Kou Zhong followed Ke Dazhi into the Foreign Guesthouse; pa.s.sing through the main hall, he saw that along the way, everybody was a Tujue. Taking casual look, they all looked alike to him, but none did not reveal revered expression when they saw Ke Dazhi.

When they set foot on the winding corridor leading to the inner courtyard, Ke Dazhi’s men no longer followed them behind, leaving only the two of them walking along the corridor. All around there was no one else in sight; it was abnormally quiet.

Ke Dazhi said, “Surely Shao Shuai’s guts surpa.s.s others; do you believe firmly that if we have a fall out and fight, you still have the confidence that you can still break the siege and leave?”

Kou Zhong smiled and said, “Confidence, that I must have; whether it will be effective or not, that’s another matter altogether. I just think that you guys cannot be that stupid. If you fight right now, what good will it bring you?”

Laughing involuntarily, Ke Dazhi said, “We could capture Shao Shuai. Shao Shuai surely knew that we have come kind of method that will make any man of steel surrender.”

Kou Zhong replied, “Killing me, you might still be able to do, but capturing me alive, that is definitely impossible. Would Ke Xiong like to give it a try?”

Extremely sharp light suddenly appeared on Ke Dazhi’s pair of eyes, but it quickly vanished; he spoke coldly, “It’s a pity that everything today will be up to Yan Shuai [commander Yan] to decide. Otherwise Ol’ Ke would like to play with Shao Shuai for a round; it will certainly be an extreme delight.”

Both Kou Zhong’s heart and hands were itching at the same time; with overflowing excitement he said, “Ke Xiong’s proposal really teases people to their death. Perhaps I’d better mention it first to Yan Shuai; as long as we both promise not to harm the other’s life, it shouldn’t hinder the overall situation.”

This was the first time Ke Dazhi came across someone who was eager to accept his challenge; he was hesitating instead. Not because he was afraid of Kou Zhong, but he knew his own problem. Once he started to fight hard, he practically did not have the capability to hold his hands back. He sighed and said, “Today it is really not suitable to have a martial art compet.i.tion; otherwise, if Shao Shuai suddenly lose an arm, how can I explain it to Taizi Dianxia? This is Ol’ Ke’s situation.”

Kou Zhong also knew that they had urgent business to attend to, he should not deliberately complicate the issue.

In fact, he had already made up his mind to seize an opportunity to take Ke Dazhi’s little life, to weaken Zhao Deyan’s side’s strength, but one layer deeper was actually for Sha Zhijing’s sake.

With Zhao Deyan’s style of conduct, he could not possibly, just because Ke Dazhi lost his life – disregard everything to seek revenge against him, so much so that he even gave up the Demonic Emperor Relics.

Although Ke Dazhi regarded Kou Zhong as a formidable opponent, the fact was that he actually did not have any malice toward him, naturally he did not expect that Kou Zhong would have his heart set to kill him.

‘Pity!’ Kou Zhong cried inwardly; in the end he failed to force Ke Dazhi to immediately make his move in a stake-it-all battle.

Ke Dazhi turned left into a gravel path pa.s.sing through the rear garden, lined with trees covered in icicles, where he faintly saw the silhouette of a building, and behind the building was the rear courtyard wall. The atmosphere was quiet and secluded.

High, straight, tall and thin Zhao Deyan, was standing with his hands behind his back on the top of the steps in front of the door. His as-sharp-as-a-knife gaze, penetrating his so-narrow-that-it-became-a-slit eyes – was looking at Kou Zhong. His body, from head to foot, emitted some kind of hard-to-describe overbearing, as well as demonical – aura, giving chill to those who looked at him.

Without yielding the slightest bit Kou Zhong met his gaze, the corner of his mouth exposed a hint of smile, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with challenge and disdain look. He reached up to his face to remove his mask, and laughed aloud with heroism reaching to the clouds, and said, “I regard you as an outstanding figure, so let’s talk less chitchat. If you, Zhao Deyan, want to get the Holy Relics, then you must immediately dissolve the sorcery you carried out on my Xiongdi’s body; otherwise, we could stop talking right now.”

