The instant He Lingchuan produced the treasure pestle, Bai Ziqi had felt both surprise and a twinge of disappointment.
Was this kid truly unrelated to the abnormal stirrings of the Dafang Pot?
The Six Counties of Yanbei demarcated by Zhaixing Tower covered a considerable area—neither too large nor too small. Could the Dafang Pot have stirred up trouble in one of the other counties?
After all, at that time Mai Xuewen, as another prime suspect, had not traveled far and should still have been within the Six Counties.
"If that yin god could be repelled by such a treasure, how did Cheng Yu assassinate the King of Mang Kingdom years ago?"
Fu Shanyue shrugged. "Cheng Yu has been a renowned curse master for ages, with ever-changing methods. When he assassinated the King of Mang Kingdom, he didn't necessarily use this yin god, did he?"
Bai Ziqi nodded slowly.
Still, he seemed to have let it go, letting out a heavy sigh. "If you had brought it out earlier, I wouldn't have had to be so abrupt today."
He Lingchuan thought to himself that this fellow was riddled with suspicion through and through. Even after displaying a quasi-divine artifact, he still hadn't completely dispelled the man's doubts.
"As you said, Emissary Bai, it is a quasi-divine artifact. One shouldn't readily flaunt secret treasures, let alone a quasi-divine artifact." He Lingchuan smiled wryly. "In the past, an almighty figure took just one glance at the pestle, gave no outward sign, and then turned right around to seize it by force. I am truly... terrified."
Who was the kid taking a swipe at, overtly and covertly? He had practically pointed at Bai Ziqi's nose and said, 'You hold high office and immense power, so I fear you'd rob me blind.' Fu Shanyue cleared his throat. "Even I was tempted looking at it. Plenty of people covet treasures; being cautious is never wrong."
One could never read another's heart, and back then He Lingchuan and Bai Ziqi had only just met, so staying wary made perfect sense.
"Besides, the moment Emissary Bai arrived in Baishaqu, you displayed boundless divine might. Knowing I lagged far behind, I had to be all the more cautious."
On his very first day in Baishaqu, while pursuing Cen Boqing and Cheng Yu, Bai Ziqi had commanded his lamp spirit to transform into a giant python, delivering an intimidating demonstration to He Lingchuan.
For him to fear this Duyun Emissary because of that was only natural.
Hearing this, Bai Ziqi waved a hand and chuckled. "Rest assured. While quasi-divine artifacts are rare in the mortal realm, Mount Xu still possesses a few after all. We wouldn't stoop to coveting yours."
He Lingchuan wore an embarrassed expression. "Yes, yes, Emissary Bai is right."
He didn't think Bai Ziqi was exaggerating. If even Beijia lacked a few divine artifacts or quasi-divine artifacts to anchor its prestige, lesser places wouldn't even dare dream of having any.
Bai Ziqi pressed no further about the pestle's origins.
Behind every divine artifact lay mountains of bloody debts; none ever came from clean origins.
Switching topics, he asked, "I heard His Highness mention that you hail from Fu Kingdom?"
Fu Shanyue pondered—had he ever said that?
He Lingchuan nodded.
"What sort of place could produce such an outstanding young talent?"
"Yun County," He Lingchuan blurted out this time without the slightest hesitation, as if he had laid everything bare before Bai Ziqi.
When Second Master Shi arranged his identity papers in Wuze County, he had claimed He Lingchuan had come seeking shelter from his hometown in Yun County.
Bai Ziqi gave an "oh" and finally ceased questioning.
He and Fu Shanyue then chatted about recent affairs in Lingxu City.
He Lingchuan munched on a few crispy pangqi crabs and washed them down with wine, content in his own amusement.
Now that Bai Ziqi had asked, he would likely dispatch men to Yun County afterward to investigate his background. After all, "He Xiao's" status as an outsider was inconsequential in ordinary circumstances, but in the Dafang Pot case Bai Ziqi was investigating, it stuck out like a sore thumb.
