Chapter Nine, Calling a Deer a Horse

This beauty is none other than Xie Qianyi, the deputy master of the "Flower God Palace," who is the contact person for Shen Boyan on this trip. Despite her delicate and charming appearance, resembling that of a young girl, she has actually been renowned for thirty years and is a highly regarded expert in Jizhou.

However, without sufficient strength to maintain balance and control, there will no longer be the good fortune of a steady descent. Before reaching halfway down, the entire table begins to crack.

On the other side of the water mirror, after Shen Boyan heard Tan Xiangying's words, he already had a clear understanding in his heart

Xie Qianyi clearly did not understand Shen Boyan's words at first, and chuckled, saying: "Whether it was his doing is not important, as long as everyone present 'saw' and believed they saw it, they will all unanimously identify it..."

However, Xie Qianyi was well aware that Shen Boyan was certainly not the type of person to tease her with jokes

Meanwhile, all the restrictions surrounding the Tai Chu Hammer were lifted. The first to give way was the table, which, amidst a series of teeth-gritting "crackling" sounds, saw its legs sink deeper into the floor, causing the entire table to descend.

Tan Xiang responded with a faint smile, and a heavy steel spear appeared in his hand, its tip glimmering with a blood-like light, creating an incredibly eerie sensation. He waved the spear as if it were weightless, producing a sound akin to "woo woo," as if the surrounding air had been suddenly siphoned away.

Tan Xiangying spoke in this manner, his gaze fixed intently on Yan Kaiting, resembling a ferocious beast stalking its prey, and ominously said: "I, Tan Xiangying, have spent my life navigating the dark waters, yet three days ago, I was robbed of my goods, which is akin to disturbing my ancestors' graves. I was troubled by the cunning methods of the little thief, which were unprecedented, and even a large treasure ship could be severed. Today, however, it seems I have come by this without any effort."

Shen Boyan's figure swayed slightly as he moved aside to let Xie Qianyi's hand pass. The latter found herself grasping at nothing, and upon looking up to meet his gaze, she suddenly froze, no longer daring to make any further movements

She was too preoccupied to pay attention to the impending changes below, rushing over to grab Shen Boyan's sleeve, and said anxiously: "This matter has nothing to do with me; it is merely a coincidence! 'Yun Duxing' can be considered a new alliance developed in the past few years within the sect, and it would not be appropriate to deny them even the use of a venue for their affairs!"

Tu Yurong had already pounced, but a great force came from behind, pinning her in place and preventing her from moving an inch. In a fit of anger, she turned around and discovered that it was actually Tu Yuyong who was holding her down

A hoarse voice said: "What an arrogant little brat, unaware of the impending disaster!" The sound was like sandpaper, as if each syllable could break apart at any moment, yet the tone was high-pitched, making it unbearably uncomfortable to hear

The name "Blood Spear" is notorious in the northern regions. It is said that over fifty years ago, he started his career as a pirate on the Black Water, and after a long period of robbery, he shifted to collecting protection fees. Eventually, he established the "Cloud Crossing Company" to escort merchant ships, becoming a significant force in the area at the border of Xizhou and Yongzhou.

This statement is utterly incomprehensible. Regardless of the weapon or tool, once the life weapon is refined, it becomes connected to the master’s spirit and soul, and is nurtured in the sea of consciousness. There is no need for external objects like a mustard seed bag, so how could anyone not carry their life weapon

Tu Yurong was jumping up and down, while Tu Yuyong had a sullen expression, his arms crossed over his chest, remaining motionless. Yan Kaiti turned his head to look around, his gaze wandering, seemingly searching for something.

Let go! Are you just going to let this little thief bully the Tu family like this?

Upon seeing this, Xie Qianyi suddenly felt that something was amiss and urgently said: "Chairman Shen, what is this..."

As Tu Yurong raised her head, her expression suddenly changed dramatically, and she screamed, "What do you want, Yan?"

