Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 233 Catching the Thief
As soon as Gu Jingnian left, Ren Shuangfei immediately looked at Zhao Boheng.

After hearing Qu Jizhi say that he could refine other people's essence and blood like alchemy, Zhao Boheng's status in his eyes became important.

But he also wondered why Qu Jizhi would reveal this matter, wouldn't it encourage the supernatural beings to refine each other?

"How is Physician Zhao? Is there any hope for him?" Ren Shuangfei asked.

Shen Jichi did not answer, but in his heart he thought that at first there was no hope, but now there might be a way to try his best.

He raised his palms and placed them on Zhao Boheng's chest. Gradually, steam rose from his forehead.

Upon seeing this, Long Minzhi was initially surprised that Shen Jichi had actually sacrificed his own vital energy to heal Zhao Boheng's injuries. However, she quickly realized that Shen Jichi valued Zhao Boheng's knowledge of alchemy.

Therefore, it is highly likely that Qu Jizhi intentionally led them to rescue Zhao Boheng.

After a while, Shen Jichi stopped, sweat dripping down his cheeks, but Zhao Boheng was still not awake.

"How about it?" Ren Shuangfei asked. "Are you up to the task?"

“I am not skilled in medicine and can only barely keep him alive for the time being,” Shen Jichi said. “If we want to save him, Hu Jingnan has a bottle of a miraculous medicine on her.”

"I know……"

Just then, shouts suddenly rang out from the courtyard ahead.

Ren Shuangfei sneered and said, "I knew that kid had ill intentions, and sure enough, he sent people to break in."

Shen Jichi got up, went around to the back of the hall, climbed the stairs, and found an extremely clear mirror on the upper floor, facing the distant mountain peak, reflecting the clear sky and snow-capped peaks clearly.

He struck casually.

"Boom."

The mirror shattered instantly, and in the distance, a similar shattering sound seemed to echo.

Shen Jichi stood there, leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance. He saw that several powerful individuals had already stormed into the manor, and Qu Jizhi and Long Minzhi were leading their men to kill them.

He watched for a while, then suddenly made his move.

He instantly pulled an invading enemy with immense strength and impervious to blades and spears right in front of him.

Shen Jichi held one hand in mid-air and pushed out the other, unleashing a burst of raging flames that burned the strongman.

"what!"

Screams rang out.

Shen Jichi frowned, and with a change in his hand movements, half of the strongman's body began to freeze.

With scorching flames on one side and frost on the other, the strongman was tormented by the pain and soon lost his life.

Ren Shuangfei looked up and quickly realized that Shen Jichi was trying to condense the strongman into a pill. He couldn't help but wonder and muttered to himself, "Is it really that easy to succeed?"

As expected, the melting ice water flowed down, and the strongman's body was eventually burned beyond recognition. The charred remains fell to the ground, cracked into pieces.

Shen Jichi ultimately failed to complete the refining process.

"As expected," Ren Shuangfei exclaimed, "I still have to save Zhao Boheng."

The intruders were finally all killed.

The gates of the mountain villa were reopened, and outside was a stone path winding along the mountainside. It was a valley where a touch of green blossomed amidst the arid red earth.

There was no one outside the door, and Yin Jinggen and his men could not be seen.

From afar, a large white bird gracefully flew over, and sitting on it was a beautiful woman, none other than Yu Moxian.

She landed in front of the villa and asked, "Is Qu Yuan here?"

"exist."

Passing by the fallen corpse, Qu Jizhi entered the main hall, where he was observing Zhao Boheng's condition. He asked, "How did you escape?"

Yu Moxian said, "Yin Jingheng and his main force are not in Lianzhou City, and His Majesty has sent people here."

"Who was sent?"

"The Director of the Imperial Household Department, Bian Jingzhong."

Upon hearing the name, Qu Jizhi frowned slightly, looked up from the map, and asked, "Where is he?"

“We’re almost there.”

Qu Jizhi stood up and said, "I'll go meet him."

Given his status and position in Yong Kingdom, there weren't many people for whom he needed to personally greet. Bian Jingzhong was able to receive such treatment because he had served Yin Yuhe for many years and was also a highly skilled bodyguard who had always protected Yin Yuhe.

Yin Yuhe himself was not strong in martial arts and had survived countless assassination attempts throughout his life. Bian Jingzhong deserves great credit for his survival until he ascended the throne.

What's even more remarkable is that Bian Jingzhong never sought credit and was extremely low-key. He lived like a shadow by Yin Yuhe's side, and few people knew of his existence. Therefore, he was highly trusted by Yin Yuhe.

"Lord Bian, I have failed to greet you properly."

"Lord Qu, please don't stand on ceremony. Let's get down to business first. Take me to meet them."

"this way please."

Bian Jingzhong was a gaunt old man, thin and unremarkable in appearance. Standing there, he looked like a country bumpkin who had stolen an ill-fitting brocade robe.

