It turned back and let out a shrill note, like blowing a whistle. One of the finless porpoises behind it plunged underwater in an instant, likely off to spread the word to the aquatic folk of the Liu River.
The rest remained, for He Lingchuan had commandeered six more fishing boats at Lower Riverbend. To keep the load light and travel fast, each boat carried only two passengers.
The fishermen untied their mooring lines and tossed them into the water. The lively porpoises clamped their jaws around them and pulled the boats toward midstream.
Two porpoises hauled each boat with effortless ease. Once they got moving, their speed only increased.
Though barely a breeze rippled the river's surface, the boats surged forward under their tow as if braving great wind and waves.
Standing at the bows, the fishermen felt a bit awkward—dipping their oars into the water made no difference whatsoever.
All six boats sped downriver at least fifty miles an hour.
The Liu River's current varied from rapid to sluggish, and its center was dotted with reefs and islets. Rowing by manpower would have required cautious evasion, far slower and less agile than the porpoises.
Furthermore, He Lingchuan knew that beneath the seemingly tranquil surface, all the Liu River's aquatic creatures in this stretch of water had been mobilized, faithfully carrying out the Demon Kingdom Crown Prince's orders to find their quarry.
To find a single boat on the vast Liu River was like looking for a needle in a haystack—but only for mortals.
No matter how meticulously planned Wu Kai's flight was, he was, after all, only human. His means and abilities were inherently limited.
He Lingchuan marveled inwardly. This method of tracking was practically an overwhelming strike from a higher dimension.
***
Three days later, far away in Lingxu City.
A crowd had gathered beneath Zhaixing Tower. They waited from sunset until the moon rose, yet none were granted an audience inside.
As more people joined the wait, they exchanged pleasantries, even bringing up how the bustling Qingfu Temple in Lingxu City had suddenly caught fire.
Upon inquiring, they realized everyone had come for the exact same matter.
After another hour, the crowd gradually thinned.
If they couldn't get in, they couldn't get in. The higher-ups intended to leave them hanging out in the cold; waiting any longer was pointless.
In the end, only three remained, stubbornly holding their ground, reluctant to leave.
It was not until the moon hung high in the sky that a lamp warden from Zhaixing Tower stepped out across the swaying tree shadows and bowed to them:
"Respected Elders, have you come regarding the Inspector's case?"
"Indeed. This matter is of grave consequence; we must see the Demon Emperor!"
"His Imperial Majesty is currently communing with the divine will of the celestial gods. He will not be returning to the palace tonight."
In other words, he would not be leaving Zhaixing Tower, and waiting would yield nothing.
"But this case... this case must be deliberated carefully! An envoy must be dispatched at once!"
The lamp warden said respectfully, "His Imperial Majesty has decreed that the special envoy previously dispatched to Chiyan will also investigate this matter. He should have already arrived in Baishaqu. The Elders need not concern yourselves."
"A special envoy dispatched to Chiyan?" The three were taken aback. They had heard nothing of this before. "Who is it?"
"Need not concern yourselves" meant they were forbidden from meddling. They understood that loud and clear.
"None other than Lord Bai of our Zhaixing Tower."
The three exchanged glances. Sure enough, they held their tongues, though their expressions grew complicated.
***
The next day.
As dawn's first light broke in the east, the residents of Baishaqu were once again awakened by the thunder of galloping hooves.
A few early risers witnessed the special envoy of the Crown Prince returning triumphantly to the city, accompanied by a carriage and a prisoner tied up securely.
With interested parties fanning the flames, this news naturally spread outward at breakneck speed.
Wu Kai, the key witness in the string of cases in Baishaqu, had failed in his escape and had been captured and hauled back by the Crown Prince's special envoy!
Within six to ten hours at most, the entire city would know.
When He Lingchuan returned to the inn, Fu Shan came out warmly to meet him, slapping hands with him in a hearty high-five:
"You really are something!"
