Immortal Dynasty Hounds

Chapter 88: I forgot the beginning, I forgot the end, I forgot the middle, but anyway, you are the m

Chapter 88: I forgot the beginning, I forgot the end, I forgot the middle, but anyway, you are the murderer.

"If you have no further instructions, young master, I will take my leave and wait for your people to contact me." Huang Jingji offered his leave.

Lian Shanxin nodded: "Go ahead, I'll send someone to contact you after I've made the arrangements."

"I'll take my leave."

Huang Jingji quickly disappeared from "Huichuntang," deliberately avoiding the attention of the crowd, and put on a complete act.

Lian Shanxin watched Huang Jingji's disappearing figure, his eyes showing no murderous intent, not even anger.

Huang Jingji is not a member of the Yixin Society and has no kinship ties with him.

It's normal for a gang leader to come together for profit and then break up for the same reason.

He offered Huang Jingji empty promises, while Jiang Jingbin actually killed his enemy on the spot. Add to that Jiang Jingbin's threats with poison, a combination of kindness and intimidation; it would be strange if Huang Jingji didn't turn against him.

There's nothing to complain about.

What's the point of complaining to a dead person?
I believe that a gang leader like Huang Jingji must have been prepared to die a violent death in the street the moment he stepped into the underworld.

Lian Shanxin's only feeling was regret.

"Huang Jingji's cultivation level is a bit stronger than mine now, so I can't perfectly disguise myself as him. Otherwise, if I directly transformed into Huang Jingji's appearance and ambushed Jiang Jingbin, it would be a sure thing."

Although Jiang Jingbin was very cautious, almost excessively so, his intelligence could not possibly be comprehensive.

They absolutely could not uncover the conspiracy between Lianshan Xin and Qianmian.

"Although there is always something I can learn from in a group of three, and Jiang Jingbin certainly has things I can learn from, we should also listen to all sides to gain a clear understanding. If Jiang Jingbin had Qi Shiyun's abilities, he wouldn't need to do all this nonsense."

"He did nothing wrong, and I can't learn everything from him."

"His path is steady and methodical, mine is unstoppable. In the face of absolute strength, no schemes or tricks will work."

Lianshan Xin strengthened his resolve to follow the Dao.

Despite his Thousand Faces' habit of using schemes and tricks, he was still defeated by his absolute strength.

The same is true now.

If you defeat Jiang Jingbin with absolute strength, I believe he will definitely accept his defeat wholeheartedly.

Qi Tanhua should be out of seclusion soon.

Lian Shanxin calculated the time and felt reassured.

Background is also a form of absolute strength.

Those who know, know; those who don't deserve to die in the struggles of the martial world.

"Huh, Huang Jingji is gone?"

Lian Shan Jingcheng came over after finishing his meal and found that only Lian Shan Xin was there, which was a bit strange.

"I thought he came to me for help with his health, why didn't he wait for me? Doesn't he want children anymore?"

Lian Shanxin smiled and said, "He definitely wants it, but I don't know if he still has the chance."

“If you can help him get the ‘Rejuvenation Pill’ personally refined by the Celestial Master, you’ll definitely have a chance,” Lian Shan Jingcheng said. “However, it’s too difficult. A ‘Rejuvenation Pill’ personally refined by the Celestial Master should be more valuable than Huang Jingji and the entire Jingji Gang. If Huang Jingji knew the value of the ‘Rejuvenation Pill,’ he would be smart enough to give up.”

Lian Shanxin glanced at Lian Shanxian Jingcheng in surprise.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lian Shan Jingcheng asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lian Shanxin spoke frankly: "Dad, I'm starting to doubt you again. I feel like you're reminding me of something."

Lian Shan Jingcheng: "...Get out of here! Use your cleverness on outsiders, what are you doing using it on me and your mother all day? Are you good at civil war?"

Lian Shanxin proudly said, "I am even more skilled in external combat. The dignified Grandmaster Qianmian has lost to me three times."

"Three times? Not twice?" Lian Shan Jingcheng asked in surprise.

Last night during dinner, Lian Shanxin boasted about his amazing martial arts skills in defeating Qianmian twice.

Both Lian Shanjingcheng and He Miaojun gave their comments after listening.

Lian Shan Jingcheng: "You're really lucky."

He Miaojun: "Qianmian has really bad luck."

So Lian Shanxin ignored them last night.

Realizing he had let slip that he had inadvertently revealed his three defeats against Qianmian, a fact that no one else knew at the time, Lian Shanxin continued nonchalantly, "I won two and Qianmian won none, that's my third victory."

Lianshan Xin's winning formula completely baffled Lianshan Jingcheng.

