White-Robed Chief

Chu Li shook his head as he said, “Commander, this might not work. They’re a ragtag bunch, after all. They aren’t comparable to the Holy Church of Light.”

The Holy Church of Light would definitely send someone to aid Gu Qi and learn from their previous failures by sending over a more powerful martial arts master.

The masters from various Martial Art Sects were strong, but they were not comparable to the top-notch masters from the Holy Church of Light.

If this kill order were to be issued, there would only be meaningless casualties which could harm the Ji Dynasty martial arts world’s vitality. It would be better not to have it published.

Xu Huande piped up. “This time, the Emperor has sent four High Officials of the imperial harem to protect the Ning Brothers, so once Gu Qi is caught, they will kill him at all cost.”

Chu Li nodded. “High Officials of the imperial harem… Has the Emperor ended his Isolated Cultivation?”

Fu Mengshan replied, “It just ended last night. If Gu Qi isn’t killed, then the Secret Guardians Hall is going to be in big trouble. The Emperor is already furious as he said that we were incompetent to have realized the truth too late and committed such a huge mistake of not being able to arrest Gu Qi earlier!”

As he spoke, he shot a glare at Chen Donghai.

Chen Donghai bore a darker look and shook his head.

He initially thought this to be a cushy job, and that his first assassination case could be solved with ease.

He even secretly hinted at Chu Li to learn his lesson and do his job after receiving money—his hundred thousand silver pieces.

In the end, such an enormous mistake had occurred. If they were not able to kill Gu Qi, then this could mean the end for his position as a centurion.

Chu Li frowned and said, “How was Gu Qi so alert?”

“You are not suspecting that there’s a snitch in the Secret Guardians Hall, are you?” Fu Mengshan asked.

Chu Li shook his head. “Not in the Secret Guardians Hall, I’m just worried that there is in other places… Never mind, it’s already too late to say this, we have to first kill Gu Qi, allow me to do it!”

“With the four High Officials around, Gu Qi would not be able to escape. You still have things to do.” Fu Mengshan shook his head and glanced at Xu Huande.

Xu Huande handed over a wooden box on the table to Chu Li.

Chu Li opened it and found many letters within it. After scanning through each letter, he looked at Fu Mengshan. “These are Gu Qi’s letters, are we going to investigate?”

Fu Mengshan questioned, “To who are most of these letters addressed?”

“High Duke Ji.” Chu Li knotted his eyebrows and asked, “You think there’s something wrong with High Duke Ji, Commander?”

Fu Mengshan sighed. “Logically speaking, there’s no need to doubt the loyalty of the High Duke’s Public House. They would never betray the Emperor; our surveillance over them was to ensure that they did not overstep their authorities, we were never worried that they might rebel.”

Chu Li nodded slowly.

The High Duke’s Public House and the Ji Dynasty Royalty had an interesting relationship that involved inside information to which he was not privy, which guaranteed the Emperor’s absolute confidence in them.

However, a person’s mind is difficult to predict, no one relationship was unchanging.

“What does the Emperor think?” Chu Li inquired.

Fu Mengshan shook his head. “I haven’t reported it to the Emperor, so let’s investigate this privately first. You should do it.”

Chu Li laughed bitterly. “Commander…”

Chu Li was from the High Duke’s Public House, so if High Duke Ji was really found guilty, this would mean that the twelve High Duke’s Public Houses were no longer reliable and he, an enemy and betrayer of the twelve High Duke’s Public Houses, would then completely lose his footing.

Conversely, if he concluded that High Duke Ji was innocent, it might also raise doubts in others. After all, he came from the High Duke’s Public House, they were birds of the same feather, and they were in the same situation.

Xu Huande said, “I know that it’s difficult, but you’re the expert in this. We all believe that you can remain impartial.”

If it was some other problem, there were many others besides Chu Li who can do it. However, Chu Li had a sharper mind than most of them; he was clearly the most suitable person for this significant matter.

Chu Li tried to reason. “Since the High Duke’s Public House isn’t going anywhere, this issue is not as much of an emergency. On the other hand, Gu Qi must be killed, so I’ll hunt down Gu Qi first and come back to this later.”

He was really reluctant to take over the issue, but from the looks of the two Commanders, he had no choice.

Fu Mengshan waved. “Young Chu, tracking down Gu Qi is very dangerous, you better stay out of it.”

