Chapter 773 - 233: I’m Here to See Him
Chapter 233 [I Came Looking for Him]
Indeed, while intercepting cargo ships might seem significant to those at the bottom, for a giant like the Gu Family, sending an esteemed personage mostly serves to show respect to the Saint’s sect. If this happened elsewhere, like in some rural area, they would probably just send a high-ranking steward or the like.
Even if an esteemed personage comes, it’s merely a ceremonial response. They wouldn’t have such distinguished individuals personally question those involved.
Chen Yan understood this and felt a bit relieved.
A servant from the sect later brought over the transcript Chen Yan had dictated at the time and handed it to him. Chen Yan took it and reviewed it.
"Zhao Shanhe, the contents recorded here are what you personally recounted a few days ago. Any issues? If not, consider if there’s anything to add?" asked the chubby man known as Gu Jiu.
Goodness.
The dialect came through clearly!
No doubt, this chubby guy is indeed from the Gu Family!
The first few words were standard speech, but then his accent slipped out.
Chen Yan didn’t rush to answer. He carefully reviewed it, then handed the transcript back to the servant beside him and calmly said, "Reporting to Military Officer Gu, I have reviewed this transcript, and it is indeed the content I discussed previously, without discrepancies."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Good."
Then he scrutinized Chen Yan, noticing that although he looked ordinary, he had a composed demeanor. He asked, "I’ve also reviewed your statement. After the incident that night, you managed to escape the cargo ship and avoided the soul-searching technique triggered by the murderer’s Primordial Spirit. You seem rather resourceful and skilled."
Chen Yan remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"I’ve learned that you claim to have returned from Snow Cliff Pass. Therefore, I thought you must have experienced battles outside Snow Cliff Pass, which developed your resourcefulness and composure?"
Chen Yan slowly replied, "Indeed, when I was at Snow Cliff Pass, I went out hunting the Fierce Beast Race, and had a few encounters with their sled teams."
Gu Jiu nodded, "That’s it, but..."
He suddenly changed his tone, "Let me ask you, since you’ve hunted outside Snow Cliff Pass, have you ever exchanged the heads of the Fierce Beast Race and merits at Snow Cliff Pass? Is your name recorded in the reward records at Snow Cliff Pass?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yan’s heart sank slightly.
He knew trouble was brewing!
·
Of course, Chen Yan had exchanged heads of the Fierce Beast Race for bounties at Snow Cliff Pass, quite a number actually!
However, the name recorded in those records is [Wang Chuyi].
It has nothing to do with Zhao Shanhe.
The name Zhao Shanhe does not exist in the bounty records at the Commander’s Mansion of Snow Cliff Pass.
This, therefore, is a flaw.
A Second Realm cultivator, whose cultivation isn’t considered low among loose cultivators, and who admitted to hunting multiple times outside the pass.
Yet, hasn’t even sold one head in the records.
This is unreasonable.
Luckily, when Zhao Wuji called him out today, Chen Yan heard that the Gu Family member was from Snow Cliff Pass, he immediately paid attention and considered the trouble that might arise during the questioning.
On the way here, he was already thinking of a countermeasure - although the time was short, it was better than being suddenly confronted with this question unprepared.
In those few minutes on the road, Chen Yan had already formulated a preliminary plan. Although he knew this response wasn’t perfect, there was no better explanation at the moment.
Chen Yan took a deep breath, showing a hint of difficulty, and deliberately flashed a slight hint of fear in his eyes, only to quickly conceal it.
He seemed to struggle a bit before whispering, "Reporting to the officer, I actually..."
As he spoke, he seemed to have just made up his mind, and spoke with some difficulty: "Although I have a Second Realm cultivation, I’m not skilled at combat but mainly practice Talisman Art.
Previous hunting expeditions were as part of a team, serving as support during battles, so my merits were always small. After each battle, even if the team had gains, it was hard for me to receive significant spoils.
The most I got was some beast meat. As for the heads of the Fierce Beast Race, I received only four or five."
"Since you’ve been a Second Realm cultivator for many years, are you saying over those years, you only have four or five heads as your achievement?" Gu Jiu asked.
"...I am not good at fighting. Besides primarily practicing Talisman Art, there’s another reason: since childhood, I’ve been rather cautious, not very... not very... um, not very daring in battle. I tried several expeditions, but with little to gain, I felt risking my life in this manner wasn’t worthwhile. So I seldom went out, only making talisman papers for loose cultivators inside the pass, selling talismans for jade coins to make a living."
While speaking, Chen Yan showed a bit of embarrassment, his face reddened, and lowered his head.
Too timid to go to battle?
Gu Jiu chuckled at this, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but quickly withdrew.
"So, on the pass’s records, your merits are merely four or five heads?"