Seeing that he had won again, Lian Shanxin left Huichuntang with his head held high in satisfaction.

He hadn't taken two steps when he turned back: "Dad, give me a pill."

"What kind of treatment?"

"casual."

"what?"

"Any treatment is fine."

Since Jiang Jingbin wouldn't eat it anyway, Lian Shanxin didn't bother to find the real poison.

……

Half an hour later.

Upon arriving at Bailudong Academy, Lian Shanxin first visited his half-brother and half-sister.

Compared to Huang Jingji, Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu, who were bound by nine generations of kinship with him, were undoubtedly the more trustworthy ones.

From Huang Jingji's betrayal, Lian Shanxin deeply realized the superiority of the "Yixin Society" organization's high entry threshold.

"Brother Tian, Miss Zhuo, how is your recovery going?"

Zhuo Biyu looked much better than yesterday: "I've recovered about 80%, there's nothing seriously wrong with me."

Tian Ji nodded: "I'm almost fully recovered. I plan to return to Shenjing City this afternoon to retrieve all the information about the Golden Scale Alliance from the headquarters records."

Zeng Ningbing's death was like a sword hanging over Tian Ji's head, making him restless and unable to eat or sleep, especially feeling that the Golden Scale Alliance might use this as a pretext to launch an attack at any time.

Lian Shanxin expressed his understanding, then said to stop him, "Brother Tian, please be patient and wait two more days."

"Why?" Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu were both puzzled.

Lian Shanxin explained, "Zeng Ningbing died at the hands of Qianmian; this matter has already been settled."

Tian Ji shook his head: "The Golden Scale Alliance won't believe it. They will definitely send someone to investigate the truth."

"That's why I told Brother Tian not to rush off. I've already found the people sent by the Golden Scale Alliance, and I'm preparing to eliminate them completely."

"what?"

Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu were both taken aback.

Zhuo Biyu frowned and asked, "Who is it?"

"It is Jiang Jingbin, the 'Gale Sword' whom Miss Zhuo warned me to be careful of before."

"It's him?"

Zhuo Biyu pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Jiang Jingbin is the eldest son of the vice leader of the Golden Scale Alliance, and also a leading figure among the younger generation of the Golden Scale Alliance. It is indeed reasonable for him to investigate, but I originally thought he would come to cause trouble for you because of his brother's death."

“It was just a coincidence.” Lian Shanxin was also surprised: “Before his brother died, he had already received a mission from the Golden Scale Alliance to investigate Zeng Ningbing’s death.”

"Something's not right." Zhuo Biyu immediately became alert.

Tian Ji also felt a chill run down his spine: "That's definitely not right. Why would they assign the son of a vice leader to investigate a mere elder's daughter? Unless this elder's daughter has an unusual identity."

“You two are being too paranoid. Don’t give yourself away.” Lian Shanxin complained, “Zeng Ningbing’s most prominent identity right now is the Second Prince’s confidante. There is enough reason for Jiang Jingbin to investigate.”

Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu had little experience in killing princesses, so they were constantly on edge, feeling that someone was investigating them at the slightest sign of trouble.

In contrast, Young Master Xin, who had twice as much experience as them, was much calmer.

“What you say makes sense, but we still can’t let our guard down,” Zhuo Biyu said in a deep voice. “The best way is to take down Jiang Jingbin, but if we kill Jiang Jingbin as well, it will only make the Golden Scale Alliance more suspicious.”

Tian Ji thought the same thing: "This is troublesome."

"What's the trouble? It's not troublesome at all."

Seeing his two half-siblings so agitated, Lian Shanxin, a seasoned expert in killing princesses, stepped forward to take charge: "Think about it, if we kill Zeng Ningbing, Jiang Jingbin will come. If we kill Jiang Jingbin, the Golden Scale Alliance will continue to send people to investigate. Does the Golden Scale Alliance dare to directly overturn the table for our Nine Heavens Young Master?"

Zhuo Biyu shook her head: "The Golden Scale Alliance definitely wouldn't dare to do that."

"That's settled then. We'll wait at the academy, then wipe them out one by one until the Golden Scale Alliance can't take it anymore and starts to rebel. Then we'll call on Lord Heavenly Sword to wipe them all out in one fell swoop."

Lian Shanxin has already written the script.

Zhuo Biyu questioned, "Will the Golden Scale Alliance follow your ideas?"

"Will do."

"why?"

"Because barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Golden Scale Alliance wouldn't dare to actually rebel, so what I'm saying is all the strategies the Golden Scale Alliance can adopt."

Zhuo Biyu: "..."

She was convinced.

Tian Ji continued to question, "What if the Golden Scale Alliance really rebels?"

