UGB Chapter 250: Is it a man or a woman?
Chapter 250: Is it a man or a woman?
Chapter 250 Is it a man or a woman? (Second update)
Tick.
The cold dew splattered on my cheeks.
Jiang Mu opened her eyes, panting heavily.
Looking around, he found himself lying on a high platform, with wisps of lingering crimson blood still floating in the air.
"This is?"
Jiang Mu was taken aback, then stunned.
Isn't this the official outpost at the entrance to the Soul Swamp Secret Realm?
"How did I end up back here?"
Jiang Mu was filled with surprise and doubt, and subconsciously looked down at her right hand.
The exquisite ring on her ring finger was gone.
However, the faint ring of the ring indicated that what had just happened was not a dream or illusion, but a real event.
He tried to probe the mark with a wisp of his divine sense.
The next second, Jiang Mu was overjoyed.
This actually is a built-in storage space!
Moreover, its interior was more than ten times larger than his previous storage ring, like carrying a small warehouse with him.
At the same time, he discovered that, apart from the Blood Mad Blade, all his other items, such as pills, silver notes, and the "Karma Retribution Sword Book," had been automatically transferred to this new space.
No one but oneself can detect it.
It's much safer than the previous broken storage ring.
"I wonder who that woman is. It's very strange."
Jiang Mu patted her still slightly dizzy head and sat up straight, leaning against the stone platform.
But when he saw the scene in the courtyard, he was stunned.
Dead body.
Corpses littered the ground!
The Demon Slayer Guards who were originally stationed here were now all lying in pools of blood, their deaths gruesome.
Even the black-clad demonic cultivator "Elder Yuan," who was in charge of guarding the array's core and possessed considerable cultivation, was reduced to only half a body.
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Just then, a warm and pleasant male voice suddenly drifted over from the side.
Jiang Mu's muscles tensed instantly as she turned to look.
Only then did they discover that a man was sitting in a dark corner where several corpses were piled up.
The man was about thirty years old and was wearing a plain blue robe.
To be honest, having lived two lives, Jiang Mu has always been very confident in his "modeling".
He has seen quite a few handsome men.
But those people are either too effeminate and pretentious, or too rough and deliberate.
But the man in front of her made Jiang Mu feel a strong sense of crisis for the first time in terms of "appearance and aura".
It's difficult to define him simply with the word "teacher".
Besides his exceptionally handsome face, he also possessed an indescribable charm.
Even the first time you see him, your subconscious will tell you that he is definitely a great person, a righteous and honorable character.
The only drawback was that this man didn't have an Adam's apple.
The neckline is very smooth.
"A woman?"
Jiang Mu cursed secretly.
But after a careful look, he noticed the other man's broad, flat chest and shoulders, and his physique was unmistakably male.
It doesn't look like a woman dressed as a man at all.
Suppressing her surprise and doubt, Jiang Mu asked coldly, "Who are you?"
The man's voice remained as gentle as a spring breeze: "Actually, I didn't agree with the General Headquarters and his group canceling your trial qualification before: "
In my view, an anomaly like you cannot be compared to the conventional prodigies of aristocratic families within the same system.
The imperial court should give you more patience and time.
Unfortunately, those old fogies were too eager for quick results. Based on just one investigation, they concluded that you had lost your value for development.
The man's deep eyes scrutinized Jiang Mu, his gaze revealing admiration: "It seems my intuition was right. I just didn't expect you to break through so quickly."
I'm really curious—what secret are you hiding?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu felt a chill run down her spine.
He didn't rush to reply, but quickly performed a self-examination.
Good luck!
After killing Zhou Yuanzhi, he attached the seventh realm's [Pembrolizuma] star position to the second demon shadow.
At this moment, the dominant force within the body is still [Heavenly Killing Star].
The perfect disguise lies in the realm of the Six Realms of Perfection.
"It seems he didn't see through my seventh realm cultivation." Jiang Mu felt much more at ease and tentatively asked, "Your actions befit which high-ranking official in the court?"
The man casually rested his long, slender fingers on his knees and smiled, "Quan Shanhai."
Jiang Mu was startled.
Quan Shanhai, Commander-in-Chief of the Inner Guard!
After provoking Yang Tianci, Jiang Mu had inquired about the inner guards' information in detail from Xu Fu.
They learned that the highest authority in the Imperial Guard was named Quan Shanhai.
