The Mastermind Behind Dark Stone

[Host has obtained the Forty-One Styles of Water Splitting Swordplay]

As the revolving lantern faded, King Runner's lifelong cultivation was completely integrated into Wen Qingkong's body, along with the Forty-One Styles of Water Splitting Swordplay, which Wen Qingkong also mastered perfectly.

Gaining such power, his internal strength became even more profound, and his strength greatly increased, which should have been a happy thing.

But Wen Qingkong couldn't be happy.

In King Runner's revolving lantern, he saw Ninth Prince Xia Dian, and also Ninth Prince's trusted eunuch chief, Cao Qingyu.

He had seen Cao Qingyu before, on the day he killed Zhang Quan. The eunuch who made Zhang Quan so obsequious was Cao Qingyu.

That day, he observed that Cao Qingyu was only in his thirties, but in King Runner's revolving lantern, Cao Qingyu looked the same thirty years ago, and hasn't changed at all since then.

How high must Cao Qingyu's martial arts cultivation be to maintain his appearance without any changes?

A deep sense of dread arose in Wen Qingkong's heart.

With Cao Qingyu's martial arts skills, if Zhang Quan hadn't been an unimportant figure that Cao Qingyu didn't care about that day, he probably wouldn't have been able to kill Zhang Quan at all.

King Runner offered Ninth Prince millions of taels of silver every year, which was an important source of financial resources for Ninth Prince.

Now that he had killed King Runner and basically destroyed Dark Stone in Mingzhou City.

Ninth Prince in Yujing City would definitely take action.

Cao Qingyu would most likely send a new King Runner over, and would definitely investigate what happened to King Runner.

Wen Qingkong reburied King Runner and cleaned up the scene.

He needed to prepare in advance for Dark Stone's possible actions.

Suddenly, his footsteps paused, and Wen Qingkong suddenly realized that he was a member of the White Lotus Sect, and was personally recruited into the White Lotus Sect by the Holy Maiden of the White Lotus Sect.

Ninth Prince was hiding such a terrifying organization, he should inform the White Lotus Sect, which would be a great achievement.

As for Dark Stone's possible revenge, as long as the White Lotus Sect intervened, then Dark Stone would only focus on the White Lotus Sect, and wouldn't pay too much attention to a small fry like him.

With this thought in mind, Wen Qingkong rushed back to his home in the city.

He first wrote a secret letter, in which he explained that he was accidentally affected and hunted down by Dark Stone, and had no choice but to kill Dark Stone's King Runner, but unexpectedly discovered a huge secret about Dark Stone...

After writing the secret letter, Wen Qingkong left home again, leaving the mark of the White Lotus Sect in Mingzhou City, leading all the way to the Brothel in Mingzhou City.

This was the White Lotus Sect's method of contact.

Wen Qingkong believed that the people of the White Lotus Sect in Mingzhou City would definitely go to the Brothel to find him after seeing it.

After doing all this, Wen Qingkong could finally rest.

After dawn, Wen Qingkong slept a little longer before getting up.

Seeing him get up, Li Lan hurriedly reheated the food and brought it to the table for him.

While eating, Wen Qingkong said, "I have something to go out later. You and Shuang'er can stay at home, or you can continue to set up a stall on the street."

Li Lan nodded in agreement, sitting quietly on the side, watching Wen Qingkong eat.

There was a knock on the door.

Li Lan got up to open the door.

Wen Qingkong had already stepped into the Martial Arts Great Grandmaster realm. Although he was in the side room in the backyard, two courtyards away from the gate, he could still hear Li Lan's voice at the gate clearly.

A Martial Arts Great Grandmaster's five senses had been elevated to an astonishing level.

The visitor was Zeng Jing.

Wen Qingkong didn't know how Jiang Asheng and Zeng Jing talked after he left yesterday, or whether the two had a fight. In short, now it seemed that the two had completely turned the page on the feud of extermination and were living a stable life like an ordinary couple.

Zeng Jing came to ask if Wen Qingkong had gotten up yet. Jiang Asheng invited Wen Qingkong to have a drink.

Saying it was drinking, it should actually be asking if there were any clues at King Runner's residence.

Wen Qingkong thought about it. Ninth Prince Xia Dian had a strong influence, with top experts like Cao Qingyu by his side, as well as a huge force like Dark Stone. Jiang Asheng and Zeng Jing were enemies with Dark Stone, which was very helpful to him.

Wen Qingkong got up and went to the door.

"It just so happens that I want to drink too."

He nodded to Li Lan, Li Lan nodded and closed the door.

Wen Qingkong followed Zeng Jing to see Jiang Asheng.

"You and Li Lan don't seem like a normal couple."

"I never said we were a couple."

"I'm a leather craftsman, and leather craftsmen are destined to be alone, I told you that."

"But I can see that Li Lan has deep feelings for you."

"Deep feelings are not necessarily love."

"You should stop worrying about my affairs, we have big trouble."

Wen Qingkong's words stunned Zeng Jing, and she immediately realized that Wen Qingkong must have discovered some important clues at King Runner's residence.

What could make Wen Qingkong feel troubled must be related to the mastermind behind Dark Stone.

Arriving at Zeng Jing and Jiang Asheng's home, Wen Qingkong found that wine had indeed been warmed, and there were some decent dishes as well, all made by Zeng Jing.

After Wen Qingkong took a seat, he didn't beat around the bush, directly explaining that Ninth Prince Xia Dian of Yujing City was the Sovereign behind Dark Stone.

"King Runner contributes a million taels of silver to Prince Jiu every year."

"This year's share hasn't been handed over yet. When the time comes, if the silver is missing, Ninth Prince will definitely send people to Mingzhou to investigate. When that happens, King Runner's death will inevitably be exposed."

Jiang Asheng and Zeng Jing frowned deeply.

They didn't doubt Wen Qingkong's words. The three of them were in the same boat; Wen Qingkong had no reason to deceive them with such a lie.

"I heard from A Jing that you're from Yujing City. Do you know anything about Ninth Prince?"

Jiang Asheng looked at Wen Qingkong.

Neither he nor Zeng Jing had ever left Mingzhou, and they had only heard of the distant Yujing City, never having been there.

"Ninth Prince's power is vast. He's the prince most trusted by the Emperor in the entire imperial family."

"I'm just a leather craftsman; I don't know much about Ninth Prince, but I've heard that his trusted chief eunuch, Cao Qingyu, has extremely high martial arts cultivation. He should have already broken through the Martial Arts Great Grandmaster realm, reaching a mysterious realm unknown to others."

Wen Qingkong explained briefly.

Jiang Asheng and Zeng Jing's expressions had already become extremely ugly.

Their martial arts were not weak, but dealing with the seasoned Martial Arts Grandmaster King Runner required all their combined strength, let alone a powerhouse beyond the Martial Arts Great Grandmaster realm.

Moreover, Dark Stone was spread throughout the world. The Dark Stone presence in Mingzhou alone already made them feel suffocated. Now, encountering this even larger Dark Stone, just thinking about it made them both feel almost hopeless.

Knock, knock—

Wen Qingkong tapped the table, drawing their attention.

"King Runner and the Dark Stone assassins who participated that day have all been dealt with by us."

"Now that we know the mastermind behind Dark Stone, although they are very powerful, as long as we deal with it properly, they may not be able to find out."

"I'm telling you this to prepare you mentally, not to let you be discouraged and disheartened."