Lian Shanxin laughed instantly: "Brother Tian, the Golden Scale Alliance's attack on us is tantamount to rebellion."

I am the hidden prince, you are the true prince.

Jiang Jingbin of the Golden Scale Alliance attempted to investigate the two princes, and even harbored murderous intentions towards one of them.

This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

But Young Master Xin was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to kill so many people, so he decided to pursue the matter until it reached the Golden Scale Alliance.

"You've somewhat convinced me." Tian Ji gradually adapted to Lian Shanxin's sophistry and began to consider another matter: "Then what reason can we use to take action against Jiang Jingbin?"

Lian Shanxin decisively said, "I've thought about it too. Jiang Jingbin is worse than a beast, he's violated human ethics and actually killed his own brother. Such behavior is outrageous. What's even more infuriating is that he actually tried to frame me, it's simply outrageous. If I didn't have a pair of heavenly eyes, I really wouldn't have been able to see through his beastly heart."

Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu were both dumbfounded.

Not to mention Tian Ji, who had little experience in the martial arts world, even Zhuo Biyu, who had been in the martial arts world for several years, stammered: "Jiang Jingbin and Jiang Jingshen are brothers, how can this excuse be convincing?"

Lian Shanxin pointed to his eyes: "Miss Zhuo, I can see through even a thousand faces, would I frame him?"

Zhuo Biyu: "..."

She wanted to say that there was no necessary connection between the two.

But looking at Lian Shanxin's serious eyes, Zhuo Biyu realized that Lian Shanxin was really going to do it.

So she could only advise, "In that case, you'll need to befriend several scholars. Scholars and writers control the discourse in the literary world; they can turn black into white."

Lian Shanxin smiled and said, "I have a good relationship with Kong Liulang. Of course, I believe that Miss Zhuo and Brother Tian will also have familiar connections in the literati."

Although Jiutian and Wenchen appear to be opposing forces, this is actually a conflict between two major camps.

In private, we are intertwined, and it's never clear who's who.

That's where things go wrong.

However, at this stage, this is a problem that the top-ranked player needs to consider.

Lian Shanxin only needed to consider manipulating public opinion by leveraging literati and scholars.

"You should be fully recovered by tomorrow, so let's get started tomorrow."

Lian Shanxin demonstrated his decisiveness: "There's no time to lose. Tomorrow, the three of us will work together and use the pretext of killing Jiang Jingshen to take down Jiang Jingbin directly."

Zhuo Biyu and Tian Ji nodded.

Tian Ji asked one more question: "When will Qi the Madman emerge from the pass?"

"If it's today or tomorrow, and if Qi Tanhua can make it, I'll call her along to make sure everything goes smoothly."

Lian Shanxin would naturally not forget his powerful ally.

It's not appropriate to call someone Zhang Aniu; it's considered bad etiquette for the younger generation to use Zhang Aniu in their competition.

However, Jiang Jingbin, who is five years older than Lian Shanxin, dared to frame Lian Shanxin in this way, and Lian Shanxin, who brought his three half-siblings with ties to nine generations of relatives, did not feel any psychological pressure when ganging up on him.

"With Qi the Madman in charge, Jiang Jingbin is indeed no problem." Tian Ji was relieved: "Go and take a look at Jiang Jingshen's death file. That way, when you frame Jiang Jingbin, you can at least have some facts to rely on."

"No need for that. I can improvise on the spot. Brother Tian, forgive my bluntness, but you have no talent for solving cases. I am the number one detective in Jiangzhou. You should learn from me."

Tian Ji has truly learned a lesson.

He looked at Zhuo Biyu and humbly asked, "Miss Zhuo, are all young people in the martial arts world as shameless as him?"

Zhuo Biyu said seriously, "Even in the quagmire of the martial arts world where bad people are everywhere, Lian Shanxin can be considered a rare talent."

Tian Ji wholeheartedly agreed: "I think so too."

Lian Shanxin knew that his half-siblings were beginning to misunderstand him.

But it's okay.

Once he proves that Jiang Jingbin was indeed the murderer of Jiang Jingshen, all prejudices will vanish.

……

"Young Master, this is the case file I compiled after investigating Jiang Jingshen's death. So far, no trace of the murderer has been found. It really looks like he was killed by you with a single blow." Du Jiu said with a worried expression.

Lian Shanxin nodded casually: "Just put it on the table. Have you checked Jiang Jingbin's information?"

"Of course, after Jiang Jingshen died, I started collecting information on Jiang Jingbin."

Du Jiu took out another file and handed it to Lian Shanxin.

Lian Shanxin nodded in satisfaction; Du Jiu was indeed usable.