He was led into the villa, where he greeted Shen Jichi, Ren Shuangfei, and others, expressing the Emperor of Yong's welcome and sincerity in the peace talks. Afterwards, Bian Jingzhong and Qu Jizhi moved to the study for a private discussion.

"Zhao Boheng is injured and unconscious," Qu Jizhi said, starting with this.

"That would be terrible." Bian Jingzhong said with a worried look, "Without him, the plan will definitely fail. He is the key."

“I know, and we are doing our best to save him,” Qu Jizhi said. “Fortunately, Shen Jichi is willing to sacrifice his strength to save him.”

Bian Jingzhong nodded and said, "Then there is progress."

"Yes."

"Lord Qu has truly made great contributions. His Majesty has just ascended the throne, facing internal and external troubles and surrounded by powerful enemies. It is thanks to Lord Qu that he was able to devise this plan that kills three birds with one stone and personally went to great lengths to achieve it."

"It's all thanks to Lord Bian's excellent information."

After exchanging a few compliments, the two changed the subject, and Bian Jingzhong said meaningfully, "I came to Lianzhou and found that His Highness the Crown Prince already has rebellious intentions."

"Why do you say that, Lord Bian? Your Highness is simply unaware of the details..."

"When I was in Lianzhou, I learned that the Crown Prince had ordered the mobilization of troops and was determined to suppress Qu Yuan. Yet Qu Yuan still spoke up for him."

Bian Jingzhong stopped Qu Jizhi from speaking, saying, "You and I both understand that the Crown Prince is using this as an excuse to oppose His Majesty. He is ruthless, and if you hesitate even slightly, you will become his sacrificial lamb. It would be better to capture him and bring him back to the capital first. We can talk about it after everything is settled."

Qu Jizhi never expected that the new emperor would turn against his father and son so quickly after only a few months on the throne.

Since things had come to this point and there was no going back, he sighed and said, "Fine."

Yin Jingheng had indeed been obstructing him from doing his proper business, so it was only right for Yin Yuhe to send someone to arrest him.

Qu Jizhi took out a map, pointed at it, and said, "His Highness is currently leading his elite troops in the Deer Horn Mountain area. I can mobilize troops to surround him, and the extraordinary experts from various countries will surely be willing to lend a hand..."

--------

Two days later, late at night, at the foot of Deer Horn Mountain, tents were set up and campfires were lit.

Yin Jingheng temporarily stationed himself here and dispatched his elite troops to search for the whereabouts of Qu Jizhi and his men.

They searched the entire area for hundreds of miles, but still found no clues.

"Since Ren Shuangfei was able to get there so quickly, they must not be far away, or even in Lianxi Mountain."

That night, Gu Jingnian held Lu Anran in his arms and sat in the tent, lowering his voice to give his analysis.

At the moment, Feng Niang and Miao Chunniang distrust each other and are both trying to persuade him. He can't tell who is the spy, so he simply doesn't trust either of them and takes care of Lu Anran himself.

Although they hadn't seen each other for a long time, Lu Anran didn't feel like a stranger to Gu Jingnian. She was very well-behaved in his arms and slept soundly while he was talking to Yin Jinggen.

After listening to Gu Jingnian's analysis, Hu Jingnan said, "There must not be many places with water sources in Lianxi Mountain?"

Yin Jingheng nodded, his gaze fixed on the map without saying a word.

Hu Jingnan waited for a while, but he didn't speak. She couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, are you not familiar with the terrain of Lianxi Mountain?"

Yin Jingheng said calmly, "It might not be in Lianxi Mountain..."

suddenly.

"No need to look for it."

A voice rang out from inside the tent, and a figure appeared behind Gu Jingnian—it was Long Minzhi.

"Breaking your promise will come at a price."

"careful!"

Yingyao and Huang Hu rushed forward to protect Gu Jingnian.

The next moment, Shen Jichi suddenly appeared behind Yingyao, reached out and grabbed the back of Yingyao's neck.

At the same time, shouts rang out from outside the tent.

"who?!"

"By order of His Majesty, arrest the Crown Prince and bring him back to the capital!"

At this shout, several guards who were standing outside the tent retreated into the tent.

Then, a large group of people rushed in, and walking in the middle was a thin, pale-faced, beardless old man, who was none other than Bian Jingzhong.

"Your Highness, this old servant has come to take you back to the capital."

Bian Jingzhong spoke respectfully, and as soon as he finished speaking, he waved his whisk, and countless threads grew out of his whisk and entangled Yin Jinggen.

Yin Jinggeng drew his sword and leaped up, slicing through the lines with agile movements, and was not immediately captured by Bian Jingzhong.

But he didn't use the wind blade.

Bian Jingzhong narrowed his old eyes and said, "You're not the Crown Prince?!"

Hu Jingnan was helping Gu Jingnian deal with Long Minzhi when she heard this and turned around to see Yin Jinggen still dodging with his sword, looking quite disheveled. Although his movements were agile, they were not from the Yin family's style.

"It was indeed an imposter!" Bian Jingzhong shouted. "Where is the real Crown Prince?!"

(End of this chapter)