Chapter 219: Chapter 108: Liu Zixiu Assassinated
Over the past two days, Wang Ping had met with many people. Nearly everyone with even a slight connection to him had come for a visit. These visits were, to varying degrees, all related to the Court’s military campaign in the north.
Wang Ping gave no indication of his stance to any of them, as he cared little for the people who sought him out.
The bustle was followed by tranquility, but Wang Ping was already used to it. It had no effect on his cultivation. He continued his daily routine: after finishing his lessons, he would take Yu Lian out to wander the mortal world.
「April. The beginning of summer.」
Wang Ping finished his daily lessons, checked on Shen Xiaozhu and Wang Yang’s cultivation, and was just about to call for Yu Lian to go out traveling when the gate-keeping disciple entered respectfully.
"Grandmaster, an emissary from Daoist Zi Luan is here to see you..."
...
Zi Luan was the same as ever, showing the world nothing but a cheerful smile. He personally came to the entrance of his small courtyard to welcome Wang Ping.
After the two were seated, Zi Luan started by mentioning the case Zuo Xuan was handling in the coastal regions. "There have been some internal problems at the Mozhou Road Daoist Scripture Hall. I’ll give you the inside scoop—it’s related to the future struggle for fortune and destiny."
Wang Ping frowned and asked in confusion, "So, you’re saying they really intend to use sacrificial offerings to ruin the farmland?"
But Zi Luan just smiled without answering, so Wang Ping knew not to press the matter.
After a brief silence between them, Zi Luan spoke up. "The world was originally in a state of peace, but that has changed significantly with a single edict from the new Emperor..."
Just as he reached this point, a Qi Cultivator from outside walked in, completely lacking in tact, holding a tray with steaming hot tea.
Zi Luan didn’t chide the Qi Cultivator, however. He waited quietly for the cultivator to set down the teacups and slowly retreat before explaining with a smile, "A newly refined puppet of mine. What do you think?"
Wang Ping was taken aback. He truly hadn’t realized this Qi Cultivator was a puppet.
"Haha..."
His mischievous whim satisfied, Zi Luan let out a loud laugh and said, "No need to be envious. Once you advance to the Third Realm and possess Heaven-Reaching Power, you’ll be able to steal living souls and infuse Soldier Talismans with spiritual memories."
Seeing Wang Ping’s look of sudden understanding, Zi Luan returned to the previous topic. "The peace of this world has been shattered by a single, frivolous edict from that little whelp on the throne..."
He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and said, "There is another, extremely secret matter that I believe you ought to know..." He paused for effect, then lowered his voice. "Your Second Senior Brother, the man the scholars call the Human Dao Saint, was assassinated in his home in Shangjing City three days ago."
Wang Ping, who had been the picture of calm just a moment before, shot to his feet at these words. He stared at Zi Luan with a look of disbelief and asked, "Are you certain?"
Sensing the shift in Wang Ping’s emotions, Yu Lian shot out from his sleeve, coiling around his arm and flicking her tongue at Zi Luan.
In response, Zi Luan extended his left hand and flicked a finger, sending out a strand of Wood Spirit Qi that stripped all the Qi Cultivators outside of their senses. Then he said with a chuckle, "Including you, only seven people now know of this. The first is our new Emperor. The second is your senior brother’s disciple, who is currently under house arrest in his Shangjing City residence. The third is the current Minister of Political Affairs, Zhong Xun. The fourth is the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Liang Yu. The fifth is the Lord. And the last two are you and I."
"Everyone else who knew has been silenced. I personally took care of the ones on our side, and Commander of the Imperial Guard Liang Yu personally took care of the ones in Shangjing."
Wang Ping was now half-convinced. He let out a breath and sat back down. Yu Lian uncoiled from his arm and wound herself around his shoulder, carefully sensing every rustle and stir in the small courtyard.
"No, you’re wrong..."
Wang Ping exhaled. "If he was assassinated, then his assassins would know about it too."
"Yes, but the Emperor has suppressed the news, and so have we. Do you think they’d still dare to speak of it?" Zi Luan’s smile widened.
At this, Yu Lian couldn’t resist complaining in their Spirit Sea: ’I really want to smack that smile off his face.’
Wang Ping had the same thought.
"Right now, his disciple is the one speaking for your senior brother. I’m sure you have a way to make him say something... different."
Hearing this, a thought struck Wang Ping. He asked, "Is this the Lord’s idea?"
"Yes!"
Zi Luan answered with a soft laugh—it was impossible to tell if it was praise or a warning—and said in a meaningful tone, "You’re very clever."
Wang Ping was suddenly reminded of a small deal he had made with Dan Chen.
"What should I do?" Wang Ping asked directly.
Zi Luan was pleased with Wang Ping’s straightforwardness. He smiled. "Don’t worry, we’re not foolish enough to say anything that would expose ourselves. What we want is for the northern war to become even more intense—ideally enough to influence the entire culture and customs of Zhongzhou."
This was exactly what Liu Zixiu had been trying to do before his assassination.
"This is bound to come to light eventually..." Wang Ping stared at Zi Luan, voicing only half of his thoughts.
"Yes, but by then, it won’t matter who the real killer was," Zi Luan said with a smile. He then looked at Wang Ping and added, "My apologies, I got a bit carried away. If you, Fellow Daoist, wish to pursue the killer, I would be more than happy to help. Free of charge, of course."
Wang Ping remained noncommittal, scoffing inwardly at Zi Luan’s offer of ’free’ help. He even let a hint of it show on his face, because he had already figured it out: the Lord wanted to frame the Imperial Family, and the Imperial Family wanted to frame the Lord.
...
After leaving Zi Luan’s courtyard, Wang Ping flew directly toward Qianmu Temple.
He needed to discuss the matter with his master first.
Yu Cheng Taoist was even more surprised by Liu Zixiu’s death than Wang Ping had been. He then fell into a long period of thought, and Wang Ping simply waited in silence.
Sensing Wang Ping’s feelings, Yu Lian asked, ’Before you came here, were you suspecting your master?’
Wang Ping did not respond.
Yu Cheng Taoist considered for nearly two hours before finally looking at Wang Ping and saying, "Do as Zi Luan says. Your senior brother has already achieved his goal. As for me..."
"Master, I don’t think you should go to Shangjing right now. With Second Senior Brother’s intelligence, it’s impossible he would be assassinated for no reason. Besides, his every move was under the protection and watch of our internal affairs. The best course of action now is to use some of our internal affairs’ secret contacts to investigate slowly. Even if we do go to Shangjing, we should wait until the attention on this matter dies down, or at least until Nephew Zhang is released from house arrest."
Wang Ping interrupted his master.
After listening, Yu Cheng Taoist thought for a moment and then nodded. "You are right. If you and I were to enter Shangjing City at this juncture, it would indeed lead to too much speculation, and it would be detrimental to my plans."
His plans referred to the search for ’Li Yan’.
Wang Ping nodded, then looked at Yu Lian and said, "Go and fetch Yang Hou."
It was just as he’d said earlier: they didn’t have to go in person yet, but they had to get things moving.
