6kv Chapter 18 Landscape in a Painting
Chapter 18 Landscape in a Painting
Gu Qingxuan nodded to Shen Xiaoxiao.
Shen Xiaoxiao looked at Han Shichong and smiled, "General Han, there's something I need these brothers' help with. Is that alright?"
Han Shichong waved his hand expressionlessly: "You lot, come in."
The group of Imperial Guards looked at each other, none of them thinking much, but one of them was a beat slow.
The man was in his thirties, with a handsome face and a straight knife slung across his waist; he was the brigade commander of this unit.
The group entered, and Han Shichong slammed the door shut, leaving them all stunned.
The brigade commander's expression changed noticeably.
Han Shichong said, "Commander Gu, you can speak frankly."
Gu Qingxuan pointed to the landscape painting on the wall and said bluntly, "The thief comes and goes without a trace, and can come and go freely without a key. The reason is very simple—it's this painting."
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing.
It was a long ink painting scroll depicting a river gorge at dusk, with sheer cliffs on both sides, a lone boat moored in the middle of the river, and clouds and mist shrouding the distance, where a half-moon could be vaguely seen.
The painting skills are superb, but there's nothing particularly special about it.
But in Gu Qingxuan's eyes, this thing was emitting a faint, precious light!
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【Title: Landscape in a Painting - Yin】
Category: Ritual Implements
[Quality: Spirit]
[Note: This is a treasure of the Shentu Sect, one of the two major schools of painting in the upper realm. The Shentu Sect cultivates Taoism through painting, and its technique of controlling ink with qi is so exquisite that it is praised by contemporaries. The elders of the sect are most skilled at crafting magical artifacts for painting. This "Landscape in Painting" is a secret treasure of the sect. There are two paintings in total, one yin and one yang. One can enter from the yin and exit from the yang, or vice versa, which is called "Yin-Yang Crossing," also known as "One Step into the Realm, Landscape as a Bridge."]
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"This painting contains a hidden secret: it is divided into two parts, Yin and Yang, which can connect the world in the painting with the real world."
Gu Qingxuan explained simply: "The Yang painting is hidden in the shadows, while the Yin painting is placed in the storeroom. The person holding the Yang painting can enter from the other painting at any time and leave from the storeroom painting without anyone noticing."
"Using this to steal treasure is indeed ingenious. As long as the painting is mixed into the warehouse, the entire warehouse of treasures can be quietly emptied. The sounds that Yu Sijie heard on the night of June 30th should be the sounds left by the thieves when they first searched for treasures through this painting."
"But this method has a fatal flaw—once martial law is imposed, it is very difficult to take the dark paintings hidden in the warehouse out. They can only be secretly replaced after the heat has died down."
"Therefore, this gang of thieves must have an inside man! He's there both to retrieve the painting and to keep watch over it, lest the painting be lost..."
He turned around, his gaze falling on the handsome brigade commander, and said unhurriedly, "If we want to catch the thieves red-handed, follow the clues to capture the bandits, and recover the treasure, we must ensure that the news does not leak out."
"That's why I invited you all in."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Shen Xiaoxiao looked at the painting first, then at him, and felt completely numb.
She knew Gu Qingxuan was skilled at appraising treasures, but she didn't expect him to be this skilled. He didn't even need to investigate; he could see everything clearly with just one glance.
She wasn't an arrogant person. She had previously asked other treasure appraisers to help check if it was due to an extraterrestrial treasure, including Yang Jingting, the true disciple of Kunlun Ruins from the Grand Princess's residence.
However, none of them noticed anything amiss. After all, extraterrestrial treasures are not ordinary objects, and it is inevitable that some might be overlooked. Many people could not even see that the painting was unusual.
Even Yang Jingting only said that the painting might be the work of a master, with faint traces of divine intent. Other than that, he couldn't think of anything about yin and yang painting, or anything about being able to enter and exit!
Shen Xiaoxiao stared intently at Gu Qingxuan, extremely curious. They were both from the "Qi Observation" lineage, so how did he manage to have such eyes that he could overpower that "prodigy" Yang Jingting to such an extent?
