Chapter 247: Killing Wen Wangji

The Imperial Study was very quiet. Gu Mo remained silent, as did Gu Chudong.

Su Ziyou bowed to the Jin Emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, is this the condition for informing us of Wen Wangji of the Bandit Sect's whereabouts?"

The Jin Emperor shook his head slightly. "It's a request. Regardless of whether you two agree or not, I will inform you of Wen Wangji's exact whereabouts. As for investigating the leader of the Millennium Cult, that is merely my personal request."

Su Ziyou thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I need to discuss this with Great Hero Gu."

The Jin Emperor nodded.

Immediately, Gu Mo and the other two exited the Imperial Study and walked to a long corridor.

Gu Mo said, "Let's talk here. I'll use my true qi to seal the area; no one will be able to hear us."

Su Ziyou asked, "Brother Gu, are you interested in investigating the Millennium Cult?"

Gu Mo smiled and said, "It depends on you, Brother Su. If you wish to investigate, I will accompany you. I'm not good at investigations, but fighting is no problem. You can certainly leave your safety to me."

"Thank you, Brother Gu!" Su Ziyou cupped his hands to Gu Mo in thanks and said, "I want to investigate. To be honest, before coming here, I spoke with our Emperor. While we all knew the Millennium Cult's influence in Southern Jin was significant, we didn't realize it was so great that it could almost overturn the very foundation of the state.

Before, His Majesty didn't pay much attention to matters in Southern Jin. He thought that even if Su Qianqiu were defeated, he wouldn't be killed, and as long as Su Qianqiu was still alive, Southern Jin wouldn't descend into complete chaos. But now it seems, with the Millennium Cult's existence, even if Su Qianqiu were alive, let alone defeated, Southern Jin would still face great turmoil. No matter how strong Su Qianqiu is, he's just one person. He can defend the national borders by himself, but that doesn't mean he can revive a thoroughly corrupted nation on his own.

If a Millennium Cult leader truly exists, Southern Jin will undoubtedly experience a nationwide rebellion. After all, the Millennium Cult leader's influence in Southern Jin is already greater than the Southern Jin Emperor's, and Su Qianqiu, the cult's 'true deity', is ironically a false one. At this point, if they aren't aiming for the throne, then their ambitions are even greater.

If there's no actual leader behind the Millennium Cult, it's even more problematic, and I must inform His Majesty to prepare early. A cult sweeping across the nation, even influencing the imperial court, yet lacking a unified leader, means independent regimes will emerge everywhere. Once someone ignites the spark, the entire nation will splinter, and Southern Jin will cease to exist."

Gu Chudong asked curiously, "Brother Su, what does the state of Southern Jin have to do with you, an official from the Qian Kingdom?"

Su Ziyou replied, "Sister Chudong, before the imperial city coup, our internal power struggles within the Qian Kingdom hadn't been resolved, so indeed we couldn't concern ourselves with so much. But now, the struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor has concluded.

In the short term, our Qian Kingdom will also experience turmoil; this is unavoidable. Although the Empress Dowager has passed away, her faction's influence still remains, and His Majesty will need time to suppress it. During this critical period, if Southern Jin faces problems, it will be troublesome. Chu will undoubtedly march north and attack our Qian Kingdom without hesitation.

Why did the late Emperor, back then, choose to pay reparations and hand over hostages just to hold onto Jin Commandery? Logically, Jin Commandery originally belonged to the Jin state, and returning it wouldn't have made a difference. But the late Emperor refused to let go because Jin Commandery was needed to separate our Qian Kingdom from Southern Jin. Southern Jin then became a defense line for us against Chu, preventing Chu from launching a full-scale invasion of our Qian Kingdom.

However, if Southern Jin falls into chaos, Chu will surely seize the opportunity to advance, leading to a three-front war: one in the northern desert, one in Jin Commandery, and one by sea via the Heavenly Sands Islands. Among these three fronts, Southern Jin currently blocks two – Jin Commandery and the Heavenly Sands Islands. Thus, Southern Jin's importance is self-evident."

