Chapter 71: Think I Haven’t Watched TV?

Jiang Taixuan ultimately decided not to send the message; doing so now would only alert the enemy. It was better to capture Lin Chen and Cai Zhong, interrogate them first, and consider the next steps later.

That afternoon, no guests visited. Jiang Taixuan learned through the Celestial Network that people from Clear Moon City had already entered the Monster Beast Mountains to gather materials. The Profound Grade Barrier Breaking Pill had even stirred interest among some Foundation Building Patriarchs.

As soon as these Patriarchs emerged from seclusion, they led all the Martial Artists of their families into the Monster Beast Mountains to collect materials.

Outside Qingyue Forest, numerous mercenaries were present, clearly enforcing the so-called blockade.

Faced with the Mercenary Guild’s actions, Jiang Taixuan took no immediate measures. He waited for nightfall, then directly instructed Li Yuanba to go bring back Lin Chen and Cai Zhong.

Ximen the Fatty and a few others had already gone to sleep. Jiang Taixuan waited by the door.

This time, Li Yuanba acted swiftly. He brought the two men back within just one hour.

“Jiang Taixuan! You have some nerve! How dare you kidnap me?” Cai Zhong shouted angrily, yet he appeared completely composed, without a trace of panic.

Jiang Taixuan gave him a glance, then looked at Li Yuanba. “Drag him down and pummel him. Pummel him until he’s puffing smoke.”

“Jiang Taixuan! You…” Cai Zhong’s expression changed drastically. This wasn’t part of the script! Why were they attacking him?

“Mentor Lin Chen, it’s an honor to see you again,” Jiang Taixuan stated coolly.

“Jiang Taixuan!” Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his face dark. “You have quite the audacity! To act against me privately and even kidnap Chief Steward Cai.”

“Here, let me teach you how to speak properly.” Jiang Taixuan stepped forward and slapped him squarely. The blow sent Lin Chen reeling, stunned.

“Did you injure Mu Yun?” Jiang Taixuan abruptly changed the subject, his voice icy.

“You… how do you know?” Lin Chen paled, his face filled with utter disbelief. “How could you possibly know about this?”

“Your business partner sold you out,” Jiang Taixuan scoffed coldly. “Not only do I know you injured Mu Yun, I also know about your unsavory dealings with Chief Steward Cai.”

“Impossible! How could Cai Zhong betray me? That’s impossible!” Lin Chen shook his head repeatedly, refusing to believe it, yet his eyes were full of unease.

“Impossible? Well, then, Field Master Jiang will inform you further. Those two medicinal pills the Mercenary Guild sent you… they were problematic. Did you know?” Jiang Taixuan sneered.

Thud!

It was as if Lin Chen had been struck by lightning. His legs gave way, collapsing beneath him. He sat there, face blank, muttering under his breath, “Him… him…”

“Right now, I can offer you a chance to live,” Jiang Taixuan stated impassively.

“A chance? There is no chance left,” Lin Chen uttered a bitter laugh. “Now that he’s acted, everyone will die. Including you, Jiang Taixuan!”

“Hmm?” Jiang Taixuan’s gaze turned frosty, threaded with mockery. “No one in Clear Moon City exists who can kill me!”

Lin Chen looked at him and scoffed derisively, his face ashen. “I will tell you their scheme. But you must promise to let me go.”

“Fine. I’m a businessman. As long as you provide sufficient value, you earn the chance to live,” Jiang Taixuan replied tonelessly.

“Good. I hope you honor your promise.” Lin Chen gritted his teeth. At this point, his only option was to gamble; otherwise, certain death awaited him.

“This matter started three years ago. Back then…” Lin Chen began.

“Start with Mu Yun. I’m not interested in earlier events,” Jiang Taixuan cut him off.

“Two Vice Chancellors at Clear Moon Academy, Elder Lin Hong, and several Mentors, including myself… we were trafficking the Academy’s geniuses. Selling them in exchange for resources to enhance our cultivation.” Lin Chen confessed. “Mu Yun discovered this. The intermediaries were the Mercenary Guild. Mu Yun adopted Ying Mingyue, who possessed exceptional talent. The two Vice Chancellors coveted her. But Ying Mingyue had caught the Headmaster’s eye, so the only way was to force Mu Yun out. Cai Zhong proposed that I act, leading Mu Yun to leave.”

