bestfiction Chapter 76 Re-searching
Chapter 76 Re-searching
Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling knew that in this difficult situation, any retreat would lead to utter ruin. Although previous leads had repeatedly gone cold, plunging them into difficulties, their belief had never wavered.
Xiao Ling dispatched more people to secretly investigate the streets and alleys of the capital, leaving no stone unturned in their search for any possible clues related to collusion with the bandits. Meanwhile, Su Jinxiu, in the Marquis's residence, carefully studied the fragmented and vague information she had previously gathered, trying to find any overlooked key details.
One day, one of Xiao Ling's men overheard a conversation between two strangers in an inconspicuous tavern.
"I heard that they're going to start that matter ahead of schedule. Let's hope nothing goes wrong."
"Don't worry, the Marquis's mansion is still in the dark. By the time they realize what's happening, it will be too late."
The men crept closer, trying to hear more clearly, but the two men seemed to sense something and hurriedly left the tavern.
Upon receiving the news, Xiao Ling immediately discussed it with Su Jinxiu.
“This might be a new clue, but it’s too vague for us to be sure what they’re referring to as ‘that thing’,” Su Jinxiu said, frowning.
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Ling said, "In any case, let's start by investigating this tavern."
They went to the tavern and asked the owner about the two men. The owner was initially evasive and unwilling to say much. Xiao Ling placed a silver ingot on the table, and only then did the owner relent.
"I don't know those two people well either. They just come here occasionally for a drink, and they seem rather suspicious," the owner said.
Although she didn't get much useful information, Su Jinxiu found a wooden block with special symbols engraved on it in a corner of the tavern.
“I’ve never seen this symbol before; it might be the mark of some secret organization,” Su Jinxiu said.
They carried the wooden block, inquiring everywhere about the origin of the symbol. Finally, they obtained some clues from an elderly scholar.
"I've seen this symbol in an ancient book before; it's said to be related to an underground black market," the scholar said.
Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu decided to delve deeper into this underground black market to find out what it was all about. The black market was a melting pot of all sorts of people, fraught with danger and unknowns.
They moved cautiously through the crowd, paying attention to every detail around them. Suddenly, Su Jinxiu spotted a stall displaying items similar to those found at the bandit camp.
"Boss, where did this come from?" Su Jinxiu asked.
The stall owner gave them a wary look. "Why are you asking this?"
Xiao Ling said, "To be honest, we are investigating an important matter, and this thing may be a key clue."
The stall owner hesitated for a moment before saying, "I got this from a mysterious person; I don't know the specifics."
Just as they were about to press for more information, a group of men in black suddenly appeared and rushed towards them.
"Not good, run!" Xiao Ling grabbed Su Jinxiu and fought their way out of the encirclement.
However, during her escape, Su Jinxiu accidentally lost the wooden block with the symbol on it.
"What are we going to do? The clue we finally got has gone cold again," Xiao Ling said.
Su Jinxiu gritted her teeth, "It's okay, we'll think of another way."
They returned to the Marquis's residence and regrouped. Just then, a maid came to report that she had discovered something strange while sweeping the garden.
When Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling rushed over, they found that it was a symbolic wooden block that was exactly the same as the wooden block that had been lost before.
"What's going on?" Xiao Ling asked, puzzled.
Su Jinxiu carefully observed her surroundings. "Perhaps someone deliberately placed it here to send us some message."
Just as they were preparing to examine the wooden block further, a commotion arose outside the Marquis's residence...