Initially, at the end of that thin booklet, a record of autopsy techniques, Lin Youxie had indeed left a cultivation method. From this, it was clear that at the time she had already resolved to face death.

That day, when she handed the ancestral secret technique of the Lin family to Jiang Wang, what thoughts truly stirred within her?

At that time, she was shrouded by the gloom of dark clouds that blanketed the sky. Every shred of evidence had been meticulously erased. Her last remaining kin lay as a corpse, adrift upon the vast sea. At that time… and for years preceding, in that very case, among all those involved, not a single soul could be trusted, not one free from suspicion!

The Four Great Azure Plaque Families, their lineage stretching from the era of Qi Wudi to the present, though their voice had gradually weakened and their power waned, their connections were vast beyond measure. Yet, at that time, scanning the entirety of Qi, not a single trustworthy individual could be found.

This could not be described as anything but a profound sorrow.

Beneath the weight of immense power, the human heart is prone to treachery. Du Fang, a half-disciple of Lin Kuang, had personally placed Lin Kuang’s corpse before the young Lin Youxie.

The Four Great Azure Plaque Families, who had operated within Qi for countless years… When they finally vanished without a trace, who, if anyone, let out a sigh?

Just as Lin Youxie had asked that day—

“How many truly trustworthy people are there in this world? And how many can I, Lin Youxie, trust?”

Only Jiang Wang.

That day, by entrusting everything to Jiang Wang, she had bestowed upon him her final shred of trust. Beyond believing that Jiang Wang could skillfully utilize the clues she left on her dead body, she likely also wished to leave behind an inheritance for her father.

In the end, it was Jiang Wang who rendered her unconscious, stepped forward to do what he could, and then journeyed far to the land of Chu.

But to this day, Jiang Wang remained uncertain whether he had betrayed her trust or upheld it.

He never asked, and Lin Youxie never spoke of it.

Moreover, as time passed and circumstances shifted, Lin Youxie no longer mentioned the nameless book she had given him that day.

His only regret was that Jiang Wang had only opened it today.

Lin Youxie, oh Lin Youxie, where have you gone?

The lamp in the study of the Marquis of Wu’an’s Manor burned throughout the night.

The steward, Xie Ping, awoke early to organize the day’s affairs within the manor. He specifically instructed the servants passing near the study to maintain absolute silence. The group of dancing girls in the backyard, said to be from the land of Chu, were also instructed to cease their rehearsals early.

It was said that ever since the Marquis brought this group of beauties back from the grasslands, he had not once shown them favor, merely keeping them.

Was this not… rather amiss?

Of course, this question Xie Ping dared only ponder in his heart, never voice aloud. Should a maid with an indiscreet tongue dare utter such a doubt, she would be promptly expelled from the Marquis’s Manor by him that very day.

When Zhu Yao awoke to practice his fists in the morning, his master was still in the study. He thus quietly, without disturbance, continued to practice the fist routine from the previous day.

He was a diligent countryside child, not afraid of hardship. Reading books gave him a headache, but physical labor held no fear for him; he had worked to earn money from a young age.

Knowing that his master treated him well, he only dared to indulge in occasional childish whims.

Whether the entire Marquis of Wu’an’s Manor was quiet or not would not affect Jiang Wang at this time. He was completely immersed in the world of the Nian Chen technique.

At first, it was merely a sudden impulse, thinking that if he cultivated “Nian Chen,” he might be able to find the traces left by Lin Youxie through this secret technique.

He had a rough understanding of the principles of Nian Chen. It originated from a person’s “thoughts,” using “divided thoughts” to leave a mark on the target, a mark without form or trace.

And from one’s own main thought, one could at any time induce a connection with the divided thoughts, thereby capturing traces.

This Nian Chen could not only be left within a target’s thoughts but also entrusted to objects. The initial capture of Wu Yiyu by him and Lin Youxie was precisely due to Lin Youxie’s Nian Chen being entrusted to Cui Fang Luo.

If he himself cultivated the Nian Chen technique, could a connection be formed between his Nian Chen and Lin Youxie’s? Could his own main thought sense Lin Youxie’s main thought?

As he flipped to the end of this nameless book, Jiang Wang vaguely felt that the Nian Chen technique might be the key he had overlooked.

As he truly invested himself in studying this secret technique, he increasingly felt the preciousness of the Nian Chen technique.

Lin Kuang was indeed worthy of his great reputation. This set of unique secret techniques was truly a work of genius. In Jiang Wang’s understanding, it was completely not inferior to Yan Hua Fen Cheng. Its significance in the development of “thoughts” was difficult to estimate.

