Hearing this, the Imperial Advisor Sun Yuliang also became excited. Twisting his beard, he smiled and asked, "I wonder what treasure could make the Daoist priest regard it so highly?"
"I have found two local villagers who know the truth behind Liu Yuanwu's murder. I believe the Imperial Advisor will be very interested to hear it," said the Pinnacle Daoist with a smile.
"Oh!" The Imperial Advisor Sun Yuliang couldn't help but frown. "You mean there are hidden circumstances surrounding Liu Yuanwu's death?"
"Yes, before Liu Yuanwu met his unfortunate end, the village chief of a local village registered a land deed, claiming the entire Green Ox Mountain under his name. Two days later, Liu Yuanwu died."
Upon hearing this, Sun Yuliang's interest was piqued, and he couldn't help but chuckle, "So, it seems this matter is quite interesting."
"What's even more interesting is yet to come. These two individuals kept clamoring to claim a reward from Liu Xiangnan. I employed a small trick and told them this was the residence of the Duke of the Protector of the Nation, and then brought them in through the back door."
Hearing this, Imperial Advisor Sun Yuliang nodded slightly. "Very good. If the truth behind Liu Yuanwu's murder is uncovered and the real culprit apprehended, Liu Xiangnan's inclination to join us will increase."
"Indeed. I have arranged for them to eat in the back courtyard. Would the Imperial Advisor like to meet them?"
Sun Yuliang pondered for a moment, then waved his hand slightly. "It might not be appropriate for me to appear."
As he spoke, he turned to look at the person standing beside him, "Sun Qi, go and inquire about the situation."
Sun Qi turned and left.
The Pinnacle Daoist bowed to Sun Yuliang again, "Infinite Heavenly Venerable. Reporting to the Imperial Advisor, this humble one was in a hurry to bring these two back, and thus left Great Hero Sima at Green Ox Mountain. I beg the Imperial Advisor's pardon."
Imperial Advisor Sun Yuliang, clearly not realizing the gravity of the situation, waved his hand.
"It's nothing. It's nothing. Sima Wushuang is a renowned swordsman in the martial world. Green Ox Mountain is no match for him."
Having received the Imperial Advisor's reassurance, the Pinnacle Daoist was completely relieved.
"Imperial Advisor, I have now pinpointed the locations of the Dragon Eyes on Green Ox Mountain, and they are all marked on this map. As long as the Dragon Eyes are destroyed, your great undertaking will be accomplished." Su Dan Fiction Net
He then handed over the drawn map.
Imperial Advisor Sun Yuliang took it, looked it over, and nodded.
"Excellent. As long as the Dragon Eyes are destroyed, the Xiao family's fortune will be at its end. With General Zhu Meng's army surrounding the city, our great undertaking will surely succeed."
The Pinnacle Daoist nodded slightly, "Once I set up the magic array, I will assist the Imperial Advisor further."
The Pinnacle Daoist's words actually carried a double meaning. On the surface, he was offering assistance to the Imperial Advisor. In reality, he was making it clear that he did not want to return to the dreadful place of Green Ox Mountain, thus seeking to escape this arduous task.
Unaware of this, Sun Yuliang not only harbored no suspicion but also praised him greatly, "With the Daoist priest's help, my great undertaking will surely succeed. At that time, the Daoist priest will be a founding minister of the nation."
As the two were speaking, Sun Qi returned. "Reporting to the Imperial Advisor, the situation has been clarified. It is indeed as the Daoist priest said, a person named Chen Xiaobei suddenly registered a land deed for Green Ox Mountain, and then Liu Yuanwu met his unfortunate end."
"And the one named Xiong Fei said that, to his knowledge, the one who killed Liu Yuanwu was Li Tong, the Iron Arm Divine Fist."
"Why would the Li family of the Southern Border be involved in such a matter?" Imperial Advisor Sun Yuliang also knitted his brows.
