Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Shangguan Yun made himself the bait. With more time passing, the Dragon King still hadn’t shown up. Shangguan Yun was more and more convinced that he should be the target.
He was curious and even a little bit excited about what kind of tactics the Dragon King would use.
The valley behind the seaside slope used to be a mining area that was abandoned many years ago, leaving both large and small mineshafts crisscrossed throughout. Wu Zongheng used this place as the military camp.
Three thousand veterans and more than one thousand recruits had joined together. Shangguan Yun’s residence was in a small mineshaft outside, as there had been a collapse here, and it was isolated from the others. After a little tidying up, Shangguan Yun was able live a little more comfortably there.
The decisive battle was in two days. If the Dragon King wanted to retake the army, he had to make a move either today or tomorrow.
According to Shangguan Yun’s standards, there was no difference between so-called “lies” and the truth. For example, he might say that someone was a traitor when, in fact, this person might be bought a few days later. He thought that was different from the truth. On the contrary, when he told Maid Lotus that he had 15 kung fu masters from outside the Western Region protecting him, he did not mention that a large number of killers were rushing in as reinforcements. It was not exactly a lie.
Shangguan Yun felt a little sorry that Maid Lotus escaped so early and killed Ha Chilie, the spy. But as long as she reported the necessary information to the Dragon King, the cost was acceptable.
According to Shangguan Yun’s expectations, the Dragon King’s plan was as follows: The Dragon King and Maid Lotus (with one or two helpers at most) would assassinate Wu Zongheng first, and then watch the kung fu masters like the two Xia brothers to see where they would report to. In this way, they could find out the location of the target. As soon as Shangguan Yun got out of the mineshaft, a person — maybe even someone he knew — would stab him with a sword.
The subtlety of the trap didn’t depend on the density or sharpness of the spikes below, but on the authenticity of the upper layer of earth above the trap.
Shangguan Yun had 15 foreign kung fu masters. After Xia Shouxiong’s death, there were 14. These days they were disguised as ordinary soldiers. Half of them hid around Wu Zongheng and the other half were scattered around the military camp. Shangguan Yun never showed up himself.
The Dragon King would take the bait, because he had no other options. Even though he knew it was a trap, he would take the risk. Shangguan Yun thought he understood the Dragon King’s character and believed that he would never give up the Dragon Army that he had assembled with difficulty.
Not far from Shangguan Yun, there was another isolated mineshaft where Wu Zongheng lived. He was anxiously pacing back and forth inside.
A guard came in to report, saying, “Your Honor, Miss Ming Zhen… wants to see you. ”
Wu Zongheng had to keep Ming Zhen in the army. Her maid, Han Xuan, and a disciple of the New Moon Hall had run away suddenly and he had to take her as hostage.
Ming Zhen had the decency to never cry or scream, but she always felt numb, all day long. Sometimes there was panic in her eyes, like a child abandoned by its parents. Wu Zongheng felt that he might have been too cruel to her.
“So late? ” Wu Zongheng asked, frowning. It was late at night, which was not a good time for a single man and a single woman to meet.
“Yes. ” The guard responded simply. It was none of his business. He wished a woman would like to meet him late at night.
Ming Zhen’s residence had been cleaned up, but there was still cold water dripping down the wall. It was already late spring outside the mountain, but it was still as cold as winter in here.
In order to prevent the soldiers from gossiping, Wu Zongheng asked all three disciples of the New Moon Hall to stay with Ming Zhen at all times. This time, they stood by the wall, expressionless and barely even blinking their eyes, like ghosts buried in the mineshaft.
It had to be hard for Miss Ming Zhen to live with these three women. Wu Zongheng was more sorry about her situation but still spoke to her flatly. He was the general of the army and could not have any tenderness towards a woman. “What can I do for you, Miss?” he asked dryly.
It seemed that Ming Zhen had been crying. Although her cheeks had been wiped carefully, her eyes were still swollen. “General Wu, please tell me the truth,” she said.
“What? ” Wu Zongheng asked, getting nervous because he already knew what she wanted to know.