Chu Li retorted, “Commanders, you know my tracking skills well, we can’t simply watch as he escapes back to the Li Dynasty, he knows too much!”

Although a Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of War was not an important official, he was a critical one who knew far more.

Fu Mengshan gestured with his hands. “The Li Dynasty will definitely send their top-notch masters for assistance, what are you planning to do there!”

Xu Huande advised, “Chu Li, your Martial Art may be good. Nonetheless, regardless of strong you are, there’s always someone stronger, especially in the Holy Church of Light where masters gather as clouds do, we must be cautious!”

Fu Mengshen added gravely, “Plus, the thing about the Ji Public House can’t wait, if this gets out, any evidence could get destroyed.”

“…That seems good too,” Chu Li nodded.

Fu Mengshan beamed. “Don’t worry about Gu Qi, these four High Officials of the imperial harem are all top-notch masters, they aren’t inferior to you, Young Chu!”

Chu Li smiled. “That’s good!”

Outsiders could not gauge the depth of his martial art because of the Life and Death Scripture and the Heavenly Demonic Power, once the Heavenly Demonic Power was put into use, his powers could increase to about threefold or fourfold. Therefore, when Fu Mengshan said that the High Officials of the imperial harem could more or less add up to him, he got all the more anxious.

He decided to act on his own.

Fu Mengshan and Xu Huande could see that his words did not match his actions. After giving some instructions on heading to the Ji Public House, they waved him away and ushered him to get moving.

Chu Li took the correspondences between Gu Qi and High Duke Ji and returned to the main hall of the Mei Er Courtyard. Yang Zongwen quickly went up to welcome him. While Qin Jin and the other four were recuperating, the others were absent from the Mei Er Courtyard.

The news regarding Gu Qi’s escape did not get out, they had been asking around the Fairy’s Capital and it seems that the news was still contained.

Yang Zongwen followed behind him and took out a silk pouch which he gave to Chu Li. “Centurion, this is a personal article of Gu Qi’s.”

Chu Li let out a satisfied smile.

Yang Zongwen was getting better at his job, he was able to do some things beforehand without Chu Li’s orders, like collecting various personal items from different people. He would figure out ways to fetch them on his own, not needing Chu Li to instruct him.

He must have bribed someone in Mei Yi Courtyard to have obtained this.

…

Chu Li appeared in the Ren Public House’s backyard.

It was early morning when the Ren Public House’s backyard was in a slumber of quietness.

Lu Yurong was clad in a sleek white silk clothing, practicing swordplay in fluid and agile movements. The glint and flash reflected off her sword were like clear waves, soundless as they shrouded and rippled through her surroundings.

“Great swordsmanship,” Chu Li suddenly spoke.

Lu Yurong withdrew her sword and its glisten disappeared, she directed her gaze to him. “What is it again?”

Chu Li gritted out. “The Minister Counsellor of the Ministry of War, Gu Qi is a member of the Holy Church of Light. He has fled, and I want to kill him!”

Lu Yurong scowled. “A Minister Counsellor again! Did no one learn their lesson from the previous case, how did the same thing happen?”

“The previous case a fake one, but this time it’s real.” Chu Li shook his head as he said, “The Holy Church of Light is too powerful, they were able to engage a Ministry of War’s Minister Counsellor in counterespionage, it was even a young Minister Counsellor with a bright future.”

“The younger someone is, the easier it is for one to be instigated.” Lu Yurong sheathed her sword, her white jade-like pale complexion was slightly flushed, adding an enchanting glow to her face. “Young people are greedier and desire everything—money, women and power, they can’t help wanting to reach heaven in a single bound, they have no patience.”

“So do you want to go?” Chu Li asked.

Lu Yurong challenged back. “Do we leave now?”

Chu Li nodded as he said, “It’s probably more dangerous this time though.”

Lu Yurong scoffed. “Would you seek me out if it isn’t dangerous?”

Lu Yurong walked up to him and stood close, then tucked her white veil behind her ear, concealing her charming face. Her faint fragrance entered his nostrils, sending a sense of delight down his body. “Let’s go.”

Chu Li smiled and grabbed her wrist, he could still feel her cool and smooth skin through her sleeves. Then, with a flash, they vanished.

Both of them flashed several times again before they appeared in front of Gu Qi.