Chapter 276: A Treasure Map of Dragon Skin

The vital energy within Emmie's space was extremely rich.

Emmie had always been the one to absorb spiritual Qi, never the other way around, but this jade pendant could do the same.

Of course, as long as it was not energy directly sprayed upon the jade, the jade would not take it; it would just lay still. However, as long as it was something Emmie spurted onto it, it would be absorbed right away!

Emmie was utterly shocked.

"Ayaya..." Emmie whined, flipping the jade pendant again before making a swooping motion...

...to throw it out?

Yun Yang was stunned looking at the jade pendant that had just been tossed out from his deific consciousness.

Whatever it was, it was still an excellent piece of jade.

Emmie, greedy Emmie, that would take anything good, was turning it down?

"Ayaya..." Emmie's tendrils waved around before the two of them separated to both sides listlessly. It looked just like a person with arms spread out to make a helpless shrug.

I can't absorb it, and it's taking in my vitality to boot - why would I keep it?

"It's a great gem, but you can't ingest it?"

Yun Yang's eyes were bulging with shock. The jade was definitely a gem, the energy contained within abundant, but Emmie could not consume it?

He scratched his head.

It seemed that this little thing was indeed a gem, perhaps even the gem of gems! He was yet to penetrate its secrets; he would leave it to fate then!

Yun Yang thrust the jade pendant into his robe.

He Hanqing couldn't figure it out, but perhaps I might have better luck.

He left the jade pendant aside and went through other items.

Upon scanning the belongings, a small parcel that was folded into a square came to view. Yun Yang opened it to find a torn leather scrap with lines penned on it.

The leather looked rather familiar.

Yun Yang instantly recalled the strange leather he had retrieved from Han Wufei's place. It seemed to look similar...

He pulled at the skin forcefully, realizing that this piece of leather was the same as the previous one he had found - indestructible and unusually resilient!

He then took out the leather from Han Wufei and placed beside this piece of skin. Upon more cautious comparison, one of the edges matched but the middle portion was still missing by a fair bit.

"It looks like... this is a complete drawing."

Yun Yang frowned and studied the pieces, murmuring, "It's only a corner upon putting these two pieces together... a lot is still missing in the middle. There have to be at least five more snippets to be able to know the complete contents of this picture."

"It's odd that Han Wufei had one. His level was not the highest, so he might have gotten a treasure map or a map to some mysterious place by chance; the drawing's significance might not be all that great... but the problem now is - He Hanqing actually has one as well!"

"Who was He Hanqing to keep such a drawing so carefully, not getting rid of it even when fleeing at the most critical of moments... it must be something!"

Yun Yang noticed sharply that He Hanqing's piece was kept much carefully compared to Han Wufei's! From a different point of view, it spoke of He Hanqing's emphasis on this drawing.

"A gem indeed."

Yun Yang tossed both the shreds of painting into his subconscious space, saying, "Emmie, help me keep these. Remember not to eat them."

"Ayaya? Ayaya..."

Emmue was quite curious about the material of both leather pieces, checking them as it rolled them up with its tendrils and suddenly cried out loud, "Ayaya, ayaya, ayaya..."

"What?" Yung Yang turned his head abruptly, "Are you're saying that these are pieces of dragon skin?"

"Ayaya!" Emmie affirmed, its tendrils waving as it nodded seriously to confirm its reply.

A surge of emotions washed over Yun Yang.

Dragon skin!

This was a painting made from a dragon's skin?

A dragon!

What did that mean? It was a mythical creature!

It could soar in the sky, tunnel through the ground; there was nothing it could not do for it was exceptionally powerful - a superbly mythical creature that had endless magic. Generation of emperors across the countries had taken dragon as the most honorable animal!

Truthfully, dragons were indeed only a myth in Tianxuan Continent for the most part. Everyone knew of such creatures but not even a handful of them had ever seen it. Yun Yang had always thought that dragon was but a symbol that did not exist in reality.

It was only a myth, an abstract - something spawned from an overactive imagination!

In spite of this, two remnants of a drawing he had with him now were actually made of dragon skin?

Yun Yang felt like he had to reevaluate his values and perceptions of the world now.

"Emmie, are you sure?" Yun Yang felt a little disorientated and subconsciously questioned Emmie's observation. He was like an ordinary person who was suddenly notified of the existence of immortals in this world and that what he had in his possession had originally belonged to the deities!

"Ayaya!" Emmie was upset at being doubted by Yun Yang.

How could I have mistaken this for the skin of a mere worm?

Hmph!

Yun Yang felt slightly faint, the enormity of the situation finally sinking in.

These were dragon skin! A map that was made out of a dragon's skin!

What could have been hidden in it? What sort of person could have slaughtered a dragon let alone skin it?

It was a total waste to have used a dragon's skin to make a map. What damage could ever be inflicted if the dragon skin was made into a suit of leather armor?

This person actually made a drawing of a map...

