In the Defense Agency, Liao Zihui examined the report and affirmed some details with Liu Guocai, the Official Border Defense Envoy of Wuqin Village.
"At that time, you didn’t feel anything abnormal, but the geographic location had indeed changed?"
Liu Guocai nodded. "The changes mainly concentrated around the position of the Ink Shop and the exit leading to the New Land."
Wuqin Village was originally close to the Ink Shop, and suddenly there was an additional territory between the two locations. According to news from the Ink Shop, they hadn’t experienced any abnormalities at that time either.
"Are we certain this territory belongs to Li Qi?"
Liu Guocai replied, "We’ve sent people to scout the edges of the territory. We didn’t see Li Qi, but we spotted three-headed mutants fleeing from the City of Sinners, as well as He Yuxiu, Ma Wu, and others. The general topography of the territory also matched perfectly with the New Land developed by Li Qi."
"The deep part of the New Land, due to successful reclamation, suddenly appeared in the middle of the Proper Land. There were no abnormalities around; it just forcefully squeezed its way in," Liao Zihui summarized, then suddenly laughed mid-sentence. "Puluo State is truly mysterious. I’ve been here for many years and still can’t fathom it. Sujun, how’s the research going?"
Secretary Ling Sujun reported, "Chief Envoy, based on the information we currently have, a similar situation has occurred once in the history of Puluo State."
"Which time?"
"Ancestral Law City’s population had dwindled, causing it to degrade from Proper Land to Old Land."
Liao Zihui’s memory of that event was vague, as it likely happened before his time in Puluo State. "Does the situation with Ancestral Law City have anything to do with what’s happening now?"
Ling Sujun handed over the documents. "The geographic location of Ancestral Law City also changed, just the complete opposite of the current situation. It moved away from the Proper Land and entered deep into the New Land. The surrounding territories immediately converged in its geographical position, filling up the void left by Ancestral Law City. The entrances to the New Land also changed. Apart from that, there were no significant abnormalities."
Liao Zihui examined the situation with Ancestral Law City carefully and then said to Ling Sujun, "Is nothing else of a similar nature recorded in the history of Puluo State?"
Ling Sujun replied, "The related materials are very scattered, based on what we have discovered so far..."
Liao Zihui shook his head. "Keep researching. If our data is incomplete, go ask the Outside Provinces for more. This is a major matter, and all parties must cooperate."
Ling Sujun left the meeting room. Liao Zihui flipped through the materials again and then asked Liu Guocai, "Is the railway there disrupted?"
"Yes, when that unnamed territory appeared, the railway between Wuqin Village and the Ink Shop was severed. However, at the time, no trains were operating, and it did not result in severe damage. The break in the tracks was very clean, not twisted or deformed, as if it were cut instantly by an extremely sharp tool."
Deputy Envoy General Tang Huanjie added from the side, "Chief Envoy, I have prepared personnel and equipment. As soon as Li Qi agrees, we can immediately go to survey the site and aim to start work as soon as possible."
Liao Zihui frowned. "Go for what?"
Tang Huanjie was taken aback. "To repair the railway."
Liao Zihui said, "We still need Li Qi’s permission to repair the railway? What are you thinking?"
"That, well," Tang Huanjie was at a loss for words. "Chief Envoy, the railway between Wuqin Village and the Ink Shop is broken, affecting the entire line. If we don’t fix it soon..."
Liao Zihui cut him off. "What’s the rush? Let it be affected. Aren’t there other railway lines around? Take a detour first!"
"But the transportation cost will be..."
"No matter," Liao Zihui gestured dismissively. "We’ve been troubled by Li Qi so many times, and now it’s time to make him pay. He’s stuck on that territory and can’t get out. If he wants a railway, he’ll have to beg us! The cost of repairing the railway will be on him, and the Defense Agency’s expenses will be on him too. He’ll have to give however much I demand, and if he objects, let him stay in that wasteland for life!"
Tang Huanjie pursed his lips. "It’s not just Li Qi who’s trapped; the heads of major families are also stranded on that barren land. I’m worried they’ll cause trouble."
"Who will they cause trouble for?" Liao Zihui sneered. "Whoever trapped them can deal with them. They should take their complaints to Li Qi, since this is his doing. What does it have to do with us? By the way, how’s the investigation into Li Qi’s identity going?"
This was the advantage of being a Chief Envoy; one could just ask anything that came to mind, and the subordinates had to follow up.
Fortunately, Tang Huanjie was well-prepared. "The investigation is nearly complete. Li Qi’s real name is Song Zhuowen. He is thirty-two years old this year and was born in Hai Chi Ridge. He came from a poor family, and his parents wanted him to become a Dark Energy User. Unable to afford the Dark Energy Foundation, they took him to Three-Head Fork. On the way there, they encountered Mountain Bandits, and both perished. Song Zhuowen survived and became a Wanderer. He has been practicing for twenty-three years, lived in the Outside Provinces for a period, and has now reached the Fifth Layer."
Liao Zihui roughly calculated. "Twenty-three years of practice... an ordinary person should only be at the Third Layer. With elixirs, pushing to the Fifth Layer isn’t too surprising. Where did you learn about the Mountain Bandit incident?"
"That information comes from Hai Chi Ridge. Someone traveling with Song Zhuowen’s family back then managed to escape the Mountain Bandits. He witnessed Song Zhuowen’s parents die at the bandits’ hands. He also saw Li Qi return to Hai Chi Ridge recently to refurbish his old house. We also verified that in the vicinity of Three-Head Fork, more than twenty years ago, bandits were indeed rampant around Hai Chi Ridge, with travelers being killed almost daily."
