Dragon's Origin

“Just like that?” Wang Sheng frowned, looking incredulous as he repeated Xia Family Third Elder's words after hearing him out.

“Just like that!” Xia Family Third Elder said to Wang Sheng with a wry smile.

The reason why some members of the Xia Family were pursuing A’Qi was finally revealed today after the Third Elder sent back the message and the Xia Kingdom conducted an investigation.

The explanation was simple: one of the elders had secretly accepted benefits from Baoqing Remaining Hall, helping them transfer their assets through the Xia Family's channels. Under his protection, Baoqing Remaining Hall's large contingent passed through the Xia Kingdom and entered the Yue Mountains in the south.

A’Qi’s friend was one of the executors of this plan. By the time he mentioned it to A’Qi, the asset transfer was already in its final stages.

However, due to the massive scale of the asset transfer, Baoqing Remaining Hall didn't want anyone to discover it. They offered the Xia Family elder an astonishingly large reward. Consequently, the Xia Family elder sent assassins to hunt down A’Qi.

It sounded simple, and the logic was plausible. After all, Baoqing Remaining Hall's asset transfer was so successful, completing such a secretive operation under everyone's noses. Even the slightest leak could have led to utter destruction, so they had to be cautious.

But if this was the extent of the investigation, it seemed like the Xia Family was being too perfunctory. A’Qi was hunted in the Thousand Absolutes Territory for over half a month, and this was the result?

“The Xia Family takes responsibility for compensating Madam for the grievances she suffered!” As the Third Elder spoke, he presented a gift list with both hands. This was the compensation for A’Qi. The gifts had already been delivered to the gatehouse courtyard, awaiting acceptance.

The gifts were undoubtedly valuable. Anything presented to the Duke’s Mansion couldn't be mere local products from the Xia Kingdom; that would be laughable. The compensation for A’Qi’s fright, in terms of value, was sufficient. However, Wang Sheng felt that the Xia Kingdom's investigation was somewhat superficial.

“Baoqing Remaining Hall actually escaped into the Yue Mountains, right?” Wang Sheng followed up on the Third Elder’s words. “Yesterday, the assassin here also claimed to be from the Yue Mountains. How did Baoqing Remaining Hall gain a foothold there?”

“It’s embarrassing to say, but the Xia Family contributed significantly to this matter.” Although the Third Elder spoke of embarrassment, there wasn't a hint of it on his face, only regret. “That elder not only helped transfer assets within the Xia Kingdom but also sent several experts into the Yue Mountains to help resist the barbarians. They assisted for over a month, helping them gain a foothold before withdrawing. During that time, they even lost two Legendary experts! Two Legendary experts, just to secure benefits for another family.”

“What happened to this elder you’re talking about?” Wang Sheng couldn’t help but ask. This person was also a mastermind behind the pursuit of A’Qi, so he couldn’t possibly be unscathed!

“The King has already ordered his arrest. He is still being interrogated about everything he has done and what he hasn't revealed.” The Third Elder seemed to feel sorry for that elder. “Already a highly respected elder, an important minister of the Xia Kingdom, he would certainly have been granted a marquisate if he had continued to serve the Xia Kingdom with merit. Alas, a moment of poor judgment!”

Wang Sheng understood immediately. When the Third Elder mentioned the next enfeoffment of a marquis, Wang Sheng understood completely. During the division of the Triumphant Return Kingdom, the Xia Kingdom received a piece of territory and an imperial decree with a blank name for the enfeoffment of a marquis. Whoever’s name was filled in would be the marquis. This was the reward for the Tang, Xia, and Feng Kingdoms.

The Xia Kingdom must have given the marquisate to someone else. Whoever it was, it definitely wasn't that elder. So, the elder felt resentful. Coincidentally, Baoqing Remaining Hall approached him at this time. The elder was immediately tempted and began helping Baoqing Remaining Hall plan the transfer, which led to their sudden disappearance, leaving everyone unable to trace them.

With a country helping to conceal them, it would be strange if other countries could find them in a short time. Everything made sense now.

When the Third Elder took his leave, he kept apologizing. The elder knew too much, so he needed to be questioned carefully. Therefore, his head needed to remain on his neck for the time being. Once everything was thoroughly clarified, the Xia Kingdom would offer the elder’s head to appease Madam A’Qi.

“Just like that?” Mei’er, Qiangwei, and A’Qi listened to Wang Sheng’s explanation and, like Wang Sheng at the beginning, felt that the Xia Kingdom was being perfunctory.

“Just like that.” What else could Wang Sheng say to Mei’er and the others? He could only smile wryly. “Fortunately, they offered compensation. A’Qi, this is all yours.” He handed over the gift list brought by the Third Elder.

“Seventh Sister, take a look, take a look! See if they are sincere!” As soon as Mei’er saw the gift list, her eyes widened, and she immediately urged A’Qi to take it and examine it.

Wang Sheng had just said that this was the Xia Family’s compensation to A’Qi, so it was A’Qi’s property. Mei’er wasn’t so greedy as to snatch A’Qi’s things, but she kept urging her to look at it quickly.

After all, it was a country’s compensation. The three women quickly took the gift list and went to see the actual items, exclaiming in surprise. Only Wang Sheng and Lingxu Old Daoist remained, looking at each other with wry smiles.

“Do you believe what the Xia Kingdom said?” Lingxu Old Daoist asked as he walked with Wang Sheng towards the training room.

“I believe half of it.” Wang Sheng said as he walked. “I feel like some things weren’t said entirely.”

“Which half?” The old daoist asked again.

“That the Xia Kingdom helped Baoqing Remaining Hall transfer assets is probably true, and that they sent experts to help Baoqing Remaining Hall gain a foothold in the Yue Mountains is also likely true. But to say that it was just an elder who felt resentful and did this kind of thing, only a fool would believe that.” Wang Sheng laughed. “How could one elder hide it from the entire Xia Kingdom and make the Xia Kingdom a thoroughfare for Baoqing Remaining Hall? How is that possible?”

“Do you think this was the Xia Kingdom’s ruler’s intention?” The old daoist didn’t seem to have thought about this. He had never cared about these political matters, so he needed Wang Sheng’s analysis on this.

“Probably eighty percent likely!” Wang Sheng nodded. “Even sending experts to help Baoqing Remaining Hall gain a foothold and suppress the barbarians is the same. It’s just that the starting point wasn’t to help them.”

“I understand!” The old daoist wasn’t stupid. Wang Sheng had explained it so clearly that it would be inexcusable if he still didn’t understand.

“Perhaps the Xia Family also underestimated Baoqing Remaining Hall’s hidden strength. They originally wanted to swallow Baoqing Remaining Hall in one gulp, but suddenly Baoqing Remaining Hall broke free from their control.” Wang Sheng guessed, “I guess they are also having a headache now.”