The news of Ha Chilie’s death had arrived two days prior. Wu Zongheng asked several informed people to keep it a secret. On the one hand, he was worried that the tribe soldiers might rebel. On the other hand, he was worried that Miss Ming Zhen might not take it well. Although the relationship between the two seemed to be a little cold, they were an unmarried couple, after all.
“Ha Chilie … was killed? ” asked Ming Zhen, obviously having heard the rumors.
Wu Zongheng was not used to and did not want to lie. He pondered for a moment and said, “Yes, Lord Ha died at the hands of a spy. My condolences, Miss.”
“I thought …” Ming Zhen couldn’t help sobbing.
Once the tears began, they could no longer be controlled. Ming Zhen cried so sadly and began shaking. If there was a maid to serve her, she would have come over to hold her. But there were only the three New Moon Hall disciples, standing like the living dead in the room. Wu Zongheng was touched and did something uncharacteristic for a general — he stepped forward, planning to comfort the heartbroken beauty.
Someone moved faster than him, but she held him instead of Ming Zhen.
A New Moon Hall disciple grasped his left arm firmly and put a dagger against his back, saying in a low voice, “Don’t move, or I will kill you.”
Wu Zongheng was shocked, and stared at Ming Zhen in front of him.
Ming Zhen’s cry was out of true feelings. She had been lonely and helpless from an early age and was pushed aside by her family. Finally, she got a fiance of excellent birth and appearance, but he was killed before they were married.
She ran to the bed, bent over and wept bitterly, as if she had not just seen Wu Zongheng get kidnapped.
Han Xuan was the one who caught Wu Zongheng, but she still cared more about her Miss. “Han Fen, you take him,” she said.
Another New Moon Hall disciple came over with a dagger in her hand and said discontentedly, “Why do you always expose me?”
Han Xuan pushed Wu Zongheng to her and ran to her Miss. She comforted Ming Zhen with a gentle voice, holding her in her arms.
Wu Zongheng got more and more confused and angry, and asked “What the hell is going on? Didn’t you two run away?”
Han Fen and Han Xuan had exchanged identities with two disciples of the New Moon Hall. They were in the army for only two hours or so. The New Moon Hall disciples seldom showed up at ordinary times and preferred to hide in the shadows. With just a little disguise, no one could tell.
“Behave, you traitor,” Han Fen said, holding him harder. Wu Zongheng was unable to resist since his kung fu was not strong enough.
“Traitor? Who are you talking about?” he asked.
“Of course it’s you,” said Han Fen.
Wu Zongheng calmed down when he heard this and said, “You have made a mistake. How can I be a traitor?”
“Well, how do I know? Anyway, you’re a traitor. When the time comes, you just scream, and then I’ll kill you,” she answered.
For the first time, Wu Zongheng learned that the New Moon Hall disciples could not be reasoned with. With a wry smile he said, “You can kill me, but you should give me a reason, right? Why do you call me a traitor? ”
“Eh, you still dare to talk back? The Managing Master said you are a traitor. How dare you deny it?” Han Fen replied.
Han Xuan still held the young lady in her arms. Although she was a bit reckless, she was more worldly than Han Fen. She added, “Because you colluded with Shangguan Yun.”
“Shangguan Yun? The Third Young Master of Golden Roc Fort?” Wu Zongheng asked, finally understanding,”I have never even seen him. How could I have colluded with him? ”
“Bah, you are shamelessly lying. Shangguan Yun is hiding in the military camp. When you scream, someone will report to him, and then … hum, I can’t tell you.” Han Fen said, holding the dagger in her right hand and pinching Wu Zongheng’s shoulder hard.
Wu Zongheng blushed, not because of shame, but because of pain. He had to resist it forcibly in front of all the women in the room. “You have been fooled and have fallen victim to the enemy’s plan to sow discord… Miss Ming Zhen can prove my innocence,” he said.
Ming Zhen was still crying, and Han Xuan asked, “What can Miss prove? ”
“I found three spies from Golden Roc Fort hidden in the army and carried out the execution on the spot. If I were a traitor, why did I kill my own people? Miss Ming Zhen, please testify for me,” Wu Zongheng said.
