Gou Zai Xianwu Wenjing Search for Opportunities

Chapter 90 The Treasure of the Prince of Wanhu

"Sigh!" Liu Jingtian pounded his chest and stamped his feet, filled with regret. "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have run away!"

"If you really don't run away, Wang Anren will definitely kill you on the spot to take the blame. But you shouldn't try to escape out of the mansion. You should go straight to the main hall of the Li mansion and make a scene. The mansion will investigate on its own."

Liu Jingtian only realized what had happened afterward, but since he had already fled, he didn't have the courage to go back. Moreover, the Li family's martial arts instructors were guarding all the entrances and exits of the city, so he dared not force his way out of the city and could only hide in his old lover's house in Liuxiang.

Somehow, someone found out!

In fact, he also wanted to clear his name. If the Li family really accused him of being a thief, then he would have no way to survive in Lizhou. He would either have to become an outlaw or flee north to the Central Plains.

"Brother Lin, please help me! I will be eternally grateful!"

"No need for thanks!" Lin Yuan waved his hand, not caring much about the benefits. He just wanted to solve the case first and prevent Old Li from chasing after the culprit again. "This can't be done by me alone; Zheng Xingzhou is up there. What's your relationship with Brother Zheng like?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jingtian was delighted and didn't hide anything: "We've known each other since the Central Plains, and have been friends for many years. We entered the Li family together. But he always wins my money—"

"Brother Liu, that's not fair of you! I won by my own skill. You're not as good as me, so why are you talking badly about me behind my back?"

At this moment, Zheng Xingzhou jumped down from the cabin and joked that he had just seen Lin Yuan go into a fishing boat and not come out for a long time, so he became suspicious and came over to check. He didn't expect to hear Liu Jingtian's voice.

"Alright, I understand what you mean!" Zheng Xingzhou waved his hand. "I think Brother Lin makes a good point. If you really didn't kill anyone, it's better not to run away. If you really want to run away, we're brothers, so I won't stop you."

After saying that, Zheng Xingzhou jumped out of the cabin, showing great loyalty.

"Brother Zheng, I really didn't kill anyone. I'll go with you to see Elder Li!"

After saying that, Liu Jingtian also jumped out.

"Alright, when we see Old Li, I'll personally plead for you!" Zheng Xingzhou patted his shoulder. "Put the makeup on!"

After saying that, Liu Jingtian smeared mud on his face, and Lin Yuan jumped ashore, took three horses from the tree, and secretly led them over.

The guards at the alley entrance, seeing the commotion, were puzzled and sensed something was wrong. They quickly went forward to look and shouted, "Brother Lin, Brother Zheng, what are you doing?"

The three of them didn't say a word, and rode straight towards the Li residence, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Zheng Xingzhou took the lead, urging his horse to speed up while flashing his badge to clear the way: "Official business is being conducted at the Li residence; unauthorized personnel should stay away."

Liu Jingtian followed closely behind, with Lin Yuan trailing behind.

The three of them dismounted at the corner gate of the mansion and jogged all the way to the main hall.

Old Master Li was not present at the time, and the servants asked the three of them to wait a moment.

After a while, Old Li slowly walked into the main hall from behind the screen, still holding a pipe in his hand, but he didn't seem to smoke it.

When Old Li saw Liu Jingtian, he didn't say anything, but just quietly looked at the three of them.

"Old Li, I didn't kill him! Wang Anren framed me!" Liu Jingtian immediately knelt down. "I was guarding the west courtyard when I went to relieve myself. As I passed the artificial hill, I heard a woman crying—"

Old Li listened to him silently, without any expression or comment.

Upon seeing this, Zheng Xingzhou stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and pleaded, "Elder Li, I have known Brother Liu for many years and know him very well. Although he is skilled in martial arts, he is of average intelligence and could not possibly be a reckless person. Otherwise, he would not have fled from the Central Plains to Lizhou in such a sorry state. He was truly harmed by a villain. I beg Elder Li to clear his name."

