Chong Xuansheng’s logic was straightforward. Jiang Wang was no match for Su She. Since Jiang Wang was unharmed, it meant Su She hadn’t acted yet.

The information he received might be false. The purpose behind this false information prompted him to analyze rapidly. No one dared to underestimate Su She, even after he had personally driven the Jubaoshang Guild to the brink.

Upon hearing Chong Xuansheng’s words, Jiang Wang understood why he hadn’t waited for him.

The moment he was ambushed by Su She, he was certain that with Chong Xuansheng’s intellect, he wouldn’t be deceived and would definitely notice the situation. Yet, he never saw him.

Linzi City was a massive vortex, where everyone’s actions could have far-reaching consequences.

Something must have tied Chong Xuansheng down.

Against a powerhouse like Su She, Chong Xuansheng’s only viable card was Chongxuan Chuliang. However, Chongxuan Chuliang represented the entire Chongxuan family. While he would wholeheartedly protect Chong Xuansheng, saving Jiang Wang wouldn’t be as high a priority. He had to consider the family’s opinion. As important as Jiang Wang was to Chong Xuansheng, to the Chongxuan family, he was merely a retainer.

Evidently, the Chongxuan family strongly opposed Chongxuan Chuliang’s intervention.

After unsuccessful communication, Chong Xuansheng simply stormed out of Linzi, bringing Fourteen to save Jiang Wang. Of course, he wasn’t bringing Fourteen to die alongside Jiang Wang, but rather, his presence would force Chongxuan Chuliang to follow.

No one could predict what foolish things Su She, pushed to the edge, might do.

This was using his own safety to pressure Chongxuan Chuliang.

Such irrational and imprudent behavior would severely damage his standing with Chongxuan Chuliang. Even his grandfather, Chongxuan Yunbo, would lower his estimation, not to mention the family elders.

“You’re losing a lot of points by doing this,” Jiang Wang said.

“Doesn’t matter,” Chong Xuansheng said, his face gloomy, “They keep talking about the Chongxuan family’s reputation, as if I don’t know! Wen Lianmu secretly communicated with them, which is why they so unanimously opposed it. Those old geezers have always treated me as a pawn to control Chongxuan Zun, to make him obedient, even after I’ve done so much, so brilliantly!”

Jiang Wang understood instantly: “So they sat back and watched Su She kill me, and stopped your uncle from acting.”

For those family elders, it was the best choice. They had received plenty of benefits from the Jubaoshang Guild, without dirtying their hands or worrying about Su She.

If Su She was cornered and killed the Qingyang Town Baron of Qi in a fit of rage, the official forces of Qi would naturally hunt him down. They wouldn’t need to concern themselves any further.

And after suppressing Chongxuan Zun for so long, it was time to turn back and suppress Chong Xuansheng.

After all, Chongxuan Zun was their intended heir.

The reason no one in the Chongxuan family opposed sending Chongxuan Zun to Jixia Academy was because it was a good thing for Chongxuan Zun’s future. Provided that Chongxuan Zun’s faction could withstand Chong Xuansheng’s attacks during his absence.

“When they need me, they make all sorts of promises, pushing me to go head-to-head with Chongxuan Zun. As soon as I show signs of becoming too powerful, they start suppressing me!” Chong Xuansheng said resentfully, “Is Chong Xuansheng so easily bullied? Am I just supposed to watch my only true friend die!”

He rarely wore his anger on his sleeve, but this time he was truly filled with resentment.

“I’m not that easy to kill,” Jiang Wang consoled. “Su She is the one who died!”

Chong Xuansheng glared at him irritably: “If you’re not one to brag, don’t go making wild claims. Let’s go back to Linzi! This matter might not be over. I haven’t figured it out yet. Su She’s misdirecting; he definitely has a backup plan!”

“He’s really dead! Come with me.” Jiang Wang, left without a choice, led them back to the scene of the battle.

Chong Xuansheng looked at the headless corpse, half-believing: “Is that really Su She?”

Jiang Wang admitted: “If I didn’t mistake him for someone else, he definitely is Su She.”

“How did he die?”

Jiang Wang opened his mouth, hesitating to speak.

Chong Xuansheng glanced at him and said: “My uncle is gone!”

He couldn’t help but add: “Looks like this really is Su She!”

Chong Xuansheng was risking himself coming here, Chongxuan Chuliang naturally had no choice but to follow.

The words he spoke earlier, while filled with anger, were also intended for Chongxuan Chuliang, to win his sympathy and gain his greater support within the family.

