Chapter 18 Cannon Fodder Bai Yueguang 17 Sins
There is a Fuyuan Inn on the edge of the capital city. It is the inn closest to the city gate when entering the capital from the south to the north.
The inn is located right next to the post road, which is almost the only way to get to Beijing, but the price is more than twice as high as other inns.
Despite this, the number of guests at Fuyuan Inn increases every day. Not only wealthy families, but even some ordinary people are willing to spend most of their money just to stay here for one night.
The reason for this is simply that bandits are rampant at the moment, robbing and killing at will. Even at the feet of the emperor and around the imperial city, there are occasional reports of bandits robbing and killing people.
However, in the past few years, this inn has remained peaceful and has never had any accidents. Therefore, even though it charges an exorbitant price, the people who want to go to Beijing are still scrambling to stay there, just to seek peace.
Therefore, there have been rumors that the owner behind this inn is a powerful family in the imperial city, so it can enjoy their protection and not be harassed by bandits.
The night was deep, and red paper lanterns were hung in front of the inn. The lanterns swayed slightly in the sultry summer breeze, like clusters of dancing will-o'-the-wisp fires.
The waiter in the lobby was dozing off when suddenly there was a noise in front of him and a man in black whose face could not be seen knocked on the counter.
"Sir, do you want to stop by or stay at the hotel——"
The man in black raised his hand and showed the token in his hand. The waiter woke up from his sleep. Without asking any more questions, he led him to the easternmost room on the third floor.
The person in the room stood up upon hearing the voice, his expression serious. "Zhiyan, what's the hurry? I rushed back as soon as I received your message during the day. What happened?"
The headquarters of the Bian Escort Agency is in Jiangnan, and it also has a contact point in the capital, which is the Fuyuan Inn.
He Zhiyan lowered his hood and said, "Sit down, I'll tell you in detail."
Bian Ye then noticed that his face looked bad: "Are you injured?"
"Well, people from Yexing Pavilion are here." He Zhiyan said lightly, drinking the full glass of wine on the table in one gulp, with a hint of fatigue between his brows.
Bian Ye was shocked, realizing that this matter was no small matter. He Zhiyan's identity had always been a secret, and even he had only learned about it last year. He quickly asked, "What's going on?"
He Zhiyan looked out the window at the dark night with a heavy gaze.
…
"So you're suspicious. Pei Miao has already recognized you as the one who killed his brother five years ago, and he's seeking revenge by implicating Uncle He and sending him to prison?"
He Zhiyan took a sip of wine and nodded slightly.
Bian Ye frowned. "But you're the one who has a grudge against him. Why would you go so far as to frame Uncle He? Wouldn't it be more direct to send someone to seek revenge on you?"
"That's because he tried to do that before, but failed." He Zhiyan stared at the wine in the glass, his eyes deep.
Bian Ye suddenly realized what was going on and slammed the table, saying, "That's right! The second assassination attempt you encountered in Jin, the clue we were tracking down ended up with a distant relative of the Pei family."
"And the time after arriving in Beijing." He Zhiyan added.
Bian Ye fell silent and raised his eyes: "So what are you going to do?"
He Zhiyan played with his wine glass: "I remember we have many informants in the capital, including some from various departments of the imperial court."
Bian Ye understood immediately and asked in astonishment, "Could it be that you want to?"
He Zhiyan's eyes suddenly became sharp: "Yes, but I can't do it alone."
"But this isn't that simple," Bian Ye slowly stood up and looked at He Zhiyan worriedly, "If you're not careful, you'll be doomed, and it will be difficult for us to save you."
He Zhiyan seemed to be unconcerned and habitually rubbed the medicine bag on his waist. He knew who was the most important person in A Li's heart. No matter what the cost, he would protect He's father's safety.
Even if it means sacrificing his life.
What's more, this is the evil consequence brought about by him, and he should be the one to end it.
Bian Ye looked at the nostalgic and self-deprecating expression on He Zhiyan's face, thinking of how he always kept silent, aloof and cold in the past, and only became lively when he talked about Uncle He and Miss He.
