Chapter 117: The Southern Sea's Vast Skies

The next morning, Li Yunji stepped onto Beiling Street.

Following the location given by Chuqiu, he arrived at a bustling marketplace.

After wandering around for about half an incense stick’s time, he found a cart selling melons.

“Are these melons guaranteed ripe?” Li Yunji casually picked up a watermelon and tapped it against his ear.

The melon vendor wore a bamboo hat and simple clothes, with a pair of straw sandals worn nearly through but still not replaced.

“If it’s not ripe, I’ll take it back,” the vendor’s rough voice carried a teasing tone.

He tossed aside a watermelon rind and slowly stood up.

Beneath the bamboo hat was a deeply tanned face—looking at the contours, it was clearly Chen Jingshan.

Though prepared mentally, Li Yunji was still stunned for several seconds before recovering.

He couldn’t help but sincerely admire the ruthless spirit ingrained in Chen Jingshan.

Once the esteemed Deputy Minister of the Court of Justice, now he looked no different from an ordinary melon vendor.

It was obvious that for the sake of this investigation, he was willing to do anything.

“How did you recognize me?” Li Yunji asked.

Without changing expression, Chen Jingshan tossed down a melon rind and pretended to haggle with him.

“Everyone else instinctively keeps their distance when they see me,” Li Yunji selected another melon calmly. “Only you remain indifferent.”

“Looks like Your Highness hasn’t had an easy time here in Beiling,” Chen Jingshan said, taking the melon from Li Yunji and gently patting it.

Li Yunji smiled lightly and brought the conversation back on track. “Let’s get to the point.”

“The sorcery you gave me—I’ve looked into it. It’s a sealing technique,” Chen Jingshan said.

“And it seems to have sealed a formidable individual.”

He weighed the melon in his hand, then raised a knife and sliced it in half.

As he cut, he murmured, “How formidable?”

Li Yunji’s voice deepened. “At least second-rank strength.”

Chen Jingshan’s body trembled slightly, almost cutting askew.

He took a deep breath to steady himself, continuing to cut the melon while muttering, “To think such a powerful sealing technique exists in this world...”

Li Yunji nodded faintly and asked, “Where did you get this rune from?”

Chen Jingshan paused, then handed Li Yunji half a watermelon. “I followed the clues you gave me.”

“Sure enough, I caught several undercover agents.”

“They were found in a cellar beneath a tavern.”

“That easily?” Li Yunji frowned at how nonchalantly Chen Jingshan spoke.

“Someone’s helping me secretly,” Chen Jingshan glanced around casually and lowered his voice. “My guess is Minister Su.”

Unexpected, yet reasonable.

Li Yunji didn’t show much surprise.

Composing himself, he pressed further. “What about the tavern owner?”

“Killed him,” Chen Jingshan’s expression darkened. “We lost a brother when we captured him.”

Wiping sweat from his brow, he added, “That kid was just a messenger, knew nothing.”

Li Yunji nodded and pulled out some small silver coins from his sleeve.

“What do you think?” Chen Jingshan took the silver with an indifferent tone.

“I suspect this matter might be connected to the Crane Mountain Poetry Gathering in a month and a half.”

“What do you mean?”

Li Yunji had intended to share the recent clues he uncovered, but the words caught in his throat.

After a moment’s hesitation, he smiled softly. “It’s just a guess.”

If Chen Jingshan knew about the private army beneath Changming Mountain, given his temperament, he would surely delve deep into the tiger’s den.

Even Gu Xian’er’s intervention was detected by Li Yi; Chen Jingshan’s involvement would be even more perilous.

Chen Jingshan remained silent, continuing to play the melon vendor, busily working alone.

“I shouldn’t stay long.”

“If there’s any news, I’ll inform you immediately.”

Having said this, Li Yunji turned and disappeared into the bustling crowd.

Chen Jingshan watched him leave, lightly waving the melon knife in thought.

...

Back at the manor.

Li Yunji strode straight into his study, closed the door, and shut his eyes in contemplation.

He sifted through the clues gathered recently.

The crown prince conspired with the northern nomadic shamans to steal tax silver, which was then funneled to Beiling and used by Li Yi to train a private army.

Their scheme served the interests of three parties.

The crown prince’s goal was likely to seize the literary fortunes from the Crane Mountain Poetry Gathering to aid his cultivation.

This was not hard to deduce—his obsession with literary cultivation was no secret.

But what did Li Yi want?

Li Yunji did not know his second uncle well.

He only knew Li Yi was notoriously ambitious.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have schemed to drive him out of Beiling.

At this thought, a sudden flash of insight struck Li Yunji.

Li Yi’s secret aid to the crown prince must be part of some deal.

And what he desired most was control over Beiling.

In other words, he wanted to be crowned king!

What about the shamans?

Why did they meddle?

Thirty thousand private soldiers could shake Han Jitong’s position—what benefit did this bring to the northern tribes?

Li Yunji’s brows furrowed tightly as he once again pulled the rune from his sleeve.

Could it be connected to the person sealed within the spell?

Lost in thought, he was interrupted by Shiyi suddenly pushing the door open.

“Master, someone is looking for you outside.”

“Who?”

“Unknown,” Shiyi said calmly. “Claims to be from the South Sea, surname Yun.”

The Yun family of the South Sea?

Li Yunji’s heart skipped a beat as he rose to greet the visitor.

He briskly walked to the main hall.

There, a boy of about twelve or thirteen stood before him.

The child’s features were delicate and refined, with an extraordinary aura. His left hand was behind his back, right hand resting on his abdomen, and his eyes held a maturity beyond his years.

“Why is it just a little brat...” Li Yunji thought.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the jade pendant on the boy’s waist, inscribed with the Yun character, confirming his identity.

“Who do you call a little brat?” The boy’s brow suddenly furrowed, a hint of displeasure in his tone.

Li Yunji’s heart jolted.

This little fellow can even read minds?!

The boy suddenly rose onto tiptoes, shouting angrily, “My name is Yun Tian—the ‘Tian’ of the world.”

“I am the ninth-generation disciple of the Yun family of the South Sea.”

“Not some little brat!”

“If you’re rude again, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

Damn, he really can read minds!

Li Yunji quickly clasped his hands and smiled apologetically. “Master Yun Tian, pardon my rudeness.”

Yun Tian nodded slightly, his previously furrowed brow easing somewhat.

Li Yunji gestured for him to sit and smiled gently. “Master Yun, you’ve traveled far from the South Sea—you must be tired. Please, have a seat and rest.”

“Not tired,” Yun Tian lifted his brows. “We left last night and arrived today.”

Li Yunji’s jaw nearly dropped. “The South Sea to Beiling is around eight thousand li, right?”

“You made the journey overnight?”

Yun Tian snorted coldly and said proudly, “A mere eight thousand li, nothing to speak of.”

“Our family head’s Qi Men technique can cover ten thousand li a day!”

Li Yunji couldn’t help but admire silently, gaining even more respect for the might of the Yun family of the South Sea.

“What brings you here, Master Yun?”

Yun Tian’s gaze sharpened, voice serious. “Last night, our family head sensed a loosening in Mu Nanqing’s sealing technique. He sent me to investigate here in Beiling.”

“Mu Nanqing?” Li Yunji frowned. “Could it be the person sealed within this technique?”

As he spoke, Li Yunji produced the rune in his hand.

Yun Tian glanced at it briefly and nodded faintly.

Li Yunji took a deep breath, his tone grave. “Who is he?”