Chapter 196: The Reunion of the Twelve Guardians
Chapter 196: The Reunion of the Twelve Guardians
September 4th, 2024
"This is unbearable!"
Ji Li was so frustrated by the snake and tiger that he felt like dying. He was once the esteemed First Guardian, but now, with the Grand Marshal's death, his status had plummeted.
Thinking about it, he realized that things were better when the Grand Marshal was alive.
He waved his folding fan and sighed, "Alas, the disbandment of the Twelve Guardians has left me feeling lonely."
Meng Qianqian finally responded to him, "Then let's gather the Twelve Guardians again."
"Easier said than done," Ji Li sighed pessimistically. "Not to mention that one of the Shen Hou is already dead, and among the remaining eleven, there's also a traitor. It's hard enough to find them, let alone gather them again. Don't blame me for not reminding you, the Twelve Guardians may seem harmonious, but that's only because of the Grand Marshal's authority. Without him, they don't respect each other."
Si She didn't argue, but he silently agreed with Ji Li's words.
Ever since the death of Chu Great General, the Twelve Guardians ceased to exist in the world.
Meng Qianqian knew that this task was even more challenging than recruiting the Twelve Guardians initially, but she was determined not to give up, no matter how difficult it got.
"You won't know until you try," she said.
Ji Li snapped his fan against his palm, "Fine, you try, but don't involve me."
"That's not an option," Meng Qianqian stated firmly.
Ji Li exploded, "Hey, what do I owe you?"
Meng Qianqian nodded confidently, "Yes."
Ji Li was speechless.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to Si She, "Si She, you have a grudge against Li Hai Ya, right? Now that his disciple is here, don't you want to settle the score?"
Meng Qianqian blinked, "So, you acknowledge my Yin Hu identity?"
Ji Li was caught off guard, "I..."
Damn it!
How did she manage to trap him like this?!
"A debt is cleared when the debtor dies. Bullying a child doesn't count as a skill."
Si She's eyes, usually calm, now fixed on Meng Qianqian, "However, your master and I had a contest once, which remained unfinished. One day, I might seek you out to conclude that unfinished contest."
Meng Qianqian agreed readily, "Good, I promise that if you challenge me, I won't back down!"
Ji Li stared at Meng Qianqian in disbelief, "Hey, have you gone crazy? Your master Yin Hu couldn't even beat him! Do you know why there was no winner back then? It's not because they fought to a draw, but because an urgent matter interrupted their fight. If they had continued for a few more moves, your master would have lost to him!"
Si She pondered for a moment, feeling that he might have taken advantage of the situation. He gazed intently at her, "You can refuse."
Meng Qianqian smiled, "I'll give it my all."
"You're signing your death warrant."
Ji Li sat back in his chair, snapping his fan thoughtfully, "Well, if the little girl dies, no one will threaten me, the First Guardian, again."
Meng Qianqian saw through his little scheme, shaking her head. She turned to Si She, "When you mentioned the traitor earlier, you said 'indeed.' What did you mean by that?"
Si She pondered, "I suspected that someone deliberately sent the Twelve Guardians away, leaving the Chu family unguarded that night. The murderer set the Chu family on fire to cover up the true cause of the Grand Marshal and his wife's deaths."
To become one of the Twelve Guardians was no ordinary feat.
Meng Qianqian silently acknowledged this in her heart, but she didn't reveal that she had read the case files. Before the traitor was exposed, she wouldn't trust anyone.
"Where did you go that night?" she asked.
"We went to capture the Northern Liang Shadow Guards hiding in the city," Si She replied.
"Who gave the order?" Meng Qianqian inquired further.
"The Grand Marshal. Chenlong passed the order to me," Si She answered.
Meng Qianqian gasped in shock.
No wonder when she had guessed that Chenlong might be the traitor, Si She didn't question her. He had indeed been suspecting Chenlong all along.
Meng Qianqian turned her gaze towards Ji Li.
