Liu Changhu Confesses, Jing

In the garden of the White Jade Palace on Penglai Immortal Island, Happy Arhat said with a laugh, "Mortals are treacherous. Even fellow disciples betray one another. They have no sense of loyalty at all."

Chen Renfeng watched Liu Changhe flee alone in the water mirror and cursed him inwardly for being despicable as well. But could Happy Arhat have discovered the source of the Great Dao? Surely not. This poor behavior by a mortal was definitely not it.

Ancestor Lu laughed from the side. "The Arhat is right. These ordinary mortals have no regard for trust or honor when faced with life-and-death stakes or personal gain!"

True Martial Great Emperor said nothing. He had just praised Hong Yun and Hong Lian of the Buddhist sect, and now the two disciples of the Daoist sect had turned out to be utterly useless.

White Deer sensed the situation and said softly, "Emperor, let the Arhat continue watching!"

Su Dingfeng angrily prepared to charge into the dense forest.

Princess Hong Yun called out to him, "Young Master Su, it is late and the forest is dense. The thieves escaped some time ago. We should discuss this carefully."

Su Dingfeng said impatiently, "I'll catch up with them first and keep on the thieves' heels. You can deploy the troops and follow afterward." With that, he was about to leave.

Su Jiangcheng hurriedly said, "Sixth Junior Brother, don't be reckless. Listen to Princess Hong Yun first." Su Dingfeng sensibly stopped.

Hong Yun said, "We've already captured one of the two thieves. We'll learn the other thief's identity as soon as we bring him back and question him."

Chang Hu had injured both arms and was bound like a dumpling, with several major acupoints sealed as well. After the guards brought him over, he turned his head aside, his face full of defiance.

Hong Yun shouted delicately, "Liu Changhu, disaster is upon you. What do you have to say?"

Liu Changhu asked in surprise, "You... How do you know my name?"

Hong Yun snorted. "I not only know your name, I also know that you're the chief disciple of Wutai Peak, and that your master is Liu Tianwu, ranked third among the Nine Swords of Dian Cang. He actually sent you to do this sneaky, disgraceful business. Shameless!"

Hong Yun had gathered intelligence on all the sects and schools of Southern Expedition Country, especially the peak masters and chief disciples of the nine peaks of Dian Cang Sect. She had known who the two men were as soon as she heard them call each other Chang He and Chang Hu.

Liu Changhu retorted, "You... You little girl are talking nonsense. My master has nothing to do with this."

"Then you came out on your own without telling your master. What secrets are you hiding?" Hong Lian said.

"Hmph, I'm not saying," Liu Changhu said arrogantly, twisting his neck.

"If you still won't talk, I'll cut you down with one sword!" Hong Lian said angrily, raising her sword toward his throat.

Seeing that Liu Changhu would rather die than submit, Hong Yun changed her approach. "Hahaha, you fool. You're still protecting Liu Changhe? He used you as a human shield and threw you out while escaping by himself."

Liu Changhu ignored her, though his expression changed several times.

Hong Yun continued, "Liu Changhe is clearly a petty villain. Once he returns to his sect, he'll probably tell the elders of Dian Cang Sect that you led four disciples to assassinate King Ziqi, failed, and were captured, causing Dian Cang Sect immense trouble."

After Princess Hong Yun finished speaking, Liu Changhu's eyes reddened with fury. The defenses in his heart collapsed, and he roared, "Let me go! I'm going to kill that despicable villain!"

Princess Hong Yun's expression changed as she asked, "Who ordered you? How many accomplices do you have? Where will Liu Changhe go after stealing the Buddha's head?"

"Stop playing games and answer quickly," Hong Lian also barked.

"I'll talk, I'll talk. Untie me first. My arms are about to become useless," Liu Changhu said, regaining his composure.

Hong Lian gave a signal, and the guards untied him. Only then did Liu Changhu slowly say, "Two months ago, Liu Changhe came to me and said he had a major business opportunity to tell me about.

"Shànchǎn Marquis' Senior Uncle Gao wrote to Senior Uncle Tian Wei. The King of the thirty-seven tribes of Ziqi Country would be turning sixty in two months. According to reliable information, they would secretly discuss an attack on Shànchǎn City.

"He hoped Senior Uncle Tian Wei could assassinate the King of Ziqi, so the people of Shànchǎn City could avoid the devastation of war.

"Shànchǎn Marquis was willing to recommend Cang Lang Peak to be granted the title of Guardian Peak by Southern Expedition Country, with Senior Uncle Tian Wei becoming the Guardian General. He would also present two Snow Mountain Jade Dragon Pills afterward."

