Li Xian's Might, Power in Hand, Searching Mountains and Digging Earth, Mystery Within Mystery!
On the day of the major exam, Li Xian toured the various examination sites, including Mirror Lake Middle School, where there were more than 300 students. He glanced at them briefly, his attention mostly on Wu Gan, but he also noticed several beautiful women and handsome men.
Holding the scroll in my hands now, I examined it closely and felt as if I had seen it before. Upon further reflection, I remembered that Song Ya had sat to the right of the mirror, at the twenty-first table. On that day, she wore a light red pleated skirt and had her hair in Ponytail; she was indeed beautiful.
Only their temperaments differed slightly. Li Xian pondered, "Could it be that their clothing is different, hence their different temperaments?" He put the scroll away and returned it to the bookshelf. Then he examined the surrounding details. To the left was a curtain that led to a small courtyard.
The room was filled with the fragrance of green grass, quite elegant. Li Xian carefully scanned it, but found no clues, so he returned to the room. On the right was a dress made of "purple agarwood." Li Xian gently patted it, noticing that the wood was solid and of excellent quality, and that it would cost two hundred taels of silver.
Pulling open the hidden compartment, one finds mostly rouge and face powder, all of very high quality and made by renowned artisans. Li Xian could be considered "half Renowned Physician," having first entered the Lineage mansion, interacted with wealthy nobles and scions, and while selling Enlightenment Cicada, he also dealt with rich merchants. He knew that the women of Jade City had a penchant for beauty and were particularly fond of rouge from brands like "Hundred Blossoms Studio," "Alluring Pavilion," and "Amazing Sky."
She often took pride in acquiring this item. The rouge on Song Ya's desk mostly came from "Hundred Blossoms Studio". It can be seen that although this woman is very knowledgeable, she has not been able to see through appearances. Li Xian glanced at it and knew that Song Ya was left-handed. Upon closer recall, Song Ya had also held the pen with her left hand when answering the questions that day.
Emerging from the bedroom, one enters the hall. The floor is paved with "Huangyu Wood," a type of wood with a jade-like texture, warm and lustrous. It feels warm in winter and cool in summer. This is where Song Ya disappeared; the floor is littered with debris. A wooden chair was smashed to pieces, several exquisite porcelain pieces were reduced to fragments, and there were also some marks on the walls. Judging solely from the marks, Song Ya, having heard the commotion, threw back the covers and went to the hall. She was then captured and disappeared without a trace. Li Xian picked up the broken porcelain pieces from the floor; they were all of similar size. He suddenly thought, "If it had been smashed by hitting the ground, the fragments wouldn't be of similar size. It seems to have been shattered by a palm strike. This palm strike was very even, and the strike was extremely swift and silent."
"If the porcelain shatters with a deafening noise, it will surely attract attention. This palm technique... if I'm not mistaken, it should be the ' Spleen-Shaking Palm.' When the palm strikes, the force is channeled into the body, shattering the opponent's spleen into powder. It's an extremely vicious and ruthless palm technique."
Li Xian observed the broken chair on the ground and noticed the similar force used in the palm strike. He couldn't help but wonder, "Is there such a coincidence in the world? Could this case be the ' Withered Flower Case ' that I'm currently investigating?"
It turns out that... In mid-August, Li Xian took on the "Seventh-Rank Task: The Withered Flower Case." A group of vicious thieves specialized in kidnapping women. They seemed to have mastered evil arts and would smash the women's livers and spleens. After the women died, they would abandon them in the dark streets and alleys.
This case is unsolved; more than ten crimes have been committed, but the intervals between them are very long. Sometimes a crime is committed only once every few months or a year, or the crime has already been committed but has not been discovered. It is suspected that there is a gang involved, hence it has been classified as a "seventh-level key case".
After receiving the document, Li Xian dared not be careless and gradually began to search for clues. However, just as he was making progress, he was forcibly conscripted to patrol the Jiyin Academy. This interruption halfway through his work made his efforts twice as difficult and resulted in the loss of all clues.
This matter has come full circle, and we've unexpectedly met again here.
