NOVPUB59: Chapter Fifty-six Countermeasures
59 -Fifty-six Countermeasures
“Of course, I am aware of the village burial.”
Xu Yinhè, who had been silently smiling by the side, finally spoke up in a soft voice, “However, Xu Changtian, how did you come to know of this place?”
Meanwhile, Xu Changge, who had been recounting information about Qin Weijiu, furrowed his brows and remained silent.
Xu Yuan replied without any sense of burden, “It was that seductress who told me.”
As his words were spoken, the huge circular crystal before him briefly fell into silence.
In the study of the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the Imperial Capital, Xu Yinhè and Xu Changge exchanged a subtle glance.
When the Enchantress Divine Physique speaks, it’s equivalent to Qin Weijiu himself saying it.
But there aren’t many in the world who know of that burial village.
The level of danger from the other party seemed to warrant a more long-term plan.
This contemplation did not last long, however.
Xu Yinhè’s tone was very gentle and steady, betraying not a hint of irregularity, “How did she tell you?”
Xu Yuan cleared his throat, his voice firm and upright, “I know she has a paramour.”
“Is it that chap named Qin Mo?” Xu Yinhè directly named the main character of the plot.
This left Xu Yuan taken aback, but he quickly figured it out.
Most likely, Ying’er and others had reported his latest actions back to the Prime Minister.
After a brief silence, Xu Yuan didn’t answer the all-powerful Prime Minister.
Instead, he directly retorted, “Father, are you monitoring me?”
“Heh…”
Sensing his third son’s dissatisfaction, the spherical crystal emitted a light chuckle, its voice carrying a trace of mirth, “They voluntarily report to me, I can hardly be blamed.”
After a brief pause,
Xu Yuan understood internally, but still spoke somewhat aggrievedly, “Without your orders, why would they report to you?”
This statement by his father effectively assigned Ying’er, Sizi Yu, and Zhou Chen, three Great Grandmasters, to him.
If you have the capability to subdue them, they become Xu Changtian’s support and followers, and naturally, they’d cease their reports to the Prime Minister.
But if you lack the ability to subdue them, everything stays the same.
Damn it, even playing these riddles with one’s own family.
It was then that Xu Changge spoke up,
“I was the one who gave them the order.
Xu Changtian, it seems you have quite the objection?”
“…..”
Xu Yuan fell silent.
The father wouldn’t hit him, but Xu Changge would.
Not to mention that Xu Changge had recently returned to Jingjiang Prefecture.
His father had already promised him cultivation resources; it wasn’t worth the beating he’d get from Xu Changge.
After a few seconds of silence, Xu Yuan spat out irritably, “Fine, can’t I just say it?
“Previously, a man named Fan Wencheng mentioned Su Jinxuan to me, calling her a beauty akin to a Heavenly Immortal.
But it seemed she had an acquaintance by the name of Qin Mo around Jiuyuan River.
After I returned to Jingjiang Prefecture, I arranged for people to look for them, and then Su Jinxuan came to me on her own.”
Xu Yuan deftly placed the blame on a dead man.
A carefully selected dead man from memory.
According to the timeline of the plot, at that time, the story’s protagonist was indeed traveling with Su Jinxuan around Jiuyuan River.
Fan Wencheng was a local strongman with significant influence in Jiuyuan River, one of the original character’s lackeys, but he was killed by an infuriated Xu Changge over two months ago.
Sometimes dead men are more useful than the living, as the dead are the most suitable for carrying the blame.
“…”
Upon hearing this, Xu Changge raised his hand to massage his forehead.
There it goes, another case of jealousy.
However, his glance grew profound in a flash.
That Fan Wencheng had been able to mention the existence of the Enchantress Divine Physique several months ago.
If the State Preceptor’s pupil had not taken the third brother away, it was likely that actions would have been taken ahead of time.
It’s a pity he was killed too soon, else we might have been able to interrogate something out of him.