Gu Chudong asked, "Can't our Qian Kingdom defeat Chu?"

Su Ziyou said gravely, "When it comes to warfare, many factors are considered, so no one can directly determine who is stronger or weaker. However, one point is clear: war is inevitably a financial war of attrition. Currently, our Qian Kingdom's treasury cannot support a full-scale national conflict.

Once a full-scale war truly begins, taxes will inevitably increase. Alas, harsh taxes are fiercer than tigers. Our Qian Kingdom has only just begun to recover for about ten years, and the people's lives have only slightly improved. If war breaks out now, countless people will be displaced, and famine will sweep the land!"

Gu Chudong frowned, "But I remember that the Head Manager, whose public identity was Grand Confucian Master of the Eastern Border, was a hawk and had strong support from His Majesty. Isn't our Emperor quite supportive of war?"

Su Ziyou shook his head. "Supporting war doesn't necessarily mean truly wanting war. Nations negotiate for peace, but internally, they must maintain a fighting spirit. Empress Dowager Yan's faction didn't want war; not only did they oppose it, but they also constantly disparaged and suppressed national morale. This is unacceptable. While we should avoid fighting and starting wars if possible, we mustn't fear war. We cannot lose our resolve, nor can we abandon constant preparation for battle.

We must do everything possible to prevent war from breaking out, but we must also do everything possible to boost the nation's fighting spirit and hold the line. Ceding five cities today and ten cities tomorrow for a night's peace is absolutely out of the question. Therefore, His Majesty supports the war faction not because he desires war, but because he must be prepared for it at any moment!"

Gu Chudong realized, "So that's how it is! I understand. In other words, it's best that Southern Jin doesn't fall before our national strength can support an all-out war!"

Su Ziyou nodded, "That's right. That's why I want to investigate this Millennium Cult. I actually hope there truly is a Millennium Cult leader behind it, as that's the only way to resolve the problem at its root. If there isn't, then I'll truly be powerless, and so will the Jin Emperor!"

Gu Mo patted Su Ziyou's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, a Millennium Cult leader definitely exists."

Su Ziyou asked in surprise, "You're that certain?"

Gu Mo said, "I am the foremost 'Blade Catcher' in the world. I have an extremely strong premonition about wanted criminals; you could consider it a form of metaphysics. It's like the widely held belief in the martial arts world that no wanted criminal I've set my sights on has ever escaped."

Su Ziyou chuckled, "So, this Millennium Cult leader is now being targeted by you, Brother Gu?"

"Targeted relentlessly," Gu Mo replied.

Su Ziyou looked at Gu Mo and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Brother Gu!"

Gu Mo chuckled lightly, "I am a Blade Catcher."

Soon after,

The three returned to the Imperial Study.

The Jin Emperor smiled and said, "It seems you've finished your discussion." As he spoke, he handed a token to Su Ziyou and continued, "Regardless of whether you assist me or not, I will inform you of Wen Wangji's whereabouts. Take this token to Millennium Town in the south of the city and find 'Three-Hands,' the owner of the East-Come Casino. He is my hidden guard and will help you capture Wen Wangji. Yes, Wen Wangji is in Millennium Town."

Su Ziyou took the token and asked, puzzled, "Your Majesty, is Wen Wangji not one of your people?"

"No," the Jin Emperor replied. "While I very much wish to dismantle Elder Su's myth in Southern Jin, I cannot actively undertake such a task. To be more direct, I don't possess that capability. Although I still hold power within the imperial court and no one suppresses my imperial authority, the prerequisite is that I cannot touch any issues related to the Millennium Cult or Elder Su. Should such matters arise, the entire court will voice various objections. Therefore, I truly lack the means to act against Elder Su."

Su Ziyou frowned, puzzled, "Then why couldn't the Su family locate Wen Wangji?"

The Jin Emperor chuckled lightly. "Initially, I indeed facilitated Wen Wangji's protection, but Wen Wangji didn't trust me and fled into Millennium Town.