Li Xian pondered, "The thieves involved in the Withered Flower Case' have been committing crimes for many years, displaying both cunning and thoroughness. Their ability to remain hidden for so long suggests they possess considerable skill. Their renewed crime likely stems from gossip in the city, leading them to discover Song Ya's whereabouts. While the Song Family is not powerful, their foundation is still weak, and their defenses are relatively poor. Therefore, it's not impossible that they happened to target Song Ya. If this is indeed the case, then Xu Shaoqian's investigation direction has been entirely wrong."
"Many questions remain, but we might as well follow this lead and investigate."
Li Xian clarified his thoughts and followed the clues step by step to investigate. Gold-Seeking Guard obeyed his orders and launched a vigorous search. The results were indeed remarkable. In just half a day, they found many clues to the "Withered Flower Case".
The case has taken a new turn, gradually narrowing down the "Withered Flower Case" gang to the area "outside the city; between Sky-Screen Mountain." This mountain acts as a natural barrier, blocking everything.
The thieves in the "Withered Flower Case" were able to repeatedly evade the Gold-Seeking Guard' searches because they had learned some tricks of the trade in "Sky-Screen Mountain" and set up secret passages and outposts. Every time they committed a crime, they would hide in the deep mountains.
As soon as Li Xian started, the case progressed quickly. He immediately used the power of the case to requisition "three hundred Tiqi", "fifteen gold chiefs", requisition "five hundred square officials", "five hundred Yamen officials", "one hundred debt slaves", and then hired "three hundred Jianghu righteous men". He mobilized the ingenuity of "Jade Crossbow", "Searching Wooden Dog" and "Soushan Toad" to start digging and searching the Yuping Mountain!
Such a grand and imposing procession was truly awe-inspiring. A total of 1,500 people were at Li Xian's command, at his beck and call. This massive undertaking once again shook the city.
There was no shortage of praise among the people, all saying that this young Gold Steward was able to shoulder great responsibilities with a calm mind, and that he accomplished the tasks of conscription, mobilization, and deployment in one fell swoop. Xu Shaoqian feigned illness to relinquish power and kept an eye on the progress of the case. Hearing that Li Xian was so powerful and had the aura of manipulating the wind and clouds as soon as he gained some power, Xu Central Lang General for a long time, was very indignant.
The search of the mountain was a momentous undertaking. The slightest mistake could cost lives. On the eve of the search, Li Xian studied by candlelight, spreading out Terrain Map of Sky-Screen Mountain and meticulously planning the search.
He divided his Cavalier into groups of three, each leading five constables, five yamen runners, one debt collector, and three chivalrous outlaws. They were equipped with fine blades and Heavenly Crafted Wonders.
In this way, the three members of the Gold-Seeking Guard could unleash the "Drumbeat God-Slaying Formation," and the constables and yamen runners also possessed cultivation, internal energy, and martial arts skills, and were also familiar with Bandit-Capturing Formation. The debtor, burdened with debt, was on this expedition to search the mountains to reduce his debts, so he would naturally fight desperately. Moreover, although the debtor's status was low, his abilities were not weak, and he might even surpass the Gold-Seeking Guard' Cavalier. Furthermore, the "three righteous heroes of the Jianghu" all came from orthodox sects. They might not be the strongest, but they had their own abilities. With this team, coupled with Heavenly Crafted Wonders, they could certainly put up a fight against thieves.
A total of one hundred search teams were formed. Although the composition of the search teams was reasonable, how to deploy them was quite complicated! It was like traveling in the martial arts world, where the difficulty was not in the fighting with swords, but in the journey, travel, and sleeping in the open. Similarly, in warfare, the difficulty was not in the battles on the battlefield, but in the troop deployment.
Li Xian Proficiency the "Five-Elements Esoteric Escape," which came in handy at this time. Based on the principles of the Five Elements, he arranged the routes and search areas of each mountain search team, making the routes intertwined and seemingly chaotic, but in fact extremely ingenious.
Yao Fan and Chang Ziqiang, having observed and learned from the scene, couldn't help but exclaim, "Master Li, your arrangement is truly ingenious! Why not just call upon the Central Lang General and hand over the position to you?" Li Xian replied, "Don't talk nonsense, it's just a small-scale operation. Moreover, safety must be the top priority in this search. We can't risk losing one of our brothers while searching for Song Ya!"
Yao Fan and Chang Ziqiang both replied, "Of course!" They were deeply impressed and full of admiration.