Liao Zihui pondered for a moment. "Does this Song Zhuowen have any other relatives in Hai Chi Ridge?"
"We can’t confirm that for now," Tang Huanjie shook his head. "His family originally moved from the countryside to First Ridge, and people who knew them never heard of any relatives."
Liao Zihui sighed lightly. "The story is seamless, the details are unverifiable, yet there’s still something peculiar about it. Huanjie, you must continue investigating. Leave Hai Chi Ridge for now, and try a different approach."
Tang Huanjie was troubled.
Liao Zihui mused for a long time before saying, "I remember Li Qi and Ling Family Film Industry seemed to have had a conflict."
Tang Huanjie nodded. "Initially, ’Blood Blade Detective’ and ’Blood Gun Detective’ competed for the market, causing quite a bit of friction between the two."
"Start the investigation with Ling Family Film Industry. Since they have a feud, the Ling family must have investigated Li Qi. Let’s see if they have any leads."
「」
He Jiaqing set up the camera and microphone in his apartment, arranged the mat and dumbbells, and plugged the wireless network card into his head.
He was recently doing a fitness livestream, and the name of his channel was "Xiao Qing Takes You Flying," which was very popular. As soon as he went live today, the donations kept rolling in.
"Thanks to ’Time of Peace’ for the big rocket! Xiao Qing will explain the key points of high-frequency push-ups in a while."
The atmosphere in the livestream room instantly peaked; everyone liked to watch Xiao Qing’s push-ups, especially the strength of his waist.
Human energy continuously flowed into He Jiaqing’s head. Just as He Jiaqing was getting into the groove, the button on the table vibrated.
Hearing Shen Rongqing’s voice, He Jiaqing temporarily paused the livestream.
"Time of Peace" sent a private message, asking for a private chat.
He Jiaqing responded with a few perfunctory words, shut off the camera and microphone, and listened intently to Shen Rongqing’s message.
"Jiaqing, the Border Defense Envoy is investigating Li Qi’s background."
"I heard they’ve already looked into it, and it seems the matter has been clarified."
Shen Rongqing said, "According to their investigation, Li Qi’s real name is Song Zhuowen, and he’s from Hai Chi Ridge."
"Song Zhuowen?" He Jiaqing was startled. "Where did this information come from?"
Shen Rongqing didn’t know.
Of course, she didn’t know; this information had been fabricated by Ma Wu at great expense.
Ma Wu had informants inside the Defense Agency and knew the Border Defense Envoy was investigating Li Qi’s identity. He spent a lot of money to fabricate Li Qi’s identity.
Song Zhuowen was a real person, and his background and experiences were true, but he had no connection to Li Qi whatsoever; all connections were constructed by Ma Wu.
Ma Wu first laid the groundwork by secretly purchasing Song Zhuowen’s old house. Then, Li Qi went over to tidy up the place. Combined with some obscure hints leaked to the newspapers, the connection was thus established.
He Jiaqing fiddled with the button in his hand for a moment and told Shen Rongqing, "Let our people also release some hints discreetly to solidify the clue that Li Qi is Song Zhuowen."
Shen Rongqing didn’t understand. "Jiaqing, are you covering for Li Qi? Are we going to contend with the Border Defense Envoy for Li Qi’s sake?"
He Jiaqing said, "Li Qi has many secrets, some of which I know, but the Border Defense Envoy mustn’t know them."
Shen Rongqing was quite curious. "Jiaqing, shouldn’t we sort out exactly what secrets Li Qi has?"
He Jiaqing was thinking about how to put off Shen Rongqing when he suddenly saw a private message in the livestream room. It was from Ms. "Time of Peace."
She wanted to meet He Jiaqing offline.
Just as He Jiaqing was contemplating how to respond, another private message arrived—"Time of Peace" sent her home address, followed by a note:
"My place is short a steel wool scrubber; if it’s convenient, bring one along."
「」
In Greenwater City, south of Hundred Joy Gate, a beggar carrying a Begging Bowl entered the courtyard of a western-style building.
The doorman shouted, "What are you doing here?"
The Greenwater Beggar replied with a smile, "I’m asking for some food."
"You smelly beggar, bold enough to trespass anywhere like this? Scram, quickly..." Before he could finish, the doorman’s throat tightened suddenly, and he choked.
The Greenwater Beggar continued forward, and a few Supports tried to stop him. They had barely taken two steps towards him when their bodies swelled violently, swallowing their limbs. Their clothes burst, and their flesh stuck together, turning them into giant pus-filled boils standing in the courtyard.
The Greenwater Beggar looked at these Supports who had turned into boils. As if receiving some command, they encircled the western-style building, each taking their position.
Their heads cracked open, and pus spurted out. The pus that fell to the ground quickly started to wriggle, surrounding the entire building.
Dragging his Begging Bowl, the Greenwater Beggar entered the western-style building and saw Chu Shaoqiang coming out of a bedroom.
Chu Shaoqiang stood by the staircase railing, looking down at the Greenwater Beggar. "Green Flower, you’ve got guts, coming straight to me like this?"
The Greenwater Beggar chuckled. "I wanted to come secretly, but I couldn’t avoid the Magical Treasure by your side."
"You think coming openly will help you avoid it?"
The Greenwater Beggar shook his head. "No. I’ve decided not to hide and to come openly. I have fewer restraints this way. Today, let’s make a clean break of it!"
Chu Shaoqiang frowned. "Why such a rush? Why not wait? We’ll have plenty of opportunities later."
The Greenwater Beggar stroked his Begging Bowl. "Wait? How many years have you already waited? Didn’t you always want Greenwater Bay? I’m here now. Greenwater Bay is in my hands. Come and get it if you dare!"