Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 404 - 355 Disappearance

Chapter 404: Chapter 355 Disappearance
As Jun Qianzi’s voice abruptly cut off, the talisman spontaneously combusted, turning to ash and dispersing in the wind.
Lian Xuanxiao stood silently in place, sword in hand, his eyelids slowly drooping as if he had aged several years in that fleeting moment.
"Sigh..."
He heaved a long sigh, sheathed his sword, and lifted his right sleeve.
On his lean arm, a deep, charred scar was engraved, stretching from his elbow to his shoulder and chest, all the way to his heart, and spreading out like a spider web. It seemed alive, appearing and disappearing with each breath he took.
Lian Xuanxiao let his sleeve fall, faced Chang’an, and gazed at the country he loved.
I don’t know how much longer I can hold on...
He shook his head and vanished, leaving behind only the lifeless, barren pit in the forest, silently facing the sky.
————
The great fire was extinguished.
Hovering over Chang’an City, which was enveloped in billowing smoke, Chen Danqiu finally exhaled in relief.
The assailants’ plan to attack Chang’an was exceptionally sinister. Had the fire been caused by a talisman, the Academic Palace Commandery could have easily extinguished it. But a fire fueled by Giant Tooth Whale Oil was unaffected by Magic, hard to douse even with rain, and prone to rapid spreading.
Fortunately, a prompt response, organized rescue efforts, and the fact that not all workshop fireworks had successfully exploded, prevented the disaster from escalating to its worst potential.
The Chaotic Wind that had veiled the city sky also gradually dissipated as the disaster did not worsen, its destination unknown.
SWOOSH—
Shen Tuyu flew out of the Imperial Palace, stopping before Chen Danqiu.
"Senior brother," Chen Danqiu greeted, "how is His Majesty?"
"He’s in the secret chamber of the Great Ming Palace, quite safe." Shen Tuyu paused, then said with a bitter smile, "He’s just still very angry."
The Emperor’s fury was understandable. The Imperial Guard, the Garrison, and other institutions had spent an entire year preparing security for Prince Yue’s wedding, yet such an incident had still occurred.
The royal family, courtiers, and delegations from various countries at the wedding had nearly been wiped out in one fell swoop, and Chang’an City itself had almost become a sea of flames, nearly burned to the ground.
The true culprits had to be found.
Shen Tuyu said, "The Imperial Guard has, in the shortest possible time, detained everyone potentially involved in the attack. This includes the merchants from the East and West Markets who proposed holding the Qixiao Festival, the artisans who crafted the fireworks and lantern towers, the city gate guards responsible for inspecting incoming and outgoing goods, and so on. In total, as many as three thousand people have been detained."
Chen Danqiu frowned. "So many people?"
"It’s unclear where the lapse occurred; we’re still investigating," Shen Tuyu said, his brow deeply furrowed. "When my men went to arrest them according to the list, many on it had either mysteriously disappeared or committed suicide. It doesn’t seem like spies from the Zhou Kingdom, the Jing Kingdom, or the Turkic regions. It seems more like... the Thousand Mechanism Puppet Technique from the Former Sui Supreme Mysterious Sect."
"What?!"
Chen Danqiu’s eyelids twitched. The Supreme Mysterious Sect was one of the most powerful Hidden Sects of the Former Sui, known for collecting artifacts related to Golden Stone Study and researching Ancient Secret Techniques. Their Thousand Mechanism Puppet Technique could perfectly control those whose Cultivation was lower than their own, using them as puppets. As long as one’s Heart Thought capacity and speed of thought were sufficient, one could even control hundreds or thousands of people simultaneously!
Street vendors warmly welcoming customers, portly merchants, corrupt Government Officials, or even courtesans in pleasure quarters—in such a vast city, anyone could be a Puppet. The threat to social order was unparalleled by any other secret technique.
"How are things now?"
His voice preceded his arrival. Lian Xuanxiao descended from the clouds, landing before Shen Tuyu and Chen Danqiu.
They both bowed and quickly updated him on the current situation in Chang’an City.
"The Cultivator who deployed the Thousand Mechanism Puppet Technique caught wind of us and fled Chang’an. However, Chang’an Micro-View has already recorded his aura," Shen Tuyu said. "As long as he appears again, we can lock onto him directly."
