Lü Biao coughed lightly and said, "I’m afraid I’ve been used as a pawn this time."
"What’s going on?"
Lü Biao lowered his voice. "I was only recently transferred to the Five Armies Commander’s Mansion. Tonight, I was dragged out of bed and told I had to deliver a military report and a token to Huaimu County. The men and Demon Blood Horses were all ready; all that was missing was a Night Guard. Then they ordered me to come find Li Qingxian. It wasn’t until I entered the room that I realized he was a Fate Master. That’s when it finally dawned on me—if this were truly an urgent military matter, it would never have been our turn. They’d just send a Middle-Grade Cultivator to fly there directly with a Magical Treasure."
"Do you have the documents and the Great Seal of the Five Armies Commander’s Mansion?"
"Yes, and it even has the Guard Commander’s," Lü Biao said, taking the documents from his robes and holding them out.
Hex Lei circulated his True Essence, his eyes glowing. He examined the documents closely and nodded. "They’re real... but I can’t be the one to give the final approval. My superior needs to verify the order."
"Please be quick. I’m afraid if we’re too slow, they’ll find an excuse..." Lü Biao said.
"A matter of this level is completely out of our hands. We can only leave it to fate." Hex Lei set down his bronze hammer, walked into the room, and looked at the fully dressed Li Qingxian. "This is a major order from the Five Armies Commander’s Mansion, backed by the Guard Commander. You have no choice but to obey. All I can do is stall for time and let Lord Zhou Henn contact Lord Zhou Chunfeng to see how he might resolve this."
Li Qingxian nodded. An idea flashed through his mind, and he said, "Brother Hex, I’m going to use a Fate Skill. Can you stand guard for me?"
"Okay! Lü Biaozi, no offense, brother, but could you step outside for a moment?" Hex Lei said.
Lü Biao nodded and stepped outside the room.
"Yur Ping, don’t move. I’m going to use Observing Fate and Qi on you to make an Inference about the situation," Li Qingxian said.
"Okay." Yur Ping even seemed a little pleased.
Having advanced to the Ninth Grade, his Qi Observation Skill had grown stronger once more.
Li Qingxian looked above Yur Ping’s head.
Amidst the white light, above Yur Ping’s head...
Li Qingxian froze.
Previously, Yur Ping’s Qi Fortune had been a "Tomb," but the top of the tomb was cracked—a sign of the tomb breaking through the soil, which represented a change in fortune.
But now, four distinct and dreadful omens had appeared.
Swords representing defeat, withered bones representing death, a grave mound representing a tomb, and a black void representing utter despair.
As the Fate Technique says: ’When the four omens—Defeat, Death, Tomb, and Despair—arrive, one will meet their end within seven days.’
Li Qingxian cursed inwardly. He looked above the four omens of defeat, death, tomb, and despair, but there was no Qi Fortune Image.
It was being concealed by a more powerful force.
Li Qingxian consumed his Qi Fortune Fish. One, useless. Two, useless. Three... After consuming five whole fish, a Destiny Image finally appeared.
In the morning, Yur Ping is assigned to deliver a letter to the Ministry of War. On his way back, a squad of men ambushes him and throws him into the Capital Camp’s Military Prison.
At noon, Yur Ping is tied to a torture rack in the prison. His skin is split open, his flesh is mangled, his fingernails have been torn off, and his fingers are crushed. Spitting out bloody saliva, he says, "I’ll talk! But I want a good meal first. The duck from Xinghua Building, the smoked chicken from Zhao and Li, the braised intestines from Mrs. Wang... If you don’t get me that food, I won’t confess."
In the afternoon, a lavish meal is set before Yur Ping. He arrogantly orders the Prison Guard to feed him.
After devouring the entire meal, Yur Ping spits a thick glob of phlegm at the interrogator and curses, "I’ve finished eating, and I’m satisfied! Confess my ass! I am Yur Ping, and I would rather die than betray my brothers! Fuck you..."
The next day, Yur Ping, still bound to the rack and covered in blood, manages a weak, lifeless smile. He slowly closes his eyes, his neck twists to the side, and his head hangs limp.
A Prison Guard takes out several written confessions, grabs the dead Yur Ping’s thumb, dips it in his blood, and presses it onto the documents.
Li Qingxian took a deep breath.
’I never expected that the normally unreliable Yur Ping would be so fiercely loyal when it counted.’
"Yur Ping, come here!" Li Qingxian pulled Yur Ping into a corner. Raising his right hand, he recited the Water Creation Technique. A sphere of water materialized above them, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent it splashing onto Yur Ping’s face.
The still-dazed Yur Ping jolted awake, crying out in shock as he wiped his face.
Li Qingxian channeled his Magical Power. A yellow Sound Insulation Talisman in his hand began to glimmer, floating into the air and casting a pale white barrier of light that enveloped them both.
"This is serious. It’s a matter of life and death for you!" Li Qingxian hissed.
Yur Ping instantly sobered up, his eyes sharp and alert.
