White-Robed Chief

Two middle-aged protectors from the Imperial House strode in. They were dressed in purple robes and emitted a heavy, mighty aura. The ground seemed to tremble with every step they took. It felt like two giant elephants were slowly walking into the residence.

As they stood in front of the main hall and swept their gaze over the people there, they announced solemnly, “The Emperor has given the following instructions to Xu Huande from the Secret Guardians Hall!”

Xu Huande descended the flight of steps and gave a fist salute while he bowed. “Your servant, Xu Huande!”

One of the middle-aged protectors raised his voice and said, “The Secret Guardians Hall is to begin investigating Consort Ping’s assassination case immediately. You are to identify the chief conspirator behind this assassination attempt within three days!”

“Understood!” Xu Huande replied calmly while he held up a fist salute.

The other middle-aged protector from the Imperial House said, “While you carry out your investigation, no matter who your suspects are, do not hesitate to investigate them. The chief conspirator behind this assassination attempt must be identified within three days. If there’s any delay in the matter, the Secret Guardians Hall will be held responsible!”

“Understood,” Xu Huande replied.

It was only then that the two middle-aged protectors from the Imperial House turned to greet Prince Bao with a fist salute. After that, they turned around and left at once, paying no attention to King Jing and King Cheng.

King Cheng pouted in dissatisfaction at their arrogant behavior while King Jing remained as calm as ever. Instead, he kept his eyes on Xu Huande.

Prince Bao sighed and said, “Commander Xu, you’re in a troublesome situation now!”

A humorless smile appeared on Xu Huande’s face. “We have indeed failed in our duty after all. We can only try our best to make up for it! Centurion Chu, I’ll need you to attend to the matter personally!”

Chu Li gave a fist salute without the slightest hesitation. “I’m bound by duty to take up this responsibility!”

“Hmph, how arrogant!” King Cheng cast him a sidelong glance in disdain.

Chu Li turned his gaze to King Cheng. “Your Royal Highness thinks that I’m not capable of taking up this investigation?”

“Do you really think that there’s not a case you can’t solve?” King Cheng curled his lip scornfully. “The guy is dead. How are you supposed to find out who’s behind this?”

Chu Li asked, “Commander Xu, what did the killer left behind?”

“A treasured armor and a blade,” Xu Huande replied.

He pointed at the corner of a wall as he spoke.

Chu Li walked over and picked up this unusually soft yet durable gold-colored vest. It seemed as if it was made of gold thread, but no gold thread could ever be so tough and durable. He held the vest between his palms and then slammed his palms together.

“This is indeed a treasured armor!” Chu Li said.

It was capable of weakening his palm energy. In fact, it had reduced sixty to seventy percent of his palm energy.

For a top-notch master, it would feel like they were going up against another martial arts master whose cultivation level had been reduced by two levels.

“No ordinary person would possess such an item,” Xu Huande said with a sigh. “Furthermore, based on what I know, this is made of the silk of the Fairy Spider. Fairy Spiders can be found only in the Qiu Dynasty and no other place.”

“Hmph, as expected, it’s the Qiu Dynasty!” Prince Bao laughed coldly.

Xu Huande said, “But it wouldn’t make sense for them to bring out such an item that can easily expose their identity. Moreover, this blade isn’t an ordinary blade too. It’s a treasured blade made by Royal Blade Palace. It’s so sharp that it can cut clean through iron as though it were mud.”

Prince Bao frowned and no longer dared to insist that the Qiu Dynasty was the culprit. This slip-up was too obvious.

King Cheng said, “Could it be that the Qiu Dynasty did this on purpose so that we wouldn’t suspect them and assume that someone else is framing them instead?”

“This is also a possibility.” Xu Huande nodded.

Chu Li picked up the treasured blade and examined it for a few moments before he turned away from it. He said, “Commander Xu, shall we make a move?”

“I’ll come with you,” Xu Huande replied.

Chu Li nodded. Then, he gave a fist salute and said, “Your Royal Highness, King Jing, King Cheng, we will now go and capture the accomplice.”

“I’ll come with you as well,” Prince Bao said with a huff. “I’d like to see what kind of person would harm my fourth nephew’s wife.”

“…Okay.” Chu Li slowly nodded. “But please don’t ask any questions and don’t say a word, Your Royal Highness.”

“No problem,” Prince Bao promised at once.

King Cheng wanted to join them too.

However, before he could say anything, Chu Li spoke, “King Cheng and King Jing should help to handle the funeral arrangements. We’ll be back very soon!”

“Go ahead,” King Jing replied calmly.

King Cheng glared at him indignantly.

…

After having waved a hand to dismiss his protectors, Prince Bao glided away to catch up with Chu Li. They had left the avenue and went into a series of alleyways.

By using the All-Seeing Divine Power, the owner of the treasured armor and the treasured blade appeared clearly in his mind like a lighted torch in a dark night.

