Shen Jin'an was a coward who feared death. He was concerned only with his own safety and paid no attention to Lord Shen's injured state. Lord Shen began to cry.
"An'er, Father has implicated you."
Shen Jin'an looked at his father with confusion. Yun Xiao waved, signaling Liu Xing to take Shen Jin'an away. As he was led off, Shen Jin'an cried out, "Father, I don't want to be beaten or killed! Save me, save me!"
To be honest, seeing Shen Jin'an in such a state, Yun Xiao and Shangguan Yin felt sympathy for Shen Si Yuan. However, Shen Si Yuan did not think that way; he was heartbroken that his son had been implicated by him, and he cried mournfully.
"You may ask."
"Speak, how many members are there in the Skeleton Blood Thieves?"
"Over a hundred and twenty."
Shen Si Yuan replied with his head bowed, not looking at anyone. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, appearing like a withered old man, evoking pity.
However, pitiable people often have hateful aspects. He, a high official of the court, instead of serving the country with loyalty, sought thrills by joining the Blood Thieves organization and plundering imperial tombs.
The more Shangguan Yin and Yun Xiao thought about these actions, the angrier they became, their faces growing dark and unpleasant.
"Where is your base?"
Yun Xiao coldly snorted. Although many said the West Mountain Skeleton Blood Thieves had no fixed abode, she believed they must have a location; otherwise, how could they gather and admire their stolen goods? These were all treasures of various royal families!
Yun Xiao suddenly thought of something. If the stolen goods of the West Mountain Blood Thieves could be recovered, then the treasury of the Eastern Qin Kingdom would no longer be short of funds. This organization had existed for many years, and it was rumored to have plundered the tombs of many small kingdoms, so they must have amassed considerable wealth. The thought made Yun Xiao's eyes light up. If they could eliminate the Blood Thieves and also retrieve their illicit gains, all problems would be solved.
Shen Si Yuan was taken aback by Yun Xiao's question and struggled to speak, "We don't have a base."
However, his petty trick could not hide from Yun Xiao. "Alright, since you're not cooperating, don't blame us."
As Yun Xiao spoke, Shen Si Yuan became anxious. He stretched out his neck, his veins bulging, and roared, "Don't touch him." After he shouted, he paused and then said earnestly, "If I confess everything, can you spare my son? I want to leave an heir for the Shen family." He knew well that even if he confessed, his involvement with the Blood Thieves and the major crime of plundering imperial tombs, coupled with breaking the law, would surely lead to the extermination of his entire clan. Yet, he only wished to use everything he had to save his son's life.
This time, Yun Xiao nodded without hesitation. "Good, as long as what you hand over is valuable enough, we can spare Shen Jin'an." In reality, Shen Si Yuan's wish was futile. He failed to consider that Shen Jin'an had lived a life of luxury since childhood and had never endured the hardships of commoners. Even if they let him go now, the young master might not live long. But Shen Si Yuan could not worry about that any further. In the hearts of parents, their sons were always dragons; he did not believe his son would not survive and live a long life.
The two reached an agreement. Although there was no signing of pacts or other formalities, Shen Si Yuan still trusted Shangguan Yin and Yun Xiao's word of honor. Since they had spoken, they would surely fulfill it. Shen Si Yuan spoke with a heavy tone.
"Our base is in the Dongjing Mountain in Yiyang."
Yiyang was part of the Eastern Qin territory, located towards the northwest, not far from the Northern Dynasty. Dongjing Mountain was even more perilous, a vast expanse of rolling mountains, one after another, forming an endless range of the Qingyun Mountains. Dongjing Mountain occupied a small half of the Qingyun Mountain range, with half belonging to the Northern Dynasty and the other half to the Eastern Qin, the two nations using the mountain range as a border. No one had ever imagined that the West Mountain Skeleton Blood Thieves were hidden within these mountains. Yun Xiao knew that Shen Si Yuan could not lie at this moment.
"I'll ask you again, where is Ye Jingyi now? You abducted him that day."
Shen Si Yuan shook his head. He truly did not know about this matter. Ye Jingyi was taken away by their organization's leader at the time, and there had been no news of him since.
"I don't know. He was taken away by the leader then, and there has been no news since."
Yun Xiao did not dwell on this matter and continued to press, "Then who gave the order for the attack and killing of us this time?"
"It was the leader. He doesn't show himself often; he always uses carrier pigeons to order us to act."
Shangguan Yin frowned at this, asking in a deep voice, "Who is this person?" He was asking about the members of this tomb-robbing organization; who was he? What was his identity?
As Shangguan Yin spoke, Shen Si Yuan shook his head. "I don't know. He always wears a mask. The members of the organization wear masks at every gathering, so no one knows who is who."
Yun Xiao listened to his confession, her expression turning slightly cold, and she spoke with a grim tone, "You know nothing. Does that mean you can guarantee your son's life?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Si Yuan broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that this ruthless woman Yun Xiao might harm his son further. He quickly said, "I know. Besides me and the Wen family, there is no one else in Eastern Qin. Furthermore, I can give you a treasure map. It contains many treasures obtained from tomb-robbing, all hidden in Dongjing Mountain."
Yun Xiao was pleased to hear this and pondered for a moment, seemingly agreeing. "Good."
"Where is that treasure map?"
"In my study. There is a painting, and behind the painting is a hidden compartment. The treasure map is in that hidden compartment." Shen Si Yuan was solely focused on saving his son and was truly forthcoming, not playing mind games with them.
Shangguan Yin and Yun Xiao questioned him further. The subsequent confessions were all minor and insignificant. Although Shen Si Yuan did not reveal the identity of the leader or the current whereabouts of the traitor Ye Jingyi, he at least handed over the treasure map, which was cause for joy.
"Let's go," Yun Xiao said, looking up at Shangguan Yin. A cold light flashed in the man's dark pupils. When he lowered his head and looked at her, his gaze was already gentle. He only displayed such tenderness when facing her; it was a protection meant only for her, which others could not enjoy.
"Mm."
The group walked out. Shen Si Yuan, having been beaten and confessed so much, had now fainted. Yun Xiao ordered Zi Jun and Zi Yang, "Send someone to treat his injuries, provide him with good food and drink, but do not untie him."
"Yes, subordinate, I will relay the order immediately." The two dared not be careless. Shen Si Yuan, being a member of the Blood Thieves, was skilled at escaping; therefore, they absolutely could not allow him any means of escape.
Yun Xiao remembered another matter and instructed them, "Take Shen Jin'an to the outer prison. He must not come into contact with Shen Si Yuan."
"Yes, Your Highness." Zi Yang nodded and immediately went to carry out the task. Shangguan Yin and Yun Xiao, leading Liu Xing, Jing Yun, and Zhui Feng, walked out. The sky was dark and heavy. Along the bluestone path, white jade pillars on both sides hung palace lanterns, casting a faint, cold light that cast a hazy, veil-like glow on the ground. However, it illuminated the scene clearly. The group walked briskly, returning to the sleeping quarters of Qingxiao Palace.