The Gold Steward patrolled the area, looking out for each other and adapting to changing circumstances. Li Xian, who wielded considerable power, requisitioned "three hundred Jade Crossbow," "one hundred Mountain-Search Toad," and "one hundred Opportunity-Seeking Wood Hound," distributing them among the mountain-searching teams.
The Jade Crossbow is extremely powerful, with a strong shooting force. The Mountain-Search Toad is entirely reddish-yellow, with an ingenious structure, and can leap across mountains to assist in searches. The Opportunity-Seeking Wood Hound can detect scents and can pounce on and kill enemies when necessary.
Such a scale, such a layout, such arrangements... meticulous, rigorous, calm, and seasoned. This news spread throughout the city, quickly becoming the talk of the town, stirring up excitement and inspiring even more chivalrous individuals to join the search for the mountain.
And that's not all. Knowing that Li Xian would inevitably get injured while searching the mountains, he met with the "Miraculous Healers Pavilion" and discussed with Yao Baishun the possibility of recruiting a hundred healers to set up camp outside Sky-Screen Mountain and treat the wounded at any time.
Hearing all the commotion, Lei Chong, though furious with Li Xian, couldn't help but admire him. Xu Shaoqian's expression was uncertain; he felt his power had been so tainted, thinking, "If I continued to hold the reins of the case, perhaps in another half a day, the facts would be clear again. Then I would be the one to arrange the search. How dare a mere Gold Steward act so arrogantly?"
With all preparations complete, Li Xian gave the order to begin the search in the mountains. Li Xian thought to himself, "The culprit in the ' Withered Flower Case doesn't really require such a large-scale operation. But since I have the authority to investigate, how can I not make the most of it? This expenditure won't cost me anything. As for ' Central Lang General Xu Shaoqian,' he dislikes me, and it's difficult to stop him now. I've long known that we're not exactly on good terms. But the kindness he showed me is real, and no matter how he views me, I will always remember it."
Song Ya disappeared on August 24th. That evening, the case went through several twists and turns and ended up in Xu Shaoqian's hands. He investigated all night but found no clues. Despite the pressure, he continued his investigation until midnight on August 27th, when he decided to delegate authority to Li Xian.
On August 28th, as dawn broke, Li Xian rushed to the Song Family to investigate. He quickly obtained clues, and at noon on the 28th, he mobilized the Gold-Seeking Guard to conduct a gradual patrol. During the night, he learned the approximate hiding place of the Bandit Group in the Withered Flower Case.
They immediately began arranging a search of the mountains and conscripting people... By noon on the 29th, they had gathered a large number of Cavalier, chivalrous heroes, debt collectors, yamen runners, neighborhood constables, and doctors, and began searching the mountains that very day. Five days had passed since Song Ya disappeared.
Li Xian pondered, "Although the search team is large this time, it was intentional. Sky-Screen Mountain is so vast that although this search is a big commotion, if they continue to hide, they will not be easily found. My purpose is to stir up trouble, and when they rush out of their burrows, they will surely leave clues, allowing me to strike them where it hurts. However, Song Ya has been missing for a long time, and I don't know if she is alive. Even if she is alive, I don't know what kind of treatment she will receive."
"Furthermore, there are still some doubts about this matter. Wu Gan's birthday is on the second day of the ninth lunar month, which is still a few days away. We will try to give you a definite answer."
Seeing that all the arrangements were in place, Li Xian was about to personally enter the mountain and search deep into the mountains when he suddenly whispered a few words to Yao Fan, instructing him to fetch a file of documents to review after he left the mountain.
Yao Fan received the order and immediately went to carry it out. Li Xian leaped up and down, holding Terrain Map, and quickly entered the depths of the mountains and forests. After investigation, he learned that the seven murderers in the "Withered Flower Case" were the ringleaders.
The seven bandit leaders had once made a name for themselves outside Jade City, and their strength was considerable. However, they offended a very powerful gang and were hunted down for years, narrowly escaping death several times. They eventually fled into Jade City, where the pursuit ceased. The seven men, unable to change their evil nature, continued to commit crimes. But danger lurked both inside and outside the city, so they chose to hide rather than flee, always remaining outside Jade City.
As he gradually figured out the characteristics of Jade City, he became increasingly adept at committing crimes. Li Xian entered the mountains and forests, smelling the fragrance of the grass and trees, which felt even more familiar. He used his special ability, "Merging into Heaven and Earth," to conceal his presence and broaden his perception.
