Chapter 1245: Funing

Within the Zhengsheng Hall, specially constructed by Jiang Wang, nestled within the mechanism of one of the chairs, lay a map detailing the distribution of extraordinary power within Rizhao Prefecture.

What did this signify?

What was Jiang Qingyang's true intent?

In the world of the extraordinary, with various supernatural means at play, dao arts can be deciphered, artifacts corrupted, and even a whisper of dao yuan fluctuation detected. On the battlefield, sometimes the most rudimentary forms of communication prove the most reliable. And the most trustworthy messengers are always those who have endured brutal training.

Beyond the battlefield, the transmission of intelligence sometimes follows a similar path.

It was painfully clear that what lay exposed before everyone was an incident of intelligence leak.

Given that it involved the deployment of extraordinary forces across an entire prefecture, this was a matter of grave consequence!

The location: Qingyang Town Territory, Funing Mountain, Zhengsheng Hall.

Jiang Wang bore undeniable responsibility!

Just as Ma Xiong deciphered the crucial implications upon seeing the sheepskin scroll before him,

From the crowd behind him, Fan Qingqing, the sea-dweller, suddenly raised her hand!

In an instant, massive waves surged forth, a tempest resembling coiled dragons, scattering the surrounding Raincutting soldiers. She leaped into the air, soaring westward.

It was a desperate gamble.

And that direction was closest to the national border!

At that very moment, Zhang Weiyu merely let out a cold snort: "Still think you can escape?"

One hand still holding the sheepskin scroll, his other hand reached forward.

From the distant starry sky, four streaks of starlight descended.

One streak of white starlight, like a blade, sliced across Fan Qingqing's head, instantly severing her connection with her Inner Mansion.

One streak of yellow starlight formed a horizontal barrier, instantly expanding into an insurmountable wall, blocking Fan Qingqing's path.

One streak of green starlight transformed into a rope, coiling like a dragon, wrapping around her multiple times and binding Fan Qingqing securely.

Zhang Weiyu's hand retracted, and Fan Qingqing plummeted back, falling heavily before the Zhengsheng Hall!

And another streak of red starlight fell upon the surging waves, sweeping them away and transforming them back into raw energy.

Ma Xiong's eyes narrowed. He, of course, recognized this as Zhang Weiyu's renowned secret art.

What he hadn't expected was for Zhang Weiyu to deploy such a technique against a mere Inner Mansion realm cultivator like Fan Qingqing, revealing the true depth of the malice in his heart!

The result was the immediate capture of Fan Qingqing with a single move!

Zhang Weiyu paid no mind to the fallen Fan Qingqing. Instead, he continued to look at Ma Xiong: "Captain Ma, why do you not answer me?"

At this point, feigning ignorance was no longer possible. Ma Xiong stated matter-of-factly: "This is indeed the distribution map of Rizhao Prefecture's extraordinary forces."

"Then why does it appear here?" Zhang Weiyu asked, shifting his gaze to Chongxuan Sheng: "Young Master Chongxuan, perhaps you can offer a small explanation for Jiang Qingyang?"

Chongxuan Sheng remained silent.

Zhang Weiyu twitched his lips.

Now that he had revealed his hand and firmly controlled the situation, especially seeing this sharp-tongued胖子(fatty) rendered speechless, the joy in his heart was beyond description.

He looked down at Fan Qingqing: "Or do you have anything you wish to explain?"

Her resistance utterly broken, Fan Qingqing's face was ashen, and she uttered not a word.

"Silence matters not," Zhang Weiyu said with a light chuckle. "I imagine Captain Ma possesses ample means to make someone speak."

He asked Ma Xiong, "Am I correct?"

Ma Xiong had no choice but to respond: "It is my duty, and I shall not shirk it."

What methods the Qi Kingdom's Azure Badge possessed to make someone speak? Many did not dare to ponder this question.

Fan Qingqing's eyes clearly showed terror.

Zhang Weiyu then slowly walked towards her, crouching down, and shook the sheepskin scroll before her eyes: "I truly cannot bear to burden Captain Ma, nor can I witness such terrible sights. Why don't you speak for yourself? How did you contact Drifting Sea Tower, and how much intelligence regarding the Qi Kingdom have you already transmitted to them?"

Ma Xiong's heart was greatly shaken!

