Chapter 54: A Small Treasure
The military hall of the royal palace was brightly lit with candles.
The golden lines on the black python robe of the King of Huainan were faintly visible in the firelight. He tapped the map on the table with his fingertips and stopped at the mark of Bagong Mountain.
King Zhao's first move was to leverage Lei Zhentian's fame to widely solicit invitations to heroes, threatening to win over the martial arts community under the guise of an alliance. However, the jianghu community was already wary, and even with the presence of a renowned figure like Yue Nancang, it was difficult to allay their suspicions. Seeing this failed, he embarked on his second move: exploiting grudges to fan the flames.
They had long been secretly counterfeiting the skills and weapons of the major sects, provoking trouble. If the sects were willing to submit, Zhao Wang's subordinates would "investigate the truth" and do them a favor; if they still refused to submit, they would add fuel to the fire and force the sect leaders to fall into their trap.
"First, he threw a stone to test the waters. When the people in the martial arts world didn't buy it, he resorted to sowing discord." King Changshan picked up a black iron signal arrow and handed it to the silent Feng Yanyuan. "What a good plan."
Feng Yanyuan took the letter arrow. The tail feathers of the arrow were still wet with dew, and the two characters "Qingcheng" were freshly engraved on the shaft - this was the clue left by Luo Jiangping.
When the iron guards under the command of King Huainan were searching the mountain, they found this object among the pine branches - three identical letter arrows were nailed to a piece of white paper in the shape of a triangle, and the paper was written in blood: At midnight, at Eagle's Beak Cliff, we will decide the winner.
Someone must have secretly distributed letters of challenge under the guise of a duel, luring the two leaders, who already hated each other, to descend alone to Sixiantai for a decisive battle. Meanwhile, a tight net had been laid at the appointed location. Whether the leaders descended the mountain to duel or just to observe, by the time they reached Yingzui Cliff, the poison from the medicinal wine they had consumed had almost taken effect, leaving them no more than prey to those attackers.
When the leaders left the mountain, the spies lurking in Bagua Mountain took advantage of the situation to incite a melee, intending to massacre the birthday banquet and weaken the power of each faction.
Fortunately, the King of Huainan had been prepared for the birthday banquet on Bagua Mountain and led his troops up the mountain in time to prevent an unexpected disaster and save the lives of these righteous men.
King Huainan placed the white jade bottle next to the letter arrow.
"Song Hezi has estimated that if all ten sect leaders were to be poisoned, at least five bottles would be needed." He tapped the thumb-sized jade bottle with his fingertips. "And this small bottle requires a cartload of herbs to extract."
"So many?" King Changshan was surprised: "The few herbs that girl just mentioned..."
The Prince of Huainan nodded. "Today, the Governor of Yangzhou inspected the transportation of medicinal herbs for the past six months and discovered that these herbs, sometimes among other spices and treasures, were all transported to the west of Shouchun City."
"West of the city... the slave market?" Changshan Wangdao.
Feng Yanyuan's heart trembled slightly—the slave market! Why hadn't he thought of this! There were enough slaves to choose from, enough faces to disguise themselves, and the management was loose...
"Are there any specific traces?" Feng Yanyuan asked.
"That's the black market, with loose regulations. These medicinal herbs will disappear into thin air and never be traced. However..." King Huainan looked at Feng Yanyuan, "Today, we actually got some clear news."
Prince Changshan said anxiously, "Brother, you're always keeping us in suspense! Why didn't you tell us the news earlier?"
"Last night, the army surrounded the mountain and brought back some jianghu fighters who had been engaged in a fight to the Shouchun prison." The King of Huainan remained calm. "These disciples were merely cursing at each other from behind the bars, or remaining silent. Only one claimed he had followed the manor owner to Eagle's Beak Cliff, saw him fall into a trap, and stepped forward to rescue him. He recognized the skills of some of the men. However, the enemy was too numerous, so he had to break out and seek help. While fighting his way out, he encountered my army."
"A brave man!" Changshan Wang Lang laughed and asked, "Who is it?"
"Young Master Meili Manor, Mei Hanchuan." King Huainan said calmly, taking a sip of tea. "He said these were assassins from the Guitou Gang, and he said they were taking everyone into the Ten Thousand Demons Cave..."
"The Ghost Head Gang..." Feng Yanyuan frowned: "That's the same as not telling anyone."
"But it points to a dead end." King Huainan chuckled.
Seeing the two men laughing at each other in tacit understanding, King Changshan couldn't help but frown. "What do you mean by 'dead end'? Isn't the Ten Thousand Demons Cave the lair of the Guitou Gang? It also happens to be in the Slave Market. Doesn't that align with what my brother is looking for?" He snorted, "I've always disliked the Guitou Gang. Why not wipe out this den of thieves right here and now?"
