Chapter 763 - 456: Wipe Them Out (Part 2)

After tearing off that circle of beard, Duan Rong casually threw it out the window and then walked to the front of the room, opening the door with a creak.

Ruyi was guarding the door, turned her head upon hearing the sound, and stared blankly at Duan Rong at the doorway.

Duan Rong glanced at Ruyi and said, "Ruyi, I’m going out for a walk!"

Ruyi asked in surprise, "Master, where is your beard?"

Duan Rong rubbed his chin and said, "Oh, I just took a moment to shave it off."

After saying that, Duan Rong stepped out of the room, crossed the courtyard, and walked straight out of the separate courtyard.

He had just stepped out of the courtyard gate when he noticed Chou Luan following him.

Duan Rong stopped and turned around, looking at Chou Luan, said, "Chou Luan, you don’t need to follow."

Chou Luan stubbornly said, "Chou is ordered to protect you, Master!"

Duan Rong said, "Those who can harm me, you can’t stop them. You just stay and watch the courtyard. Also, go back and tell Ruyi not to wander around."

After saying that, Duan Rong turned and walked away without looking back.

Upon seeing Duan Rong leave the courtyard, Ruyi’s expression instantly turned cold. She walked into the room and immediately noticed the lit candle on the table.

It was broad daylight now, not a time to light a candle.

Ruyi’s gaze flashed with doubt, and then she noticed the side window was open; she walked over and stretched her head out to look outside, only to see a circle of dark hair lying on the grass outside. Ruyi tiptoed and stretched her head to look all around outside again, finding nothing else, she pulled her head back inside.

Her actions and expressions were all clearly observed by Duan Rong, hidden in a corner of the separate courtyard, using Divine Sense Investigation.

He left that candle lit and the side window open just to observe Ruyi’s reactions and further confirm her identity.

At this point, Duan Rong could be completely certain that Ruyi was a spy placed by someone at his side.

He sighed, walked around the big beech tree beside him, and followed a path towards the way out of the prefecture.

As he walked, he pondered another question: since Zhu He asked him to catch spies, and his orders were to eliminate the problem at its roots, then why tell him not to touch the clue regarding Ruyi?

Following Ruyi’s trail, and the broker who sold her to Zhu Zhengfu, this trail would likely lead to a big group of people.

If he should remove the problem at its roots, but then there’s ready clues that he’s not allowed to touch, what exactly was the old man planning?

And the single word "go" in the secret letter, what does it mean? Would it kill him to speak plainly?

In fact, regarding Li Shensi’s case, although it seems like a big deal, Duan Rong truly feels nothing because he’s well aware there is no concrete evidence that could confirm his guilt.

The only suspicion is that he happened to be within the Divine Cloud Prefecture during this period. However, Zhu He had already explained to the Elder Hall on his behalf.

This time, he’s here secretly to investigate the spies.

If it were only about handling the aftermath of the Li Shensi case, he could just catch a couple of spies and put an end to it. Nevertheless, Zhu He’s orders were to eliminate the problem at its roots.

Plus the various mysteries he hasn’t yet figured out, and Zhu He gave him the life-saving Dew-drinking Cicada two months ago, Duan Rong has a feeling that Li Shensi’s death is merely a prelude, the real drama has just begun.

And that person hiding behind everything, pulling the strings, is likely Zhu He.

Even though Li Shensi’s death is just a prelude, Duan Rong could sense that every step was deeply meaningful and closely linked.

For instance, after Li Shensi’s death, it seems only natural that he would begin capturing spies within the Divine Cloud Prefecture. Duan Rong doesn’t think this was a last-minute idea of Zhu He to counter Ge Rusong’s challenge. If that were the case, it wouldn’t explain the order to eliminate the problem at its roots, obviously not a spur-of-the-moment command, probably prepared when Zhu He appointed him to the Divine Cloud Prefecture to deal with Li Shensi.

Otherwise, why was he sent to deal with Li Shensi instead of someone more apparently suited like Wu Shidao?

Moreover, Lu Geng just relayed Zhu He’s words, stating that his family said he already knew spies were around.