Upon opening Jiang Jingbin's file, Lian Shanxin glanced at it twice before letting out a soft exclamation: "Jiang Jingbin and Jiang Jingshen were not born to the same mother."

“Yes, Jiang Jingbin’s mother was Vice Alliance Leader Jiang’s first wife. She died when she gave birth to him. Later, Vice Alliance Leader Jiang married his sister-in-law, and they had another son, Jiang Jingshen. Although they were not born of the same mother, they were very close. According to the intelligence, they were even closer than blood brothers,” Du Jiu said.

Lian Shanxin laughed: "That's not necessarily true. That's Jiang Jingbin's motive."

"Motive?" Du Jiu was stunned: "Does Young Master mean that Jiang Jingbin killed Jiang Jingshen?"

"if not?"

Du Jiu was bewildered: "What evidence do you have, young master? Was Jiang Jingbin at the academy yesterday?"

"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."

He actually saw it with his own eyes.

Although I only saw it afterward.

But Master Xin never lies.

Du Jiu was even more confused: "He was at the academy yesterday, so why didn't he show up when his brother died?"

Lian Shanxin's hand, which was flipping through the documents, suddenly stopped: "That's right, he was at the scene. His brother died, so why didn't he show up?"

Du Jiu: "? Young Master, you didn't just realize that, did you?"

"Of course I realized it a long time ago, and I deliberately used this to test you."

Lian Shanxin instantly deduced the cause and effect of Jiang Jingbin's crime: "Jiang Jingbin was entrusted by the Second Prince to investigate Zeng Ningbing's death at the academy. He believed that Zeng Ningbing's death was related to me, but he was also afraid of my strength in defeating Qianmian, and he was also troubled by not having a sufficient reason to deal with me. Therefore, he chose to target his own brother. As long as he kills Jiang Jingshen and then frames me, he will have a legitimate reason to challenge me, and even the Nine Heavens cannot stop him."

Lian Shanxin gradually saw through everything: "So that's how it is. Jiang Jingbin is indeed vicious. He killed two birds with one stone, eliminating his rival and completing the task assigned to him by the Second Prince. In this way, both the position of Vice Leader of the Golden Scale Alliance and the position of the Second Prince's confidant are within his grasp. What a brilliant scheme, what a brilliant scheme!"

Lian Shanxin was absolutely amazed by Jiang Jingbin's scheme. Although he was a bad guy, his schemes were all interconnected, making him a rare master of intrigue.

Du Jiu listened in stunned silence, and couldn't help but remind him, "My lord, just to deal with you, you killed your own brother. Isn't that a bit hard to convince the world?"

“Even if he doesn’t target me, he’ll still kill Jiang Jingshen. Once Jiang Jingshen is dead, he’ll be the only successor to the vice leader of the Golden Scale Alliance. He might even gain the Second Prince’s trust and eventually control the entire Golden Scale Alliance. Power struggles are always like this. What’s a sacrifice of a brother? Ninth Brother, you’re still too naive.”

Lian Shanxin was well-informed and experienced. He had studied the Xuanwu Gate and even witnessed the Emperor's Gate. This little scene was nothing to him.

Du Jiu was not persuaded by Lian Shanxin, but he was frightened by him.

"Young master, you... are truly a divine constable."

He had a lot to say, but in the end, he kept it all bottled up inside.

Lian Shanxin also felt that he truly deserved to be called the number one detective in Jiangzhou.

Compared to him, even the former top constable of Jiangzhou, Tie Shou, was like a primary school student.

"I suspect there might be something fishy about Jiang Jingbin's mother's death. Jiang Jingbin might very well have pinned his mother's death on Jiang Jingshen and his mother. I just happened to be there and became the unlucky one. Jiang Jingbin is truly a character, worthy of being ranked thirteenth on the Hidden Dragon List. If I hadn't run into him, he probably would have succeeded this time."

Lian Shanxin was terrified by Jiang Jingbin and broke out in a cold sweat.

He simply couldn't believe that such evil people existed in the world.

Du Jiu was also terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

He simply couldn't believe that there were such brilliant detectives in the world who investigated cases in this way.

"Ninth Brother, go find Zhuo Biyu and get a waist token from her. Assign the tasks and have the people who will be on the move tomorrow prepare," Lian Shanxin instructed.

Du Jiu couldn't keep up with Lian Shanxin's train of thought at all, and quickly asked, "Young Master, what are the tasks for tomorrow?"

"Capture Jiang Jingbin, the heretic who colluded with the evil cult."

Du Jiu broke out in a cold sweat again: "Jiang Jingbin has gone from a murderer to a demon?"

Lian Shanxin glanced at Du Jiu.

