Maner hadn’t figured out what Yuanyang and Leng Shuang meant, but at this time, a figure already jumped lightly on the tent. That swift man was one of the top martial artists. He quickly took out a pen-thick bamboo tube in which there was a poisoned arrow. Right when he gently gashed the tent and was ready to shoot the arrow, he felt a cold dagger was pointed at his throat.
“Sir, I’m afraid it’s impolite for you to jump on others’ tent at late night.” Leng Shuang smiled and looked at the assassin who paused because of her appearance. Yuanyang sent a signal, and at once, Leng Wu led soldiers in black armor who ambushed to capture three other assassins who were on the lookout.
Leng Changxi pulled the curtain back and walked out, followed by Qin Yunuan. Seeing four people who were tied up, Leng Changxi looked back at Qin Yunuan and nodded to her, “You were right. It seems that some other people also want to kill us besides them.”
“Them” referred to several soldiers in black armor who gathered to discuss how to get back at Leng Changxi for Tuoba Wuyu at dusk. They arrived early but was quickly seen through and captured by Yuanyang and Leng Shuang. So they witnessed how Leng Changxi captured these top assassins alive.
Those soldiers who wanted to trick Leng Changxi lowered their heads. They regretted doing such a silly thing and also felt afraid when thinking that they would be punished. They already saw how powerful Leng Changxi was and knew he was very smart for easily capturing top assassins.
Leng Changxi looked up and just ran his eyes over four assassins. Then, he said confidently, “Mantis Zhang, the Waijia Quan master, Iron Qiao, the Palm Kung Fu master, Float, the No.1 master of light skills, and you, Shadowless whose secret weapon can always hit the target.” With just a glance, Leng Changxi knew who the four assassins were. He continued, “Sima Ray must have spent much recruiting you to kill me. Well, tell me. If you fail, who will Sima Ray send next?”
Leng Changxi was sure that these four assassins were sent by Sima Ray. Sima Ray had completely copied the assassin organization model prevalent in East Qin as well as Zhao Huijin’s assassin management method. To prevent themselves from being exposed due to their connections with partners, assassins who were sent to perform tasks would be given great decision-making power. When an assassin didn’t return within the prescribed time, the organization would, regardless of the result, send more people to continue the former assassin’s work to ensure the full completion of the task.
The noise drew Tuoba Wuyu’s attention, and he walked to them. Just taking a glance at assassins who were in strange clothes, he knew what happened. But he didn’t figure out why his soldiers in low spirits were also here.
“General Leng, what… are you doing?” Tuoba Wuyu would accept to take orders from Leng Changxi because he was skilled in martial arts, but it didn’t mean he would let Leng Changxi bully his men at will and say nothing.
“You can ask them.” Leng Changxi didn’t even look at him.
After hearing soldiers’ explanation, Tuoba Wuyu was so angry that he directly kicked the leading soldier at his knee. The soldier knelt down at once.
“General Tuoba, I’ll let you deal with your men. As for these four, I will take care of them. Is this fine for you?”
How would Tuoba Wuyu refuse after knowing his men played dirty tricks? It was really lucky that Leng Changxi didn’t ask him to kill them directly.
After Tuoba Wuyu quietly dragged soldiers away with his head down, Leng Changxi looked at four assassins who were stuffed with strips of cloth to prevent them from killing themselves by biting off their tongues.
“General, I think we should kill them,” Leng Wu cupped his hands and said.
Leng Changxi was thinking over this. If he brought them back to Qi, they would become his burden. But if he set them free, it was unknown whether these assassins would attack him again. However, even if he killed them, Sima Ray would send more assassins to stop him from going back to Qi.
Thankfully, Qin Yunuan was foresighted. Given that the number of wild monkeys in the valley increased for no reason, she concluded that someone had exploited the valley. The trees cut were delivered to Qi, so Sima Ray must have set up bases nearby. Maybe, scouts from Qi were watching them right now.
Looking at four assassins, Leng Changxi smiled and said, “Well, I will give the antidote to the first one who tells me the secret I want to know. I know you are poisoned by the Heartbreak Powder which will kill you 14 days later. Sima Ray always uses this trick. But a reminder, only the first can get the antidote.”