Yun Yang suddenly felt like a huge treasure had fallen upon him.

"It's still far from revealing it's secrets though. The other pieces have to be found too..." Yun Yang stroked his chin as he continued to muse.

He had not harbored many thoughts about Han Wufei's map but now, his interest was piqued!

...

On the same night, a high table was suddenly set in front of the Nine Supremes' statues at Tiantang Square in Tiantang City; a head was placed atop - the head belonging to He Hanqing!

A large piece of red cloth was set aside, scribbled in ink, elaborating He Hanqing's extensive crimes. The damning script covered the entire cloth from top to bottom.

It spoke of him being Supreme Lord Spring Frost of the Four Seasons Tower and how he had infiltrated the Empire of Yutang for years... About how he had set up plots and schemed against the Nine Supremes, how he had planned the conspiracy, so on and so forth. It included the few accomplices who were exposed previously, stating that they were He Hanqing's direct subordinates...

When the patrolling squad discovered the red cloth, it had already been seen by plenty of people. They collected it in a hurry to send it to the officials.

The news had spread - the government was shaken!

The morning assembly the next day was tense; the emperor was infuriated, his rage unstoppable.

The list of crimes on the red cloth was but a corner of a glacier. His real felonies had already been sent to the emperor and Old Marshal Qiu, utterly shocking both men.

It was hard to believe that with the status and title He Hanqing enjoyed in the Empire of Yutang, he could actually be a Four Seasons Tower's spy.

He was a senior minister of three dynasties, a teacher to three generations of emperors! He was the sage of Yutang's literati, the leader of scholars!

It was impossible to imagine that such a person was actually the culprit who conspired against the empire's pillar guardians!

The consequences of such, the people it involved... they were frightening.

He Hanqing had been through Yutang's three generations and had countless disciples. His influence in the Empire of Yutang was deeply rooted, hints of which could already be seen when the case with Shangguan Family of Generals had taken place.

To investigate this matter thoroughly from now on would mean more than a reform of Yutang's civil officials!

Yet, it was impossible to close an eye on this.

From the moment Ling Xiaozui's sword had landed in the Residence of He, the higher-ups of Yutang had focused their attention on this old minister of three generations; it was due to this incident that His Highness the crown prince had distanced himself. With so much evidence, it was more than proven that He Hanqing was the rotten core, the traitor who wanted Yutang gone! Such was the cost of his loyalty, the pretense of faith that concealed his conspiracy!

How could his disciples and subordinates not be thoroughly investigated and identified then? There must be no compromise; it was better to accuse the innocent than to allow the criminals to get away scot-free!

"All of He Hanqing's disciples, students, subordinates..." His Majesty asked for Wu Lie, the President of Board of Punishments to the royal study and ordered with a grim face, "Investigate them all carefully. No compromise is allowed this time; we need stringency over leniency!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wu Lie left with the royal instruction.

The emperor heaved a long sigh.

Luckily there was still Wu Lie now, a patriotic minister who was stubbornly loyal to Yutang. Wu Lie would never be partial nor accuse the innocent of any case passed to him! Only he could conduct a clear search regarding this matter.

The entire Empire of Yutang abuzz with the news.

...

Yun Yang visited Cirrus House in this morning after a long stint away.

There were officials from the Board of Punishments who were passing slowly, seizing a number of criminals on the street.

The felons who were hobbled with rope were messy and dirty, obviously not having a good time of this. Despite their clothes being stained, the material the robes were made of was excellent, hinting at good days in the past.

"Are these He Hanqing's disciples or associates? His Majesty's actions are quick indeed. Since they served under the traitor, they deserve such treatment for their wrongdoings; it is the logical consequence, gratifying indeed!" Yun Yang thought to himself.

Cirrus House.

When Yun Yang met Yun Zuiyue again, he suddenly realized that there was something very wrong with this person before him.

The clarity and forthrightness usually mirrored within Yun Zuiyue's eyes were no longer there, instead, it had been replaced by endless doubt and loss. She was in a trance like she was still in a dream that she did not want to wake up from.

Yun Yang was taken aback when he saw it.

What had happened?

In Yun Yang's memory, Yun Zuiyue had never been so dazed, even during the saddest days when she knew of fifth brother's death. What was going on today?

"Sister Yue?" Yun Yang called out softly. Seeing that Yun Zuiyue was still as dazed like she did not hear him, he increased his volume and called out again, "Sister-in-law?"

"Yes?"

It was only now that Yun Zuiyue shook herself out of her trance, but the look of thoughtfulness did not leave her.

"Sister Yue, what is going on with you? Did you not rest well?" Yun Yang asked.

Yun Zuiyue smiled, looking absolutely lost, and answered gently, "No big deal. Young brother, you must have something to tell me again, to have come all the way over despite being so busy?"

Yun Zuiyue was reluctant to elaborate on her problem.

What could it possibly be about?