He patted He Zhiyan's shoulder and said, "Now that you've made the decision, don't worry too much. The brothers in the escort agency will do their best to help you!"
He Zhiyan's ink-black eyes trembled a little, and he took two steps back and bowed solemnly to Bian Ye: "I will remember your generous help and will repay you in the future!"
Bian Ye quickly held his hand and said, "You and I are friends of equal age, why do you need to be so polite?"
He Zhiyan added, "This matter is fraught with danger. If we accidentally reveal our identities, I'm afraid it will bring disaster to the escort agency."
Bian Ye sneered, his eyes filled with sarcasm. "Let's not talk about the fact that my Bian Escort Agency is not unknown. The imperial court can't even manage itself, let alone people like us. If we hide in the streets and alleys, it will be like a drop in the ocean. They won't be able to find any trace of us even if they search the sky."
After saying that, he put his arm around He Zhiyan's shoulders and laughed out loud, "Since we're brothers, there's no need to get involved. When this is over, you still owe us a drink, brothers. You must drink until you're drunk!"
*
Because there were still matters to be dealt with, Bian Ye discussed with He Zhiyan for a moment and then left. He Zhiyan sat alone in the room for a long time before getting up and going downstairs.
He tossed the empty jug of wine to the guy behind the counter, put his hood back on, and disappeared into the darkness.
It was very late at night and all around was dead silent except for the rustling of weeds in the wild wind.
He Zhiyan's expression remained the same after drinking, but his eyes were a little hazier than usual. As the smell of alcohol rose, he recalled the past.
He didn't remember when he started killing. Since he could remember, the best thing he had learned was how to end someone's life cleanly and efficiently.
He placed his hand on the black sword at his waist, and his fingers brushed across the hilt. Every time the blade entered the flesh, the vibration was engraved in his bones.
He had killed many people, but before that he didn't know their identities and pasts. Every time he drew his sword, these people would show expressions of begging for mercy, cursing, or despair, but this would not delay his sword-drawing in the slightest.
For several years, he mechanically carried out the tasks assigned by the Pavilion Master. Nothing could affect him. The black eyes hidden under the cloak were always calm and numb.
Two hundred and seventy-four.
Two hundred and seventy-four missions.
He Zhiyan thought that his memory had become blurred during these years of confusion, but it turned out that he remembered every moment clearly.
Those faces before death constantly remind us what kind of person he is.
He is bloodthirsty and sinful.
The night wind suddenly grew stronger, and even the rustling of weeds became clearer.
He Zhiyan's eyes flashed slightly, and with an extremely subtle sound of breaking through the air, the short arrow in his sleeve flew out in an instant.
Xiao Shuangjue moved her toes lightly and slid to the side. A strand of hair on her neck was cut off and slowly fell to the ground.
He Zhiyan turned around, murderous intent in his eyes.
Xiao Shuangjue withdrew his gaze from the ground and seemed to be in a good mood: "We meet again."
He Zhiyan didn't look at her, the veins on his hands were taut, ready to strike.
Xiao Shuangjue curled her lips into a smile, folded her arms across her chest, and slowly approached: "Want to fight again? But I don't want to fight with you."
After saying that, she stood still, without even bringing the Frost Sword, and seemed to have no intention of taking action.
He Zhiyan frowned, but did not let down his guard.
Seeing that he was still on guard, Xiao Shuangjue said, "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it that night at Puji Temple. Why wait until today?"
That night at Puji Temple, she deliberately mentioned He Li, but He Zhiyan was distracted. She took the opportunity to seriously injure He Zhiyan, and the men in the pavilion rushed forward and forced him into a dead end.
But at the last moment, she suddenly gave up the intention to kill him.
A trace of worry appeared in Xiao Shuangjue's eyes. In recent years, the reputation and influence of Yexing Pavilion in the martial arts world have declined significantly. The pavilion has been lacking young talents and is gradually declining. The morale of the people in the pavilion has also been demoralized.
Yexing Pavilion was founded by her mother, who has supported it single-handedly for many years. Xiao Shuangjue can see her worries.
