Chapter 124

“Lu Xiaofeng, one day I’ll make sure you can’t even die.” Suddenly, something fell from the top of the tent and landed on her—it was a snake.

Gongsun Da Niang’s greatest fear in her life was snakes.

Her face had turned green with fear, but she couldn’t move, only able to watch helplessly as the snake crawled all over her. She wanted to scream, but she was too terrified to utter a sound.

Just as the snake was about to crawl onto her face, a figure suddenly appeared at the head of the bed, gently reached out and grabbed the snake, then threw it out the window.

Gongsun Da Niang finally breathed a sigh of relief, her face covered in cold sweat.

The man was smiling as he looked at her and said softly, “Auntie, you’ve been frightened.”

Although he was middle-aged, he looked quite dashing, and anyone could tell that his clothes were made of the finest materials and were crafted with the best workmanship. But the smile on his face was more captivating to women than his clothes.

Gongsun Da Niang glared at him: “You…you are the owner of this place?”

Jin Jiuling nodded.

Gongsun Da Niang said, “How come there are snakes in your house?”

Jin Jiuling said, “I specifically caught the snake with rice!”

Gongsun Da Niang’s expression changed, and she asked, “Why?”

“Because I must try to see if you really can’t move, Auntie!” Jin Jiuling knew about Gongsun Da Niang’s martial arts skills. She was a descendant of Gongsun Da Niang, one of the Three Wonders of the Tang Dynasty, and was also skilled in the sword dance passed down from Pei Min, the Sword Saint of the Tang Dynasty. She was one of the most renowned sword masters of the time.

Of course, the most important thing was that Jin Jiuling was worried that this was Lu Xiaofeng’s scheme.

Although Jin Jiuling was very confident that no one could see through his plans and schemes, he was not a gambler. He would not gamble, nor could he afford to lose such a gamble.

Gongsun Da Niang said angrily, “You not only drugged me, but also acupunctured my pressure points. Isn’t that enough?”

Jin Jiuling smiled and said, “I’ve always been a very careful person, especially towards you, Auntie, I have to be extra careful.”

Gongsun Da Niang finally understood: “You are Jin Jiuling?”

Jin Jiuling said, “I didn’t expect you to only recognize me now!”

Granny Sun gritted her teeth and said bitterly, “Where did that bastard surnamed Lu go?”

Jin Jiuling smiled leisurely: “Now he has completed his mission. He has taken care of everything about you, Auntie, from head to toe. If it really comes to that, she would rather commit suicide.”

Jin Jiuling looked at her and said calmly, “You don’t really want me to send you to a place like that, do you?”

Gongsun Da Niang suddenly sneered, “Actually, I know what you really want!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Oh?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “All you want is a statement I wrote myself!”

Jin Jiuling smiled and said, “Gongsun Da Niang is indeed a clever person…”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “You want me to admit that I am the Embroidered Thief, and admit that I committed all those crimes!”

Jin Jiuling said, “That’s right. As long as you’re willing to write such a statement, I will definitely not treat you unfairly, otherwise…”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Otherwise what?”

Jin Jiuling said coldly, “There are plenty of snakes around here. I can catch a hundred or so at any time!”

Granny Gongsun gritted her teeth and said, “How did you know I’m most afraid of snakes?”

Jin Jiuling said, “I always know a lot!”

Gongsun Da Niang suddenly sneered again and said, “Actually, I know quite a lot of things too!”

Jin Jiuling asked in surprise, “What do you know?”

Lady Gongsun stared at him and said, word by word, “At least I know who the real Embroidered Thief is!”

Jin Jiuling asked, “Who is it?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “It’s you! The real Embroidered Thief is you! Jin Jiuling, the chief constable of the Six Doors.”

Jin Jiuling stood quietly by the bed, his captivating smile gone, his face expressionless.

Gongsun Da Niang sneered, “Actually, from the very beginning, I already suspected that the Embroidered Thief was you!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Oh?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “I know from the very beginning, you wanted me to take the blame for you!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Even if I really am that Embroidered Thief, why was you chosen to take the blame for me?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Because I am a very mysterious person, no one knows my background. No matter what you say I have done, people will easily believe it!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Just because of this?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “That’s certainly not the main reason!”

Jin Jiuling asked, “Is there any other reason?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “The most important thing is that one of my sisters is your accomplice. You want me to take the blame for you and die for you. If I die, she can take my place. You are using a two-birds-with-one-stone plan.”

Jin Jiuling’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, “Do you already know who she is?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “I can’t be completely sure yet, but sooner or later I will find out!”

Jin Jiuling coldly said, “It’s just a pity that day may never come!”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “You know that after these cases happen, others will definitely come looking for you, because you are the top constable in the Six Doors, the chief constable of the Six Doors, and no one will ever suspect you.”

Jin Jiuling said, “My reputation has always been very good.”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Go find Lu Xiaofeng, because you think only he can deal with me!”

Jin Jiuling said, “He is indeed a very intelligent person, and I’m afraid even you can’t deny that!”

Gongsun Da Niang sneered, “I only admit that he is a pig.”

Jin Jiuling said leisurely, “If he were a pig, how did you end up in his hands?”

Gongsun Da Niang bit her lip and said, “He may be a relatively clever pig, but a pig is still a pig.”

Jin Jiuling laughed at Gongsun Da Niang and said, “Just because he’s a pig, you led him astray from the very beginning!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Oh?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “You deliberately gave him the red satin embroidered with black peonies, knowing he would definitely take it to show Old Lady Xue!”

