Chapter 385: Sachet, Ring (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 385: Pouch and Finger (Seeking Monthly Ticket)

Song Jinjin naturally understood the purpose behind the Mo Yun brothers' journey to the Manzu.

Yet, according to his calculations, the Mo Yun brothers had arrived earlier than expected.

"Prince Zuo, Mu Hage... It seems he had already intended to alter the situation among the Manzu."

Before Song Jinjin reached Shuzhou, he had learned that the Manzu lands were in turmoil, their king had passed away, and the new king's position hung vacant, with an internal war looming on the horizon.

In such a time, if the Wei people were to descend southward, the chaos among the Manzu would inevitably be affected, possibly even turning internal strife into external conflict.

Mu Hage clearly had such intentions in mind.

Thus, he had swiftly dispatched the Mo Yun brothers to the Mengshui Pass, so that the plans on this side could advance more quickly.

Yet...

Song Jinjin's lips curved into a sly smile. "To disappoint Prince Zuo."

"With His Highness's strategies, how could he fail to cooperate with the Manzu, nor spare the opportunity to ally with Huo and Pi?"

"Only to survive these two years, that's all."

"When the 'Hidden Immortal' conflict arises again, the three prefectures of Jiuzhou will have no one to interfere."

"At that time..."

Song Jinjin was just about to think, when a sharp birdcall pierced the air, coming from afar, swiftly passing over a hundred zhang.

He frowned slightly, raising his hand to his chest.

There, upon his arm, landed a black-and-white eagle, its head high, its blood-red eyes never blinking as they fixed upon him.

Song Jinjin did not hesitate, plucking a sealed letter from the eagle's claw and unfolding it.

[Li San Yuan had been abducted in advance; the captor was Chen Yu, head of the Bai Caotang, and a disciple of the great bandit "One Finger."]

[Pei Yonglin had been discovered; he sought to exchange Li San Yuan for him, agreeing to meet in the east of the mansion city before midnight.]

Song Jinjin finished reading, his brows tightly furrowed, crushing the letter into his fist.

"Bai Caotang's Chen Yu?"

"Xiao family people?"

"How could they... It must be the Execution Bureau!"

Song Jinjin mistakenly assumed that the person from the Execution Bureau had gone to the Xiao family to retrieve someone, startling the Xiao family into alertness.

Yet what truly inflamed his blood was Pei Yonglin.

"Having killed the 'Little Lord' before was already a grave transgression, yet daring to smile and place the target squarely on the mountain people."

"At this moment, exposing his identity, would he not fear the monks of Wudang Mountain coming to his doorstep?"

Song Jinjin had once walked thejianghú, and knew well the methods of the prestigious sects like Wudang Mountain.

They were, in truth, cautious and indecisive in their hypocrisy.

He believed that once Pei Yonglin's identity was revealed, Wudang Mountain would never again dare to trouble the mountain people.

Those big-nosed ones would only seek out Pei Yonglin, and thus delve deeper into the Jizhou merchant guild behind him.

"Success is better than failure, but failure is better than excess!"

Song Jinjin let out a cold sneer, waving the eagle away, remaining suspended in midair as he gazed toward the Mengshui Pass.

"The mountain people were merely incidental, a cover to obscure the eyes."

"Most important now is Xiao Jinghong and the Xiao family; only by getting them to consider leading an expedition against the Manzu can this game be won."

"Pei Yonglin, he brought this trouble upon himself, so he must resolve it himself!"

"If he dies, do not blame Song for not being magnanimous!"

The moonlight dimmed unknowingly.

Beneath the dark clouds, the towering Mengshui Pass resembled a ferocious beast of antiquity, crouching between the river's banks and valleys.

The chain of the city gate slowly retracted, pulling up the heavy door weighing several tons along with it.

Two columns of armored cavalry mounted on high-headed steeds halted within the pass, awaiting the general in charge to verify their identities.

The lead horseman was no exception.

This had been the custom of Mengshui Pass to prevent infiltrators among the scouts patrolling outside.

