Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 169 - 158: Memory Recovery

Chapter 169: Chapter 158: Memory Recovery

"If you’re looking for that person from last time, he’s not here."

Fourth Master got straight to the point.

Meng Qianqian hadn’t expected the other party to be so blunt and cast him a suspicious glance.

Fourth Master said, "Oh well, it’s not a secret—I might as well tell you. This is a gambling den, but I only welcome real patrons. You shouldn’t have come. He said he’d deal with you thoroughly, and I didn’t expect him to fail."

Meng Qianqian frowned and said, "So it was your idea for him to try to kill me last time."

Fourth Master chuckled, "The rules of the gambling den. Don’t take it personally, girl."

Meng Qianqian responded coldly, "You nearly killed me and think I shouldn’t take it personally? Am I not justified in wrecking your den today in return?"

Fourth Master sighed, "But you just said you were here looking for someone."

Meng Qianqian replied, "I’ve changed my mind."

Fourth Master gave her a faint, knowing smile. "You’re not here to wreck my place; you want to force me to divulge his whereabouts. But even if you kill me, I won’t be able to help you. I truly don’t know. He always comes to me."

Meng Qianqian fixed her stare upon him, unblinking.

The man was either telling the truth or an expert liar.

Meng Qianqian asked, "Who is he?"

Fourth Master said, "His name is Xu Qi, an assassin. He comes by the fifteenth of every month to pick up tasks. As long as the price is right, he’ll kill anyone. This month’s fifteenth has passed. If you want to meet him, you’ll have to wait until next month."

Meng Qianqian recalled that her encounter with him last time had indeed been on the fifteenth day of April.

Meng Qianqian said, "I can only believe half of what you say."

Fourth Master raised his hand, swearing, "I swear to the heavens, every word is true. After all, offending the Yin Hu Guard brings me no benefit."

A flicker of wariness flashed in Meng Qianqian’s eyes. "You know who I am?"

Fourth Master smiled faintly, "You wear a veil and a hat, but your figure hasn’t changed. My skills are average, but I can at least remember people. Especially since you used an Execution Order to buy my flute. You’re hard to forget."

As he spoke, he took out the Hundred Li Kill Order and casually played with it in his palm.

Meng Qianqian’s gaze deepened. "You’re the man behind the blacksmith shop?"

Fourth Master chuckled, shaking his head, "No, no, no. I only store goods there for sale. We split the earnings three to seven; he takes three, I take seven. If you’d bought anything else, it wouldn’t matter. But it had to involve a barter transaction. The blacksmith could only hand the Execution Order to me, and I turn it into silver to split with him."

"In the Capital City, anyone who possesses the relics of the Twelve Guards is either the daughter of Chen Shen or the disciple of Yin Hu. And you’re clearly neither the fake pregnant daughter."

A subtle shift crossed Meng Qianqian’s face.

Fourth Master noticed this change and smiled slightly. "So, you’ve figured it out."

Of course, Meng Qianqian had figured it out. Ever since Lin Wan’er couldn’t distinguish between the Execution Order and the Rescue Order, she’d suspected Lin Wan’er’s identity.

When she returned to the Capital City and appeared before Lin Wan’er multiple times, Lin Wan’er never demanded the Execution Order back from her.

If the Execution Order was truly her biological father’s relic, she would’ve already gone mad and forced her to return it.

On top of that, Tan’er discovered Lin Wan’er pretending to be mute.

All the signs indicated that Lin Wan’er had a problem.

However, Lin Wan’er alone couldn’t fake being Chen Shen’s daughter. She was more concerned about who was behind her.

If her guess was correct, it was likely a traitor among the Twelve Guards.

The traitor sent Lin Wan’er back to the Capital City for some purpose. As long as Lin Wan’er lived, that traitor would eventually reveal themself.

This was why she had spared Lin Wan’er up till now.

Fourth Master sighed, "Meng Xiaojiu, you’re smarter than I thought."

Meng Qianqian replied, "And you’re nosier than I expected."

"Hahaha!" Fourth Master burst into loud laughter.

Meng Qianqian, however, found nothing amusing. "I still plan to wreck your gambling den. What now?"

Fourth Master said, "Wronging you was my fault. How about this—I’ll trade you a piece of information to settle the score with Xu Qi once and for all."

Meng Qianqian asked indifferently, "What information could be worth my life?"

Fourth Master said, "Before I answer, could you answer a question first? What grudge exists between you and Xu Qi?"

