CHAPTER 573: CHAPTER 456 TREASURE PIGGY ACHIEVES GREAT MERITS AGAIN_2

Lu Yuan asked.

Meng Qianqian shook her head. "I don’t know him. I found him in the cellar where the array was drawn."

The first time they met, he grabbed her wrist, making Meng Qianqian almost think he recognized her.

But after reconsidering, anyone related to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion—even if they recognized her—could only know the Shang Jiu from her previous life. She had long since reincarnated into the body of Meng Qianqian of You State.

He couldn’t possibly recognize her as Shang Jiu just by instinct.

He must have grabbed her instinctively, clutching at a straw to save himself.

Lu Yuan mused, "The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion imprisons but does not kill, which indicates this person still holds value to them."

Meng Qianqian recalled, "He was imprisoned in the secret room where I was once kept. In my memories, it seems someone took my blood then, using it to complete the array."

Thinking of Meng Qianqian’s ordeal, a flicker of murderous intent simultaneously flashed in the eyes of both Lu Yuan and Chen Long.

However, Chen Long soon noticed something was off. He glanced at Lu Yuan, then at Meng Qianqian. "Sis, you..."

He left the rest of his sentence unsaid.

Meng Qianqian understood his meaning and nodded gently.

Chen Long took a deep breath. The secret between him and his sister had been exposed by this wretched man.

Lu Yuan snorted, "Back then, I don’t know who it was at the Governor Mansion shouting to kill and refusing to acknowledge his sister."

Chen Long responded, "Draw your sword."

Lu Yuan looked toward Meng Qianqian. "Unlike him, I wouldn’t let jealousy blind me."

Chen Long retorted, "You’re truly a dog."

Suppressing the urge to strike Lu Yuan with his sword, Chen Long changed the topic. "The person imprisoned beneath the array might be connected to the array that stole your life chart."

Lu Yuan crossed his arms and spoke indifferently, "Or perhaps they kept him alive just to let him witness the Shang Family descend into hell, endure endless torment, never to see sunlight again."

Chen Long frowned, "What’s in your chaotic brain? What purpose does that serve?"

Torturing someone isn’t about complex schemes—it should be straightforward. Chop off hands and feet, gouge out eyes, cut off tongues—they’re the specifics.

Lu Yuan replied with calm detachment, "Just because you don’t entertain such thoughts doesn’t mean others don’t. There are people in this world who take pleasure in tormenting others. Physical suffering pales in comparison; breaking someone’s spirit is the true path to absolute despair."

Both Chen Long and Lu Yuan carried shadows from their past.

The difference lay in their upbringing—Chen Long spent his childhood sheltered under the care and love of Shang Jue and Zhongli Yuan. Even after the Shang Family was destroyed, he still had Shang Jiu and King Chu’s household.

But during his years growing up in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Lu Yuan repeatedly bore witness to the darkest sides of humanity.

Meng Qianqian stared at Lu Yuan in a daze.

Lu Yuan casually patted Chen Long. "Hey, do you know him?"

Chen Long replied, "No, I don’t."

Lu Yuan brushed aside the hair covering the man’s face. "In his current state—burnt out and close to death—I doubt even his own son would recognize him. Let’s take him to the Crown Prince Mansion first."

Chen Long turned to Lu Yuan. "Make him let go of his hand."

Lu Yuan stated flatly, "No."

Chen Long: "..."

There were methods to make the man release his grip—using acupoints or administering drugs—but the man had been damaged so severely he wouldn’t withstand Knockout Drug or Inner Strength.

In the end, Chen Long couldn’t free himself from the man’s "grip."

Fortunately, this time the hand grabbed the correct side. Chen Long carried the man on his back.

Just as they were about to leave, something occurred to him, and he asked, "If this person disappears, won’t the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion suspect you?"

Meng Qianqian smiled lightly. "No matter; they have no evidence. Besides, they’re currently swamped with matters concerning the Phoenix Girl and Qilin. They likely have no time to check the cellar."

She suddenly thought of something upon mentioning the Phoenix Girl. "Ah, right, Mao Tu appeared. She visited the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion this evening to detoxify Gongsun Yanming and treated Gongsun Liuying too."

Chen Long was surprised but found it unsurprising.

The poison of Si Snake was notoriously difficult to cure, and only Medicine King Valley could save a life.

He just hadn’t expected it would happen so quickly.

This meant Mao Tu had long since arrived in the Imperial City and must have been secretly in contact with Gongsun Yanming.

Chen Long furrowed his brows, "Another couple of lives are gone. This time, whose life did Gongsun Yanming trade with Medicine King Valley?"

Meng Qianqian’s gaze shifted to Hunting Eagle.

Hunting Eagle’s bird body trembled!

This mighty lord can’t read!

Reading requires extra payment!

Lu Yuan nonchalantly said, "Phoenix Girl. Qilin."

Chen Long asked, "How do you know that?"

His complex gaze fell on Lu Yuan’s face.

Lu Yuan asked, "Why are you staring at me? I’m not the Qilin. How about spending your worry on this girl instead?"

Chen Long’s expression was indescribable.

If ever there were an epitome of "wise in everything but foolish in one thing," this moment represented it perfectly.

To fully enjoy someone else’s ridiculous assumptions, Chen Long decided to keep silent.

"Don’t worry about me," Meng Qianqian said. "The Medicine King is secluded for now and won’t come to the Imperial City anytime soon. Let’s focus on the matter at hand."

"My sister’s right," Chen Long said to Lu Yuan. "Let’s go."