He had been on pins and needles over the past few days as well. Seeing He Lingchuan escort Wu Kai back, he let out a huge sigh of relief.
Things were secured!
He Lingchuan clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. "Has Cen Boqing behaved himself these past few days?"
Fu Shanyue spat on the ground. "Behaved? Behaved my ass!"
It turned out that during He Lingchuan's days away from the city, Cen Boqing had not been idle either. He had tried to flee multiple times, even disguising himself in hopes of slipping out of the estate unnoticed, only to be blocked every time by Fu Shanyue.
When the two clashed, no bystander dared draw near. In the end, Cen Boqing was outmatched. With one shoulder battered, he had retreated sulkily into the residence.
Fu Shanyue's temper had flared up as well. Seeing that the man refused to do things the easy way, he simply ordered Commander Lu to lead men in bricking up both the front and back gates of the Cen estate. If those inside ran short of food or drink, soldiers would buy provisions and chuck them over the wall; not a single soul inside was permitted to take one step out.
Anyone who dared leap out would get a beating.
In any case, the common folk of Baishaqu had thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle these past few days.
Fu Shanyue had even rented the large mansion next door to the Cen estate, sitting in the attic to keep watch in person.
He was a ba, after all; going several days and nights without sleep left him as energetic as ever.
In this deadly game, Cen Boqing's multiple escape attempts had all ended in failure. Several times, Fu Shanyue had watched him smash things in fury inside the courtyard. Baishaqu was an insurmountable hurdle in his destiny—if only he could clear it, he could flee back to Lingxu City, where his odds of winning would skyrocket.
What a pity he simply couldn't get out!
Fu Shanyue sounded rather pleased with himself as he said this; after all, he had beaten Cen Boqing black and blue during his escape attempt, settling an old score from back in Lingxu City.
He clapped his hands. "Come on, let's interrogate Wu Kai."
Wu Kai was not kept in the county jail, but held separately in the inn's wine cellar.
He now enjoyed the same treatment as Fu Songhua, fitted with a cangue inscribed with runes. This contraption suppressed spiritual power, rendering prisoners incapable of casting spells or supernatural abilities.
With the Crown Prince's arrival, everyone's efficiency had skyrocketed. The cellar had already been cleared out, leaving only two chairs inside, while Wu Kai sat on the ground wearing the cangue.
In the four corners of the cellar, an array suppressing movement and evasion arts was active to prevent anyone from using evasion techniques to sneak in and break him out.
Naturally, guards were stationed both inside and outside the cellar.
Fu Shanyue and He Lingchuan entered the cellar and found Wu Kai sitting on the ground with his eyes closed.
Even with people entering, he did not open his eyes.
The guard on watch reported that Wu Kai had been like this ever since he was brought in—not speaking, not moving, and refusing to open his eyes.
"Wu Kai." Fu Shanyue pulled He Lingchuan into a seat. "Care for something to eat or drink?"
Wu Kai sat still like an old monk in meditation.
The chase on the Liu River had taken an unexpected turn beyond He Lingchuan's anticipation—Wu Kai had changed boats midway.
The group had expended immense effort and nearly lost the trail.
Fortunately, the Water Spirit demonstrated formidable control over the local aquatic fauna, and in less than half a day, through several channels, managed to track down the whereabouts of Wu Kai's new vessel.
After switching boats, the four had continued downriver for nearly a hundred li before disembarking at a small dock. The coachman, Wu Kai's daughter-in-law, and grandson disguised themselves as a family of three, while Wu Kai traveled alone toward the north.
The reason the pursuit had taken three or four days was that He Lingchuan hoped to use Wu Kai as bait to reel in other big fish. Moreover, when Wu Kai came ashore at that location, He Lingchuan could tell he intended to help his family flee Chiyan Kingdom altogether.
Once they entered Lingxu territory, it would no longer be easy for pursuers to catch them.