Regarding Millennium Town, you can think of it as your Qian Kingdom's underground 'Ghost City' beneath the capital. However, the Qian Kingdom's Ghost City relies on its underground environment to form a force resisting official governance, whereas Millennium Town resists the imperial court and authorities through the people's faith in the 'Ultimate Heavenly Venerate'. It's a town formed by hundreds, even thousands, of Millennium Temples established by various followers of the Ultimate Heavenly Venerate.

In our Southern Jin, even government constables and military soldiers have no right to trespass into any Millennium Temple. Any forceful entry would create a faith issue, igniting an uncontrollable rebellion. Therefore, whether imperial officials or government constables and yamen runners, none dare to take responsibility, choosing instead to turn a blind eye to Millennium Town. Over time, that place has become an official forbidden zone; no government personnel go there. If ordinary fugitives flee inside, their capture is essentially declared a failure."

Gu Mo listened, then said, "Your Majesty, if what you say is true, this Millennium Cult should be quite easy to investigate. As long as Millennium Town is thoroughly examined, it will surely reveal whether there's someone behind the cult, and if so, who they are will be clear at a glance."

The Jin Emperor chuckled, "Naturally, I know, and I've considered investigating. However, once I raise this matter in court, the entire assembly of civil and military officials will object, because any disturbance to the Millennium Cult would affect the foundation of the state. Furthermore, the entire court is composed of Millennium Cult followers, and those working below them are also cult followers. How can one investigate? And what could possibly be uncovered?"

Su Ziyou's brow furrowed. "Your Majesty, if this foreign official is willing to help you investigate the Millennium Cult leader, what assistance can you provide us?"

The Jin Emperor shook his head slightly. "The assistance I can provide is limited, as I cannot openly investigate the Millennium Cult. However, I can grant you investigative authority for other cases, which will prevent imperial court and government officials from directly obstructing you.

Furthermore, I have hidden guards who can provide you with necessary assistance in secret, aiding your investigation as much as possible and creating various legitimate reasons for you to enter Millennium Town, such as a wanted criminal entering the town.

But, if you truly wish to help me investigate the Millennium Cult, you must remember: never admit, and never publicly state, that you are investigating Millennium Town. Otherwise, it will undoubtedly lead to great trouble!"

Su Ziyou cupped his hands and said, "Understood. This foreign official and Great Hero Gu will do our best in this matter, but we cannot guarantee that we will fully uncover the truth behind the Millennium Cult."

"I understand," the Jin Emperor said. "I am already immensely grateful that Minister Su and Minister Gu are willing to help."

After the negotiations with the Jin Emperor concluded, Gu Mo and the others immediately left the imperial city.

Just as they reached the imperial city gate, they saw the Seventh Prince, Sima Kong, waiting outside. Upon seeing Gu Mo and the others emerge, Sima Kong hurried forward, cupped his hands, and exclaimed, "Great Hero Gu, Vice Minister Su, Heroine Gu! My father has prepared a banquet at his residence and insisted that I invite the three of you to grace us with your presence for a small drink!"

The group returned the salute.

Gu Chudong asked curiously, "Your father? Is he the head of the Su family?"

Sima Kong nodded. "Precisely."

Gu Chudong chuckled lightly, "You have a truly fortunate life. The Su family is said to be the wealthiest family in the State of Jin, and the head of the Su family is the richest man in Jin. You have two fathers: one is the richest man, and the other is the most powerful emperor!"

Sima Kong forced a bitter smile. "Actually, from another perspective, I am neither truly of the imperial family nor of the Su family. The imperial family believes I have Su blood and cannot sincerely accept me; while the Su family views me as a prince, bearing the surname Sima, and cannot be truly sincere with me."

"Well..."

Gu Chudong was at a loss for words.

Sima Kong suddenly chuckled with a hint of smugness. "However, on the other hand, as a prince, I have the right to establish my own residence and official yamen, command several hundred private soldiers, and even have officials pledging allegiance – something the Su family's young masters can't compare to. And as a Su family scion, I receive tens of thousands of taels of silver monthly, plus various Su family assets, making me far wealthier than other princes. Oh, sometimes when I think about it, my life has no direction for struggle. I was born with power in one hand and money in the other. Neither the imperial family's struggles nor the Su family's internal conflicts involve suspicion towards me; everyone still has to look after me. This kind of life is too corrupting for my mind!"

