Chapter 91 An open and honest meeting, their respective investigations (8k)
"Master Su, this is the newly sent information."
A monk in the realm of transformation sent dozens of jade slips and placed them on Su Li's table.
"Thank you, Mr. Li." Su Li said politely.
"Master Su, you're welcome. If you need anything, just ask."
Su Li watched the other party leave, with a hint of a smile on his face.
He has been in a mixed state of being unhappy and feeling happy lately.
He is just a fourth-level Qi Sea Realm monk, but he is still disabled. Although his newly grown arms appear to have recovered, it will still take some time to return to his original appearance.
This was because he listened to Yu Ziqing's advice and took up a basic body training method to strengthen his physical body's energy and blood, so he could recover a little faster.
In this situation, he became one of the eight shadow envoys.
Su Li himself knew very well that there were many people in the Shadow Department who disliked him, and there were also countless people who only dared to talk behind his back.
Because his strength, his ability, and his achievements are actually not convincing to the public.
Of course, strength is the most important thing.
However, none of those people dared to say anything to his face, and none of them were arrogant. They cooperated normally in official matters, and no one dared to hinder me.
There is no one who can truly become a member of the Shadow Division.
They clearly knew that the Shadow Department was completely different from other departments in Dali.
Emperor Li nodded, but none of them dared to shake their heads.
Even if there might be a mole within the Shadow Division, they would not even dare to hide it, even if they delayed it for a while. They would report it to Emperor Li as soon as they got the news.
Su Li knew that he was promoted, but Li Huang was expressing his dissatisfaction and giving the senior executives of the Shadow Division an opportunity.
Su Li also understood that Li Huang actually didn't expect him to find out anything in the Shadow Department.
Otherwise, even if he is not summoned in person, he will be asked to give a secret order by the chamberlain.
Others know it too, so they dare not be dissatisfied.
The Shadow Division's internal review has quietly begun since his promotion.
These days, several people are apparently going on missions, but in fact, they have been quietly imprisoned in the dark death row of the Shadow Department.
After repeated interrogations and the cooperation of magic weapons, some problems were indeed discovered.
Su Li only read the file once and then stopped paying attention to it.
Those few were obviously scapegoats.
He could tell at a glance that these people had no access to some information. It was pure nonsense to say that they had caught a loophole and sneaked in quietly, and it was an insult to the rest of the Shadow Division.
No matter how detailed the information is, it is useless.
The rules of the Shadow Division are strict, especially when it comes to intelligence. Level-by-level authority is extremely restrictive.
Even if he is a shadow user and enters a place where intelligence is stored, he must strictly register.
When did you go in, when did you go out, and where did you go?
In some places where important confidential information is stored, who went in, which files were read, which information was read, when, and how long they were read, must be strictly recorded. In addition, the entire process must be taken and stamped on the photo stone for archiving.
Over the years, the Shadow Division's loopholes have been continuously patched. Even if it cannot be said that it will never be leaked, it can basically be done. If there is a problem, you will know who to call.
After Su Li became a shadow user, he would have access to more things, and his judgments would be more accurate.
He is now 100% sure that the person who caused the problem is at least someone of the level of the Eight Shadow Users.
Further up, even the Shadow Chief cannot be said to be fine until the dust settles.
Su Li deeply understood that no one expected him to achieve anything, he was more like a label now.
Therefore, now that he is in the Shadow Department, he actually does not participate in anything important. During meetings, he rarely expresses his opinions. Even if he is doing tasks, he very wisely only takes on some simple tasks.
On the surface, everyone gets along well with each other, and everyone thinks he is at least knowledgeable.
Now, Su Li has taken on a new mission.
Send a batch of magic weapons filled with filth and toxins to Busch Town.
When the magic weapon called sewage treatment began to be taken seriously, the imperial capital began to use it.
After statistics on the incidence rate of civilians living in the imperial capital, it has indeed begun to decline, and this thing has begun to spread.
The importance began to increase, also because the magic weapon that reached the limit was indeed quite dangerous.
Of course, the Shadow Division will also go with him.
According to the procedure, Su Li asked his people to escort him. Under the arrangement he made a month in advance, it was very logical that those people found reasonable excuses and could not accept the task.
Either he has a mission, or he has just completed a mission and is injured.
Anyway, I can't go, all are valid reasons.
