Hidden moth

Chapter 152: Lies and Falsehoods

After recounting this incredible experience, Wu Yanjun sighed, "It's only me, a skiing expert and an athlete. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to escape. No one else would have been able to make it this far!"

Hearing him say this, He Kao felt relieved.

He Kao had been worried that Xiao Wu would be frightened and suffer from post-traumatic stress. But now, having just been rescued and had a bite of something hot to recover, he couldn't stop boasting. He hadn't changed his ways.

He Kao: "Don't brag. It wasn't dark when you hid in this tree hole today, was it? In fact, if you go further, over the ridge ahead, there is a village outside the forest. A few miles along the village, there is a town.

Hope is right before our eyes, so why can't you, a master, run any further?"

Wu Yanjun said somewhat embarrassedly, "This has nothing to do with my physique. I just have a leg cramp... It's easy to get cramps if you don't replenish electrolytes in time after strenuous exercise."

Then he immediately changed the subject and said, "I still don't understand why those two people are chasing me."

He Kao: "Did you find anything wrong?"

Wu Yanjun: "Yes! My mind seemed to be a little unclear at the time. I was just very scared and wanted to run away for no reason. I didn't even think of calling the police... When I remembered, there was no signal."

He Kao: "The one chasing you is an expert, a high-ranking sorcerer from the Xingshen Sect. As far as I know, the Xingshen Sect has a technique that can confuse the mind, and you might have fallen for it... They just want you to escape, and then catch you in a secluded place.

But they didn't expect that you were already wearing a skateboard and your skiing skills were so good that you could actually jump off the cliff and escape. They chased you all the way across the Wulong River but couldn't catch up."

Wu Yanjun: "I'm not a free man either. So what if I'm a high-level warlock? If you want to catch up with me, you need to practice for a few more years!"

He Kao: "Are you uncomfortable if you don't show off? Let's get down to business. They say you violated the Communist Party's order to punish you. What's going on?"

Wu Yanjun looked bewildered: "I don't know either. I don't know those two people at all. That was the first time we met that day."

He Kao: "Have you ever had a conflict with anyone before?"

Wu Yanjun: "Does arguing with other tourists count?"

He Kao: "How did the fight start? Try to recall all the details and tell us everything in detail!"

Wu Yanjun's quarrel with someone happened the day before he escaped. After lunch that day, he and Ye Yuxuan went to try the horse-drawn sleigh ride offered by the Ice and Snow Village. There were a lot of people at the time, and they had to queue up.

"My junior sister forgot her phone in the room and gave me the room card, asking me to go back and get it for her because I can run fast. When I came back, I found her arguing with a man.

That guy was a bit rude, and probably thought he was bullying a little girl, so he didn't stand still in the queue and just cut in front of her. I went over and pulled him away, warning him to go to the back of the queue.

Then the guy’s girlfriend appeared out of nowhere and said that she was originally in the front of the line and asked her boyfriend to help her queue for a while, and the girl behind her was deliberately making trouble and being unreasonable... This is obviously nonsense!
The junior sister was so angry that she wanted to curse, but I stopped her behind her and pointed at her nose and cursed at them. As a result, the man got crazy and actually accused me of being a hooligan and molesting his girlfriend!

How could I be polite then? I wanted to deal with him, but the woman stopped me. I didn’t want to fight with a woman, so I told her not to stop me, or else she should get out of here with her boyfriend, or I’d kill him!”

He Kao interrupted, "You're so naive! When did you learn this Northeastern dialect?"

Wu Yanjun: "I just learned it after I came to Northeast China. From Acheng to Yimei, I heard many people talk about it."

He Kao: "Did you really tell that woman that if they didn't leave immediately, you would kill her boyfriend?"

Wu Yanjun: "Just threatening words! If I really wanted to do something, I would have punched him several times. I was very restrained at the time."

He Kao thought for a moment before speaking, "If my guess is correct, that woman is most likely a disciple of a martial arts sect. She's deliberately picking a fight with you to get you to utter harsh words and threaten her so-called boyfriend."

Wu Yanjun was startled. "Is that so?" He paused and asked, "Even if that's the case, you can't say I violated the Communist Party's order to punish them. Do they have the final say in everything?"

He Kao shook his head and said, "Of course not, but you can no longer speak."

