Jin Jiuling stood up from the pile of grass and said to Qin Zheng, "It's as if Huo Xiu has vanished from the jianghu. Not a single trace can be found. I came over to see if you had any leads."
Qin Zheng said, "We found Huo Xiu's treasure trove in the back mountain, and the property stolen from Yan Tieshan was among it. We can now confirm that Huo Xiu is the Embroidery Bandit."
Hearing this, Jin Jiuling's expression grew exceedingly colorful.
He had miscalculated. That old bastard Huo Xiu had actually hidden the treasure near the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels, making him busy himself for nothing all this time!
Fortunately, now that the stolen goods were recovered, he could clear himself of any suspicion of being the Embroidery Bandit. Even if he struck again in the future, the world would assume it was Huo Xiu's doing!
He could barely accept this outcome. Then, recalling the purpose of his visit, he asked, "Have you heard about Qingyi Tower?"
Looking unperturbed, Qin Zheng asked, "You mean how Chu Liuxiang rallied the people of the Thieves' Gate to steal from Qingyi Tower in order to take an apprentice?"
Jin Jiuling smiled. "Indeed. Qingyi Tower may be up to no good, but if the commotion gets out of hand and causes widespread panic, it won't be easy for you to answer to your superiors either, will it?"
Qin Zheng could not guess what trick he was scheming, so he nodded and said, "Yes, you have a point. I have already found a lead and am preparing to arrest the master of Qingyi Tower to pull Qingyi Tower up by its roots. Once Qingyi Tower is gone, the Thieves' Gate will settle down."
Jin Jiuling sneered inwardly. *I haven't seen you make a move in all these days, yet the moment I arrive, you suddenly have a lead? Who are you trying to fool!*
Despising him in secret, he nevertheless feigned enthusiasm on the surface. "You actually have a lead? Qingyi Tower has strength in numbers. I'll go with you!"
Qin Zheng furrowed his brows. "Weren't you suspended? Taking you along wouldn't be in accordance with the rules..."
Jin Jiuling stiffened slightly and gave a wry smile. "I was framed. I really didn't embezzle Huo Xiu's family estate."
Looking into his eyes, Qin Zheng said with utter sincerity, "I believe you."
Because the person who had embezzled Huo Xiu's wealth... was none other than yours truly!
Qin Zheng had been eyeing Huo Xiu for a long time. During the period Huo Xiu resided in the small building in the back mountain each year, Qin Zheng had uncovered nearly all of his background through the clues left behind when Huo Xiu sent letters to his subordinates.
Many of the leads on Qingyi Tower had been leaked by him. The fact that the Thieves' Gate could locate Qingyi Tower's branch buildings so swiftly and accurately was eighty percent his doing!
Taking advantage of Huo Xiu being overwhelmed and battered by these people, he targeted Huo Xiu's open assets, directing the plants he had embedded within Huo Xiu's businesses to act simultaneously and transfer the wealth into his own hands.
As of today, not a single coin remained on Huo Xiu's books; he even owed a great deal of money to Qin Zheng's trading firms.
Thus, even if Huo Xiu could clear himself of suspicion as the Embroidery Bandit and show his true face to the world again, he would have no choice but to sell his ass to pay off his debts...
Seeing Qin Zheng's sincere gaze, Jin Jiuling was almost touched for a moment. Yet he did not give up probing and said, "Then you can take me along to investigate the case, can't you?"
Qin Zheng let out a sigh. "Very well, I'll make an exception for you this once. But before that, you must go change your clothes and take a bath. I suspect you just crapped your pants."
The look of touched emotion vanished from Jin Jiuling's face in an instant. "..."
*I'm going to fucking kill you sooner or later!!*
Late at night, Qin Zheng led Jin Jiuling, clad in night-travel clothes, as they wove through the mountain forest.
Confused by Qin Zheng's winding route, Jin Jiuling had no idea where he was. Having hurried along for half the day without a single drop of water, he asked with a parched mouth, "Where on earth are we going?"
Qin Zheng lowered his voice. "Quiet. We're almost there."
With that, he stopped beneath an enclosing wall, then lifted a stone to reveal a tunnel underneath.