Hong Yun's expression froze. "I heard that the Snow Mountain Jade Dragon Pill is a treasure of Divine Dragon Snow Mountain Sect. Each year, the ruler of Southern Expedition Country can obtain only two. It can increase one's cultivation and preserve one's youth. Shànchǎn Marquis is certainly generous."

Liu Changhu continued, "That's right. The Snow Mountain Jade Dragon Pill is a treasure coveted by every martial artist in Southern Expedition Country. Anyone below the eighth rank can gain ten years of cultivation from taking one.

"At the time, Liu Changhe took one out for me to see and asked me to accompany him to Milu City for this undertaking. Once it was completed, he would give me that pill.

"I was momentarily foolish and agreed."

Hong Lian said angrily, "Hmph, you weren't foolish. You were eager to get yourself killed. Poor A Wei was struck by a poisoned arrow from your assassins and is still lying in bed."

Liu Changhu said, "Those four were secret death warriors trained under Senior Uncle Tian Wei. After they failed, we were about to return when we heard that you had melted the golden Buddha and cast it into coins. That was why we struck while the night was dark and the winds were strong, hoping to take the golden Buddha's head back and offset our failure with merit."

"Where were you planning to meet next, and what was the rest of the plan?" Hong Yun asked.

Liu Changhu said, "We were supposed to leave the city with the Buddha's head and return to Dian Cang Mountain to report."

"Your Wutai Peak has always been close to Cang Lang Peak. Why should I believe you?" Princess Hong Lian asked.

Liu Changhu said, "Liu Changhe abandoning me today is proof enough."

Hong Yun pondered for a moment before saying to the two Su brothers, "Young Masters, it has now been confirmed that the golden Buddha's head was stolen by Liu Changhe, so we cannot act rashly. This matter involves a dispute between two countries, while Cang Lang Peak and Wutai Peak of Dian Cang Sect are also entangled in it. It is probably beyond our authority to decide. We should return and report to Grandfather."

Su Jiangcheng said, "Your Highness has considered this properly. Jiangcheng will obey."

Su Dingfeng also said, "Su Dingfeng will follow Your Highness's orders."

Over on Bai Bingxue's side, after treating the injuries of the fireman at the smelting workshop, she went to see her grandfather.

The Wude Hall in the royal palace of Milu City was brightly lit. The flames of the oil lamps crackled, spitting red and white tongues of fire.

Standing outside the main doors, Bai Bingxue heard her grandfather roar furiously, "Dian Cang Sect! Dian Cang Sect again! How dare they? They've gone too far! Tomorrow, I'll send a hundred thousand elite soldiers to flatten Dian Cang Mountain!"

Inside the hall, Hong Yun, Hong Lian, Su Jiangcheng, and Su Dingfeng had brought Liu Changhu forward to report. Uncle Abu and Ying Hu, the chief official of the Ministry of War, had also been summoned.

After Bai Bingxue entered and paid her respects, King Ziqi sat down and took a sip of water.

Abu advised, "Father, please calm down. Dian Cang Sect is the greatest sect in Southern Expedition Country. The nine peaks have more than a thousand disciples, not counting their registered disciples throughout the various provinces. If this is mishandled, it may cause chaos."

"Silence! If I don't teach them a lesson, are you suggesting I let the court and common people of Southern Expedition Country laugh at me?" King Ziqi scolded.

Abu withdrew and gave Ying Hu a meaningful glance.

After considering the matter, Ying Hu clasped his fists and bowed. "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

King Ziqi's face was dark as he nodded and extended a hand for him to continue.

Ying Hu paused before saying, "Your Majesty, Liu Tianyang of Dian Cang Sect is my fellow senior disciple. We both studied under Ma Long Peak. My master once warned Ma Long Peak not to become involved in the political struggles of Southern Expedition Country. Senior Brother Tianyang has acted accordingly ever since he became the head of Dian Cang Sect."

King Ziqi said coldly, "First they attempted an assassination, and then they stole from us. How do you explain that?"

Ying Hu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I suspect Cang Lang Peak and Wutai Peak acted behind his back."

After hearing this, Abu hurriedly agreed. "Father, Minister Ying is right. We can send someone to take Liu Changhu to Ma Long Peak and demand an explanation. Through Liu Tianyang, we can uncover the truth behind this."

King Ziqi remained silent.

Ying Hu continued, "Your Majesty, Shànchǎn City and Milu City have not interfered with each other for nearly a decade. Gao Mingqing had no motive to send people to assassinate Your Majesty."

After pondering, King Ziqi asked, "Why do you say this happened, then?"