Zhao Deyan, who was still two zhang away, raised his thumb and praised, “Good! A hero out of the youths! Although this person has read ten million peoples, a figure like Kou Shao Shuai, who suddenly become like a divine dragon, suddenly become like a fierce tiger – is actually rarely seen. No wonder Shao Shuai is able to move all around the world unhindered; turning your hand over you make the clouds, flipping your hand over you make rain. But I, Zhao Deyan, have never believed anybody that easily. I wonder if Shao Shuai have any proposal that will make this person believe that after saving the man, Shao Shuai would keep your promise and hand over the Holy Relics.”

Kou Zhong moved forward in large strides toward him, but Ke Dazhi stayed behind and did not follow.

On the surface, Zhao Deyan did not make the slightest movement, but Kou Zhong knew that his vigilance was at the highest level, in an instant his momentum has been elevated to its peak. However, Kou Zhong had already encountered this kind of power in the other martial art masters of the demonic way, up to Zhu Yuyan’s level.

Upon self-examination, Kou Zhong realized that it was still difficult for him to ama.s.s his power to its peak within a few steps. Purely in term of inner power, Zhao Deyan was really above him, Kou Zhong.

Murderous aura rose up severely.

Layer upon layer of qi power from Zhao Deyan’s body burst forth like rapid waves and rolling billows toward Kou Zhong.

Kou Zhong halted his steps while hastening up his qi power to resist Zhao Deyan’s astonishing pressure.

This halting his steps was carefully planned; if under the increasing thunder Kou Zhong was half a step late, as he was drawing his qi, Zhao Deyan would be forced to make his move. Kou Zhong stopped right outside this alert level.

The two stood opposite of each other, about a zhang apart, neither giving way to the other. The atmosphere immediately tightened, carrying the it-could-happen-at-any-moment momentum.

Watching from behind, Ke Dazhi’s eyes emitted blazing expression. Since he arrived at the Central Plains, this was still the first time that he encountered anybody with ample aggressiveness like Kou Zhong, an outstanding character who was showing off his ability, who was seizing the upper hand everywhere.

Kou Zhong’s pair of tiger-eyes emitted fierce and severe divine light, he stood erect proudly like deep pavilion, towering peak, and spoke calmly, “Yan Shuai has played a sinister, damaging, and cruel trick on my brother Lei Jiuzhi. How do I know that after the person was rescued, there won’t be any residual effects in the future? Therefore, if Yan Shuai did not save him first, we could forget about everything. My name, Kou Zhong, these two characters – is the gold lacquered signboard of my guarantee.”

Zhao Deyan nodded and said, “Kou Shao Shuai’s words are reasonable. But the stakes are high, plus Shao Shuai is definitely not someone who would surrender so willingly, how could I dare not to guard against Shao Shuai playing tricks? Although I, Zhao Deyan, am not a virtuous or trusted man, furthermore, I always disdain compa.s.sion, duty, propriety and integrity – that set of hypocritical sayings, but I am a man who speaks mouth and teeth. As long as the day after tomorrow before the xu hour [7-9pm] in the evening Shao Shuai bring the man and the Holy Relics at the same time, I can guarantee that after resting for some moonlight scenery, Lei Xiong will recover completely.”

Kou Zhong rejoiced secretly, knowing that his bluff has shown some result, Zhao Deyan believed firmly without any doubt that Lei Jiuzhi was still under control of the ‘Seven Needles Controlling the Mind’.

Suddenly he retreated.

Zhao Deyan’s body flashed; at last his sinister acute eyes showed astounded expression.

It should be noted that as the two men stood in opposition, their qi momentum was controlling each other; getting away was easier said than done.

But before retreating, using lightning-fast speed Kou Zhong flashed to the left and right each, and then like a fish struggling free of the fishing net, he got away, displaying a brilliant shenfa and intelligence.

