Chapter 33: Initial Action
"You are to recount in full detail how you came to know Li Yan, as well as the circumstances of your recent meetings with him. Leave nothing out, conceal nothing, do you understand?"
Marshal Hong fixed a penetrating gaze on Liu Chengyong as he spoke.
Liu Chengyong felt his heart clench.
'Could it be that Brother Li has somehow offended the Marshal? I'd better speak up for him where I can…'
He dared not withhold anything. He proceeded to recount in full what Li Yan had said and done upon first entering the city, and everything that followed in their acquaintance. Along the way, he added his own subjective impressions, speaking somewhat in favor of Li Yan, using terms like "young" and "inexperienced" but he was careful not to distort any facts.
Marshal Hong listened, sometimes frowning, sometimes lost in thought, occasionally interrupting with a question. The detailed questioning made Liu Chengyong all the more anxious, he feared that Li Yan must have committed some grave mistake.
After Liu Chengyong finished speaking, Marshal Hong contemplated for a moment.
"So it seems the two of you are fairly well-acquainted."
"Yes, fairly well," Liu Chengyong replied.
"Hmm. During your interactions, did he ever mention his circumstances? For instance, how things were going in the Strategist's residence, or his martial cultivation?"
"That he did not," Liu Chengyong answered. "Though I did notice he seemed somewhat out of sorts lately, perhaps troubled or unsettled. I heard from Chen An that his mood has been poor lately, possibly due to difficulties with cultivation or adapting to life there."
"Oh? Elaborate."
Marshal Hong straightened slightly at that.
"What I heard was from Chen An earlier today while drinking. He told me that Li Yan's temper has been somewhat erratic recently at the residence, and advised me to be more mindful with my words so as not to unintentionally provoke him.
"Still, from the few encounters I've had with him, I've found Li Yan to be rather approachable, nothing seemed amiss."
Liu Chengyong shook off his mild drunkenness and carefully recalled the details.
"A fluctuating temper… that does line up with some of the recent reports about his mood swings," Marshal Hong muttered under his breath.
Standing at a distance, Liu Chengyong couldn't quite hear the marshal's low words and dared not ask for clarification.
After a while, Marshal Hong looked back up.
"Is there anything else?"
"There is… some other information from the valley…" Liu Chengyong began.
Roughly half a cup of tea later, he had shared all he knew about Li Yan.
"In that case," Marshal Hong said, "the next time he enters the city, find him. Tell him there are discrepancies in the record from when he was registered as an officer. Have him report here in person. The sooner the better."
Liu Chengyong was baffled. Discrepancies in the records? Then how was his rank approved in the first place?
Still, something about all this felt off, and he had no intention of prying, after all, he'd been in the military long enough to know that some things simply mustn't be asked.
But if what the marshal said was true, then Li Yan would indeed need to present himself. The rank of Vice Commander of Resistance was no minor appointment, it fell directly under military command.
Yet Liu Chengyong, a seasoned veteran, quickly grasped the real implication. Marshal Hong wanted a private meeting with Li Yan, otherwise, he could have simply issued a direct order.
But why all this roundabout business? What's the reason?
That was something Liu Chengyong very deliberately chose not to ponder. Knowing too much could only bring trouble.
After considering for a moment, he said:
"Marshal, the Strategist's residence isn't easily accessed, especially given Li Yan's… other identity. Strategist Ji has previously made it clear: no one is to disturb his disciples without his express permission.
"So unless Li Yan leaves of his own accord, I won't be able to reach him. I can't control the timing."
Liu Chengyong spoke cautiously.
"Oh? Then find a way. It's best if this is handled soon. Also, understand this: I hold no ill intent toward Li Yan. There are simply some matters I need to explain to him. That's all you need to know. Do you understand?"
Marshal Hong's wide eyes glared meaningfully at him.
"Yes, sir!"
Liu Chengyong answered with a grimace, looking as though he'd swallowed a bitter gourd. Still, he felt a small measure of relief for Li Yan.
He knew his commander well. If Marshal Hong had truly taken issue with someone, he wouldn't have bothered with subtlety, he'd have acted decisively and without warning.
