Cui Buqu was held in the Second Prince's yurt. Khan Apa has deployed almost a hundred guards to man its surrounding. So, let alone one person, even a fly would not have been able to sneak inside while avoid being detected.
Under such circumstances, even if Feng Xiao's martial arts are par excellence, it would not be easy even for him to sneak in and save the one inside without sustaining any injuries.
Additionally, they have sworn that they only needed one day.
From dusk to dawn the time of a single day would pass by in the blink of an eye, yet Khan Apa could afford to wait.
Feng Xiao returned to the yurt they previously lived in together.
Qiao Xian has already heard about what happened, so she struggled to sit up and leaped onto her feet fuming like thunder, "How can you let the Commander stay there alone!"
Feng Xiao waved a hand, a look of uncaring, "Your Commander asked to remain there himself, what can I do about it?"
Qiao Xian felt fury fill her, throwing away all her control to remain polite and calm, "I refuse to believe the Commander would say that!"
Feng Xiao, "Then you can ask him yourself."
"Of course I will!" After she spoke, she left in a hurry.
However, Feng Xiao did not get the opportunity to have some peace to himself. Once Qiao Xian left, almost immediately, Jin Lian walked in.
She was no less anxious than Qiao Xian, because now, they are people on the same side, sailing the same boat. It was no longer possible to abandon said boat. Jin Lian could only thicken her face and watch where this 'broken boat' is sailing to.
"Lord Feng, how do you plan to look for the murderer? If you need help, you only need to ask."
Feng Xiao, "I have no ideas."
Jin Lian become even more anxious, "We only have one day. The sky has begin to approach dawn, and just now I notice that Khan Apa really did have the intention to kill. Even if you want to procrastinate, we cannot procrastinate for too long. If the murderer is not found, then Master Cui's life would be in danger!"
Feng Xiao, "There is something. I think you have also heard about it."
"Please enlighten me." Jin Lian felt a bad feeling sinking in.
Feng Xiao, "Between Cui Buqu and I, we both each hold the position of Commander in the Zuoyue Bureau and the Jiejian Bureau. Kings refuse to be ruled by kings. Perhaps it could be described as such. It is a little similar to the First Prince and the Second Prince, they both dislike each other. Both of them could not help but wish for the day that the other's luck would run out. Do you understand now?"
Jin Lian, "...I do not understand."
Feng Xiao clapped his hands, "I will be frank. Now that Cui Buqu is held under arrest, if I do not care for him, then the Zuoyue Bureau would lose its Commander, and I would lose myself a rival. However, for me, this is good news. What good reason is there for me to rescue him?"
Jin Lian stared wide eyed, her tongue tangled into knots. "But… but this thing about your duty. Did you people not come here to form an alliance?"
"This was originally Cui Buqu's duty, not mine. The reason I came along with him, was so I could contribute to the cause and earn myself some achievement." Feng Xiao spoke as if was the way it should be, "If this succeeds, then I will prevail. Otherwise, if it fails, then I only need to return and push all the responsibility onto Cui Buqu, then I will have nothing blamed upon me. Don't you think so?"
Jin Lian: "..."
Feng Xiao smiled, "He loves to pit others. So this time it's time he gets a taste of his own medicine. It is fine if you were wondering why I wasn't clapping my hands in celebration, but do you really want me to rescue him from this pit?"
As he finished speaking, he cared not what expression Jin Lian showed, simply turning his body and headed outside.
He was talking to himself as he walked.
"Right now, he is definitely imprisoned by headaches. It is a pity I cannot see Master Taoist Cui scratching his ear as he could not think of a plan. Tomorrow, when the time comes, reminiscing on the sentiment that we were both subjects of the Crown, I will accompany him through his penalty."
Jin Lian watched as Feng Xiao left and could not help but feel her head spinning.
She felt a strong urge to rush in front of Cui Buqu right now, to tell him, that he placed his trust on the wrong person. Feng Xiao never cared about his safety, and not only that, but he would even clap his hands happily as he watch him die.
However, perhaps Cui Buqu really did have a plan to make this crumbling boat set sail once more?
If she spoke now, then she would have ruined his plans.
Jin Lian stood alone on her spot, feeling her heart tying itself into a knot.
Khan Apa did not limit Feng Xiao's actions. He knew that no one would be Feng Xiao's match, so he could only order people to follow him around and report his actions back to him.
Feng Xiao did not use the chance to escape, neither did he run around looking for the murderer. He was enjoying himself as he took a saunter in the grasslands, admiring the grasses and trees. Looking here and there, wandering here and there. Merchants from the Western Regions arrived, and they brought the most welcomed ceramic pots and silk. Feng Xiao also went over to their place, talked with a few of them, and even enjoyed a round of delicious roasted lamb meat.
Although there was no alliance between the courts of Göktürks and the Central Plains, they would not reject or hinder the merchants. Because once those Göktürk royalty got used to the silk and ceramic items, it was very difficult for them to reject them.
The taste of lamb meat mixed with bezoin, once entered the mouth, it would melt like butter. After that, added with a string of juicy grapes, this is indeed an excellent mixture that could not be found in his homeland. However, these two types of food were far more delicious than what could be found in the Central Plains.
The merchants came from very faraway hands. There were Han people among them, but there were also exotic races with high noses and deep eyes. It was difficult for the Han people to meet someone from their homeland, so they very welcomingly invited Feng Xiao to have a meal with them. Feng Xiao was not shy at all, so he indulged himself in the roasted lamb ribs as if it would be difficult for him to eat anything so delicious anymore in the future.
When the host caught him putting the lamb ribs down after a while, he even thought that it was not suited to his taste, so he ordered his men to bring another dish of beef.
