Xu Ziling slowly opened his pair of eyes, the panoramic view of the tranquil Jingpo Lake under the brilliant spring sunshine opened up before his eyes.
Jingpo Lake might not be as colorful-with-many-postures [i.e. beautiful] as the water villages and the lakes in Jiangnan, but it carried the natural simplicity of the northeast prairie, with pure and unadulterated beauty revealed in the midst of the vast wilderness.
A flock of geese flitted across the surface of the lake, skimming the water and soaring into the sky, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with nature’s wild fun.
Shi Feixuan was gone!
He was not frustrated or depressed at all, instead, he felt an unprecedented fullness, his heart was filled with her gentle and soft taste, her fragrant breath was still haunting his tactile senses.
This was the first segment of love in his entire life.
There was no pledge of undying love, there was no whisper of sweet nothings to one another, yet he clearly sensed the taste of love that when the seas run dry and the stones go soft, this feeling would not change. Just like the bluish green waves and slightly swelling lake water before his eyes, the green duckweed and floating aquatic gra.s.ses, the wind-borne ripples, the white clouds lining the blue sky above. In itself it was already a scroll of an amazing and exquisitely touching painting.
Suddenly somebody’s head popped out of the water and swam toward him.
Xu Ziling was pulled back into reality. Focusing his eyes to see, he spoke in great surprise, “I didn’t know Xianhe Xiong have such interest in swimming leisurely in Jingpo Lake this early in the morning.”
Yin Xianhe, wearing dripping wet nightwalker outfit, leaped onto the sh.o.r.e, came to him, and copying him, he sat cross-legged in front of him. Smiling ruefully, he said, “Do I look like someone who loves to swim early in the morning?”
Noticing his spirit-weary-strength-exhausted look, Xu Ziling apologetically said, “I just woke up from regulating my breathing, my mind is not too clear yet. What happened? Ke Dazhi said that Yin Xiong is following Shen Mohuan’s track.”
Yin Xianhe replied, “I really wish I could tell Xu Xiong that fortunately I did not bring disgrace to myself by failing to carryout your order, but unfortunately the fact is not so; I even nearly lost my life. Where is Shaoshuai?”
Recalling what happened last night, Xu Ziling felt quite a sense of being reborn; he replied, “He and Ke Dazhi went out to look for you. Looks like their trip was in vain. What exactly happened?”
Yin Xianhe did not know that Funantuo has added injury upon injury on Kou Zhong, he thought that with him and Ke Dazhi around, Kou Zhong would be able to deal with anything. He thus said, “I acted according to plan, I found and followed the target’s tracks, all the way to outside the city. But now in retrospect, it was too easy. It is thus clear that the enemy intentionally laid down the trap.”
Shaken, Xu Ziling said, “Not good!”
Wiping the residual water on his face, Yin Xianhe said in astonishment, “Kou Zhong plus Ke Dazhi, we shouldn’t be worried about them!”
Smiling bitterly, Xu Ziling said, “Before last night, I would have the same thought as Yin Xiong, but if you knew about various misfortunes that we encountered last night, you would change your mind as well. Although Kou Zhong and I are injured, Funantuo certainly harmed us too seriously to believe. He made his move alone, but he nearly made the two of us losing our lives; we had to rely on Ke Dazhi to save us. But even he did not dare to go after the wounded Funantuo. From this, you could see how serious it is.”
The usually expressionless Yin Xianhe was emotionally moved; he said, “Funantuo finally made his move!”
Hard to dispel the worry from his face, Xu Ziling said, “What I am most afraid is that Xu Kaishan is making his move against them. I now have 80% confidence that Xu Kaishan is Da Zun. This person’s martial art skill might be at Shi Zhixuan’s level.”
“Xie w.a.n.g Shi Zhixuan?” Yin Xianhe asked.
“You know Shi Zhixuan?” Xu Ziling asked in surprise.
Yin Xianhe nonchalantly replied, “This name, Shi Zhixuan, who in the world in the present time does not recognize? Who does not know it? The battle in Chang’an, Shi Zhixuan single-handedly fought the representatives of orthodox and demonic, two ways; it already made his name spread out all over the world. Those who know him for the first time now know that unexpectedly there is a figure in the world that can make both the White Way and the Demonic School afraid.”
