The master of the house opened the front gate and personally welcomed him inside.
"Lord Xiang is too polite."
The homeowner He Lingchuan had come to visit was named Xiang Yan, who had served as Junior Minister of Works in the Chiyan Kingdom until retiring just last winter.
Although the old man had retired, he still looked quite young. Less than half his hair was white, there were few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and his complexion was ruddy.
"What 'Lord'? I've already stepped down into private life," Xiang Yan said cheerily. "The special envoy may simply call me Old Man Xiang."
He Lingchuan smiled, fetched a brocade box from his breast, and handed it over.
Xiang Yan was taken aback. "Having the special envoy bring me a gift? How could I possibly accept this?"
"It isn't from me. General Ling asked me to pass it along to you." He Lingchuan flipped open the lid. Resting upon the silk cushion within was a pink gemstone, cut with flawless facets.
Xiang Yan was slightly surprised, wondering how General Ling had gotten mixed up with the special envoy. At his side, Jiao Yu spoke up: "Some of General Ling's kinsfolk were murdered. He originally accompanied the envoy to investigate the case, but then received military orders dispatching him to the front lines. Before departing, he asked us to bring this gem to you."
"So that's how it is." Xiang Yan took the box. Though aware the special envoy was before him, he could not hide his delight upon seeing the stone and couldn't resist taking out the pink cosmetic stone to examine it against the light. "A fine piece indeed! There is even a red vein inside that naturally formed into the shape of a dragon."
"I have a passion for rare stones, and that old ram catered to my hobby. Please excuse my indulgence."
He Lingchuan asked him, "General Ling claims he has been close friends with Old Xiang for several decades?"
"He has lived far longer than I have. I merely served in the royal court alongside him for sixty years, that's all." Xiang Yan stroked his long beard. "General Ling has a hot, blunt temper and couldn't get along with many of his colleagues, yet he was always willing to speak a few extra words with me."
This was the difference between demons and humans.
When General Ling spoke of Xiang Yan, he simply stated that the man was his friend and could help with the investigation.
When Xiang Yan mentioned General Ling, he downplayed their friendship, waiting to see what He Lingchuan wanted.
A maid served tea. He Lingchuan raised his cup and took a light sip, casting a glance at Jiao Yu. Having already developed an unspoken understanding, the latter immediately spoke up: "General Ling said we could ask you for help with an investigation."
As a demon, he preferred straightforwardness over winding pleasantries.
Xiang Yan was thoroughly astonished. "An investigation? But I heard the true culprit behind the murder of the Lingxu City courier has already been caught. The news has practically spread throughout Baishaqu."
"Fu Songhua, the suspect Zhongsun Mou arrested, recanted his confession today, claiming he was coerced into taking the fall."
"Taking the fall?" Xiang Yan frowned. "Why would Fu Songhua suddenly recant?"
"Because Fu Songhua was the assassin who killed the Governor of Hezhou, whereas the courier case is tied to the elixir of immortality—something he likely has no connection to at all."
Xiang Yan's brows drew together so tightly they nearly formed the character for 'river'. "The elixir of immortality?"
"My initial investigation revealed that someone has been secretly hunting demons to extract their beads. These blood beads—or pulp beads—condensed from the vital essence and blood of demons, are among the primary ingredients for concocting the elixir of immortality. All clues point toward the northwestern quarter of Baishaqu."
"The northwest quarter? That's where the wealthy and noble gather."
He Lingchuan asked, "Why didn't Old Xiang settle in the northwest quarter?"
This residence was in the eastern part of the city.
"I don't care to join that crowd." Xiang Yan waved a hand. "Besides, the residences there are far too expensive. A single manor in the northwest can buy two over here."
"As a newcomer, I'm unfamiliar with Baishaqu. Could Old Xiang tell me what sort of people live in seclusion in the northwest quarter?"