However, the Chongxuan Chuliang hiding in the shadows didn’t express any stance. Only after seeing Su She’s corpse did he notify him and quietly leave.

Jiang Wang didn’t hide anything and directly explained the events of Hell’s Gate: “…So I might be leaving Linzi soon.”

“Don’t make any decisions yet.” Chong Xuansheng nearly wore the words ‘you’re an idiot’ on his face: “Let me sort this out first.”

“Yin Guan helped you kill Su She?”

“Yes, and Wang, an officer of Hell’s Gate, also acted.”

“Then Yin Guan asked you to help them sneak their people into Linzi?”

“That’s right.”

“Good thing!” Chong Xuansheng slapped his thigh.

“It’s certainly a good thing I didn’t die,” Jiang Wang said.

“That’s not what I meant!” Chong Xuansheng rolled his eyes with difficulty.

He directly sent a palm strike, using heavy techniques to grind Su She’s headless corpse into mush, and then shouted: “Fourteen!”

Fourteen’s understanding with him was unquestionable. He decisively wielded his heavy sword, slashing vigorously, carving several cracks into the official road.

After doing all this, Chong Xuansheng then said to Jiang Wang: “You said two things wrong!”

Jiang Wang wasn’t very pleased: “…I only said two things in total.”

“First, it was me and Fourteen who helped you. The three of us teamed up to kill Su She.”

“Forgive my frankness, but the three of us combined aren’t his match. I had no way to resist Su She.”

“Perhaps my uncle suppressed him? Or maybe he was heartbroken by the failure of the Jubaoshang Guild, his Dao heart shattered, his sacred tower collapsed, his strength greatly diminished…” Chong Xuansheng rambled to himself: “In short, the possibility of the three of us killing Su She is not only there, but there are many reasons why it could have happened!”

Having said this much, Jiang Wang fully understood. This was to sever the connection between Su She’s death and Yin Guan. What else could he think? He wasn’t stupid.

“Just say it! Who did Yin Guan ultimately ask for help in arranging for their people to enter Linzi?”

“How would I know?” Chong Xuansheng was probably not very satisfied that Jiang Wang had opened his eyes so quickly. His expression was unpleasant, but he ultimately revealed the answer: “Probably someone from Chongxuan Zun’s side!”

This was blatant framing!

This way, Jiang Wang’s promise was fulfilled, Jiang Wang didn’t need to defect, and the trouble was pushed onto Chongxuan Zun’s subordinates! And Chongxuan Zun was currently buried in cultivation at Jixia Academy…

Without a doubt, the so-called subordinate of Chongxuan Zun who arranged for Hell’s Gate to enter the city had long secretly pledged allegiance to Chong Xuansheng.

Once this matter succeeded, Chongxuan Zun’s power in Linzi would be in grave danger. Just how “grave” would depend on how much chaos Hell’s Gate caused.

Looking at it this way… it really was a good thing?

Profiting from all sides!

Jiang Wang was silent for a moment and then said: “I promised Yin Guan to contact him within two days.”

“That’s plenty of time,” Chong Xuansheng said confidently.

“Sigh,” Jiang Wang sighed. He had to admit that Chong Xuansheng was indeed worthy of despising him in terms of strategy.

He composed himself and said: “After returning to the city, have someone go to the Bao Clan’s Cart Transport and pay some silver. The coachman was also implicated because of me. Make sure his family is provided for in the future.”

This was only proper.

But Chong Xuansheng was, after all, Chong Xuansheng.

He slapped his thigh again and said fiercely: “The Bao Clan dared to cooperate with Su She in assassinating you, leaking your travel information. I will never let them go!”

Jiang Wang was stunned.

He hadn’t intended to hide his tracks upon returning to Linzi. Renting a Bao Clan carriage back to Linzi wasn’t some kind of secret. It would be easily discovered with a simple investigation. Was it worth asking the Bao Clan to cooperate?

But then again, the Bao Clan, especially Bao Zhongqing, harboring resentment toward Chong Xuansheng and hitting it off with Su She, was a logical possibility. And Jiang Wang had indeed taken a carriage from a Bao Clan carriage transport, and something had indeed happened.

If they were going to pursue this point, the Bao Clan would really have no way to explain it!

Safety was the biggest problem businesses like carriage transports had to face. If the Bao Clan didn’t want Chong Xuansheng to make a big deal out of this, they would have to pay up.

In that case… not only would the compensation for the coachman’s family be covered, but they could also make another profit from the Bao Clan!