The defending general, Shi Junqing, had his men verify the lead horseman's identity before approaching to return the salute: "General, this journey has gone smoothly?"

The horseman bowed politely, his expression stern: "There have been some setbacks."

Shi Junqing glanced at the two men nearby, Meng Wen and Meng Wu, and asked: "Are they Wei people who defected to the enemy to the south?"

The horseman looked in that direction, shaking his head: "Likely bandits from the ancient Tea Horse Road."

"Bandits?"

Shi Junqing chuckled lightly: "Bandits who preyed upon the Manzu, are worth a second look."

The horseman's face showed slight dissatisfaction, pointing to the soldiers behind him: "They have wounded over a hundred new troops."

"Had I not prepared thoroughly, they would have already fled."

Shi Junqing's smile faded, his gaze now filled with murderous intent toward Meng Wen and Meng Wu.

"Those who dare attack the Mengshui Pass garrison must face death!"

"Wait until I report to General Xiao, then we shall decide."

"Also good..."

Meng Wen, hearing their conversation, paced restlessly, his face flushed with urgency.

Yet he could not speak, his mouth sewn shut with cloth.

The other, Meng Wu, remained quiet, even closing his eyes, saliva dripping from his mouth.

His soft snoring echoed endlessly.

Clearly, he was asleep soundly.

Meng Wen muttered in frustration, bumping into him.

Meng Wu mumbled dazedly, then sank back into sleep.

Meng Wen sighed helplessly, seeing no other option.

Though their cultivation was slightly stronger than the horseman's, it consisted mainly of peripheral arts—only footwork and hidden projectiles had reached perfection.

These techniques were difficult to employ against cavalry charges.

If Meng Wen had not remembered something he had taken from the Black Bear Tribe, allowing the horseman to temporarily suppress his urge to kill, they would have already been dead men.

The horseman glanced at them, then turned his back, watching as a thousand armored soldiers underwent verification.

After a short while, once all identities were confirmed, and they had proceeded to the inner city to rest, the horseman finally led Meng Wen and Meng Wu to pay their respects to Xiao Jinghong.

Bypassing two rows of arrow towers.

Ma Shu took a few quick steps forward, knelt on one knee: "General Ma Shu of the Xuanjia Army requests an audience with General Jing Hong!"

The tightly closed door creaked open.

Su Zhimeng stepped out, glanced around, and made way for him: "General, please come in."

Ma Shu bowed and said, then gestured to a few armored soldiers behind him to wait, and walked into the room alone.

Xiao Jinghong was bent over writing at the desk, saw him enter, didn't lift his head, pointed to a chair nearby and gestured: "A moment."

"Yes."

Ma Shu took his seat, not looking around.

After a moment, Jinghong finished writing the letter, set down the wolf-hair brush and looked up at him: "Are the horsemen waiting outside from the Tea and Horse Ancient Road bandits?"

Ma Shu nodded: "They call themselves the 'Magic Cloud Brothers,' a band of evil doers who were hunted by the Western Province Governor all these years."

"For years now, they've been stationed along the Tea and Horse Ancient Road, accompanying a band of horse thieves raiding the barbarian tribes and abducting their captives."

Ma Shu paused, slightly hesitant: "It seems they came to Mongshui Pass this time, perhaps seeking an audience with the General."

Jinghong's eyes grew slightly cold, thought for a moment: "Bring them in."

Before Ma Shu could speak, the door outside had already been opened by Su Zhimeng, who ushered Meng Wen and Meng Wu into the room.

Meng Wen saw Xiao Jinghong seated in the front seat, immediately let out a whimpering sound, his body twisting as if to rise.

Jinghong glanced at him, his gaze falling upon his brother Meng Wu, who was still asleep, he gave a slight shake of his head:

"General Ma, you've already spent a day touring the region, go rest first with your men."

Ma Shu paused, clearly not expecting her to order them out.

But once he confirmed Jinghong's serious expression, he rose and bowed, leading his men away.

