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Mister Bai looked at Chen Qing; his snow-white face, dough-like without a smile, became inscrutable, as expressionless as a dumpling, and asked with curiosity in his voice, “What are you talking about?”

“I am speaking of the Thousand-Faced Fox…” Chen Qing did not continue to beat around the bush; the patience of the one behind him had clearly reached its limit!

“The Thousand-Faced Fox?

What does that have to do with me?”

“The Thousand-Faced Fox knows you!” Chen Qing said firmly, staring at the other party: “Even though she posed as the Crown Prince, it was her first time entering the palace, so she couldn’t possibly be familiar with the inner court’s prohibitions, nor could she have allowed the Ghost Horse to move through them at will, unless there was an accomplice inside the palace.”

“And according to what the Duke of Song has said, only ten court Grand Sorcerers mastered the palace’s prohibitions, and there certainly isn’t a betrayal loophole, so the only possibility would be you, Mister…”

Chen Qing pointed at the remnants of a white rabbit on the ground: “You monitor the Capital City for the Royal Family, your Talent Paper Man can relay all external information, and through your paper-folding, the information is conveyed to where it’s needed inside the court.

But for this, you would need to avoid those court techniques.”

“After all, your Paper Man is not a technique, but a demon’s supernatural ability, which is most likely to trigger the prohibitions.

Therefore, in order for your mechanism to be activated, the court’s magical formations can’t be kept from you.

I guess that every time a new sorcerer starts their shift, they send you the details of any changes in the court’s magical barriers right away, right?”

“What if I did?” Mister Bai asked with a smile as he looked at Chen Qing.

“Then it could only be you…” Chen Qing said with a smile: “The Duke of Song said the ten Grand Sorcerers have special objects to interrogate the mind, making betrayal impossible.

So, the only one who could possibly help the Fox Demon betray Your Majesty would be you.”

At these words, Mister Bai showed no surprise, but looked toward the Emperor, whose presence was exceedingly frigid: “Do you think so too?”

The Emperor remained silent…

The other party’s tone was very rude, which also indicated his status.

Paper-folding Mister has been with the Siao Family for five generations!

It was during Emperor Xuanzong’s era that he pledged his allegiance to the Siao Family, assisting them ever since.

Because of him, the Siao Family steadily gained advantages, and because of him, within a mere twenty years, he controlled the literary and military officials within the newly established Royal Capital.

For twenty years, Paper-folding Mister’s Paper Men played a significant role in stabilizing the Capital City and selecting officials, both civil and military.

The Emperor did not like to cooperate with demons, but he had to admit, this one…

had made a huge contribution to the Siao Family, irreplaceable even!

Even though the beloved Empress had faced misfortune, and even though Chen Qing’s reasoning was quite sound, without definitive evidence, the Emperor still could not act outright!

Thinking this, he turned to Chen Qing: “I am not here to listen to your conjecture.

If you want to convict him, bring out the evidence!”

Chen Qing frowned, having made himself so clear, how could this seemingly decisive Emperor waver?

But it was understandable, for the abilities of Paper-folding Mister were too convenient for an Emperor to monitor his officials.

If it were himself, he too might be reluctant to part with such a tool…

However perfect that ability might be, if his heart isn’t with you, it will only be a blade that wounds you in return!

Chen Qing took a breath and looked at Mister Bai: “During Emperor Xuanzong’s era, Paper-folding Mister, you were imprisoned in Tiandu’s Guanghan Palace, for a long time, the history of your imprisonment even precedes the founding of Tiandu, and the one who acted…

was the last generation Black Tortoise Practitioner!”

At these words, Mister Bai’s expression finally changed!

Not even the wrathful arrival of the Emperor had disturbed him, but Chen Qing’s words elicited a look of shock.

“Imprisoned for many years, no one dared to release you because your abilities were too formidable.

Every generation of rulers in Tiandu has been extremely cautious, until the previous generation of the Thousand-Faced Fox entered the palace…

Am I right, Mister?”

“How do you know this?” Mister Bai’s eyes widened, staring at Chen Qing intently, as though seeing a ghost.

Such secrets should have died out long ago; how could this young man know his own secret?

And his reference was particularly shocking…

The previous generation!

Demons, they would never reveal this secret to humans; he is…

Boom!

Golden flames flared up again; the Emperor’s gaze towards Mister Bai was colder than ever: “Is what he says true?

Does the Fox Demon’s ancestor owe you a favor?”

“Ancestor?” Mister Bai first glanced at the Emperor, then looked at Chen Qing, and suddenly laughed: “Hahaha, interesting, interesting.

Boy, who exactly are you?”

Chen Qing remained silent; he had revealed enough for one day.

Later, he might even be detained for interrogation, and to say more would probably have him labeled as a monster!

Boom!

The flames drew closer, encircling Mister Bai in an instant.

The Emperor stepped toward Mister Bai, his expression exceedingly grim: “Are you still in the mood to worry about him?

Where is the Thousand-Faced Fox?

Hand her over.

