Chapter 85 This list is guaranteed to be authentic.

Chapter 85 This list is guaranteed to be authentic.

The Regent's Palace, Study.

Tang Li lay on the table, her charcoal pencil flying across a map of the capital.

She moved quickly, her brows furrowed, her mind replaying the information provided by the old yellow dog and the Sparrow King, piecing together the fragmented information into a complete hunting network.

"West Street tofu shop...South City widow's ward...East Street pawnshop..."

As the last red circle fell, Tang Li breathed a sigh of relief and threw away the charcoal pencil.

On the drawing, seven bright red circles, like pairs of eyes peering from the shadows, precisely marked the seven major strongholds of the Northern Rong spies in the capital.

The intelligence was there, but a new problem arose.

Tang Li looked at the picture and scratched her hair in a worried manner.

How should I give it to Pei Yunjing?

Should I just tell him, "Your Highness, this is what a dog with a missing ear and a flock of fat sparrows told me"?

Pei Yunjing would probably think she's gone mad, and then have someone give her a bowl of calming soup and lock her up.

I need to find an excuse.

One that can convince him, or at least...

An excuse to give it a try.

Just then.

"Bang!"

The study door was kicked open violently.

A strong stench of blood mixed with the cold wind blew in.

Pei Yunjing strode in, his face so gloomy it seemed like it could drip water.

His black robe was covered in dust, and his bloodshot phoenix eyes were filled with a fierce aura, clearly indicating that he had come back empty-handed again, or perhaps had just killed someone.

"Get out!"

He roared at Han Zheng, who was trying to follow him in to report, "Don't come to see me if you can't find them! Go and investigate! Dig three feet into the ground and find those rats!"

"Yes!" Han Zheng retreated with a bitter expression.

Pei Yunjing turned around, his chest heaving violently.

The pain of overloaded senses made him want nothing more than to destroy everything he saw.

Just as he raised his hand to overturn the table in a fit of rage.

"Smack!"

A small, fair hand slammed a map covered in red circles onto his face.

"Your Highness!"

Tang Li had somehow appeared on the other side of the table, her hands braced against it. Her bright eyes stared directly at the man on the verge of losing control, her voice clear and firm:

"Don't smash the table! Smash this!"

Pei Yunjing paused, his murderous gaze falling on the map before shifting to Tang Li's face, his brows furrowing tightly.

"What's this?"

"This is the spy's hiding place map!"

Tang Li made a surprising remark.

Pei Yunjing's pupils contracted sharply, then he let out a cold laugh: "A spy? The Black Armor Guards searched for three days and couldn't find him, and you found him just by drawing a circle?"

"I didn't find it!"

Tang Li took a deep breath, and the lie she had prepared beforehand flowed out without hesitation:

"Your Highness, as you know, I am a kind-hearted person. Today, I went to the dilapidated temple in the south of the city to distribute porridge and pray for blessings, hoping to accumulate some merit for you."

She started rambling in a serious tone:

"Right there in the dilapidated temple, I met a... uh, a reclusive master!"

"A reclusive master?" Pei Yunjing's eyes clearly said, "Are you kidding me?"

"Yes! That master... had a peculiar appearance. Although he was dressed in rags, even missing an ear, and covered in scars, his eyes were piercing. He was clearly a seasoned martial arts expert who had weathered many storms!"

Tangli silently apologized to Dahuang in her heart (I'm sorry for describing you as a human), and continued to deceive him:

"That expert ate my steamed buns, and to repay me, he pointed to these places and said that the feng shui of these places was wrong!"

"He said these places are filled with malevolent energy, and there's a hint of bloodshed in them. They must be hiding some filthy, unspeakable things!"

Upon hearing these words, Pei Yunjing's already aching head throbbed even more.

"Feng shui? Inauspicious energy?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking at Tang Li as if she were a fool, his tone full of absurdity and impatience:

"Tang Li, have you been reading too many storybooks? This is a war, a battle to catch spies, and you're talking to me about feng shui?!"

He grabbed the picture, as if to crumple it up and throw it away:

"Stop fooling around. I'm not in the mood to play this childish game with you right now."

"Don't throw it away!"

Tangli was getting anxious.

She bypassed the table, ignoring the terrifying aura emanating from Pei Yunjing, and threw herself into his arms, tightly hugging his lean waist.

"Your Highness! Please trust me just this once!"

Tang Li tilted her head back, using all her charm and coquettishness to cling to him and refuse to let go:

"Anyway, the Black Armor Guards aren't running around like headless flies right now, so there's no harm in going to take a look! What if? What if what that expert said is true?"

"This intelligence was obtained by exchanging sixty large meat buns! It was very expensive!"

The herbal scent emanating from her instantly enveloped Pei Yunjing.

That familiar, reassuring aura calmed his anger, which was about to erupt.

Pei Yunjing lowered his head and looked at the little woman in his arms, whose eyes were full of anxiety and even pleading.

Her eyes were bright and clear.

Even though she gave such an absurd reason as "feng shui," there was an unwavering certainty in her eyes that he couldn't ignore.

She was helping him.

In her clumsy, ridiculous, yet desperately trying way.

Pei Yunjing closed his eyes, feeling the buzzing in his mind lessen.

Should we really believe it?

Can you mobilize the Black Armor Guards based on a feng shui chart?

This is absolutely ridiculous.

but……

He had no other choice.

If we can't catch them soon, the capital will be in chaos.

"...Han Zheng".

After a long silence, Pei Yunjing finally spoke, his voice hoarse and weary.

Han Zheng, who was outside the door, immediately pushed the door open and entered: "Your Highness?"

Pei Yunjing did not push Tang Li away, but instead threw the map in his hand to Han Zheng.

"Take the most elite team with you."

Pei Yunjing pointed to the red circle on the map, his tone cold and hard:

"Search these places thoroughly. Dig three feet into the ground, search every inch of the land."

Han Zheng took the map and looked at it, somewhat bewildered: "Your Highness, what... what is the source of this intelligence?"

"Don't ask," Pei Yunjing interrupted him impatiently. "Just go."

"Yes!" Han Zheng dared not say more, took the map and left to carry out his orders.

The study door closed again.

Pei Yunjing lowered his head and looked at the pear still hanging on his waist.

He reached out, pinched her chin, and traced the smooth skin with his fingertips, his eyes dangerous and deep:

"Tangli, I've placed my last bet on this picture of yours."

"If we really catch them, you'll be credited for it."

Pei Yunjing leaned closer to her, his thin lips parted slightly, and he uttered a promise tinged with threat:

"But if there's nothing there, and you're just fooling around..."

"I will hold you solely responsible."

"At that time, let alone sixty meat buns, even if I steamed you up, I still wouldn't be able to afford to compensate you."

Tang Li swallowed hard, looked into his eyes which had regained a sliver of clarity, and nodded emphatically:

"Authentic guaranteed!"

"This list is absolutely authentic!"

If it's not true, she'll go and stew that old yellow dog!