Chapter 33: A fragile alliance, a plan for destruction
Once a promise is made, it is like spilled water and can never be taken back.
For Chen Ye, the words "I will avenge you" were not just a promise, but more like a shackle that tightly bound his fate to Su Qinghan's, and the sin he had committed with his own hands.
He knew very well that any warmth and comfort at this moment was like a building built on quicksand, false and fragile. The only thing that could make this alliance seem real was action.
Under Su Qinghan's gaze, a mixture of tears, emotion, and hope, Chen Ye had already forced himself to climb out of the abyss of guilt. His expression had regained the calmness that was unique to his time as "Zhuying", as if the person who had almost collapsed in the emotional storm just now was not him.
He had to stay calm, because every step he took next would affect Su Qinghan's life, as well as the only path to atonement he had just found.
"We have too few clues to find the mastermind behind this." Chen Ye's voice returned to a steady state. He sat down again, his eyes fixed on the flickering candlelight, his thoughts racing. The traitor from the Tianji Pavilion in the Dragon King Temple is our only chance of success.
Su Qinghan nodded vigorously and wiped the tears from her face. She quickly got into the state of mind. Years of investigation had made her accustomed to being able to think clearly no matter what her emotions were.
"That's right. That person proves that the leader of 'Youquan' must know something. Moreover, during the siege in the valley, 'Youquan' was almost completely wiped out, but their leader, 'Ghost Hand' Wang Sen, managed to escape. He's like a frightened bird right now, and he must be hiding somewhere secret."
"Find him and pry open his mouth." Shen Ye set the first goal concisely.
This is the way of thinking of a top assassin: in a complex and chaotic situation, accurately lock onto the most critical and vulnerable node, and then use a thunderous force to defeat it with one blow.
Chen Ye decided that the first step was to completely eradicate the mess that was Youquan and dig out more clues about the mastermind from its leader. He wanted to protect this woman in his own way and help her fulfill her wish.
"How much do you know about the internal situation of 'Youquan'?" Chen Ye asked.
This was the beginning of their collaboration. He needed Su Qinghan's intelligence, everything she had accumulated during her time as "Fei Yue".
Su Qinghan's spirits lifted. She knew she wasn't a weakling who needed unilateral protection, but an indispensable part of this alliance. This feeling of being needed and recognized gave her renewed strength.
"I have been lurking in 'Youquan' for nearly two years. I know their organizational structure, contact codes, main leaders and some secret bases very well." She began to narrate in detail.
"Wang Sen, the leader of 'Dark Spring,' nicknamed 'Ghost Hand,' is suspicious and ruthless. He has three most trusted confidants, responsible for intelligence, finances, and operations, respectively. They are nicknamed 'Wind Courier,' 'Abacus,' and 'Iron Arm.' During the siege in the valley, 'Ghost Hand' was killed instantly, but 'Wind Courier' and 'Abacus' are missing. They are likely to seek refuge with Wang Sen."
"Their usual method of communication is to leave a mark written with a special potion at specific taverns or inns in major cities. The writing will only appear when covered with another potion."
"I know their three most secret hiding places: Luoyang, Kaifeng, and Hangzhou. If Wang Sen escapes, he will most likely go to one of these three places."
Su Qinghan's voice was crisp and clear, revealing the inner workings of a huge assassin organization to Shen Ye like peeling off layers of silk.
Shen Ye listened quietly. He took out a blank piece of parchment and quickly sketched something on it with a charcoal pencil. His fingers were slender and steady, and his lines were precise. Soon, a complex network of people and a simple map of several strongholds took shape under his pen.
He turned the scattered information narrated by Su Qinghan into a clearly visible target that could be attacked.
Looking at his focused and professional profile, Su Qinghan's newly established trust in him became even stronger. This man not only possessed formidable martial arts skills, but also possessed an extremely calm mind.
"Very good." Shen Ye drew the last stroke and raised his head. "With these, it's enough."