Wu Yanjun: "Why can't I..." At this point he suddenly realized and continued, "Someone captured me, so I can't speak. Is this their plan?"

He Kao: "That's probably what they planned! You were taken away by a master. To outsiders, it looks like you've fled because you're afraid of the crime."

Wu Yanjun: "But why would I flee in fear of punishment? Is it just because of the argument we had that day? My junior sister was there, and there were many tourists watching. You can't just say I violated the Communist Party's order to be executed and that I have to pay with my life, right?"

He Kao: "Because you disappeared, you can't speak anymore. So what happened after the quarrel and before you absconded? It's up to them to decide. They can make up whatever they want!"

Wu Yanjun: "How can I make it up?"

He Kao: "As long as you can't speak, they can say whatever they want. For example, the next morning, you run into the warlock again and have a conflict, then you rant and threaten to kill her boyfriend.

I just guessed that the woman was a sorcerer. If the situation were reversed and the man was a sorcerer, the situation would be the same. For example, you had another conflict with the man the next day and then threatened him, telling him to be careful with his girlfriend.

Anyway, you can make up whatever you want, but the purpose is to pin the Communist Party’s order on you.”

Wu Yanjun: "Why, why are you targeting me like this? I'm not some big shot..."

He Kao: "Maybe you are related to some important person or thing."

Wu Yanjun: "The most important person I know in the sect is my uncle Ye Hui."

He Kao: "Where are the important things?"

Wu Yanjun: "I became his disciple while in the detention center, and he passed away before I even got out. How could he have anything?"

He Kao: "Do you still remember the story of 'Tan Xian Holding a Cane'?"

Wu Yanjun: "Remember, I was the one who told you! The original was taken away by the Danding Sect a long time ago. Even the replica made by my master was inexplicably replaced when it was exhibited... Later, some people suspected that it was the work of the Yin Moth."

Looking back now, the story of "Tan Xian Holding a Cane" seems more and more bizarre, and there are three versions of it.

The first version was provided by Qian Guran.

Three years ago, a national tour exhibition with the theme of "Mysterious Culture of Ancient East Country" included a painting called "Tan Xian Holding a Cane" selected by the Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts. It was authentic when it was exhibited in Pingjing, and it was also authentic when it was exhibited at the last stop, Qiyuan.

But on the last day of the exhibition at Qiyuan Station, it was inexplicably replaced with a poor imitation. The exhibition organizer and the insurer refused to acknowledge the incident and could only claim that the work was a fake when it was submitted.

Public security authorities intervened in the investigation, but this led to the discovery of another major case. Numerous authentic ancient paintings and calligraphy works in the collection of the Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts had been replaced with forgeries, some of which had even been sold at auction overseas, resulting in a substantial sum of money involved.

The biggest suspect was Zhang Yanfei, the former director and then president of the museum. Zhang Yanfei was subsequently imprisoned...

This is the version told by Qian Guran, because he saw this work in Pingjing. With Qian's eyesight as a third-level strategist at the time, he couldn't tell that it was a fake.

In other words, Lao Qian believed that the items on display were authentic all along and were only swapped on the last day.

The second version was told by Wu Yanjun himself.

The painting that Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts originally sent to the exhibition was a fake, created by Zhang Yanfei, and the original one had been replaced several years ago.

Zhang Yanfei discovered the "Tan Xian Holding a Cane" in the museum's collection, and kindly informed Dandingmen, and was willing to make a copy for Dandingmen to take back as a souvenir.

However, many people came from Dandingmen, bringing with them many precious ancient calligraphy and painting materials. They asked Zhang Yanfei to make a replica to stay in the academy, and they wanted to take the original away.

Wu Yanjun didn't know the details of the negotiations, but Zhang Yanfei had no choice but to agree. Therefore, the painting "Tan Xian Leaning on a Cane" that was later submitted for exhibition was a replica made by Zhang Yanfei.

The person in charge of this matter at Danding Sect is Deacon Wan Zhongle.

Due to Zhang Yanfei's extremely high level of skill and the materials he used were all antiques corresponding to the authentic ones, even a master like Qian Guran could not find the flaws...but in the end an accident occurred during the exhibition.

If it was just the matter of this painting, there might be something to talk about, but it also involved other things, and Zhang Yanfei was speechless.

