Chapter 58
Fake Heart-Corroding Pill, Profound Water True Skill in Hand, Evidence of Fei Jianhua
Chapter 58 Fake Heart-Corroding Pill, Profound Water True Skill in Hand, Evidence of Fei Jianhua's Crimes [Please Subscribe!]
Deep within Guixiang Lane, the courtyard is quiet and peaceful.
Tonight is the fifth day of the ten-day period, and according to the information Chen Wenyuan gathered, Wang Jian must be here.
Before scaling the courtyard wall, Su Yang stopped in the deepest shadow of the alley and took out the bronze mask from his pocket.
The cold, heavy touch pressed against my face, the spiral patterns covering my forehead and cheekbones.
He looked at the world through his eyes, and the moonlight in the alley seemed to be cut even colder.
From this moment on, his identity was no longer Su Yang, but the bronze-masked man.
He vaulted over the courtyard wall like a ghost, his movements perfectly executed—flying over grass and gliding through clouds—making his landing softer than a cat's. His bronze mask gleamed with a dark metallic sheen in the moonlight. He lay prone in the shadows of the rooftop, channeling his inner energy into his ears, absorbing every subtle sound within a thirty-foot radius.
Su Yang quietly crept to the back window, subtly releasing his inner energy through his fingertips to create a barely perceptible slit along the edge of the window paper. Upon seeing the scene in the room, he thought to himself, "The room is dark and lacks any sign of a resident. It seems the woman who was rumored to arrive on the fifth day of the month is not here tonight."
Inside the side room, Wang Jian was sitting behind a rosewood desk.
He wore a dark blue brocade robe, with no sword at his waist, and a large black jade thumb ring on his right index finger. His face was gloomy, and he held an unfolded letter in his hand. The candlelight cast his shadow on the bookshelf behind him, which distorted as the flame flickered.
"Fei Jianhua————"
Wang Jian spat out those three words through gritted teeth, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Do you really think I'm a three-year-old child?"
He slammed the letter down on the table, causing the wolf-hair brush on the brush holder to tremble slightly.
In that instant when the crisp sound masked all other subtle movements...
A dark figure slid in through the back window like a ghost, landing silently.
A bone-chilling cold then seeped in, permeating the entire room.
Wang Jian suddenly looked up: "Who?!"
The candlelight flickered.
The light illuminated the uninvited guest who had somehow appeared in the room.
What Wang Jian saw first was not a person, but a bronze mask with a dark patina, strange patterns, and a face completely covered.
The eyes behind the mask, illuminated by candlelight, were as calm as a bottomless ancient well, as if they had been watching him for a long time.
"Who are you?!"
Wang Jian suddenly stood up, his right hand already reaching for the hidden compartment under the desk—where his sword was concealed.
"If I were you, I wouldn't move."
Su Yang spoke slowly, a deep and strange metallic resonance emanating from beneath his bronze mask: "The time it took you to draw your sword was enough for me to kill you three times over."
Wang Jian's hand froze in mid-air.
He stared intently at the bronze mask. The other person's aura was heavy and oppressive, making it hard for him to breathe. Although the person was standing there, it seemed as if they had merged into the shadows of the entire room. What chilled him even more were the eyes behind the mask—calm as a deep pool, yet exuding a coldness that could freeze one's soul.
"Sir—what exactly do you want to do?"
Wang Jian slowly withdrew his hand, suppressing his anger and a barely perceptible fear: "If you want money, I can offer it—"
"I want more than just money."
Su Yang interrupted him, his voice carrying an inhuman quality through the bronze mask.
The candlelight danced on the mask, which had a faint greenish patina. The spiral patterns seemed to come alive in the glow, slowly rotating and drawing in one's attention.
The eyes behind the mask now seemed even more unfathomable, like an ancient well reflecting the flickering flames, yet devoid of any warmth.
"you----"
Wang Jian's Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously took a half step back.
A deep, eerie voice came from beneath the bronze mask: "Wang Jian, acting leader of the Canal Gang. You colluded with Fei Jianhua, the steward of the outer courtyard of the Huang Mansion, to smuggle medicinal herbs and pig iron from the manor's treasury and to operate the 'Black Fish' fleet. You come to this private residence every fifteen nights, ostensibly for pleasure, but in reality—to secretly meet with him, settle accounts, and hide your shady letters and stolen silver, aren't you?"