This must go back further, almost half a year ago when he was assisting in the Divine Cloud Prefecture to investigate Zhu Shizhong’s Thunderstruck case.

The implication of Zhu He’s words is clear; when investigating Zhu Shizhong’s Thunderstruck case, he had already uncovered some clues about spies but didn’t mention them.

Duan Rong is sure Zhu He’s words are merely a deduction.

The basis for this deduction was Zhu He understanding his mindset at the time, knowing he didn’t want to dive too deeply between the two conflicting sides, even if he had clues about the spies, he wouldn’t disclose them. Moreover, at the time, he held the title of "Great Detective," how could he have zero insight into the spies who had already infiltrated the case?

After considering Zhu He’s deduction, Duan Rong put it aside. After all, no longer was it important how Zhu He deduced his understanding of the spies; the important thing now was what action he should take?

Should he really follow Zhu He’s orders and eliminate the problem at its roots? That way, he might face danger!

It was, after all, Ge Rusong’s web of spies meticulously built over the years; how could Ge Rusong just watch it get destroyed?

Duan Rong instinctively touched the Dew-drinking Cicada hanging in his chest inside his lapel.

He could now better understand Zhu He’s intention in giving him the Dew-drinking Cicada, not only for protection but also to boost his confidence at a crucial moment, preventing him from chickening out.

If he didn’t have the Dew-drinking Cicada right now, he absolutely wouldn’t follow Zhu He’s orders to eliminate the problem at its roots because it would be courting death.

Moreover, defying orders would be easy; he simply had to pretend to be incompetent and unable to find the spies, and at most, Zhu He would shun him on Yunfu Peak, cut off his cultivation resources, but wouldn’t truly harm him.

But Duan Rong didn’t want to do that!

Half a year ago, during his apprenticeship at Dragon Fish Hall on Cuiwei Peak, the reason he chose Zhu He as his master was he believed this person likely could become the next Sect Leader.

After half a year, Duan Rong’s judgment hasn’t changed; instead, he became more certain.

Meaning that, regarding Zhu He becoming the Sect Leader, his interest aligns highly with Zhu He’s.

Now, destroying Ge Rusong’s web of spies meticulously built over years within the Divine Cloud Prefecture would greatly benefit Zhu He becoming the next Sect Leader.

Why shouldn’t he do it?

The old man has given him the Dew-drinking Cicada, a precious trust, but if he flinched at the critical moment, wouldn’t that betray Zhu He?

Wherever there’s blood, there’s ambition!

This web of spies managed by Ge Rusong, he plans to take everyone down this time! In Zhu He’s words, eliminate the problem at its roots!

By the time Duan Rong walked out of the alley near Zhu Zhengfu’s estate, he had already thought through the pros and cons of this matter, and his eyes suddenly became bright and sharp.

Since he decided to destroy Ge Rusong’s web of spies in one fell swoop, he needed to carefully think about how exactly to do it?

Duan Rong walked out of the alley and headed for the nearby teahouse, having stayed indoors for more than ten days, he really wanted to hear the street rumors with his own ears.

Inside the separate courtyard, after Ruyi extinguished the candle and returned it to its place, she stood in the empty room, hesitating for a while. Duan Rong had stayed in this courtyard for more than ten days, this was the first time he went out, and had even thrown away his circle of mutton chops. These changes of routine needed to be reported.

Ruyi’s expression shifted, and she walked out of the room, glanced at Chou Luan sitting on the big green stone drinking, then stepped down the stairs towards the courtyard gate.

Ruyi had just walked a few steps when Chou Luan put down the wine jar and looked at her, saying, "Before Master left, he instructed me to tell you not to wander!"

Ruyi froze upon hearing this, her face visibly flashing with anger, saying, "Who’s wandering?!"

"I was just going to make medicine for you, ungrateful fellow!" Ruyi shot a glare at Chou Luan, turned around, and walked toward the side room.

Chou Luan glanced at Ruyi’s back, shook his head, and smiled bitterly, "Women are really troublesome!"

Chou Luan said, taking another big gulp of wine.

Strong liquor like fire, tearing at the liver!

But he’s already just a shell, long since numb to the agony of the liver tearing...

Some people live only because they have no choice but to be alive.