Chapter 39: Clouds in Motion
Li Yan quickly reached the North City Gate, his pace unwavering as he scanned his surroundings, wary of a sudden encounter with Strategist Ji.
He swiftly passed through the gate and exited the city, his mind racing.
"Apart from the slight delay confronting Liu Chengyong at the rear gate of the military supply depot, everything else went smoothly and within the time I had anticipated.
Roughly calculating, from entering the military camp to now, it's been less than half an incense stick's time. Chen An and Li Yin shouldn't suspect anything yet, and Ji Wenhe should still be at the Marshal's manor."
As he pondered, he emerged from the gate and found no sign of Chen An or Li Yin waiting to intercept him.
If they had already realized his escape, they would undoubtedly be stationed at the North or South Gates, blocking his other exits. After exchanging a casual greeting with the city guards, he hurried away.
The guards were surprised. First, why was Lord Li walking out when he had ridden in? Second, where were his two ever-present escorts?
But they dared not ask, simply returning his greeting and letting him pass.
Once outside the city, Li Yan traveled less than half a li before abruptly veering westward into the Great Qing Mountains. He wasn't foolish enough to linger on the main road, which would only increase his chances of encountering pursuers, the last thing he wanted.
Inside the Marshal's Residence, Strategist Ji watched Marshal Hong's deeply furrowed brow and helplessly took another sip of his tea.
It was well past noon. They had spent over an hour discussing military matters, then repeatedly deliberated on countermeasures.
"This is the fourth plan!" Strategist Ji exclaimed after taking a sip of tea, leaning back in his chair. Though these matters didn't require spiritual energy, they were mentally exhausting.
After a moment, seeing Marshal Hong still deep in thought, Strategist Ji spoke again. "Marshal, this plan integrates the flaws of the previous three. All foreseeable contingencies have been addressed. Military strategy emphasizes thorough planning, but actual warfare demands adaptability. There's no such thing as a foolproof plan."
As he spoke, Strategist Ji's expression shifted, and he glanced toward the door.
Marshal Hong, who had been listening intently, noticed the advisor's sudden silence. He looked up and saw Ji staring intently at the main hall's entrance, though he himself saw nothing and heard no sound.
Puzzled, Marshal Hong's ears twitched again. This time, faint footsteps reached his ears, and his face grew grave.
'His internal energy has grown even more formidable, yet his complexion has deteriorated further. The poison's potency is evident.
If this had happened to me, I'd have had to expend at least eighty or ninety percent of my internal energy to suppress it. By that calculation, the remaining bit would barely qualify me as a second-rate martial artist in the martial world.
Yet after suppressing this deadly poison, his remaining internal energy far surpasses my own at my peak. It's truly astonishing.'
A voice came from outside the main hall:
"Marshal, the gold and silver collected as taxes this month have been loaded onto the carts. They await your personal inspection before being escorted to the rear garrison."
Strategist Ji's face momentarily betrayed a flicker of mockery, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He knew Marshal Hong's nature well: aside from his obsession with martial arts manuals from various sects, the man was equally fixated on wealth.
The frontier had enjoyed relative peace in recent years. The Imperial Dynasty had long since issued decrees prohibiting local residents from migrating, ostensibly to demonstrate their patriotic loyalty.
This created a high demand for daily necessities, drawing merchants and adventurers eager to strike it rich. As a result, the region's economy had flourished.
Since arriving here, Marshal Hong had seized absolute power, controlling both military and administrative affairs and personally managing all local tax revenues.
Marshal Hong knew better than to push things too far, lest he incite public resentment. After setting aside forty percent of the revenue for the local government, he converted the remaining sixty percent into gold and silver each month and transferred it directly to the military as "military pay."
He was naturally uneasy about leaving this military pay at this heavily fortified border city. If left to accumulate over time, the sum would become substantial, and if the city fell, there would be no time to evacuate it.
Therefore, every month he would find time to transport the funds to the rear garrison camps. Each shipment required his personal inspection and sealing before departure.
Strategist Ji, a cultivator who looked down upon worldly wealth, scoffed at this practice.
Upon hearing this, Marshal Hong grinned at Strategist Ji.