The four assassins looked at each other. Qin Yunuan slightly tilted her head and observed their facial expression. They four were all hesitant. As long as one gave in, it would be bad for the other three. So they’d rather all keep silent, and Sima Ray might even not punish them for this.
Before the four spoke, Qin Yunuan said with a smile while pointing at one assassin, “You’re good at light skills, so you can arrive here without walking on the ground. The color of soil on your shoes is darker than that of theirs. I assume it is the crimson acid soil good for tea trees. There are tea trees in the east of the Yunlong Valley, so you came from that direction, right?”
Float shivered and looked in blank at Qin Yunuan who was tender but eloquent. She looked like an ordinary woman but turned out to be so smart. Her analysis was 100% correct.
Seeing that man remained hesitant, Qin Yunuan wanted to continue. However, he suddenly knelt to Leng Changxi. Although he didn’t say anything because of the cloth in his mouth, Leng Changxi could tell from his expression and action that he was willing to surrender.
At once, the other three glared at him, especially the grumpy Waijia Quan master who even wanted to kick the traitor although he was tied up.
“Very good,” Leng Changxi said to Float and remained calm. “You are the only one to get the antidote.”
Everything seemed settled, and people scattered. At this time, the man who hid himself in the woods frowned. Then he turned back and disappeared in the dark woods soon. He went past lush branches swiftly, and he could be on par with Float in terms of the light skills.
Several minutes later, the man arrived at a simple hut near the farthest bounds of the valley. There were many guards around the hut. Actually, the man was closely watched all along his way, but near the hut, there were more guards. They were guarding the door, the backyard, the window and the roof. The person in the hut must cherish his life very much, so he invited many top martial artists to protect him.
It sounded like people inside were discussing. An old voice came, and the voice owner was pledging sincerely, “Your Royal Highness, please be worry-free. My four disciples are outstanding. They can definitely kill Leng Changxi and take Qin Yunuan back safely.”
It sounded like an old man. The person he talked to was a young man in his twenties who was in a piece of jujube red court dress embroidered with golden silk threads. The crown on his head and the jade ring on his finger signified that he was in a high position. He tilted his head a bit and looked out of the window in a haughty manner because he was really proud of himself. He was not highbred. He earned all he had now through hard work. It was true that he had killed many people to get all these things, but he didn’t care about this, as long as he could achieve his goal.
Someone quickly knocked at the door three times and then knocked three times again at a longer interval. Hearing this, the old man got excited and stood up. “It must be my fifth disciple. He must bring good news back.”
The old man walked to the door immediately and was ready to open it. The young man just turned his head a bit and remained calm. But suddenly, his right eyelid twitched, which was a bad omen.
When the old man opened the door, the man outside was not his fifth disciple who he thought would bring good news back, but Leng Changxi in armor who was smiling and in high spirits. He was unmasked and looked handsome and naturally majestic. When seeing Leng Changxi, the young man was shocked and alert. But his eyes lit up by Qin Yunuan who stood next to Leng Changxi. In his opinion, she would be a perfect wife. It had been a long time since they met last time.
“It’s been a long time.” Leng Changxi slowly and incidentally spoke out what the young man was thinking about. Although knowing that numerous guards and top martial artists were ready to fight against him, Leng Changxi stayed calm and leisurely walked in to sit down with a smile.
“Your Royal Highness.” Leng Changxi sat upright on the cane chair where Sima Ray sat before.
“Guards, who let this traitor come in?” The old man near Sima Ray was Qiu Murong, head of the Moon Sect, the No.1 sect in Qi. Unexpectedly, the Moon Sect, famous for being loyal and righteous, had worked for Sima Ray now. Qiu Murong not only joined Sima Ray’s camp to work himself to the bone for him, but also asked his disciples to protect Sima Ray. Qi was really in a mess.
“Traitor? Do you have any proof to prove I’m a traitor?” Leng Changxi raised his eyebrows and looked at Sima Ray. “Who have I betrayed? And who have I colluded with?”
Sima Ray and Leng Changxi hadn’t met each other until now after the war between them started. Qin Yunuan was also here, so Sima Ray wouldn’t allow himself to be awed by Leng Changxi. He slightly kept his chin up. He had great power and was not afraid of Leng Changxi at all now.
“The Grand Prince of North Di had confessed when he was under house arrest. Letters you wrote to him had been found in his mansion. Father and the Grand Khan of North Di both know this.”