If Zuo Guanglie’s achievement was the highest standard of reformed fire element basic Dao techniques, used as the foundation of his own Dao technique system, then Lin Kuang’s had nearly opened a completely new path.

A single human heart can harbor a thousand thoughts in an instant. From ancient times to the present, practitioners who delve into the complexities of feelings and thoughts are not few. But Lin Kuang’s Nian Chen was the first to separate thoughts and apply them in such a manner.

Such a person, if he had not been entangled in the Lei Guifei case that year, one truly cannot imagine what heights he would have reached now!

In the ever-flowing river of history, how many should have been grand stories were aborted midway, left unfinished? History’s cruelty lies in this. History’s weightiness also lies in this.

Immersed in the world of Dao techniques, time always seemed to pass quickly. The sun shifted, and unconsciously, dusk had already arrived. The portly, large-eared new Marquis of Bo Wang in Great Qi hurried to the manor, pushed open the door, and immediately made the study seem not so spacious.

He was still clad in the Marquis’s opulent ceremonial robes, his head still adorned with the specially crafted Marquis’s jade crown—only in attire, at the same rank, could he compare to others who earned several pieces of court Yuan stones.

Following closely, walking with quick, small steps, was Yi Shisi, also in ceremonial attire.

Clad in heavy armor, she was cold, hard, and firm like a sculpture. Without the heavy armor, however, she was thin, weak, slender, and timid. Now, with her name already entered into the family genealogy as a Chao Yi Dafu and married into a national Marquis’s family, she finally possessed a hint of dignified grace.

Only in the way she still followed step by step behind Chong Xuan Pang was a glimpse of the past days discernible.

This couple, it seemed, had come immediately after the inheritance ceremony had concluded.

Jiang Wang rose to welcome them, but before he could speak, Chong Xuan Sheng waved his hand and said with great authority: “You sit, sit down to talk.”

He acted as if he had returned to his own home, greeting the uneasy poor relatives waiting within.

He naturally walked to his specially made large chair, comfortably leaned back, and complained: “This Marquis of Bo Wang, I truly don’t want to be. What does hereditary and irreplaceable mean? Does it not mean wanting all my descendants to sell their lives for the court? They say the capable one labors more. Is this not infuriating?”

Somewhat impatiently, he pulled down the jade crown on his head and casually placed it on a nearby table: “Too cumbersome! This crown is too big, and I’ve received too many gifts. I can’t temporarily put them down, so I’ll leave a few days’ worth here first.”

Jiang Wang silently sat down, his eyelid twitching.

He hadn’t noticed it before, but with Chong Xuan Sheng sitting down so boldly today, he realized that Chong Xuan Sheng had actually taken the main seat in the study.

When the resplendent Marquis of Bo Wang sat there, the stone screens on either side, carved with dragons contending and tigers fighting, suddenly seemed to come alive. Sitting at the desk on this side, he felt very much like a clerk!

In ordinary circumstances, he would never have given face to such a display.

But today, after all, these people had come to help.

After much consideration, he finally sucked in a breath and replied with accompanying words: “I will certainly guard it well.”

Chong Xuan Sheng waved his hand: “No need to be too careful. This crown, ah, the most interesting part is the phrase ‘hereditary and irreplaceable’. It’s not worth much money. Just treat it with a normal heart, Xiao Jiang, a normal heart.”

Jiang Wang acted as if he hadn’t heard, only smiling and squinting at Shisi as he said: “Little sister, you sit down too. Sit down and talk.”

Initially, when he asked Yi Xingchen to adopt Shisi, part of the reason was to signal that he, Jiang Wang, considered Shisi a close friend.

But Yi Huai Min later went around saying that the Marquis of Wu’an was Yi Shisi’s adopted brother, and thus his Yi Huai Min’s close brother—it was unclear how he calculated the relationship.

However, Jiang Wang didn’t mind playing the role of a big brother in front of Chong Xuan Pang. Especially since both Shisi and Chong Xuan Pang were older than him, it felt even more like he was gaining a cheap advantage.

After removing her armor, Shisi was no longer as silent as before. She still smiled and replied: “Okay, Big Brother Jiang.”

“Alright, no more pleasantries.” Seeing that the scene wasn’t quite right, Chong Xuan Sheng immediately shifted to the main topic, his face extremely grim as he looked at Jiang Wang: “Why didn’t you tell me about Lin Youxie’s disappearance?”

