Feng Xiaojin took Ku You to a dark cave with a remote entrance. After the mechanism was closed, even if disciples of the Baifu Sect excavated the ground cun by cun, it would be difficult to detect any abnormality. Ku You listened to the chaotic footsteps above his head and said: “For Miss Yunle, there is currently no safer place than the Dayan Military Camp. The real danger for her is here.”

“The laws of Dayan will put her to death.”

“Those men who kneel before her would also kill her, and do so in the filthiest and cruelest way in the world. That is true brutality.” Ku You gazed at the silent darkness in front of him. “She couldn’t sit cleanly on a high platform and play the role of the beautiful mute statue forever. Young Master Feng should know this better than I. Peoples’ desires expand unceasingly, and cult followers are no exception. If there is one, they want two. If there are two, they want hundreds of millions more. No matter the time or place, as long as Mu Zhe wants to win peoples’ hearts, she will be sacrificed at any moment.”

Feng Xiaojin suppressed his anger: “But she is poisoned, and without Mu Zhe’s antidote, she will certainly die!”

“So, Young Master Feng, why don’t you join forces with me quickly and destroy this den of thieves before the poison spreads? Now that it is impossible for Miss Yunle to be sent back, the only option is to pry open Mu Zhe’s mouth as soon as possible.”

“What do you want, a map of the dense forest, the hiding place of the gold, or the spies the Baifu Sect has everywhere?”

Ku You replied: “I want it all.”

Feng Xiaojin turned to look at him, a small breeze stirring up his clothes.

Ku You sat without moving, because he felt that this request was very reasonable. Maps were needed to fight a war, and to eliminate weeds, the roots must be dug up. As for the gold, it was something that belonged to the common people of Dayan, so it certainly must be taken back. Although the prince had people from the Scimitar Silver Moon Tribe helping him outside, there were not so many helpers. Also, Feng Xiaojin’s martial arts were extremely strong. Even if Ku You couldn’t win him over, he at least couldn’t be allowed to side with the Baifu Sect when the two sides were fighting.

After a long time, Feng Xiaojin said: “All right.”

. . . . . . .

The disappearance of the Holy Maiden brought a shock to the Baifu Sect that was no less than the collapse of heaven and earth. Although Mu Zhe had commanded for the news to be suppressed, news was the most difficult thing to suppress in the world. In just one afternoon, everyone in the entirety of the dense forest was in a panic, saying that Ku You had taken the Holy Maiden away.

Later, the rumors became tinged with romance. After all, the Holy Maiden’s fascination with Ku You had been witnessed by many people. Now that the two of them had vanished, there were really too many details to speculate upon. The disciples who went to pursue them returned empty-handed. Wumeng Yunyou lay in bed, listening to the cacophonous sounds outside the window. He frowned and said: “What happened?”

“Nothing,” the witch doctor said. “They’re just rehearsing in advance for the Yan army’s future invasion.”

Wumeng Yunyou lay back on the soft pillow and stretched out his hand to touch the wound on his waist. Liu Hengchang came in with a medicine tray. Seeing this scene, he hurriedly said: “Young Master Yunyou, don’t touch it.”

“What kind of poison is on Liang Shu’s sword?” Wumeng Yunyou was unhappy, and pressed harder, causing him to gasp in pain. “Such a small wound opens over and over again. Is it really going to take a year and a half?”

This was not the first time he had lost his temper. As usual, Liu Hengchang went on to clean the pus and blood from the wound. Wumeng Yunyou breathed out and lay flat on his back. After lying there for a while, he felt bored and asked again: “Hey, why hasn’t Uncle come to see me today? Did he go to see A-Le off?”

Liu Hengchang was taken aback when he heard this, surprised that he didn’t know what was happening outside. Just as he was about to speak, the witch doctor next to him gave him a fierce look and said first: “Yes. Young Master Yunyou, don’t worry. The Dayan army has been eyeing the Holy Maiden recently, so Young Master Feng will protect her along the way.” Wumeng Yunyou gave a leisurely response, not suspecting anything. With the witch doctor around, Liu Hengchang couldn’t say much. He started to go back to his room, but was stopped by the two other witch doctors, who coldly commanded: “Doctor Liu, from now on, Young Master Yunyou’s injuries will be treated by us without your intervention.”

“But—”

“The herb fields in the west need maintenance, and there is not enough manpower. Bothering Doctor Liu to take the trouble these days.” When the witch doctor finished speaking, he waved his hand to summon two disciples, who went back to his room to pack up his clothes with him. Liu Hengchang didn’t dare to show his dissatisfaction on his face, but thought quickly that in this situation, it should not be that he had exposed his identity as an undercover agent. Otherwise, he wouldn’t simply be sent to a remote flower field. In all likelihood, Mu Zhe wanted to deal with Feng Xiaojin, so he would target the people around him first.

The disciples didn’t leave Liu Hengchang much time. He had only packed two pieces of clothes when they urged him to go faster.

Feng Xiaojin’s residence was empty when he returned, with only Mu Zhe standing in the courtyard. Hearing the sound of footsteps, Mu Zhe turned around and said: “I thought you were going to find A-Le.”

Feng Xiaojin’s eyes hidden beneath his mask were cold: “Can I go?”

“You cannot.” Mu Zhe stepped forward and put his palm on the mask. “This is obviously a trap set by the Yan army. I will never allow you to be in any danger, so it is best to quickly put away all the thoughts you shouldn’t have.”