With his "Double Pupils and keen eyesight," he could see even the smallest details. Li Xian flew away swiftly, leaping among the tree branches. Suddenly, he saw a towering tree, over a hundred feet tall, with an extremely dense foliage at its top.
Li Xian's lightness skill had recently improved, and he was eager to try it out. He immediately used the "Human-Garment Art" and the "Light Formula" to make his body as light as a garment. He gathered Light Force in his body with the Seven-Star Step, stepped on the tree trunk, and ran up to the towering tree crown.
He hid in the treetops, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, observing the ground. He then took out Terrain Map to compare, thinking, "If I were a thief, hearing such commotion, I would surely be planning to move to a new hideout. Among thieves, there are those skilled in feng shui; perhaps he's hiding here, here, here..."
He marked out more than ten locations. After examining them and finding no clues nearby, he went to other places. His mind was racing, trying to guess the thief's route and the places he might pass through.
They arrived ahead of time and planted hair strands to guard the area. Only five hair strands were planted in succession, and several hours passed without a trace. Finding the thief in this Densewood Forest was indeed no easy task.
As night fell, darkness descended. Li Xian had already ventured far into the depths and thought, "Sky-Screen Mountain is extremely dangerous. These treacherous bandits have lived in the mountains for a long time, so they must know this very well. Their hiding place can't be too deep."
Suddenly, he saw a footprint among the weeds. Li Xian examined it carefully, picked up some mud and sand, and gently rubbed it. He was immediately delighted. There were very few mountain travelers in this area, so this footprint might have come from a vicious thief. Li Xian followed the trail and, after about ten feet, saw a second footprint.
Li Xian pondered, "It seems... the thief used his lightness skill to travel, and when he was exhausted, he stepped on the ground again, thus leaving footprints. The traveler intentionally concealed his tracks, hence the way he did it."
After taking a few more steps, Li Xian, with his sharp eyesight, reached out and grabbed a branch. He plucked a petal, pale yellow in color, with the fragrance of peach blossoms. It was indeed the "August Peach Blossom" from the Song Residence."
Li Xian thought, "Could it be... that when the thief captured Song Ya, he got some flower petals on his clothes and carried them here, only to have them fall off by a tree branch? If so, the thief must have passed through this area, and he must not be far from his den."
Following closely behind, more and more footprints appeared. The culprit in the Withered Flower Case flowers had been hiding in the woods for some time, and even if he tried to conceal it, traces would inevitably remain.
Soon they came across a strange tree, its trunk requiring ten people to encircle it, but its leaves were withered and yellow, giving it a desolate appearance. Li Xian knew this was the "Azure-Ridge Tree," famous for its thick and verdant trunk. Although the tree was tall and strong, it was hard on the outside but soft on the inside, making it unsuitable as a main beam.
Literary figures often use the metaphor of "Azure-Ridge Tree" to criticize someone as outwardly strong but inwardly weak, incapable of shouldering great responsibilities or serving as a pillar of society. This Azure-Ridge Tree has lush foliage, but the edges of the leaves are yellowing, and the leaves appear withered.
Li Xian, with his Double Pupils, saw through the illusion that there was a tunnel at the base of the tree. The tunnel had damaged the tree's roots, causing the leaves to turn yellow and the tree to appear withered. Li Xian found the entrance to the tunnel and quietly slipped inside.
The tunnel was paved with blue bricks, and oil lamps hung on both sides, burning slowly. These lamps were very sensitive; every time someone entered the tunnel, a breeze would rush in, and the flames of the oil lamps would flicker and sway in the wind, allowing the thieves to detect them and take action.
Li Xian had foreseen this with his Double Pupils and was prepared. He used the "Human-Garment Art" to land in the tunnel, just like clothes fluttering down without creating any wind, so the candlelight did not flicker. The tunnel was narrow, and even the slightest movement would inevitably create a breeze, which would then cause the flame to flicker.
Li Xian pondered, "I've found this thief's den, which is half the battle won. But these villains have been committing crimes and evil deeds for years, and the Gold-Seeking Guard have been unable to do anything about it. My presence here also carries danger, so I must be extra careful at this juncture. If I rashly enter and start a fire, I'll be discovered immediately. I need to devise a foolproof method of infiltration."