Jiang Wang explained: “I was just thinking about finding someone. It’s not a complicated matter…”

He was met with Chong Xuan Sheng’s piercing gaze.

He could only sigh and tell the truth: “I didn’t want to involve you.”

Chong Xuan Sheng eyed him askance: “Are you so certain that Lin Youxie’s disappearance is related to the current Empress?”

Jiang Wang shook his head: “I’m not certain, but there’s at least a possibility.”

Chong Xuan Sheng narrowed his eyes and said: “I just came over and happened to run into Bao Zhongqing. He was quite enthusiastic in greeting me… I sent him away.”

Jiang Wang would naturally not blame Chong Xuan Sheng for Bao Zhongqing. He only asked: “How did you send him away?”

“I told him to scram,” Chong Xuan Sheng said. “My grandfather passed away, and he came to the manor to perform. I accompanied him fully. If necessary, I could even perform a scene of old grudges reconciled with him, giving him face and inward satisfaction. That’s not a big problem. But he shouldn’t, absolutely shouldn’t, at this kind of time, still be stirring up trouble. I didn’t have time to plot against him, so I simply chose the easiest way.”

Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said: “He came over yesterday and told me he wanted to use the resources of the Bao family’s carriage and horse firm to help me find someone. I said if he found any traces of Lin Youxie, I would owe him a favor.”

Chong Xuan Sheng sighed: “You are actually a smart person. Why do you get confused when it involves friends? Please think carefully. What clues could Bao Zhongqing give you, and which ones will he give you?”

Jiang Wang was silent for a while and said: “I thought that even if he uses me a bit, then so be it. True or false, I can always distinguish clearly.”

Chong Xuan Sheng sighed even heavier this time: “I don’t know if you are overestimating your own wisdom or underestimating Bao Zhongqing’s depth. Even I dare not say I can distinguish true from false clues in his schemes. How dare you say so? Furthermore, do real clues necessarily point to the true truth?”

Jiang Wang frowned, not understanding: “What can he gain from this matter?”

“He can gain too much! A person like him, if you give him an opportunity, he will certainly not waste your price,” Chong Xuan Sheng said. “You are a good chess piece, a good sharp sword, and you don’t even realize it. Jiang Wang, have you thought, what if Bao Zhongqing and the Bao family behind him want to bring down the Empress? What if he wants to overthrow the current Crown Prince? Are you prepared to get involved in the imperial succession struggle?”

Jiang Wang’s eyelid twitched: “How could I possibly do that?”

“Of course, you can’t do it, but you will become a bugle call, a symbol, and you will die a miserable death as the flag of the new Qi people!” Chong Xuan Sheng suppressed his anger with some difficulty: “And your death itself will become an even sharper weapon! Your value will be greatly diminished! Jiang Wang, Lin Youxie’s identity is so sensitive, and you dare to easily step into others’ traps in this kind of matter. Do you think you can bear all the consequences? You are offering your head and hands!”

Jiang Wang would naturally not doubt Chong Xuan Sheng’s judgment. He was just a little startled: “How do you know he will do that?”

“Some intelligence, placed with someone by his side a long time ago,” Chong Xuan Sheng tapped his own forehead: “And using this to think.”

Jiang Wang said: “It seems I indeed underestimated Bao Zhongqing.”

“Underestimating Bao Mazi is not just you?” Chong Xuan Sheng sighed: “My situation is similar to his. Neither of us was favored in childhood, but I always felt that one day when I controlled the Chong Xuan family, he would be my opponent. So I started buying people by his side very early. These years, I thought I understood him well, and I always felt he was scheming enough, but lacked courage. Until the campaign against Xia… he surprised me greatly.”

“This matter, although I don’t have solid evidence, for a person like Bao Zhongqing, speculating with the greatest malice is not excessive. You are in a mess now, and I am entangled in mundane affairs. I don’t have time to slowly dismantle his moves, so I simply told him to roll away. With his depth, he will only smile and endure, and won’t get entangled again.”

Jiang Wang only said: “Although Bao Zhongqing only wants to use me, what if the matter with Lin Youxie is really related to the current Empress?”

Chong Xuan Sheng pressed his forehead, truly feeling a headache.

He understood Jiang Wang too well. This guy was not stupid and was not completely unguarded against Bao Zhongqing, but due to some inexplicable persistence, he had still stepped into the trap with one foot. He believed this guy in his heart, and perhaps had even made some terrible preparations…

Otherwise, why in this matter did he not contact him, nor Li Longchuan, Yan Fu, and the others, yet accepted Bao Zhongqing’s help?