The Pinnacle Daoist, however, smiled slightly. "The Imperial Advisor may not know, but there are rumors about the Li family of the Southern Border in the martial world. As long as the silver is sufficient, they will take on any business."
Upon hearing this, Sun Yuliang's brow furrowed even tighter. "Who would spend a fortune to kill Liu Yuanwu at this time?"
Sun Qi bowed slightly. "Liu Xiangnan has made many enemies. It is not unreasonable for him to be avenged."
Sun Yuliang, however, shook his head. "Liu Yuanwu's whereabouts are extremely mysterious. Even we do not know the specific time he went to Qingniu County."
"Yet he was ambushed and shot to death by Li Tong, which clearly indicates that someone had precise knowledge of his movements."
At this point, Sun Qi also instantly understood. "You are concerned that Liu Xiangnan will assume we are responsible."
Sun Yuliang nodded. "Indeed. Because on the matter of the dragon脉 (dragon vein), it is we who are in conflict with the Crown Prince."
"At least, on the surface, he still strongly supports the Crown Prince."
"Then perhaps we should go and explain to Liu Xiangnan." Sun Qi bowed again.
Sun Yuliang, however, waved his hand. "Wouldn't that make us appear guilty?"
"Right, take some silver and send these two away. Don't keep them here."
Hou Liu and Xiong Fei each received two hundred taels of reward silver and were overjoyed.
The two were sent to an inn overnight.
Upon arriving at the inn, the two young men were too excited to sleep.
Chen Ermao, in particular, was so thrilled that he kept giggling foolishly on the bed.
Looking at Chen Ermao's demeanor, Xiong Fei began to harbor wicked intentions. If he could pocket all four hundred taels, wouldn't that be even more satisfying?
"Ermao, hurry up and sleep. We'll go home first thing in the morning."
Chen Ermao, however, shook his head. "Uncle Xiong Fei, since we've finally come to the capital, we should at least stay for two days."
"By the way, I heard there's a very beautiful Hundred Flowers Garden in the capital. Let's go see it tomorrow."
Xiong Fei felt helpless and could only go along with his words. "Alright, then you should go to sleep quickly, and we'll go to the Hundred Flowers Garden tomorrow."
Chen Ermao tossed and turned on the bed, and finally fell asleep in exhaustion.
Xiong Fei, however, kept his eyes closed, pretending to sleep. Hearing Chen Ermao's snores, he immediately opened his eyes.
Xiong Fei tiptoed to Chen Ermao's bed.
The two hundred taels of silver notes were tucked under Chen Ermao's pillow.
Xiong Fei squatted by the bedside for a long time, and finally, taking advantage of Chen Ermao's turning over, he stealthily grabbed the silver notes.
With the silver notes in hand, why wait? He slipped away like a shadow.
Chen Ermao knew nothing of this. He slept soundly until dawn. When he opened his eyes and saw the slightly dazzling sunlight, he couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Xiong Fei, what time is it!"
He asked twice, but no one answered.
Only then did Chen Ermao turn to look at Xiong Fei's bed.
No one was there anymore.
"Sigh, why did you get up so early." Chen Ermao turned over again and slept. He slept until noon, when the innkeeper came to knock on the door.
Hearing the knock, Chen Ermao, yawning and rubbing his sleepy eyes, got up.
As soon as he opened the door, the waiter came in, a smile on his face. "Esteemed guest, are you continuing your stay today? You need to pay the silver."
Chen Ermao said casually, "Why wouldn't I stay? Isn't it just silver? I'll get it for you."
He went to the bed and reached under his pillow.
He pulled out a few copper coins. Just as he was about to hand them to the waiter, he suddenly felt that something was not right.
Chen Ermao flipped the pillow over.
He was instantly stunned. Where were his two hundred taels of silver notes?
All he found were the dozen or so copper coins Xiong Fei had given him a couple of days ago.
Chen Ermao rushed to Xiong Fei's bed and looked closely. Xiong Fei's travel bag was gone.