He came up with a brilliant plan. He used the "borrowing light by Borrowing Light Through a Chiseled Wall from the " Flicked-Finger Golden Light " technique, touching the tips of his middle and index fingers together and rubbing them gently to borrow the glow of the oil lamp.
As the oil lamp dimmed, the glow from Li Xian's fingertips intensified, resembling that of a beast fat lamp, yet lacking the flickering and wind-sensing properties of a flame. It shone like a luminous stone, lingering and enduring. Li Xian replaced the firelight with the glow from his fingertips, and with light steps, he could pass through without hindrance.
The tunnel was several dozen feet long. Li Xian thought to himself, "It's damp and unsuitable for long-term residence. These thieves, knowing they have nowhere else to go, will stay underground for a long time. They've even gone to the trouble of building an underground palace."
Silk ribbons were laid out along the path for decoration. Li Xian used his Double Pupils to see the layout of the underground palace. There were nine stone houses in the underground palace, and stone statues were placed in front of seven of them. The doors were painted red. Inside was a mansion with a small courtyard, bedrooms, and a study. The decoration was quite elegant. However, there was no light in the underground, so it was very desolate. No matter how exquisite the layout was, it was ultimately in vain.
Li Xian guessed that these seven stone houses were the residence of the seven thieves. There were two other stone houses; one housed jewels, fine objects, and weapons, while the other was very dark and contained a prison cell at its depths. Inside the cell were four women, and outside sat two men, discussing something.
Li Xian quietly crept closer and overheard the two talking:
"Damn it, this is such an undeserved disaster, how did it happen to the seven of us brothers?"
"My brother said that if things really don't go well, we'll have to go deeper into the city to lay low for a while. The Gold-Seeking Guard are serious this time!" "Bah! A bunch of good-for-nothings! We seven brothers have been committing crimes and making a name for ourselves in Jade City for years, and we've never seen them really do anything to us. If you ask me, my brother is just being overly cautious."
"Yes, this underground palace may not be large, but it was built brick by brick by the seven of us brothers. It's truly unwilling to leave like this." The speaker was a fat man and a thin man. The thin man had high cheekbones, small eyes, and a pointed nose. He was called "Tan Shousi." The fat man had dark skin, large eyes, and a thick mouth. He had a fierce look. He was called "Tan Pangwu." They were the second of the Seven Withered Flowers.
The two then said:
"Those Gold-Seeking Guard are all cowards. I think they're just throwing mud at us because they think one more lice won't hurt." "Damn it, those sons of bitches are shameless. We're the real villains, they're the hypocrites."
"If they really catch us and pin the crime on us, we'll have no way to defend ourselves."
"They just can't find him, so they're going to arrest the seven of us to cover their tracks. Heh heh, let them have their way. We seven brothers are already criminals, they can arrest us if they want. But if they can't catch us, don't blame us for stabbing them in the back a few times."
Li Xian frowned slightly. "These two villains must be the Seven Withered Flowers. They were discussing things in private, unaware of my infiltration, so what they are saying now should be the truth. But judging from their words, it seems they haven't taken Song Ya." He continued to probe.
Tan Pangwu said, "Fourth Brother, it's quite boring sitting here like this. Why don't we have a drink together?"
Tan Shousi said, "Fifth Brother, this is no child's play. We can't be careless. Drinking will only lead to trouble! Our eldest brother told us to guard this place, so we should guard it well and wait for him and the others to return before deciding what to do next."
Tan Pangwu muttered, "What's there to be afraid of? With the seven of us brothers working together, I don't believe we'll really be defeated here."
Tan Shousi said, "We have witnessed your strategic brilliance, Brother. The seven of us brothers have faced countless dangers, and every time it was Brother's wise and decisive actions that saved us all. Since Brother has given the order, we will do as he commands."
Tan Pangwu said, "I know, I know. Let's just sit here. But then again, when it comes to brains, the six of us combined are no match for our eldest brother."
Tan Shousi said, "Of course. By the way, Fifth Brother, what level have you reached in your Spleen-Shaking Palm technique?" Tan Pangwu said, "Hahaha, I should be inferior to Fifth Brother, only the fourth level."
Tan Shousi said, "We are seven brothers, all of us share the same martial arts roots, and we can't break each other's moves. It's a pity, otherwise we could spar with each other to pass the time."