Liu Jingtian glanced at Zheng Xingzhou out of the corner of his eye. Even though he knew that Brother Zheng was trying to exonerate himself, his words still sounded rather unpleasant.

Lin Yuan felt that Zheng Xingzhou's assessment was very apt. No wonder Liu Jingtian had such a narrow view; it had been going on for a long time.

He immediately imitated Zheng Xingzhou's pleading, saying, "Old Li, Brother Zheng is right!"

He didn't say much, just echoed, that was enough. Saying too much wasn't a good thing. Actually, he didn't want to kneel, but everyone else was kneeling, and if he didn't, it would seem insincere, so he had to bend one knee as a gesture.

Hopefully, Liu Jingtian's generous reward will not disappoint him.

Old Li said softly, "Sixteen, imprison Liu Jingtian."

A servant, dressed as a domestic helper, slipped into the room and said, "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jingtian was heartbroken, his legs trembled, and he sobbed uncontrollably, "Old Li, I was truly harmed by Wang Anren!"

Old Li ignored him and instructed again, "Seventeen, go to the Li family ancestral graves and bring Wang Anren back."

"Yes." Another servant slipped into the room, clasped his hands in greeting, and left the main hall before turning and disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Seeing his incredible agility, Zheng Xingzhou was about to ask to go with him, but in the end, he remained silent.

Lin Yuan recognized Li Shiliu and Li Shiqi; these two servants were the ones who sealed Shi Shu into the Yin Coffin.

Old Li waved to Lin Yuan and the other man, "Go back."

Lin Yuan immediately stood up, preparing to leave, but when he looked at Zheng Xingzhou, the other party pleaded, "Elder Li, Brother Lin and I are willing to stay here and wait for Wang Anren to arrive!"

Old Li nodded: "Please sit down. Someone, bring tea."

"Thank you, Mr. Li."

Lin Yuan didn't want to continue participating, so he could only cup his hands and sit down to Zheng Xingzhou's left.

The three sat in the hall drinking tea. Old Li was a man of few words, and the room felt a little quiet.

Zheng Xingzhou, on the other hand, spoke in a lukewarm manner, mostly using flattery, clearly intending to take the opportunity to get close to her.

Lin Yuan remained silent, too lazy to make conversation. He knew that too much talk would lead to mistakes, so it was better to play the role of a lackey and not take the lead in anything, letting Zheng Xingzhou take the lead.

By noon, Lin Yuan was hungry. Fortunately, in addition to tea, there were also snacks, namely mung bean cakes, which were enough to fill his stomach.

After noon, Li Shiqi led Wang Anren into the house: "Old Li, the person has been brought."

"Old Li, you were looking for me?" Wang Anren stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, glanced at Zheng Xingzhou and Lin Yuan, and nodded and smiled at the two of them.

Zheng Xingzhou snorted coldly, drawing a strange look from Wang Anren.

Old Li slowly rose, his right hand holding his pipe, and walked to Wang Anren, asking calmly, "Do you know Shishu?"

"Old Li, who is Shishu? I don't know," Wang Anren denied outright.

"Did you kill her?"

"Elder Li, when have I ever killed anyone? Someone must be slandering me. Please investigate, Elder Li." Wang Anren looked puzzled and confused, then glanced at Zheng Xingzhou and Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan looked at Zheng Xingzhou, who was not intimidated and met Wang Anren's gaze.

Wang Anren immediately pointed at Zheng Xingzhou and angrily said, "You surnamed Zheng, what makes you think you can frame me?"

Old Li waved his hand: "Don't make a fuss. Sixteen, go and bring Liu Jingtian here!"

"The murderer has been caught?" Wang Anren was stunned. He didn't understand what was happening today.

