Chapter 742 - 448: Falling from a Horse Is a Common Occurrence (Part 3)

This Divine Soul Needle, Duan Rong did not refine it into a complete product because he did not intend to shatter Li Shensi’s divine soul at this moment, causing him to die on the spot.

Here, he couldn’t destroy the body, for experts who practiced the Fetal Concealment Scripture would immediately know Li Shensi was struck by a Divine Soul Needle, his soul shattered unto death!

Therefore, he wasn’t planning to kill Li Shensi here! This was merely a prelude, much like the setup in a story.

Every story that people truly believe must have a series of complete causes and effects.

If one wants to guide the direction of public opinion, the causes and effects are very important.

Only with a complete story chain will people believe it wholeheartedly.

Thus, this prelude is necessary and cannot be omitted.

The half-finished Divine Soul Needle, at the moment Li Shensi released the arrow, pierced through his brow as if it were an invisible entity!

The Divine Soul Needle, silent and serene, invisible to the naked eye!

Seeing his body tilt and the arrow missing its target, Li Shensi immediately grew angry, secretly cursing the Secretariat for providing such inferior stirrups, thinking this would cost him first place in the hunt!

After all, Li Shensi was a Martial Artist at the True Qi Realm Fourth Level. He was about to steady himself and shoot again!

Just then, a sharp pain suddenly surged in his skull, as if someone had flung a red-hot iron nail into his brain.

Li Shensi let out a scream and fell off his horse, fainting into unconsciousness.

Li Shensi’s scream startled the soldiers, who immediately gathered around, only to find Li Shensi lying on the ground, his face pale as paper, his breathing faint.

The deputy among the soldiers, upon seeing Li Shensi’s condition, was instantly alarmed!

If something happened to Li Shensi here, or worse, if he died, all those accompanying him would be implicated!

"Quick! Go find Minister Chen, Minister Ge, and Minister Jiang! Tell them Minister Li Shensi is down!" the deputy called out anxiously.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers understood immediately, mounted their horses, and galloped off in all directions.

Among the Mansion Master and the Four Ministers, Mansion Master Wang Maochun and Director of the Imperial Secretariat Zhu Zhengfu were not attending the autumn hunt, as they had already gone to the Celestial Altar.

At the hunting ground, there were only the Minister of the Ministry of Justice Chen Shanmeng, Adviser Ge Hengtai, and the newly appointed Grand Protector this year, Jiang Zhuoyun.

In no time, several horses dashed over, and upon seeing the hunting team, three figures suddenly leaped off their horses and landed near Li Shensi.

By this time, Li Shensi had regained consciousness, but his face was still very pale, his lips and hands trembling...

Chen Shanmeng grabbed Li Shensi’s hand, looked at him, and asked, "Minister Li, what happened to you?"

Li Shensi’s lips quivered, unable to speak at the moment.

Ge Hengtai’s expression sharpened, and he glared at the deputy supporting Li Shensi, asking, "Speak! What happened?"

"Just now, as Minister Li was shooting a rhinoceros, the stirrup suddenly broke! Minister Li... he fell from the horse..."

"Fell from the horse?!" Chen Shanmeng and Ge Hengtai were both shocked upon hearing this.

Given that Li Shensi was a Martial Artist at the True Qi Realm Fourth Level, even if the stirrup broke, it was unlikely he would fall off the horse. Moreover, even if he did fall, it shouldn’t have left him in such a half-dead state!

Being experienced in criminal investigation, Chen Shanmeng was detailed-oriented in such matters. He immediately went over to examine the broken stirrup.

Chen Shanmeng’s expression changed slightly. The broken edge of the stirrup was covered in numerous tiny holes, which was obviously abnormal!

Chen Shanmeng directly removed the stirrup and held it in his hand, then turned to Li Shensi and asked, "Minister Li, the grand ceremony for sacrifices is in an hour, can you hold on? If not, I will send someone to escort you back to the city to rest!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shensi waved his hand and stammered, "I... can... rest... I’ll be fine..."

Chen Shanmeng understood Li Shensi’s intention. After all, he had just assumed his position two months ago, and this was such an important ceremony, not to mention that his role was arranged in the program. How could he be absent?

"Very well, Minister Li, then rest here for a while. In an hour, we shall head to the Celestial Altar together."

Hearing this, Li Shensi nodded.

Yet Chen Shanmeng once again gazed deeply at the stirrup in his hand.