Just moments ago, Gu Chudong had felt Sima Kong was somewhat pitiful and deserving of sympathy, having been abandoned by both families.

Now, Gu Chudong's fists were clenched tightly!

Su Ziyou and Gu Mo were also speechless.

Gu Mo suddenly seemed to understand why Qi Miaoxuan, Zhang Dao, and others who had met Su Qianqiu felt such a strong urge to beat him. It was because Sima Kong was Su Qianqiu's direct great-grandson, and it was highly probable that this 'begging-for-a-beating' aura was inherited directly from Su Qianqiu.

Soon,

The group arrived at a mansion in the capital, which was precisely the Su family estate.

Gu Mo, being unable to see, felt no particular impact, but Gu Chudong and Su Ziyou could. Both were instantly shocked by the Su family estate's extravagance.

The vermilion-lacquered main gate was adorned with nine rows of gilded bronze studs. In front, a pair of white marble stone lions crouched, their paws resting on stone spheres intricately carved with intertwining lotus patterns, and even their pedestals were inlaid with lapis lazuli. Passing through three ornate moon gates, the central courtyard's winding corridor was entirely crafted from golden-thread nanmu wood. The column capitals featured coiled dragons with furious, wide-open eyes, their pupils inlaid with pigeon's blood rubies, and their whiskers hung with night-glowing pearls as large as fists. In the main hall, twelve gold-foil-wrapped pillars rose several zhang high. Six bronze Boshan censers emitted wisps of green smoke, their bodies adorned with intricate gold patterns that shimmered under the candlelight. Persian velvet carpets woven with golden phoenixes covered the floor; each feather was adorned with pearls, making it feel like walking on shattered starlight. In the back garden, an artificial lake drew living water from Jade Spring Mountain, its bottom paved with jadeite. On the white jade bridge, twenty-four solar terms were outlined in gold foil, and even the crevices between the stones were inlaid with Eastern Pearls—the epitome of luxury.

Many of the mountain and sea delicacies on the table were things Su Ziyou and Gu Chudong had never seen or heard of before.

For a moment,

Gu Chudong suddenly felt a surge of emotion. She had previously thought 200,000 taels of silver was an exorbitant sum, but now she finally understood why Sima Kong's initial offer was so far above market price. In the Su family's eyes, 200,000 taels was practically no different from 20,000 or even 2,000 taels.

"Hahaha..."

A hearty laugh echoed from outside the door as a corpulent middle-aged man walked in, saying, "Great Hero Gu, Vice Minister Su, Heroine Gu, your presence graces my humble abode! What an honor, what an honor!"

The newcomer was short and stout, with a belly as round as that of Maitreya. His jade belt was adorned with thumb-sized Eastern Pearls that jingled as he walked. He wore a cloud-brocade robe embroidered with peacock and gold threads, its cuffs inlaid with crushed diamonds, and around his neck hung three layers of pure gold chi-dragon pattern necklaces, cascading down to his chest, presenting an extremely opulent appearance.

Sima Kong quickly introduced him to Gu Mo and the others: "This is my father."

The man also introduced himself, "Greetings, everyone. I am Su Wanguan, head of the Su family!"

Usually, a name like 'Wanguan' is taken as a good omen, signifying immense wealth. However, for this Su Wanguan, the name felt completely unfitting; it seemed more like a malicious curse.

Gu Mo and the others returned the bow.

Su Wanguan enthusiastically motioned for them to be seated. "You have traveled thousands of miles to help; Su is immensely grateful. It's just that I, Su, am neither scholarly nor martial; I haven't read many books nor learned many martial arts moves. I truly don't know how to express my gratitude, so I've prepared a small token as a welcoming gift. It might be a bit crude, but I hope you won't disdain it!"

