Open and Aboveboard

Yu Zecheng's heart sank slightly. This only proved that the young man would be even harder to deal with than anticipated. He Lingchuan looked entirely curious. "How did Mister Yu find out?" Pansi Island was a forbidden zone barred to strangers; only dedicated freight vessels were permitted anywhere near it. For these Beijia people to seek out He Lingchuan directly meant they had already confirmed Zhu Erniang was somewhere within the archipelago. If traversing by water was out of the question, that left only the air. "Such a massive spider demon, accompanied by so many offspring—wherever it goes, how could it fail to draw attention?" Yu Zecheng remarked pointedly. "You cannot hide it." He Lingchuan let out an 'ah'. "Mister Yu must be joking. That spider demon came ashore completely open and aboveboard, and settled down completely open and aboveboard. Why speak of hiding? Look at my Suoding Island: so many travelers arrive and lodge here every day. How could you call that hiding someone?" Zhu Erniang was indeed on his island, and goods produced by the burrow spiders still had to be sold abroad. This was a fact that would have to be acknowledged sooner or later. If he wanted to shrug it off, could he? If he wanted to stall, could he drag it out? Hearing the words 'open and aboveboard,' Yu Zecheng's gaze hardened. "In other words, the spider demon came ashore with Island Master He's permission?" The menacing undertone in those words was already palpable. "Just as Mister Yu said, with such a massive spider demon and so many offspring, if it took up residence without permission, how could I not know?" He Lingchuan smiled. "Besides, where would Zhu Erniang get the nerve to trespass on forbidden ground without permission from the island master?" Whom was he mocking for trespassing on forbidden ground? Behind Yu Zecheng, several of the Beijia men changed color. Seeing that this brat was impervious to reason and playing dumb while hurling barbs, Yu Zecheng set down his teacup. "Island Master He, I'll be blunt. Zhu Erniang is a wanted fugitive with a bounty placed by Beijia, and a major criminal ranked second on the Heaven Ranking! We tracked it all this way, only for it to flee to your island." Since the other party refused to be tactful, Yu Zecheng had no choice but to take a rougher approach and lay his cards on the table. He Lingchuan looked astounded. "Zhu Erniang is a wanted fugitive? You can't be serious?!" Looking thoroughly shocked, he leaned forward. "What kind of heinous crime did it commit to be placed on the... the Heaven Ranking...?" "Setting fire to Zhaixing Tower and stealing a secret treasure from the Heavenly Palace." Yu Zecheng was very reluctant to voice the crimes; after all, they were a sore spot for Beijia. "Arson? Theft?" He Lingchuan appeared deep in thought. "Zhu Erniang has that kind of capability? Just what treasure did it steal?" Yu Zecheng said flatly, "That is not for outsiders to know." He Lingchuan looked at them and suddenly asked, "Mister Yu, do you gentlemen have any token or official medallion from Beijia?" Yu Zecheng pulled a black medallion from his breast pocket and laid it out before him. The medallion emitted a faint gleam, its inscriptions clearly visible. Only after verifying their identities did He Lingchuan reveal a look of hesitation, letting out a sigh. "Ah, this makes things difficult." "What difficulty does Island Master He have?" "Zhu Erniang once saved my life. A debt of gratitude must be repaid, which is why I offered it shelter on my island." He Lingchuan shook his head. "It only just moved here, and I promised it could settle and live in peace. Now Mister Yu says it's a fugitive and wants me to drive it out... This truly puts me in a bind." Whether any debt of gratitude truly existed between him and Zhu Erniang, Yu Zecheng could neither verify nor care to. "Island Master He, Zhu Erniang had accomplices when committing its crimes in Lingxu City. By harboring it like this, take care you aren't branded an accomplice in throwing Lingxu City into chaos, bringing upon yourself Beijia's wrath." He Lingchuan hastily set down his teacup and waved his hands repeatedly. "Aiyo, I couldn't possibly