The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#323 - Self-certification

"Old Man Zhao is known for his loyalty and righteousness," Lu Jing said. "Everyone knows that Geng and Hou are both bodyguards from the Tianma Escort Agency. I'm just afraid of putting you in a difficult position, Old Man Zhao."

Zhao Banshan's response was simple, just two words: "Bullshit!"

After saying that, the old man pointed at Yan Yun, "Miss Yan is a top disciple of the Yunshui Jingci Pavilion. She hasn't been to Wujiang City before and doesn't know me well, so I can understand her suspicion. But what about you? You've lived in Wujiang City for so long, and we've known each other for over two years.

"In your eyes, Great Hero Lu, am I, Zhao, such a person who only cares about small favors and disregards great righteousness?" Zhao Banshan said angrily.

Yan Yun wanted to say something upon hearing this, but Zhao Banshan stopped her with a wave of his hand, "Today, let's talk about my business with this kid first. Miss Yan, please wait a moment. I will naturally give you an explanation later."

Yan Yun could only close her mouth for the time being upon hearing this.

Lu Jing was helpless and had to admit, "Alright, I did suspect you before, Old Man Zhao, and I still suspect you now. The reason I'm here to stop you is that I don't want you to go looking for Meng Xueru."

Zhao Banshan sneered, "This is probably the first truthful thing you've said since seeing me tonight, Great Hero Lu. Very good. This proves that you are at least not a hypocritical, two-faced person. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother dealing with you in the future."

"The reason why the Tianma Escort Agency can become one of the four great escort agencies in the world, besides the fact that friends in the business are willing to give me, Zhao, some face, the most important thing is the word 'reputation'.

"These two words are the foundation of the Tianma Escort Agency, so do you know how much impact those rumors have had on the Tianma Escort Agency? I've lost nearly 10% of my income in these three months," Zhao Banshan said.

"Ten percent may not seem like much, but the escort business is already low-profit. Especially those low-level bodyguards, the work is dangerous, but the income is not much. Losing 10% might make their lives a little harder. Moreover, this happened in Wujiang City, right under my nose. If it's not resolved, it will be a thorn in my side."

After Zhao Banshan finished speaking, he glanced at Lu Jing and Yan Yun opposite him. Seeing that neither of them had much reaction, he nodded, "Of course, this is just my opinion, so next I will prove that this matter really has nothing to do with my Tianma Escort Agency."

"Can I interject for a moment?" Lu Jing suddenly coughed and said, "Old Man Zhao, how did you know we came to Wujiang City? Did Coroner Cheng tell you, or Shen Yi?"

"Miss Xiangyun told me," Zhao Banshan didn't hide it. "She said that a man wearing a bamboo hat and a woman carrying a sword asked her about what happened on the painted boat that night. At first, I didn't think of you, until I noticed that your master took his family to visit friends, and then I went to find Coroner Cheng."

"Coroner Cheng said I came back?"

"No, I just asked him to have a bowl of tea at this tea stall. However, his granddaughter thought her grandfather was in danger and had to tell my people your appearance, so I was sure you were back."

"The ginger is indeed spicier when it's old," Lu Jing sighed. "It seems that every move in Wujiang City can't escape your eyes."

This sentence obviously pleased Zhao Banshan, and he picked up the teacup and took a sip.

However, then he heard Lu Jing say, "So you should also understand why I would suspect you, right? You see, you know everything, but why don't you know what happened to the Su family's death? I have to help you investigate. There's simply no other explanation except that the murderer is from your Tianma Escort Agency."

Pfft!!!

Zhao Banshan almost spat the tea on the wall. The old man had to calm down for a while before continuing, "Forget it, Great Hero Lu, don't praise me next time. Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth."

After saying that, he put down the teacup in his hand, and his expression became serious, "The impact of that incident on the Tianma Escort Agency was not small. And whether you believe it or not, it was, after all, a murder case. I also want to find the murderer as soon as possible, even if it was really done by someone in my escort agency. So, in addition to my own subordinates, I also found three friends to investigate this case separately, without communicating with each other."

"I wonder who are the friends that Old Man Zhao invited?"