As he spoke, Su Wanguan gestured, and immediately three servants entered, each carrying a box, placing them before Gu Mo and the other two.

Su Ziyou and Gu Chudong, both puzzled, opened their boxes. Inside each, they saw a lump of at least twenty catties of gold, pressing down on a rare silver note of the highest denomination – ten thousand taels.

Su Wanguan said, "Sirs, our Su family has only been established for a short time, just over twenty years now, so our foundation is shallow. We don't have many respectable items. I know you are all refined individuals, so please don't misunderstand that I am trying to insult you. It's truly due to our Su family's weak foundation; we don't have any decent famous calligraphy, paintings, or rare treasures!"

Looking at Su Wanguan's sincere gaze,

For a moment, both Gu Chudong and Su Ziyou couldn't tell if he was genuinely speaking from the heart or merely putting on an act.

However, upon seeing the lump of gold and the ten-thousand-tael silver note, both felt that Su Wanguan, being so generous and warm-hearted, must be speaking with utmost sincerity.

At once,

The atmosphere became excellent, and the meal was thoroughly enjoyed by both hosts and guests.

As they ate, Sima Kong asked, "Great Hero Gu, I heard you killed Grand General Helian Tieyi at today's imperial banquet?"

Gu Mo nodded slightly. "He insisted on seeking death, so I merely granted his wish."

Sima Kong gave an awkward smile. "Helian Tieyi's identity is not simple; he's not only one of our Jin state's Four Great Generals but also the current head of the Helian clan. You see..."

Gu Mo said, "Today in the palace, before your Jin state's entire court of civil and military officials and your Emperor, he himself proposed a death match with me. Will the Jin military still refuse to acknowledge it?"

"That's not necessarily..."

"So, the Helian clan intends to seek revenge on me?" Gu Mo asked.

Sima Kong said awkwardly, "I was just speaking casually; please don't take it to heart."

Gu Mo waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. Whether the military seeks revenge or the Helian clan does, they'd better find a way to gather tens of thousands of armored cavalry and manage to conceal their approach to surround me at close quarters. Otherwise, if they dare to seek revenge, I'll kill as many as come, and then I'll go after them."

Gu Mo's words were calm,

Yet they instilled a chilling sense of dread in both Su Wanguan and Sima Kong, as well as the Su family servants attending in the hall.

After a moment of silence, Su Wanguan broke the quiet and asked, "Putting Helian Tieyi aside, you were summoned by His Majesty. Did you discuss Wen Wangji? What did His Majesty say?"

Su Ziyou shook his head. "Your esteemed Emperor didn't say much, only telling us to investigate." Su Ziyou then looked at Sima Kong and said, "Seventh Prince, I'm afraid your guess was correct. Wen Wangji might indeed be hiding in the imperial palace. We must gather sufficient evidence to compel your Emperor to give up Wen Wangji. Otherwise, capturing Wen Wangji and recovering the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage will be impossible!"

Sima Kong nodded. "Then I'll leave this matter to you. If there's any need, I will certainly cooperate fully!"

"My Su family will also cooperate fully!" Su Wanguan said. "Vice Minister Su, please make sure to recover the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage before the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month!"

Su Ziyou cupped his hands. "We will do our best!"

After the meal concluded,

Gu Mo and the others left the Su family residence and returned to Honglu Temple.

Of course, none of them forgot to bring the lump of gold and the ten-thousand-tael silver note gifted by Su Wanguan. They all planned to use the money to purchase valuable heavenly materials and earthly treasures to bring back to the Qian Kingdom when they returned.

Southern Jin's silver notes were unusable in the Qian Kingdom, and exchanging them for physical silver to take back was too impractical. As an official, Su Ziyou doing so would only bring him trouble. As for Gu Mo, it was simply impossible to carry back over 200,000 taels in physical silver.

Upon returning to Honglu Temple, Gu Chudong voiced her doubts to Su Ziyou: "Brother Su, why did you hide that from Sima Kong and Su Wanguan just now? Do you suspect them of something?"

