Chapter 252: A Sage Emerges, A Martial Saint Guards the Dao

Bianliu County, Feinan Temple.

A giant, dark-gold hand materialized, crushing the twelve Dragon Thrones hovering before Tang Lian one by one. As easily as plucking a star from the sky, it snatched the panic-stricken Tang Lian in its palm and dropped back down in front of the Old Man and Yan Jing.

Yan Jing didn't even look at Tang Lian. He hopped down from the top of the Buddha statue's head and walked toward Bai Qiu at the street corner.

"Boss Bai. It's been a long time."

He cupped his fists in greeting.

The last time Bai Qiu saw this original body, Wei Nantian hadn't even died yet.

Bai Qiu burst into laughter, cupping his own fists in return.

"The Advisor has quite the nerve!"

He was referring to how Yan Jing actually dared to leave Old Master Liu's side and approach him alone.

Yan Jing also laughed.

"I wouldn't call it great nerve. It's just that if it's only you here, Boss Bai, I have nothing to fear."

As those last few words drifted lightly between them, Yan Jing genuinely saw a vicious glint flash through Bai Qiu's eyes.

But that killing intent only surfaced for an instant before extinguishing.

Bai Qiu didn't think Yan Jing could actually stop him. Rather, he knew that killing Yan Jing wouldn't change a thing. Luo Sheng was still alive. Once the Third Stage ended, if Old Master Liu made a move, Bai Qiu would still die all the same.

Finally, he smiled and holstered the empty-chambered Mauser Pistol in his hand.

"I wonder where the County Magistrate is. Can we meet?"

He looked at Yan Jing with a chuckle. Yan Jing smiled back.

"County Magistrate Luo is still inside the tent for the Third Stage. If Boss Bai wants to see him, I can pass on a message."

As he spoke, Weird Energy surged in one of his eyes, turning it pitch-black. He twitched the corner of his mouth, and several Little Birds fluttered out of his sleeve to perch on his shoulder.

This was Luo Sheng's power. Ordinarily, he wouldn't have been able to use it without fulfilling Luo Sheng's dying wish, but thanks to the Third Stage, he could temporarily borrow it.

Bai Qiu stared at Yan Jing. Even though his appearance was vastly different from Luo Sheng's, Bai Qiu could genuinely see Luo Sheng's shadow on the half of his face where that pitch-black eye narrowed.

It was one face, smiling all the same, yet it looked like two different people.

It filled him with an inexplicable sense of dread.

"..." After a moment of silence, he said to Yan Jing, "County Magistrate Luo, shall we find a place to chat?"

"Since Boss Bai wants to chat, let's chat!"

Yan Jing let out a few loud laughs and nodded, both of his eyes turning pitch-black.

The two of them walked into the Herbal Tea shop next door.

Old Master Liu walked over, dragging Tang Lian, and stood guard at the door.

"County Magistrate Luo has quite the methods."

Bai Qiu picked up a teapot and poured the tea. His expression showed neither the frustration of defeat nor the slightest hint of fear; he was incomparably calm.

"Two months ago, you were just a down-and-out scion of the Luo Family. Two months later, this Bianliu County is almost entirely yours."

"I appreciate the high praise, Boss Bai."

Yan Jing cupped his fists, then accepted the teacup. The corners of his mouth lifted. "It's just that my ambitions don't lie here."

"If you're this formidable when your ambitions don't lie here, how terrifying would you be if they did!"

Hearing this, Bai Qiu burst into roaring laughter.

He stopped just as suddenly and looked at Yan Jing.

"Let's lay our cards on the table, County Magistrate Luo. I want to live!"

Yan Jing paused with his teacup in hand and looked at Bai Qiu.

"You want to live?"

"I want to live."

"You really want to live?"

"I really do!"

"Good!"

Yan Jing slammed his teacup down and slapped the table, speaking rapidly. "Boss Bai is a straightforward man, so I'll lay my cards on the table too. Tell me who is behind you, tell me why Tang Lian came with you, and tell me why you colluded with Baile Manor to harm the Luo Family. Do that, and I'll let you live!"

Yan Jing waved his hand smoothly, then narrowed his eyes at Bai Qiu.

Watching Yan Jing's movements and demeanor, Bai Qiu came to a firm conclusion.

It really was Luo Sheng.

Then, he picked up his teacup and spoke just as quickly:

"The man behind me is Lord Jing Huan, the current Vice Minister of the River Department!"

"As for why Tang Lian came, Lord Jing sought her out as a Painting Cultivation practitioner to paint faces for my shipments!"

"And as for why I wanted to harm the Luo Family, it's because transporting Ancient Relics must be Soundless, without leaking the slightest bit of news. But the Luo Family's businesses are too tangled and chaotic, and your information network is too sharp. I was afraid you'd cause trouble!"

He rattled it all off in a single breath, drained the tea in his cup, and smiled obsequiously.

"Are you satisfied?"

Yan Jing shook his head and sighed.

"Not a single word of truth."

"In the end, Boss Bai still doesn't want to live—"

Bai Qiu's face stiffened. He didn't understand where he had slipped up.

"Teacher Tang is my painting instructor."

Yan Jing smiled. "As far as I know, she is nothing more than an ordinary instructor in the Sixth Lake Prefecture, introduced to me through a friend. Yet you tell me she works for the Vice Minister of the River Department. How does that make any sense?"

"So what you're saying is that this painting instructor my friend introduced me to is a trusted aide to the Vice Minister of the River Department."

"You're saying that my friend in the Lake also has a remarkable identity, capable of casually employing someone who works for the Vice Minister of the River Department."

"You're saying that my friend has a status even higher than the Vice Minister of the River Department!!!"

Yan Jing's voice grew louder and louder, his imposing momentum steadily surging.