Slowly, Lin Chen recounted their deeds. They had been conducting this trafficking for years, selling Clear Moon Academy geniuses to various sects and factions in exchange for cultivation resources.

This explained the vanishing of numerous Academy prodigies. Their purported departures to prestigious sects were simply cover for their sale.

“And the Headmaster who chased after him? Why hasn’t he returned?” Jiang Taixuan’s expression turned frigid.

“I don’t know about that. What happened afterward was handled by Cai Zhong,” Lin Chen replied in a low voice. He paused, then added, “The appearance of your Divine Devil Dojo obstructed our profits. Once students start flocking to you, we’ll lose our source of resources.”

“Trafficking geniuses. You lot truly went all out,” Jiang Taixuan’s voice was glacial. “What about the mission the Mercenary Guild issued? What was that about?”

“That’s related to the two Vice Chancellors. I heard it connects to their breakthrough to the Dao Fruit. As for the pills they sent out… they indeed were problematic. Lin Hong himself told me. One of the genuine pills was meant for Lin Hong.” Lin Chen explained. Then, a bitter, cold laugh escaped him. “Seems like Lin Hong and I have both been sold out. The Mercenary Guild clearly intends to monopolize the benefits and dominate Clear Moon City.”

“What else do you know?” Jiang Taixuan asked lightly, tapping his fingers.

“That’s all I know,” Lin Chen said. “I’ve told you everything. Now let me go.”

“Not so fast,” Jiang Taixuan sneered. “How can I let you leave without verifying the truth of your claims? Stay inside here for now. Remember, don’t touch anything randomly. Otherwise… you’ll die.” After saying this, he directly locked Lin Chen inside the Dojo.

Li Yuanba hauled Cai Zhong, who looked like a beaten dog, over and dumped him unceremoniously on the ground.

“Field Master Jiang, what is the meaning of this?” Cai Zhong struggled to his feet, his face furious.

“Meaning? Chief Steward Cai, you play the double agent role quite smoothly. Think I haven’t watched TV?” Jiang Taixuan sneered again, his eyes brimming with contempt.

Cai Zhong stared back, bewildered. Double agent? TV? What did that have to do with him?

“Confess honestly. Where did Mu Yun go? Lin Chen has already spilled everything,” Jiang Taixuan stated coolly.

“You…” Terror flashed across Cai Zhong’s face. Jiang Taixuan’s question proved he knew Cai Zhong was involved in Mu Yun’s disappearance.

But this matter was critical! How could he possibly speak?

Watching the silent Cai Zhong, Jiang Taixuan pressed on. “Lin Chen told everything and earned his chance to live. What about you?”

“You released Lin Chen?” Cai Zhong was horrified, sheer panic flooding his eyes.

If Lin Chen managed to escape and reveal everything… Cai Zhong could vividly imagine the excruciating death awaiting him.

“If you tell me everything, I can send Li Yuanba to retrieve Lin Chen,” Jiang Taixuan said flatly.

Cai Zhong looked at the impassive Jiang Taixuan, then at the cold-faced Li Yuanba. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. “How much do you know?”

“Trafficking geniuses,” Jiang Taixuan whispered two words. Then he leaned down low, his mouth close to Cai Zhong’s ear. “And the Blood Elixir. That is forbidden.” His voice was barely audible.

This time, sheer horror consumed Cai Zhong. He hadn’t expected Jiang Taixuan to know even about the Blood Elixir! If this got out, he wouldn’t have a sliver of a chance to survive. He might have been able to deflect the trafficking scandal onto Clear Moon Academy, distancing himself. But the Blood Elixir… he had no plausible deniability.

Looking at Jiang Taixuan’s mocking smile, Cai Zhong, desperate to save his skin, spilled everything. “It… it was the Guildmaster! He collaborated with the City Lord! They hoped to refine the Blood Elixir to break through to the Dao Fruit stage! Both the City Lord and the Guildmaster have been stuck at the Foundation Building Stage for decades! Their potential is exhausted. Without a great opportunity, breaching the stage in this lifetime was impossible. They saw no other way.”

Jiang Taixuan straightened, his expression unreadable as he absorbed this final, dark revelation.