Peng Xian walked over, sat down in front of the man, and said, "Chairman Zhao, what a coincidence, you’re here today too!"
This middle-aged man’s surna is Zhao, with the na Hai Zhen, and now he uses this na while serving as a director in a modestly sized company. As for his original na, Peng Xian does not know.
Because he speaks with a bit of a hotown accent, saying "Hai Zhen" always sounds like "Bad Man," he’s nicknad Zhao the Bad Man in private, though no one calls him that to his face.
In ancient tis, many sorcerers had a daoist na, but in modern society, many Magic Sect disciples simply use their real na; those familiar online even use only their usernas. Only when reaching Tier Four is a daoist na bestowed by a teacher.
Zhao Hai Zhen is rely a Tier Three "Yin Yang Practitioner" of the Alchemy Sect but uses his daoist na daily and even his online na is "Hai Zhen", seemingly believing he will eventually promote above Level 4.
Zhao Hai Zhen didn’t exchange any pleasantries, his face set like water, "Today is not a chance encounter, I heard you booked a place to entertain guests here, I’ve specifically co to find you."
Peng Xian: "What’s the matter, Chairman Zhao?"
Zhao Hai Zhen: "In this setting, you should call Senior Brother."
Peng Xian: "What business does Senior Brother Hai Zhen have?"
Zhao Hai Zhen raised his hand and swung the knife, the blade tracing a delicate arc in the air, slicing a thin piece of marbled rib at, lifting it with the tip of the knife, his gaze like an awl, "Let ask you first, what brings you here?"
Peng Xian wanted to reply, "Here to entertain," but seeing the other’s gaze and the knife in his hand, he had to explain, "I heard a rumor so ti ago that there might be clues of a Hidden Moth’s activities here, so I ca for that. Haven’t you co too?"
Zhao Hai Zhen shook his head, "My junior brother Liang Kai is here for that, not , I’m here to investigate the death of my junior brother."
Peng Xian feigned surprise, "I heard that Junior Brother Liang was only missing, has he already t a fatal end?"
Zhao Hai Zhen: "Didn’t you all inquire about the situation at the scene? Even my master believes his fate is dire. I ca to Qi Yuan by my master’s orders to get to the bottom of this and apprehend the culprit."
Zhao Hai Zhen and Liang Kai share the sa master, who is the Foreign Affairs Steward and Tier Five Sorcerer Wan Zhongle of the Alchemy Sect. The elders of each Magic Sect hold revered positions, rarely seen, whereas stewards are the ones managing daily affairs.
The Foreign Affairs Steward is not only responsible for trades and exchanges with other Magic Sects but also manages the Sect’s external assets, arranging work for disciples who are not adept at worldly matters, making it a lucrative and powerful role in the Alchemy Sect.
The sorcerers of the Alchemy Sect are most skilled at gathering, cultivating, and refining various spirit dicines, proficient in collecting and refining spiritual materials, second only to the Micro Realm Sect, often cooperating with them to refine Magical Artifacts.
Being the Foreign Affairs Steward, many people co to him for favors, and Wan Zhongle, in his position, maintains a level of discretion to show he does not exploit it for personal gain.
As a result, those seeking connections often try to establish relationships with Alchemy Sect sorcerers closely related to Wan Zhongle, especially his own disciples, so when help is needed, they have soone to pass on their request.
There is closeness and distance among disciples too, and Wan Zhongle’s most favored disciple is Liang Kai. Liang Kai benefitted much from this, so much so that rumors circulated privately that Liang Kai is Wan Zhongle’s illegitimate son.
With such a significant figure like Wan Zhongle backing him, Liang Kai inevitably developed a sowhat arrogant temperant, adept at various exploitative techniques. From another perspective, he seed like a deliberate white glove cultivated by Steward Wan.
The news of the Hidden Moth’s activities in Qi Yuan was also proactively inford to Liang Kai, as a form of flattery.
This kid didn’t inform any other senior or junior brothers, he rushed to Qi Yuan alone, and sothing happened! Wan Zhongle ordered the disciple Zhao Hai Zhen to investigate and required Zhao Hai Zhen to capture the culprit.
