Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 476: Substituting the Pillars

Chapter 476: Substituting one thing for another

"This..." Gao Jinghao frowned slightly and chewed carefully for a few more times. The texture and taste of the food were clearly not chicken, yet it looked so realistic. He looked at the "chicken" on the plate with confusion, his heart filled with curiosity.

"Someone come here!" Gao Jinghao put down his chopsticks and shouted loudly.

Soon, the kitchen steward hurried over and stood in the middle of the study, looking at Gao Jinghao nervously. "City Lord, what are your orders?" His voice trembled slightly, and he was obviously a little afraid of Gao Jinghao's majesty.

Gao Jinghao pointed at the "chicken" on the plate and asked, "This dish clearly looks like chicken, but why doesn't it taste like chicken?"

The kitchen manager quickly explained, "City Lord, you recently requested a vegetarian diet, so we came up with this idea. This looks like chicken, but it's actually made with potatoes. This way, you can adhere to the vegetarian diet while still enjoying a different flavor."

Gao Jinghao was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized what was going on. He glanced at the other dishes on the table: fish and chicken. If you hadn't tasted them yourself, it would have been hard to tell they were all vegetarian. "I see. You're quite thoughtful," Gao Jinghao said, his tone softening considerably.

Just as he was about to ask the kitchen steward to leave, his eyes accidentally fell on the two teacups again. Suddenly, his eyes froze, and a flash of inspiration came into his mind.

"Switching the pillars!" Gao Jinghao slammed his hand on the table and shouted excitedly. He finally understood Lin Feng's hint. Weren't the two swapped teacups a reminder of his plan to switch the pillars? Covering the teacups with lids was like covering someone's face with a cloth or smacking their face, making it impossible to identify them.

Gao Jinghao's heartbeat quickened, his heart pounding with excitement at having finally solved the mystery left by Lin Feng. He paced back and forth, his mind rapidly working out the details of his plan. He needed a suitable scapegoat to appease public anger and give Lin Feng and Xu Tian an explanation.

"Someone come!" Gao Jinghao shouted again, with a hint of urgency in his voice.

Soon, a guard hurried into the study and knelt on one knee: "What are your orders, City Lord?"

Gao Jinghao pondered for a moment and said, "Go and find me a death row inmate who has committed a heinous crime and is a martial artist with high martial arts skills. Remember, this matter must be kept absolutely confidential."

The guards took their orders and left, while Gao Jinghao continued to refine his plan in his study. He knew that once this plan was implemented, it would completely change the situation in Lingyuan City and would also determine his relationship with Lin Feng and others.

Not long after, the guard came back, followed by a tall man. His hands were tightly chained and there was a hint of unruly expression on his face.

"City Lord, this is the death row prisoner Zhang Meng. He was a vicious bandit in the underworld and committed many murders, so he was imprisoned in the prison. He has great martial arts skills and is restless in prison." The guard said respectfully.

Gao Jinghao sized Zhang Meng up and down, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "Alright, that's him," he said, turning to the guards. "Go and make arrangements. Announce to the public that this man is the culprit behind the widespread destruction in Lingyuan City. Disfigure his face and dress him in clothing similar to Xu Tian's. Remember, if even a single word of this gets leaked, you know the consequences."

The guard's expression changed slightly, and he nodded quickly: "I understand, it will be absolutely safe."

Zhang Meng listened from the side, a trace of fear on his face: "City Lord, you can't do this to me! I am innocent!"

Gao Jinghao glanced at him coldly and said, "You are already a death row prisoner. It is your 'merit' that you can calm down this turmoil in Lingyuan City." After that, he waved his hand and the guards took Zhang Meng away.

The morning light struggled to penetrate the cracked windows, casting a shadow over the slightly messy room. Lin Feng, Xu Tian, ​​Chen Xiner, and Chen Yu had already risen and began methodically packing their belongings. The atmosphere in the room was somewhat subdued, and everyone was grappling with mixed emotions.

Xu Tian stood by the bed, his eyes wandering, occasionally glancing out the window, as if avoiding something. His hands subconsciously tugged at the corners of his clothes, revealing his inner unease. Chen Yu, on the other hand, silently sorted his belongings, his brow furrowed slightly, and he would look up at Xu Tian from time to time, his eyes filled with worry.

Lin Feng picked up a black cloth from the table and walked steadily towards Xu Tian. "Xu Tian, ​​cover yourself with this." His voice was low and steady, breaking the silence in the room.

Xu Tian and Chen Yu turned their heads at the same time, their faces filled with confusion. Xu Tian opened his mouth slightly and subconsciously asked, "Why is this?" His eyes were full of confusion, not understanding Lin Feng's intention.

Chen Xiner sighed softly, walked forward, with a hint of pity in her eyes, and explained softly: "Because Xu Tian got into trouble here, if he was recognized, he would definitely be in trouble, so he covered his face and didn't let anyone see him." Her voice was gentle and soothing, trying to calm Xu Tian's emotions.

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian's face flashed with pain and guilt. His eyes dimmed, and he slowly lowered his head, remaining silent for a long moment. He had once lost his mind, wreaking havoc on this city, killing countless lives and shattering countless homes. This heavy sin weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder. Now, having to cover his face to avoid public gaze, he felt his fault even more deeply, and the guilt within him surged like a tide.

Despite the bitterness and struggle within him, Xu Tian slowly reached out his hands and took the cloth. His hands trembled slightly, as if the cloth bore an immense weight. He slowly covered his face with the cloth, his movements slow and heavy, each movement a farewell to his past self. After covering his face, he took a deep breath, raised his head, and a look of determination etched in his eyes: "Let's go." His voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried a resolve to start anew.

The four of them packed their bags and left the inn. On the streets, people were busily rebuilding their homes. Their faces were etched with fatigue, but their eyes gleamed with hope for the future. Amidst the ruins, they worked together to carry stones and repair houses, each movement filled with a love for life and a deep attachment to their homeland.

Lin Feng and the others moved forward cautiously, trying not to attract attention. Their footsteps were hurried, and their figures seemed a little out of place in the crowd. Along the way, people occasionally cast curious glances, but they were attracted by their hurried figures and paid little attention.

Just like that, they successfully exited the city. Outside, a gentle breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of earth and grass. The mountains in the distance undulated, radiating a vibrant scene under the sunlight. Xu Tian looked back at Lingyuan City behind him, feeling a mixture of emotions.