252: What are you looking at? You're the next one!

Under the moonlight, Hangzhou still presented a prosperous scene of song and dance, its economy no less vibrant than the capital!

During the day, Li Shengyuan would either accompany Princess Pingyang, Yue Xiyan, and other beautiful wives on a boat ride on West Lake, enjoying lotuses and listening to music, or attend banquets and visit friends with his parents, displaying refined and elegant manners. At night, he would indulge in revelry, appearing to be a carefree nobleman immersed in the charms of Jiangnan and the joys of family life.

His smile was gentle, and his eyes were clear. Anyone who saw him would only think he was a noble young master from a distinguished family, without much cunning!

However, beneath this facade of peace and tranquility, a cold undercurrent was surging with precision and efficiency.

Several inconspicuous warehouses and gambling dens under Prince Weis Residence's name experienced successive incidents.

Either the accountant mysteriously disappeared on his way home late at night, or the skilled guards of the warehouse were found unconscious in a dark alley, waking up bewildered by what happened, with only an inexpressible fear branded deep in their souls.

Even more, a key informant connected to overseas affairs vanished as if into thin air from his heavily guarded residence, leaving behind only an empty room and a faint, yet unsettling, trace of spiritual power.

Even if skilled experts were stationed there in advance, it was useless!

All clues subtly pointed to the shadowy network associated with Qian Rong, the steward of Prince Wei's outer compound.

Each operation was swift and clean, leaving no survivors. Even if there were survivors, no valuable clues could be extracted from them, as if an invisible hand was precisely pruning the tentacles extended by Prince Wei, yet skillfully avoiding evidence that directly pointed to the core of the Prince's Residence.

Prince Weis Residence, study.

It was late at night. The flickering candlelight cast Prince Wei Mu Weiran's shadow on the wall, making it stretch and shrink, mirroring his unpredictable mood at the moment.

A black-clad confidant knelt before him, reporting in a low voice, his tone betraying an undisguised fear.

...Your Highness, Steward Qian of the warehouse in the west of the city... disappeared last night. There were no signs of a struggle at the scene, it was as if... he walked out on his own and never returned. But the detailed ledger regarding the Penghu cargo payment in his room is gone.

The gambling den's head instructor, 'Iron Hand Zhang,' was found with his martial arts crippled, his meridians severed. When questioned, he could only foolishly repeat 'pearl... light...' and knew nothing else.

News also came from an overseas Penghu stronghold that everyone on the island was dead, with no bodies remaining...

As he spoke, a deep fear also appeared in the eyes of the black-clad confidant.

Also, the three groups we sent to monitor Li Shengyuan's villa... The first group completely lost contact. The second group returned reporting that everything was normal; Young Master Li spent his days admiring flowers and painting, never going out.

The third group... The third group followed closely, but... but they reported that Young Master Li was still enjoying tea with Princess Pingyang and other female family members in the lakeside pavilion in the evening, making it absolutely impossible for him to simultaneously appear dozens of miles away to deal with Steward Qian...

The confidant's voice grew softer and softer, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Each piece of news was worse than the last, more bizarre than the last, permeated with illogical contradictions and chilling precision.

Mu Weiran sat behind a large zitan wood desk, his fingers unconsciously tapping the tabletop, producing a dull thudding sound.

His face was calm, but deep in his eyes, an unprecedented solemnity and a hint of imperceptible alarm churned.

Even though he had already thought highly of Lord Li, he didn't expect him to act so swiftly and cleanly... He had initially thought he was just a young man who had achieved fame early, and even if he had reached great cultivation, and found out something, he wouldn't cause much trouble in a deeply entrenched place like Hangzhou.

He was even happy to see Li Shengyuan investigate, perhaps he could even use him to disrupt certain situations.

But now, he realized he was wrong, and terribly so.

Li Shengyuan's methods were far more cunning, ruthless, and elusive than he had imagined.

This was not an ordinary investigation; this was a silent war, a unilateral, precise purge.

The other party clearly knew it was Prince Wei, yet showed no fear, not even bothering to conceal his objective, openly eliminating the secret agents he had painstakingly set up, right under his nose!

It was as if he was arrogantly telling him: "What are you looking at? You're next!"

"Pearl... Could it be some secret treasure of the Demon Suppression Division?" Li Tai's mind flashed with a thought, his face growing even uglier.

"Since Li Shengyuan and those around him haven't made a move, it means there are other Grade Three experts hidden in the dark. Are they from the Demon Suppression Division? Or are others interfering...?"

The Demon Suppression Division reported directly to the Emperor, with no outside interference. No one knew its true capabilities, not even he, a royal prince... Recalling Prince Yan, Muyun Xiao, his royal uncle who had been stationed in the northern border for many years, the various crimes the court had listed against him could certainly not have been uncovered overnight!

Now, in such a short time in Hangzhou, so many of his people had been rooted out, which was definitely not something that could be achieved in a short period!

All of this meant that someone had already infiltrated Hangzhou long ago, and he, the Prince of Hangzhou, was completely unaware?!

Mu Weiran let out a long breath, sighing inwardly, 'My imperial sister is truly not simple!'

"Your Highness," the confidant, seeing Prince Wei's prolonged silence, nervously asked for instructions, "What... what should we do next? Should we send more men to closely monitor Li Shengyuan? Or... should we ask 'them' to send experts?"

"Send more men? To their deaths?" Li Tai glanced at him coldly, his voice icy, "As for 'them'... it's not time yet, we cannot expose them easily."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation in his heart.

Li Shengyuan's actions were both retaliation and a warning, and even more, they were forcing him to expose his weaknesses first.

This new marquis, seemingly indulging in leisure and pleasure every day, actually concealed murderous intent in every step, perfectly hiding himself behind a veil of mist. He truly was good at deceiving people!

His deep cunning, strange methods, and formidable strength far surpassed his peers, even making him, a prince who had weathered many storms, feel it was tricky.

That's right, if he wasn't formidable, his glorious Uncle Prince Yan wouldn't have died so tragically... "Pass down the order..." Mu Weiran remained silent for a long time, finally speaking, his voice tinged with weariness and resolve, "All overt and covert connections related to Qian Rong and overseas affairs are to cease activity immediately. All personnel are to lie low. No one is to act without my command."

"What about... Li Shengyuan's side?"

"Continue monitoring as usual, but send more astute individuals. Observe from a distance, do not approach. If he wants to sightsee, let him. What we need to do is wait."

A sharp glint flashed in Li Tai's eyes, "Wait for him to lose his composure first, wait for him to investigate enough, and also wait... for him to expose his own flaws. Or, wait for an opportunity to strike a fatal blow."

He now finally understood that dealing with Li Shengyuan could no longer be done with the same methods used against ordinary imperial clan members.

This was already a game requiring extreme patience and caution, and most importantly, absolute suppression of strength!

Perhaps before going to the northern border, when Li Shengyuan was merely a Golden-robed Demon Suppressor, was the easiest time to deal with him.

But no one expected that in such a short time, he would be able to raise his cultivation to the Grade Two realm... The confidant accepted the order and quietly withdrew.

In the study, the candlelight crackled softly.

Prince Wei sat alone in the shadows, his fingers caressing a smooth jade pendant, his gaze fixed on the deep night outside the window, his expression extremely solemn.

He knew that the winds of Hangzhou were about to change.

And the eye of this storm was that seemingly harmless, always smiling new marquis — Li Shengyuan.

Perhaps from the moment he left the capital and embarked on his journey south, this storm had already begun!

"Li Shengyuan... What a Li Shengyuan..." He murmured to himself, his tone complex and difficult to decipher.