Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Luoxia Market, the third contribution point exchange point.

This is a two-story building located in a bustling area of ​​the market. The entrance is not large, but cultivators come and go in a constant stream. The emblem of the Qingyun Alliance and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion hangs above the door, shining brightly in the sunlight.

The first floor is the exchange hall, where several shop assistants are extremely busy, counting jade coins, verifying vouchers, and exchanging resources. The second floor houses the manager's quiet room and the storeroom.

The steward, Zhou Tong, was a middle-aged cultivator in his forties with an ordinary and slightly haggard appearance. He was sitting in the quiet room on the second floor, facing a jade slip, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was checking the accounts.

He wore an ordinary Qingyun Sect steward's blue robe, the cuffs were somewhat worn, and his fingers had calluses from long hours of using an abacus. He looked no different from any other diligent but unsuccessful low-ranking steward.

The door to the quiet room was pushed open silently.

Zhou Tong seemed startled. He looked up and saw Su Xiao, dressed in black with a cold expression, standing at the door. His pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, put down the jade slip, and stood up to bow respectfully: "This subordinate greets Elder Su! May I ask what brings Elder Su here?"

Su Xiao entered the quiet room and closed the door behind her. She didn't speak, but simply looked at Zhou Tong quietly, her gaze calm yet seemingly able to penetrate one's heart.

Zhou Tong felt uneasy under her gaze and forced a smile, "Elder Su... is there a problem with the accounts? I've been..."

"The route and vehicle information for the goods from Black Crow Ridge were provided by you," Su Xiao interrupted him, her voice flat as if stating a fact.

Zhou Tong's face turned deathly pale, and he swayed almost imperceptibly. He quickly regained his composure, revealing a confused and aggrieved expression: "Elder Su... Elder Su, what makes you say such a thing? I am utterly loyal to the Alliance, how could I do such a treasonous thing? Someone must be framing me! I beg Elder Su to investigate thoroughly!"

Su Xiao said nothing more, but simply stretched out her right hand, in which lay a charred fragment of jade.

The moment Zhou Tong saw the shard of jade, he felt as if struck by lightning. His last shred of hope shattered, his face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but no sound came out.

"Three years ago, Team B3 developed an improved version of the 'Hidden Bee Talisman,' which included seven alternative sub-talisman inscription techniques. The third one was abandoned due to its unstable spiritual energy circulation, and only the initial blueprint remains. You are to keep it safe."

Su Xiao's voice remained calm, yet every word was like a knife. "The tracking marks left at Black Crow Ridge used a variant of this abandoned third method. Of the members of Squad B3 back then, besides you, only Zhao Ying was able to obtain the blueprints and successfully replicate and improve them. Zhao Ying was ordered to the Northern Territory three days ago for reconnaissance and has an alibi. And you…"

She stepped forward, an invisible pressure enveloping the entire meditation room: "Zhou Tong, it's understandable that you feel resentful because your meridians are damaged and your cultivation is hindered. But colluding with external enemies, harming fellow disciples, and undermining the foundation of the alliance are unforgivable crimes."

"Who ordered you? The Xuan Yin Sect? Or someone else?"

Zhou Tong trembled all over, as if all his strength had been drained away. He staggered backward and slumped into a chair.

He knew that any attempt to argue with Su Xiao would be futile. He knew the Shadow Guard's methods better than anyone.

"I...I was forced into it..." He covered his face with his hands, his voice hoarse and desperate. "They...they captured my wife, children, and elderly parents in the mortal realm...thirteen people! And they're keeping them locked up outside the city...They said if I didn't obey, they would...they would kill one a day..."

He abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and hissed, "It's the Xuan Yin Sect! It's 'Poison Scholar' under 'Ghost Hand'! He forced me to tamper with the jade coin exchange, slowly mixing in counterfeit currency to disrupt the exchange system... But... but this robbery wasn't my doing!"

"I just... I just provided information about the convoy... I didn't know they would kill us! I really didn't know!"

Su Xiao's eyes were icy: "Where is the counterfeit currency template? Who are you in contact with? How do you communicate?"

