Translator: Kazeyuki_ Editor: Jimmy_
Previously, when Sun Wumei had gone to the Great Wu with Ba Liming, Qin Wushuang had stopped them halfway. Thus, he was familiar with Qin Wushuang’s voice. Hearing it again, inwardly, he was feeling more relaxed. Only, the difference between Qin Wushuang’s appearance now and before was huge. For a time, he did not dare to think that he knew him.
However, he became certain after hearing Qin Wushuang’s question. And after receiving Zhou Fu’s answer, Sun Wumei had no more doubts as he bowed again: “Mr. Qin, I did not expect that I would meet you again in this place.”
Qin Wushuang sighed: “The world is full of unpredictability. Previously, you journeyed with Ba Liming, but now, you guys are a world apart. Sun Wumei, come and identify this corpse, do you know who he is?”
Sun Wumei went up to identify and he shook his head: “This person appears unfamiliar, I don’t know who he is.”
“By your estimation, who might be the people that slaughtered the innocents of the Purple Cloud Town?” Qin Wushuang asked in a low voice.
“Without a doubt, it must have been acts perpetrated by the Heavenly Lake Empire. This Green Jade Mountain has always been a succulent piece of meat to them. Although most of the territory is within the Great Luo Empire, it has been quite a long time that the Heavenly Lake has coveted the mountain. There has been many occasions when our Herbalists from the Ba Shu go missing in the mountain. Our intelligence has shown that the Heavenly Lake Empire should have an army camped deeply inside the Green Jade Mountain.”
Sun Wumei sighed lightly: “Before, Ba Liming was the one in charge of all matters concerning the Green Jade Mountain. I rarely asked him about it. Unexpectedly, this time, such a devastating and bloody tragedy has happened.”
“Great warriors, the Ba Shu Country has always been loyal to the Great Luo and protected our territory. For this matter, please help us, and help us avenge the death of Martial Saint Ba Liming.”
“The person who had killed Ba Liming was this person. Only, there are undoubtedly other accomplices that aided in the massacre of the people of the Purple Cloud Town. Thus, we’ve decided to go into the mountain to do some investigating.”
Hearing Qin Wushuang’s words, Sun Wumei took out a map from one of his sleeves and handed it over: “Mr. Qin, Ba Liming gave me this map while he was still alive. This is the map of the Green Jade Mountain. The parts with the red circles are places that he suspected where the enemy was hiding. If the Heavenly Lake Empire had an army set up camp, it would be at these three places…”
Sun Wumei pointed on the map.
This map appeared somewhat rough, yet there were clear markings of directions and names of the locations. Despite its roughness, the lines were clear.
With this map, Qin Wushuang’s earlier plan of going altogether could be put aside.
“Since this map has shown that these three places are highly suspicious, we should find out and make sure. After we have done that, we will make a plan, what do you think, everyone?”
Qin Wushuang asked for everyone’s suggestion and looked around to see if anyone else had any advice.
After a series of battle, Qin Wushuang’s reputation as a leader had risen like a tide. Not only did no one have any objection to him, they had gotten used to Qin Wushuang carrying out his responsibility as the leader.
Especially Zhao Muzhi, Qin Wushuang’s timely appearance had rescued him from the reaches of death. Even if he had held a grudge earlier, right now, he was only full of admiration for Qin Wushuang. Regardless of strength and morality, Qin Wushuang had impressed Zhao Muzhi, a man of pride and arrogance.
Thus, he was the first one to agree: “Indeed, it sounds better to check it out. Or else, if we go in recklessly, without our numbers, we might beat the grass and scare the snake. With the enemy in the dark and us in the light, such strategy would not work in our favor. We must also conceal ourselves to fulfill our mission.”
On the contrary, Zhou Fu said: “Who should we send to explore the situation?”
Wei Yi took the initiative to speak: “Previously, Junior Brother Qin had gone, let me go this time.”
“I will go with Senior Brother.” Huang Chaoyang also stepped out.
After a moment of silence, Qin Wushuang nodded: “Then let’s have Senior Brother Wei Yi go with Lu and Huang. As Senior Brother Zhao Muzhi has said, we are in the light and the enemies are in the dark. You three should stick together to prevent the enemy from finding any gaps.”
However, Wei Yi said: “Both Junior Brothers Lu and Huang should not go. To find out the real situation, I am more than sufficient. An extra person means an extra risk.”
Sun Wumei also saw the problem. He had heard about Wei Yi’s name before and naturally, he knew his strength. Thus, he also nodded to agree: “I also agree with Mr. Wei. An extra person would pose an extra risk. One person is enough to discover the reality of the situation. It would be much easier to retreat or go forward.”
Qin Wushuang nodded: “If that’s the case, then Senior Brother Wei Yi will go alone. Let’s rendezvous in five days. Regardless of whether you uncover anything or not, please come back, how about it?”
After a moment of thinking, Wei Yi calculated that five days should be enough.
“Ok, five days! I will return within five days. If I don’t, please make mental preparations.”
From Wei Yi’s tone, there was a trace of impassioned feeling of “As the cold wind blow over the freezing water, the hero may not return from the war.”
“Senior Brother Wei will definitely succeed.” Qin Wushuang looked at Wei Yi. To these two shining stars, the pair shared a mutual understanding through this glance. They knew their tasks and their responsibility.
