Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 604 Solving a Shocking Case!

Banquet at Yanshan Village, night.

Liang Jin had already led all the able-bodied men of the village to the southern foothills for defense.

At this moment, the mountain stronghold is like a giant beast whose heart has been ripped out, leaving only an empty and lifeless shell.

Those who remained were mostly the elderly, women, children, and the injured and sick.

They huddled behind the tightly closed gates of the village or huddled in the shadows of the guard posts and watchtowers, their faces etched with undisguised fear.

The night wind swept through the empty village, carrying a mournful echo that added to the eerie desolation.

Those who stayed behind were either too weak to even kill a chicken, or their martial arts skills were pitifully rudimentary.

Under this night sky, where deathly silence and panic intertwine, even if someone were to use their lightness skill to move through, they would be like a ghost, easily missed.

This fatal emptiness, in fact, provides some people with an excellent opportunity.

Beside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, in the deepest shadow.

Qian Fu's voice was extremely low, trembling with a hint of relief:

"Brother Xiao, just now Song Jiang... was supposed to be in charge of the ambush in the south, but he suddenly turned back, passed through the camp, and headed straight to the north... What on earth is he up to?"

He had just slipped away from the Hall of Righteousness empty-handed when Liang Jin's unexpected appearance nearly caused his heart to stop!

Fortunately, Liang Jin was just passing by in a hurry. His figure was like the wind, passing through the mountain village and disappearing into the darkness to the north. A moment later, he turned back to the southern foothills, as if he had just come back to retrieve something.

Xiao Liu remained silent for a moment, his face shrouded in shadow, making his expression unreadable.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse:
"You want to know? I can tell you."

A greedy glint flashed in Qian Fu's eyes, like a hyena smelling blood:
"Brother Xiao Liu! Just name your terms! I won't hesitate!"

Qian Fu had long been convinced of Xiao Liu's intelligence value.

Since Xiao Liu submitted his pledge of allegiance to the imperial court, he personally revealed that the real culprit behind the murder of Princess Zhaoyang and the robbery of disaster relief funds was actually Liang Jin.

Xiao Liu also led him to sneak into Liang Jin's residence, where they retrieved the token of Zhu Ying, a famous constable of the Six Doors, and the iconic Heavenly Gang Soul-Locking Chain from a hidden compartment.

Qian Fu realized that he had caught a big fish that could change his destiny!

Then, the details Xiao Liu revealed, such as the modus operandi and the timing of the crime, were exactly the same as the confidential files that Qian Fu had in his possession!
The evidence is complete, both witnesses and physical evidence!

He knew he had solved a sensational case!
This incredible achievement is about to be within my grasp!
Not to mention that he could get promoted within the Six Doors.

The Prince of Pingcheng doted on his daughter. Solving the murder case of Princess Zhaoyang alone would earn him the Prince of Pingcheng's favor and even allow him to climb the social ladder to become a top-tier noble like the Prince of Pingcheng.

Wealth, power, and status seemed to be beckoning him!

Xiao Liu, the former "bandit," has become the golden key to his path to success in the eyes of the bandits.

After all, who would willingly reveal such a shocking case?

Isn't this just asking for trouble by inviting two formidable enemies: the Prince of Pingcheng and the Six Doors?
If Song Jiang had been willing to let this case be known to the world, he would have long ago attracted the Six Doors and the Prince of Pingcheng to join forces to hunt him down, instead of waiting until now.

It's certain that Xiao Liu's exposure of this case was not Song Jiang's original intention.

Xiao Liu's sincerity is beyond doubt.

At this moment, Xiao Liu's words had a hidden meaning, and Qian Fu's heart was instantly gripped by an even greater greed.

Xiao Liu's eyes flickered in the darkness, as if he were engaged in a fierce internal struggle, which was ultimately suppressed by his naked ambition.

He was resolute:
"The previous conditions have been changed."

"I want to be the prefect!"

Prefect?!
Qian Fu was slightly startled upon hearing this.

Xiao Liu's tone is so arrogant; this information must be quite substantial.

He deliberately feigned exaggerated surprise and embarrassment, tentatively asking:
"Sixth Brother Xiao, don't joke around!"

"The prefect is a dignified fourth-rank official! A high-ranking official in charge of a region! Without the merit of supporting the emperor, how can this be a child's play?"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, let's just..."

