"Young Master Xin, I..."
Chairman Qu tried to speak as well.
Qi Shiyun merely flicked her finger, sending a bolt of invisible force that froze Chairman Qu in place, completely unable to move.
Two men unfamiliar to Lianshan Xin stepped out from the shadows. Flanking Chairman Qu on either side, they supported him as they walked toward the Qu household.
Following their appearance, more and more figures began emerging from all directions, quietly falling in line behind them.
The entire process was silent and chillingly grim.
Even though this was Lianshan Xin's first time witnessing such a scene, he could tell right away that this group was battle-hardened.
"Chairman, Young Master, Lianshan Xin... Wait, how are you..."
Chairman Qu's steward looked on in bewilderment as his master entered with an armed entourage.
Lianshan Xin glanced at him, but his innate ability didn't trigger.
Judging by the man's expression, however, he seemed genuinely kept in the dark.
Not that it mattered.
What mattered was that Lianshan Xin remembered this man had deliberately made things difficult for Lianshan Jingcheng.
Granted, that had primarily been Chairman Qu's decision, but while taking down tigers, one couldn't let the flies buzz away scot-free.
Lianshan Xin flashed the steward a radiantly menacing smile.
"Steward Qu, I'd advise you to keep quiet. Otherwise, anything you say might become evidence for the Demon Cult to retaliate against you in the future."
"Demon Cult? What Demon Cult?"
The steward looked utterly lost.
He truly knew nothing.
Yet Lianshan Xin turned to Qi Shiyun and said, "Tanhua Qi, this man is the Qu family steward and Chairman Qu's absolute confidant. He must know plenty of inside details. I suggest handing him over to me for interrogation. I guarantee I'll extract an outcome that satisfies you."
Qi Shiyun gave Lianshan Xin a peculiar look, then glanced at Steward Qu before waving her hand dismissively. "He's all yours. Just don't kill him."
Lianshan Xin felt a surge of relief.
He had known that an intelligence outfit like Nine Heavens would never follow the rigid, bookish protocols of ordinary civil bureaucracy. There was ample room for maneuvering.
"Xiao Jiu, Wenbin, stay with Lianshan Xin and keep him safe."
Qi Shiyun assigned two bodyguards to Lianshan Xin, putting his mind completely at ease.
After all, demonic whelps were still holed up inside the Qu residence. Having bodyguards was indeed crucial.
"Lianshan Xin, go ahead and interrogate the young master and the steward. Stay out of the actual arrests so you don't end up taken hostage by the Demon Cult."
Qi Shiyun wasn't looking down on him; she was merely stating facts.
Lianshan Xin was hardly cannon fodder from a fantasy novel who loved loitering around danger. He possessed a healthy self-awareness regarding his current strength, and keeping clear of the front line was definitely the right call.
Heeding her advice, he promptly found an empty room.
After kicking both Qu Junjie and Steward Qu flat onto the floor with a swift boot to each, Lianshan Xin cupped his hands to introduce himself to his two protectors.
"I am Lianshan Xin, a newly admitted student of Bailudong Academy. How should I address you two elder brothers?"
"Du Jiu."
This was a young man who looked about Lianshan Xin's age, his face still bearing traces of youth.
"Qi Wenbin."
Hearing the surname "Qi," Lianshan Xin's vigilance went up a notch.
"Brother Qi and Tanhua Qi..."
"Just share a family name."
Qi Wenbin's tone was icy, his eyes carrying a faint trace of displeasure. Being assigned to protect a powerless "pampered young master" like Lianshan Xin felt like an insult to him.
Lianshan Xin noted Qi Wenbin's distaste.
He found it rather baffling, though he didn't take it to heart. After all, there were even people in this world who hated money, let alone someone disliking him.
Watching Qi Wenbin stand aside with his arms folded over his sword, exuding an aura that warned strangers to keep away, Lianshan Xin couldn't help thinking what a pity it was. If this guy were gender-swapped, he would be an icy beauty; unfortunately, reality presented a gruff uncle in his thirties.
An icy beauty might be hard to win over, but winning over an uncle was light work.
"Brother Qi, Brother Jiu, my martial skills are meager, so I'll be relying on your care," Lianshan Xin said with a smile.
Qi Wenbin said nothing, seemingly too disdainful to bother responding.
Du Jiu, on the other hand, cupped his hands with a warm grin matching Lianshan Xin's. "Since Lord Qi gave the order, Brother Qi and I will naturally take your lead, Young Master Lianshan."
"No need for that, we're all brothers here. I'll likely be joining Nine Heavens in the future as well."
The moment Lianshan Xin said this, Du Jiu's smile turned even warmer.
Qi Wenbin remained as aloof as ever.
"Brother Qi, Brother Jiu, please keep an eye on the outside for a moment while I interrogate these two fellows."
"Easy enough. Need a hand?" Du Jiu rolled his wrists, an easy confidence seeping into his tone. "I might be useless at book learning, but when it comes to torture, I'm a seasoned master."
Qu Junjie was already beginning to tremble.