Smiling wryly, Xu Ziling said, “This is perhaps what is called paper can’t wrap fire, or even when the eggs are put together so closely, they can still hatch chicks. But I wonder if Yin Xiong know the reason behind Shi Zhixuan’s battle in Chang’an?”
Yin Xianhe replied, “I am afraid not many people understand this aspect clearly. But I hear that at that time you guys were present.”
Remembering the Shi Zhixuan of last night, suddenly Xu Ziling’s whole body shook severely, divine light appeared suddenly in his mind.
Shi Zhixuan’s Bu Si Yin Fa was simply invincible, the world’s three grandmasters joining hands, although they could defeat him, but they could forget about killing him.
He only had one flaw.
This time Shi Feixuan walking on the dusty earth, her ultimate goal was naturally the hope that the world would be unified, that the common people would not have to suffer the disaster of war anymore. But her mission was also to target the ‘Demonic King’ Shi Zhixuan.
Bi Xiuxin and Shi Feixuan were Ci Hang Jingzhai’s most outstanding martial art masters of two different generations, and both have launched a struggle against Shi Zhixuan that was unprecedented in history. Currently, who gained the upper hand was still difficult to foresee. Although Bi Xiuxin was killed by Shi Zhixuan, but she gave birth to a daughter for him. Furthermore, she had caused him, due to excessive guilty conscience, to suffer split personality.
Shi Zhixuan singlehandedly facilitated the demise of the Great Sui. Last night he restored his power with the help of the Demonic Emperor’s Relics. However, Shi Feixuan, who had the nature of coumarouna odorata [蕙] and the heart of an orchid also found his only flaw.
Shi Zhixuan’s flaw was precisely Shi Qingxuan.
Even though he changed back to the killing-people-while-talking-and-laughing Shi Zhixuan just like before he met Bi Xiuxin, Shi Qingxuan was still his flaw, his only flaw.
Shi Feixuan has repeatedly mentioned Shi Qingxuan. It wasn’t like she wanted to play matchmaker to them, rather, she saw Shi Qingxuan’s importance in their struggle against Shi Zhixuan. Furthermore, she knew that it was not appropriate for her to interfere in the delicate relationship between Xu Ziling and Shi Qingxuan. As for how the eliminate Shi Zhixuan, perhaps Shi Feixuan herself did not have any firm plan. She was merely relying on her special premonition, which surpa.s.sed ordinary people, which made her vaguely feel that the subtle relationship between Xu Ziling and Shi Qingxuan might be the main crucial point in this matter. Shi Zhixuan ought to consider Xu Ziling as the man whom his daughter admired, hence the tour along the river channel in Chang’an and revealing the regret in his heart to Xu Ziling.
Therefore, not only she pointed directly to Xu Ziling that Shi Qingxuan was Shi Zhixuan’s only flaw, but she also pointed out that Shi Zhixuan might murder his own daughter. Before leaving, she urged him a thousand times, ten thousand times that he must not forget this matter.
She firmly decided to return to Jingzhai, it was actually some kind of action br.i.m.m.i.n.g with wisdom and self-sacrifice.
If they had succeeded in eliminating Shi Zhixuan the previous night, maybe she would have stayed to be his companion longer.
Ay!
These myriads of thought flashed through his mind at the speed of lightning or the spark from a flint, and finally it turned into a sigh.
Noticing his countenance alternating between clear and dark, and that the load on his mind was filling his heart, Yin Xianhe asked in astonishment, “What is Xu Xiong thinking?”
Xu Ziling mused that such a complex matter, even if he wanted to explain to Kou Zhong clearly, he would have to spend a lot of time and effort, not to mention Yin Xianhe had no clear understanding of the inside story. Changing the subject, he said, “This matter is hard to explain in a few words. Let’s talk about Yin Xiong’s bitter experience last night, shall we?”
Yin Xianhe gradually recovered from exhaustion, his spirit turned to the better, he said, “Last night I pursued Mu Ling and the others, along with their men, outside of the city. Following Ke Dazhi’s instructions, I dropped the thin scale sheets that can reflect the moonlight. Who would have thought that soon afterward, I was chased and attacked by more than a dozen masked enemies who followed my tail? Fortunately I am familiar with the terrain of this region, and thus I successfully got away by running toward the Jingpo Lake. This is precisely the case of the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind [idiom from Daoist cla.s.sic Zhuangzi: to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger]. Not only I was unable to keep up with Mu Ling, I even nearly lost my life.”