Jin Jiuling smiled and said, “I also know that Old Granny Xue will definitely be able to tell that those are flowers embroidered by a woman!”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “So he was wrong from the start. He actually thought that the Embroidered Bandit was really a woman in disguise!”

Jin Jiuling said, “It’s because he believes that Madam Xue’s old eyes are sharp and she would never be mistaken!”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Then you deliberately have Sikong Zhaixing steal his piece of red satin and deliver it to Jiang Qingxia, because you know Jiang Qingxia is my sister!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Go on.”

Aunt Gongsun said, “From that moment on, Lu Xiaofeng was convinced that the Red Shoes Sisters were responsible for this!”

Jin Jiuling said, “Don’t forget that Sikong Zhaixing was originally Lu Xiaofeng’s friend. How could he listen to me and deceive Lu Xiaofeng?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Because he’s a master thief? You’re a master detective, and even master thieves can make mistakes. He must have fallen into your hands before. You knew that this person would eventually be of use to you, so you deliberately showed him kindness and let him go!”

Jin Jiuling sighed and said, “No one knew about this before, you must have guessed it?”

Gongsun Da Niang did not deny it, and said, “But based on this alone, Lu Xiaofeng will not suspect me.”

Jin Jiuling said, “That’s right.”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “You know that once he arrives in Yangcheng, he will definitely go to find the Snake King.”

Jin Jiuling asked, “Could the Snake King also be my accomplice?”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Of course he is not your accomplice, but like Sikong Zhaixing, he has received your kindness, so he is willing to be used by you.”

Jin Jiuling said, “You guessed wrong this time!”

Gongsun Da Niang said, “Oh?”

Jin Jiuling said, “He willingly allowed himself to be used by me only because he had no other choice!”

Gongsun Da Niang asked, “Why?”

Jin Jiuling said calmly, “The constables of Yangcheng are all my disciples and their descendants. I am about to become the chief steward of the Prince’s mansion (recommended by Ren Zhong, which also allows Jin Jiuling to escape his official position). If he dares to disobey me, I can eradicate his entire gang at any time!”

…………

Everyone was watching this bizarre scene. Jin Jiuling answered whatever Zhang Weihua asked, revealing not only his plans and conspiracies but also the whereabouts of the gold and treasures.

Including his accomplices, namely the disciples and followers of the Six Doors, this also explains how the 800,000 taels of gold were moved; it was impossible for one person to do so alone.

When the conversation got heated, Jin Jiuling even talked about how he tormented and dealt with Xue Bing in front of Lu Xiaofeng, and how he turned his attention to the Red Shoes after failing to shift the blame to the Embroidered Thief.

Because he knew that there was a very terrifying existence behind the Red Shoes, at least one Grandmaster of the Innate Realm and several other Grandmasters of the Innate Realm. Moreover, the Red Shoes himself did indeed possess enormous wealth and could find some gold. Furthermore, because the matter involved was very serious, once it came to light, the consequences would be extremely severe. The Red Shoes would most likely be silenced and used as a pawn.

Once he gets rid of the woman who was colluding with him, he can leave no evidence and completely extricate himself from the situation.

This was Zhang Weihao’s first time using a high-level genjutsu from the Naruto world.

Unlike the Thousand Doors Illusion Technique, which modifies memories and cognition, Jin Jiuling is a veteran master of the Heavenly Realm. Although he is not quite a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm, he is not far off. He is definitely one of the most outstanding masters among the Innate Realm. However, ordinary Thousand Doors Illusion Techniques would definitely not work, and even some mental techniques would not work. This guy has most likely received such professional training.

Therefore, Zhang Weihao directly followed the original setting, according to Jin Jiuling’s schemes, his own understanding, and his constantly imagined layout, to weave such a dream world. In his dream, through Gongsun Da Niang, whom he had always wanted, he was gradually lured out these crimes and secrets, including the whereabouts of the gold and those treasures.

The characters and plot here, including Gongsun Lan, are based on Jin Jiuling’s self-awareness and memories. Zhang Weihua doesn’t recognize them at all; this is the first time he’s seen Gongsun Lan.

No wonder many people consider Gongsun Lan to be the most beautiful woman in the Lu Xiaofeng series. She is indeed beautiful, somewhat resembling Chen Yulian, who played Xiaolongnu in the 1983 version of The Return of the Condor Heroes. She is slightly mature and aloof, giving people a noble and elegant feeling.

Lu Xiaofeng broke out in a cold sweat as he listened, because according to the original plan, he and Jin Jiuling would soon be heading to Guangzhou. Xue Bing didn’t intend to take them with her, but she would definitely sneak along, since she was also a member of the Red Shoes.

Since he and the Snake King were indeed friends, it was highly likely that he would indeed leave Xue Bing with the Snake King, and then…

“Alright, now you can repeat yourself, you’re not the Embroidered Thief.” Zhang Weihai dispelled the illusion and stared at Jin Jiuling with interest, wondering what else this guy had to say.

Jin Jiuling, who was originally pleased with the complete success of his plan and was about to enjoy the beauty of Gongsun Lan, suddenly found that his environment had changed. He was no longer in his secret base in Yangcheng, but was surrounded by Zhang Lingyu, Lu Xiaofeng, Ximen Chuixue and their group. He quickly realized that he should not have gone to Yangcheng yet, and that his plan had not succeeded. It was because of Zhang Lingyu that it was temporarily interrupted.