The King of Huainan said leisurely, "Why didn't I know that my brother was so obedient before? You just go ahead when someone tells you to."
Prince Changshan choked for a long moment, "...Brother, why do you think this is a trick?"
"Because I cannot enter the slave market," King Huainan said word by word, "I cannot disturb the lair of the Guitou Gang."
King Changshan's body froze, and he was stunned for a long while before he realized something. He closed his eyes, sighed, and remained silent.
The candlelight crackled.
Feng Yanyuan glanced at the tea in front of him, which had already gone cold. He calmly straightened his sleeves, stood up and bowed, "It's late at night. I dare not disturb the two princes' private discussions any longer."
The King of Huainan nodded in agreement and called for his commander to escort Feng Yanyuan out of the palace.
After a while, there was still a long silence in the hall, with only the dripping of the copper clock.
The maid quietly stepped forward and poured out amber soup from the gilded pot. In the mist, the face of King Huainan seemed real and illusory.
"Set up a chess game." Prince Huainan suddenly said.
The ebony chessboard was quickly placed on the table, with two black jade chess boxes placed on either side. The Prince of Huainan picked up a white jade chess piece and toyed with it between his fingers. "Do you remember the unfinished game before my brother left the capital?"
The hand of King Changshan holding the black piece was suspended in mid-air.
His voice was slightly hoarse, "Brother Wang, you still remember that game of chess?"
The Prince of Huainan watched the chessboard gradually being restored, a faint smile rising at the corner of his lips: "It seems that it's not just me who is still thinking about you."
A white jade piece fell from his fingers, making a clear echo on the chessboard.
"Life is unpredictable, and the worst thing is to leave a debt unpaid." The flickering candlelight reflected in the Prince of Huainan's eyes. "I promised you this game of chess back then, and I never thought I'd owe you... two thousand nine hundred and twenty mornings and evenings."
The night wind outside the window suddenly blew hard, causing the carved window frames that were not closed tightly to creak. The candle flame on the desk shook violently, and the figures of the two princes were distorted and cast on the wall, as if they were two dormant dragons.
"Although the Demon Queen is cruel, the past eight years have been relatively peaceful." The King of Changshan toyed with a chess piece between his fingers. "Now... Sigh!" He slammed the chess piece down on the star position. "My brother, you hold the rank of General of the Cavalry and are also appointed as the Central Guard. Why don't you stay in Luoyang and guard the command of the Imperial Guards instead of running to Shouchun?"
"My brother is still so out of touch with the news." The King of Huainan chuckled. "His Majesty has issued an imperial decree promoting you to the rank of Grand Marshal." He pretended to be boastful and said, "Now, you are one of the Three Dukes."
The King of Changshan was stunned: "This is... a promotion in name only, a demotion in reality, to gain military power!"
"Okay." King Huainan nodded with satisfaction: "Shidu has grown up!"
"It must be that bastard King Zhao," the King of Changshan said angrily, "He's always been wary of your high prestige in the court!"
"No problem!" The King of Huainan pointed to his right foot. "My foot ailment is probably due to the more suitable climate in the south, so I came to Shouchun to seek medical help. I can't accept orders at the moment." He placed another piece on the square. "I can't hand over the command of the Imperial Guards for the time being."
"It's indeed my brother." The King of Changshan laughed heartily. Just as he had just placed a piece, he paused again: "But since the King of Zhao dared to forge an imperial edict to depose the queen, if he wants to use the same trick again..."
"So I'm really constrained this time." The King of Huainan shook his head and chuckled. "In the past few days in Shouchun, I've been handed dozens of memorials. If I were to step into that slave market..."
"Nu City has always been known for trafficking assassins. The King of Zhao will definitely take this opportunity to accuse you of being a 'private assassin'..."
Prince Huainan nodded slightly. "Besides, the Guitou Gang has a huge and complex network of forces behind it. Who knows how many sects and powerful officials in the court are involved. We should thoroughly investigate the Guitou Gang..."
"It means making an enemy of the whole world." The King of Changshan continued, "Your Highness's situation will become even more difficult."
The King of Huainan looked at the King of Changshan and said with a smile, "You have made a lot of progress in the past few years."
"But Young Master Mei made the accusation in front of all the heroes. If my brother doesn't go, it will chill the hearts of all the factions in the martial arts world." King Changshan's brows were furrowed. "Why don't I go? I..."
"You shouldn't do that either." The King of Huainan interrupted him. "Hasn't the lesson we learned eight years ago been enough? Do you think being demoted to Changshan is the end of the road?"
King Changshan said angrily, "I can't do this, I can't do that. I can only watch that old thief muddy the waters!"