This is what Wu Yanjun told He Kao, but He Kao himself has a third version.

On the last day of the Qiyuan exhibition, the painting "Tan Xian Leaning on a Cane" was indeed stolen. The culprit was Huang Xiaopang, then a master AI artist at Tengxin Group and a master of drawing various 2D female characters. He Kao could guess why Huang Xiaopang took the painting. It was because standing before the painting, as if under the gaze of the immortal Tan, he could not activate the power of the hidden moth.

He Kao could conclude that the work sent by the Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts for exhibition was the genuine one, and Zhang Yanfei had never given the genuine work to the Danding Sect, but had used a trick to steal it.

Zhang Yanfei did make a replica that was so real that it was indistinguishable from the original. He handed that replica over to Dandingmen, but Wan Zhongle and others didn't realize it at the time!

In terms of professionalism, Zhang Yanfei is much better than Wan Zhongle.

The original painting remained at the Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts, but was later stolen by a hidden moth when it was sent for exhibition, leading to so many incidents. Now the original painting is in the hands of He Kao, kept in the Gushan Secret Mansion.

He Kao couldn't directly tell Wu Yanjun about this final version of the truth. He pondered and said, "I'm now suspicious that your master's cultivation wasn't even at the second level of Mo Ke back then. He might have already broken through to the third level of Appraiser."

A master of micromanagement, the first level is called an imitator, who can observe the detailed features of various objects.

The second level is called Mo Ke, which is a step further than the Imitator. It can not only observe, but also process. The body's control ability can already match the senses.

As for the third-level appraiser, he is equivalent to a human 3D scanner. He has mastered spiritual consciousness and possesses a clear and bright soul. He can reproduce an object in his soul in every detail.

Only then can one master the applied techniques and the art of identifying objects.

While Zhang Yanfei's ability to deceive Wan Zhongle with a forged work was due to professional expertise, he must have been at least a Tier 3 appraiser. Perhaps he had broken through to Tier 3 by successfully replicating this work.

Wan Zhongle was a fifth-rank sorcerer. If they wanted to fool him with a replica, they had to be flawless in every detail and even in its physical properties. He Kao had already known the truth, so he made this assumption.

Wu Yanjun opened his mouth wide and said, "Ah, why would my master do this?"

He Kao: "If someone wants to harm you, and you don't know what they're going to do, shouldn't you hold back and not reveal all your cards?"

Wu Yanjun lowered his head and said, "That's a possibility... I only heard from my uncle-master that many Ruweimen sorcerers, whether they are imitating or refining something, like to keep some things in reserve.

Don't get me wrong, it's not about leaving any flaws or backdoors, sometimes it's just a unique mark... With this habit, you might also keep a trick up your sleeve when doing other things... But why didn't he tell me?"

He Kao thought to himself, since he was keeping a hidden card, how could he possibly tell Xiao Wu, whom he had just met in the detention center? But he said, "Since it's a secret, of course the fewer people who know, the better. This is also for your protection."

Wu Yanjun said with a pained expression, "I've always believed there was something fishy about Master's death. He was clearly fine before he left... Could it be related to the painting 'Tan Xian Holding a Cane'?"

He Kao: "I'm not sure about that, but I'm guessing that what your master brought back to Danding Sect was actually a replica he made, and the one he left behind is the real thing."

Wu Yanjun raised his head again: "Why do you think so?"

He Kao: "If it was a fake, why would someone steal it during the exhibition?"

Wu Yanjun: "Many people, including my uncle, later speculated that it was the work of the hidden moth."

He Kao: "It doesn't have to be Yin Mo, right? There are masters in the Shu Sect who also have that ability. But that's not the point. No matter who it is, why would they steal a fake?"

Wu Yanjun: "The person who stole it didn't know it was a fake. The fact that Danding Sect took away the real thing was not publicized."

He Kao: "You know everything, how could the real masters of the sect not know? The most reasonable explanation is that it is actually the real thing, and the real thing is full of mysteries, worthy of the hands of the masters. Otherwise, who would be so bored as to steal it?"

Wu Yanjun was a little confused: "Hearing you put it that way, this is also possible."

He Kao: "You know what happened to the Shumen last year, and you were involved in it. It has been confirmed that the Hidden Moth is active in the Qiyuan area.