Du Jiu immediately became solemn: "Yes, this subordinate will go and request an audience with Lord Zhuo."

"Okay, go ahead." Lian Shanxin nodded in satisfaction.

Sometimes he needs his subordinates to take initiative, but other times he only needs them to carry out his orders.

……

Two hours later.

Golden Scale Alliance.

Looking at the pills in Huang Jing's thorny hole, Jiang Jingbin smiled faintly.

"Did Lian Shanxian say what kind of poison it is?" Jiang Jingbin asked.

Huang Jingji shook his head: "His subordinate gave it to me, and he didn't say much. Young master, I've done everything I promised you, and you promised me..."

Jiang Jingbin clapped his hands, and immediately someone offered up a human head.

Looking at the head that lay dead with its eyes wide open, Huang Jingji felt a mix of emotions, but finally let out a loud laugh: "Old thief, you've finally met your match."

This was none other than the head of his cheap father-in-law.

If the cultivation method given to him by Chief Luo hadn't been flawed, he wouldn't have ended up in a situation where he was infertile and had a large family.

Seeing that he had avenged his great enemy, Huang Jingji completely extinguished all his ulterior motives and knelt down in front of Jiang Jingbin again: "From now on, I, Huang, will serve Young Master Jiang with utmost loyalty."

Jiang Jingbin nodded in satisfaction: "The Luo family has indeed gone too far. If they want to recruit you, they should sincerely try to win you over. Alliances are not for making enemies. The Luo family's actions are completely contrary to those within the alliance. Chief Huang, you must believe that the higher-ups of the Golden Scale Alliance are not so short-sighted."

To be honest, Huang Jingji didn't believe it at first.

However, after meeting Jiang Jingbin, Huang Jingji began to believe him.

In Huang Jingji's view, Jiang Jingbin, as the successor to the vice leader of the Golden Scale Alliance, at least so far, has the qualities of a wise ruler and is worthy of being trusted.

"Now that Lian Shanxin has taken the bait, I can start building momentum. I observe that Lian Shanxin acts unorthodoxly, adept at using his power to intimidate others, but due to his age, he lacks experience in combat. Since we are now enemies, we should naturally use our strengths to attack his weaknesses. Chief Huang, send someone to Bailudong Academy to deliver a challenge letter for me. Tomorrow afternoon, I will personally go to Bailudong Academy to challenge him and avenge my second brother."

Huang Jingji accepted the order: "I'll deliver it myself." "No need."

Jiang Jingbin remained composed: "Although Lian Shanxin has no reason to doubt you, 'Tianyan' has a well-known reputation, and you have already helped me dispel his suspicions. Don't overdo it; just send an ordinary gang member to deliver the challenge. The Thorn Gang is an affiliated gang of the Golden Scale Alliance, and no one will think much of it if your subordinate delivers the challenge on behalf of the vice leader's son."

Huang Jingji was completely convinced: "Young Master is incredibly resourceful and will surely have a bright future. The Golden Scale Alliance is definitely not the limit for you."

Jiang Jingbin patted Huang Jingji on the shoulder with a smile, clearly enjoying the flattery.

"Go arrange for someone to deliver the challenge letter. I'm going out for a bit."

"Should I send someone to serve you, young master?" Huang Jingji asked.

"No need, I'll go to the governor's mansion. Although according to the rules, Jiutian shouldn't interfere when I issue a challenge to Lian Shanxin, I still need to guard against Jiutian secretly attacking me. Jiutian's arrival in Jiangzhou has caused dissatisfaction among both officials and martial artists. I will first visit the governor, then the six sects of Kuangshan. Tomorrow, it will not only be my challenge to Lian Shanxin, but also a counterattack launched by the officials and martial arts community of Jiangzhou against Jiutian."

Jiang Jingbin's tone became somewhat triumphant as he said this: "Even though the Nine Heavens are powerful, this is still Jiangzhou. A powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Whoever can first blunt the Nine Heavens's arrogance in this round will become famous in Jiangzhou, and even throughout the world."

His goal was never just to become a Lianshan Trustee.

Huang Jingji also sensed Jiang Jingbin's ambition and his blood boiled with excitement.

"Young master's strategic planning will surely lead to swift success. I, Huang, am unworthy, but I am willing to follow in your footsteps."

……

Lian Shanxin soon received Jiang Jingbin's challenge.

Then, he once again experienced Jiang Jingbin's methods.

"Young master, the situation is not good. Jiang Jingbin has sent the Thorn Gang to deliberately spread this matter. There should be many onlookers coming to watch the excitement tomorrow afternoon."

"They're trying to put me in a difficult position," Lian Shanxin said in a deep voice.

