“Come and look quickly, the first unique news of our paper. Spirit Peace River Stone Turtle emergence. Yuan Tianfeng’s shocking prediction appears…” The newspaper boy carrying a sack of newspapers called out all over the streets. Hearing this, even those who usually didn’t buy the newspaper would stop to buy a copy.
“Come here, give me one…” An old man selling corn powder in a stall quickly wiped his hand on his clothes and took out a few copper coins for the boy to come over and he bought a copy of ‘The Great Han Times’.
The shocking event last night had spread all over the city. Many of those who didn’t witness it with their own eyes still heard about the stone turtle, especially the prediction on it. The prediction made everyone’s heart jump. In the ninth lunar month of next year, the Heavenly Tribulation would happen. Tens of thousands of stars would fall and a thousand kilometers around the capital city would turn to barren desert. Tens of thousands of civilians would die.
Everyone on the streets was discussing this.
…..
In that alley with the rice flour stall, those few old men were tanning while talking about yesterday.
“If the capital city really is to be a death ground and a huge desert, then wouldn’t the entire capital population die? Just how big of a catastrophe would this be…”
“Didn’t you see the newspaper? It said it’s a heavenly disaster. Stars will come crashing down — how can that be small?!”
“The stone turtle really had these words on its back. My cousin was at the river yesterday, he saw it with his own eyes…”
“Would this be fake? This is too absurd…”
“If it’s blasphemy, then there only needs to be the last line. But look, Yuan Tianfeng clearly was scared that people wouldn’t believe it so he made quite a few predictions before that. Do you dare to not believe it?”
“Old Chen is talking about waiting to see if the Heavenly Dog will devour the sun in Liu province in the fifth lunar month…”
“What if there is?”
“Then we probably have to get packing and stay with a relative in Lu Province. We can just wait and die in the capital city. As long as we live, there will always be a way. Not just me, but probably even His Majesty will have to move houses…”
Suddenly, one sharp-eyed man saw a few law enforcers in the distance. He pulled their sleeves and the group quickly stopped talking.
“What are you old men squabbling about here, go your own ways…” One of the law enforcers scanned and yelled, “Don’t spread rumors when you’re bored. His Majesty is still in the palace, and the ministers are all in the capital too. Those White Lotus Society bastards love to start rumors. Don’t get misled…”
“Haha, we were talking about the Journey To The West story that old man Guo said at Wangyou Restaurant. We’re planning to go listen to it again today!” Old Chen smiled and cupped his fists to the law enforcer. Then the old men split off.
Yan Liqiang brushed past those few law enforcers. Looking at Yan Liqiang’s rural and honest look, the law enforcers just glanced at him and ignored him.
Yan Liqiang roamed the streets while listening to the discussion of the stone turtle. He felt relieved as he made notes on the shape of the nearby streets and buildings, especially those buildings that were four stories or higher.
Since he had decided to assassinate Lin Qingtian, he would need to survey the surroundings. Ever since coming here, Yan Liqiang had walked more than two rounds between the Grand Chancellor’s office and the palace.
If he wanted to assassinate Lin Qingtian, he had to know Lin Qingtian’s routine. As the Grand Chancellor, his basic routine was going to the imperial court and coming home. The journey passed Chaoyang Square, or the Phoenix Parade. This distance was nearly two kilometers. So if he were to attack, it would have to be on this journey.
Yan Liqiang walked as he contemplated the specifics of the assassination. He couldn’t do so during the morning as the day was just bright and people were wary. There were people everywhere in the city. Regardless if he succeeded in the attack or not, it would be very difficult for him to get away. So, it would be best to wait for Lin Qingtian’s trip home. As the Grand Chancellor, he had a lot of business to attend to and usually came home at night so nighttime was the best time to attack. Even if he failed the assassination, he would have a higher chance of getting away.
If it was someone else, Yan Liqiang wouldn’t be so careful, but it was Lin Qingtian. Yan Liqiang knew he only had one chance — if his arrow missed, he had to run away immediately. If Lin Qingtian got close to him, he had no confidence he could escape even though he was a Martial Ancestor now.
According to Fu Guang, someone was behind the Heavenly Tribulation. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to know unless they had the Heavenly Realm, but Lin Qingtian’s actions before made it seem ike he knew it was going to happen.
Yan Liqiang roamed the streets for a few hours until it was midday. He finally selected a few places he could attack. Those places were on the side of the Phoenix Parade. The closer spots were a few hundred meters from the parade, while the farther ones were a few kilometers from there. Two of the places were the pavilions of wealthy families. Standing on top would give him a good firing angle. Another was a tall tower, and that tower faced the Phoenix Parade. It was sixteen stories high and fifty meters tall. It was a tourist spot situated behind the Three Sages Temple. It was just an ordinary temple and he didn’t hear there was some expert there.
At midday, Yan Liqiang just sat on the side of the road and ate a few buns for lunch. By afternoon, he checked those places he selected carefully and was more confident…
