Qin Feng looked at Qin Xun's determined expression, knowing he couldn't persuade him. He sighed, "Then what are your plans?"
Qin Xun said solemnly, "Marquis Anguo has already spoken with the Marquis. For the public announcement, it will only state that I, Qin Xun, exposed the old bald donkey, and I am to be credited with the greatest achievement, rewarded with a thousand taels of gold! But please believe me, Marquis, I am not doing this for reward! On the contrary, from now on, I will be living in the basement of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, unable to reveal my whereabouts! I want to make those beasts from the Returning Spring Cult hate me enough, so that I will have a chance to achieve my goal in the future!"
"Not even Qin Lang can know…" Zhi Rou said helplessly.
"I fear the Marquis might not bear to know!" Qin Xun shook his head.
Qin Feng was taken aback. He clasped Qin Xun's hand and comforted him, "I understand. But you don't have to think about sacrificing yourself. Perhaps there are better ways. Even if you don't trust me, you must trust Marquis Anguo. The leader of the Returning Spring Cult will surely be brought to justice. After all, this person is an enemy to both countries, truly wicked and deeply sinful."
Qin Xun shook his head and gave a wry smile, "Marquis still doesn't understand this vixen. This woman is extremely cautious. If she is indeed Sophia who was once undercover beside Marquis Anguo, then she must also understand how cautious Marquis Anguo himself is. She will likely do the same, guarding against everything. Even if the Returning Spring Cult is destroyed, she might flee to the Peacock Dynasty. Therefore, extraordinary measures must be taken!"
Qin Feng reluctantly said, "When the day comes for you to execute your plan, please be sure to tell me. I will definitely lend you a hand."
Only then did Qin Xun agree, satisfied.
In the imperial palace, Su Wanqing was also greatly surprised to hear that Chan Shi Longyue had been apprehended.
Mu Cheng simply held her hand and comforted her, "I am here, and no one will ever trouble you and your son again! Your so-called 'master' is also doomed to escape from the net we, Liang Xiao and I, have cast!"
Su Wanqing was deeply moved and nodded repeatedly.
The next day, news spread throughout the palace, causing a sensation across the city.
The ringleader of the Returning Spring Cult, Chan Shi Longyue, has been apprehended and executed publicly!!
The many noble families and powerful clans, led by the Yan family, were shocked and pale!
They knew very well what kind of person Chan Shi Longyue was.
How could he have been caught?
"It was Qin Xun who betrayed us!"
In a secret chamber, Duan Hong gritted his teeth and said angrily, "I never imagined this person would rebel, and had already contacted Liang Xiao in advance, even earning the greatest merit…"
The sect leader, Yilis, with tears in her eyes, trembled and said, "Chan Shi Longyue and I were as close as father and daughter. I owe my current wisdom and strategy to his careful guidance. This Qin Xun, as a core disciple, dared to abandon the opportunity to become a god and betray our sect. His crime is unforgivable! We must capture and kill this person at any cost! I want him to experience all the tortures in the human world!!"
Yan Jun, standing beside her, said with a grim face, "There is no trace of Qin Xun at the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion. The Honglu Temple is too heavily guarded by the Shadow Guard and the Xuan Guard. They dare not investigate…"
"No matter what means you use, you must capture and kill this person, do you understand!" Yilis's sharp roar echoed in the secret chamber.
Everyone meekly replied, "We will!"
Chan Shi Longyue held immense significance for the Returning Spring Cult. His contribution to the sect's rise to prominence in recent decades was undeniable.
Now, the Returning Spring Cult had suffered heavy losses, not only being expelled from Da Gan but also losing such a vice-sect leader. This further demoralized their morale, causing their ranks to scatter. More and more ordinary followers, after reading "Refuting the Returning Spring Cult," defected from the sect.
At the Honglu Temple, there was joy all around as Liang Xiao successfully avenged his father.
"Husband, tell us more~"
In the room, Jian Qinwan had long forgotten her image as a Qin Immortal. She led the others in clinging to Liang Xiao's arm and acting spoiled.
They didn't fully understand Liang Xiao's remarks from the previous night when he criticized Chan Shi Longyue, but after listening, they felt as if they had a new understanding of the world, which was quite marvelous.