Therefore, time was limited and dangerous items could not be stored for too long. Su Li had no choice but to escort these magic weapons in person.
A few days later, Su Li appeared openly outside the detoxification and beauty salon.
Xianxian went to hand over the matter, Wu Shuangge went to handle it, and Su Li entered the back house.
Yu Ziqing has already made tea and is waiting for him.
"It's been a long time since we've seen each other. Brother Su, you're fine."
Yu Ziqing poured tea and waved.
"Brother Qing's experience is much more exciting than mine."
Su Li picked up the teacup, took a sip, and replied with a smile.
Yu Ziqing was taken away, and I don't know what happened in the meantime, which angered the forbidden area of Jinlan Mountain. I don't know which strong person in the forbidden area, or what method was used, activated a great magical power.
Su Li naturally knew everything about this matter.
He even knew that Lone Peak in the Northern Territory had archives in the Shadow Division.
"We just want to live, but there are always people who don't want me to live."
Yu Ziqing pointed to the side. Under the corridor, there were a lot of broken doors and broken windows.
"This was left by the person who came to arrest me last time. I have been keeping it until Brother Su comes to take a look."
With that said, Yu Ziqing took out two more pieces of paper.
One is painted with a jade mirror, the other is painted with a metal mask.
"A person wearing a metal mask uses this jade mirror magic weapon. He can step into the mirror and travel out of the realm of compassion.
I am very sure that he is not a member of Baiyang Xiesi.
Brother Su, you can take a look and see if you know anything about these things."
When Su Li saw the simple painting with only lines, his eyes became serious.
"Also, Brother Su, I have received the news.
It can be confirmed with 100% certainty that the person who leaked your whereabouts to outsiders at that time was someone inside the Shadow Division."
Su Li stood up with a sullen face, went to the broken doors and windows piled on the ground, squatted down, and carefully examined the traces.
Especially the door, there are very obvious traces of corrosion, as if the door was silently melted away by some kind of force.
He stretched out his hand and touched the fracture. The remaining power on it had long since dissipated, but just looking at the effect was enough to make a rough judgment.
After a while, he sat back down again.
"It seems that Brother Su already has a rough goal in mind?"
"Yes, the mask is the mask of the Faceless Man from the Great Earthquake, but in the case of the Great Earthquake, it would be too easy for one or two masks to be lost.
It's available in the Division of Shadows now.
As for this jade mirror, it was made by the Shadow Division to imitate the Shadow Mirror. However, its most powerful power is different from the Shadow Mirror. It only assists the escape method.
To be able to travel out of Miss Xianxin's domain, it is possible to do so only with the jade mirror in the hands of the Eight Shadow Users."
As he spoke, Su Li took out an identical jade mirror.
He turned the jade mirror over, and there was a number seventeen on the handle on the back.
This is the jade mirror he was assigned after he was promoted to Shadowbringer.
"As for the power that can silently corrode formations and gates, there are indeed people in the Shadow Division who have practiced this method.
Moreover, he was once one of the eight shadow envoys.
Because he failed to improve his realm, his energy and blood began to decline and he retreated.
My current position is to take over from him.
He had access to my whereabouts before.
He also has the ability to turn that broken door into what it is today, and he also has an imitation jade mirror in his hand.
Even when Brother Qing was in trouble, he was not in the imperial capital."
There are not many people who have the ability to do one thing. If all the conditions are met, then it is basically specified.
When Yu Ziqing heard this, his expression did not change and he poured a cup of tea.
"Brother Su, is it basically confirmed that this is the person?"
"He is the only one in the Shadow Division who meets all the conditions. The Shadow Envoy who has already retreated is Ji Bochang." Su Li also picked up the teacup and drank it calmly.
The two of them drank tea slowly and were silent for a while.
Suddenly, the two put down their teacups, looked at each other, and laughed together.
"It seems that Brother Su thinks the same as me?"
"What do you think, Brother Qing?"
"If you don't know, this Ji Bochang has declined and retired, and Brother Su will take his place.
I would also think it was him.
But coupled with what Brother Su said, I feel that it is such a coincidence that so many clues have been left behind.
People in the Shadow Department can find out it's him with a little investigation.
On the contrary, I felt that it wasn't him, or that he was just an abandoned person who was used to take the blame.