The three of them soon arrived in front of a residence. Chu Li leaped over the wall and went into the bedchamber to find an old man lying motionless on the bed. The man was already dead. Judging by the flagon that had fallen onto the floor beside the bed, the man had clearly drunk poisoned wine.

Chu Li took out a Spirit Blessing Pill from his inner pocket and stuffed it into the old man’s mouth. Then, he rapidly struck the man’s body a few times with his palm.

Prince Bao remained silent but had guessed that this old man was the accomplice. Otherwise, he would not have committed suicide. This was a decisive warrior!

Xu Huande took the old man’s wrist to examine his pulse.

Ten minutes later, Xu Huande nodded. “He’s alive!”

Chu Li replied, “I’ll leave the rest to the Secret Guardians Hall. They’re the experts!”

“Leave this to us!” Xu Huande said impassively. “Even if he tries to kill himself again, it won’t be that easy!”

He sealed off the old man’s acupuncture points and then carried the man on his back.

Chu Li replied, “Commander Xu, you won’t be needing me for the rest of this investigation, so I won’t be going back with you!”

Xu Huande nodded. “Okay, you should be careful too!”

Chu Li held up a fist salute.

Xu Huande gave Prince Bao a fist salute before he glided away.

…

As King Cheng stared after Chu Li’s retreating figure, he scoffed in anger. “He really thinks he’s capable of doing anything. He truly believes that he’s the best chief in Fairy’s Capital!”

King Jing frowned and replied, “Don’t gossip about someone behind their back!”

“Sixth Elder Brother, this young fellow is too arrogant. We need to teach him a good lesson!” King Cheng said. “We have to make him realize that the world is bigger than him!”

“He has just beaten up Leng Tao twice,” King Jing muttered indifferently. “You’ve pampered your son too much. He deserves to get beaten up. If Chu Li hadn’t beaten him up, I would’ve tried to find a chance to teach him a lesson on your behalf. If you continue to spoil him like this, he’ll definitely end up causing huge trouble.”

“In any case, Young Tao is still a prince. Chu Li is nothing. He’s just a protector!” King Cheng huffed.

“He’s Rank-One. He has a higher rank than both of us!” King Jing replied coolly.

King Cheng sneered but did not argue with him.

The rank system formed the foundation of the Ji Dynasty and it was not to be challenged. Although they were princes, they had to show respect to Chu Li, because despite their noble births, their ranks were not as high.

While the two of them were still speaking, Chu Li and Prince Bao returned.

After Prince Bao came inside, he calmly said, “I have to go back and continue hosting the Hunting Ceremony. I’ll leave the both of you in charge of the situation here!”

“Uncle Bao, you returned so soon. Don’t tell me you guys have already found the accomplice?” King Cheng hurriedly said.

“Yes,” Prince Bao replied. “We’ve handed the man over to the Secret Guardians Hall to be interrogated. I believe it won’t be too long before we receive more information about this. Chu Li, let’s go!”

Chu Li nodded. He then turned to King Jing and King Cheng to give them a fist salute before he left King Ping’s Imperial Residence alongside Prince Bao.

King Cheng stared after them in a daze.

King Jing shook his head as he called the scribes and maids over to give them further instructions in a methodical and thorough manner. He appeared to be very capable and well-experienced.

Prince Bao and Chu Li rode their horses beside each other at the front while the eight protectors followed closely behind them. The protectors seemed edgy as they continuously scanned their surroundings in case of any assassination attempts. They had learned their lesson from Consort Ping’s death. They should not let down their guard for even a moment.

“That was marvelous!” Prince Bao said with a sigh of admiration.

When he saw how easily Chu Li had managed to track down the accomplice as though he was taking something out of his pocket, Prince Bao was filled with amazement.

Chu Li replied, “Your Royal Highness, this is just an insignificant skill. It’s not worth mentioning.”

“Not worth mentioning? You’re being too modest!” Prince Bao shook his head and said, “It’s not by a fluke that you’ve managed to make such a huge name for yourself. I noticed that Xu Huande values you very much.”

“When you’re rich or famous, people will envy you. Both commanders are afraid that I would become the common enemy of the other secret guardians since I’ve been in the limelight quite often. That’s why they’ve told me to go into isolated cultivation.” Chu Li shook his head and laughed mirthlessly. “Who would’ve expected such a thing to happen right after I came out of isolated cultivation!”

“This shows that even God is on your side,” Prince Bao replied and chuckled.

He began to put his worry-stricken mind at rest. Admittedly, the situation at Fairy’s Capital was not stable but with an extraordinary person like Chu Li there, he did not have to worry too much.

They went out through the eastern gate and spurred their horses forward. Soon, they had managed to catch up to Xiao Shi and her companions.

Xiao Shi and the rest of the group had been allowing their horses to saunter at a slower pace to wait for Chu Li and Prince Bao.