Chapter 19: Intervention

Not only him, but Wu Jinliang also suddenly reacted, shouting loudly, "Shichun, someone is out to get us!"

A loud voice was useless. The leading armored guard waved his hand, and immediately two men rushed forward to seize Shichun.

Shichun's face was grim. He did not resist or try to escape, knowing resistance was futile. These armored guards were all highly skilled martial artists; he was no match for any one of them. Resisting within Zhixu City would only lead to a worse outcome. He could only allow himself to be taken, being dragged forcefully down the steps.

Still, he felt he needed to make a defense. He said earnestly, "We don't know this rogue, nor have we stolen anything from him. He's framing us. We hope you, honorable officers, will see clearly."

The grimy man, however, yelled, "They definitely stole it! After they bumped into me, my blue jade essence disappeared."

The leading armored guard waved his hand and ordered, "Search them!"

His subordinates immediately began, searching Shichun and Wu Jinliang in front of everyone. However, no suspicious items were found on either of them. But when searching the package Wu Jinliang carried, a sparkling blue stone, like an ice soul, fell out.

Shichun and Wu Jinliang's expressions instantly changed dramatically. They both knew it wasn't theirs.

The grimy man immediately shouted, "That's it! That's the blue jade essence. I dug it out from mining; many people know about it."

A noisy buzz of pointing and whispering immediately arose from the onlookers. Many made sarcastic remarks, mocking Shichun and his companion for being audacious enough to seek death.

Those who knew the two, however, dared not speak. They feared Shichun might hold a grudge if they mocked him prematurely. Anyway, it was none of their business; they were just there to watch the show.

Wu Jinliang frantically shouted, "Shichun, someone is setting us up!"

His cry was filled with more anger than anything else.

His claim of being framed was useless. At least, in broad daylight, the human and material evidence was clear. The leading armored guard waved his hand and commanded, "Take them away!"

Shichun, however, looked back towards the grand hall of Bowang Inn, wanting to find the innkeeper's figure.

At this point, there was no need to think otherwise. He could guess that the forces behind Shen Youkun had made their move. His fears had finally come true.

He knew the forces behind Shen Youkun had extended their reach into the Land of Exile, but it was an act that violated heavenly laws, making them cautious like thieves. He thought they wouldn't dare be too brazen, but he didn't expect them to openly act against them within Zhixu City, not even giving them a chance to leave the city.

At this point, looking across the entire Land of Exile, the only one who could possibly help them was the innkeeper of Bowang Inn, whom they knew. Everyone else was insignificant, not even qualified to speak with Zhixu City authorities.

However, the entrance to the grand hall was blocked by the surging crowd. He couldn't see the innkeeper's figure at all.

But he firmly believed that such a commotion, occurring right under the innkeeper's nose, could not have failed to alert her.

He immediately shouted towards Bowang Inn, "Innkeeper! We didn't steal anything! We're about to leave this place; why would we cause trouble now? If we had stolen anything, why would we dare linger here? We would have left long ago!" He then turned back to Wu Jinliang and urged, "Quick, beg your mother!"

Wu Jinliang immediately stiffened his neck and screamed hysterically, "Mother, save me! Mother, we've been wronged! Save us, Mother..."

The escorting guards obviously hadn't anticipated such a scene. Surprised, and annoyed by their noise, they quickly acted, touching their mute points, immediately silencing both of them. They also kicked them a few times in front of everyone.

"Mother? Who is that big fellow calling 'Mother'? Could it be the innkeeper of Bowang Inn?"

A flurry of discussions erupted among the onlookers again. Many turned their heads to look at the Bowang Inn situated there.

This was the only self-preservation method Shichun could think of at that moment, having exhausted all his options.

He still held the same judgment: that assisting the forces behind Shen Youkun in causing trouble here was, after all, a violation of heavenly laws. Otherwise, their series of actions wouldn't have needed to be so secretive, nor would they have needed to beat around the bush and fabricate excuses to arrest them. Making a big commotion might make the conspirators hesitant.

If all else failed, he would have to use the Purple Glinting Nebula to save himself. Though it would have endless repercussions, if things truly became desperate, he would just have to deal with it as it came. In any case, he absolutely refused to fall here.

The two, indignant yet helpless, were thus led away.

The crowd watching the spectacle gradually dispersed. The young man on the steps at the entrance still had ink smudges at the corner of his mouth, left from holding a brush earlier.

He stared blankly for a moment in the direction Shichun and his companion had been taken. Then he suddenly turned and ran, through the back hall, up the stairs, and into the hall on the second floor. He immediately saw the people he was looking for: Lan Qiaoyan and Old Tan were standing by the window facing the street, looking through the lattice at the scene outside, which was gradually returning to calm.

The young man quickly approached them and said, "Innkeeper, Chun Chun and the big fellow have been arrested by the city guards."

Lan Qiaoyan turned around, not paying attention to what he said. Instead, she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, walked over, and wiped the ink smudges from the corner of his mouth. Only then did she say, "I know. Go look at your account books now."

The young man hesitated, about to speak but then holding back. Finally, under the innkeeper's smiling gaze, he meekly assented and turned to leave.

Lan Qiaoyan also returned to the window, looking in the direction Shichun had been taken. She had been there when the men were taken, seeing the entire process clearly. But she had no need or authority to intervene and stop the city guards from making arrests.

"Did they really steal something?" she murmured to herself.

Old Tan hesitated and said, "Actually, what Shichun said makes sense. They've endured so much and are about to leave; why would they steal something in Zhixu City now? And if they stole something, why wouldn't they leave quickly instead of lingering slowly within the city? It does seem illogical."