If Kou Zhong were here, he would know that the enemy was able to see through their method of leaving traces by dropping the thin scale sheets, not only that, they even used it to lay down a death trap to deal with Kou Zhong and Ke Dazhi.
Drawing out a mouthful of cold air, Xu Ziling asked, “Could it be that they are the men from Du Xing’s side?”
Shaking his head, Yin Xianhe said, “I did not see Du Xing’s Ba w.a.n.g [hegemon] Axe; the only weapon style was chopping cavalry sword, the style is very much like the wolf bandits.”
“Wolf-bandits?” Xu Ziling asked.
Immediately he recalled that when he left the palace last night, Gongqi was waiting for Bai Ziting, who was sending them off to the Vermillion Bird Gate, for military conference, hence he was certain that Gongqi was not among the men who chased to kill Yin Xianhe.
But even after he explained it, Yin Xianhe was still convinced that he was right; he said, “I have done some research on these wolf-bandits; I believe that the possibility of these sneaky men are wolf-bandits is very high.”
After a short pause, he said, “What are we going to do now? I think whatever it is that was going to happen has already happened.”
Xu Ziling rose up to his full height. Suddenly feeling the cool breeze on his back, he realized that the clothes on his back were shattered. He said, “Let’s go back to the city to see the situation!”
The person who called him was the Pingyao merchant specializing in cloth, Cun Yi Gong’s Ou Liangcai and Yu Sheng Chang’s Luo Yi. Looking terrified, they pulled him aside to speak inside.
Luo Yi said, “The situation is not good, we must leave immediately.”
Astonished, Kou Zhong asked, “Bai Ziting is willing to let you go?”
Distressed, Ou Liangcai replied, “His men forced us to sign an IOU, we are eager to leave, we have no choice but to do what they want us to do.”
‘Ashamed!’ Kou Zhong cried inwardly. Were it not for he did not do his best, Luo Yi and the others would not have become other people’s meat and fish like this. Also, he recalled that if Jing Kang did not play ghost in the dark, they practically would not have come to Longquan. “Don’t worry,” he spoke with solemn expression, “I know the whereabouts of your goods. I am now going into the palace to see Bai Ziting to get justice for you. I wonder if two gentlemen could advise the others to peacefully wait for the news. I will come back to see you soon, I guarantee that you will be able to leave safely.”
Luo Yi dejectedly said, “Shaoshuai sees what is right and acts courageously [idiom from a.n.a.lects], we are extremely grateful. But wealth is just something outside our bodies. We are people who go out to do business, we already antic.i.p.ate unexpected losses and only pray for safety. We’d better just drop this matter at this point.”
Shocked, Kou Zhong said, “Currently the situation is chaotic, the road is not safe. You are Han people, plus you do not have the capability to protect yourselves, such a long and difficult trek back to Shanhai Pa.s.s, it is really unwise. Trust me! Give me a couple of sichen, I could also plead my Xiongdi Tuli to escort you back safely.”
Ou Liangcai pulled Luo Yi aside to talk privately. When they were back, Luo Yi said, “In that case, we’ll have to trouble Shaoshuai. But it would be best if you don’t use force. We are going back to wait for Shaoshuai’s good news; we’ll leave at noon.”
Kou Zhong mused that currently he did not have any qualifications to use force anyway, unless it was to help Xieli, Tuli to capture Longquan, which was not what he wanted at all.
After consoling the two men some more, he continued on his journey.
Xu Ziling and Yin Xianhe were hiding in the forest west of Longquan City, watching a group of nearly a thousand strong Mohe cavalry galloping out of the west gate, with hurried expression rushing toward the northwest. The leader was precisely the long-legged female general Zong Xianghua.
Yin Xianhe fixed his gaze on Zong Xianghua without blinking at all, his pair of eyes emitted a strange light.
Not paying attention to his expression, Xu Ziling knitted his brows and said, “Where are they going? The Black Wolf Army shouldn’t be here this quickly.”