He, of course, clearly remembered the surging rumors in Linzi City during this period.

He had even privately discussed some of the more scandalous tales with his colleagues.

But as a fourth-rank Azure Badge, he was keenly aware that among the numerous accusations leveled against Jiang Wang, only three were truly fatal.

First, collusion with the remnant forces of the Yang clan; second, collusion with the Equal Kingdom; third, collusion with the Unseen Hell.

If evidence for any one of these three matters were found, Jiang Wang would be unable to recover.

Apart from these, accusations of tyranny and debauchery held no real power and could not possibly bring down a prodigy like Jiang Wang.

It was evident that the false intelligence Chongxuan Sheng had initially crafted concerned the Equal Kingdom.

And Zhang Weiyu had merely pretended to fall for it.

He had come to Qingyang Town not because he believed Chongxuan Sheng's "willing bait" of false intelligence, but because he had found a fourth fatal point that had not appeared in the rumors—

Jiang Wang's collusion with Drifting Sea Tower!

This was indeed hard to imagine.

But considering Fan Qingqing's background and origins, it seemed everything was traceable!

Fan Qingqing finally spoke: "I..."

"Wait," Zhang Weiyu interrupted her. "You can hold off on answering those questions for now. Let us first address the question that this Young Master Chongxuan is most concerned with."

He pointed in Chongxuan Sheng's direction and continued to ask: "How long has Jiang Qingyang been providing intelligence to Drifting Sea Tower?"

His gaze was fixed on Fan Qingqing, sharp and piercing.

Only now did he reveal his mastery of the situation, demonstrating the reason he could compete for the position of Commander of the Northern Garrison!

"Nonsense!" Chongxuan Sheng exclaimed at this moment. "Can Jiang Qingyang be responsible for every single person in his fief? Three years ago, one of your manor guards got into an altercation while returning home and impulsively killed someone. Why did I not see you serving jail time on his behalf?"

Zhang Weiyu looked at Chongxuan Sheng.

After all, this one had been his opponent all along.

And Fan Qingqing was utterly insignificant.

The ability to casually dredge up that incident from three years ago was sufficient proof that this seemingly harmless胖公子(fatty) had secretly researched him countless times.

But Zhang Weiyu, at this moment, felt only excitement.

Defeating such an opponent brought a sense of accomplishment!

"Whose person is Fan Qingqing? Whose territory is this? Who demanded the construction of Zhengsheng Hall, and why was it specifically built in such a place that was originally a desolate mountain? Can you explain? Can you explain everything? Can you explain it clearly?!"

Zhang Weiyu fired a barrage of questions, his momentum rising with each one. By the end, he was standing, glaring at Chongxuan Sheng: "Even if I believe you, will the esteemed ministers of the Political Affairs Hall believe you? Can the Son of Heaven believe you? The person Jiang Qingyang personally brought back from overseas, the one he entrusted as a confidante to guard his fief, secretly colluding with Drifting Sea Tower and transmitting vital military intelligence. Jiang Wang himself was completely unaware? Who do you think you're fooling with such words?"

He seemed to see the disheartened expression on the face of the胖子(fatty) before him.

What noble lineage, what thousand-year legacy.

Rotten mud cannot be plastered onto the wall!

But then, a voice spoke: "Lord Zhang, Lord Jiang truly is unaware of this matter!"

Everyone looked, only to see that thin, frail figure, the weak Tingshang of Qingyang Town, standing forward once again, standing before Zhang Weiyu.

"I have tolerated you many times," Zhang Weiyu said, looking coldly at this insignificant character. "Dare to speak out of turn again, and do not blame me for being impolite. You bed-climbing lowlife! It is only because Jiang Qingyang is not picky that he has given you the opportunity to be so presumptuous!"

Dugu Xiao's body swayed.

The word "賤婢(lowlife)" struck her deepest scar, the most unspeakable pain.

She had believed that she had completely shed her past.

She had believed that she had become an extraordinary cultivator, a respectable person!

Had she not, in fact,?

Had she remained, in the eyes of the significant figures from Linzi, still that servant girl covered in bruises, who could be bought and sold at will? Who could be freely insulted and trampled upon?

But she stood there, her expression remarkably calm.

She merely asked: "This lord, is it not permissible for me to present evidence, even if I have it?"