Chapter Thirty Six.

After reading for a while in White Pavilion,the next person who walks in brings a smile out of Lei Qiang.

"Shi Xiong how have you been these days?I was just thinking about visiting you,"Lei Qiang lies inorder to start the conversation smoothly. Recently he's been solving some mystery involving Duan Xinyue in his mind so he probably didn't think about visiting Wei Yi.Wei Yi smiles back at him as he sits across from Lei Qiang.

"I bet you must have read a lot. How about playing chess with me?"

"Sure."

Hong Yi brings the chess board and the chess pieces. He then brings some tea for them to take as they play. Hong Yi goes to the Training Ground to supervise the disciples' combat practice.

After successfully hiding his alchemy stuff at Redemption Temple Duan Xinyue can worry less about being exposed. He seems calmer than before. He concentrates during the lecture unlike the days he was trying to figure out how to transport them without being noticed. Wei Yi successfully manages to get a hint about Duan Xinyue's Alchemy Chamber on one of the nights by making Su Jiali drunk. Though she's drunk she doesn't reveal everything.

The next morning she wakes up late. Normally when she spends the night there she returns at dawn before anyone wakes up but today might be her doomsday. When she reaches outside Qingfeng Pavilion,she hesitates to get in. Her heart is beating fast as she nervously walks in. The first person she meets is Duan Xinyue. She doesn't even know what to say.

"Yo,Jiali if you're spending the night somewhere else you should at least inform us beforehand so we won't worry for nothing."

"Got it,"Her lips tremble as she struggles to compose herself.

"You can go and wash up."

She wasn't expecting Duan Xinyue to be so open-minded. She can't help but feel a sting of guilt as she heads to her room. Duan Xinyue is still nice to her and he isn't showing any signs of suspecting her. Does he really not know about her affair with Wei Yi or he knows but he's just turning a blind eye to it? She wonders as she heads to the bathroom.

A spy from the Illusion Lair was caught pretending to be a servant at a certain household so the government has closed the Meanders City gates to investigate the case. They are now verifying the identities of everyone in every household even the servants.

"My Lord what should we do if they get exposed?"

"What if they get exposed? They are just insignificant assassins who don't have any rank yet."

"The Ministry of Justice has taken all the servants and beggars to verify their identities. Some of them might be discovered."

"As long as they stick to their identities no one will suspect them. They don't know our real names and faces so at most they will say there's a major spy in Meanders City who they receive orders from."

Wei Yi knows how to play his cards well so he's planning on forming an alliance with the county officials who are against Lord Du Yuan. Wen Cheng is one of them so Wei Yi pays him a visit in the afternoon.

"Mister Wei I've heard a lot about you."

"I've heard a lot about you too Minister Wen. I heard you and Lord Du Yuan aren't exactly on the same page."

"What are you implying?"

"I need a little favour from you."

"What will I get in return?"

"Who knows you might end up being the next governor or deputy governor?"

"And what favour would you like me to do for you Mister Wei?"

"It's simple,"Wei Yi smiles before he gets up leans in closer and whispers to Wen Cheng.

"I will help you where I can."

Wei Yi smiles in satisfaction as he leaves.

The Ministry of Justice is aware of the Illusion Lair symbol which is tattooed on their backs so they have decided to separate them based on gender so as to strip them naked and capture those with the symbol. Since they started checking they haven't caught even a single one .They are planning to continue their search till late at night regardless of other constraints that may arise like rainfall. Those unlucky spies that were caught are planning to make their move at night. A few of them sacrifice themselves by escaping so as to distract the newly recruited officers from the Ministry of Justice. The commander and a few senior officers run after the assassins.

The assassins are running in a common direction and they seem to be leading them somewhere intentionally because normally the assassins should split up to different directions to confuse the officers. The officers shoot several arrows at some of them injuring them. We can say the officers' shooting skills are precise because the Commander brought senior officers who have military experience instead of the newly recruited ones.The assassins' destination is none other than Qingfeng Pavilion. The guests in the pavilion jump from their seats in fear. The officers seal the pavilion and follow the blood drops from the injured assassins. They run upstairs to Duan Xinyue's room. The officers follow too. The blood drops disappear near Duan Xinyue's bed. The windows are closed from inside there's no way they would have left the room. They are probably still in the room. Duan Xinyue is immediately seized by the officers.

"Where are you hiding the assassins?"

"What assassins?"

"Commander the blood drops disappeared exactly near the bed."

"Move the bed,"the commander orders while still looking at Duan Xinyue in suspicion.

They move the bed and notice the cellar door and open it. They get inside and search around. All they find are several aphrodisiac perfumes. When they get out they are welcomed by Duan Xinyue's mischievous smile.

"Commander did you find the assassins?"

"No."

"I've been thinking about starting business to sell such perfumes. But if any of you is having trouble satisfying their wife in bed you can take one of them,"Duan Xinyue says still smiling.

"Cut the crap!Search other rooms and the rest of you get him."

"Why are you arresting me?"

"You're acting suspicious. You must have colluded with the assassins. We're taking you back to the Ministry of Justice to interrogate you."

"But I was playing the zither when assassins ran in and you ran immediately after them. When did I have the time to help them?"

"We'll release you once we capture them."

Two soldiers grab Duan Xinyue and drag him outside.