After Jiang Wang extricated himself from the predicament of being tracked, he did not grow complacent, believing the matter resolved. Instead, upon returning to his mansion, his first action was to communicate with Chong Xuan Sheng.

Chong Xuan Sheng, sharp as a hawk, immediately saw through Wen Lian Mu’s scheme. He rushed to the North Yamen without delay and explained the intricacies of the situation face-to-face. It was only then that Magistrate Zheng was able to act in a timely manner.

Magistrate Zheng, not even pausing to change out of his official robes, personally hastened to the Zhen Guo Grand Marshal’s Mansion. Thus, Zheng Shangming was brought back unharmed.

Wang Yi Wu, having pointlessly antagonized the North Yamen Duwei, yet failing to achieve his desired outcome, could only be said to have “stolen a chicken but lost the rice.”

Magistrate Zheng directly led Zheng Shangming back to the Patrol Inspection Mansion located in the northern part of the city. The reason he did not let his son go home first was to have him express his gratitude to Chong Xuan Sheng and, conveniently, make his acquaintance.

Through this incident, it was natural for Magistrate Zheng to harbor dissatisfaction towards Wang Yi Wu. However, to directly confront the Grand Marshal’s Mansion seemed perhaps excessive. After all, Zheng Shangming had returned unscathed, and behind Wang Yi Wu stood Jiang Meng Xiong, a figure revered as the Military God by the entire Qi country.

As the North Yamen Duwei, Magistrate Zheng had his own difficult position. Therefore, his attitude towards Chong Xuan Sheng was somewhat contradictory. On one hand, gratitude was undeniable, but on the other, as the North Yamen Duwei, should he truly involve himself in the confrontation between Chong Xuan Sheng and Wang Yi Wu?

Zheng Shangming, their peer, undoubtedly served as a good buffer. Regardless of what Zheng Shangming had done, Magistrate Zheng, as a father, still had his bottom line.

Having made complete arrangements and returned to the Patrol Inspection Mansion, the Patrol Inspection soldiers informed Magistrate Zheng that Chong Xuan Sheng had departed almost simultaneously with him, not waiting in the Patrol Inspection Mansion to claim credit.

“When he left, did he say anything?” Magistrate Zheng inquired.

The Patrol Inspection soldier replied, “Young Master Sheng said it was a small matter, nothing to worry about! He also said something about not helping others, but helping himself.”

These words were certainly direct.

Magistrate Zheng pondered for a while, then looked at his son, saying nothing more.

Within the Zhen Guo Grand Marshal’s Mansion.

Facing Wang Yi Wu’s inquiry – why Magistrate Zheng had arrived so promptly, preventing them from using Zheng Shangming as a pawn to leverage the North Yamen’s power – Wen Lian Mu could only offer a bitter smile in return. “I believe,” he said, “Chong Xuan Sheng must still be at the North Yamen.”

Wang Yi Wu understood the meaning behind that bitter smile.

Chong Xuan Sheng’s perception of schemes was far too sharp! He was simply too slippery, making it difficult for any stratagem to truly stick to him.

Moreover, it was evident that he possessed a thorough understanding of Zheng Shangming, no less than Wen Lian Mu did. Only with such knowledge could he have so quickly unraveled the scheme.

Were their positions reversed, Wang Yi Wu knew he could not have responded with such speed.

The reason he did not attribute this insight to Jiang Wang was that if Jiang Wang were capable of such foresight, he would not have released Zheng Shangming in the first place, much less allowed Zheng Shangming the opportunity to throw himself into the net at the Zhen Guo Grand Marshal’s Mansion.

Wen Lian Mu’s initial attempt to scheme against Chong Xuan Sheng had failed, and at that time, Wang Yi Wu had even mocked him a little. This was because he had considerable confidence in Wen Lian Mu then, and a temporary setback didn’t seem significant.

This time, the loss was more substantial, yet Wang Yi Wu showed no trace of resentment. He merely asked, “Do you have any other plans?”

Wen Lian Mu wiped away the bitter smile. His eyes held no dejection; on the contrary, they were filled with spirit. He truly relished the feeling of contending with others in this manner.

It filled him with passion.

“I’ve ensured you’ve thoroughly offended someone!”

Wang Yi Wu didn’t even lift an eyelid. “Offend, then offend. They are no remarkable figures.”

Whether it was Bao Zhong Qing or Magistrate Zheng, they were all the same in his eyes. The former was far from being his match, and the latter would sooner or later be surpassed by him.

Wen Lian Mu chuckled. “Fishing is no longer feasible. He can always eat the bait, yet refuse to take the hook. To catch this fat fish, it’s better to directly dig the dike, release the water, and drain the pond!”

“If schemes are useless, then use open stratagems!”

