Chapter 289: Liu Wu!! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 289 Liu Wu!!! (Pleading for Monthly Votes)

Yellow Grade Medium-Grade?

Intelligence that’s merely sufficient, nothing more.

Chen Yi glanced once, then switched off the light curtain.

These days, his affairs were numerous, leaving little time for idle amusement.

Thus, unless it involved his own schemes, he’d usually decide on the spot whether to pursue an opportunity based on his daily itinerary.

It wasn’t that opportunities were scarce.

Rather, as his martial arts prowess and techniques advanced, he’d cultivated a certain self-defense capability.

Especially after breaking through to the Completion Stage of martial arts body, his stacking and internal work surged by leaps and bounds.

The few chances that drifted his way were still inferior to the gains from refining the Four Symbols Technique.

In no time, Chen Yi completed two rounds, confirmed no one was tailing him, then delivered Pei Wanglei to a residence in the western Sichuan streets.

Pei Wanglei continued muttering, complaining that tonight’s “good show” wasn’t fun.

Still pleaded with Chen Yi to bring her to something better next time.

Chen Yi merely nodded, offering no explanation about the behind-the-scenes machinations of tonight’s Liu Hong performance.

Though if he’d spoken, he suspected the little tiger girl wouldn’t care for Liu Hong’s inner turmoil and torment on stage.

After a bit of idle chatter, Chen Yi removed his disguise, gathered his clothes, and said with a smile, “She’ll stay here for a while. In a few days, I’ll send the one below off on his way.”

Pei Wanglei nodded, “Brother, who do you plan to give him to?”

“The King of Hell.”

Chen Yi patted her forehead, then vanished in a flash.

Pei Wanglei rubbed her smooth forehead, stuck out her tongue at his retreating silhouette, then flashed a bright smile.

She glanced down, planted her delicate feet on the ground.

“To take you to meet the King of Hell, okay.”

“Hee hee.”

Chen Yi heard the sound, a slight smile tugging at his lips. He made up his mind: next time, he’d bring the little tiger girl to witness a truly spectacular event.

Just when that would be, he couldn’t say.

Not long after, Chen Yi slipped back into the Spring Lotus Courtyard, shedding his dark robes for a fresh, clean outfit. His expression returned to calm.

By then, the rain had intensified.

Within the courtyard, droplets pattered steadily. A cool breeze rustled through the trees and leaves, and scattered petals drifted through the air.

Most residences in the rear courtyard were silent.

The nearby Jia Xing Courtyard, the empty Four Square Hall, and even the farther homes were all quiet.

Only sounds drifted from the central courtyard.

The clanking of armor as the guards moved, their hushed conversations during patrols, and the hearty laughter of the old patriarch in the Pure Mansion.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn my sword. How’s this style?”

“Congratulations, Lord Hou, congratulations! Your gun technique must have reached five-tenths of its peak strength.”

“Five-tenths?”

“This young one isn’t honest. Your martial arts haven’t fully recovered yet. You’re still far from the peak…”

Chen Yi chuckled at the old man’s words.

During the day, he hadn’t thought much of healing the old man’s injuries.

After all, the old man’s years of ailments couldn’t be cured by a single application of theZi Wu LiuZhu.

It required herbal tonics and prolonged acupuncture to restore him to his expected vitality.

But he’d forgotten.

After five years of suffering, the old man’s joy at finally finding relief was beyond words.

Like now, he could once again wield his great gun in the courtyard.

Chen Yi smiled, shaking his head. “I hope you’ll be laughing like this again soon.”

Then he sat on the bed, crossed his legs, and began practicing the Four Symbols Technique.

These days, he’d absorbed much [Martial Arts·Body] esoteric knowledge, with his stacking and internal work making significant strides.

If his assumption was correct, once several techniques reached perfection, his cultivation speed would multiply by several times compared to now.

In other words, breaking through from the middle of the fifth rank to the upper tier would take eight days; with perfected Four Symbols Technique, it might only take a few days.