This person is quite mysterious and keeps a low profile; few people have ever seen his true face.
No one knows his true level of cultivation.
Because he kept a low profile, it was mostly Deputy Commander Yang Qintian who made public appearances in many internal affairs and occasions.
There are even conspiracy theories circulating that the current young emperor does not actually like Quan Shanhai.
However, because the other party was a favored minister left by the late emperor, and due to the deep-rooted influence of his power, the emperor adopted the measures of cold treatment and checks and balances, handing over most of the real power of the Inner Guard to Yang Qintian to manage.
They attempted to gradually undermine Quan Shan Hai's authority.
Of course, Jiang Mu has always treated this kind of political satire as a joke.
Jiang Mu frowned slightly, feigning composure: "Lord Quan's name is renowned, but words alone are not enough. How can you prove you are Quan Shanhai?"
Quan Shanhai chuckled softly, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze: "I don't need to prove anything. Of course, you can choose not to believe me."
Jiang Mu fell silent.
Indeed, in Daqing, no one dares to use the name "Quan Shan Hai" to swindle and deceive.
What are you doing here?
Jiang Mu asked.
Quan Shanhai paced back and forth, avoiding the blood puddles on the ground, and said calmly, "I came to the Fallen Soul Swamp this time to find someone. But when I passed by this place, I found that everyone here was dead."
1
"He must have died at the hands of the Mist Demon."
"A mist demon?"
Jiang Mu's expression changed slightly.
That mist demon actually came here!?
His heart tightened involuntarily.
Since the massacre of the Mist Demons has occurred here, could it be that Qiu Yuexin and the little foxes who suddenly disappeared before also suffered the same fate as the Mist Demons?
Quan Shanhai seemed to see through Jiang Mu's worries and smiled gently: "Don't worry. I saw your sister from Qingqiu at Blue Moon Pool. She's fine, and she took the little fox there safely with her."
However—she originally intended to take you with her, but I intercepted her halfway and snatched you away.
I imagine that girl is probably seething with hatred for me right now.
Hearing this, Jiang Mu was shaken.
Despite Qiu Yuexin's strength, she couldn't even protect one person in front of this man, and he was forcibly taken away.
Quan Shanhai's cultivation level is definitely above the tenth realm.
Quan Shanhai walked up to Jiang Mu, took a small, exquisitely crafted wine flask from his waist, and handed it to her: "This swamp is full of miasma, how about a couple of sips to warm yourself up?"
Jiang Mu glanced at the wine pot and shook his head: "I'm not thirsty, thank you, sir."
Quan Shanhai didn't insist. He smiled and put the wine pot back at his waist, saying to himself, "It's right not to drink it; this wine is highly poisonous."
Jiang Mu:
Quan Shanhai reached out and gently patted Jiang Mu's shoulder.
His hands were large and strong, but without the calluses from years of wielding weapons; instead, they were as smooth as jade.
"When I arrived here, I found everyone in this courtyard dead. So I searched elsewhere and finally found you unconscious by the mud of Blue Moon Pool, and—"
Quan Shanhai paused slightly, his gaze deepening, "The remains of Princess Sheng."
Jiang Mu feigned shock: "What? Princess Sheng is dead?!"
Quan Shanhai stared into his eyes and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Jiang Mu, how did the Princess die?"
The man's gaze was devoid of any sharpness or oppressiveness.
But Jiang Mu, who was being stared at, seemed to have the illusion that he had seen through her from her skin to her soul.
Jiang Mu's brain was working at lightning speed.
He wasn't sure how many clues the other party had actually found.
However, considering that he was only showing the cultivation level of "Sixth Realm Great Perfection" at the moment, and that the spoils of war, the Star Pills, were all hidden in that ring mark space, the other party would definitely not be able to find them.
Therefore, Jiang Mu decided to continue "pretending to be confused" to the end.
Wu met Quan Shanhai's gaze with an open and honest look, and smiled bitterly: "My lord, I really don't know. I was ambushed and knocked unconscious while I was by Blue Moon Lake."
I'll be here when I wake up —
Since mist demons lurk here, perhaps Consort Zhao died at their hands?
"Consort Zhao, how did he die?"
His voice remained as gentle as flowing water, but the smile in his eyes had vanished, leaving only a chilling coldness.