The Prince of Huainan picked up a white jade chess piece and toyed with it between his fingers: "The chessboard is only an inch square. The battlefield still has traces, but the game of chess in the court—" The chess piece fell to the center of the board with a "click". "Where no blood is seen, the most invisible killing is."
King Changshan glared at the chessboard angrily and slammed a piece down. "I've really underestimated this old thief all these years!"
"He has a counselor named Sun by his side. He's treacherous and cunning, and will do anything he can to achieve his goals." The King of Huainan stared at the chessboard, seemingly lost in thought. "What...is the Feng family's stance this time?"
The King of Changshan thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say about Feng Yanhao. But Zishang won't side with King Zhao." He snorted, "He's been in so many troubles along the way, and every one of them is against him. I think his family has bad intentions, too!"
"Really?" Prince Huainan chuckled.
King Changshan frowned and looked at the chessboard: "Brother, are you going to make your move?!"
"Of course I have to make a move, but I just have to wait. While waiting, I have to be patient." The King of Huainan grabbed a handful of white pieces from the chess pot and let them fall through his fingers. "Which pieces in my hand can be used, which can't, and which can still be used requires planning, and even more importantly, timing..." The pieces fell from his fingertips. "If the timing is not right, no matter how he tries, just pretend to be submissive. When the time comes, the situation will be like this-" Suddenly, he flipped his palm and slapped down three black pieces, "Use the situation to break the game and turn the tables."
The black piece on the fingertips of the King of Changshan was suspended above the chessboard: "Brother Wang, what you mean is..."
"Locking."
King Changshan hesitated, and the chess piece landed with a light "click" sound in the corner.
King Huainan sighed, "It's a disaster whether it comes early or late. The difference lies in how big a wave it can create." He pressed another chess piece at Tianyuan, causing ripples on the water surface in the teacup.
He slowly raised the teacup to his lips and glanced over - the King of Changshan's phoenix eyes, which were fixed on the chessboard, suddenly widened.
Prince Huainan finished his tea and smiled softly.
"Okay, stop looking. You lost again."
A cold moon hangs in the dark blue sky.
When Feng Yanyuan walked to the gate of Xuanhe Hall, Feng Jiu was standing at the door waiting for him.
"How is Master Yuanyi?"
"After the Medical Saint took the person, he took him to the backyard and didn't let us follow." Feng Jiu smiled awkwardly, "We could only guard the door."
Feng Yanyuan frowned slightly and asked again, "Where is Yuan'er?"
"Yuan'er... I haven't seen her since I came here in the evening..." Feng Jiu scratched his head, "Xuanhe Hall has a guest room, maybe she's asleep?"
Feng Yanyuan's heart suddenly trembled.
--wrong.
He suddenly recalled the sight of Yun Yuan asking to return to Xuanhe Hall before heading to the palace that evening. At the time, he had assumed the Prince of Huainan was suspicious of her and that it was inconvenient for her to join the meeting, so he hadn't tried to stop her. But now, recalling her, her eyelashes drooped as she left, her face pale, clearly filled with worry.
A sentence as light as a mosquito suddenly pierced into my mind:
"...It shouldn't be noticeable, just the effect of the alcohol. After about half an hour, you'll feel weak and powerless. If you use force, you'll lose consciousness in a matter of seconds."
The effect of this medicine is very similar to that... He tried hard to recall... the Intoxicating Fragrance in the Forget-Sorrows Inn!
It's just more intense and more poisonous.
Could it be that Song Hezi has already...
How is that possible?
Xuanhe Hall has been practicing medicine for decades, and the reputation of the Medical Sage has spread far and wide. From heroes of the Jianghu to important officials in the imperial court, countless have benefited from his kindness. The King of Huainan holds him in high esteem, not only treating him with the courtesy of a national hero but also generously supporting the expansion of Xuanhe Hall. Fame, wealth, and fortune are but fleeting clouds to a figure like Song Hezi.
Thinking back to yesterday...
A chill suddenly crept up my spine.
Yesterday at the birthday party, he even threatened to bring a corpse to Song Hezi for identification. When it comes to identifying disguises, Song Hezi's judgment is infallible. And when it comes to curing illnesses and saving lives, Song Hezi is his top choice.
But if these people could really tamper with Xuanhe Hall, or even replace Song Hezi...
Not only is Taoist Yuanyi's life in danger! This murder will also be blamed on Yuanfengwei!
He clenched his palms suddenly.
Yuan'er must have thought of this first, so she returned to Xuanhe Hall to investigate. But by then, a day had already passed... Hadn't she walked into a trap?
His mind was in a state of confusion, his thoughts racing, and he had already walked quickly into the hall.
He kicked open the guest rooms one by one.
Yun Yuan is not here. Yuan Yi is not here.
Song Hezi is not here either.
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