Master of Strange Dao

Several days had passed, and as the journey came to an end, when Yu Ziqing was seen off by Su Li at the city gates, Yu Ziqing casually asked a question.

"In the Capital City of Dali, do people not like eating mutton?"

"They do like it, there are plenty of mutton soup restaurants."

"I thought as much, Brother Su, you are so considerate. That day at the Ji Mansion, everyone even went out of their way to accommodate me. I wondered why, when I could smell the mutton, it never appeared on the table."

"So, that's what this is about. I told your mentor's wife that Brother Qing doesn't eat mutton, and since making mutton soup takes too long, they didn't prepare it."

"Well, Brother Su, there's no need to see me off any further. If you go to your teacher's house, please extend my thanks to your mentor's wife. I have a little gift here, though it's not anything valuable, please give it to her on my behalf."

"Brother Qing, you are too polite."

Su Li, unable to help but smile wryly, accepted the gift and bid Yu Ziqing farewell.

During his stay at the Shadow Department, he had hardly given the Shadow Envoys a good face, yet he remembered the meals that suited his taste.

After saying goodbye to Yu Ziqing, Su Li brought the gift to the Ji Mansion and handed it over to Mrs. Ji.

"Mentor's wife, this is from Brother Qing. He says it's to thank you for the recipes."

"What's all this for? The boy is too courteous." Mrs. Ji happily accepted the gift.

"Brother Qing mentioned how thoughtful and considerate you are, how delicious your cooking is, and how you even accommodated his dietary preferences. At our Shadow Department, he never showed a good expression to the Chief Venerate, but when accompanied by me for a few days, only upon tasting good food did he seem truly happy."

"What accommodation? It was just ordinary home cooking." Ji Bochang said as he walked out, holding a teapot.

"That day, Su Li told me that the young man doesn't eat mutton and asked me not to prepare it. When hosting a guest, it's natural to cater to the guest's preferences."

"Oh, that's only proper."

...

Yu Ziqing was sitting on a large rock, resting with his eyes closed, though in reality, he had entered the Seventh Floor ring to chat with Yang.

"Are you certain that your Second Generation Compass is absolutely incapable of missing any trace of an original or an incarnation avoiding detection?"

"I am naturally sure... What has happened?"

"Answer my question first. You people, with your talent for finding loopholes, are strong without exception."

Yang's face darkened. He had been busy when Yu Ziqing summoned him for this talk.

However, since Yu Ziqing had asked like that, he must have certainly discovered something.

It could be that his Second Generation Compass had faltered as well.

Recalling his previous assurances, Yang's face turned even darker.

He remained silent for a moment, weighing his words carefully, and said,

"An incarnation is absolutely impossible, no, unless the incarnation has awakened some Innate Divine Ability or is a High Tier Body Cultivator, or has some peculiar innate gift that can shield it, otherwise, it's absolutely impossible.

If an incarnation can block the Second Generation Compass, then it's not an incarnation any longer.

As for the original, frankly, I'm not so sure anymore."

"Yang, with your vast knowledge and wide learning, you actually have moments of doubt?"

"You know nothing. You've said it yourself, those who look for loopholes will always surpass those who try to plug them. Fine, I know nothing, I'm completely clueless." Yang, with a dark expression, turned and walked away.

"I completely trust you, you know. I trust you the most. I really meant no disrespect." Yu Ziqing stretched out his hand and called out, but Yang paid him no mind and just walked away.

After signing off, Yang took out a Compass and began researching.

He resolved to create a Compass even more powerful, so strong that no one could exploit its loopholes.

He was determined not to let anyone shame him on this matter again!

Yu Ziqing opened his eyes and stroked his chin, pondering.

He certainly trusted what Yang had said.

He also felt that no matter how much one exploited loopholes, incarnations were impossible to cheat, limited by innate constraints.

Therefore, the previous encounters he had with Fu Xiao and Ji Bochang, one of these two must either be nothing or the genuine article itself.

The probe had been sent; now he just awaited the other party's reaction.

Before, Yu Ziqing felt that the issues of age and life trajectory were difficult to conceal, but now he didn't think so.

Whether it was Fu Xiao or Ji Bochang, now both were considered prime suspects.

The chief director must be paying close attention to him, definitely aware of his aversion to lamb.

This was something Yu Ziqing had never concealed from outsiders.

Now, having mentioned it explicitly and having sent a gift, if it were Ji Bochang, it was time to see his reaction.

There was also that one kind of food at Ji Bochang's home that couldn't be found anywhere on the market.

Yu Ziqing felt that Ji Bochang was slightly more suspicious.

Because these tactics were particularly in line with the style of the Inner Secret Skill of the Thousand Sect Eight Classics.

He wanted to maintain a public identity, break free from the Shadow Department without dying.

First, he would frame himself, creating some obvious incidents, either making people believe he was the culprit or that he was being framed.

As long as he could rid himself of suspicion and successfully withdraw from the Shadow Department, becoming a retired Shadow Envoy, wounded, with no hope for the future, residing in the Capital,

It would be like staying in the busiest place, the easiest to collect information from, and yet no one would pay attention to him.

But once the Shadow Department suddenly expanded their scope of scrutiny, it touched his safe zone.

Such a person would certainly not gamble on whether someone had actually discovered something.

He would only make sure to keep things within his control.

If they got out of control, he would pay a price to catch up and bring things back under his control.

What Yu Ziqing had to do was make him feel he was losing control and then encroach upon his safe zone.

After probing Ji Bochang, the probe for Fu Xiao was to pretend to return a favor in kind, thinking he definitely wasn't the chief director, and then tell him, "The connection between an incarnation and its original form can only be severed by me."

And once my research matures, I will announce the method to the entire world.

To cut off the root of the Evil Skill.

If Fu Xiao was the chief director, then this would be forcing him to commit murder.

If he wasn't, then it remained to be seen whether he would quietly spread the word.

Yu Ziqing glanced back in the direction of the Dali Capital.

Fu Xiao was definitely problematic; that was certain, and even if he wasn't the chief director, there was some other issue.

In any case, as long as the news leaked by him led to someone attempting to kill him, it would be justified to go after Fu Xiao later.

If Ji Bochang was the chief director, he would definitely do something; he couldn't possibly have no response and just maintain the status quo.

He could no longer maintain it.

Within the Shadow Department, Fu Xiao sat alone in contemplation for a long time, still unsure of his next move.

It was time for him to make the most important decision.

Inside Ji Mansion, Ji Bochang and Su Li sat facing each other, drinking strong liquor. After a long while, Ji Bochang sighed deeply.

"Do your best within the Shadow Department in the future."

"Teacher, what's the matter?"

"Nothing much, just feeling reflective when I see you so highly regarded. I'm thinking of trying to break through my Realm again in a few days."