Xiang Yan had a rough idea of his purpose now. "There are several classes of residents in the northwest. The first rank consists of the high officials and dignitaries from Lingxu City. The second rank comprises retired elders from Lingxu City, along with active officials of our Chiyan. The third rank consists of those who resigned and retired from the Chiyan royal court, like myself. Only in the fourth rank do you find the wealthy merchants and local gentry."
The hierarchy was distinct and rigid.
He Lingchuan nodded. Fu Songhua had listed the prominent families of the northwest for him, but couldn't summarize it so neatly in a few sentences like Xiang Yan.
A man who had tumbled through the seas of officialdom for decades and managed to retire safely was truly cut from a different cloth.
"I've heard that Old Xiang is also very familiar with the officials of Lingxu City?"
"I know a bit." Xiang Yan took a sip of tea as well. "Several temples whose construction I oversaw earned praise from celestial gods, so when Lingxu City renovated Mount Xu, they borrowed me on secondment. I worked there for seventeen years."
"Renovated Mount Xu?" He Lingchuan's surprise was entirely genuine.
Wasn't that his ultimate destination in Lingxu City? He had never expected such intelligence to fall right into his lap. "That must have been a massive project?"
"Indeed. In the past, the Heavenly Palace was built upon the ruins of an immortal sect. Although repeatedly renovated and repaired, it eventually became unsuitable. In his twilight years, the late emperor undertook the reconstruction of Mount Xu as an offering to the celestial gods, while simultaneously rebuilding the Spirit Gathering Grand Formation. Mount Xu is the source of all the earth vein essence in Lingxu City; only with the continuous nourishment of spiritual energy could Lingxu City flourish with such prosperity."
He Lingchuan wondered, "With the spiritual energy of heaven and earth waning nowadays, that can still be done?"
Dense spiritual energy in Lingxu City naturally benefited great demons and cultivators.
"The original formation could no longer gather much spiritual energy and was gradually abandoned. Subsequent attempts to develop and patch it proved of little use. Fortunately, the celestial gods and the Demon Emperor deliberated exhaustively and devised a new Spirit Gathering Grand Formation. By utilizing an ancient relic as the formation core, the formation on the ground was able to resonate across distance with the stars in the sky—achieving harmony between heaven and man while also providing defensive capabilities."
He Lingchuan instantly pricked up his ears. "What kind of relic was extraordinary enough to do that?"
Xiang Yan stroked his beard. "I don't know either."
"..." Old Xiang, that's not playing fair.
"Someone else oversaw the formation, and the ritual to invite the relic into place was strictly confidential. How could low-ranking officials like us qualify to witness it?" Xiang Yan shook his head. "I asked many colleagues privately, and none of them knew what that treasure actually was."
"Before I arrived, the Heavenly Palace had already been under construction for nine years; by the time I left, that colossal project was finally nearing completion. If the envoy travels to Lingxu City in the future, you should visit Mount Xu. It is truly magnificent and awe-inspiring."
He Lingchuan's heart stirred. "I've heard Mount Xu houses countless treasures. Did Old Xiang ever see any of them?"
"House what treasures?"
"Ancient magic artifacts and spiritual treasures?"
"Who told you that?" Xiang Yan laughed heartily. "Those are mere rumors. Mount Xu is where the Demon Emperor makes offerings to the deities and the earthly residence of the celestial gods. Why would they hide treasures there?"
This answer took He Lingchuan completely by surprise. "Then where are all the ancient relics kept?"
"Lingxu City is so vast—could they really lack places to store them?" Xiang Yan shook his head. "The Azure Palace loves collecting ancient secret treasures, and Lingxu City's treasuries are boundless. Why would they insist on hiding treasures at Mount Xu when they could store them anywhere?"
"They truly aren't kept on Mount Xu?" Zhu Erniang had clearly stated that her shed husk was on Mount Xu. "It's the old site of the Dahuan Sect. Perhaps secret vaults were built beneath it?"