Qian Fu deliberately played hard to get, pretending to change the subject.

Xiao Liu suddenly shouted:

"Cut the nonsense!"

His tone was firm and unquestionable, even carrying a hint of reckless madness:
"Without a prefect, there's no point in discussing it!"

"I, Xiao Liu, have betrayed my sworn brother and risked my life to help you, cutting off my own escape route!"

"This intelligence is absolutely valuable! It's exactly what you've been dreaming of!"

Qian Fu's heart skipped a beat, as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

He suppressed the overwhelming joy that threatened to burst from his throat, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Sixth Brother Xiao... Could it be... could it be... that pen..."

Xiao Liu's voice was as cold as ice:

"That's right!"

"Where is Shen Wanshi hiding the stolen silver?"

Qian Fu felt a surge of scalding heat rush to the top of his head!

Finding this silver will not only allow us to get close to Shen Wanshi, the richest man in the country, but also put us on the inside leash of Yan Zian, the fourth-ranking officer of the Criminal Investigation Bureau!
A meteoric rise to power is just around the corner!
The immense temptation almost made him dizzy, but his cunning instincts immediately suppressed the impulse.

His face quickly contorted with deliberate sarcasm, and he shook his head, saying:

"Brother Xiao, this intelligence... is probably not as good as the previous one."

He deliberately dragged out the tone, making it sound nonchalant:
"After tonight, Yanshan Stronghold will surely fall! And Song Jiang will become a prisoner!"

"You should be familiar with the interrogation methods of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Six Doors. Even the toughest man will beg for mercy! Under severe torture, are you afraid he won't confess?"

"Your information is outdated! You want to replace the prefect? ​​You're dreaming!"

Qian Fu stared intently at Xiao Liu's face, trying to capture every subtle change in his expression.

really.

Xiao Liu's face instantly flushed with humiliation and anger. His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light, as if he were about to pounce and fight to the death at any moment!
Qian Fu sneered inwardly, but his face remained as steady as a mountain, still bearing that repulsive, ambiguous smile.

There was a stalemate for a moment.

Xiao Liu's shoulders slumped, as if he was about to give in and give up.

But just when Qian Fu thought victory was assured, Xiao Liu seemed to suddenly remember something. He took a deep breath, hardened his tone again, and spoke with an undeniable certainty:
"Perhaps you are right. After the stronghold is destroyed, you might be able to pry Song Jiang's mouth open and find out where the silver is."

"but!"

His tone suddenly shifted, like a venomous snake striking the surface:

"I'm afraid that by then, you'll never get that money again!"

"Don't think I don't know anything! This sum of money has captured the hearts and minds of countless important figures in the imperial court. Even the current prime minister is worried about it day and night!"

"If anything goes wrong with it... Qian Fu, can you and your superiors bear the responsibility?"

The sarcasm on Qian Fu's face froze instantly, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head!
Xiao Liu's words were like a cold dagger, precisely piercing the deepest fear in his heart!

If something really goes wrong with that sum of money, not only will his dream of wealth and riches vanish instantly, but it could also bring about his utter destruction!

He forced himself to remain calm, forcing out an extremely troubled expression:

"Sixth Brother Xiao...sigh!"

He sighed heavily, as if confiding in someone:

"You've done me a great favor, I, Qian Fu, cannot lie to you. The prefect... is indeed in a very difficult situation!"

"Even if I promise you now, what if I can't keep my word later? Wouldn't that only breed resentment? I, Qian Fu, always uphold integrity in my dealings!"

"Okay, let me be frank with you—with all my power, even if I give it my all, I can only guarantee you the rank of a fifth-grade assistant prefect!"

"I can't help you go any further!"

He stared intently into Xiao Liu's eyes, his tone so "sincere" it was almost "tragic":
"If you think it's worth it, I'll take this information. Consider it a huge favor I owe you, and I'll definitely repay you handsomely in the future!"

If you feel it's not worth it... then forget it.

"I, Qian Fu, am not interested in this credit! The trouble of money is for the higher-ups to worry about!"

Qian Fu was a master of negotiation.

He knew that if he readily agreed, Xiao Liu would definitely become suspicious.