What does Brother Su think?"
"Based on my understanding of Master Ji and my understanding of the Shadow Division.
I think this is framed."
Su Li sneered.
"Because, in the Shadow Division, few people get a good death.
Even if there is one more Ji Bochang, there is nothing strange about it.
As a shadow user, he has offended countless people in his life. Now he has failed to advance and lost his position as a shadow user.
It would not be surprising if enemies came to your door one day and quietly killed you.
But after Ji Bochang retired, he lived quietly and took care of himself, and no powerful enemies took the opportunity to come to his door.
I don't think he has any enemies who regard him as a thorn in his flesh.
He has been a shadow user for so many years, how can he not have any enemies?"
Yu Ziqing was thoughtful.
That was part of the reason he hadn't wanted to tell Forbes about it before.
Because if I tell Uncle Fu, if the news reaches the East Palace, the Prince of the East Palace will never intervene personally.
At most, she would stab Emperor Li.
But after this round and round, we still ended up in the Shadow Division.
Strictly speaking, taking Qing Ziyu away may not really be considered a betrayal of Emperor Li.
Even if it is colluding with evil ways, it is still up to Li Huang to decide whether it counts.
So in the end, how to deal with it will not take into account his opinions and ideas, but look at it from the perspective of Li Huang and Da Li, whether this matter is beneficial or harmful.
And Ji Bochang, who was about to retire, followed the tradition of the Shadow Division and did not end well.
Look, tut, this is so normal.
Yu Ziqing touched his chin and thought for a while.
"Brother Su, do you know the specific situation of Ji Bochang? For example, how did he fail to advance to the next level?"
"I don't know very well. Things related to spiritual practice are secrets to everyone."
"In this case, I wonder if it would be convenient for Brother Su to pay a visit to Ji Bochang after he returns?"
"My position is to succeed him. I'm looking for a reason to visit him for advice. There's no problem. What does Brother Qing want to do?" Su Li was a little curious.
"Go and see him first, how did he fail to get promoted.
Do you know Mr. Lin Guo?"
"I know, Lin Guogong went crazy before. It is said that he has recovered, but he has not been to court for a long time. What is the specific situation? Everyone actually guesses that he has not recovered yet."
Yu Ziqing smiled, took out two jade bottles containing twenty drops of nectar and placed them on the table.
"This is Ganlin, Brother Su should have heard about it.
One of them was given to Brother Su. It is up to Brother Su to decide what to do with it.
The other one was when Brother Su went to visit Ji Bochang.
You can tell him directly what you have found out now. All the clues point to him.
See how he reacts.
Let’s take a look again, if he failed because of the growth of demonic thoughts, which affected his advancement.
You then give this bottle of sweet rain to him as a thank you gift for visiting him frequently in the future.
Let him go to the Alms Town, where he can alms to the hungry ghosts, get rid of the evil thoughts in his heart, and take good care of his body in the future, and maybe there will be a chance to try again."
"This..." Su Li hesitated.
As a shadow user, how could he not know about Ganlin? Giving alms to hungry ghosts can get rid of some of the evil thoughts in his heart every time.
This matter has been quietly circulated among Dali senior officials recently.
As the head of the Lihuo Courtyard, whoever spares a few drops of sweet rain will appear to have no reputation.
But the value of this thing is extremely high.
"Take it, no matter how precious it is, it is still a foreign object."
"Then thank you very much, Brother Qing. Don't worry, Brother Qing, I will definitely investigate this matter to the end."
Su Li took the jade bottle and sniffed it gently. He could smell a hint of aroma through the cork, which was completely different from the sweet rain he had come into contact with before.
"Brother Qing, can you take a look?"
"random."
Su Li opened it and was a little dumbfounded when he saw the amber rain inside and the unique fragrance.
"Brother Qing, this... this is too precious. It has not been diluted. I dare not accept it. Brother Qing, take it back quickly."
"Huh?" Yu Ziqing was startled.
Keywords captured.
dilution.
Yu Ziqing felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Damn it.
He felt that he was a profiteer and should be hanged.
Never expected that.
What does it mean that one mountain is higher than the other, yet there are profiteers who have found a way to dilute the spiritual liquid?
"The sweet rain spreading in Dali has been diluted?" Yu Ziqing couldn't help it.
