Undercurrents at the Post Station
The Honglu Temple Inn, where the Wu delegation stayed, was located in Chongrenfang, in the southeast corner of Chang'an. It was adjacent to the bustling East Market, yet it stood out from the surrounding government offices, offering a tranquil environment. The inn was spacious, with pavilions, towers, bridges, and flowing water, reminiscent of the gardens of southern China. It was clearly a carefully prepared facility by the court to receive important envoys.
On the day the delegation arrived, the inn was guarded by the imperial guards dispatched by the court and the elite troops from Jiangdong brought by Sun Ce. There were sentries in the open and hidden posts, and the security was very tight, making it impossible for ordinary people to get close.
However, at midnight, a dark figure, like a raccoon blending into the night, silently avoided all the checkpoints, both visible and hidden, and drifted like a wisp of smoke into the most secluded courtyard in the inn—the place where Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were staying.
Inside the study in the courtyard, the candles were still lit. Sun Ce had removed his heavy armor and changed into a loose-fitting crimson brocade robe, which made him appear even more upright. Contrary to outsiders' expectations of a rough and unrestrained figure, he sat at his desk, his fingers slowly moving across an open map of Chang'an's defenses, his gaze sharp and thoughtful. Zhou Yu sat by the window, a zither before him. He did not play, but merely touched the strings with his fingertips, as if sensing some invisible rhythm.
The dark figure landed in the courtyard, revealing himself to be an inconspicuous "craftsman"-dressed attendant who had followed the delegation during the day. He strode into the study, knelt on one knee before Sun Ce and Zhou Yu with swift and decisive movements.
"My lord, Commander."
"Speak." Sun Ce didn't even raise his head, his gaze still fixed on the city defense map.
"Yes," the scout said in a low voice. "We are following the Commander's orders and are conducting investigations in various locations. Chang'an City appears peaceful on the surface, but there are indeed undercurrents beneath the surface. The Dali Temple has been very active recently, with spies scattered everywhere, seemingly focusing on the abandoned Wanghai Villa area in the east of the city. According to rumors from Jianghu sources, a few days ago, a Dr. Wang from the Hanlin Academy, who was well-versed in ancient books, died suddenly. The cause of death was suspicious and seemed to be related to a chess manual called 'Tian Yuan Ce.' A young chess prodigy from the Yaotian Organization was involved in it and almost got framed."
Upon hearing this, Sun Ce finally raised his head, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "Oh? Yaotian? Is that the organization led by Ming Shiyin that has considerable influence in the underground world of Chang'an? Even they've been dragged into this?"
Zhou Yu nodded slightly, his fingertips lightly plucking the strings of his zither, producing a clear, melodious note: "Not bad. I played a game of chess with Yi Xing the other day. Although he is physically weak, his mind is exceptional; he is no ordinary person. The fact that he was able to escape being framed and even investigate in reverse shows that Yao Tian is not someone to be trifled with." He looked at the scout, "Anything else you've discovered?"
The scout continued to report: "Near the Wanghai Villa, besides the spies from the Dali Temple, there seems to be another force monitoring it. They operate with a more secretive style and are suspected to be from Yaotian. Furthermore... during our investigation, we discovered that besides us, there seems to be a third party secretly watching the villa. Their skills are unpredictable and unlike those of the Central Plains. Their weapons are coated with potent poison, and... they seem to be proficient in stealth and concealment. Several of our brothers were almost discovered."
“A third party…” Zhou Yu’s slender fingers tapped lightly on the body of the zither, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Sure enough… the people of ‘Night Ink’ couldn’t sit still either.”
Sun Ce put down the map in his hand, walked to the window, and gazed at the deep night outside. A battle-ready smile curved his lips: "'The Ink of the Dark Night'... is that the rat organization you mentioned before, the one that hides in the shadows and stirs up trouble? It seems that Chang'an is more lively than we imagined. On the surface, there's the Dali Temple; underground, there's Yaotian; and in the shadows, there's this group of rats... truly a gathering of heroes." He turned to Zhou Yu, "Gongjin, what do you think they're trying to achieve by making such a big show of things? What secrets does that book, *Tian Yuan Ce*, and that abandoned villa hold?"
Zhou Yu pondered for a moment, then said slowly, “The ‘Tian Yuan Ce’ appears to be a chess manual, but according to ancient records, it may contain the core structural diagram of an ancient mechanical city, or… some kind of formation that draws upon the energy of the earth’s veins. As for the Wanghai Villa, the prince of the previous dynasty was obsessed with the overseas immortal mountains and devoted all his resources to researching mechanisms and formations, attempting to build a giant ship that could sail to the immortal mountains or… some kind of device that connects heaven and earth. ‘Youye Zhi Mo’s’ choice of that place is no accident. They are very likely using the legacy left by the previous dynasty to conduct some kind of… dangerous experiment or construction.”