bear that, I couldn't bear that! Such an accusation is terrifying; I can't shoulder that kind of blame." He sighed. "To my mind, there might well be some misunderstanding in all of this. How about this: has Mister Yu ever had a proper conversation with Zhu Erniang?" "What does Island Master He mean?" "How about I act as a mediator and play peacemaker?" He Lingchuan proposed. "The two sides can meet and sit down for a good talk. If it's a misunderstanding, clearing the air will settle everything." His face was the very picture of earnestness, so much so that Yu Zecheng could not tell for a moment whether he was genuine or feigning. "Where would we speak?" "If Mister Yu agrees, I will go ask Zhu Erniang's opinion," He Lingchuan said. "Then we can arrange a suitable location to meet. What do you think?" Yu Zecheng stared fixedly at him for a long time, lost in thought. His gaze was sharp as a blade. Anyone else subjected to such a stare would have felt their hair stand on end, yet the earnest smile on He Lingchuan's face remained unabated, without the slightest blemish. Finally, Yu Zecheng gave a slow nod. "Very well." He Lingchuan immediately let out a long breath of relief and gave a thumbs-up. "Mister Yu is truly reasonable!" Yet Yu Zecheng's interest had already shifted to He Lingchuan himself. "Has Island Master He ever been to Beijia?" "I have. It is one of the few great powers in the world; how could I pass up a chance to broaden my horizons?" "And Lingxu City?" He Lingchuan beamed. "If I went to Beijia, how could I not visit Lingxu City? Anyone traveling through Beijia cannot bypass Lingxu City." Yu Zecheng also smiled slightly. "When did you go?" Even Wang Fubao felt as though the man's smile was dipped in poison, dripping with malice. Yet He Lingchuan seemed utterly oblivious, answering offhandedly, "Last year, I suppose." "Oh, what a coincidence." Yu Zecheng's gaze sharpened slightly. "Zhu Erniang also wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace last year." He Lingchuan hurried to say, "Mister Yu must not say such things! Whoever burned down the Heavenly Palace is surely no ordinary individual; they'd have to possess great ability and harbor deep-seated hatred, wouldn't they? I went to Lingxu City merely to broaden my horizons and gain experience. Foreign wanderers like me are everywhere in Lingxu City—what kind of waves could we possibly make?" Having neither motive nor strength: these two points were his protective umbrella. He lowered his voice again. "Have the celestial gods still not found that person?" Seeing his gossipy expression, Yu Zecheng gave a faint, half-mocking smile. "Island Master He, when you were in Lingxu City, where did you stay, and where did you study?" Any ordinary person subjected to such an interrogation would surely have broken out in a cold sweat. He Lingchuan counted on his fingers. "First was the South City Posthouse, but then the South City Posthouse exploded, so I moved to the Panshan Residence. Who knew that later the Panshan Residence would also be burned clean to the ground by a great fire, so I went to... went to..." What was that large, magnificent villa with a small lake where one could go boating called again? The mirror in his bosom reminded him: "Pianxiang Villa!" "Oh, right! Pianxiang Villa!" Hearing "Pianxiang Villa," Yu Zecheng found it vaguely familiar, though he couldn't immediately recall where it was. But the explosion at the South City Posthouse in Lingxu City last year was tied to another major incident. "When the elixir of immortality case occurred, you were living in the South City Posthouse as well?" "Yes! It nearly blew me to pieces!" He Lingchuan said with lingering dread. "Fortunately, I hadn't stepped inside the room yet back then, or bits of me would have been scattered everywhere." Yu Zecheng's eyes flickered. "And Pianxiang Villa is located in...?" "On Mount Qilin. I heard it used to be the old residence of the disgraced Chunyu clan." Mount Qilin was the core district of Lower Lingxu. How could a mere foreign wanderer afford to stay in such a place? Just what was this brat surnamed He's background? Yu Zecheng felt that the deeper he dug, the less simple this fellow seemed.