Pinned firmly under Dai Mubai's foot, Kui Shan's body trembled violently, a pathetic mix of terror and the lingering urge to urinate. He looked up at Ye Yin's gentle smile, which seemed to pierce right through his soul, and his psychological defenses completely collapsed.
"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Please, just stop using that evil art on me!" Kui Shan begged, his voice cracking. The experience of the curse had been worse than death, and the mere thought of it was terrifying. "It was Prince Dai Weisi and Miss Zhu Zhuyun! They knew you would definitely come to the Star Luo Empire and have already set up an inescapable net!"
He spilled everything he knew in a desperate rush. "This ambush was just the first appetizer. Its purpose was to test your strength, and if possible, to wear you down or even eliminate one or two of you before you even reached the capital."
He continued, the words tumbling out of him. "After the Prince and Miss returned to Star Luo, their reputations took a massive hit because of their defeat in the tournament, especially… especially after those scandals started to spread…" At this, Kui Shan cautiously glanced at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. "They were questioned by elders within the imperial family and their own family, even by those who used to support them. So, they started a frantic purge in the Imperial City, suppressing anyone who might lean towards… well, towards Prince Mubai and Miss Zhuqing."
His voice was filled with a growing sense of dread. "Now, the entire Imperial City is on high alert, and it's crawling with their informants. They anticipated you would try to infiltrate the city, so they've set up strict checkpoints on all major roads. They're checking every unfamiliar Spirit Master, especially those who match your descriptions. They also spent a fortune to hire assassins from a group called Shadow Stream. I heard their leader is a Spirit Saint-level assassin who specializes in high-value targets. The Prince and Miss themselves are in closed-door cultivation. They received a massive amount of resources from their families, and their strength has improved greatly. They're just waiting for you to walk into their trap."
As Kui Shan spoke, he seemed to see the invisible net that had been cast over the Star Luo Imperial City. The expressions on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's faces grew increasingly grim. The situation was even more severe than they had imagined. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun had clearly been pushed to a point of desperation, willing to pay any price to eliminate them.
"Shadow Stream… a Spirit Saint assassin…" Tang San's brow furrowed. This was a huge threat.
"The Imperial City is a dragon's den right now," Ning Rongrong said worriedly.
Xiao Wu, however, just waved her fists. "So what if he's a Spirit Saint? We have Yin Ge!"
Ye Yin gently patted Xiao Wu's head before turning his attention back to Kui Shan. "Inside the Imperial City, is there anyone left who supports Mubai and Zhuqing? Or at least, anyone who is unhappy with Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun?"
Kui Shan racked his brain. "Yes! There are! There's an Old Prince of the imperial family, from Prince Mubai's grandfather's generation. He's been bedridden for years, but he has always disliked Prince Dai Weisi's methods. There are also several elders in the Zhu family who have criticized Miss Zhu Zhuyun's aggressive tactics. And… General Lei Meng, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards! He used to be an old subordinate of Prince Mubai's mother's family." He rattled off a few more names, providing crucial information that could be their only hope.
"Very good," Ye Yin nodded, seemingly satisfied. "For your cooperation…"
A flicker of hope appeared in Kui Shan's eyes.
Ye Yin snapped his fingers. Kui Shan's body went stiff, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted. "Disable his spirit power," Ye Yin told Dai Mubai. "Hand him over to the Yin Feng Guard when they arrive and have them take him back to the territory." He then looked at Ying Shu, who was still sparkling faintly and emitting a sweet fragrance, and repeated the process. For such minor enemies, Ye Yin couldn't be bothered to waste any more creative curses.
After cleaning up the scene, the group returned to their temporary camp outside Black Stone Town. The atmosphere around the campfire was somber. The situation in the Star Luo Imperial City was dire, a fortress of powerful enemies where danger lurked at every turn.
"Yin Ge, what's the plan?" Dai Mubai asked. Although he was furious, he remained calm enough to think clearly. Walking straight into the Imperial City would be suicide.
Ye Yin pondered for a moment. "Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun think they have us trapped, that we'll try to sneak in. So, we'll do the opposite. They're strictly checking for unfamiliar Spirit Masters? Then we'll become familiar faces. We need a legitimate identity to walk right through their front gates."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "An identity? We could disguise ourselves as a merchant caravan! My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has a branch in the Star Luo Imperial City. I can have them arrange it!"
"That's a good start, but it's not enough," Ye Yin nodded. "Even members of a caravan will be scrutinized, especially the Spirit Masters. We need something more." His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Tang San. "Little San, do you have any of the hidden weapons you made? Like the Godly Zhuge Crossbow?"
Tang San nodded, feeling a spark of pride. "I still have some. Yin Ge, you need them?" Finally, his hidden weapons would be put to good use.
"I don't just need them," Ye Yin said, a clever arc forming on his lips. "We are going to send a grand gift to Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun. A gift so grand they can't possibly refuse it, one that will force them to receive us publicly."
He lowered his voice and began to explain his plan. As the others listened, their eyes grew brighter, and the grim looks on their faces were gradually replaced by excitement.
"Yin Ge, that's brilliant!" Dai Mubai slapped his thigh. Even Zhu Zhuqing's lips curved into a rare, faint smile.
"I'll contact the head of our branch in the capital right away and have them cooperate!" Ning Rongrong said immediately.
Only Tang San looked confused. "Yin Ge, why does it have to be my hidden weapons?"
"Are your hidden weapons not good enough for the task?" Ye Yin asked casually.
"Of course they are!" Tang San said, a little defensively. "But if my weapons are so strong, wouldn't we just be helping the enemy?"
"What are you talking about?" Ye Yin said with a puzzled look. "My hidden weapons are trash?"
Ye Yin waved his hands. "Little San, I never said that." A wave of pure resentment flowed from the utterly confused Tang San.
A few days later, at a Star Luo Empire border checkpoint, a sizable caravan was undergoing a strict inspection. It flew the banner of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and its wagons were filled with exquisite glazed tiles, rare herbs, and various spirit tools. Ye Yin, Dai Mubai, and the others were disguised as caravan guards, porters, and accountants. They had concealed their spirit power and blended in with the crowd. With their ordinary clothes and faces that had been slightly altered by some of Ye Yin's simple medicines, they were completely inconspicuous.
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