Du Jiu nodded: "That should be the meaning. If this matter is publicized so that everyone knows about it, young master, you will lose face if you do not confront him directly. If you do confront him directly and lose to Jiang Jingbin, you will become his stepping stone. Jiang Jingbin is deliberately setting a trap for you and is using his power to force you. This man is truly cunning."

Lian Shanxin realized for the first time the significance of the Hidden Dragon List.

It seems I really underestimated the list compiled by the Candlelight Pavilion.

Previously, Nie Youzhu had tried every means to prevent him from being listed on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and only relented after he used the threat of threatening his entire family. However, she was willing to expose the secret of Prince Tian Ji rather than allow him to rank higher, which shows that Nie Youzhu truly believed that Lian Shanxin was not yet qualified to be on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

If everyone on the Hidden Dragon Ranking had the same strength and level as Jiang Jingbin, even if they were slightly inferior to Jiang Jingbin, Lian Shanxin felt that he still needed to learn and improve.

Fortunately, he was not yet old.

Jiang Jingbin is already a 25-year-old old man.

They bullied him, an eighteen-year-old who had only been in the industry for a few days.

Don't talk about martial ethics.

“Young master, there is one more thing. We discovered that Jiang Jingbin visited the governor’s mansion and is now on his way to Kuangshan.”

Upon hearing this, Lian Shanxin slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "What does he want to do?"

"Of course, I want to rise to the top and become famous throughout the country."

Zhang Aniu pushed open the door and walked in.

"Du Jiu, you can go out now."

After Du Jiu took his leave, Zhang Aniu told Lian Shanxin the latest news he had received: "Tomorrow afternoon, Governor Jiang and many masters from the Six Sects of Kuangshan will come to the academy to watch the battle."

Lian Shanxin calmed down and realized that this was no longer just a matter between him and Jiang Jingbin.

“This is the local forces of Jiangzhou demonstrating against you, sir,” Lian Shanxin said in a deep voice. “This isn’t targeting me; it’s slapping you in the face.”

Zhang Aniu nodded slightly: "Indeed, many people in Jiangzhou are unhappy about my arrival. They don't have the guts to cause trouble for me and Jiutian, but they not only have the guts to step on you and damage Jiutian's reputation, they have a great deal of guts."

Lian Shanxin sneered, "Jiang Jingbin has quite the audacity to put himself into this game and play such a grand scheme."

“Because he’s still young. If he wins, he’ll soar to great heights; if he loses, he can afford to lose. Most importantly, in Jiang Jingbin’s heart, he won’t lose. Xiao Xin, tell me the truth, are you confident you can win?” Zhang Aniu asked.

"Which kind of victory are you asking about, sir?" Lian Shanxin countered.

Zhang Aniu was taken aback.

Lian Shanxin explained, "If you ask me if I am confident in killing Jiang Jingbin, I am 100% certain."

"What if we defeat Jiang Jingbin in front of everyone?" Zhang Aniu asked.

Lian Shanxin told the truth: "No, sir, I have only been practicing the Dragon Subduing Immortal Technique for five days. If I could defeat the thirteenth-ranked person on the Hidden Dragon List now, that would be a pipe dream."

Zhang Aniu knew the answer perfectly well.

He hoped that Lianshanxin had some secret trump card, such as "the Heavenly Eye".

But upon hearing Lian Shanxin say this, Zhang Aniu realized that he too had become obsessed.

“If that’s the case, then this battle can’t be fought.” Zhang Aniu said directly, “Although not accepting the fight will damage your reputation, it’s still better than being defeated by Jiang Jingbin in the arena.”

Lian Shanxin shared the same thought: "As long as I don't participate, I won't lose. I'll kill him off the stage beforehand."

In the end, Lian Shanxin's murderous intent surged.

Having killed two princesses in succession, Lian Shanxin had a smooth journey and encountered no significant resistance whatsoever.

Jiang Jingbin was the first to resist forcefully.

Even Qianmian had never put Lianshanxin under such pressure.

This person cannot be allowed to live.

Zhang Aniu patted Lian Shanxin on the shoulder: "This is a matter for you young people, I won't interfere. But if you really go onto the stage, with Governor Jiang and the experts from the Six Sects of Kuangshan watching, I really won't be able to interfere, do you understand?"

"Understood, sir. Rest assured, once Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu have fully recovered by tomorrow, I will go and wipe out the demonic cult leader led by Jiang Jingbin in the morning."

"You don't need to report these things to me."

Zhang Aniu drifted away.

Lian Shanxin's expression was unpredictable, shifting between light and dark.

After a moment, he cleared his mind of all distractions and began to sit cross-legged in meditation.

If possible, killing another prince or princess at this stage is the fastest way to increase strength.