Zhou Tong seemed to have been drained of his soul. He went down and muttered, "The template... is in the hidden compartment under the bed in room number three of the 'Yuelai Inn' at the east end of the market... The contact person... is the innkeeper... Contact... is made using the communication talisman under the third brick at the back door of the inn..."

Where are your family members?

"Thirty li west of the city, an abandoned...land temple..." Zhou Tong finished speaking, as if he had used up his last bit of strength, lowered his head and said no more.

Su Xiao stopped looking at him, turned and walked out of the quiet room, nodding slightly to the shadowy figure outside the door. Two shadow guards, as elusive as ghosts, quietly appeared and entered the room.

Moments later, the Yuelai Inn was brought under control, the innkeeper was arrested, and the counterfeit currency templates hidden in a secret compartment were recovered. At the Earth God Temple in the west of the city, the Shadow Guards found Zhou Tong's family members who had been imprisoned; fortunately, they were all alive, though traumatized.

Meanwhile, the third exchange point in Luoxia Market was quietly sealed off, and all accounts and jade coins were sealed and inspected. The news was strictly kept under wraps, with the only public announcement being that "internal account verification is underway, and business is suspended for one day."

It was late at night in Liuyun Palace.

Su Xiao presented the interrogation results and the seized physical evidence. The counterfeit currency template was exquisitely crafted, almost indistinguishable from the real thing, except for a very minor flaw in the core anti-counterfeiting resonance array, which would be difficult to detect without prior knowledge.

"Ghost Hands... Poisonous Scholar..." Shen Mo's fingertips brushed across the cold template, his eyes flashing with cold light. "As expected, they were the ones pulling the strings behind the scenes. First, they drove beasts to attack the village to test the waters; now they're trying to dismantle the contribution system from within. They're like a persistent ghost."

Han Lin roared, "Sect Leader, the Xuan Yin Sect harbors wolfish ambitions, repeatedly provoking us, and this time they even attempt to destroy the foundation of our alliance! They must not be let off lightly! We must immediately send troops to annihilate these fiends!"

Shi Tie jumped up and down, shouting, "That's right! Sect Leader! Let me, Old Shi, lead the men! We'll wipe out that damned Xuan Yin Sect's lair! Let's see if they dare to extend their claws again!"

Shen Mo raised his hand, stopping the two men's heated exchange. He looked at Su Xiao: "What should be done with Zhou Tong's family?"

"They have been properly settled, given money, and sent to a remote place to live in seclusion. The Shadow Guard will keep an eye on them for a period of time to ensure their safety," Su Xiao replied.

Shen Mo nodded: "The harm should not extend to his wife and children. Although Zhou Tong's crimes are heinous, his family is innocent. This matter ends here and must not be spread."

He then looked at the counterfeit currency template and the secret letter from the Yuelai Inn that connected with the Xuan Yin Sect. After a moment of contemplation, a cold smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

"Send troops to wipe them out? No, the time is not right. The Xuan Yin Sect is hiding in the shadows, like a venomous snake. If we act rashly, we will alert them and it will not be good. They want to destroy my foundation, so I will turn the tables and give them a 'big gift'."

He looked at Su Xiao, his gaze deep: "Junior Sister Xiao, how well is this template replica?"

Su Xiao was slightly taken aback, then understood what was going on. A sharp glint flashed in her cold eyes: "Reporting to the sect leader, it is already 70% similar. If you give me three days, with the assistance of Elder Zhao from the Weapon Hall, we can replicate a version that is more than 90% similar, and... with special markings."

"Good!" Shen Mo tapped his finger lightly on the table. "Make a batch of imitations, and be quick. Then, through the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's channels, 'accidentally' get this batch of 'specially made' jade coins to where they're supposed to be."

"Remember, act naturally, as if the investigation went wrong and they 'stole' it out."

Han Lin and Shi Tie were taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what was happening, and their eyes lit up with excitement.

"Does the sect leader intend to... lure the snake out of its hole and follow the clues to find the melon?" Han Lin stroked his beard and asked.