Su Yang spoke slowly, but every word was sharp and precise.
Based on the intelligence that Chen Wenyuan and Fei Jianhua had a secret meeting here and that Chen had taken away a cloth bag, as well as the privacy of the residence, he made the most reasonable deduction... This place is probably not a simple place to hide a mistress, but a secret hideout for conducting dirty transactions and storing evidence of crimes.
Wang Jian's expression suddenly changed!
The other party even figured out the true purpose of his house?!
"On the night Liu Meng died suddenly, you, Wang Dai Gang Leader, were 'loyally on duty' at Tingtao Pavilion, weren't you?"
The voice beneath the bronze mask was devoid of emotion, yet it sent a chill down Wang Jian's spine.
"The gang leader was assassinated inside, all the guards outside were killed, but you, the hall master on duty, were unharmed and were the first to discover it afterward"—this coincidence is a bit too much.
Su Yang leaned forward slightly, his mask casting an oppressive shadow in the candlelight.
"Tell me, if someone investigates thoroughly, is your duty of guarding the post a case of negligence in protecting our leader, delaying the rescue? Or—are you simply turning a blind eye, or even colluding with them from within?"
boom!
These words exploded in Wang Jian's mind like a thunderbolt.
The other party did not fabricate facts, but used the simplest facts to create the most vicious and malicious argument!
This was precisely his deepest fear these past few days...
He couldn't explain why he was alright, why it was such a "coincidence"!
"I—I was back then—"
Wang Jian wanted to explain, but found that any words he said were pale and powerless under the other party's cold gaze.
I don't care how you were back then.
Su Yang interrupted him, his voice returning to its previous calm, yet all the more cruel: "I only know that the Canal Gang's punishment hall, and those who covet the position of gang leader, will be very interested. Do you understand?"
Wang Jian trembled violently, his last line of psychological defense completely shattered.
What the other party has seized is not a specific piece of evidence, but rather his innocence, which he cannot prove at all.
This is more deadly than any sword or blade.
"What exactly do you want, sir?"
Wang Jian's voice was hoarse, carrying a hint of utter despair and surrender.
"Everything you can give."
Su Yang's tone left no room for argument, his gaze like a cold blade scraping across Wang Jian's slightly trembling body: "All the benefits your backers have given you, all the evidence of your collusion with Fei Jianhua, all the wealth you've hidden away—"
He paused, his voice lower yet more piercing: "And all your secrets, especially those that have made you so weak and unstable. I need to know them all."
"this...
'
Wang Jian's pupils constricted. The other party had even noticed his newly acquired cultivation technique and the misunderstanding during his practice?!
"If you want to live, first prove your sincerity."
Su Yang took out a rough little porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out a dark brown pill that smelled of earth and a hint of minty coolness, and held it in his palm.
"This is the 'Heart-Eating Gu'."
His voice slowly came through the bronze mask: "After taking it, the Gu worm will lie dormant deep in your heart meridian, and you will feel nothing under normal circumstances, just like an ordinary person."
"However, this Gu worm needs to ingest a unique secret medicine once a year around the time of the Awakening of Insects to neutralize its malevolent energy and suppress its ferocity. If it is not taken within the specified time—"
He took a half step forward, the candlelight flowing across the bronze mask, making his eyes appear even deeper.
"In the first year, after the Awakening of Insects, my heart meridian felt as if it had been pierced by an ice pick, and my internal energy dissipated by 30%."
"In the second year, his resentment eroded his bones, his vital energy withered and depleted, and he became like rotten wood."
"By the time of the Awakening of Insects in the third year, the Gu worm will burst out of your heart, and even a celestial being could not save your life."
"The antidote must be taken for three consecutive years to completely eradicate the root of this Gu. During this period, if I detect the slightest abnormality in you, I can activate the Gu worm with a single thought, causing you to immediately experience the pain of an ice spike piercing your heart and your power dissipating."
