Free Web NovelChapter 987: Chapter 233: Why is Holding the Jade Blameless?
At that moment, as Jiang Wang locked eyes with Wu Lie, he noticed the old man’s eyes were deep and distant, like black ink pupils seemingly capable of drawing one’s soul into them.
This man was likely skilled in Pupil Skill.
Thinking this, Jiang Wang deliberately shifted his gaze away.
The things Wu Lie had just said were truly shocking, and not just for one reason.
Whether it was the Da Ze Tian Clan or the Green Badge elders, they shared one common identity, all were People of Qi.
More importantly, the Green Badge system represented Qi Ting’s law enforcement to some degree. Even though Wu Lie had retired, his past honors, feats, and reputation solidly linked him with the Green Badge system, not easily separable.
Then, why did Tian Huanwen want to kill Wu Lie, and by assassination no less?
Is the entire Da Ze Tian Clan really filled with madmen like Tian Anping, acting recklessly, killing whomever they wish?
And Wu Lie, why didn’t he seek help from Jueming Island? fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Even though he had retired and strictly speaking was not an official Green Badge arrest officer anymore, could Qi Xiao really just watch him die if he had filed a complaint on Jueming Island?
It implied that there must be hidden complexities in this matter.
In fact, at this point, Jiang Wang had started to regret.
Regret asking.
He began to doubt himself...
Was he really a smart person?
The words Wu Lie had spoken... he shouldn’t have listened to them!
Zhongxuan Sheng was his idea of a smart person, and previously, he thought that if it were Zhongxuan Sheng, he would have instantly identified others behind Wu Lie’s assassination. But now, he felt that if it were Zhongxuan Sheng, he wouldn’t even pretend to know and would ignore it.
Because that would be the best choice, the choice to avoid many troubles.
And he, believing he had seen through the secrets behind Wu Lie and Lin Youxie, who knew if those were not intentional flaws to lure him into the scheme?
But having heard this much, pretending he knew nothing was no longer possible.
"It won’t be long before I can return to Qi Country," Jiang Wang clumsily changed the subject.
Wu Lie seemed intrigued and looked at him, saying, "You don’t seem curious about why Tian Huanwen wanted to attack me."
Jiang Wang casually said, "Who in this world doesn’t have some grudges? I also offended the Diao Hai Building a few days ago."
"It’s not personal grudge," Wu Lie’s expression became serious. "It’s about justice. I am investigating them. I have always been investigating them."
It was apparent that initially, Wu Lie and Lin Youxie just wanted to use the widely renowned Jiang Wang to survive their critically wounded period and escape assassination.
But now, when he mentioned the word "justice" and disclosed he had been investigating the Da Ze Tian Clan...
It indicated that he wanted to draw Jiang Wang into the fray.
Otherwise, he would not have spoken in such terms.
The Da Ze Tian Clan was a top aristocratic family in Qi Country, investigating them was a matter of great magnitude, not something to be spoken of lightly.
With the listener present, a stance had to be taken!
Jiang Wang asked himself, in a clash of the level between Wu Lie and Tian Huanwen, or to broaden the view, in the combat between the Green Badge and the Da Ze Tian Clan, what role could he possibly play?
The only thing he could think of was his current reputation, the top rank in both the Near Sea Archipelago Inner Mansion and the assistant leader of the Sea Hero Chart.
He was unaware that in Wu Lie’s eyes, he was already destined to rise as a powerful figure within the Green Badge system.
But knowing or not knowing, it did not alter Jiang Wang’s intention to retreat.
He didn’t want to get involved!
So, he simply nodded, acknowledging his awareness.
Then, there was no follow-up.
Wu Lie waited for a while but didn’t hear him continue,
Thus, he sighed, glanced at Fan Qingqing, and asked Jiang Wang, "Do you know why the Five Immortal Sect was annihilated?"
Jiang Wang’s eyes grew colder.
He knew the reasons behind the annihilation of the Five Immortal Sect and held them in his hand.
But if Wu Lie intended to use this as leverage to negotiate, then he was greatly underestimating Jiang Wang!
You come to me for help, I agree to cover for you, and then you turn around and threaten me?
If the other party was indeed such lowly, perhaps Jiang Wang should leave some clues for Yin Guan to see.
However, a legendary arrest officer indeed carried the manner of a great arrest officer. Wu Lie did not mean to threaten Jiang Wang.
He was not entangled in what Jiang Wang gained, nor did he think it had anything to do with him but simply said, "An innocent man bears no crime, but possession of a jade invites trouble. I don’t know what the Five Immortal Sect had, but this is the way of the world."
