Chapter 106 "Are you Master Pei's lover? Then I won't help you..."
"Jiang Ling'er?! You...you weren't already with the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort)..."
Although Song Shiliang, the prefect of Jinling, was surprised to see Jiang Ling'er suddenly appear, he was not afraid.
Song Shiliang and the old镖头 (镖头 is a term used to describe a skilled镖师, often implying a close relationship or connection), and Song Shiliang had even held Jiang Ling'er when she was a month old. For many years, Jinling City had prospered under the combined governance of Song Shiliang and the old镖头. When news of the old镖头 and his only daughter's suicide arrived, Song Shiliang was too late. By the time he arrived, the old镖头's body had vanished, and Jiang Ling'er's body was occupied by Ji Yunshu. Seeing that the frail scholar was powerless against him, Song Shiliang could only watch helplessly as Jiang Ling'er's body, like the old镖头's, mysteriously disappeared.
But there was nothing they could do.
Feeling guilty towards his old friend, Song Shiliang had been unable to eat or sleep for three whole days and had even fallen ill. His first reaction upon seeing Jiang Ling'er wasn't fear, but rather a sudden glimmer of light appeared in his usually serene eyes, and he almost lost his composure, grabbing Jiang Ling'er's shoulders.
"Good boy, where is your father? Since you're alright, what about the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort)..."
"My father... has passed away."
"...Dead? Dead..." Song Shiliang murmured, slowly releasing his grip, then asked, "How did you..."
"Uncle Song, it's hard to explain everything in just a few words. Let's leave here first and talk about it later."
"But the mansion has already been surrounded by Jin soldiers..."
After Song Shiliang finished speaking, he realized that the room was eerily quiet. As soon as he finished speaking, the Jin soldier who had been hiding in the shadows trying to sneak out suddenly collapsed.
Jiang Ling'er knocked down the Jin soldiers, and then, holding their heads, laid them to the ground without making a sound. She silently dealt with all the Jin soldiers inside and outside the house, and then, using the elusive footwork, arrived before Song Shiliang, the prefect of Jinling, her breathing still perfectly even.
"You can go now, Uncle Song."
"……good."
Song Shiliang responded absentmindedly, but stood still, with a white silk ribbon lying on the ground beneath his feet.
His hand was still clutching a corner of the white silk ribbon.
Song Shiliang glanced at Jiang Ling'er again. The spoiled girl he remembered seemed like a completely different person. The cold moonlight shone through the windowpane onto her brows, revealing that while her features remained spirited and lively, the former arrogance had faded, replaced by determination, resilience, and decisiveness. There was a hint of…
The old镖头's spirit.
Looking at her, Song Shiliang murmured, "It is my incompetence, I have failed the people of Jinling... The Jin people had planned this all along. Officials, both inside and outside the court, have either fled or betrayed the Jin. The soldiers sent to inform the court have also disappeared, perhaps killed by the Jin traitors. Beset by internal and external troubles, news cannot get out... If your father were still alive, he would never have been forced into this situation by the Jin people..."
"Uncle, would you believe me?"
Jiang Ling'er interrupted Song Shiliang.
While Song Shiliang was sizing up Jiang Ling'er, Jiang Ling'er was also sizing him up.
Uncle Song looked much older than he had in my memory, when he was so refined and dignified.
“Everyone says that my father and I betrayed our promise and colluded with each other, and that we deserved to die.” Jiang Ling’er retorted, “Does Uncle Song also believe that my father would be a traitor who betrayed us and sided with the Jin people?”
Without a second thought, Song Shiliang replied, "I certainly don't believe it!"
Song Shiliang and the old镖头 (bodyguard) had been friends for many years and had watched Jiang Ling'er grow up. Even if thousands of people said so, he would never believe that the old镖头 was a lackey of the Jurchens and a treacherous person.
"Uncle Song's words are enough."
Jiang Ling'er curved her eyebrows and eyes, and at this moment she became the proud, seemingly carefree, and naturally trouble-free young master of the escort again.
She briefly told Song Shiliang about her and Yuan Zao's plan, ending with:
"There is absolutely no way the Jurchens could capture this city!"
Song Shiliang was startled by the almost intimidating light in her eyes, and for a moment he saw the shadow of the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) again.
Upon learning that it was the Jiang Ling'er and Yuan Zao sisters working together, Song Shiliang's brows smoothed out somewhat, and a slight smile finally appeared on his face.
"As expected of a daughter of a military family, it's a pity that I'm so old... I'm not as good as you."
The white silk ribbon she had been unconsciously clutching fell to the ground.