Yet He Lingchuan was not afraid.
Even within Fu Kingdom, Yun County was a remote, enclosed backwater. He Lingchuan had heard Second Master Shi say that there wasn't three feet of flat ground there, making carriage and horse travel exceedingly difficult. Furthermore, Beijia was vast; even if Bai Ziqi sent winged dispatches to mobilize nearby men for an investigation, the round trip of information would take at least several dozen days.
Dozens of days from now, He Lingchuan wouldn't even know where he would be. If Lingxu City hoped to seize him then, keep dreaming!
Bai Ziqi looked at He Lingchuan and smiled. "These past few days, He Xiao's renown has been growing in the Upper City."
"Ah?" He Lingchuan, still chewing on a crispy pangqi crab, looked utterly bewildered. "I'm famous? How could that be?"
What a vast ocean Lingxu City was, concealing countless behemoths and monsters in its depths. How could a tiny shrimp like him easily make a name for himself?
"I don't know where the rumor started, but word has it that the Crown Prince's appointed special envoy left both Zhongsun Mou and Cen Boqing battered and bruised in Baishaqu before cracking the case. What's more, even Vice Commander Fan suffered defeat at your hands. Quite extraordinary, indeed."
Fu Shanyue chimed in as well. "The Fan brothers have always looked down on everyone, yet Fan Sheng was defeated by you. To the folk of Lingxu City, that's far more thrilling than you solving a case for the Crown Prince or forcing Cen Boqing back."
Fan Sheng! He Lingchuan had nearly forgotten the man entirely.
After the Cen Boqing case had been thoroughly cleared up, that Vice Commander Fan had led his dire bear and subordinates back to Lingxu City ahead of the others.
"Confound it." He Lingchuan pressed a hand to his forehead. "I had completely forgotten about my grievance with Commander Fan."
Back in Lingxu City, Fan Sheng possessed troops, authority, and an even more formidable elder brother.
Would he care even more about that little grudge between them?
Bai Ziqi and Fu Shanyue exchanged a glance and laughed.
Fu Shanyue remarked teasingly, "Who doesn't know that the eldest Fan brother fiercely protects his own? Two of his younger brothers were injured and defeated at your hands, and now your reputation is soaring higher and higher off Fan Sheng's loss. It would be a wonder if he were pleased."
Seeing Bai Ziqi smiling without refuting, He Lingchuan knew Fu Shanyue was not exaggerating.
Newly arrived, he was already feeling deep malice from Lingxu City's high-ranking figures. This was not good—not good at all.
"Still, the eldest Fan brother values his status and won't necessarily strike against you personally," Bai Ziqi said at last, offering a few words of comfort when he saw his dismay. "In matters like this, one guards against scoundrels, not gentlemen."
The meal drew to a close with both sides thoroughly satisfied.
Watching Bai Ziqi's figure disappear into the bustling crowd, the two turned and walked back to the courier station.
"Bai Ziqi originally wanted to take you away for questioning alone, but I kept blocking him, so he settled for second best." The smile on Fu Shanyue's face faded. "Consider this matter smoothed over for now."
He Lingchuan nodded.
Or perhaps not.
Could it be that Bai Ziqi had not truly dispelled his suspicions, but merely wanted to observe them in private?
Yet that was still a positive development.
He Lingchuan only feared an open confrontation with Bai Ziqi, because he lacked the capital to resist head-on. If the celestial gods and the Demon Emperor disregarded Chiyan's face and forcefully dragged him to the Heavenly Palace for interrogation, neither he nor Fu Shanyue would have any recourse.
The current situation, however, granted him room to maneuver.
This was only his third day. The initial and most terrifying danger he faced upon arriving in Lingxu City had been temporarily averted.
Yet deep down, He Lingchuan knew this advantage would not last; this victory was too tenuous, and he had to consolidate it as quickly as possible.
Not long after, Fu Shanyue came looking for He Lingchuan with a red invitation in hand. "Ah, I almost forgot. The Dun Garden auction will be held tomorrow. Do you want to go and broaden your horizons?"