"Constable Jiang. You wear a renowned sword at your waist, possess extraordinary Cultivation Techniques, and have mastered the lost Immortal Technique," he slowly asked, "Have you ever thought, why has no one ever thought of forcefully taking from you? Are those shameless people all weaker than you? Why has the disaster of the Five Immortal Sect never befallen you? Are you invulnerable wherever you go?"
Strictly speaking, there had been those who had contemplated using brute force to seize something by force. For instance, Jiang Wuyong once coveted Longing, but was repelled by Zhongxuan Sheng, just as Hai Zongming had coveted Red Mirror but ended up traveling a thousand miles only to be killed in a counterattack.
But expanding the view, indeed, very few dared to brazenly come and forcefully seize treasure or cultivation techniques.
There were countless evildoers stronger than Jiang Wang.
Yet, the reason he was not punished for possessing a treasure was naturally due to his identity.
He was a man from Qingyang town of Qi Country, a Fourth-Grade Green Badge constable. Qi Country was his backing and reliance, sheltering him with the authority and status of the overlord of the Eastern Region.
This was an intangible but substantial benefit, easily overlooked.
Of course, for Jiang Wang, an outsider, to have his current status and protection within Qi Country was also due to his tangible contributions, sufficient to merit rewards.
On the battlefield of Qi Yang, he had fought bloodily, and Emperor Qi had personally conferred upon him a purple robe, which symbolized this type of "exchange."
If he did not have the capability to battle Ji Shaoqing or even overwhelmingly defeat his opponent, would Jiang Mengxiong, bloated with self-contentment, bother to ensure fairness for him?
Did the War God not care about losing face when he emerged from the sea?
Jiang Wang calmly stated, "Because I hold a Qi title, I serve a Qi position."
He acknowledged the protection Qi Country provided him.
"Constable Jiang, you are a responsible and principled person. But not everyone is like you."
Wu Lie slowly said, "The Tian family has problems, serious problems. I have been investigating them all these years. This expedition at sea, under the guise of protecting Evil Presence, was actually to investigate my own case. Many people know that Evil Presence is my close friend, so accompany her to sea, I wouldn’t be suspected."
At this moment, Lin Youxie also bowed again, "Brother Jiang, my previous investigation of you was to provide cover for Grandfather Wu and even more so to catch the rats from Hell Has No Door. I apologize to you again here. However, I can’t deny that I indeed had doubts about you."
"So now?" asked Jiang Wang.
He was eager to steer away from the topic of the Tian family, hence actively showing a reconciled attitude towards Lin Youxie.
"Still in doubt," Lin Youxie was honest, "But I won’t investigate you privately anymore."
That is to say, if ordered by the Imperial City Inspection Mansion, investigations would still be conducted.
However, if it actually came to being officially ordered by the Imperial City Inspection Mansion to investigate, it probably wouldn’t matter much whether the investigation was conducted or not.
Jiang Wang was very satisfied with this, "I trust Constable Lin’s integrity."
He had diverted the topic and resolved the trouble, so he should be satisfied.
"The sincere are concealed in anonymity, the deceitful climb by stepping on others. Not everyone can maintain integrity."
But Wu Lie subtly steered the topic back, "Tian Huanwen is a cancer."
Jiang Wang: ...
(Today I communicated with the editor wanting a bigger recommendation, but the editor said the performance wasn’t enough so still no.
I don’t know what counts as meeting the criteria, 1,700 average orders indeed don’t give me confidence.
However... I want to fight for the monthly ticket rank this month.
I have never asked for votes, but last month we had 3,500 monthly tickets, peaking at 150th place.
This month I will push.
We take 2,000 monthly tickets as the base. For every 500 monthly tickets beyond that, I will add another update. There is no cap.
That is to say, even if it is just level with last month, I will still add three more updates.
Everyone knows my writing speed, I am really putting my all into this.
Without a major recommendation, a surge in average orders is unlikely.
I want to try, does being among the top hundred in the monthly ticket rank qualify as enough performance.
Most readers of this book came through word of mouth, and most are also on pirated sites. I know, the engagement on piracy is high, outperforming many books with far higher subscriptions than Red Heart.
Despite this, I have never set up anti-piracy Chapters.
Because many readers switched from pirated to official versions to support me. Because there was once a truly penniless reader who encouraged me. I remember their kindness. I think, as long as they support me, no matter in what way, they are my readers.
Now I’m asking, friends who read the pirated versions, to support my monthly ticket this month.
I am pushing for a big recommendation.
After writing for more than a year, 2.3 million words down, there was only one limited-time free offer.
I can barely persevere.
I want to give it a push.
Either become like Yin Guan, rising to godhood in one battle, or like Yang Jiande, who fought to the bitter end with his nation.)
