Scourge Messenger

Chapter 67 What are you waiting for?

"The Huainan Underground Palace, that's a second-level secret realm! But I heard the loot is rather average."

"Even if it's a secret realm, the merchants are being far too generous. What if they can't find any evidence..."

"Even if there is evidence, it is impossible to find it. How could the imperial court let go of something it already has? The merchants will definitely end up with nothing this time. The secret realm is gone, and Jiang Shi will not be able to seize it either."

"It's hard to say. If Jiang Shi can be promoted three times within five years, the imperial court might..."

The atmosphere in the forest cooled down temporarily. Lu Wangji was contacting the imperial court with tokens, and Jiang Shi and the others were allowed to contact the Jie family and merchants. However, there were whispers throughout the camp, with Shang Yue's proposal to exchange the Huainan underground palace for Jiang Shi's fifteen years becoming the biggest topic of conversation in the forest.

"Big brother..." Shang Xinlei approached Shang Yue, her voice filled with worry: "Are you sure you can do this? Mortgaging the family's secret realm..."

"This isn't just a matter between our families," Shang Yue said, looking at Jie Zilong. "Instructor Jie won't make things difficult for me, will he?"

“The price you’ve offered is too high. I’m not even sure if my grandfather can accept it.” Jie Zilong sighed. “But in any case, our Jie family will be responsible for half of the losses to the Huainan Underground Palace over the past five years.”

“It won’t be five years. I’m just asking for an exorbitant price.” Shang Yue shook her head. “The imperial court may not care much about the Huainan Underground Palace. Without the Shang family’s military strategy, they would be lucky to conquer it once a month. Even if the imperial court does take the Huainan Underground Palace, it will be within the Shang family’s means. Whether or not this secret realm exists, it will not diminish the Shang family’s strength.”

The so-called military strategy is the method of conquering secret realms. How to deploy troops and equip them with tokens to conquer secret realms with the highest efficiency and the lowest casualties is a closely guarded secret of each secret realm family.

"More importantly, if a Huainan underground palace can be exchanged for Jiang Shi, it would be the most worthwhile deal I've ever made in my life. I believe my father wouldn't blame me for acting on his own." Shang Yue looked at Jiang Shi and smiled, "Nice to meet you, Jiang Shi. Although I've learned about you from Xin Lei's letters, seeing is believing. Your composure and beauty still exceed my expectations."

Qian Gongyu quickly shook Jiang Shi's hand, overwhelmed with excitement. Although she had already met the young master Qun Yushu, Shang Yue had made a grand entrance by spending a second-level secret realm, like a divine soldier descending from the heavens to thwart the villains' schemes. Coupled with his elegant demeanor and appearance that better suited the aesthetics of Liang Kingdom, he naturally became the perfect image of a handsome young man in Qian Gongyu's mind, and the real-life material for her dreams at night.

Shang Yue also noticed Qian Gongyu and smiled, "Miss Qian, your... tiger transformation is also very cute."

Qian Gongyu was struck dumb. She touched her ears, her face, and then her tail. Then, like a walking corpse, she hid behind Jiang Shi and never showed her face again.

Despite Shang Yue's overtures, Jiang Shi remained silent. However, everyone was used to her behavior. Shang Xinlei glanced at the individual score leaderboard and asked, "What do they mean by this? Are they preventing us from claiming our individual treasure chests?"

“You should be fine, but Jiang Shi is a different story,” Jie Zilong said in a deep voice. “They’re determined to wipe them out this time. Jiang Shi has to die, and they’ll take her treasure chest too.”

“Even if the imperial court agrees to our conditions, it’s unlikely that Jiang Shi’s treasure chests will all be returned to their rightful owners.” Shang Yue agreed with Jie Zilong’s assessment and sighed, “Their scheme was too fatal. I can only guarantee to try my best to secure benefits for Jiang Shi.”

Jie Yuanshao said, "Although I am very grateful to Young Master Shang for helping Jiang Shi so much, Jiang Shi will join our Jie family."

"I didn't know anything about this," Shang Xinlei said. "Didn't Jiang Shi say it depended on who offered the best terms?"

"There's no rush," Shang Yue waved her hand. "The imperial court might not allow us to take her. Let's wait until Jiang Shi regains her freedom. Otherwise, what's the difference between us and taking advantage of someone's misfortune?"

Qian Gongyu couldn't help but stick her head out and say, "I thought you would only help if Jiang Shi joined your family."

“If it were an ordinary person, that would certainly be the case,” Shang Yue said with a smile. “But Jiang Shi… compared to short-term gains, we believe her friendship is more worth fighting for.”

He didn't hide the fact that he valued Jiang Shi's talent, but precisely because of this, he appeared even more sincere in Qian Gongyu's eyes, making this young lady, whose world had almost collapsed, believe in the nobility of her bloodline once again.