However, dragon offspring are rare and hard to come by.

Unless they target Tian Ji.

However, Lian Shanxin still had his principles; he wouldn't kill every dragon he saw. Tian Ji was now one of his own, not cultivation material.

Lianshan Xin could only cultivate using the most rudimentary methods, making progress however small he could.

He hated the sense of oppression that external forces brought him, but he was also grateful for it.

"Jiang Jingbin, I will thank your ancestors for eight generations!"

……

Five days after Zeng Ningbing's death.

The clapper struck past the fourth watch, and the cold night seeped deep into the bones. Jiangzhou City was still fast asleep, deep in slumber.

The night, as dark as spilled ink, was being quietly licked by a faint, thin wisp of pale blue light on the eastern horizon. This pale light was not enough to dispel the thick night, only barely outlining the undulating rooftops and eaves of the houses, like an ink painting with ink still wet, spreading out a chaotic and enormous silhouette, pressing heavily at the edge of sight.

At the end of the line of sight, three figures appeared.

Lian Shanxin walked in the very center, flanked by Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu on his left and right.

There was no one else around.

It was eerily quiet all around.

Only the watchman's monotonous, slow clapper sound came from some winding alley: "Dong—dong, dong—dong..."

Lian Shanxin and the other two moved forward silently.

They surrounded the Thorn Gang headquarters.

"Stop."

"Everyone who comes is named."

The Thorn Gang headquarters naturally has gatekeepers.

Upon discovering Lian Shanxin and his two companions, they immediately raised a warning.

"Wait, Young Master Xin, is that you?"

When the guard noticed Lian Shanxin's face, his expression changed slightly, and his voice rose eight octaves.

Clearly, thanks to Jiang Jingbin's deliberate propaganda, the disciples of the Thorn Gang have realized that their gang and Lianshan Xin are now on the opposite side.

"Young Master Xin, what brings you to our Thorn Gang at this hour?"

The Thorn Gang disciples turned pale.

It was still dark, the time when most people were deep in sleep.

At this time of year, the heavens come knocking.

It's hard not to be scared.

Lian Shanxin's face broke into a kind smile.

Is Jiang Jingbin here?

"In the……"

The disciple chose to tell the truth.

His legs were trembling.

Lian Shanxin naturally knew that Jiang Jingbin was here.

So he raised his hand.

The next moment, as if a pebble had been thrown into an ancient well, the hollow echo rippled outwards, making the night even more profound and silent.

And silently, dozens of Jiutian members emerged from the darkness.

The Thorn Gang disciple's legs trembled even more violently.

They turned their gaze to the distance and saw a thin layer of frost floating on the roof tiles of the layered houses. Then, with a sudden shake of their heads, they saw that on that thin layer of frost, there were now figures dressed in black.

The fading moonlight illuminated his dark clothes, which were as black as ink.

"Nine Heavens, please report this order to apprehend Jiang Jingbin, the scoundrel who colludes with the Demonic Sect. Anyone found harboring or protecting him will be executed without mercy!"

Lian Shanxin's tone was as gentle as a spring breeze, full of warmth.

He genuinely didn't want these ordinary disciples of the Thorn Gang to be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

"Ma... I'll inform him immediately, Young Master Xin, please wait a moment."

"Ah."

Lian Shanxin and the other two waited quietly.

The Thorn Gang headquarters had long been surrounded by the Nine Heavens.

Jiang Jingbin is now trapped with nowhere to turn.

There is only one way out: to break through the encirclement.

If he had the guts.

Lian Shanxin soon discovered that Jiang Jingbin was even bolder than he had imagined.

Moreover, Jiang Jingbin's mind was more effective than he had imagined.

Just moments later, applause erupted from the Thorn Gang headquarters.

Snapped!
Snapped!
Snapped!
At the same time, a conversation between two people could be heard.

"Iron Detective, it seems I've won this bet."

"Young Master Jiang is truly a man of brilliant strategy. You really do understand Lian Shanxin better than anyone else. I never imagined that Lian Shanxin could be so ruthless and insane."

Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu's expressions changed slightly.

Lian Shanxin also took a deep breath.

next moment.

The door opens.

Jiang Jingbin, Tie Shou (formerly the top constable of Jiangzhou), and Huang Jingji (leader of the Thorn Gang) walked out side by side.

It just so happens that it's three against three of them.

However, the three of them, Lian Shanxin, did not look well.

Jiang Jingbin, Tie Shou, and Huang Jingji all wore victorious smiles.

Jiang Jingbin glanced at Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu, but did not provoke them. In the end, he focused his gaze only on Lian Shanxin.