Before that most terrible outcome, he was afraid of involving himself, yet was willing to go all the way to hell with Bao Zhongqing!

Chong Xuan Sheng took a deep breath, feeling a mix of touched and disappointed: “It won’t be that one. You have prejudice against her, and you think a mother of a nation is too stupid!”

The tone of this new Marquis of Bo Wang was quite firm: “The Son of Heaven’s words at that time, ‘national scholars cannot be taken lightly,’ already indicated his attitude. Even if the Empress hated Lin Kuang more and was intolerant of others, she would not openly violate the Son of Heaven’s will. Tell me, is there any necessity for her to handle a single Lin Youxie? Does it benefit the current Crown Prince’s position in the East Palace in the slightest? At such a critical time for the successor’s position, she will not create trouble out of nothing!”

“It is indeed very difficult for me to forget what she did.” Jiang Wang paused, and then asked: “But if it wasn’t that one… Lin Youxie was well, and had no other grudges against her. Who would deal with her?”

“First, she is just missing, not necessarily dead. Secondly, even if she is dead, it’s not likely revenge.

Her father’s generation of grudges vanished into thin air along with the Four Great Azure Plaque Families. After Li Youjiu was dismembered, everyone was eager to cut ties with the Four Great Azure Plaque Families. Except for you, who would be willing to stir up this trouble? Her relationship network is actually very clear, and you can see the end of it at a glance.”

Chong Xuan Sheng said calmly: “Among the forces entangled with Lin Youxie… the Empress and the Crown Prince are definitely not involved. This matter should also have no relation to the Heavenly Family. They lack both the interest and the emotional drive.”

Speaking of this, he couldn’t help but frown again: “But the Heavenly Family has Tian Anping. What he will do is truly difficult to judge.”

Tian Anping was too crazy. He did things too much on his own, and fundamentally could not be speculated based on logic of interest or emotion.

Jiang Wang again recalled the intelligence confirmed by Tian Chang at that time—

Wu Lie was personally killed by Tian Anping, who then threw the corpse into the sea, deliberately leaving some clues.

At that time, he had also asked Tian Chang about Tian Anping’s purpose in doing so.

Tian Chang’s answer was— “If you think Tian Anping’s actions can be deduced by logic, would he still be so crazy?”

Whether within the Tian Family or outside, no one could see through Tian Anping’s thoughts.

Precisely because he was such a madman, even someone as smart as Chong Xuan Sheng fundamentally did not know whether he could be excluded from the matter or not.

Jiang Wang said: “Actually, during the Seven Stars Tower secret realm, I had an unexpected harvest. In the Hidden Star world, I thwarted Tian Anping’s plan and seized that lifespan-supplementing flower. In the process, I had some contact with someone from the Tian family named Tian Chang…”

At this point, he recounted his contact and utilization of Tian Chang and Tian He in the Hidden Star world to Chong Xuan Sheng.

He specifically emphasized the news he later obtained from Tian Chang, namely the matter of Tian Anping personally killing Wu Lie.

Chong Xuan Sheng pondered for a moment, then lifted his head and said: “Tian Chang’s move is truly a good one. You are lucky to have gained such an opportunity in the Seven Stars secret realm. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t contact him. Such a move should only be used at a decisive moment.”

“Do you have any plans regarding Tian Anping?” Jiang Wang asked.

The phrase “decisive moment” made him somewhat sensitive.

Chong Xuan Sheng shook his head: “As long as he doesn’t drive us crazy, what need is there to have plans for him… No.”

He suddenly said decisively: “It won’t be Tian Anping.”

Jiang Wang asked: “Why do you say so?”

“His throwing Wu Lie’s corpse into the sea is proof,” Chong Xuan Sheng murmured: “That itself is a declaration. Through Wu Lie’s corpse, he informed those who could see the clues that he is the murderer. He is taking responsibility for everything the Tian family did in the Lei Guifei case, one by one. He is waiting for those seeking revenge to come knocking. He anticipates a wonderful revenge!”

Jiang Wang originally wanted to say, this person is sick, but thinking this person was named Tian Anping, he again felt it was very reasonable. Thus, he said: “He is waiting for Lin Youxie to prepare herself and come kill him, so he won’t take the initiative to find Lin Youxie?”

Chong Xuan Sheng stood up from that abnormally wide chair and clapped his hands: “Correct answer.”

