Jia Huai and Qin Liang

Jia Huai confessed that someone had wanted to harm Zhao Shiji and had been willing to pay twenty Spirit Stones for it. Faced with such heavy profit, he had agreed.

He had followed Zhao Shiji for many days. When he reached the vicinity of Jiang Village that day, he happened to encounter his cousin Jiang Datou, who was returning home. Considering that he was no match for Zhao Shiji one-on-one, and that showing himself would easily expose him, he drew Jiang Datou into the scheme, promising to split the Spirit Stones equally once they obtained them. That was how Jiang Datou joined them.

Afterward, considering Zhao Shiji's distinguished status, Jiang Datou did not dare act rashly. But he was a local snake who knew the territory well, so he found a hooligan from Wangjia Gully and had him make the move.

The method itself was simple. While Zhao Shiji was stopping for the night on the road, they would let him discover a clue and rush to Xinghua Mountain to dig for treasure. There, he would run into the hooligan who had just unearthed the treasure, and buy it from him for five spirit stones.

The so-called treasure was black iron engraved with a Yansheng Talisman.

The whole process had gone smoothly. The only accident had occurred at the point where they planted the "clue." Jia Huai, whose blood was nearly drained away, said weakly, "Zhao Shiji is a ruthless man. The moment he got the clue Datou had deliberately left behind, he immediately had Datou killed. I bear responsibility for Datou's death. I failed to protect him, but I really did not kill him. It was Zhao Shiji. He was too ruthless... Fellow Daoist, that's all. Stop my bleeding..."

"Who wanted to harm Zhao Shiji?"

"Qin Liang, Village Master