Zhao Hai Zhen was quite upset, even suspecting that the rumor was true — that Liang Kai is indeed the master’s illegitimate son. The culprit is certainly the Hidden Moth, known for possessing incredible abilities and being so ruthless, which made him fearful too.
Yet he had no choice but to follow the master’s orders, thus his mood was not pleasant.
At this mont, Peng Xian asked another question that made him even more displeased, "Why doesn’t your master, Steward Wan, co in person?"
Zhao Hai Zhen stabbed the lamb’s belly with the small knife, frowned, and retorted, "The Earth Master has issued an order that no disciples of Tier Four and above from any Magic Sect are allowed to participate or intervene in Qi Yuan... don’t you know?"
Peng Xian: "I... really didn’t know!"
Zhao Hai Zhen snorted coldly, "It seems there are many things you are unaware of."
Heart Plate Skill Tier One, colloquially known as "Harvester."
Heart Plate Skill Tier Two, commonly known as "Knight."
Heart Plate Skill Tier Three, self-proclaid "Traveler."
Heart Plate Skill Tier Four, jokingly called "rchant."
Heart Plate Skill Tier Five, nicknad "Jianghu People."
Heart Plate Skill Tier Six, respectfully called "Earth Master."
No matter which technique is cultivated to Tier Six, one automatically gains the identity of a Magic Sect Elder.
This includes the "Physician" of the Observing Body Sect, the "Artifact Master" of the Micro Realm Sect, the "Illusion Master" of the Xingshen Sect, the "Earth Master" of the Heart Plate Sect, the "Master" of the Qi Observation Sect, the "Pharmacist" of the Alchemy Sect, the "Calculator" of the Lingxi Sect.
Speaking of the Earth Master, Peng Xian naturally thought of Elder Gu Chun of the Heart Plate Sect, who is currently the only Tier Six Cultivator known to practice the Heart Plate Skill. The elders rarely show themselves, yet they hold the authority to command and supervise the disciples under their sects.
But Gu Chun is an elder of the Heart Plate Sect, so why can he command the sorcerers of the Alchemy Sect? In fact, any sect’s elder can command all disciples of the Magic Sect as long as it’s in the na of the Ancestral Hall and follows the ancient sect laws...
The Magic Sect elders form a small circle called the Ancestral Hall, where in principle any willing elder can beco a mber. However, most elders are reluctant to be entangled in mundane affairs, and usually each Magic Sect appoints only one elder as a representative.
If a Magic Sect has many elders, they could take turns being appointed; but in the case of the Heart Plate Sect, where there’s currently only Elder Gu Chun in the open, the responsibility falls entirely on him.
Any elder can issue commands to the entire Magic Sect in the na of the Ancestral Hall, as long as the other elders do not oppose.
It’s sowhat like an executive committee, where every elder is a board mber. A board mber can order any Magic Sect, and as long as no one opposes, it passes.
If there are disagreents among the board mbers, they need to discuss and negotiate. However, the average disciple knows little about such matters, and the leaders wouldn’t report argunts to subordinates, only the resolution once it’s reached.
Thus, typically, people only hear that certain elder has issued orders to various Magic Sects.
Peng Xian has long been busy in the Jianghu with business, and was not closely connected with Xingshen Sect’s core, or simply put, he was only a peripheral figure with limited cultivation and no significant status.
This ti, Elder Gu from the Heart Plate Sect issued orders that no disciples above Tier Four should involve themselves in the Qi Yuan Hidden Moth affair. The communication extended only to Tier Four sorcerers of each sect, so low-tier disciples like Peng Xian wouldn’t be specifically inford.
Zhao Hai Zhen is only a Tier Three Sorcerer, so there was no need for the Magic Sect to notify him either. However, his master holds high status, making him well-inford and thus learning about it almost imdiately.
Upon hearing this, Peng Xian realized a lot of things at once, secretly lanting in his heart: Despite the orders from the Magic Sect elders, that Steward Wan seed to pay only lip service, dispatching Zhao Hai Zhen regardless.