“Then Lin Youxie’s matter… where could it be?” Jiang Wang’s voice finally held a hint of bitterness. Of course, Chong Xuan Sheng was much smarter than him. He had analyzed the situation meticulously and his reasoning was sound. But now that all the clues had been excluded, where could Lin Youxie possibly be found?

Chong Xuan Sheng walked and said: “I asked Qing Zhuan to tell you that this matter might not be complex. Actually, Bao Zhongqing has already given you the answer.”

Jiang Wang frowned tightly: “Bao Zhongqing?”

“Do you still remember when I chatted with you about how Bao Bozhao died?” Chong Xuan Sheng asked.

Jiang Wang shook his head: “That was just your private speculation, there was no evidence.”

“Many things don’t need evidence,” Chong Xuan Sheng said: “Even dying in the midst of ten thousand soldiers, being trampled into meat paste, you can still find some traces. It won’t be silent. The battle of She Shan, where Tai Yin stirred Dao principles and killed so many people, there were still eyewitnesses remaining. What about Bao Bozhao’s death? In Wuyang City, among the soldiers and horses, he was just gone. If he was pursued and killed by Tai Yin, where was his head? Where was his corpse? Where was the Xia country’s military merit record? Nothing. He died so cleanly, that itself is a problem… Of course, as long as Bao Zhongqing doesn’t admit guilt, no one can force him. Back to Lin Youxie’s disappearance, don’t you feel that she also disappeared too cleanly?”

He emphasized the pronunciation of the word “clean.”

Jiang Wang seemed to be contemplating something, his expression gloomy.

“So Lin girl’s disappearance was done by Bao Zhongqing!” Shisi, who had been silently listening for a long time, suddenly realized.

Chong Xuan Sheng finally sighed, somewhat wearily: “The answer should still be in Lu Shuang County.”

He walked to the bookshelf, and with a sweep of his fat hand, pulled out a volume of the Great Qi territory map. Turning back, he spread it open on the desk.

Using a fat finger, he drew a large circle along the border of Lu Shuang County.

“These days, Zheng Shangming should have already checked the places that needed checking. There are no traces to be found along any of the borders. There is absolutely no record of her passing through…” He glanced at Shisi: “Very familiar, right?”

The fat man tapped the map twice with his finger and said to Jiang Wang: “Have you not thought that Lin Youxie possibly didn’t leave Lu Shuang County at all?”

When Shisi left home at that time, Chong Xuan Sheng was precisely too anxious and overlooked the obvious. He hadn’t thought that Shisi fundamentally hadn’t left Qi.

But Shisi was directionally challenged and had never traveled far alone. Lin Youxie might not be.

As an excellent Azure Plaque, a skilled tracker and thief catcher, no matter how you looked at it, there was no possibility of her getting lost.

Jiang Wang slowly said: “But the Patrol Inspection Office went to check, and I also went to check. There were no clues in Lu Shuang County. More than three months have passed. Even if there were originally clues, now…”

“Don’t be anxious first,” Chong Xuan Sheng looked at him and said: “The day we found Shisi was the last time you and Lin Youxie met. You haven’t had any contact since then, right?”

“Yes.”

“Did she tell you she wanted to go to the Three Punishments Palace?”

“Yes.”

“Besides this, think carefully, was there anything else abnormal about her?”

“Are you trying to say that it’s possible she hid her traces and quietly went to investigate the Tian family?” Jiang Wang shook his head: “She is a very stubborn, very principled person, but not stupid.”

Lu Shuang bordered the Great Marsh, making such a guess indeed difficult to avoid.

However, that year’s case had already concluded for the Empress. For Tian Anping, he didn’t mind being hated. For Lin Youxie, she had already achieved the best possible outcome for herself, restoring the reputation of her father and Grandpa Wu.

Even if she truly investigated the Tian family thoroughly, it would be impossible to gain more.

The highest will of Qi had already drawn a red line with its gaze. Lin Youxie would not fail to understand this. Even less would she be so foolish as to challenge the already contemporary True Person Tian Anping after the matter had already settled.

“Then the conclusion is already very clear,” Chong Xuan Sheng said slowly: “I am now very certain that Lin Youxie fundamentally did not leave Lu Shuang County!”

－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－

Thank you to book friend “Yan Xi” for becoming the alliance master of this book. This is for the 361st alliance of Chi Xin Xun Tian!

There will be an extra chapter for the great alliance “I love Qiqi 888”.

I’m writing too slowly, I’m sorry to everyone.

There will be more chapters on the weekend.

Although I have no draft, I’ll put the words here first to force myself…