Free Web NovelChapter 1347: Chapter 39 Yang Xuance (Added more for the Alliance Hierarch’s rebirth!)
Who is A Ce?
First of all, he is undoubtedly a native of Yang Country.
To operate such an ostentatious yet powerless assassin organization in Cangfeng City, his background within Yang Country must be significant.
Yang Country has fallen. Although, to date, apart from the assassination at Xiao Lianqiao, the entire Yang Region seems devoid of major unrest. While the Yang Region is bustling with song and dance, and the lives of its people seem improved compared to before—are all natives of Yang Country entirely content with identifying as members of Qi?
Perhaps not.
Regarding A Ce’s abilities, Jiang Wang remains unaware. Concerning A Ce himself, they have met only on a few occasions.
Yet, piecing together the flamboyance within Cangfeng City, the indifference on the battlefield at Red Tail, and the fleeting glance exchanged on Haimen Island—
A picture of his life seems to be gradually forming.
"The reason Huang Yixing’s resistance seemed so lackluster might have another explanation."
Jiang Wang said, "Could it be that he didn’t harbor much will to resist in the first place? Or perhaps, the force opposing him shared the same origin, leading outsiders to overlook it? Consider the sharp metallic element found in Huang Yixing’s lungs—could it have been tainted by external forces?"
"This could also explain..." Lin Youxie looked steadily at him. "Did something occur to you?"
"Just a sudden association." frёewebnoѵēl.com
Jiang Wang thought for a moment and eventually decided to share the matter of the A Ce from World Building with Lin Youxie.
Lin Youxie clearly hadn’t anticipated that during the bait operation for Wu Yiyu on Haimen Island, there was such an incident in the process.
"After Yang fell, leaving one’s homeland would naturally be a refusal to submit to Qi." Lin Youxie remarked, "This indeed serves as an important clue."
"Lieyao Stone..." She seemed to have recalled something. "I’ll contact the Patrol Inspection Bureau immediately and investigate this A Ce. Meanwhile, you check the residence of Zhao Heng City’s chief arrest officer and see if there’s any other lead."
"Didn’t you imply that Zhao Heng City’s chief arrest officer might not have any issues?"
"The perspective within the painting is off," Lin Youxie explained. "Though it could also be due to insufficient observation on his part—after all, the painting was created post-Huang Yixing, so omissions are inevitable. In any case, confirm it first."
At that moment, Jiang Wang did not challenge her about hierarchical relations, merely answering, "Understood."
The two parted at the city gates, heading their separate ways.
Within Hengyang Prefecture lies a secret Qing-brand contact point. There exists an array formation enabling immediate communication with Linzi to relay intelligence, though it is not located in Zhao Heng City.
Therefore, they chose to split up to save time.
Jiang Wang had already identified the residence of the chief arrest officer who personally sketched Huang Yixing’s death and documented the intelligence at the time.
He entered Zhao Heng City alone, donning hidden clothes, and silently infiltrated his target’s residence.
It was a grand mansion located in the North City. Judging by the courtyard’s layout, Zhao Heng City’s chief arrest officer lived quite comfortably.
After the Qi Army took control of Zhao Heng City, old Yang bureaucrats were retained in many positions for stability’s sake, including this chief arrest officer, who had also earned Huang Yixing’s trust upon his appointment as Hengyang’s town suppression envoy.
This individual likely held sway as a local power in Zhao Heng City.
Jiang Wang decided to investigate covertly first, followed by open inquiries to cross-reference findings.
But even at the covert investigation stage, his efforts abruptly stalled...
The mansion did not contain the target chief arrest officer.
His wife, children, and servants were sound asleep within the residence—even the faint snores could be heard—but he alone had disappeared.
Walking quietly through the mansion, Jiang Wang observed everything as normal. A typical wealthy household laid exposed before him, silent and at ease. Except for its male master, who had vanished, no one in the household seemed to notice.
It imparted an indescribable sense of unease.
As the chief arrest officer of Zhao Heng City, where would he go so late at night?