Liu Chengyong had been a part of Marshal Hong's command for over a decade. He knew that his role was not to ask questions, but to carry out orders.
After Liu Chengyong departed, silence descended on the hall. A long while passed, until a muffled, resonant voice echoed through the chamber.
"Senior Brother… isn't this a bit hasty? It might alert Ji Wenhe."
"A bit hasty, yes," Marshal Hong replied, "but do we have a better option right now? I've weighed this again and again these past days. No matter when we act, the moment we make contact with that boy, Ji Wenhe will be alerted.
"That's inevitable. And given Liu Chengyong's connection with him… perhaps it's worth a try."
"But Senior Brother… our original plan was to wait two or three more years. By then, Ji Wenhe's health might have deteriorated, and we could make our move then."
At that, Marshal Hong paused. He took a deep breath and replied:
"We've seen how he's deteriorated these past few years. But the truth is… he's still alive and well. And his martial strength hasn't diminished in the slightest, if anything, they've grown even more refined.
"That contradicts everything he's claimed about being poisoned. Have you ever heard of a martial artist whose power increased after being poisoned?
"I've pondered this long and hard. But I still can't make sense of it. If we wait another two or three years, and his strength keeps increasing like this… we won't stand a chance by then."
...
Since returning from Marshal's Manor, Liu Chengyong had pondered endlessly, yet he still dared not defy Strategist Ji's orders within the army. He couldn't bring himself to visit Li Yan at the Military Advisor's Mansion.
Whether he was stationed at North City, craning his neck to spot those three horses on the horizon, or waiting anxiously in the Military Camp for news of Li Yan's arrival, his anxiety grew like a pot of ants on a hot stove.
To obtain news of Li Yan's arrival, he had even asked his brothers on duty at the North Gate to inform him immediately if Lord Li entered the city, promising them a generous reward.
Little did he know that his actions had been interpreted by other squads as an attempt to curry favor, climbing the ladder by clinging to a powerful patron.
This led to men like Zeng Wen, who saw it as an opportunity for a joke, deliberately withholding the information from him. If Liu Chengyong had known this, he would have cursed these heartless brothers without restraint.
Over ten days passed with the matter unresolved. Fortunately, Marshal Hong hadn't pressed him for updates. Still, Liu Chengyong knew that the sooner he completed his superior's orders, the better. Prolonged delays would inevitably leave a negative impression of his competence.
Today, off duty, he sat in his room, contemplating whether to entrust a letter to Chen An, asking him to find a way to deliver it to Li Yan.
He had been pondering this matter for days, unable to devise a suitable pretext for writing the letter. He was no greenhorn; well-versed in the intricacies of officials, he couldn't afford to botch this due to his own incompetence.
Just as his anxiety reached its peak, unsure how to arrange a swift meeting with Li Yan, a soldier hurried in from outside.
The soldier announced that Lord Li had come to see him. Liu Chengyong paused briefly, then his heart surged with joy. Like a whirlwind, he strode toward the camp gate, leaving the messenger in his wake, who muttered to himself, "Even when your father came, you weren't this exuberant!"
Liu Chengyong reached the gate and spotted Li Yan and his two companions in the distance. He quickened his pace.
"Lord Li, how have you been? Hahaha!" His booming laughter drew curious glances from the on-duty soldiers, who wondered what had put Liu Chengyong in such a radiant mood.
"Thanks to Captain Liu, all is well, hehehe!" Li Yan replied with a smile as Liu Chengyong approached.
"What wind brings Lord Li here today? Do you have business with me?"
Liu Chengyong was pleased by Li Yan's politeness. Though he was eager to get down to business, he maintained the pretense of courtesy.
"Nothing urgent," Li Yan said. "I've been feeling cooped up at the Military Advisor's Mansion lately and came out for a change of scenery. I don't know many people in the city, so I thought I'd visit Captain Liu for a chat. I hope I'm not intruding?"
"Not at all! Not at all! I'm free today anyway. Hahaha... Where would you like to go?" Liu Chengyong replied, his laughter tinged with hesitation. He needed a private place to discuss matters with Li Yan, and this wasn't the right place.