Tu Yuyong's complexion turned slightly pale; although he did not know Tan Xiangying, he could already sense an extreme danger. He immediately sent out an emergency communication talisman from his family, but to his surprise, it was easily intercepted. This indicated that the gap between the two sides might be an entire great realm.

Tu Yuyong's expression was extremely grave, sweeping away all frivolity and restlessness. He took two steps forward in the direction of the Yan court, but he immediately felt an invisible resistance ahead, and he could not take a third step.

Tang Xiang suddenly reached out his hand towards the void, and sparks erupted between his fingers. He slowly opened his palm, revealing a rectangular charred object lying on it, which appeared to be a communication talisman.

At this moment, the space in front of her twisted, and a mirror of water materialized about four to five feet above the ground, reflecting the scene of the elegant table where Shen Boyan was seated.

The person behind the screen seemed completely unconcerned by the sudden presence of an uninvited guest in the room, showing not the slightest hint of disturbance. That individual gently raised an arm, and the crisp, melodious sound of jade ornaments clinking on the wrist resonated. They gracefully turned over and got off the bed, then draped a sheer garment over their shoulder

Yan Kaiti and Tu Yuyong stood several zhang away, their garments fluttering as if stirred by an unseen wind. The spear thrust from Tan Xiangying, seemingly devoid of any supernatural powers or techniques, managed to encompass such a vast area!

Shen Boyan did not conceal any sounds or breaths

Shen Boyan revealed an extremely cold smile, "I am about to leave, is there anything else, Master Xie, that you wish to discuss?"

Tu Yurong suddenly fell silent, her charming face taking on a somewhat eerie quality in the stillness. She slowly said: "Second Brother, your admonition is certainly not without merit. However, you have no particular relationship with Yan Kaiting, so why meddle in matters that do not concern you? Moreover, the young master of the Hu family and I are mutually affectionate, and my father is unlikely to oppose it."

In other words, the purpose of the mastermind behind the scenes is not to incite a conflict between the Tu and Yan families, but rather to pursue another agenda

Xie Qianyi's expression suddenly became indescribably splendid, is there really someone who could be absurd to such an extent

Several extremely swift figures streaked across the water mirror, and on the deck appeared three men and one woman. At the forefront was a tall, thin old man with high cheekbones and sharp eyes, whose countenance was unkind; he was none other than "Blood Spear" Tan Xiangying. The other three were middle-aged, their demeanor exuding an extraordinary presence, making it evident that they were not ordinary individuals

However, Tu Yuyong remained unmoved by her shrill cries, pointing to the young man curled up in the corner, and said: "His surname is Hu, and he can barely be considered a distant cousin of Yan University, having a tenuous connection to my Tu family"

Shen Boyan suddenly understood a question he had previously pondered

She rested her hand on the frame of the screen made of golden silk nanmu, lowering her brows with a faint smile, "Why has Master Shen turned back again?"

Originally, he was puzzled; logically speaking, no one would expect Yan Kaiting to bizarrely not bring his signature weapon. Therefore, a normally arranged trap should have been activated after seeing him take out the Taichu Hammer before sinking the ship. Otherwise, with so many pairs of eyes on the "Xiaojin Fang" and "Yilan Boat," it is impossible for every single person to have been pre-arranged, and there is no guarantee that someone would not become suspicious.

At that moment, a long howl, reminiscent of the sound of metal and stone splitting the air, suddenly emanated from the "Yilan Boat," causing the entire floor and walls of the boat building to tremble slightly. Even the room on the top floor where Shen Boyan was located was not spared, as the porcelain on the table and the wall decorations produced faint clinking sounds

The layer of faint and translucent light on the table receded, revealing the simple and unadorned Taichu Hammer.

Yan opened the court and casually tossed the person aside like a sack, brushing off the dust from his clothing, "Does rectifying family conduct have anything to do with you?"