"Yes, it can be used if it is diluted several times with the best pure spiritual liquid. All the sweet rain that circulates in Dali is like this.
The best kind of rain is recorded based on His Highness’s description.”
"..."
Yu Ziqing secretly rejoiced that he did not let the Prince of Dali act as an agent.
I still underestimated her, she can be more than a hundred times more valuable.
She can use the diluted rain to exert more than a hundred times the influence.
Now he also understood why No. 5 was so polite last time. What he wanted was just a hundred drops diluted several times.
But what I gave him was the most primitive rain.
He didn't kneel down and kowtow twice, so he was being reserved.
Yu Ziqing was wondering just now, is Lin Guogong still not well?
I had given him a full thirty-eight drops. If he had used them all at once in Bush Town, the huge number of hungry ghosts summoned from the abyss would definitely be able to press his demonic thoughts to the ground and rub them, but they might not be able to.
Let every hungry ghost get a bite of snacks.
Why do people in Dali still think that Lin Guogong is not good?
Now he understood that if it was diluted with thirty-eight drops, it would be strange that Lin Guogong would be cured.
There may not be thirty-eight undiluted drops of the sweet rain still circulating throughout Dali.
If you increase the price, you must increase the price. If you lose money, you will lose blood.
"Brother Qing?" Su Li really didn't dare to ask for it.
Twenty drops of the finest nectar felt hot to his hands even when he held it.
"Brother Su, just take it."
After giving it away, how could Yu Ziqing take it back? It's good if the value is high. If the value is high enough, it will be more valuable when it is given away.
"After Brother Su goes back, he can find some of the best spiritual liquid to dilute it. Brother Su can decide on his own how to deal with it.
It would be best to help Brother Su gain a foothold in the Shadow Division.
As for the other bottle, dilute it and give it to Ji Bochang.
You should first see how he is doing when the time comes.
If the reason for his failure to advance has nothing to do with demonic thoughts, then forget it."
"I think it's 80% related. People in the Shadow Division are exposed to too many things. It's difficult to be open-minded on the road of cultivation."
"Then everything depends on Brother Su."
After seeing Su Li off, Yu Ziqing let out a long sigh.
After all, he has a kind heart and cannot keep up with the ideas of profiteers.
…
Su Li delivered the filthy gas bucket and took care of it before returning to life with the empty magic weapon.
When I returned to the Imperial Capital, I went to work on time as usual, and got off work on time when I had nothing to do. During meetings, I sat there and listened carefully as usual, but did not express my opinion.
If you are asked, you are just following the crowd. Your Majesty is right, what your Majesty said is true.
Ah, yes, yes.
Ah yes yes yes.
I have little qualifications and weak abilities. Everything depends on you adults.
When there is any task, it is left to the people below to do it, and all the credit goes to the people below.
Su Li just messed around like this, and gradually, no one paid attention to him anymore.
Ten days later, when Su Li was looking at a document, he asked his subordinate.
"this place……"
"Sir, this is what Master Ji once commented. We... don't know what it means."
"That's it..." Su Li nodded, not embarrassing the uneasy subordinate: "How is Master Ji's recovery from his injury recently? Do you know?"
"Sir, I heard that you can now go out and walk around."
"Oh, that's good. Do you know where Master Ji's residence is now?"
"Know."
"Well, please take me to visit Mr. Ji. I have indeed discovered many problems recently.
Now that Mr. Ji has almost recovered from his injury, he went to hand over some unfinished issues.
Besides, logically speaking, I should have paid a visit long ago.
I am not qualified enough and my ability is far inferior to Master Ji.
When I go to visit, I'll also see if I can ask Mr. Ji to give me some advice."
Su Li brought many documents and was led by his subordinates to Ji Bochang's residence.
As a former Shadow Messenger of the Shadow Division, even if he had the opportunity to retire, he would not be able to live outside the Imperial Capital.
All the way to Ji's house, they handed over their names and were soon greeted by a doorman.
When I saw Ji Bochang again, although he seemed to be walking as usual, his appearance was at least twenty years older than when Su Li saw him last year.
This kind of appearance on a monk is a sign of severe trauma.
Su Li was not in a hurry to ask anything else, just exchanged normal greetings, then handed over some things that had not been handed over before, and asked for advice on some things by the way.
After asking for advice, Su Li took advantage of the situation and asked.