He stood up and walked to Sun Ce's side, his gaze also fixed on the window, as if he could pierce through the layers of buildings and see the darkness in the east of the city. "Bo Fu," he said, "our arrival in Chang'an is ostensibly at the invitation of the court to discuss the Jianghuai canal transport and border trade. But behind the scenes..." His voice lowered, carrying a hint of coldness, "investigating the movements of 'Night Ink' and stopping their conspiracy that could endanger Jiangdong and even the entire world is of paramount importance. I suspect their target is far more than just Chang'an."
Sun Ce slammed his hand on the window frame, his eyes gleaming: "Who cares what they're up to! Now that we've run into them, they can't succeed! Gongjin, what do you think we should do next? Should we confront that old bastard Di Renjie directly, or…?"
Zhou Yu shook his head, confident in his judgment: "There's no need to rush into a showdown. Di Renjie is a smart man, and the Court of Judicial Review must have already noticed something amiss. If we intervene rashly, it might arouse suspicion from the court and disrupt their plans. Right now, it's more appropriate for us to... push things forward covertly."
How to promote it?
“Two aspects.” Zhou Yu held up two fingers. “First, continue to secretly investigate the background of ‘Night Ink,’ especially their specific actions underground at Wanghai Villa. Those ‘craftsmen’ we brought should come in handy. Second…” He paused, a subtle glint in his eyes, “Strengthen our ‘connection’ with Yao Tian. Yi Xing is key. Through him, we can not only learn about the clues Yao Tian has, but also indirectly influence the Dali Temple’s judgment. After all, sometimes, underground forces are more convenient than the authorities.”
Upon hearing this, Sun Ce grinned and patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder: "Haha, good! Let's do as Gongjin says! It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. Let's give them a taste of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! However..." He changed the subject, a fierce glint in his eyes, "If those rats really dare to cause any big disturbance and endanger the people, I, Sun Bofu, will be the first to object with my spear!"
"A tiger lies in its stall not out of fear, but to gather the strength to strike; a dragon lies in its abyss not out of distress, but to await the opportunity to take flight."
Zhou Yu recited softly, this sentence being both an interpretation of Sun Ce's strategy of concealing his abilities and a precise summary of the current situation and their own strategy. True wisdom and courage lie in assessing the situation and acting only after careful planning.
Upon hearing this, Sun Ce laughed heartily, his fighting spirit intensifying: "Well said! Then let's see just how many demons and monsters are lurking in the murky waters of Chang'an!"
Just as the Wu delegation was finalizing their strategy at the post station, Yi Xing was not at rest at Yao Tian's residence.
He sat before the chessboard in the warm pavilion. The chessboard before him wasn't made of black and white pieces, but rather a map of the situation in Chang'an, which he had deduced based on all the current clues, using different colored jade stones to represent various factions. The black jade stone representing "Ink of the Dark Night" was entrenched in the Wanghai Villa in the east of the city, exuding an ominous aura; the white jade stone representing the Dali Temple was scattered throughout the city, attempting to encircle them; the blue jade stone representing Yaotian occupied a delicate position, both interacting with the white jade stone and maintaining its independence; and the newly added red jade stone, representing the Wu delegation, remained at the post station, its movements unclear, like a huge variable.
Yi Xing picked up the crimson jade with his fingertips, his brow furrowing slightly. Zhou Yu's visit and Sun Ce's arrival brought more than just diplomatic protocol; they brought a force capable of disrupting the existing balance. What were their aims? Were they friend or foe?
He recalled the jade pendant Zhou Yu had left behind that day, and the clues Zhou Yu had provided regarding the "Soul-Separating Grass" and the mechanism. Zhou Yu seemed to know something about the "Ink of the Night" and was willing to share information. Was this goodwill, or... another form of exploitation?
"Trust is a bridge built on common interests and honesty, while suspicion is a slow poison that erodes all cooperation."
Yi Xing put down the crimson jade and murmured to himself. In his interactions with the Wu delegation, he needed to strike the right balance—both to secure potential allies and to avoid being drawn into a larger vortex—requiring exceptional wisdom and composure.
A wave of exhaustion washed over him, and he couldn't help but cough a few times, covering his mouth. His physical weakness remained his greatest constraint. But he knew he couldn't collapse now. A storm was brewing, and he had to stay clear-headed to find a way to survive for Yaotian and for the city he lived in.
He picked up the calming tea that Yang Yuhuan had prepared for him, took a small sip, and felt the warm liquid slide down his throat, slightly dispelling the chill. His gaze returned to the chessboard, where the black jade stone representing "Ink of the Dark Night" seemed to be radiating an increasingly intense darkness, threatening to engulf the entire board.
The humming sound from underground seemed faintly audible.
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