Her mother is her only relative, and she will help her mother to save Yexing Pavilion no matter what.
Although his mother meant to execute He Zhiyan on the spot, Xiao Shuangjue felt that if he could bring this man who had defected for five years back to the cabinet and make him work for the cabinet again, it would be more useful than killing him directly.
Now, the opportunity has come.
Xiao Shuangjue's eyes turned slightly. "I heard that the man who saved you back then, the medical officer named He, was recently imprisoned for something and will be executed soon?"
He Zhiyan's expression became even colder, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.
She continued, "He can be considered your savior. Do you really want to watch him lose his life?"
"So?" He Zhiyan's cold eyes swept across her face.
Xiao Shuangjue, however, slowly and calmly adjusted the wristband on her hand. "If my mother allowed you to return to Yexing Pavilion, would you still have the same attitude as today?"
As if he had heard something extremely ridiculous, a hint of coldness appeared on He Zhiyan's lips. He stopped talking nonsense and the black sword flew out and pierced the woman not far away.
Xiao Shuangjue flew backwards, dodged the attack, and jumped onto a locust tree nearby.
"Mother is a person who is tolerant and values talent. As long as you are willing to go back with me, she will not make things difficult for you."
He Zhiyan didn't stop attacking, with an indifferent expression: "What if I go, what if I don't go?"
"Go back to Yexing Pavilion, and everything in the past will be written off. You continue to work for Yexing Pavilion, and they will not treat you unfairly." Xiao Shuangjue dodged and landed lightly.
"Otherwise," she changed the subject, twirling a strand of hair that fell across her chest, "You belong to my Night Walk Pavilion. This will never change. Master He had better remember this."
He Zhiyan put away his sword and continued to treat him coldly: "Who am I? It's not up to those who have nothing to do with me to decide."
"Mr. He is still in the mood to joke. It seems he has found helpers who can help you rescue that He?" Xiao Shuangjue glanced back at the Fuyuan Inn, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain. "Are you relying on those useless people in the escort agency? Or are you relying on your sister to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion and ask for help?"
He Zhiyan's pupils shrank slightly, and he looked directly at her for the first time, with a dark tide in his eyes: "You followed her."
It wasn't a question, but an affirmative tone.
Xiao Shuangjue chuckled. "Didn't you see your sister get off the carriage at the Prime Minister's Mansion today? She's smarter than you. She knows that people tend to rise higher, while water flows lower. Seeing that her only brother is such a powerless waste and unable to save her father, she naturally turned to the Prime Minister's son."
The scene of the daytime reappeared before his eyes, and He Zhiyan's eyes flickered for a moment.
"That's right."
Xiao Shuangjue smiled sweetly and walked slowly towards him, her tone full of temptation: "Go back to Yexing Pavilion. I can even rescue that petty official named He from prison without any effort."
"If you don't return, you're going against my Night Walk Pavilion. As a greeting gift, I don't mind sending that medical officer surnamed He on his way in advance."
He Zhiyan knew very well how many secret agents Yexingge had in the court and how much effect these agents could play. The last mission he undertook before he lost his memory was commissioned from the palace.
Weighing the pros and cons is what he should do most at this moment.
He Zhiyan frowned, his pupils darkening. When he looked up again, his expression was no longer as cold and hard as it had been at first. "Miss, do you really think that everything in this world can develop according to your wishes?"
Xiao Shuangjue paused for a moment, the corner of his mouth raised an arc: "I don't know if there is anything in this world that I can't get."
She circled around He Zhiyan and said, "Are you willing to stay in that small courtyard for the rest of your life, living on these tattered herbs? In the past, you were a martial arts master who could travel freely and rarely met an opponent. How cool and carefree you were."
He Zhiyan sneered in his heart and lowered his eyes as if thinking about something.
"As long as I return to Yexing Pavilion, you can rescue him?"
"nature."
"I promise."
Xiao Shuangjue raised the corners of her eyes slightly, looking particularly charming and attractive: "It's a pleasure to talk to an intelligent person. Why don't you follow me back to the pavilion tonight to avoid any more nightmares."
"Don't you think so, sir?"
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