"If you mean a secret vault of that immortal sect that remains undiscovered to this day, that might be possible." Xiang Yan didn't rule it out entirely. "Apart from that, there shouldn't be any. I've seen the architectural plans."
He Lingchuan frowned inwardly. Wouldn't that ruin everything? If Zhu Erniang's shed husk wasn't on Mount Xu, where was he supposed to look?
Never mind how massive the husk was; Lingxu City was a colossal metropolis with a population of millions. Searching blindly would be like looking for a needle in the sea.
Still, the intelligence he had unexpectedly gleaned from Xiang Yan was extremely precious; he would need to digest it thoroughly later.
He Lingchuan steered the conversation back to the original topic: "I would also like to ask Old Xiang: which distinguished family from Lingxu City resides in Baishaqu and is on good terms with Zhongsun Mou?"
"A distinguished family from Lingxu City on good terms with the Inspector? There are quite a few Lingxu dignitaries in this city who know the Zhongsun family." Xiang Yan was sharp. As soon as he turned the thought over, his eyes went round. "Special Envoy, you don't suspect... you don't suspect the Inspector is implicated as well, do you?"
"What I suspect doesn't matter. In the end, it all comes down to evidence."
Although blocks of ice were piled in the corner of the room, sweat began to bead on Xiang Yan's back. "My Lord, does the Inspector know you think this?"
"Well..." He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "He isn't stupid. He probably senses something, doesn't he?"
Jiao Yu hastily masked a laugh behind a yawn.
Xiang Yan suddenly felt that old ram hadn't sent a gem at all—he had sent two daggers straight into his back.
What had he done to deserve such a terrible friend?
"Special Envoy, with an assumption like that, you must be... extremely cautious."
"I know what I'm doing. Without evidence, what can I possibly do to him anyway?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "Rather than worrying about Zhongsun Mou, Old Xiang, you should worry about me instead."
*I'm worrying about myself,* Xiang Yan thought.
"Among the wealthy and noble in the northwest, those on friendly terms with the Zhongsun family include..."
He Lingchuan waved a hand. "Narrow it down. Only the powerful figures from Lingxu City."
Jiao Yu asked curiously, "Why?"
"Zhongsun Mou prided himself on his Lingxu City origins. His nose is practically stuck in the air; why would he condescend to associate with Chiyan figures?" He Lingchuan said lazily. "He would only cooperate with people from Lingxu City."
Xiang Yan replied at once, "In that case, only five families remain." With that, he listed the names.
He Lingchuan listened to each one and committed them to memory.
Looking at Xiang Yan, he asked, "May I ask Old Xiang one more thing? Have you ever heard of the elixir of immortality before?"
Xiang Yan smiled with a touch of pride. "Heard of it? I've even taken it."
"Oh?" He Lingchuan's interest was piqued immediately. "How old are you this year?"
No wonder General Ling had introduced him to Xiang Yan! So that was why. As expected, the old ram wasn't as carefree as he appeared.
"I will celebrate my eighty-fifth birthday next spring."
He Lingchuan was genuinely astonished. "You're already eighty-four?"
Judging solely by his appearance, Xiang Yan looked fifty at most, his eyes bright and alert. As the saying went, aging begins in the legs, yet when he walked in, his steps were brisk and springy, as if he could run a marathon without breaking a sweat.
The astonished looks of others had always pleased Xiang Yan. Stroking his beard, he couldn't help saying, "Indeed, such is the efficacy of the elixir of immortality. Thirty years ago, by the grace of my King, I was bestowed the elixir. The blemishes and wrinkles on my body gradually faded, my chronic ailments disappeared, and my body grew light and vigorous. Otherwise, even if I were still alive today, I would be trembling, toothless, and bald."
"Where did this elixir of immortality come from?"
Xiang Yan gave him a strange look. "Has the envoy not received answers to such questions from the palace?"
Chapter 481