Chapter 100: A Useful Bait

This fellow was clearly trying to keep Jiang Chen hanging, wanting to dangle him along to achieve his own aims.

Jiang Chen was no fool. He said directly, “Since you refuse to reveal your name, then I’ll take my leave.”

“Ji Bei.”

“You’d best remember this name, and I’ll remember your face as well. Our meeting here is no coincidence. You are fated to help me escape alive!”

This man who called himself Ji Bei was full of confidence in his own judgment, and that confidence was not at all pleasing to Jiang Chen.

He had no intention of saving this person, but the other acted as if everything was perfectly under his control—far too arrogant for Jiang Chen’s taste.

“Finally, we’re getting somewhere! Come over here!” Shen Xueying called out loudly to Jiang Chen; it seemed that her rather unorthodox method truly yielded results.

After eight people rattled and banged about, Wang Qiaoling, whose mental state had already been extremely unstable, was finally stirred into recalling memories buried deep within his subconscious.

Inside the cell, which had been transformed to simulate a battlefield, Wang Qiaoling at first huddled, clutching his head as he darted around and hid. When he was on the verge of total collapse, he suddenly turned toward the north and knelt down.

He spoke fervently, “General, your might is unmatched, invincible in every direction—please spare my life! Wang Qiaoling will be forever grateful!”

“I am willing to deliver messages for the general, and faithfully report all military intelligence on the Great Qian court’s troop deployments and supply movements, without the slightest negligence!”

At that moment, it was as if Wang Qiaoling had truly returned to his predicament of years past—his face was drenched in sweat, his eyes vacant and lifeless, utterly consumed by terror.

Shen Xueying asked in a grave tone, “The matter of assassinating Duanmu Hongtu must not be leaked. You know full well what would happen if it were!”

She tried to probe Wang Qiaoling, who responded instinctively, “Even if I die, I will never speak of it. Please spare my family—they are innocent outsiders and know nothing.”

Jiang Chen’s eyes brightened. He quickly pressed further, “As long as you obey, the Xuan Yan Mansion will not wrong you.”

---

“Yes, Wang Qiaoling has no second thoughts! Please rest assured, young master. The northern frontier will surely stand tall amidst the coming chaos, as steady as Mount Tai!”

Leaving the pavilion’s dungeon, Jiang Chen pieced together the truth from Wang Qiaoling’s confessions, deducing that this man had long ago been bought by Xuan Yan Mansion, and that he played a crucial role in the assassination of Duanmu Hongtu.

Shen Xueying said, “Wang Qiaoling was acting under Xuan Yan Mansion’s orders, taking part in the assassination. Afterward, when the camp was overrun by Beiyan troops, he failed to escape, and for self-preservation, agreed to serve as their secret spy.”

“So Wang Qiaoling is not only a traitor to Xuan Yan Mansion, but also connected to Beiyan’s spy network—a great traitor to the Great Qian court!”

“He deserves a thousand deaths; living this long is a mercy.”

Jiang Chen pointed out the next key point: “That makes Wang Qiaoling an even more valuable piece. We can use him to strike at both Xuan Yan Mansion and Beiyan’s forces.”

“Unfortunately, his mind will never fully recover, so his usefulness is limited.”

To this, Jiang Chen replied, “He’s locked up in this forsaken place—how would outsiders know his true situation? As long as he’s alive, there’s always a chance he’ll spill secrets. Do you think Xuan Yan Mansion won’t be worried?”

“Those outside only know Wang Qiaoling is imprisoned in the pavilion’s dungeon, but they have no idea what progress the Ministry of Justice has made with his interrogation. We can use this to our advantage.”

“You mean...”

Shen Xueying, sharp as ever, immediately caught on. Together, they quickly devised a plan against Xuan Yan Mansion.

Night Criminal Division wants to eliminate Xuan Yan Mansion’s base in the capital, while Jiang Chen’s goal is to uncover how many people were involved in the attack on Old Wu and his companions twenty years ago. If Old Wu’s revenge was incomplete, Jiang Chen would help him see it through to the end.

This could not be left as a regret for Old Wu.

Thus, Jiang Chen and Shen Xueying’s objectives aligned, and they struck an immediate alliance.

Before sunset tomorrow, Wang Qiaoling would be released from the dungeon, and outwardly, it would appear that he had spent a long time recuperating in the capital and was now preparing to return to Yanzhou.

Of course, Xuan Yan Mansion knew Wang Qiaoling was in the hands of the Ministry of Justice, so this facade was meant for Beiyan’s eyes. As enemy agents, their intelligence within Great Qian was insufficient for precise updates.

---

As long as they believed Wang Qiaoling had returned safely from the capital to Yanzhou, that was enough.

As for Xuan Yan Mansion, Jiang Chen would coordinate with Night Criminal Division, waiting for their move. If they did not want the truth about Duanmu Hongtu’s assassination to leak, they would have to rescue Wang Qiaoling or silence him for good.

Once these people surfaced, Jiang Chen and his companions would have a chance to capture them all at once.

“After Wang Qiaoling is released, you’ll take a carriage through the east gate, traveling straight northwest as if heading back to Yanzhou. The entourage is all composed of Night Criminal Division men—they’re seasoned veterans and trustworthy.”

Shen Xueying gave Jiang Chen a few instructions and continued, “Our main target this operation is the big figure hiding in the gambling den. He’s the leader of Xuan Yan Mansion’s organization in the capital; capturing him will yield vital intelligence.”

“But this time, we must act quickly. After subduing those who attack Wang Qiaoling’s carriage, you need to return to the city at once and move directly against the gambling den. I’ll continue monitoring its activities from Drunken Life Pavilion until then.”

Jiang Chen nodded. “Night Criminal Division is such a large organization—surely you’re not short-handed?”

“I understand your point. Coordinated actions on both sides would boost our chances, but most of our people in the capital have been dispatched elsewhere, each with their own tasks. We can’t recall them quickly.”

“That’s exactly why I need your help.”

Since she was so candid about her reasons, Jiang Chen gladly accepted the arrangement. If not for this, he might never have had the chance to participate deeply in Night Criminal Division’s operations.

Everything was set. Half an hour later, the carriage bearing Wang Qiaoling rolled out slowly. Jiang Chen and a burly companion sat in front, while two Night Criminal Division agents kept watch within the carriage.

Meanwhile, four mounted guards rode ahead and behind; all were disguised as Ministry of Justice personnel, making the scene appear perfectly ordinary.

“My name’s Lü Santong, new around here. If things get rough, don’t piss your pants.”

The man beside Jiang Chen, guiding the carriage, grinned at him with a mocking tone.