Such rapid advancement was truly terrifying.

“If all goes well, by the time the Lady completes her inspection of the three cities, my cultivation should break through to the third rank.”

“At that time…”

…

Chen Yi and the Xiao family lived peacefully, but tonight, many would lie awake.

In the Tower of Rain,

Chen Yunfan, due to Cui Qingwu, had restrained his joy over refining sword technique, spending rare time reviewing affairs.

Occasionally stopping to reflect on recent conditions in Shu Zhou, seeking clues about the White Tiger Guard’s intentions.

Cui Qingwu, due to what the Stars said, harbored concerns, constantly pondering over the letter from Lin Hua’an.

She never found an answer.

Yet she devised a feasible plan.

Her intellect might be limited, but there was one person who could.

She might need to make a deal with that person, lest the worst come to pass.

At Liu Family’s mansion in Nan Zhen Street,

All the guards who’d been knocked unconscious lay prostrate in the rear palace.

Zhao Liu stood coldly in front, scanning them one by one, asking in a low voice, “Has anyone seen the intruder’s appearance?”

The guards shifted slightly, glancing left and right, but said nothing.

The lead guard, a commander, bowed with a ashamed expression:

"Your subordinate and the others failed to see the newcomer clearly. We only glimpsed a dark shadow closing in within the blink of an eye, and a wave of their hand struck us unconscious."

"A dark shadow?"

Zhao Li'an did not reprimand them, his voice opening with a detached chill: "It means he was clad in black."

"What else?"

"This..."

"I remind you, this matter is of grave consequence; not a single shred of discovery may be omitted!"

Hearing this, the commander of the guards breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, knowing their lives were safe for the time being, and began to reminisce in earnest.

Something did indeed cross his mind, or rather, he remembered a few overlooked details.

"Though it was but a fleeting instant, your subordinate faintly perceived that his cultivation had not reached the upper-three ranks; it should still be within the middle-three ranks."

Zhao Li'an frowned slightly. "The fourth rank?"

"No, your subordinate dares not say for certain."

"As profound as his true essence was, it did not manifest the aura of an embryonic true gang characteristic of the fourth rank. He likely has not attained that stage."

The guard commander spoke equivocally: "Or, or perhaps... he simply did not reveal it."

Zhao Li'an was visibly dissatisfied. "Is that all?"

The guard commander lowered his head. "Your subordinate is ashamed. I beg your lordship’s punishment."

Most of the remaining guards followed suit.

A moment of silence ensued.

Zhao Li'an waved his hand impatiently, dismissing these men for the time being.

He even had to waste his breath on a few words of placation.

Yet, after the majority of the guards had departed, a fair-faced guard unexpectedly remained kneeling on the spot.

Zhao Li'an glared with cold eyes: "Why haven't you scrambled out yet?"

To his surprise, the moment his words left his mouth, that guard began to twist his limbs and body in a bizarre fashion.

He resembled a shadow puppet hoisted up by a craftsman.

Amidst the swaying, two clusters of crimson light abruptly erupted from his eyes.

Startled, Zhao Li'an hurriedly retreated several paces, shouting, "Men! Come quickly, men!"

Yet no matter how he cried out, the surroundings seemed severed by something, and not a single sound traveled outward.

At that moment, the guard seemed only just to notice him, his crimson eyes fixing upon him as he broke into a sinister laugh.

"A few days apart, and you fail to recognize this Du?" Zhao Li'an forced down the terror in his heart, staring at him: "You... you... you are... Du Cang?!"

"Heh heh, who else but this Du would dare be so bold as to trespass into the provincial governor's estate?"

But just as Du Cang finished speaking, his eyes could not help but sweep across the surroundings, and a soft exclamation escaped his mouth.

"An expert was here prior to this?"

"This aura cannot be mistaken—the savor of a mastered movement technique."

"Tsk tsk, the Great Wei Dynasty truly abounds with talents, for a technique so easy to learn yet so difficult to cultivate could actually enter the realm of mastery."

