Chapter 980: Open and Aboveboard

Chapter 970: Above Board

Yu Zecheng's heart sank slightly. This indicated that his opponent would be more difficult to handle than anticipated.

He Lingchuan looked curious. "How did you know, Mr. Yu?"

Pan Si Island is a forbidden zone, inaccessible to outsiders; only specialized cargo ships can approach it. The fact that these Bega individuals came directly to He Lingchuan confirmed their belief that Madam Zhu Er was somewhere in the archipelago.

If the waterway was difficult, then the only alternative was by air.

"Such a massive spider demon, with so many offspring, how could it go unnoticed anywhere?" Yu Zecheng said meaningfully. "It's impossible to hide."

He Lingchuan chuckled. "Mr. Yu, you jest. The spider demon came to the island and settled here openly. What's there to hide? Look at Suoding Island; we have so many visitors arriving and staying every day. You can hardly call that hiding someone, can you?"

Madam Zhu Er was indeed on his island, and the cave spider's products were still being sold. This was a fact that would eventually have to be acknowledged.

Could he deny it?

Could he delay it?

Upon hearing the phrase "above board," Yu Zecheng's gaze sharpened. "Are you saying the spider demon came to the island with your permission, Island Master He?"

The threat in his words was palpable.

"As Mr. Yu pointed out, with such a large spider demon and so many offspring, how could I not know if it had settled on the island without permission?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "Besides, Madam Zhu Er wouldn't be so bold as to trespass into a forbidden area without my approval as the island master, would she?"

His sarcasm about trespassing was unmistakable. The expressions of the Bega individuals behind Yu Zecheng visibly darkened.

Seeing that the young man was unyielding and feigning ignorance while still delivering veiled insults, Yu Zecheng set down his teacup. "Island Master He, I'll be straightforward. Madam Zhu Er is a wanted criminal with a bounty from Bega, and she's the second most wanted on the Heavenly List! We've been tracking her, and she ultimately fled to your island."

Since his opponent wasn't playing along, Yu Zecheng had no choice but to be more direct, laying his cards on the table.

He Lingchuan feigned great surprise. "Madam Zhu Er? A wanted criminal? No way!"

He leaned forward, looking astonished. "What monstrous crime could she possibly have committed to be listed on the Heavenly, the Heavenly List...?"

"Arson at the Star-Picking Tower and theft of secret treasures from the Heavenly Palace," Yu Zecheng stated, clearly reluctant to utter the charges, as they represented a painful scar for Bega.

"Arson? Theft?" He Lingchuan mused. "Does Madam Zhu Er possess such immense power? What treasure exactly did she steal?"

"It's not something to be discussed with outsiders," Yu Zecheng replied flatly.

He Lingchuan looked at them and suddenly asked, "Mr. Yu, do any of you possess a Bega token or official badge?"

Yu Zecheng retrieved a black token from his robes and presented it to him.

The token glowed faintly, its inscription clearly visible.

Only after confirming its authenticity did a hesitant expression appear on He Lingchuan's face. He sighed. "Ah, this complicates things."

"What difficulties do you face, Island Master He?"

"Madam Zhu Er once saved my life, and I had to repay that debt, which is why I allowed her to take refuge on my island," He Lingchuan said, shaking his head. "She has only just moved here, and I promised her she could live in peace. Now, Mr. Yu, you tell me she's a fugitive and demand I expel her. That truly puts me in a difficult position."

Yu Zecheng was neither able to verify nor interested in whether He Lingchuan and Madam Zhu Er truly had a past connection. "Island Master He," he pressed, "Madam Zhu Er committed crimes in Lingxu City, and she had accomplices. If you harbor her like this, be careful not to be seen as an accessory to the unrest in Lingxu City, which would invite Bega's displeasure."

He Lingchuan quickly set down his teacup and waved both hands dismissively. "Oh, no, no, I couldn't possibly bear such a terrifying accusation. It's too much for me."

