Chapter 361: Who is the Thief?

Chapter 361 -309: Who is the Thief?

And would this so-called “great gift” truly bring him an unexpected reward?

Hidden within the crowd, ripples of uncertainty spread through Jiang Xu’s heart.

He stared intently at the source of the aura his Seeking Technique was pointing to. The more he looked, the more he felt the person’s identity was completely different from what he had first imagined.

‘This person… seems to actually be a man.’

‘Damn, what kind of tastes do the Cultivators who frequent Xianya Garden have? How can a man be the top Courtesan?’

He muttered to himself, surprised by the unique tastes of Xianya Garden’s clientele.

The thought had barely surfaced when he realized he’d gone off track. He had likely completely misunderstood the situation.

After a moment of self-reflection, Jiang Xu quickly adjusted his line of thinking.

Jiang Xu began to re-examine the mysterious figure standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Lou Yanguang, the Garden Master of Xianya Garden.

The man’s bearing and status were clearly extraordinary.

To be able to stand beside the Garden Master of Xianya Garden, and on equal footing no less…

It was clear this young man in white was no small fry. His status couldn’t possibly be low.

A subtle sense of frustration welled up in Jiang Xu. What he had thought would be a simple task now seemed far more difficult than he had ever anticipated.

‘Does this mean I have to find someone else?’

…

Lou Yanguang strode up to the captain. Though his voice was soft, every word landed with a resounding thud.

“It seems you don’t have the Island Master’s token.” A sharp, barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

Before the captain could respond, Lou Yanguang’s gaze swept over the surrounding crowd. His voice suddenly boomed, laced with an authority that could not be denied.

“Everyone, have you all forgotten why you’re here? Or did you come specifically to watch this farce? Don’t forget, even the innocent get dragged into the whirlpool.”

His words struck like a clap of thunder, shattering the silence. The Cultivators in the crowd exchanged glances, immediately sensing the shift in atmosphere, and began to turn and leave.

Even the Madams, usually so poised and sophisticated, forgot their decorum and scrambled to get away.

Jiang Xu, caught in the crowd, felt a pang of unwillingness, but he knew better than to linger.

His Concealing Breath Spell could hide his presence for now, but in front of a true master, the slightest slip-up could expose him.

Besides, his earlier observations had confirmed his target wasn’t one of Xianya Garden’s famous Courtesans.

Since the person he was after was acting so boldly, they would have to leave Xianya Garden eventually. It would be much safer to follow and investigate then.

And so, amidst the chaos of the dispersing crowd, Jiang Xu cleverly blended into the throng, discreetly slipping away from the scene.

…

The crowd gradually dispersed. Even the subordinates of the Guard Team, seeing things were going south, had all vanished without a trace.

Once quiet returned, Lou Yanguang’s voice sounded exceptionally grim, like a chilling wind blowing through a hall, striking straight at the captain’s heart.

“Speak. Who sent you here?”

The captain, caught off guard by the sudden question, appeared completely flustered and tried to explain.

“N-No one sent me,” he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

Hearing this, a cold, disbelieving sneer flashed across Lou Yanguang’s face, as if he’d just heard the world’s biggest joke.

“No one sent you? So, you’re saying my Xianya Garden has personally offended you, causing you to show up uninvited and stage this entire farce on your own?”

Lou Yanguang’s words, laced with sarcasm and rage, seemed to make the very air solidify.

The captain felt an unprecedented pressure. His legs began to tremble uncontrollably until, finally, they gave out. With a THUD, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. His voice was filled with desperation.

“No, that’s not it! Please, let me explain!”

At this point, the captain didn’t care about anything else. He just had to get through this crisis. Confession was his only way out.

He swallowed hard, his gaze flickering. Finally mustering his courage, he spilled everything, holding nothing back.

“The truth is, this whole thing wasn’t aimed at Xianya Garden or you. It’s because of a huge mistake I made.”

“A month ago, I was in charge of safeguarding a family heirloom, an ancient Magical Artifact passed down for generations. It’s capable of sensing Spirit Vein fluctuations and is incredibly important to my family.”

“I was on patrol when I carelessly lost it. The last reading I got from it pointed to your garden.”

He paused, as if recalling the details, then continued.

“At first, I assumed it was some unknown thief. But after a private investigation, I discovered that the Magical Artifact’s Spiritual Power fluctuations were resonating with someone or something here in your garden.”

“I was afraid that if I reported this to the Island Master, I wouldn’t just be severely punished myself—my entire family would face unprecedented shame.”

“So, I made the unauthorized decision to use the Island Master’s name, hoping to secretly retrieve the artifact and atone for my mistake.”

The captain’s voice grew quieter and quieter, his face filled with regret and self-reproach.

“I know my actions were incredibly foolish. I’ve not only damaged the Island Master’s reputation, but I’ve also caused unnecessary trouble for your garden.”

“But I was at my wit’s end. It was a desperate gamble.”

He looked up, his eyes pleading for a shred of understanding.

Lou Yanguang’s expression softened slightly after hearing the story. He pondered for a moment, as if weighing his options.

After a moment, he spoke.

“You acted recklessly, but since you did it for your family’s honor, I can be lenient.”

“However, you must tell me the specific details of the Magical Artifact, and why it would have a connection to Xianya Garden.”

“I will help you search for it in secret. But if it’s not in my garden, you’ll have some explaining to do.”

…

“So you knew about all of this from the start, didn’t you?”

Lou Yanguang asked Xiong Anling, who had now materialized beside him. His words carried the hint of a smile, but they were laced with a chilling coldness.

The captain had already left.

He had left showering Lou Yanguang with thanks, treating him like his own savior, stopping just short of kowtowing a few more times.

Xiong Anling, however, looked perfectly at ease. A mysterious smile played on his lips as he deliberately feigned ignorance, raising an eyebrow.

“What, exactly, are you referring to?”

Lou Yanguang wasn’t about to beat around the bush. He snorted coldly.

“You clearly knew where the lost item was. You even deliberately led that captain to Xianya Garden. What’s your game?”

There was an unwavering certainty in Lou Yanguang’s voice. Clearly, he had already formed his own theories about Xiong Anling’s methods and motives.

“Why would you think I led him here?”

Xiong Anling denied it.

“That lost item… it’s a hot potato, true, but it’s also a golden opportunity.”

“I just happen to know that the item is extremely important. Whoever finds it and gives it to the Island Master is sure to be handsomely rewarded and will also earn a favor from him.”

Lou Yanguang stared intently at Xiong Anling.

“Is this the ‘great gift’ you were talking about?”

“That’s right,” Xiong Anling admitted. “I do know where the lost item is. Or, to be more precise, who has it.”

“Who has it?” Lou Yanguang pressed.

Now that they were on the subject, Xiong Anling fell silent, merely smiling at Lou Yanguang.

Lou Yanguang was exasperated, but there was nothing he could do.

He knew Xiong Anling was about to state his terms.

“Alright, name your price for the information.”

“…I only ask that when you retrieve the item, you also capture the thief. And when it’s all over, you hand the thief over to me.”

Xiong Anling said after a moment of silence.

Lou Yanguang sensed something strange in his words.

“Hand him over to you? Don’t tell me you have a grudge against this thief?”

“And you’re not capable of catching him yourselves?”

Xiong Anling’s continued silence was all the confirmation Lou Yanguang needed.

He took a deep breath. This ‘great gift’ wouldn’t be so easy to claim after all.

“Fine. A deal’s a deal. I agree. Now, you can finally tell me who it is!”

“The person… is a ‘Flowing General.'”

“W-What?!” Lou Yanguang’s face went pale with shock.