Su Zhimeng watched them leave, then walked over with a puzzled expression.

She was about to speak, when Jinghong raised his hand and stopped her: "Stay outside the door."

Su Zhimeng hesitated, glanced at the Magic Cloud Brothers, and immediately took post outside the door.

She had followed Jinghong for so long, she understood his temperament well. If it weren't for something important, Jinghong would not be so cautious.

Yet she couldn't help wondering why Jinghong cared so much about the Magic Cloud Brothers?

When the surroundings grew quiet, Jinghong leaned close to the wall, listening carefully. Once he confirmed no one was nearby, he let out a sharp breath and released a blade's worth of intent.

A blade's length of intent pierced through Meng Wen's mouth, wiping away the gauze.

Meng Wen felt the chill at his lips, his heart froze, then he drooped his head and looked at her with a sheepish smile:

"Meng Wen has seen General Xiao."

Jinghong sat upright at the desk, his expression cold as he stared at him: "Speak. What brings you here?"

He had not forgotten last night's mysterious swordsman's words—that recently someone would bring some news.

And it was about her mother, Fu Wenqing's, news.

Meng Wen heard this, did not answer immediately, but signaled with his eyes that his hands and feet were still bound.

Jinghong snapped his fingers again.

The blade intent sliced through, and Meng Wen fell flat on the floor.

He struggled to his feet, brushed off the dirt from his body, wiped the blood from his face, and bowed respectfully:

"General, forgive me. The garrison at Mongshui Pass has been stationed with heavy troops, my brother and I could only resort to this measure."

Meng Wen said this with his mouth, but inside he had already cursed out Son Jinjian and the Black Bear Tribe's barbarians.

Originally, after obtaining the items, he had planned to quietly return north of Mongshui Pass, and find another opportunity to seek Jinghong.

But he had not known those barbarians would simply deliver them straight to Mongshui Pass.

To be precise, they were directly handed over to Ma Shu and the others.

If it weren't for the two of them quickly surrendering upon seeing the situation, they would probably already be dead by now.

Jinghong remained unmoved, a faint killing intent suddenly shrouding the entire carriage room.

Meng Wen instantly shivered: "General, don't be in a hurry, don't be in a hurry, I swear on my life I'll give you the items."

He kicked Meng Wu, pushing him to wake up.

"Wu brother, wake up quickly, where did you put the items?"

Meng Wu blinked dazedly, hummed twice, then fell back into sleep, as if poisoned.

Meng Wen looked at Jinghong with a sheepish expression: "General, forgive me, my brother never had a sharp mind since childhood."

"When he encounters danger and life-or-death situations, he falls into a deep sleep."

"Could you please ensure my brother and I are safe in life?"

Jinghong furrowed his brow. The sharp blade intent flickered past Meng Wu's hairtip, making him directly widen his eyes in terror.

Meng Wen, though also caught off guard, deeply understood their current situation, and without thinking of anything else, desperately blocked that blade intent with all his strength.

Clang!

The dagger in Meng Wen's hands struck the floor with a sharp sound and snapped in two.

He pushed Meng Wu down with his whole body.

Jinghong stared straight at them, his voice cold: "You don't have a second chance. Think it over before you speak."

Meng Wen was truly on the verge of tears:

He leaned against Meng Wu, glanced at his wounds on the ground, sighed: "Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess. Money and wealth bring trouble."

Meng Wu whimpered twice, as if wanting to say something.

Meng Wen patted him on the shoulder, signaling silence, then took off a pouch from his body and tossed it toward Jinghong: "The people who brought us here only said to hand this item over to the General."

Jinghong took the pouch, lowered his head and examined it.

The pouch was made of finest cloud silk brocade, the seal stitched with golden thread featuring two lotus flowers.

He recognized the pouch—it was an item Fu Wenqing wore close to her body.

If he hadn't forgotten, this pouch was a keepsake from her father, Xiao Fengchun, to Fu Wenqing.

Jinghong glanced at it, his gaze falling upon the patched area at the bottom of the pouch, where he saw a piece of gauze sewn on.