Even though everyone is in it for the sake of profit, not everyone is so unscrupulous. There are still noble families like the business world that care more about long-term interests and act with integrity!
Just then, Lu Wangji emerged from the large tent. The woods fell silent. The Left Valiant Cavalry Guard's actions drew everyone's attention. Everyone knew that the farce of this murder case was now reaching its verdict.

"Shang Yue," he asked, "Are you sure you really want to use the secret realm of the Huainan underground palace to guarantee Jiang Shi's innocence?"

"On behalf of the merchant, I confirm."

Lu Wangji silently surveyed the crowd, lingering on Jiang Shi for a long while before slowly saying, "The Ministry of Justice approves."

"But if the five years are reduced to one year, and no evidence is found within one year, the Huainan underground palace will belong to the imperial court."

"Furthermore, while he may be spared the death penalty, he will not escape punishment," he said. "Until he proves his innocence, Jiang Shi will remain a criminal and will not be free."

Seeing that Shang Xinlei and the others wanted to speak, Lu Wangji raised his hand to signal them to be quiet and continued, "However, given Jiang Shi's exceptional talent and the lack of records of him opening up the Mansu Forest, His Majesty, taking pity on his talent, has ordered the Wangbei Army to assign Jiang Shi to the 10th Battalion of the Silver Spear Guard. The 10th Battalion of the Silver Spear Guard will be dispatched to the Huainan Underground Palace to guard and conquer the secret realm starting today."

Shang Xinlei and the others breathed a sigh of relief. They were assigned to the 10th Battalion of the Silver Spear Guard to guard the Huainan Underground Palace. Although their freedom was restricted, it was still a form of training. Moreover, the Shang family had controlled the Huainan Underground Palace for many years. With the Shang family's help, coupled with her own talent and strength, she would be like a fish in water, a dragon returning to the sea, when she entered the secret realm of the Huainan Underground Palace.

Calling it a punishment is an understatement; it's more like sending her to a secret realm to recuperate for a year.

"Besides that, there's something else," Lu Wangji said. "The imperial court couldn't find any information about Jiang Shi in the Qian family's household register. Jiang Shi isn't a Qian family guard at all; he's an unregistered resident. Qian Gongyu, do you admit it?"

"Ah? Uh..." Qian Gongyu panicked at first, but with the encouragement of Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuanshao, she quickly calmed down and nodded, "Yes."

"Mansu Forest is open to all citizens of Liang, except for unregistered persons," Lu Wangji said. "According to the law, the responsibility of Qianjia for taking in unregistered persons should be investigated, and all of Jiang Shi's gains in Mansu Forest should be confiscated."

"Absolutely not!" Shang Yue immediately said, "There is no law that forbids unregistered persons from being registered. Since the Qian family is willing to accept Jiang Shi, she is not an unregistered person! How can we use an evil law to take away someone else's spoils of war?"

"You didn't say anything on the first day, you didn't say anything on the second day, and you only come to talk about it on the third day?" Jie Zilong laughed in anger: "What's the difference between this and picking peaches for yourself?"

"If we don't punish them, how can we uphold the authority of the national law?" Lu Wangji said coldly.

After some arguing, Lu Wangji finally compromised, agreeing to confiscate only 40% of Jiang Shi's treasure chest, leaving the remaining 60% to Jiang Shi. As for how to determine the value of the treasure, Shang Yue and Jie Zilong would naturally oversee the process, ensuring that Jiang Shi would not suffer a loss.

Seeing that things were about to come to an end, Qian Gongyu felt a sense of relief and collapsed wearily to the ground, her eyes stinging with tears. She sniffled, wiping away her tears as she sobbed, "Thank you, thank you all..."

"Don't cry, you'll turn into a little tiger if you keep crying." Jie Yuanshao smiled and squatted down to wipe her face. "Besides, we're helping Jiang Shi, why are you thanking us?" "If it weren't for me, Jiang Shi wouldn't have been involved with Luo Weijin at all, and wouldn't have been framed..." she hiccuped as she sobbed, "If it weren't for your help, I, I—"

"Alright, alright, it's alright now." Jie Yuanshao helped her up. "But Jiang Shi will be going to the Huainan Underground Palace next year."

"Joining the Silver Spear Guard isn't difficult," Shang Xinlei said. "Our two families can help with this small matter."

"I want to go!" Qian Gongyu nodded hurriedly, "I want to go with Jiang Shi! Wait a minute, what about the evidence? Don't we need to find any evidence?"

Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuanshao exchanged a glance and smiled, "A year from now, I believe Jiang Shi will be a powerful messenger that the imperial court will not dare to underestimate."

"From the very beginning, this timeframe wasn't about finding evidence, but about buying time for Jiang Shi to develop."

Qian Gongyu blinked, "That's true..."