“Without the Leader’s antidote, I can’t even leave this forest, so why does it matter whether or not I have the intention to save her?” Feng Xiaojin stood there with no emotion in his tone. “I’m tired.”

“All right.” Mu Zhe placed a porcelain bottle on the table. “One more thing. Yunyou doesn’t know that Yunle has disappeared. His injury has not healed yet, and I feel it is best for him not to be stimulated. Otherwise, I’m afraid I will have to sew up the wound with the Embroidered Spider Lady again when he rushes out to find her.”

Feng Xiaojin said: “I thought you would immediately instigate him to sacrifice his life.”

Mu Zhe smiled: “But I assumed you wouldn’t agree. Since you don’t agree, I will consider letting him off.” 

He turned around and walked out. “So for Yunyou, A-Feng, you had better be good. Just like your mother.”

Feng Xiaojin closed his eyes slightly, reached for the antidote on the table, and turned back to the room.

A swatch of red clothing floated down the courtyard wall and followed Mu Zhe quickly. The Nanyang woman said with a giggle: “It turns out that Leader Mu is still a compassionate person. It is a pity that he is willing to raise a peerless master in vain and not have him work on behalf of  the Baifu Sect. The way I see it, perhaps Young Master Feng can find the saintess girl and bring her back.”

“That isn’t necessary. He does not need to do anything.” Mu Zhe said, “He only needs to stay by my side.”

He had lost the first one, and would never lose the second one. Recently, he didn’t know if it was because he was getting older or because he felt excited about directly taking the royal city, but he had become increasingly eager to stay with his young lover at all times. In short, he could not accept any possibility of losing the face beneath that mask, even if the cost was to sacrifice the Holy Maiden who had worked hard for many years.

“Name a price,” Mu Zhe said. 

The Nanyang woman covered her mouth and laughed again: “Then I must calculate carefully. It must not be less than the Island Master’s.”

When she spoke, she used Wumeng Yunle’s voice.

In the Valley of Ten faces, Liu Xian’an asked: “How is she today?”

“Not very good,” Liu Xianche said. “She didn’t even know she was poisoned, so she refuses to take my medicine.”

“But her nails have turned black.”

“She only feels that black nails are not beautiful enough.”

Liu Xian’an sighed: “Life and death are determined by fate.”

He had three thousand worlds in his mind, and it stood to reason that he could come up with a profound truth anytime and anywhere, but this time he had no idea what to say. Or to be more precise, he knew what to say, but it was easier said than done to reshape a person’s inherent three views. For the time being, he couldn’t figure out where to start.

For the first time, Liu Xianche did not scold his younger brother for being lazy. There were too many things to be done in the army right now, and each of them was more important than having a heart-to-heart talk with Wumeng Yunle. He asked: “How is it going on A-Yuan’s side?”

“The prince has sent three batches of troops to protect her, as well as the Imperial guards. There is no need to worry about safety issues.” Liu Xian’an said. “I feel she must be having a lot of fun, otherwise she wouldn’t have forgotten to write us a letter.”

This was the first time in Liu Xianche’s life that he had heard a trace of concern and complaint in his brother’s tone. It was new and novel, so he reached out and patted him on the shoulder, inviting: “Come play a game of chess with Da-ge in the evening.”

Liu Xian’an waved his hand in refusal: “But I still have something to do.”

“What is it?”

“I want to get some sleep.”

Liu Xianche: “……”

Liu Xian’an felt his brother’s sudden gloom and unconsciously stood up straight. Then a game is also fine.

The chessboard was brought by Liu Xianche. It was his favorite way to relax. The servant boys quickly made tea for the two young masters, lit the incense, and brought a few pots of flowers out of nowhere, trying their best to decorate in a quiet and elegant flowery shade in this iron-blooded camp.

The atmosphere was just right.

But Second Young Master Liu’s chess-playing method was not quite right. He didn’t need to think much. Liu Xianche concentrated for a long time before gently dropping a piece. Then there would be a pop sound on the chessboard as a piece of a different color fell. This technique was as urgent as if he was anxious to go to someone else’s house to eat, or rushing to vacate his bowels.

Liu Xianche thought at first that he was messing around again, rushing to finish so that it would end quickly. Thus, he deliberately pressed for time and slowly ground down his temper. As a result, he suffered a big loss and was utterly defeated.

The servant boys standing on both sides: “Ai?”

Liu Xian’an said: “I won.”

Liu Xianche said expressionlessly: “One more game.”

Liu Xian’an’s smile froze. After thinking for a moment, he said: “If Da-ge wins, can I leave? If this is the case, the next game can be faster.”

Liu Xianche: “……”

In the end, Second Young Master Liu ran away without receiving punishment. Liang Shu was reclining in a tree outside to rest in the breeze. From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed his sweetheart walking very slowly along the path. He jumped down and reached out, accurately taking this person into his arms. He asked curiously: “I heard you were playing chess. I thought I would be waiting here for a while, but instead, you ran out in a hurry.”

“Because it’s already finished.”

“Did you win or lose?”

“I won. So I had to run quickly, otherwise Da-ge would drag me to continue. He plays chess very slowly.”

And the lazy fellow no longer wanted to continue. He was tired, and felt uncomfortable sitting down. After returning to his residence, he lay down on the couch and pointed at himself. I’m sore here and here.

Liang Shu washed his hands and massaged him cun by cun. “It’s only a sore waist and sore legs, so why are your fingers sore too?”

“From taking the chess pieces.” This was very reasonable and well-founded.

Liang Shu nodded: “That makes sense.”

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Chapter One Hundred Seventeen << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Nineteen