On the contrary, his constant pulling and bargaining, even to the point of being harsh, actually dispelled Xiao Liu's concerns.

Qian Fu's seemingly tactical retreat, half-truths and half-joking words of "heartfelt advice," proved effective.

Xiao Liu's face flashed with struggle, resentment, and calculation, his teeth grinding together as if he were making a final, desperate gamble.

Finally, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he nodded dejectedly, his voice hoarse:
"Okay... Qian Fu, I'll trust you one more time!"

"I hope...you won't disappoint me!"

Qian Fu let out a silent, triumphant laugh in his heart.

The fish has taken the bait!

Xiao Liu lowered his voice, as if whispering:

"silver……"

"It's hidden...north of Yanshan!"

Yanshan North?!

Upon hearing this answer, Qian Fu looked utterly incredulous.

He couldn't help but ask to confirm:

"That place has sheer cliffs, so steep that even monkeys and apes couldn't climb it! It's a barren, barren cliff; where could there be any hidden silver?"

"Sixth Brother Xiao, are you making fun of me?"

Xiao Liu's lips curled into a disdainful sneer, as if he were looking at a foolish bumpkin:
"Hmph! Eagle's Nest! Have you forgotten?"

Eagle's Nest?!
Qian Fu's head buzzed as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer!
A chilling sensation, like a sudden awakening, instantly swept over my entire body!
That's it!

Eagle's Nest, as the name suggests, is the place where Song Jiang's divine eagle lived.

Most birds of prey in the sky inhabit dangerous places.

After the divine eagle went up the mountain, it chose a cliff on the north side of Yanshan Mountain as its nest.

At that time, Song Jiang even went to the cliff himself to carve out a nest for the divine eagle to live in.

Most people don't care about this matter, nor do they know the extent to which the eagle's nest was cleaved open.

It's likely that only a few people close to Song Jiang knew the specific details.

Only after Xiao Liuyi spoke did Qian Fu belatedly realize what was happening.

No wonder he had gone to great lengths these past few days, turning Yanshan upside down, but still couldn't find a trace of the silver! He assumed that Song Jiang was just being cautious and hadn't brought the silver up the mountain at all!
To everyone's surprise, that thief was so audacious as to hide the silver in the cliffside cave where the divine eagle lived!
"seeing is believing!"

Qian Fuqiang suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his voice trembling with excitement:
"Brother Xiao, please lead the way. I must confirm this with my own eyes!"

Qian Fu is a reliable person, and he would never fully believe something unless he saw it with his own eyes.

Xiao Liu didn't waste any words, giving him a cold glance:
"follow me."

Two stealthy figures quickly disappeared into the deep night outside the village, stealthily heading towards the rugged and treacherous northern foothills of Yanshan Mountain.

The further north you go, the more treacherous the terrain becomes.

Several dark, towering peaks, like the fangs of a giant beast, jagged and interlocking, pierce the inky sky.

The cliffs are sheer and the rocks are jagged, making it impossible for ordinary people to find a place to step.

The two began their arduous climb.

Xiao Liu's martial arts skills were mediocre, only at the ninth rank, and his lightness skill was practically nonexistent. He climbed clumsily and slowly, slipping several times and sending pebbles tumbling down into the abyss, making Qian Fu's heart pound with fear.

Left with no other choice, Qian Fu took out a rope and had Xiao Liu tie it around his waist, using it to pull and drag him upwards.

Qian Fu's breathing gradually became heavy, and his inner shirt was soaked with sweat, but the fire of greed in his heart burned even more fiercely.

half an hour.

The two men, panting and exhausted, reached the summit.

The biting wind was like countless icy whips, lashing against the face and almost making it hard to stand.

On the other side of the summit is a bottomless cliff, where the thick darkness seems to devour everything, and the faint sound of the wind coming from the bottom of the cliff is like the wailing of hell.

Without pausing for a moment, Xiao Liu began climbing down the almost vertical cliff face without hesitation!
To Qian Fu, his movements were so clumsy they looked like suicide!

One wrong move and you're shattered to pieces, leaving no trace of your remains!
Qian Fu's heart leaped into his throat, but he quickly calmed it down.

The more desperate and risky Xiao Liu acted, the more it proved the authenticity of this intelligence!
People die for wealth, birds die for food; only greed could drive someone to risk their life like that.