Under the guise of investigating the cause of a disciple’s death, no one could fault him, but Wan Zhongle also ordered Zhao Hai Zhen to capture the culprit. At first glance, it seems reasonable, but it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
The culprit was clearly the Hidden Moth, so capturing the Hidden Moth ant what? Naturally, it indicated that the Hidden Moth Object would fall into the hands of that Steward Wan... Wan Zhongle couldn’t co himself, yet he didn’t give up.
Thinking of this, Peng Xian asked, "Who exactly is the culprit? Does Brother Hai Zhen have any leads?"
Zhao Hai Zhen replied, "Junior Brother Peng has been planning for a long ti and should know more than I do. I’m here today to seek your advice."
Peng Xian smiled bitterly and said, "I’ve been busy with my advancent ceremony recently, but unfortunately, it was all in vain, so I haven’t been able to involve myself in this matter."
Zhao Hai Zhen sneered, "I don’t like to hear that from you, Junior Brother Peng. The young fellow sitting at the sa table with you earlier, his na is He Kao, and his father’s na is Zhou Du, who should have been the Hidden Moth twenty years ago.
I heard so Magic Sect colleagues have been targeting him, believing he’s the current Hidden Moth. Soone even broke into his room with a gun at night, but this kid called the police, and then my Junior Brother was killed.
I’ve also heard you run a company that has long been cooperating with the company this kid is in, especially focusing on his departnt, with many social activities organized. Two months ago, you even took them swimming at a club, and today you hosted a whole lamb roast.
You call this not being involved? After all I’ve checked, you’re the one who’s plotted the earliest and longest. Today, I don’t want to ask anything else. The room where my Junior Brother was hard is right below He Kao’s apartnt, and you’ve been watching He Kao for a long ti. It’s impossible for you to have found nothing!"
In his heart, Peng Xian exclaid—Misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding!
He indeed plotted early, but hadn’t the energy to participate lately, and he wasn’t targeting He Kao but his superior, Gao Xue’e... But he couldn’t explain this to Zhao Hai Zhen, as so details couldn’t be disclosed.
Peng Xian had no choice but to explain, "I did co to investigate the whereabouts of the Hidden Moth upon hearing rumors, but as you know, everyone got it wrong, mistaking that kid He Kao for the Hidden Moth, and Junior Brother Liang’s affair actually proved he isn’t.
As for today’s whole lamb roast, I had booked it a long ti ago. Whether or not the Hidden Moth was found, business still has to go on, everyone needs to earn a living."
Zhao Huai Zhen mocked, "You seem to be enjoying your al quite a bit. I heard you made quite a fortune on live streaming recently."
Peng Xian quickly waved his hand, "No such thing happened, the logistics got stripped, and I haven’t even tidied up the loose ends yet!"
Zhao Hai Zhen said, "No need to deny in haste. I’m not here to borrow money! I just want to ask, on what basis do you think that kid He Kao isn’t the Hidden Moth?"
Peng Xian replied, "Because when Junior Brother Liang had his incident, that kid with the last na He wasn’t even on the scene. The situation at the ti was easy to verify; he was in the restaurant dining, with many people able to testify he never disappeared."
Zhao Huai Zhen shook his head, "The Hidden Moth is just one person, but isn’t necessarily a fixed person. He Kao could have been the Hidden Moth; otherwise, how could so many of you and my Junior Brother have gotten it wrong?
But once soone steals the Hidden Moth Object, the Hidden Moth changes hands. I suspect soone stole the object and was caught by my Junior Brother Liang, prompting the new Hidden Moth to kill my Junior Brother to keep their identity hidden!"
Peng Xian was taken aback, taking several seconds to regain his composure before saying, "This... there’s indeed such a possibility!"
Zhao Hai Zhen continued, "So the key issue is, who stole the Hidden Moth Object? You know He Kao quite well and have been watching him for a long ti. Could you tell who might be the suspect?"
As he said this, those who had been secretly observing He Kao during this ti, including Peng Xian, all actually beca suspects!
Peng Xian didn’t know how to respond when suddenly an abrupt voice called out, "What Nephew Zhao says makes sense, and I would like to ask the sa question addressed to Liang Kai. Since Liang Kai is no longer here, I’ll ask you two instead!"
As the voice spoke, a woman unexpectedly stepped out from the back room.
**
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