Chapter 384: From the Fiancée's Interrogation

Jiang Ning retracted her spiritual energy, flashing back to Li Weiyi's side. She whispered, "What leverage does she have over you?"

A group of imperial masters took turns stepping forward, surrounding Long Xiangcen.

Li Weiyi gazed at her face beneath the veil. Her eyes were still as cold and deep, and her aura was remarkably similar, showing no flaws. "Nothing, just a small issue. It's good she wasn't killed; we can interrogate her."

Whoosh!

Taishi Yu flew back in a rage, landing heavily on the ground not far away. Clearly, he had failed to stop the Fallen Spirit master and the Luan-born Qilin-young.

He roared in a deep voice, "What are you city guards doing? Demons have entered the city! Fallen Spirits have entered the city!"

He strode out, raising his staff and slashing towards Song Muchuan.

Boom!

The master of the Seventh Heaven of the Dao Seed Realm was struck by his staff and instantly lost the ability to fight, with all his bones shattered.

Taishi Yu stepped on Song Muchuan, and from his fingertips, strands of spiritual light emanated, entering Song Muchuan's body to extract the Fallen Spirit within.

Song Muchuan's eyes were fearless, and a dry, eerie laugh escaped his lips: "Bone flutes call forth specter soldiers, white bones form a boat across the long river. The nether realm comes from the west, heading east, from this day forward, dawn and dusk vanish from the human world… Haha…"

Hiss!

A large amount of deathly spiritual fire surged from Song Muchuan's body, enveloping him completely.

"What exactly do you want? Why have you come to Lingxiao City?"

Taishi Yu desperately tried to stop it, but it was useless; the deathly spiritual fire was terrifying. He quickly retreated, not daring to get close, watching helplessly as Song Muchuan burned into a charred corpse, infuriated and raging.

Fortunately...

There was still one survivor.

Masters from various government offices – the City Defense Camp, West Sea Royal Manor, Luan Platform, Qilin Platform, Embroidered Uniform Divine Guard – rushed to the scene.

Their leaders surveyed the shattered and collapsed battlefield, looking at the corpses and paper money on the ground, then approached Taishi Yu to inquire about the situation.

Having never encountered such a dangerous situation in Lingxiao City since childhood, Taishi Yu was seething with rage: "Is Lingxiao City your responsibility or mine? You come to ask me, but who should I ask? Perhaps one day, Lingxiao City will be breached, and you'll still be completely oblivious. Useless, all of you are useless!"

"Taishi Qi, why did your City Defense Camp arrive so late? Even if this area was covered by a dark curtain, there must have been anomalies. Your response shouldn't have been so slow."

"Song Lin, what's wrong with Song Muchuan? Why was a Fallen Spirit hidden inside him? The Song family had better investigate this thoroughly. Fortunately, you siblings stopped him, otherwise, this case would have to be taken to Lingxiao Palace."

Taishi Yu's fury stemmed not only from being attacked himself and nearly dying there, but also from sensing an unknown crisis, realizing the seriousness of the matter. That's why he erupted in anger, determined to investigate it thoroughly.

Yao Qian and Song Yulou, two Immortal Realm magnates, had also gone in pursuit just now, but likewise returned empty-handed.

"Hand the person over to me. The Luan Platform will uncover the truth and provide a satisfactory explanation to the Chief."

Yao Qian, clad in a green official robe, wearing a long-winged official hat, had a fair, beardless face, delicate features, and an exceptionally handsome and scholarly air. He stood in mid-air, treading on clouds, his spiritual sense constantly enveloping the surrounding city area.

Song Yulou said, "The Qilin Platform will fully cooperate with the Luan Platform."

Taishi Yu looked up at the two of them and sneered, "There's only one survivor left, and I don't trust anyone now. The Taishi family will investigate this matter themselves. The Luan-born Qilin-young and that Fallen Spirit master are still in the city; you should go track and search for them immediately."

Yao Qian urged, "The Luan-born Qilin-young entered the city personally, which indicates they must be carrying an important mission. It must be investigated quickly. Taishi Yu, if you delay a crucial matter, can you bear the responsibility?"

Taishi Yu completely disregarded him, showing no fear of the other party's Immortal Realm cultivation: "Your Luan Platform is responsible for intelligence gathering and monitoring the entire city. The Luan-born Qilin-young and a Fallen Spirit master appeared in the city, and you had no information whatsoever? Such a dereliction of duty, can you bear the responsibility for that?"

"See? The imperial court is utterly corrupt. When something happens, they push responsibility onto each other. When there's credit to be gained, they fight over it. Those who want to get things done are constrained by all sides. It appears there are many offices and masters aplenty, but in reality, the internal chaos is immense, and efficiency is extremely low."

Jiang Ning and Li Weiyi arrived a few miles away, sitting facing each other on a two-zhang-long small boat.

The artifact boat, Azure Skiff, drifted along a spiritual stream, more than ten zhang wide, moving with the current.

"I hope Taishi Yu can withstand the pressure and keep Long Xiangcen. Otherwise, she'll be another Jiang Xin, silenced in prison," Li Weiyi said.

Jiang Ning leaned back against the boat canopy, sitting languidly. Her long hair was black, and her skirt spread out like white petals. She said seriously, "Why don't we tell Taishi Yu directly? This person seems trustworthy and capable to some extent. The Taishi family has significant issues; someone needs to investigate internally."

Li Weiyi pondered, "The failure of the Luan-born Qilin-young's attack is a good opportunity to eliminate the thirty undead masters. As for Taishi Yu... I'll find a chance to talk to him. How many people from your Zuoqiu Sect have come, and what are your plans?"