"Follow!"

Xiao Liu's voice came through the howling wind, carrying a hint of deliberate urging and provocation.

Qian Fu gritted his teeth, channeled his inner strength into his limbs, and clung tightly to the cold rock wall like a gecko, carefully following it down.

Every step was a brush with death; fingertips ached from the rough rocks, sweat mingled with the slippery rock face, and the slightest misstep could mean certain doom.

This short descent felt like an eternity.

at last.

Near the middle of the cliff, a hole with obvious signs of artificial excavation suddenly appeared before our eyes!
The two of them crawled into the hole using both their hands and feet.

However, as soon as he entered the cave, Qian Fu gasped in shock!
Suddenly, a huge natural cave appeared before us!
"This...is a natural cave?!"

Qian Fu looked around.

By the dim light filtering through the cave entrance, you can see strangely shaped stalactites on the cave walls, and the ground is slippery with wet rocks. The air is filled with a damp and cold atmosphere.

Changzhou was suffering from a severe drought and the heat was unbearable, yet the cave was surprisingly humid.

There are signs of human widening near the entrance, but the depths are clearly the work of nature.

Xiao Liu's voice echoed in the empty cave:

“My elder brother, with his keen observation skills, discovered long ago that there was a huge natural fissure inside this mountain.”

"He only needs to use his internal force to blast open the outer rock wall to make use of this ready-made treasure land."

As he explained, he skillfully led Qian Fu deeper into the cave.

Qian Fu was slightly puzzled.

So, Song Jiang also knew how to observe the mountains and their aura?
Of course, he didn't know that it was all due to the effect of the "Si Face" perspective.

The two hadn't gone far when they rounded a huge stalagmite—

A breathtaking scene suddenly burst into Qian Fu's eyes!

Deep inside the cave, piles of wooden crates filled almost half the space!
Layer upon layer, reflecting a cold yet alluring light in the dim light!

Qian Fu's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, and then suddenly released!

Blood rushed to my head instantly!
He almost rushed forward to open the wooden crate to check it, but a last shred of professional vigilance held him back!
He stood still, his body trembling slightly with extreme excitement, his eyes fixed on the boxes like a hungry wolf eyeing a plump lamb.

Xiao Liu, standing to the side, let out an undisguised sneer:

"What? Afraid there are traps or hidden weapons in the box that could kill you?"

As he spoke, he strode forward and casually lifted the lid of the top box.

Wow——!
Inside the box, neatly stacked silver ingots gleamed with dazzling silver light!

Xiao Liu casually grabbed a silver ingot, didn't even look at it, and threw it at Qian Fu's feet with a clang.

Qian Fu could no longer restrain himself and practically lunged forward to pick up the silver ingot!
The heavy, cold touch sent a shiver down his spine.

His fingers trembled as he eagerly felt the bottom of the silver ingot—the unique fire mark of Shen's Wanshi Trading Company was crystal clear!
"call……"

Qian Fu exhaled a long, trembling breath, as if he wanted to release all the pent-up joy and tension!

He no longer cared about his image or the danger. Like a madman, he rushed to the pile of wooden crates and frantically opened one crate after another!
Silver ingots! Silver ingots!
They're all silver ingots!

Familiar marks! Familiar coldness! Familiar weight!
He grabbed handful after handful, scratching with his fingernails, biting with his teeth, and even burying his face in the cold pile of metal, greedily inhaling the "fragrance" that represented power and wealth!
After an unknown amount of time, Qian Fu finally straightened up, feeling utterly exhausted.

He leaned against a wooden crate, panting heavily, his face flushed with extreme excitement, and his eyes gleaming with an undisguised, almost manic, greedy light!

found it!
Finally found!
Shen Wanshi's silver! His ladder to heaven!

Finally, a sliver of reason returned to Qian Fu, and he remembered what Xiao Liu had said earlier.

He forced his trembling legs to support him as he walked to Xiao Liu's side, his voice still trembling with excitement:
"Brother Xiao Liu...you said before that it might be late...what exactly did you mean by that?"

Qian Fu was unwilling to overlook any detail.

Xiao Liu beckoned to Qian Fu and led him around to the back of the pile of wooden crates.