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On the street.
Yuan Zao and Gan Zishi searched for Lian Sheng for a long time without success, like headless flies.
As the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, it was time to meet Sister Ling'er.
Yuan Zao gritted her teeth and made a decisive decision:
"No, we can't keep searching like this. You should continue looking for Master Liansheng."
As soon as Yuan Zao finished speaking, he turned around, only to have his wrist suddenly grabbed by Gan Zishi. The urgency on the young man's face seemed genuine.
Where are you going again?
“I’ll go get some help. How can the two of us organize the entire city’s population on our own…” Yuan Zao paused, glancing at Gan Zishi’s hand gripping her wrist.
Gan Zishi was taken aback, released his grip, and stammered a little:
"I……"
Yuan Zao withdrew her hand and her gaze, no longer looking at him. She rubbed her wrist indifferently.
“Master Liansheng is far more important than you think. Since you lost him…” Yuan Zao paused, sighed silently, and softened her tone, “You must find him.”
After saying that, he turned and left.
Gan Zishi trembled upon hearing this, overwhelmed with shame. He stared blankly as Yuan Zao's figure disappeared at the end of the cobblestone path… Suddenly, he clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and cursed under his breath:
"You bald-headed monk!"
Where did they go?!
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Meanwhile, at Fengyue Tower.
Kong Wu naturally wanted nothing more than to skin Jiang Ling'er alive and devour her, who had dared to trick her, but looking at Zhao Xiao's current state...
Yesterday, the young man was riding high, enjoying boundless glory. Now, the youngest ever Chief Escort of the World's Number One Escort Team, he grips his cup, his eyes filled with a sinister glint, hinting at madness...
Kong Wu glanced at his limp right arm hanging down and gave a very slight smile.
I'm afraid his hatred is a hundred times greater than hers.
Although it's unclear why Zhao Xiao was so certain Jiang Ling'er would open the secret passage, it's for the best. It saves her the trouble of confronting that girl, since that little monk who understands Persian anyway...
No, the Crown Prince is the key.
"He truly is my good disciple."
Kong Wu put down her cup, her fingertips, stained with scarlet cardamom, caressed Zhao Xiao's eyebrows and eyes, tracing down his high nose bridge, teasing and playing with the young man's superior chin.
Surprisingly, Zhao Xiao did not resist this time. He smashed the cup, grabbed the wine pot, and gulped down the wine, his eyes filled with a chilling gloom.
As Kong Wu's eyes flickered, she narrowed them and laughed even more heartily.
She let go of his hand and instead gave him the handwritten note she always kept close to her body.
"Here you go."
The young man, who had been drinking alone, finally reacted. His snake-like eyes slowly turned and focused on the handwritten book. His dark eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion.
The left hand gripping the wine jug visibly jerked suddenly, and the veins on the back of the hand bulged out in a frightening way.
"...For me?"
Kong Wu rested her chin on her hand, her smile ambiguous and playful.
"What, you don't want it? Isn't this what you've always wanted? Now it's yours."
Kong Wu and Zhao Xiao's acquaintance was due to Zhao Xiao's desire to learn martial arts. The ruthless tricks he, Master Lu, and Jiang Ling'er used in the martial arts arena were all taught by Kong Wu.
But he wanted much more than that.
It is far superior to the Thunderclap Palm, the supreme martial art in the world.
He wants the "Longevity Manual".
The Longevity Manual was made in four copies, and Kong Wu was fortunate enough to obtain one copy, though it was only a rubbing.
Since he wants it... then give it to him.
Kong Wu noticed Zhao Xiao's interest, and her alluring eyes narrowed slightly, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness, half-serious and half-joking:
“I know you resent that I kept it from you and didn’t want to teach you. I didn’t want you to learn it before… but it was because this was a rubbing of the ‘Longevity Manual.’ Who knows if that scoundrel Di Qing had tampered with it? I was just worried about you.”
Kong Wu's fingertips, tinged with cinnamon, caressed Zhao Xiao's limp right arm:
"But looking at you now..."
Kong Wu didn't touch Zhao Xiao's right arm; she only saw him holding the rubbing of the "Longevity Manual" in both hands as if it were a priceless treasure, his smile deepening:
"The reason why the 'Longevity Manual' is named 'Longevity Manual' is because it has the miraculous ability to bring withered trees back to life and turn decay into magic. I suppose... it won't be difficult for your arm to return to normal."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiao's brow twitched heavily. He couldn't wait a moment longer and grabbed the "Longevity Manual" before hurriedly leaving.