Jiang Mu stared directly at Quan Shanhai, coldly saying, "Does Grand Master Quan believe that I killed the concubine? If you're determined to frame someone, you can always find a pretext. If Grand Master truly thinks so and wants to use me as a scapegoat, then I, Jiang Mu, will accept it!"
Upon hearing this, Quan Shanhai suddenly burst into laughter.
Wu patted Jiang Mu's shoulder again, his pressure a bit heavier than before: "You little rascal, you've really grown a bit of a coward."
Very well, given your current status as a sixth-realm perfect being, no matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve, trying to kill a princess who is about to enter the eighth realm of Venerable Venerable is truly a pipe dream.
But the problem is, you, Jiang Mu, have never been someone who can be judged by common sense.
Perhaps, it really was you who killed him.
Perhaps it was your nine-tailed fox spirit, Qiqi, who killed them to protect you. Or perhaps it was someone else who killed them.
But none of these truths matter.
In my heart, I have already tacitly accepted that Zhou Yuanzhi died because of you.
Quan Shanhai said calmly, "Because here, everyone who was supposed to live has died, and only you have survived."
So you have to take responsibility for this mess.
Jiang Mu clenched her fists: "Does Da Cong mean to me that I should be buried with her?"
"Ultimately, someone has to take responsibility for this, right?"
Quan Shanhai said calmly, "After all, it was Consort Sheng who died here. Besides, I am not one of your Demon Slayer Division members."
No matter how outstanding your talent or how extraordinary your physique are, Jiang Mu, you might be considered a treasure by the General Headquarters and his cronies.
But I don't care.
Wu Wei leaned closer, her flawless face drawing even closer, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Unless, Jiang Mu, you can produce enough evidence to prove that your death is unrelated to the Empress Dowager, or even—that you have more value than the deceased Empress Dowager Ye."
The meaning of this sentence couldn't be clearer.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard, Wu needed to give the Emperor and the court a legitimate report on the conclusion of the case.
Wu Wan can use Jiang Mu to take the fall.
However, he also gave Jiang Mu a chance to save himself at the card table.
Jiang Mu fell silent.
Wu knew very well that in front of someone of Quan Shanhai's caliber, there was no point in arguing or playing dumb.
The other party doesn't want the truth, they only want value.
Wu's intuition was that Jiang Mu killed Zhou Yuanzhi, so Jiang Mu must be the murderer.
Jiang Mu suddenly spoke up: "Could I have some paper and a pen?"
Quan Shanhai paused for a moment, then chuckled softly: "Give it to him."
Before the words were even finished, a slight distortion suddenly appeared in the air beside Jiang Mu.
A woman dressed entirely in tight black clothes appeared out of thin air beside Jiang Mu, as if she had been peeled out of the shadows.
The woman had a graceful figure and wore a black veil, revealing only a pair of cold eyes.
The woman handed a set of paper and pen to Jiang Mu, then her figure flickered and vanished into nothingness once more.
Jiang Mu was secretly alarmed.
What a terrifying stealth technique!
You didn't even realize there was such a master hiding around here.
"What do you want to write?" Quan Shanhai asked.
Jiang Mu did not answer. Suppressing the shock in her heart, she walked to the stone table not far away where the lamps were still lit and sat down.
Wu picked up the charcoal pencil and quickly wrote a few lines on the paper.
He then handed it to Quan Shanhai.
Quan Shanhai casually took it and glanced at it indifferently.
However, the instant Mu Chou touched the contents of the paper, a sharp glint appeared in Wu Wenrun's eyes, and his pupils contracted.
Quan Shanhai raised his head and gave Jiang Mu a deep look.
He then took the paper, walked to the side without saying a word, and examined it carefully.
After a long silence, Quan Shanhai turned around and said, "You think this bargaining chip of yours is more valuable than the concubine's life? You think it can save your life?"
I think it's possible.
Jiang Mu met Wu's intense gaze and said calmly, "Power is paramount. We're all working in this big melting pot of the court. To put it bluntly, we're all His Majesty's tools. Since we're tools, it's just a matter of who has the greater residual value."
If the princess were simply a princess, she should be in Shengzhao's residence or by Master Zhao's side.
However, she not only held a high position in the Demon Slayer Division, but also had a strained relationship with Lord Shengye, and they were even on opposite sides.