"Mm." Lian Xuanxiao nodded noncommittally.
Chen Danqiu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Mountain Master, this attack..."
"Jun Qianzi," Lian Xuanxiao said indifferently. "Indeed, his shadow is behind this."
Shen Tuyu and Chen Danqiu exchanged glances, both falling silent. The bloody atmosphere from the defection over a decade ago was still etched vividly in their memories. At that time, neither of them was yet a Tribute or a Sacrificial Officer, but they too had witnessed that event.
"I’ll leave things here to you," Lian Xuanxiao said, then flew towards Furong Garden.
"Tsk."
Shen Tuyu clicked his tongue, his expression complex. He knew that with Jun Qianzi’s talent and connections back then, if he hadn’t defected, he would have undoubtedly attained the position of Master. He understood the Academic Palace and the Yu Country; such an enemy was far more terrifying than the thousands of troops from the Zhou Kingdom or Jing Country.
"Mr. Shentu!"
Qi Ji, Vice Commander of the Town Patrol Office, ascended with the aid of a talisman and quickly said to Shen Tuyu and Chen Danqiu, "Situ Zhi, who was previously detained in the Stone Coffin Forest, has disappeared."
————
RUMBLE. RUMBLE.
The carriage wheels turned as the vehicle traveled along the official road heading north.
Situ Zhi, pale-faced with disheveled hair and beard, sat on the carriage seat. His hands and feet were still bound by heavy shackles, and his body was wrapped in chains. On his shoulders were two bloody, gaping holes where his scapulae had been pierced. His Qi Sea was withered, his Spirit Veins contracted, and there was no hope of recovering his Cultivation. Yet, his eyes remained as sharp as ever.
"To dare to abduct me using secret techniques, right under the Garrison’s watch, timing it just as Lian Xuanxiao left—you indeed have great gall." Situ Zhi spoke slowly, his voice hoarse like a grinding stone from prolonged disuse. "However, to dare to betray Zhao Ming is not bravery, but folly."
Sitting opposite him was a young woman with a slight smile: Lu Yunan, the merchant from Northern Black Mountain.
"Mr. Situ, you’re mistaken. When did I ever betray Zhao Ming?" Lu Yunan smiled gently. "Ya Jiu, fearing she’d be locked onto by Chang’an Micro-View, destroyed all the puppets and fled Chang’an, escaping thousands of miles away. So, as far as she knows, I simply followed her orders, releasing the Chaotic Wind, and then took the opportunity to leave Chang’an after completing my task. No one knows you are with me. Even if Ya Jiu and the others later find out you disappeared during the catastrophe, they will only assume it was the Garrison or the Academic Palace that moved you to a more secret prison."
Zhao Ming operated in secrecy. At its pinnacle was You Qiong, who had single-handedly founded the organization. Situ Zhi, Jun Qianzi, Yuan Sou, Ghost Shovel, and other Candle Cloud Cultivators all followed his commands. Beneath them were core members like Jun Qianzi’s Disciple, Ya Jiu, and Situ Zhi’s Disciple, Yu Shi, as well as peripheral members like Lu Yunan and Li Ang, who had been compromised and were being groomed for recruitment.
Lu Yunan knew well that Zhao Ming was unfathomable, filled with countless powerful Cultivators, yet she still chose to abduct Situ Zhi, risking the extermination of her clan—a move not even Situ Zhi himself could understand.
"My Qi Sea is crippled, and I believe you have no means to restore my Cultivation," Situ Zhi asked hoarsely. "I want to know, what exactly are you scheming?"
"You were expelled from the Western Country for your forbidden research and were not accepted by either the Yu Country or the Zhou Kingdom. As a Gu Master, wherever you go, you are always met with vigilance and suspicion. Even among the entirely sinister members of Zhao Ming, no Candle Cloud Cultivator is willing to partner with you." Lu Yunan smiled. "And I am willing to provide you a stage where your talents and the finesse of your Gu Technique can be fully displayed. For example, in the Turkic Khaganate."
She took a spherical glass container out from under the carriage table.
Inside the container, a black mouse lay on the brink of death, its body covered with fleas.