The group had kept Wu Kai under strict surveillance as well; if Cen Boqing attempted to strike at this key witness from afar, they would rush in to save him.
Fortunately, Wu Kai did not suddenly drop dead.
And during the two days under surveillance, Wu Kai never met or made contact with anyone from start to finish.
Either he could find no one to help him, or he did not dare seek help.
Consequently, He Lingchuan rounded them all up in a single sweep at the border checkpoint.
Still, Wu Kai's extreme caution left a deep impression on He Lingchuan.
As a reward, starting in the latter half of the year, the origin power allocated to that finless porpoise as the Liu River's Water Spirit would be substantially increased.
Yet from the day of his arrest, the old man had put up passive resistance. His grandson wailed and his daughter-in-law wept, but he remained completely unmoved.
Evidently, he had thought things through with complete clarity.
"Aren't you just holding out for the highest bidder? Cut the act, don't put on airs in front of me," Fu Shanyue scoffed at Wu Kai's attitude. "Or else I'll bring your grandson down here and suck him dry right before your eyes."
Ruthless methods combined with noble status—such an opponent was the biggest headache.
Only then did Wu Kai open his eyes and say solemnly, "If you dare harm him, I will take everything to the grave."
"Confess honestly, and your grandson might still have a way to live."
Wu Kai closed his mouth again and fell silent.
No matter what Fu Shanyue said after that, he refused to take the bait.
Back above ground, Fu Shanyue was thoroughly annoyed. He waved his hand at the guards: "Torture him. Pry his mouth open!"
Crude and direct—always the simplest method.
He Lingchuan, however, remarked, "I'm afraid that won't be of much use."
Sure enough, half a day later, a guard came to report that Wu Kai had passed out twice under torture, yet gritted his teeth and refused to confess.
"He knows he is the most crucial witness. If he doesn't confess, neither he nor Cen Boqing will necessarily be convicted," He Lingchuan said calmly. "If he does confess, death will be certain. If you were in his shoes, would you admit to anything?"
"You can't make that comparison!" Fu Shanyue retorted with a righteous expression. "Do I look like someone who knowingly breaks the law?"
He Lingchuan pretended not to hear that. "In a few more days, Lingxu City might send down a special envoy, and things could take a turn. So whether it's him or Cen Boqing, the strategy they want to play right now is stalling for time."
Fu Shanyue pondered. "They're already suspicious of each other. We just need to give them an extra nudge."
If those two scoundrels worked hand in glove, that would truly work against them.
"Hasn't it already started?" He Lingchuan had made such a flashy entrance into the city this morning with precisely that in mind.
By now, the news of Wu Kai's arrest had probably reached Cen Boqing, right?
After a moment's thought, He Lingchuan went down into the cellar again.
Wu Kai was still sitting there, eyes half-closed, bruised and swollen with bloodstains on his clothes.
One could only imagine what kind of hospitality Fu Shanyue's guards had treated him to.
He Lingchuan dragged a chair over and sat beside him. The chair legs scraped against the ground with a shrill, grating screech.
At the very first screech, he noticed Wu Kai's eyelids twitch.
*Pretending to be so composed, yet listening to every sound around you?* He Lingchuan sneered inwardly before speaking to Wu Kai: "You still think you and Cen Boqing are grasshoppers tied to the same string? In truth, having you silenced is his safest bet. After all, the secrets of the pulp beads and the elixir of immortality are in your hands, not to mention all the filthy deeds you handled for him. As long as you, the key witness, are dead, he walks away scot-free."
Wu Kai remained motionless, his breathing steady.
"Of course, you've probably thought of this already. I noticed several protective talismans on you were broken. Did that happen during your two days on the run?"
Wu Kai stared fixedly at him.
Watching his reaction, He Lingchuan let out a long, knowing, "Oh..."
"So that really is it. Cen Boqing has been secretly cursing you these past few days!"
Chapter 519