"No!"

Bai Qiu reflexively denied it. But the moment the word left his mouth, he realized his mistake. Cold sweat broke out across his back.

Yan Jing laughed. He shed his towering momentum, reverting to his cynical, playful demeanor, and casually spun his teacup with a finger without spilling a single drop.

"I hadn't even mentioned who my friend was yet, Boss Bai."

"..."

?

Bai Qiu took a deep breath. He had exposed a flaw. It wasn't because his acting skills—honed over years of doing business and playing all sides—were inferior to those of the young man in his twenties sitting across from him. It was because he actually had something to hide, whereas the Luo Sheng across from him had no flaws at all.

And Luo Sheng had suspected him from the very beginning.

"What exactly is the identity of my friend, Li Qinghe?"

Yan Jing smiled as he looked across at Bai Qiu.

"..."

Bai Qiu's smile was highly strained. "I cannot say. Pick another question."

"Not even to save your life?"

"Not even if I die."

Bai Qiu was absolutely resolute.

Yan Jing shouted:

"Master Liu!!!"

Still holding Tang Lian with one hand, the Old Man rushed in and viciously slapped Bai Qiu's back twice, holding nothing back. Bai Qiu instantly spat a mouthful of blood, dyeing his white suit red.

His face contorted in pain, but he laughed, revealing bloodstained teeth.

"I truly cannot say, Young Master Luo."

"Knowing the identity of certain people will do you no good."

"People are not born equal. For some, a mere flick of a finger is enough to destroy your family, ruin your life, and even dictate what you'll be reincarnated as in the next."

"Look at Tang Lian's current situation, and you'll know you are no longer within his scope of attention. Because he stopped paying attention to you, he also abandoned the people he sent to watch you. That includes me—if not for the Ancient Relic business, I wouldn't be much better off than Tang Lian."

"And now that the Ancient Relic business is gone, I've been abandoned as well. Otherwise, even if these so-called two train tracks were severed, he would have ten thousand ways to rescue us."

"You should count yourself lucky. Among all the toys he has ever played with, you got the best ending. We told him about your situation, but he's been busy lately and has no time to bother with you. Don't go bringing trouble down on your own head."

Hearing this, Yan Jing nodded.

"Alright. I pretty much know who he is now."

...

Bai Qiu's eyes went wide as he stared at Yan Jing. He had no idea how the young man had suddenly guessed it. The leap in logic was simply too massive—

Yan Jing smiled.

"In Tang Lian's paintings, that person used the 'Imperial Dao' technique. Moreover, he once told me that I possessed an emperor's fate. Combine that with his high status and his fondness for hiding his identity, and it naturally becomes obvious that he is—"

"You cannot say it!!!"

Bai Qiu was so frightened his face turned deathly pale, his slicked-back hair soaked with sweat. He hastily reached out to cover Yan Jing's mouth, but Yan Jing simply chuckled.

"Don't be nervous, Boss Bai."

"Since his identity cannot be spoken, you can answer my other questions now, right?"

Bai Qiu pulled out a silk handkerchief, wiped the sweat from his face, and let out a long, helpless sigh before speaking:

"The person behind me is indeed him."

"As for why Tang Lian came over, it was naturally at his request. He wanted her here to keep an eye on you."

"And as for why he wanted me to team up with Baile Manor to harm the Luo Family, for a large part of it, I wasn't lying. The Ancient Relic business—I hinted to your father several times to join, but he refused. Since he stood in the way, he had to die."

"It's just that he happened to feel a bit bored and wanted a change of toys, so he found an excuse to send you back to Bianliu County. The two matters just happened to collide."

Yan Jing nodded.

"Understood."

"Last question: why is he paying attention to me? Why have Tang Lian watch me?"

"Once you answer this question, you can go."

Bai Qiu looked utterly conflicted. He didn't believe 'Luo Sheng' would actually let him go, but he wanted to live, so he wanted to take the gamble.

He had no other choice.

It was just that some things truly could not be spoken. If they were said out loud, the consequences would be ten thousand times more terrifying than death.

Finally, he made up his mind and spoke softly:

"I can only tell you one sentence at most. I don't know if you've heard it before."

"I swear to you, the answer you seek is in this sentence."

"You must also promise me that if I say it, you will really let me go."

"I can."

Yan Jing nodded.

Seeing Yan Jing nod, Bai Qiu took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and whispered:

"This sentence has four phrases in total. It is: A Sage Emerges, A Martial Saint Guards—"

"Guh-hurk!"

Halfway through his sentence, Bai Qiu suddenly reached up and grabbed his own neck in a death grip, fresh blood spurting violently from his mouth.

Yan Jing's expression changed. A silk thread shot silently from his sleeve, piercing into Bai Qiu's neck.

Life-Stitching Garment!

The silk thread pierced the muscles of Bai Qiu's neck, extending toward his heart at extreme speed. However, it quickly encountered a bizarre resistance. It seemed to be a cluster of ancient runes that was continuously destroying the lifeforce inside Bai Qiu's body.

Yan Jing could only change his strategy. He adjusted the thread at the neck, forcefully enabling Bai Qiu to speak.

"Speak! Say it and I will avenge you!!!"

Yan Jing stared at Bai Qiu, urging him desperately.

"I-I-It is, A Martial Saint Guards the Dao, a Divine Bird Follows, Follows—Pfft!!!"

Bai Qiu spewed a massive mouthful of black blood. His entire body looked as if it were melting, his figure rapidly turning incredibly emaciated. Shockingly, there were fragments of runes inside that blood, twitching and jumping about.

The Lake.

9th Lake Prefecture.

Li Qinghe, who was sipping tea, furrowed his brows:

"The gag order has been triggered. Who is leaking my heavenly secrets?"