His voice, coming through the mask, carried a cold, inhuman quality: "This is your only chance."
Wang Jian's face was deathly pale as he stared intently at the pill.
The strange smell of earthiness mixed with mint seemed like a harbinger of death.
"You can always consult a renowned doctor for examination." Su Yang let out a short, metallic chuckle: "The art of Gu poison is mysterious and unpredictable. Ordinary medical techniques cannot even detect the presence of Gu worms."
He paused, his icy gaze seemingly piercing through the wall, looking towards the backyard.
"If you don't believe me, feel free to try. The stakes are your life, and—"
His voice was even lower, each word striking Wang Jian's heart with crystal clarity: "The fate of that woman who would come here by carriage every fifteen days to cook for you with her delicate hands."
That last sentence became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Wang Jian trembled violently, and the last trace of struggle in his eyes was completely extinguished.
He reached out with trembling hands, picked up the rough pill, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and swallowed it.
The pill went down my throat, carrying an earthy, strange coolness.
Su Yang watched as his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the medicine before slowly withdrawing his hand.
"Now, hand over the items."
Under the deadly threat of the "Heart-Eating Gu Pill" and the all-knowing gaze of his opponent, Wang Jian's psychological defenses completely collapsed.
He smiled bitterly, knowing that there were no more secrets he could keep.
He went behind the desk, opened a hidden compartment, and took out three items—
A cloth-wrapped item contained a secret manual with a dark blue cover and the words "Mysterious Water True Skill, Volume 1" written in ancient seal script.
A sandalwood box: inside were a large secret letter and an account book.
A black token: The token felt cold to the touch, neither gold nor jade. On the front was carved a crouching black tortoise, with layers upon layers of shell patterns, resembling intricate hexagonal frost flowers.
"Hmm? A token?"
Su Yang picked up the cold, neither-gold nor-jade token, and the light beneath his mask suddenly froze!
The pattern, the material, the shape of the black tortoise—it's almost identical to the black tortoise token he obtained from Liu Meng's secret chamber. The only subtle difference is a tiny, almost symbolic engraving on the back.
really!
Liu Meng and Wang Jian, the two successive leaders of the Canal Gang, were indeed connected to the same mysterious force!
This Xuan Turtle Token is the symbol of their status as chess pieces!
Wang Jian stared intently at Su Yang's hand, especially the momentary pause and subtle caress as if comparing and confirming when the other held the token. The last glimmer of hope in Wang Jian's heart was extinguished by this silent action... The other not only recognized this item, but might even have seen another one before!
"Tell me about it."
Su Yang walked to the window, his back to him, and said in a calm tone: "The forces behind you, who helped you rise to power, certainly didn't do it for charity."
What does he want you to do?
Wang Jian swallowed hard, not daring to hide anything: "Your Excellency, Lord Tiger Face ordered me to stabilize the canal gang, firmly control all the waterways in the Jingling section, and keep a close eye on any movement in Jingling City for the Lord."
What's the commotion?
Su Yang repeated it, his tone devoid of emotion.
Wang Jian hurriedly recalled, then suddenly remembered: "Yesterday! Yesterday, Lord Tiger Face suddenly appeared. Besides the usual inquiries, he specifically instructed me to use all my spies to keep an eye on whether any strange ancient books or unfamiliar martial arts manuals had appeared in Jingling City, and to report immediately if I found anything!"
Where is that tiger-faced man? How can we contact him?
Su Yang's voice, heard through the mask, was as calm as an ancient well, without any ripples.
Wang Jian looked terrified: "I didn't know! Lord Tiger Face is elusive; he's come twice, but both times it was him seeking me out unilaterally—"
"How do you signal for help or request assistance in an emergency?"
Su Yang's eyes flashed.
Wang Jian dared not delay: "Lord Tiger Face instructed that in extremely urgent situations where it is necessary to contact them proactively, a secret letter should be left inside the third loose brick from the east wall in the back alley of the 'Yuelai' Inn in the West City. The letter should be marked with three horizontal lines and one vertical line in charcoal."
"Does he check on it regularly?"
"The petty person is unaware of the specific cycle."