Lianshan Xin glanced at Qu Junjie, then said to Du Jiu, "In that case, I'll have to trouble Brother Jiu to show your skills first."
"Wait!"
Qu Junjie cried out desperately.
"Whatever you want to know, just ask! Why jump straight to torture?!"
Lianshan Xin was speechless. "...Young Master Qu, aren't you going to hold out at all? Do you have no faith in or loyalty to the Demon Cult?"
Qu Junjie answered with an unyielding backbone, "Naturally, I possess faith in and loyalty to the Sacred Cult! But right now, my head is under another's roof. A wise man knows when to yield to circumstances, and a true man of distinction must adapt! I must live up to the name 'Junjie' my father gave me!"
Du Jiu was struck dumb.
Even Qi Wenbin's stony expression cracked.
Lianshan Xin gave Qu Junjie a thumbs-up. "Young Master Qu, your abilities might be lacking, but your speed at dropping to your knees is truly something else. You're quite the talent."
Who said that if Young Master Qu were dropped into France, he couldn't make general?
There was no such thing as trash in this world, only resources put in the wrong place.
"Brother Jiu, I leave Young Master Qu to you. When Tanhua Qi asks later, I'll report that all the intelligence pulled from him came from your interrogation."
Song Jiang might not have been a model figure from Shandong, but his three titles—Protector of Righteousness, Timely Rain, and the Filial and Righteous Dark Third Brother—were well worth learning from. If one wanted to thrive within an establishment, playing the lone wolf led nowhere.
Sure enough, Du Jiu beamed with enthusiasm. "Leave it to me, Young Master. Rest easy."
"Right, thank you, Brother Jiu."
Lianshan Xin turned his attention to Steward Qu.
Ever since hearing the words "Sacred Cult" slip from Qu Junjie's mouth, Steward Qu had gone completely numb with terror.
Meeting Lianshan Xin's gaze, the steward was equally astute. He dropped to his knees at once, kowtowing with loud thuds.
"Young Master Xin, please see reason! I know nothing about the Demon Cult! The master and the young master plotted in secret, and I am merely a servant—they would never tell me such grave secrets!"
Qi Wenbin gave a slight nod and spoke up on his own accord. "He doesn't look like he's lying."
Lianshan Xin could naturally tell the man wasn't lying.
Not that it mattered.
Squatting down, Lianshan Xin smiled gently at the steward and asked in an amicable tone, "Steward Qu, did it feel satisfying turning my father away at the door?"
Steward Qu turned pale as a sheet and continued banging his head against the floor. "Young Master Xin, I was only carrying out the master's orders!"
"Chairman Qu's retribution will be far worse than yours, so don't you worry," Lianshan Xin said with a chuckle. "Steward Qu, do you want a chance to atone for your crimes and earn some merit?"
"Yes, absolutely! Please show me a way out, Young Master Xin!"
Lianshan Xin glanced back over his shoulder toward Qi Wenbin. "Brother Qi, what realm of martial arts are you currently in?"
Qi Wenbin frowned, hesitating for a moment before answering, "Peak Qi Condensation, half-step True Intent."
The third realm of martial arts was Qi Condensation, and the fourth was True Intent.
Hearing "half-step True Intent," Lianshan Xin scoffed inwardly.
Qi Condensation was Qi Condensation; why bother dressing it up as half-step True Intent?
Would the True Intent realm experts invite you to their meetings?
Though he mocked it in his mind, Lianshan Xin asked with a smile, "Then it seems Brother Qi will soon break through to the True Intent realm. Brother Qi, to break through from Qi Condensation, aside from your own arduous cultivation, heavenly treasures would help, wouldn't they?"
"Naturally, but heavenly treasures cost a fortune. Even with my monthly stipend, I wouldn't dare dream of them. I'm not a young master like you. I can only rely on piling up merits myself, hoping that before the year ends, I'll be able to exchange them for some medicinal ingredients to aid my breakthrough," Qi Wenbin said candidly.
Lianshan Xin suddenly saw the light. Now he understood why Qi Wenbin disliked him.
So the man simply hated the rich.
That meant they were in the same social class after all.
Why should broke folks fight amongst themselves?
"Brother Qi, let me correct you on one point first: I'm no pampered young master. I earned the favor of Tanhua Qi and Lord Heavenly Sword through my own merits."
Having said that, Lianshan Xin pointed at Steward Qu. "The Qu family runs a merchant guild. As far as I know, they've hoarded quite a lot of cultivation supplies. And as the steward of the entire guild, Steward Qu knows the Qu family's stores like the back of his hand. Brother Qi, do you catch my drift?"
The words had barely left Lianshan Xin's mouth when Qi Wenbin materialized right before him. Clasping Lianshan Xin's hands tightly, he said with utmost sincerity, "Brother, my voice was a bit too loud earlier. Tanhua Qi instructed that you're the one calling the shots. Whatever you say, I'll do. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the fall for you."
Lianshan Xin burst out laughing. "Brother Qi, I still preferred your unruly, arrogant demeanor from earlier."
Qi Wenbin replied earnestly, "Brother, you can just call me Xiao Qi."
Chapter 12