Lan Qiaoyan looked out the window and asked, "The one with a grudge against Shichun, that's Qi Yueru's son, right?"

Old Tan: "Yes, his name is Shen Youkun."

Lan Qiaoyan: "Is Qi Yueru still in the city?"

Old Tan: "Yes, she hasn't left. Reportedly, she's still handling the funerals of her son and brother."

Lan Qiaoyan mused, "Qi Yueru just entered the city, and her son and brother died. Shichun and the big fellow were about to leave but were arrested. If they were truly framed, and someone dared to openly frame them within Zhixu City, then this matter isn't so simple."

Old Tan added, "The murder scene was personally investigated by Ba Yingshan and his men. I heard hundreds of people were buried in a mine shaft, and it seems they died of poisoning before being buried. Their deaths were very suspicious. The unknown skeletal remains brought back are now displayed in the palace city as an ornament. Official Du Huo is still here, and that 'supervisor' hasn't left yet."

Lan Qiaoyan raised her chin. "Send an invitation to Official Du Huo. It's been a long time since I've visited him."

Old Tan was slightly taken aback. "Innkeeper, are you going to intervene in this matter? Our Bowang Inn has rules here: we don't interfere in matters that don't concern us, especially those official duties."

Lan Qiaoyan smiled faintly, "How could it be unrelated? They arrested people right at my Bowang Inn's entrance, making such a racket that even my name was dragged into it. Surely, I can go inquire about what exactly happened?"

Since she had said so, Old Tan could only give up. He bowed slightly and left...

From a small gate tower in the inner city, Ba Yingshan, standing high above, personally watched Shichun and his companion being escorted towards the prison. Seeing that no mishaps occurred, he slowly turned and continued his patrol on the city wall. As for the interrogation of Shichun and his companion, he had no intention of participating or showing his face before two "little rascals."

While walking halfway along the city wall, a subordinate suddenly appeared and informed him, "Lan Qiaoyan just entered the inner city to visit the Prison Inspector."

Ba Yingshan was startled, then immediately asked, "Why would she see the Prison Inspector?"

The subordinate replied, "I don't know, only that she submitted an invitation for a visit. However, among those arrested just now, I heard one might be Lan Qiaoyan's future son-in-law. Could she have come for this reason?"

Ba Yingshan found it both irritating and amusing. "Nonsense! If Lan Qiaoyan were willing to marry her daughter to such a character, I'd cut off my own head."

Although he said that, he still felt somewhat uneasy internally. They just made arrests here, and then Lan Qiaoyan went to see Official Du Huo. Was there really no connection? He thought about it again and still found it impossible. He didn't believe Lan Qiaoyan would truly consider such low-class trash as a son-in-law, and besides, Bowang Inn had never interfered with official matters here.

Furthermore, the deed was already done, and it was too late for regrets. He could only have his subordinates continue to monitor related developments.

Inside a hall, it was spacious, ancient, and quiet.

In the center of the hall was a pond, two zhang in both length and width. The pond had no water, but it was arranged with many irregularly shaped rough gemstones of various colors. To the uninitiated, it looked chaotic and disorganized, but those who understood would immediately recognize it as a star chart.

Official Du Huo, clad in green robes and exuding a formidable presence, paced by the pond. As he gazed at the pond, he occasionally reached into a tall basin nearby, picked out a gemstone, and, without touching, guided it into the pond, gradually completing the star chart within.

Outside the main door, someone led Lan Qiaoyan to the entrance. He gestured for her to enter and then withdrew.

Lan Qiaoyan lifted her skirt, stepped over the threshold, walked up to Official Du Huo, and bowed, "Lan Qiaoyan greets the Prison Inspector!"

Seeing no reaction from him, she simply followed Official Du Huo as he paced. After observing the star chart for a moment, she commented, "Prison Inspector, your memory is truly impressive. This thing gives me a headache just looking at it."

Official Du Huo didn't even look at her, merely flicking a gemstone he held between his fingers. "State your business. Save the flattery for later."

Lan Qiaoyan: "Actually, it's nothing major. I just wanted to ask the Prison Inspector about the two people the city guards arrested right outside my Bowang Inn earlier."

"Arrests?" Official Du Huo stopped and turned back. "Who was arrested?"

He genuinely didn't know; he couldn't keep track of every single detail.

Lan Qiaoyan: "They said they were two thieves."

"Thieves?" Official Du Huo looked her up and down. He didn't believe she would specifically come to visit him for a petty theft. He continued pacing, focusing on the star chart in the pond. He responded indifferently, "I don't have that much time to spare, let alone overseeing the city guards maintaining order in Zhixu City according to law. You should ask Ba Yingshan about this." He raised his hand and waved it over his shoulder, signaling for her to dismiss herself.

Lan Qiaoyan, having already come all this way, couldn't just leave easily. Pretending not to understand his reaction, she continued to prattle on as she followed. "It just happened. The two men were right outside Bowang Inn when suddenly a person appeared with city guards to arrest them, accusing them of stealing his belongings. Later, the city guards searched them in public and indeed found stolen goods on one of them.

"This matter wouldn't normally be worth mentioning, but it's rather strange. Both men have accumulated enough merit and were supposed to leave this living prison today for the outside world. Logically, they wouldn't stir up trouble at such a crucial time. What's even stranger is that since they were leaving, after stealing something, they didn't hurry away. Instead, they leisurely wandered around the city as if not afraid of anything going wrong. And of course, when they were arrested, they cried out loudly that they had been wronged and framed."