The Emperor is Above

Chapter 282 The Monster's True Identity

Qing Yi was deeply surprised by Shi Ludan's sudden appearance.

What is even more surprising is that he claimed to have achieved something that even a first-grade grandmaster could not do.

Before Qing Yi could ask, Shi Dazhu's more urgent voice came from behind: "Shi Ludan, do you know where the monster is hiding?"

There is an unfathomable man-eating monster hidden in the capital. More than half a year has passed, and even a first-rank grandmaster has been unable to find its trace.

As a newly promoted third-grade combat master, Shi Dazhu has been feeling uneasy recently. After all, his family and friends are all in the capital and are also facing huge threats.

Shi Ludan was about to speak but was stopped by Qing Yi.

Looking around vigilantly, seeing nothing unusual and the little fox not giving any warning, Qing Yi turned around and said, "Brother Dazhu, this matter should not be discussed outside. Let's go back to the yard and ask carefully!"

Shi Dazhu nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, and also glanced around, and said hurriedly, "Yes, yes, yes, let's go back to the yard and talk it over in detail. Anyway, Grandpa is out these two days and is not at home, so even if we talk for a whole night, it won't disturb his rest."

In a teahouse deep in the courtyard that was simple and elegant, Qing Yi, Shi Dazhu and Shi Ludan were sitting on cushions around a coffee table. Niu Niu was holding the little fox and the civet cat, and was close to Qing Yi, liking the scent that emanated from him.

The little girl's bright big eyes blinked, and she looked like she wanted to listen but was also a little scared, which made Qing Yi couldn't help but smile and stroke her little head.

After everyone was ready and Qing Yi nodded, Shi Ludan bowed and said solemnly, "Sergeant, I judge that the man-eating monster is not hiding somewhere in the lower city as we previously speculated, but is disguised as a nobleman's son and is openly active in the upper city."

"A monster is hiding in the upper city? And operating openly?"

Shi Dazhu couldn't help but frown and his eyes fell into thought. This news was really shocking.

In the past, everyone including Xing Hou, Shi Lao Weng, and Qianye Weng believed that the man-eating monster was hiding in the lower city. That's why Xing Shu and Niu Niu were only allowed to play in the upper city and the middle city and were not allowed to go to the lower city at will.

If what Shi Ludan said is true, it not only means that the upper city and the middle city are no longer safe, but also means that a first-rank grandmaster will find it difficult to detect the threat that is so close, which further shows that the monster's ability to hide is too strong.

"You said that the monster actually disguised himself as a nobleman's son?"

Qing Yi's focus is on the identity of the monster. A monster with extremely strong hidden strength, disguised as the son of a nobleman, is likely to have more far-reaching intentions and cause greater harm.

Niuniu's eyes widened in fear, her mouth opened wide: "If the monster turns into Sister Shushu, won't it eat me up in one bite? Will I be able to go out and play in the future?"

Shi Dazhu didn't care about his little sister and said in a deep voice: "Niuniu, stay at home obediently for the next few days and don't go anywhere casually."

Qing Yi looked thoughtful, tapping the coffee table slowly, and said solemnly: "Shi Ludan, you have been busy at the oil mill outside the city in recent days, and the city guards are guarding the gates and not letting you go out at will. How did you know that the monster was in the upper city disguised as a nobleman's son?"

Shi Dazhu, with a heavy face, immediately asked repeatedly: "Yes, yes, you know that you can't say those words just now casually. If they are leaked, it will be slandering the king, and you will die."

"This morning I heard that the city guard captain Qiu Yuan was coming here to attend the meeting. I told the city guards that I had something to tell the sergeant in person, and they let me come without hesitation."

Shi Ludan was not at all flustered when faced with Qing Yi and Shi Dazhu's questions. He took out a thick stack of animal skin scrolls from his arms and spread them out one by one on the straw mat in front of him.

“The sergeant knows that I have been busy at the oil mill these days, and the city guards cannot control me from going out freely. However, I have made many ranger friends in the capital over the years, and I also know many powerful people.

These people are just small shrimps in front of the nobles, but after all, they are all native people of the capital. They have many people and territories under their command, and are very familiar with the people in and outside the city. They can find abnormalities at the slightest sign of trouble. The oil mill business is booming these days, earning tens of millions of copper coins a day. The sergeant benevolently distributed a lot of wages to me and my brothers, and the children at home have no worries about food and clothing.

After serious discussions with dozens of brothers in my family, I decided to use all the money to get help from friends and wealthy people in and outside the city since we won’t need any money for a while.”

"Hey--"

Qing Yi looked at the young ranger in his twenties in surprise, and once again got to know him again. He couldn't help but sigh,

"When we first met, I always thought that you were no different from other ranger villains. Last time I learned that you adopted a lot of orphans and abandoned babies this year, I was impressed by your behavior. I didn't expect you to be so willing to spend so much money for a few missing teenagers."

Shi Dazhu also nodded slightly and praised: "Shi Ludan is indeed a man of affection and righteousness."

Despite being praised by Qing Yi and Shi Dazhu, Shi Ludan did not show any joy on his face. Instead, his eyes were filled with sadness:

“I’m glad that Sergeant doesn’t blame me. That monster kept eating people in the city and killed five of my brothers in a row. How can I not avenge such a blood feud!

Don’t even think about giving away all the money in the house in exchange for information about the monster. As long as I can find the monster and kill it, it would be worth it even if I had to sacrifice my life.”

Qing Yi could see that Shi Ludan had deep feelings for the five teenagers who had disappeared or been murdered several times in succession, and these words were not deliberate but came from the bottom of his heart.

He immediately comforted them: "Your brothers have been lonely and helpless since childhood, and unfortunately died in their youth, but you, the elder brother, have tried your best to avenge them. Even if your life is short, it is enough to comfort the dead souls."

Shi Ludan wiped the tears from his eyes, and said with a more serious expression: "I spent a lot of money to entrust many friends and wealthy people inside and outside the city, and I have collected a lot of useful information.

After a lot of analysis, my brothers and I concluded that the man-eating monster not only disguised himself as a nobleman's son and hid in the upper city, but was actually the king's most beloved youngest son, Xing Jiyin."

"what?"

Not only Qing Yi was shocked, but even Shi Dazhu stood up suddenly, but accidentally knocked over a pot rack behind him. The flower pot fell down and broke into pieces, scaring the little fox so much that it shivered.

"Meow-"

The civet cat was not frightened and continued to lie there lazily, but it also made sounds of protest. If it weren't for its fat body to block the debris and dirt, Niu Niu would have been hit.

But no one cared about this detail at the moment. Even Niu Niu herself didn't even bother to clean the dirt off her body. She just stared with her eyes wide open and listened attentively.

Qing Yi frowned and said, "Shi Ludan, are you sure that the man-eating monster is disguised as Xing Jiyin, and can't change into other people at will?"

Shi Dazhu was even more unacceptable and refuted: "Shi Ludan, your speculation is probably unfounded. The upper city is well defended, and the palace is full of powerful people.

Not only are there guards and black-armored cavalry protecting and patrolling day and night, but there are also strong men from the worship hall, sorcerers from the magic camp, and talisman masters right next to the palace.

In addition, there is Chen Lun, the third-grade talisman master and the chief priest of the Imperial College, and two first-grade grand masters guarding nearby.

No matter how powerful that monster was, it could sneak into the palace and eat the most beloved youngest son of Lord Xing, and then disguise itself as his son and move around?
If that monster could really do that, he might as well just slaughter everyone in the palace in the upper city instead of running to the lower city to eat people. "

(End of this chapter)