What's even more terrifying is the speed at which he followed the clues. From recognizing the painting to identifying the inside man, it only took a few breaths. This is no longer just a matter of eyesight...
Han Shichong's expression gradually darkened.
When he let these people in, he still had some doubts in his mind—to conclude that there was a mole based on just one look was too arbitrary. But now, after hearing these words, he just wanted to close the door even tighter. A thought flashed through his mind: the rumors from last night were probably not exaggerated at all!
The remaining Imperial Guards were completely bewildered and looked at each other in confusion.
Only the handsome brigade commander had lost all color in his face.
Gu Qingxuan looked at him and said calmly, "Am I right, brother?"
All eyes were on the brigade commander.
Han Shichong's face was ashen as he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Wei Ting, you joined the Imperial Guard at the age of eighteen, rising from a gatekeeper to a brigade commander. His Majesty has treated you well, and the Imperial Guard has treated you well—yet you dare to collude with bandits, steal from your own comrades, and betray your own side!"
Wei Ting suddenly raised his head, his face filled with grief and indignation: "General! I don't understand any of what he's saying! What yin and yang painting? I'm just a rough man, how would I know these things? We've been comrades-in-arms for years, risking our lives together, and you want to convict me based on just his one-sided story?!"
He spoke with such sincerity that his eyes welled up with tears.
The guards hesitated, after all, Wei Ting had always treated them well, whether it was genuine concern or a pretense of winning them over, they were indeed quite popular.
Gu Qingxuan chuckled lightly: "You should know why he trusts me, otherwise why are you staring at me like that? You should look in the mirror; your face is pale, your eyes are darting around. What are you afraid of?"
"..."
Wei Ting opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found that his throat felt like it was blocked by something.
After Gu Qingxuan reminded him, everyone realized that something was wrong with him.
Wei Ting was speechless, sweat began to bead on his forehead, and the mask of grief and indignation he had been wearing could no longer be maintained.
Han Shichong shouted, "Confess now!"
Before he could finish speaking, Wei Ting suddenly sprang to his feet.
With the power of the eighth level of the Day after tomorrow, he instantly unleashed his power, his body transforming into lightning as he charged directly at the painting "Landscape in the Painting" on the wall, his finger pointing directly at the lone boat in the painting.
He can escape by using a secret method to rush into the painting, and he can also send a warning message!
But he was fast, and Han Shichong was even faster.
He let out a cold snort, his five fingers clenched into a fist, and the Dragon-Capturing Hand was unleashed from mid-air, a terrifying suction force bursting forth from his palm.
Wei Ting's momentum suddenly froze in mid-air, as if an invisible hand had grabbed the back of his neck.
At the same time, Shen Xiaoxiao pointed out with her finger in mid-air, and the wind from her finger struck his vital point on the back without a sound. Wei Ting felt numb all over his body and stood frozen in place.
In that brief moment, Gu Qingxuan had already closed in, kicking him squarely in the waist. The power of the dragon and elephant erupted, and with a crisp crack, his lumbar spine shifted. Wei Ting was sent flying, crashing into the wall and bouncing to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood that splattered onto the blue brick floor.
Wei Ting struggled to lift his head, a look of despair flashing in his eyes.
The deed has been exposed, and revealing the identities of accomplices will only lead to a worse outcome.
He gritted his teeth and was about to bite off his tongue to commit suicide.
Gu Qingxuan's figure appeared out of thin air in front of him, one hand already gripping his jawbone, five fingers closing, pulling down, and with a snap, dislocating his jaw.
The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Gu Qingxuan looked down at him, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "Want to die? No way. Live well, and when this case is solved and I get promoted and make a fortune, I'll remember your contribution."
"puff!"
Wei Ting was so angry that he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He trembled with hatred, his jaw dislocated and unable to speak, only muffled gurgling sounds escaping his throat, like a trapped beast pinned to a chopping board.
Gu Qingxuan ignored him and turned to Han Shichong, saying, "General Han, let's begin the interrogation."
"it is good."
Han Shichong gave him a deep look, then waved his hand: "Men, begin the trial!"