After looking at it for a while, his palm trembled slightly, then he opened the pouch and took out another item from within.

—A jade-green finger protector!

Jinghong could no longer sit still, suddenly stood up, and a torrent of surging killing intent swept wildly through the room with his movement.

Not unless these years of her military service had carved such scars upon her spirit that she would, in a fit of desperation, charge forward without hesitation.

Meng Wen let out a strangled cry, quickly kneeling to block Meng Wu’s path, his voice trembling as he pleaded:

“General, forgive me! General, see reason—I am but a mere courier, my brother and I are nothing more than runners! This matter, this affair, has nothing to do with us!”

Xiao Hong did not respond. He fixed his gaze on the pendant and the gun in his hands, his expression unreadable.

After a long while, as Meng Wen began to fear Xiao Hong would erupt in fury and strike them down, the latter spoke in a cold, measured tone:

“Tell me everything you know.”

A slight relief flickered across Meng Wen’s face as he bowed his head. “Yes, yes—of course, of course…”

He then recounted how they had traveled from the Tea Horse Road to the gates of Shu Zhou, how they had been ordered to the Black Bear Tribe’s stronghold, and how they had obtained these two items from Mu Ha Ge.

When he finished, Xiao Hong leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he asked:

“Who sent you to the Black Bear Tribe?”

Meng Wen shook his head. “General, forgive me—I cannot say.”

Xiao Hong’s eyes darkened, though he did not press further. Instead, he inquired:

“Have you seen the one who possesses these?”

“No… no… Mu Ha Ge only told us to deliver this message to you—that he is still alive, and that if you wish to find him, you need only go to the Black Bear Tribe.”

At these words, Xiao Hong instinctively glanced at the pendant and the gun, his pupils flickering with something unreadable.

Father… Mother…

If his mother were still alive, what of his father? If they both lived, what then?

A moment passed.

Xiao Hong forced himself to steady his racing heart, his voice dropping to a whisper:

“And then?”

Meng Wen’s face twisted in anguish. “Nothing… nothing else.”

“General Xiao, my lord, Xiao Dame—I swear it, we are only messengers. We know nothing of the matter.”

“If you do not believe me, you may seek out Song…”

Before he could finish, Meng Wen froze mid-sentence. Without waiting for a response, he coughed up a spray of blood and collapsed.

Meng Wu fell just as swiftly.

Xiao Hong startled, his hand already on his sword hilt.

But before he could move, both men were gone, their breaths stilled, their bodies lifeless where they lay.

Meng Wen’s eyes stared blankly upward, his features twisted in a grotesque parody of life, as though he were being torn apart from within.

Xiao Hong frowned, staring at their corpses. “The Black Bear Tribe’s totem…”

At that moment, a faint blade aura rose from the northern slope of Mengshan Pass.

Xiao Hong glanced upward, then turned on his heel, stepping out of the chamber. He muttered to Su Zhiyue: “Make sure everything is ready,” before rushing toward the northern path.

Su Zhiyue opened her mouth to ask who had been captured by the tribe, but Xiao Hong had already vanished in the blink of an eye, his footsteps swift as thunder.

“What has happened to him?” she whispered, concern etching her face.

It had been far too long since she had seen Xiao Hong in such a state. The last time… the last time had been when she learned of Xiao Wan’er’s misfortune…

Could it be that someone from the Xiao family was trapped in the Black Bear Tribe?

Xiao Hong did not concern himself with the whispers of the others in Mengshan Pass. Alone, he made his way to the valley he had scouted earlier.

He swept his sword through the shadows, his voice a low growl: “Come out.”

“A messenger who has finally found me, General Xiao—believe me, I speak truth.”

“Come out!”

A flash of light erupted, and then silence.

A low, rasping chuckle echoed: “You’ve found me, Song.”

A sharp *clink* sounded as something metallic struck the ground.

Xiao Hong hovered above the valley, her sword glinting as it emerged from its sheath.

“No contest… Song Jinjian!”