Li Qingxian said in a low voice, "I just used a Fate Skill to make an Inference. You’re about to be captured by Tang Enxuan, thrown into the Capital Camp Prison, and brutally tortured to make you betray me."
"Am I the kind of person who’d sell out his brothers? ... So... did I end up talking?" Yur Ping asked, looking guiltily at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His expression then turned grim. "There are some things I can’t explain fully. If you want to live, you have to confess!"
"I’m not that kind of person..." Yur Ping said.
Li Qingxian shook his head. "You’re the bait. Your confession is the bait, understand? Now, you’re going to do exactly as I say. You’ll be captured. They’ll interrogate you first, and you must refuse to answer. Then they’ll use light torture, and you have to act like you can’t bear the pain. When you feel the time is right, tell them you’ll confess, but only on the condition that they give you a meal. After you eat, answer whatever they ask. Just give vague answers for anything you’re not sure about, because there might be a Lying Insect in the shadows."
"I know how to deal with Lying Insects. Brother Han taught me that a long time ago," Yur Ping said with a grin.
"Next, they’ll focus on two things. First is Team A9’s previous under-the-table earnings. You must tell the truth about all of it. Don’t lie. Even if it lands us in prison, you have to say it. That’s the only way to gain their trust, because they probably already know everything. After that, they’ll ask about the distillery. When it comes to the distillery, remember two key points. The first is that it’s guaranteed to make a fortune."
"If you say that, won’t he be even more determined to seize your shares?"
"I’m counting on him trying! The second point is, you need to act like you don’t fully understand. Say the strong liquor has military applications, but you’re not sure how. Add that you got the feeling I value that aspect highly and that it could also be a huge moneymaker."
"I don’t need to pretend. I really don’t understand, but I can say all that," Yur Ping said.
"Good. Now, repeat it back to me."
Yur Ping stumbled through a repetition. Li Qingxian corrected his mistakes and had him say it again. His second attempt was much better.
Just then, Zhou Henn and Han Anbo came in. Li Qingxian had them step inside the soundproofed area and recounted the situation.
Han Anbo, however, said, "You don’t need to worry about me. They can’t touch me."
Li Qingxian wanted to use Observing Fate and Qi on Han Anbo, but after hearing his confident words, he felt that he really would be fine. "Alright, I trust you, Brother Han," he said. "Next, I need to go to Captain Zheng’s house and my aunt’s house. Tang Enxuan is sure to make a move against Captain Zheng, and he might go after my family as well."
Han Anbo said, "He won’t move on your family until he’s dealt with you. Still, it’s not a bad idea to go back and use your Observing Fate Skill to check..."
But to his surprise, Zhou Henn said, "There’s someone watching over your family for you. You don’t need to worry."
Li Qingxian paused, surprised. He glanced at Zhou Henn, nodded, and said nothing more.
Han Anbo also glanced at Zhou Henn in surprise before continuing, "They will definitely arrest Captain Zheng and torture him the same way they’ll torture Yur Ping. I’ll go find Captain Zheng myself right now and tell him to act as bait as well and pretend to confess. However... I’ll have him use a different story."
Li Qingxian glanced at Han Anbo’s small, sharp eyes and gave a silent nod.
"What about you?" Li Qingxian asked him.
Han Anbo smiled faintly. "As long as I’m prepared, I can escape from not just Tang Enxuan, but even his father. I’m no expert or nobleman, but I have friends in every walk of life. Don’t you worry. I’ll stay on the outside and investigate Tang Enxuan from the shadows. If all goes as planned, he will make his move when you return. He’ll use the confessions from Captain Zheng and Yur Ping as evidence, hold their lives over your head, or dig up some other dirt to force you to surrender your distillery shares and the Qiankun Bracelet."
Hearing the words "distillery shares," Zhou Henn’s eyes flew open. He stared at Li Qingxian in disbelief. ’Could he have been planning for this day way back then? Impossible!’
Li Qingxian said, "Uncle Xiaozhou, my trip should be fine, and I’ll return safely. Please look after them for me. With you vouching for them, even if there’s an accident, Tang Enxuan won’t dare kill them."
"No. I must protect you. That is not negotiable," Zhou Henn stated.
Li Qingxian frowned.
Han Anbo said, "If Yur Ping and Captain Zheng refuse to confess, they might be killed. But if they do confess, they’re much more valuable alive. If I were Tang Enxuan, once they confessed, I would absolutely keep them alive to confront you with, as ironclad evidence. Tang Enxuan pulled major strings this time to get a direct order from the Five Armies Commander’s Mansion. He’s not going to be reckless; he’ll be calculating every move. The more intricate the plot, the more one wants to avoid accidents. I am certain that as long as you are alive, we will all be safe. You are the key to all of this."
Memories of Han Anbo’s past resourcefulness flashed through Li Qingxian’s mind. He finally nodded. "Okay, Brother Han. We’re counting on you this time!"
"Your Brother Han is a reliable man," Han Anbo said, his tone firm.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a loud shout. "Lü Biao, what are you waiting for?! Stop dawdling! I’m here with the General’s Token! If you don’t set out immediately, you will be executed on the spot!"