Tan Pangwu said, "Once this matter is over, we'll use these women to practice our palm techniques. This Spleen-Shaking Palm is powerful, but it requires a woman's spleen to practice." Li Xian, secretly eavesdropping, realized the information the two were revealing was useless and began to devise a plan to finish them off. Li Xian thought, "These two share the same martial arts origin; their combined strength will be formidable. From what they said, Fatty seems less capable, so I'll kill Fatty first!"
He immediately rubbed his two fingers together gently, gathering golden light. The halo gradually radiated a five-colored brilliance, containing immense power. Li Xian seized the opportunity, flicked his finger, and the Five-Colored Golden Light slammed into the target with a "hum".
The fat man, however, was no ordinary man. Sensing the menacing aura, he reacted immediately, raising his horizontal sword to tightly protect his chest. Five-Colored Golden Light struck the hilt of the sword; though ethereal, the light unleashed a powerful force, sending the fat man flying several feet before he slammed into the wall. Countless cracks spread across the wall, bricks and tiles shattering into dust. The thin man cried out, "Who goes there?!" Wielding his broadsword, he immediately swept it horizontally towards the door. This strike, swift and deadly, sliced through the steel door and wall in one fell swoop.
Li Xian used his light-footed skill and the Human-Garment Art to lightly brush past the blade's edge. He was not injured in the slightest. At the same time, he flicked golden rays with both hands, and with his left hand, golden rays shot out repeatedly, aiming at the skinny man's wrists, legs, and acupoints.
The skinny man swung his knife to parry, slicing through the golden light. Sparks flew from the blade, and with each point of golden light he deflected, he was forced back a step. Li Xian channeled his Intent Infusion, striking the beast fat lamp twice with a series of "snap" sounds.
The entire cell was plunged into darkness. The skinny man, furious, cried out, "Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother!"
The fat man was in excruciating pain from the Flicked-Finger Golden Light. Just as he was about to retaliate, he heard a whooshing sound and a powerful fist came crashing down on him. He hurriedly raised his head to block, but the fist suddenly changed direction and struck his chest and abdomen.
The fat man shuddered, feeling as if his internal organs had been shattered and pierced through his chest. Li Xian's immense strength, powerful Inner Steam, and martial arts prowess were no child's play. The "Four Directions Fist" of the Great Self Realm was still incomparably powerful.
Li Xian killed one of the men, and taking advantage of the skinny man's grief, Intent Infusion the wooden chair beside his feet, then kicked it. The skinny man thought it was a feint and raised his knife to strike, but the wooden chair was actually quite tough, and the attack came unexpectedly. The knife failed to cut the chair, but the impact made his wrist numb.
He twisted the blade to deflect the force from the wooden chair. Before he could catch his breath, Li Xian had already closed in, striking out with his left palm. This move was simple and unadorned, and its speed was slow, as if he were pushing or moving a heavy object.
The skinny man could hardly dodge; the distance was too close, and the blade's momentum had just reached its peak. In his haste, he raised his palm to meet the attack. Upon exchanging blows, he immediately felt regret, as if he had received a boulder from his opponent's hand, and he gritted his teeth to endure it. But the Stone-Pushing Palm Method" was incredibly powerful, and extremely formidable when the two palms clashed.
The skinny man was sent flying by the force of the palm strike, his hand bones shattered. Li Xian conjured up golden light again, this time even brighter, illuminating the entire prison. Li Xian then conjured a long needle, which shot out, piercing the skinny man's brow and killing both of them.
To be on the safe side, Li Xian flicked golden light from each hand, sending the thin and fat men's corpses flying. Only after confirming they were dead did he open the cell door.
Li Xian pondered, "Even if Song Ya isn't here, saving these women is still quite good." All the women had black hoods covering their heads. Li Xian lifted the hood of the first woman; her face was filled with terror, and she was deathly pale.
Li Xian gently comforted her, then lifted the covers of the second person. The face she saw was none other than Song Ya! An oval face, fair skin, red lips, and phoenix eyes. Li Xian frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly. She had long anticipated this; it contained a profound secret. There were traces of the Seven Withered Flowers in Song Ya's boudoir. But the Seven Withered Flowers claimed they had never captured Song Ya. The seven had spoken privately; they shouldn't be lying.
But then, they unexpectedly discovered Song Ya.