Wang Jian shook his head, his face full of fear: "The master only said that it was a last resort, and that—it might not always get a response. I have never used it, and I don't know if there is really anyone watching on the other end."
Su Yang didn't ask any further questions.
Silence filled the candlelight, pressing down on Wang Jian so much that his heart almost stopped beating.
"very good."
He finally turned slowly, the candlelight flowing across the cold bronze mask: "From this day forward, every command from the 'Tiger-Faced Man' must stabilize the canal gangs, control the waterways, and especially ensure the progress of the search for those maps—"
His voice, coming through the mask, was sharp and clear: "You must report this to me word for word."
"Yes! I understand!"
Wang Jian lay prostrate on the ground, his voice trembling.
"The token is with you." Su Yang glanced at the wooden box. "How you dealt with him in the past is how you will deal with him in the future. I want you to become a more 'powerful' pawn in his eyes."
He picked up the ledger, flipped through it casually, and let out a very faint, cold laugh: "That old dog Fei Jianhua's tail isn't just tucked between your doors."
"Someone offered a high price to ruin his reputation and make him die knowing why."
Wang Jian's heart skipped a beat: "A double-cross? Or... one of those dentistry practices that specializes in dirty work?"
He suddenly remembered the rumors circulating in the black market about "Ghost Tooth"—a man who acted mysteriously, charged extremely high prices, and never left any loose ends.
Could it be that the person in front of me is—
This thought sent a chill down his spine, completely extinguishing his last vestige of curiosity.
"I understand!"
He touched his head to the ground: "This thing, left with a villain, is indeed a source of disaster! Your Excellency has great foresight!"
Finally, Su Yang looked at the manual, his tone suddenly changing: "As for this 'Mysterious Water True Skill'—"
He reached out, picked up the dark blue booklet, and quickly flipped through several pages to confirm that the pictures and texts inside were indeed internal martial arts manuals, and not forgeries.
Wang Jian glanced at Su Yang, and his heart tightened.
"I'm somewhat interested in this." Su Yang stroked the book cover, his voice devoid of emotion. "Your 'Tiger-Faced Lord' must have left some clues by giving this to you. I'll take it and study it for a couple of days."
He paused, as if stating something trivial: "See if you can find any clues about the 'person' behind you from the techniques, the ink on the paper, or even the annotation habits between the lines. I'll return it to you next time we meet."
next time?
return?
Wang Jian was stunned.
These words sounded as light as a breeze, even carrying a casual tone of "I'll just borrow it to take a look," but to Wang Jian it felt like an ice blade had grazed his ears.
First, the other party took away his livelihood and his means of livelihood, yet threw him a pretext he couldn't refute... to investigate the person behind him. This wasn't a discussion, it was a notification, it was an unquestionable statement: "I'm taking it, and you have to give it to me."
Secondly, the words "I'll return it to you next time we meet" acted like an invisible chain, binding his life, death, and future. He had to live, and obediently follow the other party's path, in order to have a chance to retrieve the cultivation technique. This wasn't a promise; it was a bond, a hidden threat that "your lifeline is in my hands."
Third, the phrase "find the weakness" pierced his heart like a needle. The other party wanted more than just control him; they wanted to follow his lead and dig into his very foundation. He wasn't spared; he was chosen to be the first nail to be pried open, the one used to disrupt the entire situation.
How can this be considered taking?
This is a blatant declaration.
It asserts that the other party has the right to take away what he cherishes most at any time, and also the right to decide when and under what conditions to return it. Compared to simply taking everything, the torment of this "temporary safekeeping" is far more agonizing.
"----yes."
Wang Jian lowered his head and squeezed out the word from his throat.
He had no room for negotiation.
Su Yang said no more, put away the "Mysterious Water True Skill" manual and the evidence of Fei Jianhua's crimes, and quietly disappeared into the night outside the window.
Left alone with the flickering, dying candlelight, Wang Jian felt for the first time the emptiness of not having the manual at hand, a feeling that was more unsettling than the lingering pain of the poison attacking his mind.
His life has already been pre-booked for the next chapter.
The Xuan Turtle Token lying on the table felt like a cold branding iron, burning his heart with unease.