Feng Xiao said, "It has nothing to do with the meat, only that I could not help feeling the taste is a bit bland."
The one roasting the meat felt a little strange, "I have put a lot of salt. If my Lord prefers heavier tastes, you may try adding even more salt."
Feng Xiao shook his head.
He himself also felt strange.
Logically speaking, now he is a free man without burdens. He only needed to pat his butt and return to the Central Plains, then he could see the Zuoyue Bureau now without a leader, turning into chaos inside. Never again would another person try to question the authority of the Jiejian Bureau, and in this world, the number of intelligent people would be decreased by one.
Yet, why is it that, he does not feel satisfied at all?
Feng Xiao stared at the tasteless lamb rib in front of him and sighed.
"Without someone to bicker with me, it really does feel uncomfortable."
He left the banquet and followed the edge of the glass field as he walked.
A white crane flew over and landed on a place not far from him.
White feathers that sprouted from its body fluttered, creating an illusional look of softness and gentleness. The radiant curve of the back of its neck reminded him of Cui Buqu's lazy posture as he lay on his bed, refusing to get up.
Of course, its beak looked like Cui Buqu's accused mouth the most, long and sharp, fully prepared to peck at anyone.
Once Feng Xiao imagined Cui Buqu with a bird's beak in his mind, a series of laughter could not help but burst from his mouth.
Jin Lian has been trying hard searching for him, so she rushed over, hoping to persuade him, and in that moment she heard his long, smooth, and natural laugh.
In her heart, she said: Cui Buqu really is unlucky. He is in such a situation, yet Feng Xiao is behaving so happily? It seems like he would be unwilling to help at all.
Jin Lian sighed. Since the matter has come to this, she would have no choice but to see Cui Buqu and see if he had a plan to turn the tides around.
However, at this moment, Feng Xiao turned around and asked in a strange tone, "Why are you here?"
Jin Lian did not wish to say more, so she said plainly, "Nothing. I am leaving. Lord Feng, please enjoy yourself."
"Wait." Feng Xiao called after her, "Is the HeiYue Shaman's corpse still here?"
Jin Lian shook her head, "It was burnt beyond recognition. It was cremated on the spot. But all Shamans are cremated after death."
Feng Xiao, "Then is that stone hut still there? Can you get both his disciples to talk to me? I have something to ask them."
Jin Lian asked suspiciously, "Are you finally considering rescuring Master Cui?"
Feng Xiao smiled, "There is only one Cui Buqu in this world. If he died, then where can I go to find someone so interesting again?"
...
Qiao Xian did not rest. Her previous injuries were not light, so it was impossible for her to rescue Cui Buqu, and so was rushing into the place just to see him. Until the First Prince's arrival, watching her lingering outside the yurt, only did he convince the guards to let her in out of philantrophy so she could see Cui Buqu.
It seemed that Cui Buqu did not receive any torture. He was sitting on his knees in the center, closing his eyes as he rested, as if he wasn't aware that this death is nigh.
"Commander!" Qian Xian walked up to him and fell onto her knees.
"I apologize for my incapability. I will definitely think of a way to rescue you out of this place, so you would be shamed further!"
Cui Buqu, "Where is Feng Xiao?"
Qiao Xian was furious, "Don't place your hopes on him! He never had the intention to rescue you!"
Cui Buqu said in a low voice, "Please bring my words to him. Tell him this: tell him to go as far as possible, never to come for me, tell him to not even think of taking revenge on Khan Apa. There are countless martial artists by his side, with just the two of you, it is impossible to win against them."
Qiao Xian was shocked.
If it wasn't for Cui Buqu's calmness, pale yet peaceful expression, she would definitely thought that the other was out of his mind.
Cui Buqu asked, "What time is it now?"
Qiao Xian, "It is half past six. The first light has come."
Cui Buqu announced, "Let's not delay any further. If you want to rescue me, then bring these words to him."
Qian Xian thought left and right and she could not tell what was so special about these words. She feared that once Feng Xiao hears this, he would be even happier and leave without thinking twice.
But she would obey Cui Buqu's command, no matter what.
Without hesitating, Qiao Xian rose to her feet and left.
Cui Buqu watched her leave, disappearing behind the curtains, before slowly taking out the ceramic bottle from his sleeve. He pulled the incense burner next to him before pouring everything inside.
Göktürk royalties held love for products made in Han lands. There were false replicates of them everywhere, and these sort of incense burner and incense that would only be found in the houses of the wealthy were seen everywhere.
Cui Buqu stared as the incense burner emitted light smoke that very quickly dissipated into the air without a trace, carrying a light and clear sweet scent.
He stared at the incense burner for the longest time before suddenly shouting in Göktürk, "I want to see Khan Apa! Tell him, if he refuses to see me, the terrible result would ensue is something beyond his imagination!"
Had he been just a normal prisoner, the guards would simply ignore him without a care. But Cui Buqu's identity wasn't just anyone, so when the guard heard him, they immediately reported to the Khan.
It was rare to see the Khan not indulging in his beauties, and not attending any meeting either. The guard entered as the other sat on his knees in the center of the yurt, both hands in a lotus grip. No matter how one looks, it definitely looked strange.
However, the guard refused to ask after him, he immediately conveyed to him Cui Buqu's message.
Khan Apa did not show immense anger. Instead, he peacefully listened to the guard as he finished talking. A strange smile spread across a face that was corroded by beauty and age.
"Cui Buqu." For the first time this name was uttered by the Göktürk Khan with the utmost accuracy, soft and slow, as if he could taste it on his tongue.
Until Khan Apa rose to his feet and walked towards Cui Buqu's yurt, only did the guard pause for a moment, realizing that just now, the Khan was speaking in Han.