"The subsequent content is quite complex and cannot be explained in a few words. When the world is peaceful, I will tell you every day!" Liang Xiao gently comforted them.
He could explain the basic scientific content using everyday examples. However, anything beyond that was beyond the comprehension of people from this era and required gradual teaching.
"It's a deal, you can't lie to us!" Zhuo Xun also chimed in with her spoiled plea, not forgetting to employ tearful tactics.
"Alright, alright, I'll do as you wish. Who told you you are my good wives and can't break promises to your husband…" Liang Xiao surrendered, quickly begging for mercy.
"Wives and children…" Yue Wenxin looked at her sisters fawning over Liang Xiao, pouted, and quietly left the room, not daring to watch any longer.
Zuo Jing noticed the situation and quickly followed her out.
Luo Qingxue and the others were stunned and also left one after another.
Liang Xiao suddenly found himself alone and bewildered. He decided to go out and play Xiangqi with Zhuo Zifang.
With one of the two great leaders of the Returning Spring Cult gone, everyone enjoyed a rare period of leisure. Even Zuo Wuji joined Zuo Wushang and others in playing Dou Dizhu, with stakes starting at five taels per round. Due to the excessive betting, Liang Xiao, who had arrived, confiscated the gambling money, forcing them to change to five wen per round.
The martial artists from Mount Tian Shan dared not participate in "gambling" and could only try their hand at Xiangqi.
While playing chess with Liang Xiao, Zhuo Zifang did not forget to discuss state affairs.
"It seems that Izumo Kingdom is not simple either. The Taiji Kingdom dares to disregard our Da Gan, and this island nation has played a significant role. Old man finally understands the profound intentions behind your arrangements for shipbuilding!"
Liang Xiao simply gazed at the chessboard, lost in thought.
How the Celestial Sun Sect managed to cross the ocean and spread to Izumo Kingdom was also a mystery. Da Gan now had to face a dangerous enemy.
Fortunately, Chan Shi Longyue had no opportunity to reveal his gunpowder.
This morning, Mu Cheng had indeed sent Ye Chengxiu with a list of sulfur in Da Liang and some precious medicinal herbs.
Mu Cheng was now fully convinced that none of the seven princes were his own. Whether Da Gan was unified or not was no longer important to him. He only wished to protect Qin Feng's family, Su Wanqing and her son, and these loyal officials who supported the imperial authority.
Ling Jianxing, having completed his mission, no longer wandered around Da Gan but returned to Liang Xiao's team.
At this moment, Ling Jianxing was silently observing the chess game, his brow furrowed.
"Second Senior Brother, you seem troubled?"
Hearing Liang Xiao's question, Ling Jianxing finally sighed, "The undercover gentleman spoke with me in the carriage. I could tell that he is resolved to die…"
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly, "That is because the Returning Spring Cult has not been eradicated. As long as we eradicate it, he will not have to think of sacrificing himself."
Ling Jianxing shook his head, "If the Returning Spring Cult is destroyed, he is also prepared to commit suicide…"
Liang Xiao fell silent.
The myriad forms of life, each with their own considerations. He could only vaguely understand Qin Xun's thoughts.
The Returning Spring Cult had brought too much tragedy to this land. Only by eradicating it completely could further tragedies be prevented.
However, what truly made Liang Xiao feel uneasy was the Celestial Sun Tribe.
This cannibalistic race, how could they have hidden so deeply and been able to absorb the civilizations and religions of various countries for their own use?
Da Gan was vast and rich in resources, but it was also limited by the surrounding oceans, plateaus, and mountains. The difficulty of reaching the Celestial Sun Tribe's homeland and the so-called "Senluo Continent" was not small. However, if they were not eliminated, they could revive at any time.
The Celestial Sun Tribe occupied so much land. If they were to unexpectedly discover the methods of gunpowder and firearms… Da Gan would have to mobilize the entire nation to mass-produce gunpowder, and even research cannons.
But the immediate priority was to capture Yilis and Yan Jun and others before returning to the country.
News of the discovery of the ancient Xiongnu king's treasure in the depths of the desert had finally been delivered to the imperial study by the urgent efforts of the Shadow Guard.