Jiang Ning took out a folding fan, unfurled it with a swish, and smiled gallantly, "The Jiuli Tribe and the Zuoqiu Sect are allies, advancing and retreating together. Our plans are the same as yours. Don't worry, we won't intentionally create chaos to cause Lingxiao City's downfall. In a racial war, eliminate the external races first."

Li Weiyi looked at her jade-like, radiant fairy face, feeling a sense of weariness: "How about you return in your disguised form?"

"What? Do you like Jiang Ning? Are you afraid of revealing a flaw before my discerning eyes that can see into people's hearts?"

The voice from Jiang Ning's mouth had already changed to Zuoqiu Hongting's, and even her aura was distinctly different.

Li Weiyi said, "I have a fiancée."

"Then what does 'Zuo Ning' mean? Zuoqiu Hongting on the left hand, Jiang Ning on the right? You're quite greedy!" Zuoqiu Hongting stared at him with a smile.

Li Weiyi almost choked on air and quickly waved his hand, "It was just a random name; it doesn't have that much hidden meaning."

"Relax, tell me the truth! Aren't we brothers who share life and death? If you two truly love each other, I will certainly help you achieve it in the future. It's just a marriage contract; how can it be more important than a brother's happiness?"

Zuoqiu Hongting gently fanned herself, her red lips glistening, completely dominating the conversation.

Li Weiyi said, "I praised you to the skies to Jiang Ning, saying you were like a fairy descending to the mortal world. How can a fairy be so aggressive... Hey, I heard that an extraordinary figure named Fu Wenyan from the Du'e Temple has come to Lingxiao Living Realm, seemingly for Zuoqiu Hongting's fiancé. So, is he a hero you met at Du'e Temple?"

Zuoqiu Hongting said solemnly, "Fu Wenyan, you must be careful; he is far from simple. His talent, innate ability, and wisdom all surpass Xie Chucai. He is a true young Son of Heaven."

Li Weiyi said, "For someone of your high spirit to give such an evaluation, it shows just how extraordinary this person is."

"No matter how extraordinary, he comes with great ambition. For such a person, you wouldn't think he truly came to Lingxiao Living Realm just for a woman, would you?"

Zuoqiu Hongting continued, "Xie Chucai and the Demonic Child also have some purpose; handle them cautiously... Oh, Jiang Ning is here for you. We'll talk next time. Don't say your brother didn't warn you, be careful with Jiang Ning; she has a complex mind. Try to open the pavilion of her thoughts; it will surprise you greatly."

"That's enough for today! Find some time to come see me. I need to hear all about what happened with you these past two years; things on my end have been quite exciting too. Remember to bring wine and appetizers when you come."

Li Weiyi looked up and gazed out of the boat.

On the stone arch bridge ahead stood a picturesque figure. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, looking down, and her veil fluttered gently in the wind.

When Li Weiyi looked back again, Zuoqiu Hongting had vanished. In his hand was a slip of paper, an address.

He crumpled the slip of paper into a ball and rubbed it into ashes.

He put away Zuoqiu Hongting's artifact Azure Skiff, flew onto the bridge, and landed beside Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning turned and walked away. "That was Zuoqiu Hongting, wasn't it? Did she disguise herself as me for what happened over there? What exactly are you two doing? You haven't told me the whole truth!"

Li Weiyi followed. "That was my first time seeing her since she returned from Du'e Temple. We exchanged no more than ten sentences in total. I don't know what she's planning either."

"No, you just don't want to tell me," she retorted.

Jiang Ning looked straight ahead and walked quickly. "Given her identity, she wouldn't risk coming to Lingxiao City unless it was something of immense importance. The same goes for the Luan-born Qilin-young and you."

"Young Mistress!"

Zhuang Yue hurried over, glancing at Li Weiyi but not recognizing him.

She used spiritual energy to transmit a message to Jiang Ning.

A quarter of an hour later, Li Weiyi and Jiang Ning arrived at an inn near the battle site, where Taishi Yu was interrogating Long Xiangcen inside.

Yao Qian and Song Yulou had already left.

After Li Weiyi gave the name "Zhao Meng," he was invited in by the City Defense Camp soldiers. Jiang Ning was left in the courtyard, as Taishi Yu was clearly guarding against people from the Luan Platform.

He went up to the second floor.

Taishi Yu walked out of the room, his hands still clenched into fists, with blood on them. He showed no trace of his usual profligate demeanor, and his eyes were incredibly cold.

Li Weiyi walked over, looking at the dying Long Xiangcen on the floor inside. "Just search her soul directly!"

Taishi Yu shook his head. "She's implanted with deathly spiritual fire; she'll self-immolate if touched. The Luan-born Qilin-young and Fallen Spirit masters appearing in the city must signify a major plot. She's the only survivor, so we must handle her cautiously."

Li Weiyi entered the room, avoiding the blood-soaked floor, and walked to Long Xiangcen's side to check her injuries. "You struck her very hard."

Hearing Li Weiyi's voice, Long Xiangcen barely managed to open her eyes.

"We two almost died because of her! We haven't been ruthless enough with her." Taishi Yu considered other forms of torture, preparing to use more severe methods.

Li Weiyi said, "The reason she won't speak is that she knows if she reveals the secret, both of us will surely kill her. But if we give her a glimmer of hope, she's very likely to talk."

"What do you mean?" Taishi Yu asked.

Li Weiyi said, "Perhaps it would be better if Taishi Bai handles this matter; he might do it better than us."

"Let Taishi Bai interrogate her?" Taishi Yu asked.

Li Weiyi said very seriously, "He has to overcome this hurdle eventually. I think it's better for him to cross it himself than for you to help him."