Ji Li's eyes widened in surprise, "Don't look at me. I was with Yin Hu in Beiliang, gathering intelligence. I wasn't even at Jade Gate at that time!"
Meng Qianqian withdrew her gaze and asked Si She, "You're looking for Chenlong to confront him about what happened back then."
Si She nodded, "Yes, I want to know if he heard the 'order' from someone else or if he was the one who gave the order without authorization."
Meng Qianqian said, "It seems that the person who gave the order is undoubtedly the traitor."
Another step closer to the truth.
After leaving Ji Li's house, Meng Qianqian went to visit Maple Grandma.
She brought some pickled vegetables made by Du Niangzi for Maple Grandma.
Maple Grandma loved them and wanted to reciprocate with some gifts, but Meng Qianqian firmly declined!
Maple Grandma asked curiously, "You don't like the gifts I sent?"
You sent your late husband's bones; it would be strange if she liked them.
Meng Qianqian maintained a smile, "I like them, but Maple Grandma, you sent too much, and they're too precious. If you keep sending such valuable gifts, I won't dare to visit you again."
Maple Grandma understood, "Alright, I won't send such expensive gifts. I'll give you some small trinkets instead."
Then, Meng Qianqian happily received a box of bone fingers, "..."
Meng Qianqian's smile turned into a grimace, "These aren't your late husband's too, are they?"
"What are you thinking?" Maple Grandma said, "The bone fingers are fake. They're made from animal bones carved by Big Axe."
Meng Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief.
Maple Grandma explained, "The box is made from my late husband's bones."
Meng Qianqian's eyes widened in shock, "..."
Maple Grandma continued, "Xiaojiu, in a few days, it will be my late husband's death anniversary. I've built a pillar tomb for him outside the city, and I'd like you to go and burn some spirit money for him, will you?"
Meng Qianqian agreed, "Okay, Maple Grandma."
Meng Qianqian noted the location of Maple Grandma's late husband's burial site. She returned to the Governor's Mansion, saddled two horses, bought some spirit money on the way, and set off with Tan'er.
"Thirty li outside the south gate, why is the burial site so far away?" Tan'er asked in confusion.
Meng Qianqian replied, "Perhaps it's because the feng shui there is good."
"Feng shui," Tan'er didn't understand feng shui and decided not to think about it, "Alright."
Meng Qianqian said to Tan'er, "Let me see if your riding skills have improved."
Tan'er had just started learning to ride horses. Previously, she was too small, and Meng Qianqian was worried she might fall.
"Watch closely!"
Tan'er tightened the reins and lifted the front hooves high, galloping away.
Meng Qianqian smiled and followed on horseback.
After a while, the two of them stopped.
Tan'er looked around in confusion and pointed at a thorny bush, "Sister, where's Grandpa's tomb? Did we take the wrong path? There's no road ahead!"
Meng Qianqian recalled, "After exiting the south gate, head south. At the first post station, go up the mountain opposite it. Follow the mountain path, and you'll see a purple bamboo forest. Isn't that the way?"
Tan'er extended her finger, "Are there two mountain paths?"
Meng Qianqian suggested, "Let's go back to the post station and check."
The two of them descended the mountain.
Tan'er glanced at the post station and exclaimed in anger, "Sister, there's a trickster!"
Meng Qianqian focused her gaze and indeed saw Official Shangguan Ling leading the Jin Yi Wei guards at the post station, changing horses. Not only that, but they had also changed out of their distinctive Jin Yi Wei uniforms.
Tan'er whispered, "Sister."
Meng Qianqian thought for a moment, "When something unusual happens, there's bound to be a reason. Let's catch up and take a look."
Official Shangguan Ling and his group disguised themselves as a regular merchant caravan and rushed south. By the time of Youshi, they arrived at another post station.
After that, Official Shangguan Ling dismounted and stood respectfully at the entrance, as if waiting for someone.
(End of Chapter)
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