Kou Zhong dared to be one-hundred-percent sure that Xiang Yushan was hiding inside the house, listening to him and Zhao Deyan’s exchange, helping Zhao Deyan to discern the authenticity of what he was saying.

Inside the house, there ought to be other Tujue martial art masters, such as Kang Qiaoli. If Xiang Yushan believed that Lei Jiuzhi has been freed from the peculiar technique of the ‘Seven Needles Controlling the Mind’, he would surely notify Zhao Deyan, and then immediately the whole army would come out to capture Kou Zhong alive by all means.

Naturally this would only be the last-resort policy.

It was some kind of martial art master’s intuition.

The qigong Kou Zhong trained was from the Secret to Long Life, the Taoist School’s most mysterious and marvelous. Although could not compare with Xu Ziling’s acute and effective senses, but since he was concentrating his attention completely, he could still generate some reaction.

From the moment he saw Zhao Deyan standing outside the door, immediately warning bells went off in his heart, knowing that someone was secretly monitoring him.

Suddenly an extremely daring idea popped up in his head; supposing he crashed inside through the window, could he, before the others rendered their a.s.sistance, strike and kill Xiang Yushan?

Noticing that he was silent and did not speak, Zhao Deyan thought that he could not make up his mind. With serious expression, he said, “Shao Shuai is worried that we might go back on our word, but it’s because you don’t understand our true position. For us, the Eastern Tujue, anybody who is setting himself against Li Shimin will certainly receive our full support.”

Kou Zhong was amused inwardly, while cursing Zhao Deyan for regarding him as an idiot. Only because Kou Zhong’s relationship with Tuli Khan, the Eastern Tujue’s Xieli Great Khan already detested him to the bones.

Xieli might support Liu Wuzhou, Liang Shidou, even w.a.n.g Shichong and Xiao Xian, but he would never support him, Kou Zhong. Because who in the world did not know that Kou Zhong only dominated people, but no one could dominate him. What Xieli wanted was a puppet who would obey him, who would satisfy his plot to invade the Central Plains.

In the history of the Central Plains, foreign tribes of the northwest have never suspended their wild fantasy of invading and occupying the Central Plains. The only question was whether they had the strength to invade.

Until now, he was still unclear about the relationship between Zhao Deyan and Xiang Yushan. a.s.suming the Xiang Family threw their full support on the Eastern Tujue, Xieli would immediately gain all the latest intelligence about changes and developments in the Central Plains, which previously has been beyond his imagination.

In the past, Xieli could only place his people in certain position in each major city in the Central Plains, and the information they obtained could not be very confidential and critical; moreover, most would only be rumors.

But the Xiang Family started their enterprise during Yang Guang’s reign. In the open, they were operating pleasure houses and casinos; in the dark, they were trafficking women, with claws and teeth [fig. lackeys] everywhere. Therefore, their intelligence network was faultless; they even dared to boast that it was unparalleled in the world.

If Xieli obtained Xiang Gui, father and son, to be his eyes and ears, claws and teeth, naturally it would be two things that cannot be spoken on the same day.

Therefore, no matter from which angle he was looking at it, he simply must wipe out the Xiang Family’s power thoroughly.

Kou Zhong started to understand a little why Xiang Yushan was involved in the conspiracy against Li Shimin.

He looked straight at the refined light from Zhao Deyan’s pair of eyes, which was turning brighter, and spoke word-by-word, “I believe Yan Shuai’s word this time. If Yan Shuai eat your own words, hereby I, Kou Zhong, swear that I will disregard everything, by fair means or foul, to retaliate.”

At first the murderous intent in Zhao Deyan’s eyes was flashing, but it stopped immediately; evidently he was struggling hard to suppress his rage. Laughing evilly, he said, “Shao Shuai, don’t worry. I, Zhao Deyan, call one as one, two as two. Otherwise, how could I unite the troops and convince the ma.s.ses?”