He pointed to three strongholds on the map and said, "Wang Sen has been seriously injured and has learned a huge secret. What he needs most now is a completely safe place to recuperate and regroup. Which of these three strongholds best meets these requirements?"
Su Qinghan pointed to one of them without hesitation: "Hangzhou. That's the headquarters of 'Youquan'. Wang Sen has been running it for many years. There are the most secret passages and dark rooms underground, and it's also the easiest place to hide."
"Okay, then our target is Hangzhou." A cold murderous intent flashed in Chen Ye's eyes.
"What should we do?" Su Qinghan asked. She was used to fighting alone, but facing Shen Ye, she instinctively wanted to follow his instructions.
Shen Ye looked at her and proposed a plan that was so bold that it was almost crazy.
"One light and one dark."
"Mingchu, it's you." Chen Ye stared at her, "You need to change back to 'Feiyue'."
Su Qinghan was shocked: "Me?"
"Yes," Chen Ye explained. "After the battle in the valley, everyone thought you were dead. Now, you've 'resurrected' and returned to Hangzhou as a core member of 'Youquan'. You claim to have escaped by chance and want to gather the remaining troops, avenge your fallen brothers, and establish a new leader. Once this news gets out, it will inevitably alert Wang Sen and his confidants hiding in the shadows."
This was an extremely dangerous plan. Su Qinghan would use himself as bait, actively exposing himself to the most dangerous situation.
"Will they believe me?" Su Qinghan frowned.
"I will," Chen Ye said confidently. "First, 'Fei Yue' is known for his ruthlessness and strength within 'You Quan' and holds considerable prestige. Second, you were also a victim of the siege, which gives you the perfect excuse for revenge. Third, and most importantly," Chen Ye paused, "what Wang Sen needs most right now is manpower. He needs strength to protect himself. The appearance of you, this 'fresh force,' is an irresistible temptation for him. Even if he has doubts, he will definitely test you and contact you."
"And I," Chen Ye's voice lowered, like a cold front lurking in the shadows, "will be in the dark. I will use the Tianji Pavilion's intelligence network to monitor all channels related to 'Youquan' throughout Hangzhou. You just need to lure the fish out, and leave the rest to me."
Su Qinghan's heart began to beat violently.
This plan is bold, risky, yet interconnected, accurately grasping the weaknesses of human nature.
She acts as bait, attracting everyone's attention.
And Shen Ye transformed into a real shadow, delivering a fatal blow in an unnoticed corner.
Her understanding of "Youquan" ensures that she can successfully play the role of "Feiyue".
Chen Ye's powerful strength and the intelligence support of Tianji Pavilion are the ultimate guarantee for the success of this plan.
The advantages of both of them were perfectly combined in this plan.
"How can I contact you?" Su Qinghan asked the most crucial question.
Chen Ye pulled a tiny bird whistle carved from black jade from his bosom and handed it to her. "This is the 'Night Owl Whistle.' Blowing it won't be audible to human ears, but it will attract night owls within a five-mile radius and warn me. A long whistle means safety, while three short whistles mean you're in danger."
He then took out a small bottle of colorless and odorless powder. "This is 'Soul-Chasing Incense.' Sprinkle some in a room you think is safe and can serve as a contact point. I can follow the scent to find you."
These unique props from Tianji Pavilion gave Su Qinghan more confidence in this plan.
The flickering candlelight cast the two figures on the wall, sometimes overlapping, sometimes separating, just like their fragile yet close union at the moment.
He used the intelligence network of Tianji Pavilion, while Su Qinghan used his understanding of "Youquan". The two of them joined forces and worked out a perfect destruction plan with questions and answers, strokes and strokes.
When the last detail was finalized, the parchment map covered with markings was no longer just a piece of paper in their eyes.
That's a net.
A web of lies, atonement, revenge, love and hate.
One is in the open, the other is in the dark. A large net targeting the remaining forces of "Youquan" has once again been quietly spread over the prosperous city of Hangzhou.
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