If you do, in consideration of your years of service to the Siao Family, I shall leave your body intact!”

“That’s not a very tempting offer…” Mister Bai chuckled: “We demons don’t cling to the idea of an intact corpse like your human race does.”

“If you die, We can still find her and tear her body into ten thousand pieces!”

“That’s quite the boast…” Mister Bai chuckled, “Just now you yourselves said that Ali was with the Ghost Horse.

With the Ghost Horse present, and the maps of techniques I provided, what do you have to capture her?”

Before the king could react with anger, Chen Qing spoke up first, “The Thousand-Faced Fox is not of the ghostly yin lineage.

Staying in the yin path for too long is as dangerous for her as it is for us mortals.

Thus, while the Ghost General driving the Ghost Horse might be able to linger in the yin path indefinitely, Ali, being cautious, would surely come out to hide.

And this place is the safest refuge for you!”

Mister Bai’s smile suddenly stiffened, and upon looking at Chen Qing again, he remembered Ali mentioning this peculiar young man named Chen Qing.

It felt as though Chen Qing knew and understood everything.

Most of the Human Race lumped demons and ghosts together, hardly knowing that there were distinctions among them…

Ghosts not part of the yin realm were as dangerous on the yin path as humans; this point… was not recorded in the Record of Unusual Tales!

At this, the Emperor sneered and in an instant, a surge of flames swept past Mister Bai toward the back of the palace, clearly intending to devour all life hidden there!

Faced with such a drastic move, Mister Bai did not panic but stood quietly.

The next second, the king’s flames receded!

The terrifying Golden Flames had scorched the entire area behind the great hall, but just as they were about to engulf the lives hiding in the back hall, the angry king himself had pressed the pause button first!

Chen Qing frowned and looked over, finding himself taken aback as well.

When the Golden Flames dissipated, inside the back hall were some women dressed in lavish palace garments, looking terrified and panicked.

From their attire, Chen Qing knew these were not ordinary palace maids, but probably concubines from the Harem, captured by the Ghost General!

Indeed, now that all the routes were known, the Ghost General controlling the Ghost Horse surely could rampage unimpeded within the Court, taking hostages without difficulty.

Chen Qing saw clearly that each one of these concubines was pregnant!

“Can’t bear to strike?” Mister Bai chuckled, “That’s right, your Siao Family with its Golden Crow Bloodline is too overbearing, with few successfully inheriting it.

All your illegitimate children are half-crippled because they couldn’t inherit it successfully, and the only young Crown Prince who did inherit the bloodline is now missing, alive or dead unknown…”

Mister Bai pointed at the pregnant concubines, “If you burn these pregnant concubines, your Siao Family might completely die out!”

Emperor: “……”

“Is the Crown Prince still alive?” the Emperor asked Mister Bai.

“I don’t know…” Mister Bai shook his head, “But the chances of survival are slim.

He was drained of his vital yang by Ali and was led into the yin path by the Ghost General.

Even with the protection of the sub-commander with the Thunder Elephant Bloodline, the probability of surviving there is very small.”

The Emperor closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and a sense of powerlessness welled up.

The Empress was dead, the Crown Prince might be in imminent danger, but he was actually powerless to do anything?

“Chen Qing!”

“Your student is here!”

The Emperor glanced outside and then at Chen Qing, saying somberly, “Dawn is almost upon us!”

Chen Qing: “…..”

“It’s the same ultimatum!” the Emperor, seeing Chen Qing’s unpleased expression, still spoke mercilessly, “If you find the Thousand-Faced Fox, We will make you the Earl of Zhongyong, allowing you to become the Magistrate of Lyuzhou directly.

If you fail…

your entire family will be annihilated!”

Chen Qing’s face darkened, this old man, unable to threaten others, was threatening him, right?

“That’s not enough…”

“What did you say?” The Emperor widened his eyes, looking at Chen Qing.

He had considered all sorts of excuses that this peculiar young man might make, but he never expected him to say it wasn’t enough!

“Your Majesty, your student wants a Marquisate, hereditary and without replacement.

Additionally, I want a Fourth Rank Imperial decree for my mother!”

“You…” The Emperor was stunned.

Was he actually bargaining?

Bargaining with him?

“Your student has no choice…” Chen Qing bowed, “In dealing with secrets of the Imperial Family, the probability of my survival is very small.

I can only seek to secure more for my family.”

“You mean the title for your family members?” the Emperor’s gaze was piercing as he looked at Chen Qing.

“Yes…” Chen Qing bowed again, “My eldest brother has a son, and my mother has toiled to provide me with education for years.

As a son, if I cannot fulfill my filial duties in her old age, I must acquire more assurance for them.”

“Always the filial one…” the Emperor sneered, “Granted, but if you fail to find the Fox, or cause Me to make a mistake…” The Emperor pointed at the pregnant concubines, “If We lose even a single descendant, We will take the lives of all nine clans of your Chen Family!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” After bowing, Chen Qing walked toward those panicking concubines at the back, “Please stand and separate, my noble ladies, so this subject can identify for His Majesty!”