Zhao Li'an was stunned. A mastered movement technique?

The person who had delivered Asutai earlier suddenly crossed his mind, and he said in haste: "You, you are correct."

"Someone did come here previously, and, and he delivered Asutai to my lord."

"Oh?"

Du Cang's tone held a hint of surprise: "Asutai has been found?"

Zhao Li'an nodded, but just as he was about to reply, his expression shifted.

He suddenly remembered—according to Liu Hong's plan, Asutai could not be handed over to Du Cang just yet.

At least not until the imperial court sent back a reply, Asutai could not leave the Liu family.

Thinking of this, he bit his lip and said, "As for the specific circumstances, it is best for my lord to explain them to you in detail."

Du Cang stared straight at him, pondered briefly, and remarked that there was no rush.

Thereupon, he ignored Zhao Li'an, circling about the courtyard entirely on his own.

From time to time, wisps of aura flashing with a black luster drifted down upon the surroundings.

Amidst the permeating black mist, a few silhouettes could faintly be discerned.

Zhao Li'an did not comprehend the meaning behind it, but the pressure upon his body had not dissipated, making even a single step an ordeal, so he remained standing honestly where he was.

However, he managed to understand Du Cang’s intention—he was likely tracking the mysterious person who had come here earlier.

"Aside from the movement technique, there is a very familiar scent upon him."

"Very familiar, very familiar... the scent my treasure finds so familiar is..."

Du Cang muttered to himself for a spell, the red light in his eyes flaring magnificently, and he actually burst into a great laugh.

"I wondered who it was, so it turns out to be him!"

Zhao Li'an asked in haste: "Who is it?"

"Liu Wu!"

"Liu Wu? 'Dragon Spear' Liu Wu?!"

"How could that be..."

Du Cang's laughter caught in his throat, and turning his head to look at him, he asked coldly: "Are you doubting that my treasure's sense of smell is failing?"

"No, never..."

"Humph!"

"My treasure's sense of smell is indeed somewhat dull, but it cannot withstand the fact that Liu Wu stayed here for no short duration."

"Just like the scent he left behind when he contended with Liu Lang by the banks of the Chishui River, some traces will always remain."

In truth, Du Cang had not been idle these past few days.

While hiding in the shadows, he had also been searching for "Dragon Spear" Liu Wu.

He had not only visited that ravine by the Chishui River where the arts of the spear and the blade raged, but had also gone to locations like Heiyu Alley in the Western Market.

All for the sake of finding some trace of Liu Wu.

Regrettably, because too much time had passed, he had only captured an extremely faint scent by relying on a tamer god.

A scent mingled with the fragrance of flowers and sandalwood.

This indicated that the dwelling of that "Liu Wu" ought to be an elegant and fastidious estate.

As Du Cang spoke, he looked around, shook his head, and said, "Let us go; lead this Du to see Liu Hong."

Hearing this, Zhao Li'an dared not hesitate. Sensing that the pressure upon his body had completely vanished, he hurriedly led him toward the wing where Liu Hong resided.

As they walked, he inquired, "Since your precious creature could catch Liu Wu's scent, it should be able to track him, correct?"

Du Cang shot him a sidelong glance. "Does this old man need your reminder?"

"If it were possible to find him, I would chase him down and kill him this instant, but alas..."

But alas, it was raining tonight.

Unless "Dragon Spear" Liu Wu had lingered somewhere during his coming and going, there was simply no way to track his trail.

Of course, Du Cang would not openly state these facts.

Before long.

Du Cang arrived at a quiet chamber.

Liu Hong looked at his attire, which was that of a Liu family guard, with a hint of doubt.

Zhao Liu'an stepped forward and whispered a few words into his ear; Liu Hong's brow furrowed slightly before smoothing out, and he rose, gesturing with his hand:

"Since General Du has arrived, please sit and speak."

With that, he signaled for Zhao Liu'an to exit and pull the door shut behind him.

Once they were alone.