Ultimately, Jiang Wang acted upon nothing and left to rendezvous with Lin Youxie.
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The meeting place was in Deer City.
This city derives its name from the abundance of deer inhabiting the outskirts.
The secret Qing-brand contact point within Hengyang Prefecture is hidden within this city.
"You’re saying Zhao Heng City’s chief arrest officer is missing?" Lin Youxie posed the question while pounding ingredients with a wooden pestle into a medicine pot atop a square table. "Couldn’t it just be that he had some business outside during the night?"
"That’s possible," Jiang Wang acknowledged. "But if my observations are correct, this isn’t the first time he’s disappeared from his mansion at night."
Lin Youxie didn’t press him on how he reached that conclusion, as Jiang Wang wouldn’t err in such basic judgment.
She simply nodded and said, "Let’s not concern ourselves with it for now. If there’s a problem with him, he won’t escape."
"What about your side? Have you uncovered anything?" Jiang Wang asked.
Lin Youxie didn’t hold back. "I had someone look into the secret Bureau’s records. First, connecting Lieyao Stone with the Yang Country. It turns out Lieyao Stone is a critical auxiliary material for cultivating the Yang Royal Family’s Great Sun Golden Flame Technique. Then investigating A Ce uncovered that among Yang Jiande’s children, the least favored one disappeared after the war. His name is... Yang Xuance!"
The secret records held by the Qing-brand encompass all vital intelligence accessible to the Qing-brand branch. With Jiang Wang’s current rank, he can view most of the database.
Already harboring suspicions, Jiang Wang wasn’t surprised. He simply sighed, "I didn’t expect a casual acquaintance in a random place to turn out to be a prince of Yang Country. Even less so, to reconnect with him in such a manner under these circumstances."
With that revelation, everything began making sense.
Why A Ce was so confident about delivering messages into Yang’s royal palace. Why he was encountered at an auction. Why he waited by the cliffs within that moment in time...
Jiang Wang couldn’t help but wonder, when he flew by and informed him of the Qi Army’s victory, what thoughts must have filled him—this sole surviving Yang prince?
Standing alone atop that lofty cliff, quietly awaiting news from the battlefield—the inevitable, catastrophic fall of his nation.
What might he have been contemplating then?
Jiang Wang still remembered Yang Xuance’s reply.
He said—"Got it, thanks!"
"Yang Xuance has both a motive and the capability to kill. The person who tasked Hell Has No Door to assassinate Zhao Xuan might very well have been him as well!" Lin Youxie carried on pounding the medicine rhythmically, seeming almost relieved. "The two cases may indeed merge into one."
Jiang Wang remarked, "Rumors circulating in town paint General Cao as scheming to take over Hengyang Prefecture’s governorship and forcing Huang Yixing’s demise. Now seeing this, it’s quite ridiculous."
Lin Youxie cast him a cool glance and said, "If you’re merely out to disprove that, you’ve already succeeded. Just expose Yang Xuance’s identity and supply some of the existing leads. Everyone will believe Huang Yixing’s death was payback from the Yang Royal Bloodline."
Jiang Wang said nothing for a moment.
Lin Youxie continued, "To uncover the truth, though, we must catch Yang Xuance for certain. Until then, our so-called conclusions are mere suppositions. For now, Yang Xuance only stands as the prime suspect."
Jiang Wang paused thoughtfully before admitting, "You’re right."
"Right and wrong aren’t always so black and white!"
At that moment, an abrupt voice interrupted from behind Lin Youxie.
A man with piercingly bright eyes and sharply defined cheekbones stepped out from the shadows.
Grade-Three Qing-brand arrest officer—Li Youjue!
Glaring sternly at Lin Youxie, he said: "Do you realize that, under public pressure, General Cao has already been confined to his home? Do you understand, given General Cao’s stature, skills, and authority, how detrimental every day confined at home is for this nation? Lin Youxie, do you truly believe Yang Xuance will simply wait to get captured? ’Catch him, and only then we’ll know’—how long do you intend to search? Are we to leave Cao confined indefinitely, patiently awaiting your capture of the culprit?"