On the desk, there was a layer of faint and translucent light flowing slowly. Xie Qianyi focused her gaze on the outline, and her expression suddenly froze. It was actually a large hammer? Although she had never seen Taichu in person, she was aware that it was a renowned heavy weapon on the weapon spectrum, and she knew its distinctive features.

For example, taking out the celestial weapon to show off and intimidate others, and then forgetting it on the table

Suddenly, Yan moved, leaping down from the broken cabin of the ship, and quickly returned to the deck, holding a person in hand. It was a young man dressed in a refined manner, but his face appeared as if he had just been slapped more than ten times, with bruises and blood visible, making it impossible to discern his original appearance

Tu Yurong rushed to Hu Donglai's side without looking back

Xie Qianyi's thoughts turned rapidly, and suddenly her expression softened, a smile returning to her face. "Whether he did it or not is not really important; in fact, it doesn't matter much whether others believe it or not. The truth is only spoken by absolute strength. The 'Blood Spear' has already arrived."

"Xie Qianyi, you are even more foolish than I imagined." Shen Boyan's voice was very gentle, yet Xie Qianyi's nose was already sweating.

Only the graceful figure is projected onto the gauzy screen, swaying gently and unhurriedly, as the subtle fragrance wafts through the air, revealing a charming face that resembles soft silk, making one feel as if they have fallen into the misty, rain-soaked waters of a southern water town.

However, with Xie Qianyi's statement, "Only the truth spoken by absolute strength is the real truth," Shen Boyan suddenly understood. It turns out that in this game, framing and sabotaging is merely the first step; whether one succeeds or fails, what follows is all about the strong dictating the narrative.

At this point, she suddenly understood, her smile fading, "Aren't you bringing your life weapon?"

Seeing Tu Yurong still causing a scene, Tu Yuyong coldly said: "Are you taking me for a fool, or are you taking everyone present today for a fool? Stop meddling in Hu Donglai's affairs, think carefully, and consider how you will explain this to your father when you go back!"

Shen Boyan's expression was indifferent as he straightforwardly stated: "When you frame someone, don't you check if Yan Kaiting has brought Tai Chu?"

Before I finish my matters, no matter who it is, they must obediently stay put.

Yan straightened her back slowly in the courtroom, a glint of cold ruthlessness flashing in her eyes

This corner, no matter how quiet and capable of blocking the line of sight, has now begun to attract attention with its movements and sounds. Nearby guests are looking around to find the source of the noise, and some have already stood up to take a look

Why is it there

Upon thinking of this, Shen Boyan reached out and made a sweeping gesture in the air. The image in the water mirror shifted, revealing the scene of Yan Kaiting confronting the Tu siblings on the "Xiao Jin Fang".

Tu Yuyong furrowed his brow with effort, relaxed his hand, and coldly said: "It's better to wait until you have spoken with your father before discussing whether to support or oppose."

Shen Boyan waved his hand, and the scene in the water mirror once again shifted back to the original seating in the lower hall. He emitted three strands of faint light, and the junior disciples on the other side of the water mirror received the message, exchanged glances, and then stood up to leave

However, regardless of how absurd it may be, the Taichu Hammer is clearly placed on the table in the lobby on the ground floor, at least two boats' distance away from Yan Kaiting

If at this moment Xie Qianyi was still unaware of Shen Boyan's dissatisfaction with her, she would be oblivious to the situation at home

From the very beginning, the hardline and bloodthirsty figure known as "Blood Spear" was placed on the table for the strong to discuss. The pretext for intervention was the theft of materials, which, in his view, was likely a script for an invasion by foreign forces into the local area. One fears that Yujing City will not remain peaceful in the near future, and one hopes that no local families are foolish enough to invite the wolf into their home, seeking to negotiate with the tiger.

Having made a guess, Shen Boyan lost interest in continuing to watch. His life was already filled with power struggles and competition for interests, and the local power struggles in an ordinary city like Yujing were even less worthy of his attention