The words seemed both an insult and a compliment. Ji Bozhai chuckled coldly, "Since the lord cannot fathom it, perhaps it's best to continue regarding me as a cold-blooded and heartless man. After all, today I speak on behalf of Da Si."
At the mention of Da Si, Bo Yuankui's eyes flashed with anger. "He broke his promise first. How dare he still seek to speak with me?"
Back when Star Yearn City lost its heir and fell from the Upper Three Cities, besieged on all sides, it was Qi Shu himself who went to Moonchase City to propose marriage to his adopted daughter. He had knelt before the Starfall Stone and sworn to treat her well, ensuring her a life of wealth and comfort.
And what was the result? He didn't even dare to send word of her death back to Moonchase City, and she died in such an undignified manner!
Though she was adopted, Bo Yuankui had cherished her as his own daughter. The girl was kind and gentle—she could have married into a good family. Yet for the sake of the alliance between the two cities, she had boarded the bridal sedan with reddened eyes, turning back at the last moment to say, "After this parting, we may never meet again. Take care, Father."
At the time, he thought she spoke out of resentment. After all, Star Yearn City and Moonchase City were the closest among the six cities—he would surely have chances to visit her.
Yet who could have predicted her words would prove prophetic?
Holding the bamboo hairpin, Bo Yuankui's expression twisted with grief. "You should have given this to me when I first entered the city."
"There were too many eyes watching. It wasn't possible," Ji Bozhai replied calmly. "Only the concubine could be used, and arranging for her to deliver it to you was difficult."
A concubine...
Bo Yuankui clenched the hairpin tightly. "For a woman, it's better not to become someone's concubine."
Knowing he spoke from emotion rather than offense, Ji Bozhai merely said, "Outsiders are unaware of the circumstances. I ask the lord to attribute this to drunken folly and express your apology firmly. This matter can then be resolved."
"I understand. Tomorrow, I will go see Qi Shu," Bo Yuankui said darkly. "I'd like to see how he intends to hold me accountable."
With that settled, Ji Bozhai said no more. Glancing toward the door, he suddenly asked, "Has Dan Er been coming and going frequently lately?"
The envoys' courtyards faced each other, making comings and goings easily visible. Bo Yuankui, confined to his sickbed, wouldn't know, but under Ji Bozhai's gaze, a servant spoke up: "Not too often recently. But some time ago, he was leaving early and returning late. One day, this humble servant rose at mao hour to empty the night soil and saw Lord Dan Er hurrying out with his attendants."
Ji Bozhai raised an eyebrow. "Do you recall the date?"
"Roughly the twenty-seventh of May."
The very day the Ji residence caught fire.
Understanding dawned. Ji Bozhai stood and nodded. "Then I'll pay a visit across the way first. The lord should rest well."
Bo Yuankui grunted and closed his eyes. The servant escorted Ji Bozhai to the door, bowing respectfully.
Ji Bozhai strolled into Dan Er's courtyard.
Someone was practicing in the yard—a gray leopard floated midair, still lacking its own soul and merely puppeteered by its master to put on a ferocious display.
Spotting Ji Bozhai, it immediately pounced, baring three-foot-long fangs as its whip-like tail lashed toward his neck.
The momentum was fierce, but its foundation weak. Ji Bozhai raised a hand slightly, and the Mystic Dragon roared forth. With a single circling bite, it severed the leopard's tail before returning to his body.
The leopard, not even realizing its tail was gone, froze momentarily before fleeing back to its master in panic and pain."Forgive my ignorance in not recognizing Lord Ji's arrival," Dan Er stepped forward, shielding the practicing attendant behind him as he cupped his hands in greeting.
Ji Bozhai returned the courtesy with a smile, offering genuine praise: "Truly worthy of Sunspire City—even mere attendants possess the skill to Manifest beasts from Source Energy. This one seems capable of matching Ji Qing in combat."
The corner of Dan Er's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
Everyone knew Ji Qing's Essence Power was mediocre at best—he failed the preliminary trials of the Six Cities Tournament year after year, yet his powerful connections ensured his participation regardless. To compare him with the Mystic Dragon, especially without knowing the latter's true identity, left Dan Er unable to muster even a perfunctory smile.
A sliver of doubt crept into his mind—with such weak Essence Power, could the Mystic Dragon truly replace Ming Xian?
"My visit isn't without purpose," Ji Bozhai suddenly activated the Nether Domain, flexing his wrist casually as he continued, "I've come to demand an explanation from you."
Dan Er's heart sank as he glanced around.
The courtyard guards were now isolated beyond the Nether Domain's barrier. With only the Mystic Dragon behind him—far from capable of defeating Ji Bozhai, let alone ensuring their survival—he lowered his eyes. "What explanation could you possibly require from me, my lord? There must be some misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Ji Bozhai chuckled darkly. "The person who gave you the map has already confessed. What possible misunderstanding could remain?"
His laughter carried clear annoyance, his unwavering gaze projecting absolute certainty of control.
Dan Er was astonished—why would Mingyi confess to him? There was no advantage for her in doing so.
Ah, so this was how Ji Bozhai escaped so easily—she had betrayed them.
Anger simmering, Dan Er replied sternly, "You'd believe the words of a Sunspire City fugitive? Having betrayed you once, she could easily be trying to provoke conflict between us."
"I trust her," Ji Bozhai stated calmly. "Right now, I only want your explanation. Otherwise, as a mere brute, I won't concern myself with diplomatic niceties between our cities."
As he spoke, the Mystic Dragon reappeared, coiling around the perimeter of the Nether Domain.
One tightening of its tail, and both he and the Mystic Dragon would perish.
Dan Er finally paled, lowering his gaze. "I'll speak."
The dragon ceased its circling, its massive head turning toward them with a disdainful snort.
Feeling the overwhelming Essence Power, Dan Er pressed his lips together and murmured, "That Ming Guniang by your side is actually Ming Xian, the Ming family's heir from Sunspire City. With her Meridians destroyed, she could no longer bring glory to our city. She begged me to eliminate you, ensuring Sunspire's position among the Upper Three Cities next year."
The logic was sound, the blame neatly shifted, and with Mingyi's true identity as the bombshell—Dan Er waited confidently for Ji Bozhai's shocked reaction.
Yet the man before him remained as immovable as jade mountains, showing not even the slightest surprise—not so much as a raised eyebrow.
Thinking he hadn't understood, Dan Er frowned. "Mingyi is Ming Xian, Ming Xian is Mingyi. The woman by your side came to harm you."
Ji Bozhai picked at his ear. "I'm not deaf, no need to shout."
"You..." Dan Er was baffled—how could such news not surprise him?
"Rather than why Ming Xian would appear in Star Yearn City as a woman, I'm more curious why you would betray her," Ji Bozhai said with a knowing smile. "Ming Xian won seven consecutive championships for Sunspire City, and now works tirelessly to eliminate obstacles for your city's benefit. As Sunspire's high official, why would you turn around and betray her?"Dan Er was speechless and instinctively averted his gaze. "With my life hanging by a thread, I naturally had to tell the truth."
"If you truly cared about Sunspire City, you would have shouldered this responsibility alone, especially since the map was in your possession and the Adjudicator's records only bore your name," Ji Bozhai said meaningfully. "But you didn't."
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