From behind, Ke Dazhi also reminded, “When Shao Shuai have both the person and the Holy Relics delivered, we will implement the technique to save the man. By all means, you must not be later than the xu hour of the third day of the New Year; otherwise, even Da Luo Shenxian would be powerless to help.”

Kou Zhong let out a cold snort. Pretending to be deeply dissatisfied but helpless, he turned around to leave.

Zhao Deyan, who was now behind him, raised his voice to say, “Shao Shuai may leave in peace; Deyan won’t see you off! The Moon in the Well has already been returned to its original place, Shao Shuai may check and receive it.”

Kou Zhong sighed in his heart. Were it not for Xu Ziling fortunately rescued Lei Jiuzhi back, also luckily Shi Feixuan knew how to dissolve the torture, this time he would certainly be forced to go home without the power to hit back at all.

In the final a.n.a.lysis, all these problems stemmed from Xiang Yushan, that kid. Although his martial art skill was only so-so without anything special, his treachery and craftiness definitely surpa.s.sed any marvelous power, strange skill.

Perhaps it was Su Jie’s soul and spirit blessed and protected them; otherwise, this time they would fail and would be wiped over the floor without knowing that they were actually defeated under Xiang Yushan’s hands.

He would send ‘Lei Jiuzhi’ over. At that time, just like this time, Xiang Yushan would definitely preside over the matter from the side. And that would be the best chance to kill him.

※ ※ ※

Xu Ziling personally escorted Lei Jiuzhi leaving the city secretly via the water. Along the way, he planted his men to watch from high places on both sides of the river. Only after making sure that n.o.body followed did he abandon the boat to go ash.o.r.e. The plan was to hasten for half a day, and then caught a boat on a tributary of the Yellow River. As long as they could reach the Great River, they would not be far from success.

Now that all the major powers in Chang’an were somewhat busy, plus he obtained the Heavenly Policy Mansion’s support in secret, were it not for he was afraid the Tujue and the Xiang Family would find out, he basically did not need to use so many ways to fool people’s eyes and ears.

Lei Jiuzhi was hiding in the dark compartment of a mule cargo cart. Even after self-examination, Xu Ziling could not see any flaws. The most wonderful thing was that the brothers driving the cart had already put down roots locally at the nearby village for nearly two years; they even had wives and children. They had already separated themselves from Shuang Long Bang, it was only now that they were asked to help.

Before closing the dark compartment, Lei Jiuzhi said, “I nearly forget to tell you: yesterday Hong Furen sent her man to notify you that the gambling party has been cancelled, saying that she would let you know when the new arrangement is made.”

“She ought to do so,” Xu Ziling remarked, “Lei Dage need not be worried about us anymore; get a good rest. In the future we will crisscross the casinos again, to kill their Xiang Family until they are utterly defeated.”

After Lei Jiuzhi was safely carried away, Xu Ziling and Gao Zhandao, Niu Fengyi, Zha Jie, and the other brothers boarded their fishing boat again to return to Chang’an.

Since the previous night Gao Zhandao and the others have found out that the Duke Yang’s Treasure already began to take shape, which washed away their dispirited mood, so that they now became officers and soldiers waiting to follow orders, their mood was high, their demeanor opened up.

After sending off Lei Jiuzhi, Xu Ziling’s mind relaxed and felt peaceful. Surveying the beautiful scenery on both banks, he felt leisurely and contented. The river breeze blew, the icy-cold air that it brought greatly shook the people’s spirit.

Gao Zhandao asked, “Is there any place where Xu Ye wants to use us now?”

Since the three of them surrendered to Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, although all along the news pertaining to these two young leaders that they received has been off and on, they knew that their fame and power were flourishing more by the day, their momentum was unstoppable, but at the end of the day, they lacked the opportunity to fight alongside them.

