The Precious Jade (Hidden)

Chapter 15

That night, Jiang Cheng returned to Yunmeng on his sword alone.

Lan Xichen did not accompany him.

Upon seeing his isolated and furious return, his Head Disciple dared not to ask questions and handed over the day's investigation results. After freshening up and changing his clothes, Jiang Cheng lit a lamp to read over the report. Unexpectedly, he found the Moon Grass brought by Lan Xichen in his study. "Who brought this?" he asked.

"Ah... I did," replied his disciple, "I didn't know what it contained and didn't dare throw it away. Besides, I thought you might forget it when you returned, so I decided to put it on your desk."

Jiang Cheng stared intently at the box and clenched his teeth. "Return it to the Lan Sect."

"Eh?" the chief disciple looked up, confused.

"I said return it to the Lan sect, didn't you hear?" Jiang Cheng's voice was more of a roar. "Unsolicited courtesy is a sign of ulterior motives; return it to Gusu now!"

"Yes..." the disciple didn't dare to contradict and immediately agreed. "But it's very late. I'll send someone to deliver it in the morning, is that okay?"

"Fine," Jiang Cheng said nothing more and focused on the report. Knowing his temper, the disciple carefully stored the box away for the night. Once the senior disciple left, Jiang Cheng slammed his fist on the table with the report and held his forehead in anger.

After dinner at Koi Tower, he had lectured Jin Ling about not casually asking for Moon Grass. However, Jin Ling wanted to challenge him, and they argued. Jiang Cheng had then stormed away in a rage and stumbled upon Lan Xichen's returning to the banquet hall. It had Jiang Cheng thinking something had happened. So Jiang Cheng had followed him, which led to him unintentionally overhearing the conversation between Lan Xichen and Jin Min.

He couldn't understand why Lan Xichen would do such a thing for him. They were not friends or close relatives. Perhaps Lan Xichen wanted to help because of Wei Wuxian, or just to keep himself occupied with something to pass the time.

'Ha!' Jiang Cheng had led the Yunmeng Jiang Sect alone for over ten years. He also had a trail of blood left in his footsteps, indicating his own strength. Why pretend to show sympathy now?

Nevertheless, setting his anger aside, he still needed to find a way to deal with the Moon Grass issue. Jiang Cheng couldn't help feeling a bit despondent. For years, he had asked the heavens more than once why he had to be an omega, but it was pointless; it was a waste of time. After deciding to return Lan Xichen's gift, he pressed on with his tasks. Without a quick solution, the consequences would be dire.

Unexpectedly, the conversation between Lan Xichen and Jin Min crossed his mind. He was overly suspicious of the crippled Jin Min. But, on reflection, he always distrusts the people he meets for the first time. Moreover, even if the Jin was nervous at the banquet, Jiang Cheng could deduce that he had a lot of Moon Grass Herb. If he could find the Spider Mother Flower, he could trade it for Jin Min's Moon Grass Herb. Jiang Cheng looked out the window; it was late in the night, quiet, with stars hidden behind flimsy clouds. That was the best plan so far, but first, he had to deal with Cao Huaizhen and the demonic flower as soon as possible to go to Miaojiang.

However, how could one easily handle something as significant as that demonic flower? Jiang Cheng spent three days reviewing the results and personally interrogating the disciples of the pharmacy and those who followed him to Tongbai Mountain. Fortunately, all Jiang sect members understood the gravity of the situation and didn't refuse the investigations and strict checks of belongings. Although they discovered three suspects of theft from the Jiang sect, nine negligent in their duties, and six running a private gambling house, they found no evidence or indicators of anyone, besides Cao Huaizhen, having contact with the Demonic Flower. Regarding those accompanying him to Tongbai Mountain, one confessed at the end that he informed Cao Huaizhen in exchange for a large reward, but swore, crying, kneeling, and with his head on the ground, that he knew nothing more and never tried the Demonic Flower.