Meng Qianqian’s tone was icy: "He wiped out my family."

Fourth Master’s smile faded slightly. He could feel a palpable killing intent emanating from someone so young.

"Understood," he said. "What I’m offering is the whereabouts of the Twelve Guards’ relic—Chen Long Token."

Who was this man?

How did he know so much about the Twelve Guards’ relics?

Meng Qianqian replied, "One token isn’t enough."

Fourth Master sighed in exasperation. "What a troublesome girl. If I kill you, I’ll face retaliation from the Twelve Guards. If I let you go, one piece of information isn’t enough for you. Fine... I’ll also tell you about the whereabouts of Chen Long."

Meng Qianqian clenched her fists, suppressing the emotions surging within. "You know where Chen Long is?"

Fourth Master grinned. "Let me make this clear—if I tell you, you must promise not to wreck my gambling den."

Meng Qianqian unsheathed her Brocade Spring Saber. "If you don’t talk, I’ll wreck it now!"

"So fierce, just like that sharp-tongued woman surnamed Yan!"

Fourth Master cursed as he pulled out a piece of paper and quickly sketched a map. "Go wait there! It should be happening soon!"

Meng Qianqian took the paper and glanced at it. "This is... the West City Gate?"

...

After leaving the gambling den, the white-clad young gentleman who had just won ten consecutive rounds ascended to the second floor.

"Fourth Brother, you didn’t kill her?"

Fourth Master replied blandly, "You caused the trouble. Why should I clean up after you?"

The white-clad gentleman shrugged nonchalantly. "Hasn’t that always been the way?"

Fourth Master scolded him bitterly, "From now on, you’re not allowed near the gambling tables!"

The young man rubbed his nose ruefully. "Why so fierce, Fourth Brother?"

Fourth Master ignored him, muttering to himself, "Do you think the Twelve Guards will ever reunite?"

The white-clad gentleman scoffed. "The Chu Grand Marshal is dead. How is that even possible?"

Fourth Master twirled the Execution Order in his hands. "The Emperor wants the Twelve Guards, Beiliang wants the Twelve Guards, and Lu Yuan also wants the Twelve Guards. But none of them can obtain it. Fifth Brother, let’s make a bet: I wager the Twelve Guards will reunite. You wager they will destroy each other."

"Why do I get the bad odds?"

"Because you just lost silver."

"Damn it!"

...

Meng Qianqian rode her horse at full gallop, leaving countless streets far behind.

Could anything that man called Fourth Master said be trusted?

Even if it were a lie, she had to see for herself.

But why would Chen Long return from the West City?

What was Chen Long doing in the West City?

Could the Chu Family massacre be connected to the West City?

She didn’t know who the traitor among the Twelve Guards was, but it definitely wasn’t Chen Long.

"Brother, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"I want to join the Twelve Guards so I can protect Little Nine."

Chen Long was her brother... her brother!

She remembered. She remembered her brother...

"Who goes there?"

Nearing the West City Gate, a troop of Imperial Guards suddenly blocked Meng Qianqian’s path.

Meng Qianqian yanked the reins tightly. Her horse reared high, its hooves crashing forcefully onto the long, silent street, sounding as if it could shatter mountains and rivers.

She pulled out the token from the Governor Mansion. "I need to leave the city!"

The Imperial Guard Captain of Cavalry recognized her. "Ah, so it’s Lady Lu. My apologies, Lady Lu, but the West City Gate is closed for passage today."

Meng Qianqian demanded, "Why?"

The Captain of Cavalry hesitated, then shrugged. "The Prime Minister’s army is returning to the Capital City."

The Prime Minister was returning today?

The twilight hung low in the western sky.

The mighty West Mountain Iron Cavalry, carrying the White Tiger Commander Flag, marched toward the West City Gate in a formation that seemed capable of shaking mountains and rivers, like a ghostly, unstoppable force.

Lu Yuan, clad not in official robes but in a purple brocade, stood motionless, waiting quietly on the main road.

He had been waiting here all day.

At last, a tall carriage, heavily guarded by armored cavalry, halted before him, like a colossal beast about to swallow him whole.

Lu Yuan bowed, placing his hands together. "Welcome back to the Capital, Prime Minister."

From within the carriage, a commanding yet leisurely voice responded, "It’s been years, and now you’re the Grand Commander. Not even calling me your godfather anymore?"

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