Until this time, the two boys sneaked into Chang’an and treated Chang’an like a play place; this has won them over. And then Lei Jiuzhi was suddenly being captured, but as if they were conjuring magic trick, these two boys immediately rescued him back. This made them revered these two boys like deities even more.

And now that once again the Duke Yang’s Treasure had a place to settle, their morale was greatly aroused, they were ready to die for them.

Naturally it was not difficult for Xu Ziling to remember You Niaojuan’s tragic death; he also recalled Jin Huanzhen, as well as Zhou Laotan, whose trace has not appeared. He thought to himself that if he had a pair of highly skilled hands like Hou Xibai, which could paint vivid and lifelike portrait of anybody, he would paint Zhou Laotan’s portrait, so that he could have Gao Zhandao and the others search for him, and not let him hide beneath the surface, withdrawing his head like a turtle. He spoke heavily, “For the time being, you guys won’t be in danger. But it is highly likely that you are under the watchful eyes of the enemy, including the Heavenly Policy Mansion. Therefore, if, under the enemy’s strict surveillance, you could suddenly disappear, it would be like doing us a great favor, so that we won’t have any fears of trouble in the rear, and we will occupy the invincible position.”

Niu Fengyi spoke in low voice, “Our time in Chang’an for the past few years has not been in vain. In our current hiding place, there’s a secret pa.s.sage that extends for more than ten zhang long, connecting it to the backyard of the neighboring courtyard house. The most splendid thing is that the people in that courtyard house have no knowledge of this at all.”

Frowning, Xu Ziling asked, “If the enemy were to take advantage while you were out to enter and search the house, would they find the secret pa.s.sage?”

Zha Jie replied, “There will always be people in the house, plus the entrance to this secret pa.s.sage has been carefully designed, it’s not easy to find. We have also made special arrangement that if anybody ever opened the entrance, it would not be hidden from us.”

Gao Zhandao said, “The problem is that we made this secret pa.s.sage to flee for our lives, so after we escape from the secret pa.s.sage, we must immediately leave the city, otherwise the enemy would be able to link it back to us.”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “How about you hide inside the Duke Yang’s Treasure House?”

Stunned, Gao Zhandao and the others looked at each other.

“I am not joking,” Xu Ziling said, “The Duke Yang’s Treasure House is an underground military base, meticulously designed by Yang Su with the help of Lu Miaozi. In time of need, he wanted to use it to overthrow the Sui’s Emperor Wen, Yang Jian. Advancing he could attack, retreating he could defend; its hiding place is more secure and reliable than anywhere else. In our estimate, the treasure house definitely has a secret pa.s.sage that leads to outside the city.”

It was the first time that Gao Zhandao and the others learned about Xu Ziling’s astute and decisive judgment; they all viewed him in a new light.

Niu Fengyi gasped twice. Slapping his forehead hard, he said, “Such a simple, convenient and fast, even more marvelous beyond human comprehension – way, why didn’t we think about it? All along we were having a headache thinking about how to transport the wealth and goods out of Chang’an.”

Gao Zhandao said, “We will follow Xu Ye’s instruction; let’s see how we are going to work together.”

Xu Ziling said, “Today Shao Shuai ought to be able to find the treasure house’s real entrance. I hope we will have good news for you by this evening; we have to hide into the treasure house at the first opportunity. As long as we could hide from the enemy’s eyes and ears, we will get the upper hand and grasp the initiative.”

Zha Jie asked, “How’s Xu Ye going to handle the Demonic Emperor Relics?”

Xu Ziling replied, “I will leave it to Shao Shuai to decide; he will make the best arrangement. We will do everything we could to make the three major powers of the demonic school kill each other, since we will be too busy to mind our own business.”

Submitting cheerfully, Gao Zhandao said, “Two Ye’er certainly planned everything, nothing is missing. To be able to serve Kou Ye, Xu Ye, is indeed our good fortune.”

Smiling bitterly, Xu Ziling said, “Let’s talk about it when we get back to Peng Liang!”

That would be the hardest part of the journey.