Chapter 932: Chapter 539: Secret Investigation, Meeting with Zhao Shixiong
"Please, sir, what specifics do you have?"
"The whereabouts of the supervisors led by Wang Qi, and the guard forces around Wang Qi. This is too sensitive, it would be best for you to handle it personally," Zhao Douan pondered and said:
"And there’s someone named Feng Xiaolian, recently spotted around the Yunshao Courtyard, one of the store managers at the Huai Royal Mansion."
Song Jinxi quietly noted it down, "Anything else?"
"The landlord," Zhao Douan tapped on his forehead with his finger, "The landlord of the house I live in, investigate, especially Du Ruhui and that Du Shishi. See what their background is."
He originally thought that the girl was the most peculiar in the Du family, but after some conversation at the dinner table tonight, Zhao Douan was surprised to find out.
Inconspicuous, nearly a failure, the destitute and idle Du Ruhui had depths in his mind, though they didn’t discuss deeply, but what insight Zhao Douan had?
Just through simple conversation, Zhao Douan realized this scholar was extraordinary, his talent absolutely not comparable to a minor clerk.
"Understood," Song Jinxi was slightly surprised that such insignificant individuals could actually catch his master’s eye.
"Is there anything else?" Zhao Douan saw he hadn’t left and asked suspiciously.
Song Jinxi reported, "Nie Yurong sent some intelligence, saying the lord might need it. It happens to be related to that supervisor Wang Qi."
"Oh?" Zhao Douan raised his eyebrows.
Song Jinxi explained, "She said Wang Qi has an ancient Suppressing Object given by Xu Jingtang for protection. She didn’t know the specifics, only that you mustn’t get within ten Zhang of him."
Not too close?
Zhao Douan was stunned for a moment, recalling the time he dealt with the Heng Prince of Qingzhou, and how the Red Flame Saint Armor almost caused his downfall.
Phew... the Eight Princes and these deeply rooted imperial families all have plenty of good things hidden in the bottom of their chests. Now that war has commenced, it’s reasonable to take them out to protect important ministers...
Zhao Douan remained vigilant, never overconfident to think that after entering the Middle Grade in the world, he could walk across horizontally.
Especially involving magicians... various strange magic is far more threatening to people than a martial artist’s blade and sword.
Fortunately, the number of magicians under heaven is very few, far less than the number of martial artists, and the majority are restrained by the Heavenly Master Mansion, unwilling to participate in wars.
However, the "Suppressing Objects" that mortals can use are not restricted...
"This official understands," Zhao Douan thought for a moment and said lightly.
Song Jinxi’s figure slowly merged into the darkness, as the window seemed to be blown open by the wind and then closed again.
The Inner Court assassin had disappeared.
...
Seeing Song Jinxi off, Zhao Douan remained seated by the round table, staring at the flickering flame of the oil lamp, lost in thought.
He was contemplating the intelligence brought by Nie Yurong.
"Not to get close to the vicinity? This almost eliminates the possibility of a martial artist’s assassination."
"Should I use a magician’s means? The Red Flame Saint Armor now lost its mana, though it can still be attempted to motivate, but its lethality is insufficient. The Mystic Turtle Seal may cast spells from a distance, but Water God magic isn’t too adept at attacking and killing, moreover, I am not good at using these magic artifacts myself..."
"Pei Niannu? Have her maneuver my body to cast spells? Seems feasible, but the distance is still not wide enough... around Wang Qi there could still be a group of martial artist guards..."
Although the Martial God Path can utilize envisioned divinities to cast some spells, it is ultimately not a true magician.
Zhao Douan is essentially still a martial artist, yes, the martial skills he mastered carry some magic effects.
And even a true magician cannot stay too far away when fighting, just like Yu Xiu, although capable of manipulating Flying Swords, the further the distance between the person and the sword, the lesser the destructive power.
"Considering Wang Qi might be fishing, assassinating him is absolutely perilous, I can’t easily take risks... perhaps, I could seek advice from the cheap beautiful master..."
Zhao Douan hadn’t forgotten, it was from Pei Niannu’s mouth he previously learned about summoning the Water God.
He immediately attempted visualization, moments later, the flame on the table flickered, and an illusory figure shrouded in a big red wedding robe with a dark gold face armor emerged.
Pei Niannu sat opposite him at the round table, her gaze cold and impatiently staring at him, "What... is it... this time..."
She seems quite annoyed with me, indeed, since I stepped into the world, I’ve freeloaded without sharing stories with her... Zhao Douan earnestly voiced his needs again.
Pei Niannu said coldly, "Nothing... to do... with me."
With that, she gradually faded and disappeared.
Zhao Douan was dumbfounded, amused with helplessness, understanding the female sorcerer’s intent through their prolonged relationship:
As the "Grandmother on the Side," Pei Niannu would respond to the summon to protect Zhao Douan when he encountered danger.
She might also rarely, as when saving the people to prevent the city-burning disaster last time, break the rules to provide some answers.
But apart from that, she wouldn’t offer additional help.
Assassinating others... evidently falls outside the scope of her assistance.
Moreover, Zhao Douan couldn’t force her; the "senior" he envisioned possessed some self-awareness, just as Zhao Douan had also attempted asking Pei Niannu about her relationship with the Great Yu Grand Ancestor and some secrets of those years.
But Pei Niannu always refused to answer.
"... Senior, if feasible, I’m willing to offer storytelling three times as a fee, how about this? ... Five times? Ten times?..."
Zhao Douan, unwilling to give up, attempted to coax with benefits, yet Pei Niannu ignored him as if she had crashed.
Was she truly angry? Or were my stories not exciting enough? Zhao Douan was taken aback, inwardly anxious.
The bribe which always worked before now failed!