He sighed. "I suspect there might be some misunderstanding here. Tell me, Mr. Yu, have you and Madam Zhu Er ever had a proper conversation?"

"What do you propose, Island Master He?"

"How about I act as a mediator this time?" He Lingchuan suggested. "You two can meet, sit down, and have a good talk. If it's merely a misunderstanding, then resolving it should clear things up."

His face was etched with such sincerity that Yu Zecheng couldn't immediately discern if he was being genuine or disingenuous.

"Where would this meeting take place?"

"If Mr. Yu agrees, I'll consult Madam Zhu Er for her opinion," He Lingchuan said. "Then, we can arrange a suitable location for the meeting. How does that sound?"

Yu Zecheng gazed at him intently for a long moment, deep in thought.

Yu Zecheng's gaze was sharp as a knife, the kind that would unnerve most people. Yet, He Lingchuan's smile remained entirely sincere, without a hint of wavering.

Finally, Yu Zecheng nodded slowly. "Very well."

He Lingchuan immediately let out a long breath and gave a thumbs-up. "Mr. Yu, you are truly reasonable!"

Yu Zecheng's interest, however, had already shifted to He Lingchuan. "Island Master He, have you ever visited Bega?"

"Yes, I have. It's one of the most powerful nations in the world; how could I not go and broaden my horizons?"

"And Lingxu City?"

He Lingchuan smiled. "If I went to Bega, how could I miss Lingxu City? You can't truly experience Bega without visiting Lingxu City."

Yu Zecheng also smiled faintly. "When did you visit?"

Wang Fubao, standing nearby, felt that Yu Zecheng's smile seemed laced with poison, brimming with ill intent.

He Lingchuan, seemingly oblivious, answered casually, "Last year, I believe."

"Oh, what a coincidence?" Yu Zecheng's gaze sharpened slightly. "Madam Zhu Er also caused a major incident at the Heavenly Palace last year."

He Lingchuan quickly interjected, "Mr. Yu, please don't suggest such a thing. Someone capable of burning down the Heavenly Palace must be extraordinary, possessing both immense power and deep-seated resentment, wouldn't you agree? I merely visited Lingxu City to broaden my horizons and learn. There are foreign travelers like myself everywhere in Lingxu City; what kind of trouble could we possibly stir up?"

His lack of motive and power served as his protective shield.

He then lowered his voice. "Have the gods still not found this person?"

Seeing He Lingchuan's gossipy expression, Yu Zecheng gave a knowing half-smile. "Island Master He, when you were in Lingxu City, where did you stay and where did you study?"

An ordinary person would undoubtedly feel uneasy under such an interrogation.

He Lingchuan began counting on his fingers. "First, I stayed at the City South Inn, but it exploded, so I moved to Panshan Residence. Then, Panshan Residence also burned down completely, so I went to... I went to..."

What was the name of that large, luxurious estate with a small lake for boating?

The mirror in his robes prompted him: "Pianxiang Villa!"

"Oh, that's right, Pianxiang Villa!"

Yu Zecheng found the name "Pianxiang Villa" faintly familiar but couldn't immediately place it. However, he knew that the explosion at the City South Inn in Lingxu City last year was connected to another major incident. "So, you were also staying at the City South Inn when the Elixir of Immortality case occurred?"

"Yes, it nearly killed me!" He Lingchuan said with lingering trepidation. "I was fortunate I hadn't gone inside yet, or I'd have been blown to bits."

Yu Zecheng's eyes flickered. "Pianxiang Villa is located in...?"

"It's on Qilin Mountain, rumored to be the former residence of the disgraced Chunyu family."

Qilin Mountain, that's the heart of Lingxu's Lower City. How could a mere foreign traveler afford to live in such a place?

What exactly was the background of this young man named He? Yu Zecheng sensed that the more he probed, the more complicated the situation became.