In this way, some people will remember the case three years ago and speculate that it was the moth that stole the painting, but there is no reason for the moth to steal a fake.

Then the Danding Sect would also suspect that what they had taken was a fake. That painting must be famous, and after so much time of research without any results, they would definitely be suspicious.

But your master is no longer with us, so if I want to find out what's going on, I'm afraid I have no choice but to ask you."

He Kao took great pains to explain his guess, but Wu Yanjun was completely confused and said, "Are you asking me? But I don't know anything!"

He Kao smiled bitterly and said, “But those people don’t believe it!

They believed that your master had accepted a closed disciple in the detention center, and that he must have some instructions. The painting "Tan Xian Leaning on a Cane" might be important or contain a profound mystery, so they wanted to retrieve it.

They speculate that the original painting was stolen by a hidden moth, so finding clues to the painting is also a clue to finding the hidden moth. And you are unlucky enough to be involved in both incidents!

Wu Yanjun was almost bewildered, muttering, "Why am I so unlucky... Who could they be?"

He Kao prompted, "Those who want to retrieve the authentic item."

Wu Yanjun: "Who wants to retrieve the authentic item?"

He Kao had the answer practically ready to go, and then he offered a hint: "The person who got the fake."

Wu Yanjun suddenly realized: "Those people from Danding Sect back then?"

He Kao nodded and said, "Perhaps due to various reasons, they began to suspect that what they took away was a fake, or perhaps after studying it for so long, they finally determined that it was not the real thing."

Wu Yanjun's eyes widened as he said, "I admire you so much! I have no idea what's going on, but how come you can analyze it so clearly?"

He Kao: "I'm just analyzing—why did those people set you up? Were they after your good physique, or your family's snack bar? After thinking it over, I can only think of this reason."

There was one more thing He Kao didn't say. The reason he made the above analysis was because he had already determined that Zhang Yanfei did not hand over the authentic "Tan Xian Holding a Cane" to Dandingmen, and then he speculated along this line of thought.

Wu Yanjun: "According to your analysis, it was those people from Danding Sect who wanted to target me, but you just said that the people who were chasing me these days were masters from Xingshen Sect?"

He Kao: "There's more than one smart person in the world. If I can think of something, there must be someone else in the sect who can think of it. The person who wants to arrest you may not do it himself. To avoid being exposed, he can hide behind the scenes and send someone else to do it."

Wu Yanjun couldn't help but feel terrified and said, "What would happen if they really caught me?"

He Kao: "You will be taken to a secret camp, and then someone will come to interrogate you."

Wu Yanjun: "Will I be tortured?"

He Kao: "That may not be the case. The masters of the magic sect have other means to make you talk, but no matter what, they will not let you come back.

Then, in the eyes of outsiders, you have violated the Communist Party’s order to flee for fear of punishment, and you may have frozen to death somewhere in the vast forest of ice and snow..."

Wu Yanjun couldn't help but shudder again: "You said it as if you saw it with your own eyes, it's amazing!"

He Kao smiled bitterly and said, "You just think I'm a god. I still think I'm too naive. What I said just now was just my guess. There's no evidence to prove it."

Wu Yanjun: "But I feel like it's true. The more I listen, the more it makes sense. But I can't even imagine... What's in that? It tastes weird and a little sweet. It tastes so good!"

As he spoke, he had almost finished the small pot of porridge, and there were some thin particles at the bottom of the porridge.

He Kao: "I added a little bit of wild ginseng roots. It tastes bitter. Didn't you notice?"

Wu Yanjun: "I've been so cold these past few days that my sense of taste has gone haywire. I just think it tastes delicious."

He Kao: "As long as it tastes good..."

Xiao Wu's deepest feeling was that his brain was not working properly. He had never been able to figure out something before, but with just a few words, He Kao had almost completely analyzed the possible identity, motives, and methods used by the suspect behind the scenes.

I vaguely heard that He Kao is the secret disciple of Elder Jiang of Lingxi Sect. Is Lingxi magic really that magical?
Although he was not under any magical attack at this moment, Wu Yanjun was still confused. Maybe he was finally full and started to feel dizzy.

**
PS: It’s still a two-in-one long chapter.

(End of this chapter)