he didn't believe the young man would kill him at Yuexiang Villa, his decisive release of Fang Canran, despite having all the advantages—the monetary compensation and magical artifacts were secondary at this point—still surprised Fang Canran.

On the surface, it seemed He Lingchuan was demonstrating his sincerity.

But Fang Canran understood that this generosity stemmed from confidence: confidence that he could manipulate him at any time and had no fear of his retaliation.

As He Lingchuan himself said, dealing with Fang Canran would be far too simple; he could just report Shao Jian's descendant to the Heavenly Palace. Yet, Fang Canran had no leverage against him.

If it were anyone else, they might have threatened him to death.

But this young man...

"Sigh, how did I lose so completely tonight?" Fang Canran sighed inwardly, then counted out fifty thousand taels in banknotes and handed them over. "Here's the money first. The other items will be prepared and delivered in a few days."

This implicitly admitted that he still had at least five Soul-Shaker Bombs.

The brazier in the hall had been smoldering, keeping the room warm as spring.

Fang Canran picked up a cast-iron kettle, went outside to fetch a pot of spring water, and placed it over the brazier to boil. Then he picked up some persimmons from the table and offered one to He Lingchuan. "Care for a Four-Cornered Persimmon? They're from the two-hundred-year-old persimmon tree behind the house and are very sweet."

This type of persimmon had distinct longitudinal grooves on its skin, making it look like a small cube rather than as round as other persimmons.

He Lingchuan waved his hand. "No, thank you. The antidote pill I took has worn off."

Fang Canran gave an embarrassed smile, then bowed to him. "My apologies for my earlier offenses, Young Master He!" He then personally moved a chair over. "Please, sit."

This man's mental adjustment was truly swift. He Lingchuan was curious to hear what he would say next, so he sat down without a word.

Fang Canran said earnestly, "I see that Young Master He is a man with secrets—just like me."

Both men were continuously probing each other. "If we can't establish sincere mutual trust, then our conversation, like the one earlier at Pianxiang Villa, would simply be a waste of time."

He Lingchuan nodded. Without a foundation of trust, deep communication was impossible.

"Then I have a suggestion." Fang Canran rose and returned after about a dozen breaths, holding something new.

He Lingchuan was somewhat surprised, as the Grand Steward had brought down a pair of shackles!

"What's this?"

Fang Canran threw the shackles into the brazier, retrieved them after dozens of breaths, and placed them in He Lingchuan's hand.

They were cold.

The heat from the flames hadn't transferred to the shackles at all.

"This is a valuable item, called the Oath Chains. It's a treasure I acquired five years ago from an overseas alchemist. There are only two such items."

He Lingchuan picked them up to examine them. The two handcuffs were heavy and dark, and the chain connecting them was engraved with countless inscriptions in the language of immortals.

"An ancient artifact?"

"And it's still usable," Fang Canran said, pointing at it. "You got a prompt as soon as you picked up the chains, didn't you? This is a wondrous item forged in the Demonic Heart Furnace. Two individuals forming a pact or making a deal each wear one, then swear an oath to it. If either party fails to uphold or breaks the oath, they will suffer severe punishment, immediately succumbing to a heart demon's backlash and dying. Even ancient immortals couldn't resist this punishment, so it was widely used for pacts, and only a few exist today. Also, if an execution date is set, any deliberate delay by either party will also result in punishment."

Such a treasure exists? He Lingchuan understood. "Mr. Fang wants to establish an agreement with me?"

No wonder Fang Canran hadn't been afraid of offending him earlier; he had clearly intended to use this ultimate treasure all along.

"Exactly. Let's make a gentleman's agreement: neither of us shall harm the other in any form, meaning no direct or indirect attacks, reports, entrapment, or betrayal. Otherwise, we will immediately suffer a heart demon's backlash and die."

(End of Chapter)