"Great Hero Fang Zichuan from Yuzhou, Zen Master Jiyuan from Xuankong Temple, and He Buyu, the clumsy swordsman from Xijian Pavilion," Zhao Banshan said slowly.

Hearing these three names, Yan Yun also fell silent. These three people were all senior experts of the same generation as her master, and all were recognized gentlemen in the Jianghu, each of whom was as good as his word.

There is a saying in the Jianghu that the words that come out of their mouths may be more true than what you see with your own eyes.

Lu Jing asked, "What was the result?"

"Geng Nantian is rude and has a bad temper, and he also likes to drink, but he didn't leave the painted boat that night." Zhao Banshan took out two small booklets from his arms, "These are the investigation notes of Fang Zichuan and He Buyu, you can read them yourself.

"If you find it troublesome, I can also tell you directly, because there was a painted boat following behind their boat that night, which happened to be hired by the secret agents of the Imperial City Division, the purpose was to monitor their boatmen, and those secret agents can prove that no one got off the boat that night, you can also verify this with the Imperial City Division."

"What about Zen Master Jiyuan?" Yan Yun asked.

"Zen Master Jiyuan didn't return to Xuankong Temple after helping me investigate this case, but is preaching at Qingluo Temple in the south of the city. I have already sent someone to invite him, and he can come and talk to you in person," Zhao Banshan said.

Yan Yun's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, "I have another question, I don't know if I should ask it?"

Zhao Banshan smiled, "Jianghu children, why learn those scholars' pretentious behavior, ask whatever questions you have."

"On the evening of May 26th, did you go to the Su residence, Old Man Zhao?"

"No," Zhao Banshan shook his head, "I was entertaining guests at home that night and couldn't get away at all."

"What guests?"

Zhao Banshan hesitated for a long time, but still told the truth, "Chief Escort Yu of Changfeng Escort Agency. His escort agency wants to go south, and also wants to unite with my Tianma Escort Agency to deal with the other two, so we talked all night, but in the end I refused him, because I am already so old, I don't have that ambition anymore, and I don't want to bother anymore."

Yan Yun was stunned after hearing this answer.

The Changfeng Escort Agency is also one of the four great escort agencies, but that's not the point, the point is that the force behind the Changfeng Escort Agency is none other than the Yunshui Jingci Pavilion, and Chief Escort Yu Yangqiu, although he was not accepted into the sect by Qiu Moli, he was actually taught by her, and can be considered Yan Yun's half senior brother.

Afterwards, Yan Yun used Lu Jing's messenger Gu Jing to write a letter to her senior brother, asking him about that night, and half an hour later, Gu Jing flew back, bringing Yu Yangqiu's reply, confirming that he was indeed with Zhao Banshan that night.

At this time, Zen Master Jiyuan also came. As one of the only four Jizi generation monks in Xuankong Temple, even if Yan Yun and Lu Jing saw this eminent monk, they would have to get up and respectfully salute.

Zen Master Jiyuan also returned the salute with his palms together.

"Amitabha, Great Hero Lu is indeed extraordinary. This old monk has heard many stories of Great Hero Lu from the people in Wujiang City during these days, and I have been quite fascinated by him. I was still thinking about when to go to the capital to meet such a young hero. Unexpectedly, Great Hero Lu has returned to Wujiang City first."

After saying that, he looked at Yan Yun again, "It seems that the last time this old monk met Miss Yan was six years ago. At that time, Miss Yan was following your master, and was still a child. Who knew that now she is the number one expert among the younger generation, and your master must be very gratified."

"Without the Zen master's teachings that day, Yan Yun would not have achieved what she has today," Yan Yun bowed.

"Miss Yan is too modest, it was just a little guidance, being able to comprehend it is still because of Miss Yan's own good aptitude," Zen Master Jiyuan said, paused and no longer said nonsense, directly continued, "I know what you want to ask, this old monk was entrusted by Chief Escort Zhao to investigate the case three months ago for him, but unfortunately this old monk is not good at this kind of thing, and ultimately failed to find the murderer.

"However, after investigation, this old monk can guarantee that Chief Escort Zhao and his Tianma Escort Agency are indeed not related to this case."