"Military Advisor, you're absolutely right. There's no foolproof plan in this world. After much deliberation, I've decided to adopt your final proposal. I'll convene a meeting with the generals and staff later to discuss the details."
Strategist Ji immediately understood that the marshal's mind was no longer on the matter. He rose, bowed deeply, and said, "Since the decision is made, I'll withdraw from further involvement. My health has been deteriorating recently, so I'll return to recuperate."
"Ah, very well... Military Advisor, you must take care of yourself. If you need any medicinal herbs, just ask, and I'll send men to search for them with all their might. But as for the poison afflicting you, I'm afraid I can't help. I only regret my crude martial arts skills. Alas!"
Strategist Ji merely smiled at these words, clasped his hands and strode out of the main hall.
Watching his retreating figure, Marshal Hong's expression gradually darkened. After a moment, he turned to the rear of the hall.
"Junior Brother, since the report has arrived, let's go check on that boy in the back."
With a flicker of movement, Marshal Hong vanished behind the door. A figure emerged swiftly from the rear of the hall and followed him.
Inside a room in the rear garden of the Marshal's Manor:
"Hmm? Why are you alone? What exactly happened?"
Marshal Hong entered the room and casually closed the door behind him. The figure who had followed him didn't enter, but neither could he be seen in the garden outside, as if he had vanished into thin air.
Marshal Hong's gaze swept the room, his face darkening like a thundercloud. Liu Chengyong stood alone, his face etched with anxiety. He quickly rose to his feet upon seeing the marshal enter.
Liu Chengyong knelt on one knee, his head bowed in shame as he clasped his hands in a formal salute.
"Marshal, this subordinate is incompetent. I failed to bring Li Yan here. Please punish me accordingly."
Marshal Hong's face darkened as he spoke coldly.
"Speak!"
Half a cup of tea's time later, Marshal Hong carefully examined the two pages of the letter, the small porcelain bottle resting on the table beside him.
He reread the letter several times, his expression shifting between doubt and disbelief. Finally, he tucked the pages into his robe.
"So, Li Yan's martial arts are actually superior to yours?"
"Yes, Marshal. I stake my life on it. His aura is exceptionally dense. If a single strike failed, it would've undoubtedly drawn attention."
Liu Chengyong spoke with genuine bewilderment, still struggling to comprehend how anyone could cultivate their internal energy to such a level in just a few months. How could such a martial arts heart method exist?
Marshal Hong rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, his face mirroring Liu Chengyong's disbelief.
If this man weren't a loyal subordinate who had followed him for over a decade, he might have struck him down for such absurd claims. Yet he knew Liu Chengyong would never lie to him.
"You may return now," Marshal Hong said after a pause.
Liu Chengyong breathed a sigh of relief, quickly saluted, and hurried out of the room, his back already soaked with sweat.
'So Brother Li wasn't lying after all. After reading the letter, the Marshal's anger vanished. I wonder what it said.'
Marshal Hong stood in the room for a moment before retrieving a letter from his robe.
"Junior Brother, take a look at this."
A figure drifted silently into the room from outside. When it came to a stop, it revealed an exceptionally burly man.
Despite his massive frame, his movements were surprisingly light and graceful, creating a striking contrast.
The big man took the letter and studied it intently, repeatedly scrutinizing a single page.
"Hiss, Senior Brother, this kid actually gave us the cultivation technique."
"Indeed. This is the first level of the Wood Yin Art. Junior Brother, can you discern its authenticity?"
The big man picked up the page again and examined it more closely.
"Junior Brother, I've also studied it carefully. Some of the circulation methods are completely unheard of. With my current knowledge, I can't immediately determine whether they're genuine," Marshal Hong said.
"But this kid only gave us the first level. He'll provide the rest after we help him complete his remaining tasks. I can't immediately verify the technique's authenticity either. Hmm, should we test this cultivation method?" the big man asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Marshal Hong didn't answer immediately. He rested his chin on his hand, considering the matter under the burly man's expectant gaze.
"I've also considered your suggestion, Junior Brother," he said after a moment, "but the path of internal energy cultivation isn't one where immediate results can be achieved with a single attempt."
The room fell silent again before Marshal Hong continued.
