GBP Chapter 1912 Iron Porcelain
Chapter 1912 Iron Porcelain
Knowing that Li Xiangnan wanted to thank him, Du Xingyue waved his hand, a smile mixed with pride and vicissitude on his face: "With me here, the Li family will not be easily overthrown! This is because of your grandfather, and also because I admire the integrity of your Li family. It is worth it for me, Du Xingyue, to stand up for you!"
Li Xiangnan was somewhat moved.
However, Du Xingyue immediately changed the subject, his tone carrying an unquestionable sense of rules.
"However, Xiang Nan, the core issue you need to investigate—the Little Buddha's background and his true intentions—I cannot directly help you with these things, much less openly intervene! It's not that I'm afraid, but that's the rule! The older generation has its own boundaries. If I directly cross those boundaries, the ripples I create will only be greater, alerting the enemy and causing even more uncontrollable consequences! You must grasp the appropriate measure yourself!"
Li Xiangnan understood Du Xingyue's attitude.
This was his way of protecting the Li family's safety, but in the actual investigation and confrontation, he mostly stayed behind, providing power and limited resources.
The true edge of the blade, however, requires Li Xiangnan himself to wield, clash, and engage with it.
Taking a deep breath, Li Xiangnan memorized every word Du Xingyue said.
He naturally understood his situation and was even clearer about the bottom line he could rely on at this moment.
"I understand, Grandpa Du! I will keep your teachings in mind! I will forge my own path and shoulder my responsibilities without hesitation!"
Seeing the fighting spirit and clarity burning in Li Xiangnan's eyes, Du Xingyue's eyes were full of approval. He nodded and smiled, "Go ahead, just go for it! Yanjing City isn't that big, but it's not small either. Whether it's a dragon or a worm, we'll only know after we try. Your grandfather and I still have a lot to discuss..."
Li Xiangnan then bowed respectfully, nodded to his grandfather, and left the room.
When he basked in the sunlight again, he felt the burden on his shoulders was heavier than before, but the path beneath his feet was clearer than ever.
At least for now, with Grandpa Du's men around, news of his good relationship with Grandpa Du will quickly spread throughout the capital. Given his status, the safety of the Li family can be guaranteed.
He planned to go out of the courtyard to observe and ask Cheng Kui about the changes around him.
In the courtyard, Lan Cuihua was already helping her mother prepare Ruobai's postpartum meals. The group chatted and laughed, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
He left the courtyard and came to the area where Cheng Kui had been before. He didn't see him and waited for two minutes. He had no choice but to walk half a street further out. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and tapped the filter on the windowsill of a shop facing the street. Immediately, a rickshaw driver squatting in front of a rickshaw came up to him and started a conversation.
"Sir! Are you going to Daqianmen?" the coachman asked in an extremely respectful tone.
This was his secret signal to meet with the Song family servants. After looking around, Li Xiangnan pretended to haggle with him, wiping the dust off his shoes on the sedan chair, and asked in a low voice, "What's the situation around here?"
"Sir, it's strange, but half an hour ago, all the people who were secretly spying left!"
This is the time Du Xingyue arrived. It seems his arrival has indeed aroused the suspicion of those monitoring the Li family.
Li Xiangnan understood the situation and waved his hand, "Thank you... but your price is too high, I won't sit down!"
After saying that, he glanced at the coachman discreetly before turning and leaving.
The driver grumbled and sat back in the sedan chair, seemingly annoyed, but his eyes scanned his surroundings like radar.
There are at least a dozen such people on the outer perimeter of the Li family's courtyard; they were all arranged by Song Ziming.
Knowing that the people from the morgue had arrived, they voluntarily stepped back a little.
"Doctor Li!"
Li Xiangnan was walking back when he happened to run into Cheng Kui coming from the street corner.
"Cheng Gangtou, I didn't see you just now..."
Cheng Kui said somewhat embarrassedly, "Hey, lazy oxen and lazy horses poop and pee a lot, hehe!"
Li Xiangnan then realized that he had gone to the public restroom and had just brushed past him. He nodded and asked casually, "How's the situation around here?"
At this point, Cheng Kui's eyes lit up, and he grabbed Li Xiangnan's arm, pulled him to the corner, and said in astonishment, "Dr. Li, why is Du Bancheng here? As soon as he arrived, my goodness, I looked around, and all thirty or so of my brothers said that all those people secretly spying on the Li family have left!"
Li Xiangnan said casually, "Grandpa Du and my grandfather were very close friends!"
Cheng Kui opened his mouth, then fell silent for a long while before belatedly slapping his fist. "I knew it! Back in Yanjing, Li Shengshou was a big shot. He and Old Master Du were best friends! Tsk, no wonder!"