Jin Jiuling looked at Qin Zheng with bewilderment, suspicion creeping into his heart.
Seeing Qin Zheng's earnest demeanor, he truly seemed to be investigating a case. Could Er Niang's intelligence have been mistaken, and Qin Zheng wasn't the master of Qingyi Tower?
While he was second-guessing himself, Qin Zheng had already dropped into the tunnel. Jin Jiuling snapped back to his senses and jumped down after him.
After walking for who knew how long, Qin Zheng's figure suddenly vanished from in front of him. His heart gave a jolt, and he called out softly, "Qin Zheng?"
After a moment, there was no reply ahead. He crept forward cautiously for a short distance and suddenly noticed a sliver of light shining down from above—he had actually reached the exit.
Hesitating briefly, he silently pushed open the wooden board covering the opening above and vaulted out of the tunnel.
Looking up, he found himself inside an exquisitely furnished bedchamber. Steam filled the entire room, and a wooden bathing tub stood before him, still wafting warmth—someone had clearly been bathing here not long ago.
Just as his mind was filled with bewilderment, a cold, detached voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"Why are you peeping on my bath?"
Jin Jiuling turned to look. A man with hair draping over his shoulders stepped out from behind a curtain, droplets of water still clinging to his hair. In his hand was a precious sword gleaming with chilly light, and the expression on his face was colder than the sword itself by a wide margin.
Jin Jiuling's pupils constricted. Recognizing him instantly, he blurted out in shock, "Ximen Chuixue!"
Ximen Chuixue flicked the tip of his sword, stabbing toward Jin Jiuling's throat. In a frantic scramble, Jin Jiuling twisted to the side, but the sword qi still carved a bloody welt across his throat.
Feeling Ximen Chuixue's peerlessly sharp sword intent, he dared not lose focus for an instant, immediately drawing the sword at his waist to parry.
Sparks flew as their swords clashed. Sword light crisscrossed the chamber, and in the blink of an eye, ten exchanges had passed.
Right then, Ximen Chuixue swept his sword across with sudden ferocity, forcing Jin Jiuling back two steps. Then, drawing his sword behind his back, he remarked with slight disinterest, "Your sword is impure."
Finally catching his breath, Jin Jiuling said with utter frustration, "I didn't come here to duel swords with you today. I came to investigate a case."
Ximen Chuixue's eyes turned sharp. "Investigate a case? Have I killed too many people, so the Six Doors wants to bring me to justice?"
Jin Jiuling gave a wry smile. "I came to investigate Qingyi Tower. Qin Zheng said he found a lead on the master of Qingyi Tower, and I followed him here."
Ximen Chuixue sneered. "Do I look like the master of Qingyi Tower to you?"
Jin Jiuling explained, "It must be a misunderstanding. Did you see Qin Zheng just now?"
Ximen Chuixue said, "I only heard the breathing of one person in the tunnel. If there was someone else, he must have been a ghost."
Jin Jiuling's eyes went wide. "That's impossible! He was clearly leading the way in front of me!"
Ximen Chuixue said, "You trespassed upon my Wanmei Villa; I cannot spare you. Considering you are depleted of strength today, I will grant you one day to rest and recuperate. Starting tomorrow at midnight, I will hunt you down for a month. If you can survive beneath my sword, the slate will be wiped clean."
Jin Jiuling's face darkened as he stared at Ximen Chuixue, his knuckles turning white from clutching his hilt so hard.
*What a Ximen Chuixue! You truly think I, Jin Jiuling, am an easy target! And that bastard Qin Zheng—you fucking set me up on purpose!!*
A few days later, two pieces of news spread across the jianghu.
One was that Jin Jiuling was being hunted by Ximen Chuixue for peeping on his bath.
The other was that Jin Jiuling had suffered from incontinence at the back gate of the Pavilion of Pearls and Jewels, crapping his pants.
It was said that the fresh clothes he changed into had been provided by Yan Tieshan, and Emei Sect Leader Dugu Yihe had been present on the scene as well, making the rumor exceptionally credible!
Chapter 70