Su Ziyou chuckled, "Not at all. We were invited by the Su family, so suspecting them would be absurd. The reason I didn't say anything is that success often comes from secrecy, and there were Su family servants present at the time.

Furthermore, and most importantly, this information was obtained from the Jin Emperor by leveraging our identity as the Qian Kingdom's envoy. If we told the Su family directly, they might feel that 200,000 taels of silver was too great a loss. If they captured Wen Wangji themselves, how would you two siblings get your bounty?"

Gu Chudong suddenly understood, then asked again, "So, Brother Su, when do we act?"

"The sooner the better; we'll act tonight," Su Ziyou said. "We'll go out to the night market later, and then head straight to Millennium Town."

After nightfall,

Gu Mo and the others proceeded with their plan, going out to stroll through the night market.

The moment they stepped out, Gu Mo sensed that they were being followed. More precisely, those people had been covertly watching them within Honglu Temple itself.

This was perfectly normal. It would be strange if the Southern Jin court didn't arrange for round-the-clock surveillance of foreign envoys. Just as the Jin envoy would also be continuously monitored if they were to visit the Qian Kingdom.

Quwo City, as the capital of Southern Jin, though a small nation barely larger than two of the Qian Kingdom's prefectures, was still very prosperous. The night market was brightly lit, bustling with people, and exceptionally lively.

Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Su Ziyou strolled leisurely. At a certain moment, at Su Ziyou's signal, Gu Mo, holding Su Ziyou with one hand and Gu Chudong with the other, vanished in the blink of an eye. The Southern Jin experts secretly watching them exchanged bewildered glances, immediately dispatched someone to report back, while the others frantically began searching.

Meanwhile, Gu Mo had already brought Su Ziyou and Gu Chudong to Millennium Town in the south of the city.

Millennium Town was located in a relatively secluded part of the southern city.

After leaving the night market,

Gu Mo and the others traversed a long stretch of quiet land, and then, at a certain point, they suddenly heard the chanting of scriptures.

Under the cover of night, a wondrous market town unfolded like a slowly revealing scroll. Along both sides of the streets, almost every few dozen feet stood a Millennium Temple, varying in size, all with their gates wide open. Gilded robes shimmered against weathered stone statues. Some divine statues were draped in red silk, appearing as if they were about to step forth on clouds amidst the flickering candlelight, while others had solemn faces and held long swords. Without exception, all these Millennium Temples enshrined the Jin state's 'Ultimate Heavenly Venerate,' Su Qianqiu. Incense smoke permeated from every Millennium Temple, forming a cloud-like veil that enveloped the entire market town. Within the swirling smoke, the scents of sandalwood, agarwood, and mugwort intertwined. Inside the temples, Millennium Cult devotees chanted scriptures passed down by the Ultimate Heavenly Venerate, whose original author was unknown. The streets were bustling with people, and there were also many shops doing business, effectively forming another night market. However, in this night market, every single shop inevitably enshrined at least one stone statue, and almost everyone moving through this town was a follower of the Millennium Cult.

Walking through the market town,

Gu Mo and the others all felt a sense of absurdity rise within them.

There are many people in this world who worship deities. For example, in the Qian Kingdom, Taoism flourishes, with various Taoist temples almost everywhere, dedicated to Taoist gods. But those worshipped are legendary deities or patriarchs who ascended to immortality countless years ago. Southern Jin, however, had an entire nation worshipping a person who was still alive. It wasn't merely about erecting a longevity tablet; instead, temples were built, scriptures were annotated, and divine titles were conferred for him everywhere. Crucially, the incense burned brightly, indicating a thriving following, to the point where he had almost become Southern Jin's sole deity.

Afterwards,

After walking for a long time through the town, Gu Mo and the others found the East-Come Casino in a small alley, following the clues provided by the Jin Emperor.

The layout of Millennium Town was very interesting: the main, interconnected streets were almost exclusively lined with Millennium Temples, while behind the main streets were various shops, including even brothels and real estate agencies.

The three entered the casino and directly requested to see the owner, Three-Hands.