So I guess—Zhou Yuanzhi's initial role was to be a pair of eyes that His Majesty had planted in the mansion, right?
But later, whether the prince noticed or for some other reason, the two parted ways.
Zhou Yuanzhi's eyes thus lost their greatest value for surveillance.
Jiang Mu pointed to the paper in Quan Shanhai's hand: "And what I wrote on this paper is His Majesty's heartache."
In short, whatever the Emperor worries about, I can help Wu solve. At least in this respect, I am far more valuable than Zhou Yuanzhi.”
What exactly is the bargaining chip that Jiang Mu offered?
It's very simple, it's Master Sheng Ye!
This is also why Jiang Mu said that to Zhou Yuanzhi earlier.
The greatest anger he could muster was the courage to kill her.
The potential threat of rebellion posed by Prince Du Sheng is the most persistent thorn in the emperor's side.
As early as when Jiang Mu was investigating the "Seven Deadly Sins" serial murder case in Huzhou City, and discovered the evil technique of "rebirth by borrowing a womb" in Tianying Fortress, he had already deduced a shocking conspiracy.
Master Shengye, who was assassinated by the Jian family of the Divine Sword Sect, is not dead at all!
Wu had merely staged a fake death to escape his predicament, attempting to use the Seven Deadly Sins ritual to achieve rejuvenation and rebirth.
Therefore, Prince Shengye was definitely a source of anxiety and a hidden danger for the emperor.
Wu was determined to take a gamble.
Once Wu's secret of killing Zhou Yuanzhi is exposed, it will become his ultimate bargaining chip to obtain a pardon from death.
Originally, Jiang Mu planned to wait until he returned to Huzhou City and solidified the evidence before revealing this trump card.
Ren never expected that Quan Shanhai would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
The other party continued to press the issue aggressively, so Wu had no choice but to prematurely declare his intentions futile.
After listening, Quan Shanhai remained silent for a long time.
Wu Jiachang lightly rubbed his two fingers together, a flame igniting at his fingertips that burned the paper to ashes. He said calmly, "This bargaining chip is indeed quite good. So, the question is—are you confident you can expose Wu?"
"have."
"How many days will it take?"
Jiang Mu looked troubled: "This case is too complicated, and it's extremely difficult to investigate. Conservatively speaking, it might take half a year."
"One month."
Quan Shanhai extended a long, slender, white finger, smiling warmly. "As long as you find Master Ye's reborn body within a month, I will not only guarantee your safety, but also consider it a great achievement."
Jiang Mu's lips twitched, his face blank with disbelief: "Quan Da Cong, I only have some scattered clues at the moment, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"At least—it'll take at least three months, right?"
"Twenty days!"
Quan Shanhai's smile vanished, leaving him devoid of any emotion.
""
Jiang Mu promptly shut up and remained silent.
Wu finally understood that if he tried to bargain with such a powerful minister, he would probably only have ten days left to talk.
Quan Shanhai laughed and said, "Then it's settled. I need to see Master Shengye's reborn body within twenty days."
Wu walked to Jiang Mu's side and whispered, "Also, don't mention this to anyone except you and me."
You can return to Huzhou City without worry. I will personally report to His Majesty and tell everyone that Consort Zhao encountered a mist demon and tragically died in the line of duty.
Jiang Mu asked Xi, "Da Jiu, what if anyone obstructs my investigation during this time? What if I encounter danger, or Yang Qintian comes to cause me trouble?"
Jiang Mu planned to take this opportunity to create a protective shield for herself.
At least we can collect more lamps.
Quan Shanhai shook his head: "You have to handle it yourself, including the grudge between you and Yang Qintian. Don't expect me to protect you. I've always hated cleaning up other people's messes."
Jiang Mu cursed under his breath, calling him an old fox.
It's like making the horse run without feeding it.
""
Looking at the other person's incomparably handsome face, the gossipy soul in his heart finally couldn't be contained: "My lord, before I leave, I have one more private question I'd like to ask you—"
However, before Jiang Mu could speak, Quan Shanhairen chuckled softly, as if he could read minds.
"I know what you want to ask, sir."
Quan Shanhai turned slightly to the side, revealing a profile that blurred the lines between genders, his voice as ethereal as the wind: "If you think I am a male follower, then I am a male follower. If you think I am a woman, then I—am a female follower."
As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared from Jiang Mu's sight.
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