Kong Wu watched Zhao Xiao's departing figure, her eyes flashing with a strange light, her lips slightly curved, as she drank the last sip of tea.
As early as when Kong Wu was flirting with Zhao Xiao, the True Lord Wenshan, who was standing to the side, stared wide-eyed, swallowed hard, and leaned over to pour wine for Kong Wu with great eagerness:
"Try this, it's top-quality Daughter's Red wine..."
Before Wenshan Zhenjun could finish speaking, Kong Wu's eyes suddenly turned cold, and she put down her teacup:
"Where is that little monk? Take me there."
--
The inner room.
Lian Sheng peered through the crack in the door and watched as Kong Wu and Wen Shan Zhenjun walked into the inner room and toward them. Her long eyelashes suddenly trembled.
"I absolutely cannot... I absolutely cannot get caught..."
Lian Sheng murmured to himself, looking around blankly. There was a window in the small space, but it was blocked. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move it even a little bit. He could only turn his gaze to Liu Yirong on the side.
But Liu Yirong was just a weak woman, and outside the door was Kong Wu, one of the seven notorious assassins of the Demonic Sect. How could he possibly involve her in this?
Hearing the footsteps and laughter of Kong Wu and Wenshan Zhenjun growing closer, Lian Sheng's face turned ashen and dejected. He staggered back two steps, clutching the "Longevity Manual" tightly to his chest. His teeth were clenched so tightly that they turned a deep red from being bitten, and a faint smell of rust and blood could be detected. He choked back a sob.
"I absolutely cannot let them catch me... I haven't seen Jiang Ling'er and Pei Xuan yet, and I haven't personally handed the item to them..."
"Just give me a little more time, just give me a little more time..."
Liu Yirong caught the information and glanced at him with considerable surprise:
"Do you know Master Pei Xuan?"
Lian Sheng was taken aback, looked up at Liu Yirong, her eyes slightly red:
"You know her too, young lady?"
It seemed that only then did Liu Yirong take a closer look at Lian Sheng. She was clean, even translucent, neither soft nor seductive nor alluring, but a clear beauty.
Even though she was known as the most beautiful courtesan in Jinling, she herself admitted that she was inferior.
Liu Yirong suddenly felt jealous and angry:
"Are you Master Pei's lover? Then I'm not helping you."
Lian Sheng was stunned: "...Huh?"
Lian Sheng was stunned for a moment before realizing that he was dressed in women's clothing and that Liu Yirong had mistaken him for a woman.
Lian Sheng was immediately embarrassed and was about to explain when Liu Yirong suddenly laughed again:
"I was just kidding. Master Pei's friend is my friend."
Liu Yirong already disliked Wenshan Zhenjun, and she couldn't bear to see such a beautiful young girl fall into the hands of such a beast. Moreover, with the Jin army approaching the city and Fengyue Tower still housing Kong Wu, a powerful figure, she knew that Wenshan Zhenjun was all bark and no bite, a treacherous and cunning man who, despite his verbal promises, would be the first to betray them in the face of disaster.
Liu Yirong's eyes instantly turned cold:
"Hit me."
Lian Sheng paused, "What? I...I don't hit people, especially..."
Lian Sheng paused, glanced at Liu Yirong, and swallowed the rest of his words.
She's still a woman.
Seeing Lian Sheng purse her lips and stubbornly remain motionless, Liu Yirong laughed: "Dawdling and being a coward."
She scolded him, and just as Lian Sheng was about to say something, she suddenly raised her hand and very lightly moved the half-person-high vase behind her. Suddenly, a hidden door appeared on the wall behind Lian Sheng. Before Lian Sheng could react, Liu Yirong pushed her inside, and even her voice was completely swallowed up.
Lian Sheng fell down, landing on a soft cushion, but his whole body ached. He instinctively opened his mouth to cry out in pain, but a small, soft hand covered his mouth.
A little girl with her hair in a topknot covered his mouth. Lian Sheng was slightly startled and realized that in the small dark room, there was not only the little girl covering his mouth, but also many girls behind her, some of whom were about the same age as her or a few years older.
The little girl covered his mouth tightly and shook her head to indicate that he couldn't speak.
He extended a finger with his other hand and pointed behind him.
Lian Sheng looked in the direction the girl was pointing—
The inner room of the boudoir was separated only by a hidden door.
After moving the vase again and closing the hidden box, Liu Yirong glanced at the wall that had been perfectly sealed and restored to its original state. With a determined heart, she slammed her palm against the closed window frame, which shattered into pieces. The next second, she crashed into the door frame and fainted!