The serving boy, seeing the imposing demeanor of the three, dared not refuse their request and went to inform Three-Hands.

Soon, the serving boy returned and invited Gu Mo and the two others upstairs to a private room. There, they saw a burly man with a full beard and a centipede-like scar on his face, idly tossing two iron balls in his hand. He said in a deep voice, "You three look unfamiliar. What path do you travel? What can I do for you?"

"We've come to ask for your assistance. The price is negotiable." Su Ziyou subtly revealed the token.

Instantly, a sharp glint flashed in Three-Hands' eyes. He immediately waved his hand and told the serving boy, "Go guard the stairwell. No one is to disturb us."

The serving boy acknowledged the order and exited.

Three-Hands immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Greetings, Sir. May I ask if there is a mission?"

Su Ziyou said, "We have come by His Majesty's order to apprehend Wen Wangji. You know where he is, don't you?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Three-Hands' eyes, and he then scrutinized Su Ziyou and the others. "Are you from the Qian Kingdom?"

Su Ziyou nodded slightly.

Three-Hands nodded. "You arrived quickly. You only just entered the city today, didn't you? I thought it would take a few more days."

Su Ziyou said, "From what you're saying, you've long suspected we'd come?"

Three-Hands explained, "Earlier, when His Majesty learned that the Qian Kingdom's envoy was returning with the Seventh Prince, accompanied by Gu Mo, the foremost 'Blade Catcher' and a hero of the Qian Kingdom, he knew the Seventh Prince intended to use the Qian Kingdom to exert pressure. He then realized there was no longer any need to protect Wen Wangji and had already instructed me to assist you in apprehending Wen Wangji once the Qian Kingdom's envoy sought me out!"

Su Ziyou asked, "Where is Wen Wangji?"

Three-Hands said, "He's at Cuihua Winehouse tonight. Wen Wangji is probably waiting for someone here in Millennium Town. However, he's fond of wine and can't stand loneliness, so he's been changing his appearance and frequenting various winehouses in Millennium Town lately. Tonight, he's at Sanhua Tower."

"Who is he waiting for?" Su Ziyou asked.

"I don't know," Three-Hands replied. "But it's one of two possibilities: either the mastermind who instructed him to steal the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage, or the buyer."

"Lead the way!" Su Ziyou said.

Three-Hands quickly asked, "Do you need me to call for some men?"

"Hmm?"

Su Ziyou glanced at Gu Mo with confusion, then looked back at Three-Hands, his eyes full of bewilderment.

Three-Hands felt a momentary awkwardness, then remembered that the person before him was the foremost 'Blade Catcher' in the world.

Moreover, although Gu Mo did not yet have much fame in Southern Jin, and his title as 'Third Under Heaven' had not fully spread, Three-Hands, as an imperial hidden guard, would certainly know.

Therefore, he immediately realized his mistake and quickly said, "My apologies, I spoke out of turn!"

Soon,

Led by Three-Hands, the group traveled through the night, venturing into increasingly secluded areas until they finally reached a quiet alley's depths, where they found the place named Cuihua Winehouse.

In fact, rather than a winehouse, it was more of a small liquor shop, a tiny establishment with only four or five tables. There were just a few customers inside, all ordinary folk, clearly the kind of unprofitable small tavern catering to local neighbors.

The winehouse proprietress was a woman who appeared to be around forty years old. Although her complexion wasn't good, she was quite beautiful, and her figure was well-maintained. Every movement exuded a certain grace, suggesting she must have been a renowned beauty in the surrounding villages during her youth.

When the proprietress saw Gu Mo and the others appear at the doorway, a hint of panic flashed in her eyes, clearly the fear an ordinary person feels when facing martial artists. Nevertheless, she gathered her courage, walked to the entrance, and, with a smile, asked, "Esteemed guests, are you here to drink or buy wine?"

Su Ziyou fumbled in his robes, pulled out a silver ingot, and handed it to the proprietress, saying, "Proprietress, I'll buy all your wine for tonight."

"Ah?"

The proprietress was momentarily at a loss, looking at the silver ingot but not daring to take it.