"Su's qualifications are shallow and his abilities are weak. He has occupied his current position and is full of anxiety, fearing that he will fail his holy hopes.
I wonder if Su can visit me more often in the future, please give me some advice, Mr. Ji."
Su Li's words ended here, still in his capacity as the current Shadow Envoy.
What else could Ji Bochang say?
It's not a big deal, and it gives him enough face, so of course he won't say no.
After the first visit, a few days later, Su Li came to visit again with some gifts.
After doing this seven times in a row, Su Li came to the door again.
"Teacher, I'm disturbing you again."
"Come on, come on. Don't bring anything with you when you come. Come in quickly." Ji Bo Chang waved his hand cheerfully, recognizing the name of the teacher.
He retired, could get a good death, and have a current shadow user who is humble, studious, and a good person. Call him teacher.
Then what is there to be dissatisfied with?
After coming in and asking for advice, Su Li looked around.
"I wonder if there is a secret room here, teacher?"
"Huh?" Ji Bochang's eyes narrowed, and then he nodded slowly: "Come with me."
Entering the secret room, Su Li took out a jade bottle.
"Teacher, these are fifty drops of nectar. Although they are all diluted, they should be of great help to the teacher."
"This..." Ji Bochang was surprised.
"Teacher has been working for the Shadow Division for many years. After seeing too much darkness, it is inevitable that evil thoughts will breed.
I feel that if the teacher can get rid of the evil thoughts and take good care of his body, he may not be able to make further progress."
With that said, Su Li took out another jade slip.
"I got this from Lin Guogong's mansion, the alms ritual, the alms mantra and the alms mudra.
Teacher, it’s better not to give up, give it a try, it’s always right.”
Ji Bo often shook his head and smiled bitterly. He thought Su Li had something confidential to say.
Unexpectedly, this is what happened.
And fifty drops of sweet rain is indeed a big deal.
Ji Bochang wanted to push the jade bottle back, but when he saw Su Li's eyes and thought about his situation, he hesitated and nodded.
"Okay, then I'll accept it shamelessly."
"Then I will take a leave of absence and go to Bushi Town with the teacher."
After coming out of Ji Zhai, Su Li felt quite complicated.
After several visits, he has confirmed many things, but he has not yet produced the evidence and clues.
Without taking it out to test Ji Bochang's reaction, he had basically confirmed that Ji Bochang definitely didn't know those things.
There are people who want Ji Bochang to be the scapegoat.
A scapegoat that is both satisfying and reasonable for everyone.
Because the people who framed Ji Bochang didn't know a thing.
The secret method of melting snow that Ji Bochang had mastered could indeed break through formations silently, and it could also leave the same mark on the broken door left by Yu Ziqing.
However, three years ago, before Ji Bochang failed to advance, something went wrong.
At that time, Ji Bochang's secret method of melting snow could no longer be used. If he used it again, he would melt his own hands first.
Before this, Ji Bochang had never disclosed this matter to anyone.
A few days later, Su Li took leave and accompanied Ji Bochang to Bushi Town.
Next to the empty crack in the abyss, a new person came.
Su Li helped Ji Bochang arrange the altar and asked Ji Bochang to go and give alms by himself. He also told him all the important points.
As the alms filled with sweet rain began, countless hungry ghosts crawled out of the abyss.
Wisps of black energy flew out of Ji Bochang's body and fell into the hands of those hungry ghosts.
Watching the group of hungry ghosts retreat, Ji Bochang touched his chest with a look of surprise on his face.
The demonic thoughts in his heart have indeed disappeared.
If you take good care of your body and regain your spirit, it is indeed possible to be hit again.
Su Li took Ji Bochang away. This time, he did not visit Yu Ziqing.
But no one noticed that under the crack in the abyss, sitting on a large raised rock, were two different hungry ghosts.
Although they also look like typical hungry ghosts, their eyes and posture are obviously different from other hungry ghosts.
Just among the countless hungry ghosts, no one can find it, and no one will go deep into the cracks of the abyss to find it.
One of the hungry ghosts stretched out a hand, and those hungry ghosts holding onto strands of demonic thoughts lined up and walked up to her, handing all their demonic thoughts to her.
