According to common sense, if Minister Wu only wanted to win over the military’s heart, it would have been sufficient to slightly promote Chu Jianlan and show a kind attitude towards him in front of others.
There really was no need to praise him so highly.
Overly proactive gestures without reason suggest hidden intentions or thievery.
Minister Wu’s excessive promotion of Chu Jianlan definitely involves huge benefits that match the level of risk he is willing to take.
After leaving Sword King Mansion, Chu Feng called over a member of the Blood Sword Gang and asked him to notify Bloody Beard to come for a meeting.
It wasn’t long before Bloody Beard’s carriage raced over.
This was a splendid carriage pulled by a giant tiger. More than splendid, it was majestic and domineering. The carriage was two sizes larger than ordinary ones, made entirely of bronze and Mysterious Iron.
An ominous blood-colored sword was engraved conspicuously on the carriage pole.
Its aura was fierce and permeated with Evil Qi, clearly signaling ’keep away from strangers.’
On the second floor of Jingxin Tea House, the setting was elegant and serene, reserved only for dignitaries who could afford to be there.
Chu Feng and Bloody Beard sat by the window, both of them far from genteel folk.
When they drank tea, they gulped it down noisily, attracting many sideways glances.
"Is there something you need, Alchemist Chu?" In public, Bloody Beard always referred to Chu Feng as Alchemist Chu, not as master.
"Help me check on someone!"
"Who?" Gathering information about people was Bloody Beard’s specialty.
His Blood Sword Gang had many members and owned numerous taverns, tea houses, and gambling dens. They had their ears and eyes everywhere, and there were few people in the Jianyun Dynasty that he couldn’t find out about.
Chu Feng didn’t say it aloud. Instead, he wrote the name Minister Wu using his finger on the table with tea.
After reading it, Bloody Beard’s face seemed pensive, clearly troubled.
"Can’t find out?" Chu Feng’s eyebrows slightly raised, a cold light flashing across his eyes.
"This person is difficult to investigate! I’ve tried multiple times, but I can’t find his confidential information."
Bloody Beard’s lips moved slightly, yet no sound was emitted. He was using a high-level technique to convey his voice directly to Chu Feng, making it sound like a whisper that only Chu Feng could clearly hear.
"Master might not be aware, Minister Wu, along with the Jianyun Emperor and that old eunuch by the emperor’s side, these three people are untouchable. Despite all efforts, my Blood Sword Gang has not been able to get close to them."
"That Minister Wu, though he seems ordinary and no different from other officials, he is staunch and meticulous. Furthermore, he has no interest whatsoever in money, treasures, beauties, or pleasures."
The reason the Blood Sword Gang could control so much information about many big figures was not only due to their formidable methods.
The most important point is that these big figures all had weaknesses and tastes.
For instance, if someone liked beauties, Bloody Beard could send beauties to get close to them. If someone was fond of wealth, Bloody Beard would partner with them in business ventures or secretly share spoils, purposely giving them money.
Mankind, after all, pursues power, status, wealth, or beauty.
Yet Minister Wu has no interest in any of these things, which normal men desire. This is somewhat terrifying.
It means that what Minister Wu is seeking is something greater than all these things.
What could be greater than official positions, wealth, or beauty?
Chu Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly, considering that in this world, there weren’t many things that surpassed these three aspects.
Sword Dao, Alchemy Dao, Emperor’s Throne...
With heavy military power in hand and a high-ranking official post, still not satisfied. Could Minister Wu be plotting to rebel and usurp the throne?
At this thought, Chu Feng’s heart sank sharply.
He could almost be certain that what Minister Wu wanted to seize was likely the Emperor’s Supreme Venerable throne. Compared to official positions, wealth, and beauties, the Emperor’s Throne was obviously more tempting.
Because owning the Emperor’s Throne is like owning everything.
And it’s the kind that is inexhaustible.
Also, there would be no need to read others’ facial expressions, no need to worry about angering the Jianyun Emperor one day and getting his family eradicated and beheaded.
"Master, if you want to investigate Minister Wu, there is someone who might be able to do it!"
"Although this person is a woman, her intelligence gathering skills are absolutely top-notch. Whatever the Blood Sword Gang can’t find, she always can."
Bloody Beard shifted the conversation, highly praising another person.
For him, a fearsome figure , to admire a woman , she must indeed be a legendary figure.
"Oh? Who is this woman? Is she perhaps your lady-leader, Bloody Beard?" Chu Feng asked half-jokingly.
"If a person like her would fancy me, that would be great." Bloody Beard rolled his eyes weirdly. "She is a woman by Qiao Family Master’s side, named Li Shishi, in charge of the Qiao Family’s intelligence operations."
"No one knows how she gathers intelligence, but as long as she wants to know something, she definitely can."
Bloody Beard spoke with much admiration for Li Shishi.
Such an extraordinary woman existed in the world, Chu Feng immediately became interested as well.
The Qiao Family had always had poor relations with Chu Feng, they could even be considered enemies.
This was perfect, as Chu Feng could undermine them without any reservations. In his previous life, the reason he was so disastrously defeated was largely due to being too isolated from information.
Being completely immersed in the Alchemy Dao, he didn’t even notice that a woman beside him was the Panlong Crown Prince’s maid.
If he had an intelligence head like Li Shishi, things wouldn’t have ended so disastrously.
"Bloody Beard, do two things for me these few days. First, investigate where Minister Wu’s ancestral grave has been moved to? Second, find Li Shishi’s whereabouts. Find an opportunity for you and Han Qianren to team up and capture her for me. Leave the rest to me to handle."
With the Puppet Elixir, Chu Feng didn’t find it difficult to forcefully subdue someone.
"Hehe, easy task!" Bloody Beard revealed a confident smile, this was his line of work.
Chu Feng glared at him and said coldly, "Remember, after capturing her, don’t touch her."
"Master, aren’t you being too overbearing? I was thinking of marrying Li Shishi as my lady-leader..." Bloody Beard suddenly screamed.
Chu Feng wished he could kick this bastard Bloody Beard away. His mind was filled with nonsense.
After leaving the teahouse, Chu Feng went directly to the Alchemy Academy for his class.
His homeroom teacher, Xie Bing, had high expectations of him, hoping he could achieve great things in the path of Alchemy Dao.
The dean seemed to have noticed Chu Feng possessing the Abnormal Fire, having tested Chu Feng twice, but Chu Feng cleverly concealed it each time.
The page of the Medicine King Scripture that he newly acquired, after studying and learning from it, brought him tremendous gains.
Not only did he learn the techniques to absorb the Abnormal Fire, but he also made significant progress in controlling and concealing the Abnormal Fire. Despite being the Alchemy Venerate in his previous life, in terms of controlling the Abnormal Fire, he was completely a novice.
Nowhere near comparable to the Medicine King of the Ancient Times.