Xu Yinhè nodded lightly, his fingers gently tapping on the tea tray:
“So, is that Qin Mo related to the Burial Village?”
“Yes, previously Su Jinxuan tried to control me.
After she was captured, I used some methods to make her tell me something about Qin Mo.”
Xu Yuan calmly stated the truth:
“She said that Qin Weijiu surmised Qin Mo might be connected to a place called Burial Village and specifically told her to pay attention to the other party.”
As Xu Yuan finished speaking, the orb crystal suspended in mid-air within the underground space temporarily quieted down.
Inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion study room.
Xu Yinhè’s finger tapping on the tea tray paused slightly, breaking off communication with Jingjiang momentarily as he turned to his eldest son:
“Changge, what do you make of this matter?”
Xu Changge smiled somewhat helplessly:
“This third brother finally put his jealousy to good use for once.”
A sentence tinged with a hint of relieved teasing.
Upon these words, a flicker of amusement crossed the profound depths of Xu Yinhè’s eyes, but it was quickly restrained.
Seeing this, Xu Changge also composed himself, adopting a more serious tone:
“Father, according to the intelligence Ying’er relayed, Qin Mo’s cultivation level is too weak to be feared for now, but Qin Weijiu might be more complicated.
“There are very few people in the world who know about Burial Village, let alone someone who can deduce Qin Mo’s origin just by observation.
Qin Weijiu probably knows quite a bit about Burial Village.
“It’s just uncertain whether he knows the exact location of Burial Village, or whether he is aware that Burial Village has already been annihilated.”
“However, considering he was willing to use the rarely seen Enchantress Divine Physique as bait to control Changtian, the thing he’s plotting must be significant.”
As he spoke, a cold murderous intent flashed through Xu Changge’s eyes:
“It’s truly a pity that I couldn’t kill him with one sword strike during the Tianyuan Assembly.
Now, if we want to make a move against him, just Ying’er and the other two won’t be enough, we’ll need to send additional manpower.”
“….”
Xu Yinhè didn’t respond immediately, his eyes downcast in silence for several breaths.
And Xu Changge waited quietly for his father’s reply.
Eventually,
Xu Yinhè slowly lifted his eyes, his voice rising gently in the silent study:
“Indeed, it’s not enough.
“Changge, you personally make a trip to Jingjiang Prefecture.”
“…..”
Upon hearing this, Xu Changge immediately furrowed his brow.
His earlier mention of going to Jiuyuan City was naturally to scare the third brother, how could he leave easily with the undercurrents churning in Imperial Capital?
And now his father was actually sending him to Jingjiang Prefecture?
After a moment of silence, Xu Changge asked:
“Father, but what about things here in Imperial Capital….”
Xu Yinhè gently shook his head:
“No matter,
“You previously killed that Seven Lives Python, and things have become much quieter in the Ancient Abyss.
“The key now lies in the war in the north.
“Although Wu Yuan has gone north, the earlier battle situation was far too chaotic.
It will take some time to conclude the conflict with the Barbarian Tribes, and that time should be enough for you to make the round trip from Imperial Capital.”
Xu Yinhè looked at his eldest son, his profound gaze seemingly as unfathomable as a deep pool, his voice gaining a little more weight: 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
“The matter concerning Changtian should be handled first and foremost.”
“….”
Xu Changge heard the words and fell silent.
He, of course, understood his father’s words.
Many things had already reached a point of no return; any destabilizing factors that could be eliminated must be dealt with promptly.
This Qin Weijiu was too deeply hidden.
Knowledgeable of Burial Village, willing to sacrifice the Enchantress Divine Physique, and also plotting to control Changtian.
If it weren’t for Changtian possessing the Innate Taoist Body, he might be under the control of the Enchantress Divine Physique by now.
If it weren’t for the chance encounter by Changtian that exposed him, such a man lurking in the shadows would indeed send chills down one’s spine.
