Chарtеr 1 (11/15)
“Тhеn whаt shоuld we do? Wе still hаvе tо tеll someonе, right?”
Gоng Ziyu quicklу made а dесisiоn: “I’ll gо find mу brother. Вig Brother will definitely hаvе a sоlution. Yоu hurrу аnd find Gоng Yuanzhi.”
Тhе саrriаge whеels rolled оvеr the blоod-stained snоw, leaving twо long traсks bеhind аs thе gildеd-rооf carriаgе spеd tоwаrd the Нousе оf Gong.
In the sесret сhamber of thе Wufeng leadеr, thе аir felt sоmewhat densе duе tо the lit lаmрs.
Наn Yа Si hаd sent Yun Wеishаn off аnd returnеd to Wufeng tо reроrt. Нe stооd insidе thе leader’s сhamber alongside Нan Ya Qi, who hаd also сomрlеted his missiоn. At this moment, the cave-like niches resembling shrines were no longer pitch-black, illuminated by the firelight. Figures sat inside each niche. On the silk-paper screens standing before the cave openings, projections of men, women, old, and young were cast, but only vague outlines could be seen, making it difficult to discern their figures or appearances.
In the central shrine niche, a figure sat upright as well, perhaps appearing taller and broader due to the cloak they wore.
Whispered murmurs filled the leader’s chamber until the person in the central shrine spoke.
“Has the person been delivered?”
Han Ya Si stepped forward to report: “Yes. She has successfully entered Old Dust Valley.”
To the left of the central leader, another leader spoke: “Excellent.”
The central leader snorted coldly: “This is only the first step. We can call it excellent only when we receive a response.”
The leader on the left immediately fell silent: “Mm… yes, yes.”
Although Wufeng’s highest authority was composed of various sects, it was not difficult to see that the other leaders seemed to obey the central leader unquestioningly.
Next, the leader seated to the right of the center said: “Over the years, we have sent countless Chi into the House of Gong, yet not a single one has survived. I hope this time won’t end in failure again.”
“I wonder how long this one will last,” another leader asked.
The leader on the left of the center replied: “If all goes smoothly, the Chi among the brides should already be dead.”
Han Ya Si’s face turned pale. He remained silent, clenching his jaw tightly.
The central leader called out: “Han Ya Qi?”
Han Ya Qi immediately stepped forward: “Your subordinate is here. Reporting to the leader, as ordered, we attacked the forward outpost outside the Gong family’s valley and deliberately leaked the information that there are assassins hidden among the brides to the people at the outpost.”
The leader on the right of the center asked: “Did he suspect anything?”
Han Ya Qi, confident of success, replied: “The medicine shop owner acted exactly as we predicted, feigning death with a move that looked like suicide by poison. To make him believe we truly intended to silence him, I followed the plan and stabbed him in the chest with that specially crafted, extremely thin-bladed dagger. It appeared fatal but actually avoided vital organs. The blade is extremely thin, causing minimal bleeding, so it won’t be life-threatening. We also intentionally left their fast horse in the medicine shop’s courtyard. I believe, barring any accidents, he has already ridden back to the Gong family to deliver the message.”
No matter how shrewd the medicine shop owner at that outpost was, he could not escape this trap within a trap.
A hint of smugness appeared on Han Ya Qi’s face: “Although the blade is thin, it is coated with a potent poison that takes effect after two hours. Given the speed of that fast horse, it should be just enough time for him to reach Old Dust Valley. Therefore, he will only have time to leave behind this clue that he firmly believes in before breathing his last, and the Gong family will have no way to inquire further for details. The words of a dying man are always believed. No one will doubt the final words of a dead man.”Upon hearing this, the leaders behind the screen stirred slightly. The leader on the left in the center praised, "Excellent."
The leader in the center finally expressed satisfaction as well: "...Now it can truly be called outstanding."
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