Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

Bao Xiang was silent for a moment, then stood up: "Sheng Di, go into the city and investigate. See what Ling Tuisi has been doing lately, and whether there are any signs that he has left the city. Be careful, and don't expose your identity."

Shengdi nodded, took off his blood-red cassock, changed into ordinary people's clothes, and went to Jingzhou City alone.

Not long after, in Jingzhou City, at Wangjiang Tower.

Shengdi chose a corner seat, ordered a pot of tea and a few plates of snacks, and ate slowly while listening to the sounds around him.

Restaurants are great places. People from all walks of life come here, and you can hear all sorts of news.

He sat for half an hour, listening to a tumble of gossip—the neighbor's cow was missing, the master of the west house's third concubine had an affair with a frivolous scholar and was stripped naked and paraded through the streets. The shops on South Street had raised their rents. None of it concerned Ling Tuisi.

Sheng Di frowned, wondering if he had actually come to the best restaurant in Jingzhou City.

How come their conversation is so down-to-earth?

Please, it's exhausting to use internal energy to enhance hearing in order to eavesdrop on others, and then there are always drunk people shouting in a strange and unsettling way that makes your eardrums ring—it's absolutely awful.

Just as I was about to get up and move to another spot, I suddenly heard people talking at the next table.

"Have you heard? Lord Ling has been acting very mysteriously lately and hasn't returned home for several days."

Shengdi paused for a moment, then calmly picked up his teacup and listened intently.

The speaker was a well-dressed middle-aged man, who looked like a butler. Across from him sat a plump businessman, who was attentively pouring him wine.

"Oh? Lord Ling is busy with official duties, so it's normal that he doesn't go home, isn't it?"

"It's not official business." The butler lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously. "I have a relative who works in the yamen. He said that Lord Ling has been going out a lot these days, only returning after dark. When asked what he's doing, he won't say."

The fat businessman's eyes lit up: "Could it be... that he's keeping a mistress?"

The steward scoffed, "Lord Ling's first wife died young. If he were to remarry, the prefect's doorstep would be worn down with suitors. Is such a trivial matter worth Lord Ling hiding?"

"Your perspective is too narrow!"

The fat businessman's eyes darted around again.

In this world, what moves people the most is money, power, and sex.

Lord Ling has power, but he's not interested in sex.

What's left then?

"Could it be that... the legendary treasure has been discovered?"

The butler waved his hand, giving an expression that said, "I didn't say that," but he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.

"Didn't a scholar write a poem at Wangjiang Tower a while ago? After Lord Ling met that poet, he acted completely strangely. I heard that the man knows a secret related to a place outside the city."

Shengdi's ears perked up even more.

"What secret?" the fat businessman pressed.

The steward looked around and lowered his voice, "I only heard about it—that the poem contains clues to the treasure. Lord Ling has been running around outside the city these past few days looking for that treasure."

The portly businessman gasped, "Treasure? What treasure?"

"Shh—" The butler gestured for silence. "It's said to be the treasure of Emperor Liang Yuan in the past, priceless! Don't let this get out. Lord Ling said that anyone who leaks this information will be held accountable."

The two whispered a few more words, then the butler rose to take his leave. The portly merchant settled the bill and also hurried away.

Shengdi sat in the corner and slowly finished the tea in his cup.

A treasure.

Ling Tuisi searches for treasure outside the city.

So he has been going out of town frequently these days.

So he will appear at the land temple in the south of the city tomorrow night—if there really is treasure there.

Shengdi stood up, paid the bill, and strode out of Wangjiang Tower. He didn't rush out of the city, but instead circled around twice to make sure no one was following him before leaving through the south gate and taking a long detour back to the dilapidated temple.

"How is it?" Baoxiang asked.

Shengdi recounted everything he had overheard at the restaurant.

Upon hearing this, Shan Yong slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "I knew it! That old bastard Ling Tuisi must have discovered something good and was sneaking off to dig it up. We can just ambush him at the Earth God Temple!"

Shan Kang and Shan Xiong nodded in agreement.

Shengdi was still somewhat uneasy: "That steward... could it be someone's doing?"

"Who would arrange this?" Shan Yong retorted. "Ling Tuisi's butler couldn't possibly be someone else in disguise, could he?"

Sheng Di thought about it and felt it made sense. Ling Tuisi's steward was someone an ordinary person couldn't easily impersonate. Besides, the man's tone and demeanor were like those of a seasoned veteran of the officialdom, not an actor.

"I still think it's too much of a coincidence," Shengdi said.

Bao Xiang remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Whether it's a coincidence or not, we'll find out when we go and see. Even if it's a trap, with the skills of the five of us, as long as we're not surrounded by a large army, escaping shouldn't be difficult."

He glanced at everyone: "Three days from now, at the Earth God Temple in the south of the city. Be prepared."

Shan Yong grinned and touched the dagger at his waist.

Shengdi didn't say anything more, but he felt uneasy, like a thorn stuck in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out.

West of Jingzhou City, the Shen Family Villa.

Du Ming changed out of his respectable butler's clothes, revealing a black outfit underneath. He carefully put away the fake beard he had borrowed from the Shen family, then pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.

Sun Fan was practicing his sword in the courtyard. When he saw him come in, he sheathed his sword.

"Is it all done?"

Du Ming nodded: "Shengdi took the bait. I sat in Wangjiang Tower for less than half a day before he arrived. I deliberately chatted with the fat manager of the Shen family about Ling Tuisi's treasure hunt outside the city, and he heard every word."

Sun Fan's lips curled up slightly.

"What about Ling Tuisi?"

"Chu Huai'an has been released," Du Ming said. "As you instructed, I sent him a sum of money and told him to go south, as far as possible. He was very grateful and said he would remember the squad leader's kindness for the rest of his life."

Sun Fan nodded and walked to the stone table to sit down.

Sun Fan smiled.

"Good. Everything is going according to plan."

Please step into the urn.

The old man is all ready; now it's time to invite you.

This gentleman still intends to take matters into his own hands.

The next evening.

Sun Fan changed into a moon-white robe, his hair was tied up neatly, and an ordinary longsword hung at his waist. He walked alone toward the Ling residence.

The setting sun dyed the streets of Jingzhou City a golden red, and his shadow was stretched very long, like a drawn sword.

The gatekeeper of the Ling residence already recognized him, and upon seeing him arrive, he greeted him with a beaming smile: "Young Master Sun has arrived. The master has been waiting for you."

Sun Fan nodded and followed the butler through the front hall, around the screen wall, and toward the study.

Along the way, he noticed that there were significantly more guards at the Ling residence than usual. Armed guards stood at the corners of the corridors, and patrols were seen in the courtyard. It seemed that although Ling Tuisi didn't say anything, he was already starting to feel nervous.

The study door was open.