At this point, his tone immediately became excited: "Dr. Li, with him here, this is the safest place in Yanjing! No one dares to touch the Li family now!"
"Tsk..." Just as Cheng Kui was about to speak, two ordinary-looking but capable-looking men hurriedly walked out of the courtyard gate. Upon seeing Li Xiangnan, they quickly walked over.
"Young Master Li, Master Du told us to follow your orders!"
It seems that Grandpa Du sent his two closest guards to help.
Li Xiangnan didn't say much, just nodded: "I'll trouble you two brothers to wait for me at the door. I'll make some preparations, and we'll head to Xishan shortly!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Kui seemed to be deep in thought.
After the two men left, Li Xiangnan pulled Cheng Kui aside and whispered, "Brother Cheng, I have to rush to Xishan right away to investigate the matter of the little monk you told me about..."
"So fast?!" Cheng Kui was taken aback by his efficiency and quickly whispered, "I sent people to investigate last night. They just reported that there were people inside last night, and their voices were quite strange, like chanting scriptures. They didn't dare to go in and stayed there until this morning before rushing back!"
Chanting scriptures?
This is consistent with the actions of monks.
"Brother Cheng, I absolutely must go this time. Please keep an eye on things at home, and let the brothers know if anything happens!"
Cheng Kui nodded, slightly worried, and said, "Should I send two more brothers...?"
"Brother Cheng, thank you very much. I'll go check out the situation first!"
"That's fine, just be careful!"
Li Xiangnan didn't linger any longer. He went into the courtyard to greet his mother and wife, then went out with two members of a noble family, leaving the courtyard and heading towards the Western Hills.
Cheng Kui watched their figures, gave a few instructions to the man beside him, who nodded and followed silently, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
His thinking was very straightforward. While Master Du's men were certainly reliable, he also needed to do his part with the people in his brothel. More informants meant more protection.
On the way, seeing that his two brothers were taciturn, Li Xiangnan took the initiative to break the silence, "How should I address you, brothers?"
"My name is Zhang Long!"
"My name is Zhao Hu!"
I'm thirty-one!
"I'm thirty-five!"
Li Xiangnan twitched the corners of his mouth, and seeing his taciturn appearance, he decided to remain silent and said with an awkward smile, "Let's get going!"
We arrived at Xishan around 3 p.m. Located in the western suburbs of Yanjing, the mountains are layered and the forests are sparse in winter, with few people around, making it even more desolate and quiet.
Following the route described by Cheng Kui's men, they found the abandoned temple, and it was nearly evening.
This dilapidated temple is hidden in the dense forest halfway up the mountain, and it is difficult for ordinary people to find.
The closer one gets to the temple, the quieter the surroundings become; even the birdsong diminishes, and an invisible sense of oppression permeates the air.
Zhang Long pointed to a section of dilapidated wall that was faintly visible through a gap in the woods and whispered, "Young Master Li, that abandoned temple is just ahead!"
Li Xiangnan nodded, signaling the two to stop and observe carefully.
The temple has been abandoned for a long time, with broken walls and ruins, and the inscriptions on the lintel are long since blurred.
But he still carefully discovered some unusual traces.
Fresh footprints were visible on the muddy path leading to the temple. Although they had been deliberately swept away, they still left their mark on the wet mud.
The weeds in front of the temple look like they've been trampled recently.
This dilapidated temple gives the impression that "it's very busy here".
This place holds a lot of secrets!
Li Xiangnan was certain of his decision.
"There's someone inside!" Zhao Hu's ears twitched.
Li Xiangnan's heart began to beat faster involuntarily, and he felt a tremor.
I admire Zhao Hu's hearing, because he didn't hear anything at all.
They found it absurd that there were still people in this deserted temple at this time. It seemed that what Brother Cheng said was true; there were indeed people in this temple who had not left yet.
"Go!" He gestured for Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to sneak away to the left and right, while he himself followed the worn path and carefully made his way to the temple's half-open wooden door, which was covered in worms.
Just as his hand was about to touch the door, a faint, strangely sung chant drifted out from the crack in the door, sending chills down one's spine.
The sound faintly matched the chanting Cheng Kui had described.
Li Xiangnan held his breath and gently brought his eyes close to the crack in the door panel.
The temple was dimly lit, and the dilapidated statues were covered in dust.
In the distance, shadowy figures were doing something with the flickering candlelight, and the eerie chanting was coming from their mouths.
Just as he was straining his eyes to see what they were doing, Zhang Long, who was beside him, suddenly pulled him and hissed, "Watch out!"
Almost simultaneously, a soft whooshing sound was heard as a thin needle, gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light, grazed the spot where Li Xiangnan had just seen his eyes and embedded itself in the door panel beside him!
Inside the temple, the chanting abruptly stopped...