"Jiang Shi." Shang Yue and Jie Zilong walked over. "Let's go collect your personal treasure chest now. However, your treasure chest will be opened by us and Lu Wangji together. He doesn't dare let you touch it—after all, you have the token for storing it."

"I disagree."

"Then let's go... um?" Shang Yue hadn't expected Jiang Shi to refuse this small request, and subconsciously continued talking until she was almost finished before realizing what she had said.

Jie Yuanshao, Shang Xinlei, and Qian Gongyu also looked at Jiang Shi, who was sitting in a chair.

They suddenly realized something.

Whether it was the merchants' help in providing guarantees, Shang Yue's suggestion to use the Huainan Underground Palace to buy time for Jiang Shi, or their efforts to secure the benefits of the treasure chest for Jiang Shi... Jiang Shi remained silent throughout the entire process.

She calmly watched everything unfold, watched everyone argue around her, and watched everyone decide her future.

She didn't object.

There was no approval.

"Jiang Shi, don't you agree to Lu Wangji doing it for you?" Shang Yue said, "I might be able to get Miss Qian to open the treasure chest for you..."

"I disagree with your distribution of my treasure chest, and I disagree even more with going to the Huainan Underground Palace."

She slowly stood up and walked towards the center of the camp. Jie Zilong was puzzled and asked, "You don't want to be bound by the Silver Spear Guards? But this is temporary, you don't even need to stay for a year. We can help you regain your freedom in a few months."

“That’s right, Jiang Shi.” Jie Yuanshao also said, “As for the treasure chest, there’s nothing we can do. After all, you’re really an unregistered person, and the other party has the law and evidence. We’ve already managed to get 60% because of our two families.”

"Jiang Shi, I know you're furious about being framed," Shang Yue advised. "But the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind... It's precisely because you're so outstanding that they're targeting you. What you need to do now is accumulate strength and develop your abilities. Don't act impulsively for short-term gains."

“Jiang Shi…” Qian Gongyu stared blankly at Jiang Shi’s back.

The only one who didn't speak was Shang Xinlei.

She glanced discreetly at her older brother, who looked displeased, and understood the unspoken understanding between them.

They were indeed divided into two factions. Lu Wangji and his group did want to frame Jiang Shi, and Shang Yue and Jie Zilong did want to protect Jiang Shi... But sending Jiang Shi to the Huainan Underground Palace for a year of training was also a shared idea of ​​theirs.

For Lu Wangji and his group, they couldn't accept Jiang Shi simply throwing herself into the arms of the Shang family. With a year's time, they could use their own methods to win Jiang Shi over. For the Shang family, Jiang Shi was too arrogant, too free, and too full of potential. Rather than accepting an uncontrollable Jiang Shi, they would rather temper her sharp edges.

Jie Zilong and Shang Yue may not know the truth behind the frame-up, but that doesn't stop them from using this opportunity to "offer help in her time of need." Compared to offering a high price to recruit Jiang Shi, they are now offering a Huainan underground palace, repeatedly fighting against the imperial court for her, and helping her fight for her interests without reservation. Even if Jiang Shi's heart is made of iron, it should be warmed by such generous treatment.

If Lu Wangji and his group represent the stick, then Jie Zilong and Shang Yue are the carrot.

Shang Xinlei suddenly remembered that while aristocratic families would suppress each other's promising young talents, they would only go so far as to eliminate them completely. As a result, the major aristocratic families always had a constant stream of new blood and continued to grow stronger to this day without ever becoming corrupt.

So, what will Jiang Shi do?

Jiang Shi walked towards the center of the camp, gradually attracting everyone's attention. At first, Lu Wangji thought she wanted to snatch the treasure chest, but when he realized the route wasn't right, he relaxed. However, he immediately noticed Jiang Shi's real goal and walked over, shouting loudly, "Jiang Shi, what are you trying to do by approaching the victim's corpse?"

It turned out that Luo Weijin's body had been lying in the center of the camp. Lu Wangji and the others had been so busy negotiating and arguing that they had forgotten to take the body back. After being left in the woods for so long, the body was covered with mosquitoes and flies, and even insects had crawled into his wounds.

Jiang Shi did not respond to Lu Wangji's words. She walked to the corpse and raised the white iron straight sword.

Wow!
Amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd, Jiang Shi made a cut on the riddled corpse. But compared to the other gruesome knife marks, her cut was so gentle, lightly touching the corpse's eyelids, as if simply closing the victim's eyes.

Lu Wangji was stunned. "You, you..."

"You're saying I killed this person."

Jiang Shi said expressionlessly, "That's right, I killed this person."

"You also say that murder of one's superior is an unforgivable crime." She took out two straight white iron swords from the keepsake, held them out with both hands, her body forming a cross: "Then..."

"What are you waiting for?"

(End of this chapter)