Ming Zhen looked up and kept sobbing. “General Wu…General Wu did kill three people, but …I don’t know if they were spies,” she managed between sobs.
Wu Zongheng panicked because her words clearly implied that the people he killed were probably not spies. “I want to see the Dragon King. The Dragon King trusts me, and you can’t…” he began.
Han Fen slapped Wu Zongheng on the face to stop him from arguing any further. “Smelly traitor. You wish to trick me to tell you the whereabouts of the Dragon King. No way,” she said.
Clear fingerprints showed on Wu Zongheng’s face immediately from the slap.
The guards outside heard the noise and asked, “Lord Wu, is everything all right?”
“All right,” Wu Zongheng said, being more cooperative after he was slapped. After the guards walked away again, he decided to reveal the truth.”You really made a mistake. I pretended to collude with the enemy at the orders of the Dragon King, but it has nothing to do with Shangguan Yun. I have never seen him and I didn’t know he was hiding in the military camp.”
Han Fen didn’t believe him. If she hadn’t been waiting for the signal, she would have already killed him with the dagger.
Although Ming Zhen was devastated, she felt a little sympathy for Wu Zongheng and said, “General Wu may not be a traitor.
Han Xuan said in surprise, “Miss, you can’t fall for a bad guy again. You finance is dead, but we can find you another one. But this guy can’t be your fiance.”
Ming Zhen was flushed, but stopped crying, “No, no. Don’t be ridiculous. I have noticed several soldiers walking around General Wu lately. They seem to know each other, and they are not like people from the Western Region. They are probably spies,” she commented.
“Exactly! Isn’t this evidence of his betrayal to the Dragon King?” asked Han Fen.
“But those people are always watching General Wu and seldom appear in front of him, so I think … maybe they are not together.” Ming Zhen said.
Wu Zongheng was ashamed of himself. He kept a watchful eye all the time, but had not seen what a lady saw.
He ignored one thing: As a commanding general of the army, he was the focus of the enemy’s attention. But Ming Zhen was different. She was a harmless little girl who was too shy to look up at the others. Who would care too much about her?
Han Fen was stubborn and said, “Whatever. Just scream when I say so, and then I’ll kill you. If I wronged you, don’t blame me. Anyway, you are making a contribution to the Dragon Army.”
Wu Zongheng was dumbfounded and couldn’t believe that he would die in such a bad way.
Han Xuan got up and let go of Ming Zhen. “It’s almost time. You two take Miss and leave first,” she said.
“Hey, you …” Han Fen said. She didn’t like to change the plan suddenly.
“I want to switch the task. Can’t I?” asked Han Xuan.
“Sure, you don’t have to be so strict. You’re not the Managing Master.” Han Fen said in a voice that got lower and lower. She helped Ming Zhen up with the other New Moon Hall disciple and walked out.
Wu Zongheng had no idea how the three women evaded the guards outside.
Han Xuan had been staring at him and finally said, “Don’t you dare call anyone to rescue you. I can kill you with one move. ”
“I won’t call anyone, because I’m not a traitor,” Wu Zongheng replied carefully.
After Han Fen and the other two left had been gone for a while, Han Xuan suddenly asked, “Are you really not a traitor?”
“Absolutely not. God knows,” said Wu Zongheng, exasperatedly.
“Look at my eyes,” said Han Xuan.
The two looked at each other for a moment. Wu Zongheng did not even dare to blink.
“Well, I won’t kill you. But remember, you owe me one. You’ll have to return the favor,” she said.
“Yes, definitely,” he replied.
“You haven’t married yet?” she asked him.
Wu Zongheng couldn’t keep up with her thoughts. He thought for a while before he said, “I did, but she passed away.”
He regretted telling the truth immediately, because the expression in Han Xuan’s eyes was a bit strange.
Fifteen minutes later, Wu Zongheng shouted, “Assassin!Assassin!”
Hearing the cry, Shangguan Yun was refreshed.