When all the demonic thoughts were gathered together and rolling and struggling in her hands, she took out some sweet rain, swayed it out, turned it into tiny crystal water droplets, and distributed it to these hungry ghosts.
"Remember this from now on, don't be so impatient.
Once you get the magic thought, even if you eat it, you have to go back and eat it again, and don’t eat it in front of others."
After giving the instructions, the two hungry ghosts got into the stone wall and disappeared.
The group of hungry ghosts, after bowing and thanking them, rushed into the abyss again.
In the backyard of the detoxification and beauty salon, two hungry ghosts emerged from the ground and regained their appearance.
"Master, I have brought that person's demonic thoughts back and are holding them in the abyss of despair."
"Come on, come with me and have a look."
As soon as the sympathetic thoughts came to his mind, he and Yu Ziqing entered the abyss of despair.
There is a rolling mass of black energy inside, which is bound in place by chains. No matter how it struggles and rolls, it can't let go or escape.
Yu Ziqing looked at the black air and frowned slightly.
This is a mindless demonic thought suppressed entirely by negative emotions, not even an inner demon.
"Can we deal with it? Let him at least communicate."
Xianxin nodded, walked to the black air, reached out and grabbed a handful of the black air, pulled out a ball of something as black as ink, stuffed it into his mouth, and ate it like candy.
Sure enough, that black energy immediately became much calmer.
Unlike before, when I saw a hungry ghost, I dared to show my teeth and claws.
After Xianxian finished a bite of the snack, he grabbed another ball and handed it to Yu Ziqing.
"Master, do you want to try it? It's very similar to sanjiao and yuejiao with more fat added, and it's still very fragrant."
"..."
Yu Ziqing shook his head.
"Forget it, just eat it."
Seeing that half of it had been eaten, the black air became a lot more transparent, and now it had shrunk into a ball, shivering.
"It's not the inner demon. It's still a bit troublesome after all. If the inner demon takes shape and becomes conscious, at least I can ask directly."
"Master, let me try again. I think it's still OK. But if it doesn't work anymore, I'll just eat it as a snack."
"Then you try again, be careful, don't play to death, I still want to ask questions."
Yu Ziqing just watched, stretched out a finger, and kept digging out a little bit of black air, constantly catalyzing it.
He also waited patiently.
When Yu Ziqing heard about Ji Bochang before, he had some ideas.
Although he judged that Ji Bochang had a high probability of being framed, and if necessary, he would be used as a scapegoat.
After all, with a shadow user, everything makes sense.
But this is just Yu Ziqing's own speculation.
Su Li was also guessing.
No one has definite evidence, and no one dares to say 100% that Ji Bochang is fine.
Isn't this matter a dead end?
After thinking about it, it seems that only Ji Bochang himself can be 100% sure whether there is something wrong with him.
Thinking again about Ji Bochang's failure in promotion...
And he has worked in a dark place like the Shadow Division for most of his life.
Hey, tell me, is there a possibility that Ji Bochang failed to advance to the next level because he was influenced by demonic thoughts?
What if his demonic thoughts are even more powerful, and instead of just having negative emotions such as anger, he already has some consciousness?
Besides Ji Bochang himself, who else knows him best?
His evil thoughts.
Whatever he thinks in his mind, whenever he does something, his demonic thoughts will know.
Ji Bochang could not be tortured, nor could he be sure whether Ji Bochang would tell the truth, let alone whether he would lie to others by telling the truth.
That's simple, give him some benefits and give him some hope of doing it again.
Then, torture his demonic thoughts.
This is no problem, right?
While letting Su Li investigate, it was impossible for Yu Ziqing to do nothing.
He can be sure that Su Li trusts him very much and will not give him any false information, but what if Su Li gets false information himself?
Now, this is what Yu Ziqing wants to do personally.
Seeing that under Xian Xian's precise operation, the group of demonic thoughts became smaller and smaller, shrank into a ball, and shivered.
He picked off a piece again and after eating the candy, finally, the demonic thought caused some fluctuations in his mind.
It is begging for mercy.
When it is forced to send out a little bit of information, it starts to keep sending the same message.
Spare your life, spare your life, spare your life...
Although his IQ does not seem to be high, at least he knows he is afraid of death.
Yu Ziqing stepped forward and looked at the huddled demonic thoughts.
"I ask you something, and if you don't answer honestly, I'll just wait and treat you as a snack."