"Dun Garden?" He Lingchuan had already heard the name from Li Qingge. "What kind of place is that?"
"It's a renowned mountain manor on Mount Pu in the main city district. The entire Mount Pu serves as its front and back courtyards. The Dun Garden auction is held twice a year, in spring and autumn, featuring countless rare treasures. Nobles and dignitaries from both the Upper and Lower Cities attend to show their support."
"Sounds impressive, but why hold it in the Lower City?" He Lingchuan asked, puzzled. "Wouldn't holding it on the Floating Isles make it look more... er, I mean, give it more prestige?"
"General Golden Horn wouldn't hear of it. He prefers the lively mortal bustle of the Lower City."
"And who might that be?" Sounds like quite a willful character.
"Dun Garden is one of the properties under the name of General Golden Horn, Jin Jing, and it is run exceptionally well," Fu Shanyue said with a smile. "The Golden Horn clan has been rooted in Lingxu City for two hundred and seventeen years across four generations, and their lineage thrives. As I recall, there are over four hundred and twenty clan members, thirty-seven of whom have become demons—far exceeding ordinary demons."
Before He Lingchuan could speak, he added, "The Golden Horn clan are all one-horned giant rhinoceroses, possessing astounding size and strength, making them a crucial fighting force in Lingxu City. Once they don heavy armor on the battlefield..." He shrugged. "Not even giant elephants can necessarily stop them."
He Lingchuan was surprised. "An ever-victorious general on the battlefield who is also quite formidable at business in daily life."
"He has capable people under him to manage the businesses—all humans," Fu Shanyue roared with laughter. "Did you really think a bunch of rhinos would be good at commerce?"
Fair enough. He Lingchuan casually took the invitation and opened it, only to find his own name, He Xiao, written inside:
"Hmm? This invitation is for me?"
"They are very well-informed. With Cen Boqing escorted back to Lingxu City these past two days, tales from Baishaqu have been spreading rapidly. Perhaps hearing that you've dealt with both me and Emissary Bai, Dun Garden deemed it necessary to invite you to attend."
"All right, I'll go." He Lingchuan slapped the invitation into his palm. "Is there an auction catalog?"
A well-organized auction would naturally deliver the catalog of lots to invitees in advance, allowing them to prepare their funds if something caught their eye.
The Dun Garden auction had already been held seventy or eighty times and had rich experience; such details should not have been overlooked.
Fu Shanyue handed over a flat jade plaque the length of a little finger. "See for yourself."
"Eh?" He Lingchuan was astonished. "A jade slip?"
In the year and more he had spent in this world, aside from Panlong City within the realm of souls, He Lingchuan had never seen a jade slip anywhere. The mediums for written text had always been paper, silk cloth, fine silk, or even bamboo slips.
Taking the jade slip in hand, he extended his divine sense into it. Instantly, a dazzling array of varied lots came into "view," complete with illustrations of their appearances and written descriptions, some even noting the closing prices of similar lots from previous auctions.
This method was indeed far more convenient than paper booklets.
As he browsed, He Lingchuan asked Fu Shanyue, "Did anything catch your eye?"
"Just looking," Fu Shanyue said lazily. "We'll see when the time comes."
The next morning, Dun Garden.
When Fu Shanyue and He Lingchuan arrived, the auction was already underway and would continue past sunset.
Though he was mentally prepared, He Lingchuan was still thoroughly awed upon entering Dun Garden.
Big. Immensely big.
This was the main district of Lower Lingxu, where the poor scarcely had enough ground to set foot upon, yet Dun Garden occupied an entire mountaintop.
It was early autumn. The mid-morning sunlight of the Snake Hour painted half the mountain in radiant gold, while parasol trees and five-lobed maples cradled the fading remnants of cicada song.
A west wind curled through the trees, scattering red leaves.
As the rolling sea of trees dipped low, a corner of an eaved veranda was revealed, accompanied by the lingering chime of bells.
Chapter 558