With a sudden bang, both Kong Wu and Wenshan Zhenjun were startled. In the next instant, Kong Wu used her lightness skill to teleport to the inner room, where she saw Liu Yirong lying unconscious on the ground, the window wide open, and a gust of wind rushing in, making a rustling sound...
Kong Wu leaned out the window to look, but there was no one there.
Wenshan Zhenjun, a step behind Kong Wu, also witnessed everything. He grabbed the fallen Liu Yirong and said in a harsh voice, "..."
"Where is that kid? Where did he go?!"
Liu Yirong opened her eyes groggily, with a few drops of blood on her forehead.
"She tried to escape, and I stopped her from leaving. But who knew...who knew that girl was so strong..." Liu Yirong said, then belatedly realized what she meant and paused for a moment, "...What boy?"
Those doors and windows could not be broken without internal force. Wenshan Zhenjun knew that Liansheng was a man disguised as a woman. He regretted not telling Liu Yirong about this beforehand. He also did not expect that this seemingly weak and even frail person knew some martial arts. He never expected that he would be defeated by this little monk!
Wenshan Zhenjun's face contorted in pain, his grip on Liu Yirong's shoulder so tight it seemed he wanted to break her shoulder blade. Liu Yirong's beautiful face instantly turned pale, all color draining from her. Fortunately, Kong Wu grabbed Wenshan Zhenjun by the throat, her expression utterly terrifying.
"You dare to play me?"
Wenshan Zhenjun released Liu Yirong. Liu Yirong breathed a sigh of relief, completely at ease seeing that the two had no suspicions. She glanced at the corner of the wall and carefully withdrew from the room.
Wenshan Zhenjun knew that the hand gripping his neck could kill him in the blink of an eye. Seeing that Kong Wu harbored murderous intent towards him, he quickly said:
"Right Protector... Right Protector, spare my life! Although that monk escaped, I know where Jiang Ling'er is! I really know where Jiang Ling'er is! As long as we catch that girl, catching that monk is only a matter of time!"
Kong Wu finally lowered her tightly clenched hand.
"lead the way!"
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Meanwhile, Yuan Zao slipped out of the city again. Since the goal was to save all the people in the city, she, Ling'er, and Gan Zi were too weak to fight alone. It would be better to join forces with the heroes outside the city to resist the Jin.
What she didn't expect was that even now, these people were still arguing about whether to launch a full-scale attack on Jinling City.
They were divided into two factions, one conservative and one radical, led by Master Zongshan and Master Ma.
Zongshan Zhenjun was deeply worried: "The people should be the foundation of everything. What if a direct attack fails... and tens of thousands of Jinling citizens end up as hostages in the hands of the Jin invaders, and what will become of the souls that die under their blades?"
A vein bulged on Master Ma's neck: "But is there any other way?! Tell me, what other way is there?!"
"Don't worry, Master Ma, we... sigh, let's think about it some more, there's always a way..." Seeing that he couldn't persuade Master Ma, Zongshan Zhenjun turned to Yuan Wenkang, the head of the Xuanwu Hall, the number one镖师 (bodyguard/escort) in the world, who was frowning and never relaxed, and asked, "What do you think, Headmaster Yuan?"
Yuan Wenkang opened his lips to speak, but the impatient Third Master Ma interrupted him:
"What the hell are you thinking about? By the time you've made up your mind, it'll be too late! I think we should save as many as we can right now!"
Immediately, a disciple of the True Lord of Danxia Cave retorted: "Such a rash attack, let alone saving one or two, will probably result in our own deaths. Wouldn't that be a pointless suicide?"
Master Lu sneered: "So that's what you were dawdling about all night. It turns out you were just afraid of dying."
The Danxia Cave disciple immediately drew his longsword: "What did you say? Who are you calling a coward who's afraid of death?!"
Seeing the two groups arguing again, Yuan Zao, who had been watching from the sidelines for a long time, raised his hand and finally couldn't bear it any longer and interrupted:
"No need for further argument! I have obtained the warrant for the secret passage of the Number One Escort Mission. There is no need for a direct assault. The secret passage leads directly from the Jinling River to the outside of the city, and only members of my Escort Mission know of it. Before the Jin soldiers discover it, our most urgent task is for everyone to follow me and inform all the citizens of the city as soon as possible!"
Hearing the sound, everyone looked towards the slender girl in the corner. The usually shy and reserved girl glared at everyone and shouted:
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Everyone was taken aback, including Yuan Wenkang.
Yuan Wenkang subconsciously swallowed the word "nonsense".