“How do we dig the dike, release the water, and drain the pond?” Wang Yi Wu inquired.

“Through our research into Chong Xuan Sheng during this period, we know that the people he trusts most are his personal deathsworn, Fourteen, and Jiang Wang, who is said to come from the Zhuang Country in the Western Domain. They can be called his left and right arms.”

With all the information stored in his mind, Wen Lian Mu spoke directly without needing to carefully consider. “I discovered a very interesting detail. When Jiang Wang participated in the Tian Fu Secret Realm, his hair was still completely white, but now it has returned to black. Connecting this to the matter of Chong Xuan Sheng striving for the Longevity Fruit during that period, it’s easy to conclude that Jiang Wang once suffered from a deficiency in lifespan for some reason!”

Wang Yi Wu, having studied under the Military God Jiang Meng Xiong, was naturally well aware of the negative impact of lifespan deficiency on cultivation. “Then for him to possess today’s strength is indeed not easy, indicating diligence.”

For Wang Yi Wu, this was a rare evaluation.

Of course, Jiang Wang might not require it.

“And I have also discovered that Chong Xuan Sheng is now once again collecting treasures that increase lifespan. Chong Xuan Zhu Liang doesn’t need them, and Marquis Bo Wang no longer has a use for them. Thus, there is only one possibility: he is preparing for Jiang Wang. It is highly likely that Jiang Wang’s lifespan limit has still not been fully supplemented.”

Wang Yi Wu asked, “What can be utilized in this?”

“The Seven Stars Building in Da Ze County will open,” Wen Lian Mu stated.

“That holds no meaning for me.” Wang Yi Wu paused, then asked, “Do you wish to go?”

If Wen Lian Mu truly had the inclination to go to the Seven Stars Building, then the current disturbance, he could only put aside for now and turn to defense.

Up to this point, even with his arrogance, he no longer believed he could defeat Chong Xuan Sheng without resorting to force. Lin Zi was not a military camp, nor a battlefield. It was not a simple city either; he felt like a dragon bound, awkward in every aspect.

Wen Lian Mu shook his head and said, “Among the treasures, there are some that increase lifespan.”

Wang Yi Wu frowned. “I haven’t heard this news.”

“You soon will,” Wen Lian Mu smiled, adding, “And so will Chong Xuan Sheng.”

Wang Yi Wu understood. Wen Lian Mu wanted to make Jiang Wang leave, directly severing Chong Xuan Sheng’s left and right arms, leaving him isolated.

This news might not be true, but Wen Lian Mu could certainly make people believe it.

Seeing that Wang Yi Wu had understood, Wen Lian Mu spoke again, “This news will only be known to those at your level and Chong Xuan Sheng’s. Jiang Wang, relying on himself, has no way of knowing.”

“Have you reached cooperation with the Tian family?”

To control the spread of the Seven Stars Building news to this expected degree, it would be impossible without the Tian family’s support.

“He didn’t give me face, but he gave you, Wang Yi Wu, face,” Wen Lian Mu said.

He did not specify who “he” was.

Wang Yi Wu only asked, “If Chong Xuan Sheng knows the news and, in order to keep Jiang Wang in Lin Zi to help him during this crucial time, conceals it and doesn’t speak of it, have you also prepared a way to let Jiang Wang know without a trace?”

Wen Lian Mu did not deny it. “Matters concerning one’s Dao path, he cannot have no resentment. To sow discord in their hearts is more effective than directly sending him away. Of course, if Chong Xuan Sheng truly tells him, and Jiang Wang goes to Da Ze County, that is also the result we desire.”

At the Xia Mountain Separate Mansion.

Because Jiang Wang was unwilling to go out and play with him, Xu Xiang Qian pestered him for a while without success. He then turned and went to the Cui Cheng Hou Mansion, claiming he was going to find Li Long Chuan.

Of course, there might also be factors of unwillingness to become deeply involved in the competition between Chong Xuan Sheng and Chong Xuan Zun. After all, he had just arrived at the Xia Mountain Separate Mansion and witnessed Chong Xuan Sheng mobilizing his forces.

If something truly happened, would he help or not help? Simply leaving was the best policy.

Chong Xuan Sheng said he would return soon, and indeed, he did not delay too long. However, by the time he returned, Xu Xiang Qian had already left.

He didn’t mind, and simply recounted Magistrate Zheng’s reaction to Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang now understood, realizing that behind a simple tracking incident, so many schemes were hidden.

“Are you planning to always meet moves with counter-moves like this?” Jiang Wang said, somewhat in fear. “People like you, with hearts so full of twists and turns, I cannot guarantee I won’t fall into a trap every time.”

“I have of course already prepared to take action…” Chong Xuan Sheng began, then understood and raised his voice. “Which kind of people are ‘us’?”