After Wei Yi had left, Qin Wushuang spoke some words of encouragement: “Everyone, Senior Brother Wei will surely bring back some good news. Perhaps, a great battle awaits us after five days. Please make some preparations. Think about those tens of thousands of corpses from the Purple Cloud Town, those innocent women and children and those citizens. If we don’t get revenge, how could we return to the Stargaze Palace and claim to be disciples of the Stargaze Palace?”
Having lived for two lifetimes, Qin Wushuang had his personal principles and things no one could touch.
Obviously, this incident had grossly violated his personal principles .
Earlier when Qin Wushuang had gone to kill at the Great Wu, he had only killed the elite warriors from the Great Wu. Not a single person he had killed had not dirtied their hands from participating in the war and invasion of the Bai Yue Country.
Qin Wushuang did not have any hesitations or feel any moral quandaries over killing them. It was the act of repaying an eye for an eye. And while he caused a ruckus, he maintained his basic principles as he never killed the innocents and the civilians.
The reason behind his action was because the war between two countries. Because of the flowing blood from the warriors of the Bai Yue, because of the death of Qiu Lingde…
However, the innocent civilians of this Purple Cloud Town was not involved in the politics of the country and they had no combat skills. Yet, they had been brutally massacred. This situation had angered all Core disciples from the Stargaze Palace.
If this matter was truly connected to the Heavenly Lake Empire, it would be akin to hitting a person in the face. It was a show of force by the Heavenly Lake Empire.
Regardless, these tens of thousands of ghosts that demanded retribution would not die in vain. Justice would be granted on this matter. Even if the ten of them could not handle it, someone more powerful with a higher position from the Stargaze Palace would come to solve it.
Inwardly, Sun Wumei also felt surprised when he saw the other Core disciples of the Stargaze Palace listening to Qin Wushuang’s orders. After observing for a while, he thought that this Qin Wushuang indeed had their complete respect. Last time when he had met him, regardless of temperament or strength, he seemed to be far lesser than his current state.
“This Qin Wushuang had actually managed to get Wei Yi, the number one young man from the Stargaze Palace, to listen to him, could Qin Wushuang hold a higher status than Wei Yi?”
“Could it be that the news of how Qin Wushuang had been building a leading role during the Core Ranking Competition be true? And not just some gossip?” Sun Wumei’s shock was incomparable. At the same time, he also felt lucky. What kind of ending would they have had if they had persisted in making him their enemy?
At the same time, he also felt gratified inwardly. Qin Wushuang had let go of the matter between them and had come to this place after journeying over a thousand miles. Without perspicacity, he would not have been able to investigate thoroughly.
“Think about it, Qin Wushuang has only entered the Stargaze Palace for about half year. He has taken the leading role among the younger generation. For sure, this Qin Wushuang has endless potential. Ah! Bai Yue is truly lucky to have such a young genius. It would be difficult for them not be able to reach prosperity. When will my Ba Shu possess such a young and exceptional genius?”
Many thoughts went through the head of Sun Wumei.
“Sun Wumei, you should still bring your people to make camp in the Purple Cloud Town. Naturally, we will stay here, on the outside of this Green Jade Mountain. This is no longer a matter that only concerns the Ba Shu, but also concerns the national pride of the entire Great Luo and the reputation of the Stargaze Palace. The disciples of the Stargaze Palace should be the one to solve it.”
Hearing Qin Wushuang’s instructions, naturally, Sun Wumei was feeling extremely gratified. With his promise, the Ba Shu would no longer have to be scared and on edge everyday.
“Yes, Mr. Qin.” Sun Wumei did not dare to resist Qin Wushuang’s instruction.
Currently, his relationship with Qin Wushuang was not the equal one they’d had when they had first met on the road to the Great Wu. However, it was a relationship between the representatives of the Mother Country and a Subordinate Country.
Sun Wumei had such a smooth reaction as he was able to adjust his placement and attitude to deal with Qin Wushuang’s orders.
After the people of the Ba Shu had left, Qin Wushuang ordered: “Everyone, prepare and rest. For eight of you, you will all form a pair. I will be by myself. Every four hours, we will rotate the groups on patrol. The others should collect their strength to prepare for the following battle!”
As soon as the order went out, no one dared to disobey.
Soon, three days had passed. Each day, Qin Wushuang fixed his gaze on that Green Jade Mountain. However, as if the mountain was asleep, nothing came out.
There were two more days left. Qin Wushuang believed that Senior Brother Wei Yi would definitely return successfully.
However, on the fifth day, there were still no sign of Wei Yi. It caused the other disciples to feel somewhat restless. Once the day passed sunrise, five full days would have passed. Wei Yi had promised to come back in five days.
If he did not come back, would it mean that something had happened to him? He once said that if he did not return, everyone should be make mental preparations.
Lunch passed and the day was approaching sunset. Inwardly, although Qin Wushuang was feeling a trace of anxiety, he did not show it. Instead, he encouraged the others to stay calm and not get agitated.
However, Huang Chaoyang, the Third Disciple of the Head Palace Master could not stay calm at all. He had shouted several times for them to go into the mountain to search for Wei Yi.
After his shouts, it had made the atmosphere even more tense.
