Master of Strange Dao

Yu Ziqing gobbled down his breakfast and casually tossed the bowl back onto the table.

"Lord Ye, your borrowing a knife* strategy is not very clever. If you want to force me out of the Imperial City of Dali, is it necessary to let someone wander around with a Devil Embryo Bow?"

"Young Master Qing misunderstood. That person has always been a fugitive from the Shadow Department and has a grudge against me. He simply came to assassinate me, not targeting Young Master Qing.

I often come here for breakfast and have been tracked down, that's all.

Young Master Qing, please don't misunderstand."

Ye Jiuyuan denied it without changing his expression, insisting he couldn't admit to such claims no matter what.

"Heh..."

Yu Ziqing sneered. If he were to believe such words, he'd be a fool.

The Devil Embryo Bow was indeed a powerful weapon—paired with that Body-breaking Arrow, it was specifically a weapon against Body Cultivation practitioners.

The arrow's head was imbued with a material with extremely strong piercing power, generally used for hunting Fierce Beasts.

Did they really think he was inexperienced? Just one glance, and he recognized what that arrow was. Though the arrow was destroyed, he still recognized it.

Yu Ziqing always paid close attention to anything a Body Cultivator needed to guard against.

Ordinary arrows, he wouldn't even bother dodging. Even if they could injure him, they couldn't kill him.

But that arrow, if he dared to take it without dodging, he would have an eighty percent chance of dying.

To deal with a Qi Refining cultivator, one should use a Qi-breaking Arrow.

Unfortunately, there's no evidence now—the Devil Embryo Bow remained, the arrow was destroyed, and the attacker was dead. Ye Jiuyuan could say whatever he pleased.

No matter how the investigation continued, it would be Ye Jiuyuan investigating himself.

To be honest, Yu Ziqing never thought he would learn of Ye Jiuyuan from Duke Lin just last night.

And that this morning, Ye Jiuyuan would dare to idle in front of him, eat breakfast with him, and conveniently borrow a knife to kill.

Upon sensing the murder intent, Yu Ziqing had countless ways to avoid it. Anyway, he certainly wouldn't die.

But as soon as he made a move, the nature of the situation changed.

Ye Jiuyuan would definitely pin the assassination target on him, while Ye Jiuyuan himself would appear as if acting nobly.

Yu Ziqing was a bit puzzled at first—how could this guy so openly do such things? Is he really that eager to have Yu Ziqing leave the Imperial City of Dali?

But after a second thought, he understood—the more open Ye Jiuyuan was, the better.

Whether it was Emperor Li, the Crown Prince, or the Shadow Department, anyone sitting on that side wouldn't want a bomb ready to explode roaming the Imperial City.

Even if they knew Yu Ziqing wouldn't summon a hungry ghost in the Imperial City of Dali, or that he might not succeed in summoning it,

nobody would openly acknowledge this or express any unwelcome actions—it wouldn't be so petty.

In reality, whether Yu Ziqing would actually do so became irrelevant; what mattered was whether he could.

If someone was willing to make a nuisance and be a pest, nobody would stand in their way.

Ye Jiuyuan just volunteered to be the villain for this.

He would undoubtedly face a reprimand later, face painless punishment, but in reality, his position would be even more secure.

He acted in accordance with his status, sitting as properly as he should.

Once he generally understood why Ye Jiuyuan was fearless, Yu Ziqing also laughed.

"Chief Ye, let me ask you something. Answer me, and I'll leave today."

"Speak."

"When I was kidnapped in Almsgiving Town a few days ago, was Chief Ye nearby?"

"I was."

"So was it Chief Ye who kidnapped me?"

"It was not."

"Alright, I've asked. I must say, Chief Ye's dedication to aiding Emperor Li is truly passionate, willingly playing the villain to get things done. It seems Chief Ye's position as Chief Venerate is quite secure.

Fine, I won't be a nuisance here anymore. Hey, a mere Body Cultivator like me can actually prompt Chief Ye to personally take action, tsk..."

Yu Ziqing landed on the ground, shook his head, and walked off into the distance.

Ye Jiuyuan stood silently in place, expressionless as he watched Yu Ziqing's back fade away.

Arriving at the Gu Family, Yu Ziqing summoned Cece, said farewell to Lin Fu, and brought Cece along.

"Why the rush?" Lin Fu was somewhat confused.

"Why else? Dali doesn't welcome me, dispatching even the Chief of Shadows to personally have me leave, orchestrating an assassination scenario. It's rather dull. Fine, I'll go."

Having said that, when reaching the door, Yu Ziqing seemed to remember something and instructed Cece,

"Remember to notify everyone after we get back, from now on all officials of the Dali court... forget it, everyone from the Shadow Department, no matter who, while in Almsgiving, isn't allowed for the hungry ghost to touch the Devil Thought."

Pausing slightly, Yu Ziqing took out a Jade Scroll and crushed it.

"Forget it, I'll notify them myself."

With Cece, Yu Ziqing left, and Lin Fu still had no idea what had transpired.

Yu Ziqing, accompanied by Cece, departed from the Imperial City, leisurely making his way forward.

"Young Master, if there's someone unwelcoming, then we won't come here again, not even if invited."

"No, it's that someone couldn't stay put." Yu Ziqing had a smile on his face, appearing to be in a surprisingly good mood.

"Eh?"

"Do you remember what we came here for?"

"I remember, to find whoever kidnapped the Young Master at that time."

"Yes, I've only been here a day, and already someone couldn't sit still. Ye Jiuyuan even used petty tactics to force me away.

Originally, since I hadn't acted, that assassination matter wouldn't have implicated me.

*In this context, "borrowing a knife" refers to using someone else to do the dirty work or get something done indirectly.