Gu Chudong took the silver ingot from Su Ziyou, then took the proprietress's hand and placed it into her palm, saying, "If we accidentally break anything of yours later, please bear with us!"

The proprietress swallowed, not daring to speak further.

Meanwhile, Gu Mo had already walked towards a middle-aged man sitting alone at a table in the corner, drinking. The man was dressed very ordinarily, like a common person who had been tired from work during the day and had come out for a drink to relax in the evening.

But in reality, he was not. Gu Mo could distinctly sense a powerful internal energy fluctuation emanating from the man, already top-tier in the martial arts world. However, he hadn't reached the super-tier level, as those whose internal arts reached that level had perfected their skills, their internal energy naturally restrained, making it impossible for others to discern their depth.

"Wen Wangji." Gu Mo sat opposite Wen Wangji and slowly spoke, "Can you tell me why you stole the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage?"

Wen Wangji looked up, drained his wine cup, and with a lingering expression, said, "You've mistaken me for someone else. Farewell!"

With that, he stood up, ready to leave.

Gu Mo suddenly reached out to grab Wen Wangji's shoulder. Unexpectedly, the moment he grasped it, Gu Mo felt as if his hand had caught a wisp of cotton—incredibly soft. At the same instant, Wen Wangji's body contorted in an extremely bizarre way, as if instantly transforming into a large loach, gliding across the ground and darting away at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. However, just as he floated to the doorway, his body was suddenly pulled by an immense force, causing him to fly directly backward. He turned his head and saw that it was Gu Mo, extending a hand, who had drawn him back.

He was instantly terrified, his body contorting into an eerie, twisted posture, and he actually broke free from Gu Mo's Dragon Capture technique, moving swiftly in another direction. But in that very instant, he suddenly felt his body freeze, unable to move from his prone position on the ground, and the world in his eyes turned black and white.

Before Wen Wangji could react, a pair of boots appeared before his eyes. He rolled his eyeballs upwards and saw Gu Mo standing before him.

Gu Mo slowly knelt down and said, "My name is Gu Mo. I don't know if you've heard of me. People in the martial arts world call me the foremost 'Blade Catcher' under heaven."

Wen Wangji chuckled lightly, "Then I am truly honored that you would travel thousands of miles from the Qian Kingdom to hunt me down!"

Gu Mo said, "It seems you have heard of me. In that case, let's get straight to the point. It will be convenient for me, and you'll get a swift end. How about it?"

"Very well," Wen Wangji said.

"Who told you to steal the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage?" Gu Mo asked.

"The 'False Jin Emperor'," Wen Wangji replied. "He promised me 300,000 taels of silver, plus a First-Rank official position in 'False Jin,' to ensure my lifelong prosperity and status."

"Then what are you doing here? Why haven't you left?" Gu Mo asked.

Wen Wangji said, "I can't leave. The Su family is hunting me throughout the martial arts world, and the Millennium Cult has issued bounties for me everywhere. I can only hide here using the 'darkness under the lamp' method, conveniently with the Jin Emperor providing cover for me. I've already arranged with the 'False Jin' side that on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day Su Qianqiu battles Master Liansheng, Chu will take me and the Heavenly Craft Spirit Cage away under the guise of an envoy mission."

Wen Wangji said, "Since you were able to find me, it's impossible that you can't find where I live, right? It's right where I live."

"Good." Gu Mo nodded slightly, then pointed a finger. A bloody hole appeared on Wen Wangji's forehead; his body trembled, and he ceased to breathe.

In that instant,

A system notification sounded in Gu Mo's mind:"Five-star wanted criminal slain.""Five-star reward obtained – Max-level 'Harmony with Light and Dust'.""Claim?"

In a flash,

Gu Mo mastered the complete 'Harmony with Light and Dust' technique.

Like 'Heaven and Earth Lost Color,' it was a supreme internal cultivation method of the Daoist Heavenly Sect. 'Heaven and Earth Lost Color' created a field to suppress enemies, while 'Harmony with Light and Dust' allowed the user'