"Hmm... How about a tour of the Military Camp? Though I'm a military man myself, I've never had a proper look around. I wonder if we can get in?" Li Yan mused.
"Well... that might be possible, but some areas require Marshal Hong's written authorization. You see..." Liu Chengyong paused, his hesitation evident.
"No problem. I just want to see the place. Consider it a chance to familiarize myself with the camp's layout."
Li Yan said, though it wasn't that he particularly wanted to enter the military camp, but rather that he was trying to shake off Chen An and Li Yin's watchful eyes.
Outside the camp, they had numerous reasons to protect him, but surely he didn't need their protection within the camp's walls?
"Lord Li, please!" Liu Chengyong immediately gestured for him to enter.
Chen An and Li Yin quickly stepped forward, and Li Yan frowned, turning back to snap, "Do I need your protection even within this military camp?" A hint of anger laced his voice.
Chen An handed the reins to Li Yin, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and smiled. "Young Master, it's been quite some time since we last visited this place. We'd like to catch up with old comrades in the camp. Please grant us permission."
Li Yan was speechless. What could he say? Could he really deny them the chance to visit their former brothers in arms? These two were truly a pair of slippery eels.
The four of them entered the camp in single file: Liu Chengyong and Li Yan in the lead, followed by Chen An and Li Yin leading their horses. As they walked slowly into the camp, the soldiers at the gate had overheard their conversation and recognized Li Yan's status. They also recognized Chen An and Li Yin, two veterans who had left the military years ago.
Li Yan's status, combined with Chen An and Li Yin's military backgrounds, ensured they faced no obstacles. Once inside the camp, the heavily guarded key areas were managed by other soldiers, relieving them of any concerns.
After entering the camp, Liu Chengyong led Li Yan to his quarters, while Chen An and Li Yin, familiar with the layout, headed straight for the stables.
After securing their three horses, they went to catch up with old acquaintances, whose locations happened to be in the same general direction as Li Yan's.
Even this brief separation provided Li Yan with the opportunity to speak privately with Liu Chengyong.
Upon reaching Liu Chengyong's quarters, Li Yan glanced back at Chen An and Li Yin, who were already deep in boisterous conversation with a group of veterans in the distance. Confirming the distance, he stepped inside the quarters.
The quarters were located in one of the rows of barracks. As a squad leader, Liu Chengyong enjoyed the privilege of a private room, sparing him from the crowded communal bunks.
Liu Chengyong's small quarters were sparsely furnished: a simple military cot, a long table, a wardrobe, and a weapons rack displaying several blades, swords, and spears.
After entering the room, Liu Chengyong looked at Li Yan with a hint of embarrassment.
"Military camps are always this spartan, Lord Li. Please don't hold it against us."
Li Yan waved it off dismissively.
"The military doesn't stand on ceremony. Why are you being so formal, Captain Liu? Stop calling me 'Lord Li' and just call me 'Brother Li.' Otherwise, I'll feel quite awkward, haha..."
Liu Chengyong's dark face flushed slightly. "That wouldn't be proper! One must never overstep the bounds of rank!"
Li Yan waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine. You know I only got this position by leveraging my Teacher's reputation. I don't care much for these formalities. Being called 'Lord Li' makes me feel like we're strangers."
As he spoke, Li Yan casually strolled around the room. When he reached the weapons rack, he seemed intrigued by the blades on display. He drew a fine sword and examined it closely in the light.
"This is truly an excellent sword," he remarked.
His words weren't mere flattery. Having often accompanied the adults on hunts in his village, Li Yan possessed a genuine understanding of weaponry.
Hearing Li Yan's praise and seeing his genuine interest in the sword, Liu Chengyong, a man of military background who disliked pretense, immediately smiled.
"Good eye, Brother Li! These aren't standard-issue weapons. They're prized trophies I seized on the battlefield. If you like any of them, feel free to take them."
A hint of pride crept into his voice. These blades were indeed far superior to ordinary military equipment.
Li Yan carefully examined the sword in his hand. Its polished surface gleamed in the light, radiating a chilling aura and a faint metallic tang of blood, a clear sign of a lethal weapon.
Liu Chengyong's words made Li Yan's eyes light up with interest.
(Chapter End)