Yin Xianhe was still unwilling to divert his gaze from sending off Zong Xianghua to the distance; he did not respond.
In the direction of the south gate, the city was crowded to bursting point with vehicles and horses leaving the city. This was to be expected, hence they were not surprised at all.
Suddenly Xu Ziling’s heart was moved, he said, “Do you still have the strength to run a couple more steps?”
Slightly startled, Yin Xianhe said, “Whatever it is that they are going to do, even if we could catch up with them, it’s hard for us to do anything; we will only chase after them with our spirit weary, our strength exhausted.”
Xu Ziling nodded in agreement, he said, “But I feel that this is an unusual matter, it’s going to be a pity if we let it slip by.”
“Very well!” Yin Xianhe replied, “It might have something to do with Shaoshuai, we could follow them from a distance to see what’s going on.”
Not daring to delay, the two flew out. Using the edge of the forest as their cover, they rushed at top speed.
Kou Zhong arrived at the Vermilion Bird Gate. The civilian minister Kesubie, who also received him in the past, was waiting respectfully for his good self’s arrival. He spoke politely and courteously, “Xiufang Dajia is waiting for Shaoshuai at the west garden of the inner palace. Da w.a.n.g ordered me to await your gracious presence and show the way.”
Kou Zhong was well aware of what’s going on. On the surface Kesubie was receiving the visitor, but actually he was watching to make sure Kou Zhong was leaving Longquan. Since they could not kill him, they had no choice but to send him off like a plague [orig. 瘟神 (wen shen), demon personifying pestilence].
Last time it was also this well-versed-in-letters-and-military-technology man representing Bai Ziting to receive him. Evidently, even if he might not be Bai Ziting’s trusted aide, he must be someone that Bai Ziting have confidence in, also, he must have certain ability.
Leading him into the King City, seemingly casually, Kesubie asked, “Why didn’t I see Xu Gongzi coming along?”
Having the load on his mind touched by him, Kou Zhong’s internal organs tightened, but on the surface he did not dare to reveal any emotion. He said, “He knew I was going to see Xiufang Dajia, hence he did not want to come with me. Ha! I wonder if I could see Da w.a.n.g for a moment, because there are a hundred thousand urgent matters that I need to consult with him.”
Putting on a fake smile, Kesubie said, “What a coincidence! Da w.a.n.g wished to speak to Shaoshuai as well, to see if we could get back something that belongs to us.”
Kou Zhong shivered inwardly; he had a faint feeling that the turn of events was not too encouraging. Just by looking at Kesubie’s expression, he knew that Bai Ziting had some other bargaining chip, so Kou Zhong definitely could not gain the upper hand.
Kesubie took him pa.s.sing through the moon gate of the side garden inside the palace. Pointing to an elegant bungalow under the shade of dense flowers and trees, he said, “Xiufang Dajia is over there. Shaoshuai, please!”
A small squad of men and horses separated themselves from the main body of the Mohe army traveling at high speed toward the northwest, and galloped to the northeast. The route they were taking was the spa.r.s.e forest area. If Xu Ziling and Yin Xianhe were following closely at the tail of the troops, perhaps they would be fooled. But because they were following far behind, plus they were advancing along the spa.r.s.e forest region, they heard the sound of hoof beats of this small group leaving the main army coming from afar instead.
Xu Ziling leaped onto the top of a tree to look into the distance. To his surprise, he saw Zong Xianghua was unexpectedly among these more than a dozen riders. Leaping down to the ground, he cheerfully said, “This is called if you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it [idiom]. There must be something extraordinary, otherwise, with the Tujue main forces pressing down on their territory, how could Zong Xianghua have spare time to do something else?”
Yin Xianhe was a master in tracking. After listening carefully, he said, “If I am not mistaken, they must be going in the direction of Xiao Longquan [little Longquan] by the Bohai Sea, which is the biggest harbor in Longquan’s vicinity, the most important strategic coastal defense town. What is Zong Xianghua doing in there?”
Xu Ziling laughed and said, “If we follow them and take a look, won’t everything be very clear?”
Yin Xianhe’s pair of eyes emitted strange expression that Xu Ziling found it hard to fathom. He nodded and said, “Let me, this old horse who knows the way home [idiom] lead the way! I guarantee she won’t detect our presence.”