The sight before him made Qian Fu gasp again!
Behind the pile of wooden crates, a huge, bottomless crack suddenly appeared in the ground!

The crack was more than ten feet wide, and looking down, all one could see was darkness that swallowed everything!

A cold, damp airflow carrying an earthy smell surged from the depths of the crack, and faintly, the sound of rushing water could be heard coming from the very depths of the earth!
"An underground river?!"

Qian Fu exclaimed in shock.

Who would have thought that this huge underground fissure would lead to an underground river?

Xiao Liu's voice sounded especially cold as it echoed through the damp cracks in the ground:

"My elder brother is a man of great foresight and always leaves himself a backup plan."

"If the situation changes, at the last minute..."

He pointed to the bottomless, dark crevice:
"He would not hesitate to push all that silver down! Let it sink forever into the underground river! Vanish without a trace! Then... hehe..."

Qian Fu felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and he was so frightened that the hairs on his body stood on end!

He could almost picture it: when the government troops stormed the mountain stronghold, captured Song Jiang, and came joyfully to search for the treasure, they would find only this empty cave and this bottomless crevice...

What a desperate scene that would be!

And his fate, and that of his superiors... is predictable!

"Thank goodness... thank goodness..."

Qian Fu murmured with lingering fear, then asked urgently:

"Throw the silver in? It's so deep! Doesn't that mean... it'll never be found again?"

"Or... does he have other plans for the underground river?"

Where does this underground river lead?

Could it be that Song Jiang is a madman who will destroy what he cannot have?

Qian Fu thought it was possible, but it was more likely that Song Jiang had always had his own plans.

Xiao Liu slowly shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of resentment and helplessness:

"This... is Song Jiang's secret."

"Even though we're as close as brothers, he's... extremely wary of me!"

"How could I possibly know such core secrets?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Fu's last remaining doubts vanished.

This makes sense.

If he and Xiao Liu were sworn brothers, then with Xiao Liu's terrible martial arts skills, he wouldn't be worthy of knowing his plans.

He plastered a genuine smile on his face and patted Xiao Liu's shoulder forcefully:

"Sixth Brother Xiao! You did a wonderful job! You abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, even sacrificing your own family for the greater good!"

"Song Jiang is so mean-spirited and ungrateful, and he's always suspicious. He deserves to be abandoned by everyone!"

"do not worry!"

He patted his chest and said in a loud voice:
"I, Qian Fu, keep my word! The position of Assistant Magistrate is mine! I'll make sure you live a life of glory, wealth, and honor!"

He spoke with great conviction, but inwardly he was sneering wildly.

Fulfill the promise?

Why bother with loyalty and righteousness towards a traitor who betrayed his sworn brother and a bandit who is about to lose his usefulness?
If Xiao Liu weren't needed as a witness at this moment, he would have loved to push him into this bottomless crevice and completely erase all traces of him!
As Qian Fu spoke from the bottom of his heart, he walked side by side with Xiao Liu toward the cave entrance.

Upon reaching the cave entrance, a wide-open view unfolds, with a sky full of stars and an endless expanse of land.

With a very subtle flick of his wide sleeve, Qian Fu produced a well-trained gray carrier pigeon that magically appeared in his palm.

He moved swiftly and skillfully, stuffing a freshly written note into a thin bamboo tube, tying it to the pigeon's leg, and then throwing it forcefully!
"Fluttering—!"

The carrier pigeons took flight, like arrows released from a bow, breaking through the darkness of the cave entrance and swiftly and silently merging into the vast, dark blue sky, flying rapidly towards the southern army camp!

Qian Fu looked up at the direction where the carrier pigeon had disappeared, a smile of unprecedented pride and satisfaction spreading across his face, as if he could already see a bright future beckoning to him.

He patted Xiao Liu's back hard, his voice trembling slightly with extreme excitement:
"Sixth Brother Xiao! Did you see that?"

"Our wealth...our future...is right before our eyes!"

The sound echoed in the empty cliff cave, carrying a kind of fervent, settled feeling.

Xiao Liu also looked up at the departing carrier pigeon.

Under the starlight, his profile was illuminated by varying degrees of light and shadow.

He let out a long, silent sigh, and his shoulders seemed to relax slightly.

Deep within his eyes lay a bottomless darkness.

(End of this chapter)