Chapter 977: The Truth Comes Out (2)
The young man nodded, “I will work hard.”
As they talked, Chen Yi and Chen Er had started a grilling game, and soon a delicious aroma wafted through the air.
…
In Shu City.
Wei Zhongqing was somewhat anxious as he questioned Grand Master of Divine Music, “Have you not yet found the elixir?”
Grand Master of Divine Music bowed his head, “Master, everyone is indeed trying their best.”
“Trying your best? I think you’re just slacking off!” Wei Zhongqing was quite dissatisfied, “So many days have passed, and there’s not a single piece of news. My father’s birthday feast is about to begin. If we don’t find the miraculous elixir soon, all of you can go to die!”
Grand Master of Divine Music remained calm, “Master, rest assured, we will definitely find a suitable gift before the birthday feast.”
Wei Zhongqing was almost driven mad with impatience, “Then why aren’t you hurrying?”
“Yes, master.” Grand Master of Divine Music bowed and left Wei Zhongqing’s study.
Yan Jie waited outside for Grand Master of Divine Music, “Master, what did the second master say?”
Grand Master of Divine Music scoffed, “What else could he say? It’s all about hurrying to find the birthday gift. Where am I supposed to find such a gift in a place so unfamiliar to us?”
Yan Jie cautiously said, “Master, we still have to do something, right?”
Grand Master of Divine Music was also frustrated. He had been here for so many days, and Wei Zhongqing didn’t trust him at all, not allowing him any access to core matters.
A strategy to gain Wei Zhongqing’s trust was necessary. “Send someone to find it, we must find it.”
Yan Jie bowed, “Yes, master.”
Grand Master of Divine Music returned to his quarters and sat in a chair, thinking of a strategy.
In fact, he had one person in mind who could help—Chu Qingzhi.
He had heard that Old Master Wei suffered from a strange disease where he would develop a rash every time it rained. If he could help solve this problem, he could definitely gain Wei Zhongqing’s trust.
But he didn’t know where Chu Qingzhi was right now, so he couldn’t seek her help.
“Right, I can ask General Tang!” Grand Master of Divine Music suddenly thought. He immediately got up, wrote a letter, and took it to a teahouse.
Three days later, the teahouse responded to his letter, telling him to wait. Chu Qingzhi would visit Shu City soon, and he could seek her out then.
Grand Master of Divine Music looked at the letter and felt reassured.
…
Chu Tang continued to keep an eye on the young man, and his patience paid off. That night, he made a discovery.
A man in a mask sneaked into the young man’s tent, “Did you find out why?”
The young man, awakened by the masked man’s words, was startled, “I found out. He said it’s because he grew up in an environment full of poisonous herbs, which made his body immune to all poisons.”
The masked man was skeptical, “You believe such nonsense?”
“I think it makes sense,” the young man, not very sophisticated, believed everything Chu Tang had said.
The masked man was furious, “Then you might as well be dead!”
“Is it honorable to kill a defenseless cook?” a voice came from the entrance.
Both the masked man and the young man were shocked, the young man even more so, going limp from fear. Chu Tang knew everything, and now he was doomed.
The masked man quickly regained his composure, “You’ve come just in time, prepare to die!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a force flew in, sending him flying back to crash to the ground, every bone in his body shattered. Despite this, his body’s other parts were unharmed. The intense pain made the man wish for immediate death.
Chu Tang twirled a light between his fingertips, which flew into the brow of the masked man. Then, Chu Tang sat down on a chair, leisurely asking, “Who is your master? How did you steal the arrows? Why did you want to kill me?”
Under Chu Tang’s questioning, the truth gradually came to light.
The masked man was a military officer, known as Captain Sun. His real master was the Second Prince. The order to kill Chu Tang was from the Second Prince, aiming to stop Chu Tang from investigating further.
As for the military arrows, they had resorted to a crude method of theft. Wearing thick clothes, they strapped the arrows to their bodies and legs, managing to transport fifty arrows at a time. Given the cold climate on the frontier , early in the months they all wore padded jackets, and by strapping the arrows to their bodies, nothing seemed out of place.
After transporting the arrows out of the armory, they were concentrated in a tent.
This tent was located on the edge of the camp, next to a large, dense tree. People climbed up the tree and transferred bundles of arrows outside at night, thus completing the theft quietly and perfectly.
The method wasn’t clever, but it was effective.
Listening to this, Chu Tang wasn’t sure what to say. He wondered why the Second Prince was so determined to oppose the army camp?
He had Captain Sun tied up and dragged in front of General Chen, “This man is involved in the theft of the arrows.”
General Chen was shocked to see Captain Sun, “How could it be you?”
Captain Sun showed little regret, “My elderly mother needs money for medical treatment, and the military pay in the camp has been decreasing. I had no choice but to help the Second Prince for money. I’m sorry, General Chen, it was out of desperation.”
General Chen sighed in resignation, “Enough, just name your accomplices, and I’ll grant you a quick death.”
A series of names poured out from Captain Sun’s mouth, and General Chen immediately ordered their arrest.
With this, the case of the missing military arrows was resolved.
Chu Tang stepped out of the tent, ready to leave, but then a thought struck him — where were the arrows transported to?
He turned back and questioned Captain Sun, “Where were the arrows taken to?”
Captain Sun replied, “I don’t know, I was only responsible for getting the arrows into the tent.”