Old Li ignored him, took a wad of golden tobacco from the pipe hanging on his pipe with his left hand, stuffed it into the pipe little by little, and then picked up the jade pendant next to the pipe to press the tobacco down.

At this moment, Li Shiliu had already carried Liu Jingtian over and gently threw him on the ground. Liu Jingtian quickly stood up.

Wang Anren spoke first: "Elder Li, I personally witnessed Liu Jingtian committing the murder that day—"

"You surnamed Wang, you're spouting nonsense—" Liu Jingtian retorted.

Old Li took the tinder handed to him by Li Shiliu and was about to light his cigarette when he suddenly stopped and asked the two men seriously, "I'll ask you one last time. If you confess now, I can grant you leniency and spare you the death penalty."

The two refused to admit their guilt and continued their magical exchange, cursing each other up to their ancestors.

Old Li shook his head, lit a cigarette, took a puff, and blew two smoke rings towards Zheng Xingzhou and Lin Yuan, instantly filling the room with the aroma of smoke.

Lin Yuan only smelled it a few times before feeling dizzy. He could only rub his forehead and close his eyes. Fortunately, the mirror in his sea of ​​consciousness appeared, which greatly reduced his drowsiness, but he was still dizzy. He leaned against the coffee table and pretended to doze off, listening to the sounds around him.

At this moment, Zheng Xingzhou was even worse off than him, leaning back in his chair and falling into a drowsy sleep.

Old Li walked up to Liu Jingtian, took three puffs, and exhaled a cloud of smoke into Liu's face.

Liu Jingtian coughed twice in succession, his eyes became sleepy, and he became listless, like a snake that had eaten tobacco oil, swaying precariously.

Old Li suddenly asked, "Liu Jingtian, did you kill Shishu?"

Liu Jingtian suddenly stood up, opened his eyes, met Li Lao's gaze, and said with a foolish expression, "No."

"Is the child in her belly yours?"

"no."

Old Li seemed to choke on the smoke, coughed twice, took three more puffs, and walked up to Wang Anren.

Wang Anren realized something was wrong and instinctively stepped back, pointing at Liu Jingtian and saying, "Old Li, he's lying. I saw it with my own eyes—"

But Old Li ignored him, took five steps forward, and instantly stood in front of him, blowing a puff of smoke into his face.

Caught off guard, Wang Anren was hit by the smoke, and his expression instantly fell, his eyes becoming drowsy.

"Wang Anren, did you kill Shishu?"

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Wang Anren straightened up, a silly grin spreading across his face.

"Is the child in her belly yours?"

"Yes."

Old Li showed no expression, only asking calmly, "Why did you do this?"

"She wants to elope, but I don't want to go."

"Why don't you want to leave?"

"I want to get close to Jiu Niang!"

Old Li suddenly widened his eyes, gripped his pipe tightly in his right hand, and stared intently at Wang Anren: "Why did you approach Jiu Niang?"

"I heard that the Li family found the treasure of the Prince of Wanhu, which is why they were able to cultivate immortality. Since Ninth Sister was rated as a potential immortal, she must have an extraordinary background and must know something." Wang Anren said, while a look of struggle appeared on his face.

He seemed very resistant to saying these things.

Old Li gritted his teeth and said, enunciating each word clearly, "Who sent you?"

"Master."

"Who is your master?"

"Zhao—" Upon hearing his master's name, Wang Anren suddenly shuddered, his eyes widened, and he snapped awake.

He was terrified and didn't dare to look at Old Li. He turned and ran away.

Old Li raised his pipe with his right hand, and the pipe turned into a golden light that chased after Wang Anren, arriving in an instant and striking him on the back before returning to Old Li's hand.

Wang Anren fell to the ground in pain, unable to get up. Li Shiliu and Li Shiqi immediately stepped forward and pressed him to the ground.

Suddenly, Wang Anren coughed up black blood and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

Old Li cried out, "Oh no! He bit down on poison! Quick, save him!"

>