After a long silence, Third Master Ma clapped his hands and was the first to respond: "Good girl! Grandpa will go with you!"
She immediately received a great response, and everyone carefully avoided the sight of the Jin soldiers by following the path she had come from, entering the quiet river channel within the city.
Strangely, the Jin soldiers guarding the city gates were much more lax this time, but Yuan Zao didn't think much of it. He figured that they had been searching for Jiang Ling'er and Pei Xuan everywhere in the city but hadn't been able to find them, so they had to send reinforcements, which made it easier for them to carry out their mission.
Yuan Zao had clearly planned everything in advance. She quickly divided everyone into six groups, led by the remaining Xuanwu Hall disciples, and they set off to inform the entire city's residents door-to-door. During this time, Yuan Wenkang kept his eyes fixed on Yuan Zao, as if he were seeing her for the first time, as if he were seeing his daughter for the first time.
After Yuan Zao finished explaining, he bowed deeply to everyone:
"The safety of tens of thousands of people in Jinling City is entrusted to you all. Please accept my bow!"
"No way!" Master Ma lightly nudged Yuan Zao's elbow with one hand before quickly letting go, laughing and scolding, "You're too polite, little girl! We're all citizens of the Song Dynasty, why are you speaking like that? Driving out the Jurchens and saving my comrades is our duty!"
After finishing his sentence, Master Ma cupped his hands in greeting and led the way, leaving with a group of Xuanwu Hall disciples.
Everyone followed the plan and finally had a moment to spare. Yuan Wenkang saw that Yuan Zao still wanted to say something, but Yuan Zao spoke first:
"Father, Sister Ling'er has infiltrated the Prefect's mansion alone. I must go find her."
Yuan Wenkang paused, then nearly lost his voice: "...Ling'er? You mean Jiang Ling'er, she..."
"Yes, Father, you heard me right, Sister Ling'er is still alive. This plan was devised by Sister Ling'er and me together." Time was of the essence, and Yuan Zao spoke rapidly, "This is a long story; I'll explain it to you on the way. Oh, and young hero Gan Zishi from the Lingxiao Sect is also traveling with us..."
Upon hearing "Gan Zishi," the seven sons of Xiaolingxiao were all taken aback for a moment, then immediately said, "We'll go too!"
True Lord Zongshan, who had been with Yuan Wenkang, also said upon hearing this:
"The governor's residence must be heavily guarded. I will go with you."
Yuan Zao glanced at everyone and nodded.
--
The Prefect's Residence.
Meanwhile, Wenshan Zhenjun and Kongwu also arrived at the prefect's residence.
"Right Protector, you may not know this, but my rouge insects are a pair, and they only produce treasures once every ten years. They are the most precious treasures of Danxia Cave! With them, even if you are reduced to dust within a hundred miles, you will not escape the old Taoist's palm!"
"Enough with the nonsense. If you let him get away again this time," Kong Wu glanced at him coolly. "You'll regret it."
Wenshan Zhenjun visibly shuddered and shrank back. He gave an awkward smile and dared not say anything more, staring at the small insect in his palm, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.
The small brown insect in his palm was a male cochineal insect.
The male and female insects would sense each other when they got close. Strangely, since last night, the insect had become listless and unresponsive. Although it found the prefect's residence, it stopped moving. The prefect's residence wasn't very big, but it wasn't easy to find a living person there.
Especially since Kong Wu was watching from behind.
Wenshan Zhenjun was so anxious he was tearing his hair out, yet dared not show it in the slightest. Suddenly, he saw the male insect curl up slightly, and he immediately stopped, his eyes suddenly brightening:
"Got it!"
Wenshan Zhenjun suddenly looked up, and sure enough, not far in front of them—
A slender figure appeared, its back to them!
--
Yuan Zao, Yuan Wenkang, the Seven Little Lingxiaos, and the group of True Lord Zongshan finally managed to sneak into the Prefect's Mansion, but they were too late!
They watched helplessly as Wenshan Zhenjun and Kong Wu approached Jiang Ling'er...
Yuan Zao could no longer ignore it. Her fingernails dug deep into her flesh. Just as she was about to loudly warn Jiang Ling'er, someone suddenly covered her mouth without her noticing!
"...Ugh!"
Yuan Zao was about to retaliate when the person behind her peeked out from the shadows, glanced at her with indifferent phoenix eyes, and put his index finger to his lips, silently saying:
Shh.
Yuan Zaoben's struggling movements immediately stopped, and she opened her eyes slightly wider.
Master Pei... Master Pei?
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