Du Cang glanced around the surroundings, and seeing the Buddhist statues and divine portraits enshrined within the quiet chamber, he could not help but sneer:

"Lord Liu worships Buddha and follows the Dao as well?"

Liu Hong replied with cool indifference, "Merely seeking peace of mind."

"I am not like your King Landu, living a carefree and unfettered life on the Tea-Horse Ancient Road; even as the Provincial Governor of Shuzhou, I still walk as if on thin ice."

Du Cang bared his teeth in a grin, walking over to sit opposite him. "If Lord Liu is willing, His Majesty would surely welcome you with open arms."

"Heh, is that so?"

Liu Hong gave a noncommittal chuckle, and after taking his seat, he said with a solemn air, "You have arrived just in time; Asutai has been found."

"I am already aware of this matter," Du Cang said. "Tell me, why did that 'Dragon Spear' Liu Wu deliver the man to your place?"

"As far as I know, Liu Wu should be a wanderer of the martial world; even if he previously killed our Lyu Jiunan, it should have been impossible for him to learn of Asutai's location."

It was only natural that Du Cang found it somewhat baffling.

All the intelligence he had gathered indicated that Liu Wu was a spearman of extraordinary talent, and that his slaying of Lyu Jiunan must have been an accident.

He truly could not conceive of any reason why the man would abduct Asutai, let alone return him to Liu Hong.

It defied common sense.

Unless that "Liu Wu" was no mere wanderer of the martial world, but rather someone belonging to a great aristocratic clan or a high official of the Shuzhou government.

Otherwise, it should have been impossible for him to involve himself in affairs of the imperial court, much less interfere in the conflicts between the Wei Dynasty, the Kingdom of Poshisuo, and the barbarians.

Such was the characteristic of ordinary men of the martial world.

Hearing this, Liu Hong nodded, then shook his head, saying, "General Du is unaware of the full picture."

"That Liu Wu..."

He then proceeded to disclose everything he knew regarding Liu Wu, recounting it all down to the last detail:

"If I am not mistaken, that 'Liu Wu' must be a man of the Xiao family."

Du Cang's crimson eyes flashed twice. "The Xiao family?"

He pondered for a moment, a look of realization dawning upon him. "Indeed, that is a possibility."

"From what you say, regarding the burning of the summer grain in the three towns, your Liu family suffered heavy losses, while conversely, the Xiao family reaped no small benefit."

"Had the old Emperor not spoken out, the Xiao family would be living much more comfortably right now; at the very least, the five hundred thousand taels of silver given by your Liu family would not have to fill the deficit of the three towns' grain tax."

Liu Hong nodded slightly, then continued, "Yet there is one thing I do not understand."

"Regarding 'Liu Wu's' assistance, the Xiao family seems to be kept in the dark as well; I have probed Xiao Yuan several times, but he never let anything slip."

"Even within the depths of the Xiao family, I have found no trace or clue whatsoever."

Du Cang let out a sinister laugh. "Xiao Yuan... that old fellow, the Marquis of Dingyuan, is he someone so easily dealt with?"

"In years past, his horses trampled the Kingdom of Poshisuo, and he repelled the barbarian armies multiple times; even though he is old now and has lost his teeth, he remains a tiger after all."

"Be that as it may, after this disruption by 'Liu Wu', I am already at risk of exposure, and likewise..."

Liu Hong pointed at him and said, "It will not be easy for you to fulfill King Landu's command either—to avenge General Lyu Jiunan."

Du Cang's laughter ceased, and he stared at him for a moment before suddenly snorting coldly, "Prodding techniques are useless against this old man!"

Liu Hong smiled and shook his head. "I had no such intention."

"Hmph, regardless of your intentions, Liu Wu's life is mine to take!"

"As for the Xiao family... so be it."

"Before I depart, this old man will leave them a grand gift as well!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong beamed with smiles. "In that case, I must offer my profound thanks to General Du."

"Think nothing of it, think nothing of it, after all, you did recover Asutai..."

(End of Chapter)