"Still, it's worth a try. Perhaps we can experience his cultivation technique firsthand and gain some insights. The problem is that brat is using the advanced stages of the technique to blackmail us into helping him..."
A fierce glint flashed in Marshal Hong's eyes, and his tone turned sinister.
"Senior Brother, I'll test this technique. If it's genuine, helping him will be worth it. At worst, we can always kill him later. That backwoods brat dares to act so insolently? Hmph!"
"Very well, Junior Brother. Let's go to the secret chamber. I'll protect you while you try it."
Marshal Hong picked up the small porcelain bottle from the table, tucked it into his robe, and turned to leave, muttering to himself.
"Still, that brat has some tricks up his sleeve. How did he manage to put this thing on Ji Wenhe's body? Heh heh heh... I'm almost reluctant to kill him now.
But he's too cunning. If he can pull this on us, wouldn't we risk falling into his trap if we let our guard down?"
Chen An and Li Yin, as restless as ants on a hot pan, hurried out of the military camp.
They had been chatting with old colleagues in the camp for about a few hours, but Li Yan still hadn't emerged. Their anxiety grew with each passing moment.
They frequently glanced toward the center of the Military Camp, occasionally exchanging worried looks. After a while, they exchanged another glance, rose simultaneously, apologized to the group, and moved aside to whisper.
A few minutes later, they steeled their nerves and approached the Central Military Tent. Trespassing in this heavily guarded area without military orders could cost them their heads.
Before they reached the tent, patrolling soldiers spotted them and demanded their passes.
Fortunately, both men were veterans. They explained they had urgent business with Lord Ji and asked the soldiers to relay their request.
The patrol saw their urgency and recognized them as members of the Military Advisor's Mansion. One soldier went to report to the Central Military Tent.
Shortly after, the messenger returned, his face grim.
"Are you two mocking me? Lord Ji hasn't even arrived at the camp today! Get out of here immediately, or I'll have you arrested!"
Chen An and Li Yin immediately sensed danger. They quickly thanked the patrol and rushed toward the camp gate.
The patrol watched their frantic figures with bewildered expressions.
"Looks like finding Lord Ji is a matter of life and death."
Chen An and Li Yin knew the military camp had only one exit. They hadn't even considered the rear exit near the supply depot, that area was the heart of the camp's defenses, and not a place for casual comings and goings.
Upon reaching the gate, they urgently questioned the guards, only to receive news that sent their hearts plummeting.
"Lord Li left alone more than two hours ago."
Unbeknownst to them, these guards had been specifically stationed here by Marshal Hong, awaiting their arrival.
Chen An and Li Yin turned pale, realizing they had made a grave mistake. Lord Ji had issued a strict order: they were never to leave Li Yan's side.
Overwhelmed by shock and anger, they nearly lost their composure and confronted the guards. But the guard calmly retorted,
"If Lord Li wanted to leave, what right did I have to stop him? Do you expect us to defy our superiors?"
Chen An and Li Yin, furious, hastily mounted their horses and rode off, one toward the South Gate and the other toward the North Gate. If Li Yan had left the city, he would surely have passed through one of these gates. If he was still inside, everything would be much easier.
Fifteen minutes later, they reconvened at their agreed-upon meeting point. After exchanging information, they galloped toward the Military Advisor's Mansion.
At the North Gate, they had easily learned that Li Yan had already left the city two hours earlier. This news filled them with anxiety, yet a sliver of hope remained.
Before long, they arrived at the Military Advisor's Mansion. Leaping from their horses, they rushed into the valley, drawing curious glances from the people outside.
Forgetting the warning against entering the inner valley without permission, they charged straight toward Li Yan's quarters. But when they burst into the room, it was empty. No one was there.
Their backs drenched in sweat, they hurried back outside and scanned the valley. The small valley could be surveyed at a glance. Apart from the swaying wildflowers, the trickling spring water on the rock walls, and the gentle breeze, there was nothing else.
Just as they were about to begin a thorough search of the valley, hoping to find Li Yan hiding in the water pool, lying in the flower patch, or even in the latrine, a voice suddenly called out from behind them.
"Why are there only two of you? Where's Li Yan?"
(Chapter End)