"Lian Shanxin, it seems I was right. You really don't dare to fight me fair and square, so you've gone so far as to frame me for colluding with the Demonic Sect."

At this point, Jiang Jingbin laughed heartily, his voice carrying far and wide, reaching the ears of all who were interested:
"Where in Jiangzhou are there so many demonic cult members? To put it bluntly, isn't it just that your Nine Heavens sect needs credit?"

Before Lian Shan could reply, other voices rang out from the darkness:

"That makes sense."

"good."

“The henchmen framed loyal officials, fabricated charges against them, and their crimes are too numerous to count.”

"Tonight they still want to frame 'Gale Sword'? That's outrageous!"

……

Jiang Jingbin laughed again: "Lianshan Xin, did you hear that? This is the general trend of Jiangzhou, this is the sentiment of the people of Jiangzhou."

Lian Shanxin finally spoke, his voice cold and murderous, reaching the ears of everyone who cared: "Nine Heavens has determined that Jiang Jingbin is colluding with the Demonic Sect and plotting a rebellion. If you wish to advocate for the demonic sect's evil followers, step forward yourself. I will only offer this warning: retreat now, and Nine Heavens will forgive and forget. But if you stand up to support Jiang Jingbin later, you will be killed without mercy. Do not say that Nine Heavens did not warn you!"

Lian Shanxin's tough stance temporarily silenced the voices in the darkness.

They are not afraid of Lianshan Xin.

However, Lianshan Xin issued the threat in the name of "Jiutian".

They dared not take it lightly.

At the very least, you shouldn't be the first to stick your neck out.

Jiang Jingbin broke the silence: "Lian Shanxin, the feud between us is a personal one. You used the power of Jiutian to frame me for personal gain, which is truly despicable in the martial arts world. If you have the guts, have a one-on-one duel with me, and let's settle things with our swords."

Lian Shanxin coldly replied, "Who said I'm framing you? Jiang Jingbin, do you dare say you didn't kill Jiang Jingshen? You killed your own brother, deliberately framed me, and forced me to duel you, all to avenge Qianmian. Jiang Jingbin, even now, do you still intend to resist?"

Jiang Jingbin was momentarily stunned by Lian Shanxin's counterattack.

But only for a moment.

Soon, Jiang Jingbin laughed in fury: "Lian Shanxin, you say I killed my brother? How can I explain this frame-up to the world? Has Jiangzhou already become the domain of the Nine Heavens?"

"Of course not, Jiangzhou belongs to the imperial court, not to the heavens."

The first one to stick its neck out has appeared.

Lian Shanxin's gaze instantly locked onto the newcomer: "State your name."

"Xu Hui".

"He is the governor's deputy."

"Prefect Jiang has expressed his opinion."

Following Xu Hui's appearance, one after another, others stepped forward.

Everyone knows this is about taking sides.

Those who do not step forward today will be remembered by Governor Jiang.

Those who step forward today will be remembered by the heavens.

They're going to take a gamble on themselves.

It's also a gamble on who will ultimately dominate Jiangzhou.

Tonight's outcome will determine Jiangzhou's fate tomorrow.

Currently, it seems that Jiang Jingbin has a slight edge over the two who have personally entered the fray.

Jiang Jingbin laughed loudly again: "I thank all my friends for their strong support. Lian Shanxin, I'll say it again, our feud is purely personal. Between us, we can settle things with our swords."

"Fool, who has a personal grudge against you?" Lian Shanxin sneered, "Between you and me, it's a life-or-death struggle!"

Seeing Lianshan's tough stance, Tian Ji and Zhuo Biyu, who appeared calm on the surface, were now inwardly groaning.

"What should we do?" Tian Ji asked Zhuo Biyu telepathically.

Zhuo Biyu: "Things have escalated. Master won't engage in a full-scale war with the local forces in Jiangzhou right now. Lian Shanxin has to resolve this between himself and Jiang Jingbin, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless there is irrefutable evidence that Jiang Jingbin is in league with the demons, no, unless there is irrefutable evidence that the Golden Scale Alliance is colluding with the Demonic Sect, then a rainstorm in the capital city is needed to drown all these monsters and demons in Jiangzhou."

"How could that be?" Tian Ji said.

"Yes, how could that be?"

……

The words are divided into two parts.

Go back to one day ago.

Outside the capital city.

His Majesty the Great Yu, the supreme emperor, led by the second prince, arrived at a royal estate outside the city.

His Majesty was unusually agitated: "Second Prince, is she inside?"

The second prince stopped and bowed, saying, "Father, I will not accompany you inside."

"Good, Second Prince, you did a great job this time. I will reward you handsomely afterward."

His Majesty then entered the Imperial Estate.

Half an hour later.