"Jiang Wenbo and Yu Furen went to investigate Windbreak Forest. If Yu Furen is a spy for the Dissolute Shop, wouldn't Jiang Wenbo be in danger?" At dusk, Tang Lici was reading in his room when Shen Langhun entered slowly. "Last night's ambush clearly shows his stance isn't aligned with the Sword Association."
Tang Lici still held his copy of Three Character Classic , seemingly stuck between the third and fourth page. "Whether there's a spy in the Sword Association will be revealed tonight." Shen Langhun approached him. "Are you implying Yu Furen definitely isn't the spy?" Tang Lici smiled faintly. "To infiltrate the Central Plains Sword Association, one needs considerable status—otherwise they couldn't participate in crucial meetings or obtain useful intelligence. Though Yu Furen is skilled with promising prospects, he's still inexperienced. If I were Hong Guniang, I'd never choose him... Besides, while Yu Furen comes from an assassin background, he isn't the scheming, cunning type..." His gaze returned to the book. "I suspect he's just a filial son, resenting me purely over Yu Qifeng's matter."
"Hah, the world believes you killed Yu Qifeng and destroyed Yu Family Sword Manor," Shen Langhun remarked coolly. "Why never explain? You weren't the one who fired the poisoned needle that killed Yu Qifeng, nor the one who detonated explosives to obliterate his remains. Strictly speaking, his death has nothing to do with you." Tang Lici's lips curved ambiguously as he changed the subject. "Where's Chi Yun?"
"Don't know." Shen Langhun spoke slowly. "I searched the courtyard—the child's missing too." Tang Lici's eyes flickered toward the tallest tree in the Hall of Sharp Virtue. "Hm?" Following his gaze, Shen Langhun saw Chi Yun lying on a treetop branch, arms behind his head. A bamboo basket hung from a high bough, with Feng Feng peeking over its edge, waving his limbs excitedly—clearly delighted by this aerial game—emitting duckling-like giggles. "He seems carefree."
"He isn't," Tang Lici's gaze returned to his book. "He's troubled by something he doesn't understand himself." Shen Langhun paused. "Troubled?" Tang Lici continued, "Resentment over his last capture, an obsession with that defeat. Chi Yun's martial arts excel through momentum—fierce, swift, irrevocable strikes are his winning edge. Losing that momentum affects him deeply. And... his anguish isn't just about the capture..." Shen Langhun said quietly, "Related to Bai Suche?" Tang Lici smiled. "Mm." After a silence, Shen Langhun murmured, "Next time we fight, I'll watch over him." Tang Lici nodded. Suddenly Shen Langhun asked, "If there really is a spy, they'd know about tonight's reconnaissance. If it were you, how would you alter the situation?"Tang Lici turned a page of the book. "Regardless of whether Jiang Wenbo or Yu Furen is the spy—or even if there's a spy within the Sword Association at all—the outcome of tonight's reconnaissance mission to Avoid Wind Forest won't change. First, neither Jiang Wenbo nor Yu Furen possesses the strength to break through the forest's outer defenses. Second, Avoid Wind Forest has remained hidden for so long precisely because it must be fortified with formations, secret passages, and traps. Neither of them excels in such mechanisms, so even if they breach the perimeter, they'll return empty-handed. Third, since Yu Furen once tracked down one of Avoid Wind Forest's experts, the place is undoubtedly on high alert by now." He smiled faintly. "Fourth, given the disparity in strength, why wouldn’t Dissolute Shop seize them effortlessly? Tonight’s mission will inevitably end with Jiang Wenbo and Yu Furen captured alive."
Shen Langhun frowned. "So what you're saying is—you deliberately revealed Avoid Wind Forest's location, prompting Shao Yanping to dispatch men for reconnaissance, essentially delivering them into Dissolute Shop’s hands?"
Tang Lici smiled. "Precisely."
Shen Langhun’s brows furrowed deeper. "I fail to see how handing hostages to the enemy benefits us in any way."
Tang Lici rolled up the book and lightly tapped the bedside. "If there’s a spy from Dissolute Shop within the Central Plains Sword Association, they’d know about tonight’s mission. Capturing those two would expose the hideout’s location just as surely as letting them return would. Since the outcome is the same either way, holding them as bargaining chips is better than allowing them to report back." The corner of his lips curled like the delicate tip of a summer lotus bud. "If I were Hong Guniang, and my spy informed me that our plan to isolate Good Cloud Mountain had failed, and that our opponents intended to strike first—this would be the perfect moment for a bold gamble..."
"A gamble?" Shen Langhun seemed to grasp something, murmuring, "You mean—"
Tang Lici set the book gently on the table. "Since we’ve long anticipated a decisive battle, and with Good Cloud Mountain now weakened by the loss of two key fighters—while we assume their next move will target two minor factions—why wouldn’t they seize this perfect opportunity to strike immediately? Should they wait until we ally with 'Little Knife Society' and 'Silver Seven Alliance' to launch a preemptive attack on Avoid Wind Forest?"
Shen Langhun was stunned. "You... you... deliberately sent two hostages to Dissolute Shop to force them into immediate action? A decisive battle at Good Cloud Mountain tonight?" Such a grand scheme, executed unilaterally without consulting anyone—how could this be allowed?
"If—there is a spy in the Sword Association, tonight will be the night of reckoning," Tang Lici said with a faint smile. "If—there isn’t, then perhaps Yu Furen and Jiang Wenbo will return unharmed. Though... the odds are slim." His eyes curved slightly, fox-like in their slyness. "I refuse to believe the Central Plains Sword Association is entirely clean. Cheng Yunpao encountered that deceitful Taoist from Wudang, was lured north to Cat Sprout Peak, and then ambushed and severely wounded—how could that be mere coincidence? Only someone within the Sword Association could have known Cheng Yunpao’s whereabouts, don’t you think?"
Shen Langhun exhaled slowly. "You’re unsure who the spy is, so you act unilaterally, keeping the Sword Association in the dark about the impending battle... Aren’t you afraid of heavy casualties? What if we lose tonight—""The Sword Association is completely unprepared?" Tang Lici let out a soft laugh, one that carried mockery, jest, and provocation alike. "Shao Yanping is a true old fox. When I asked him to send hostages to the Dissolute Shop, he dispatched Jiang Wenbo and Yu Furen. What does that imply?" His eyes slowly curved upward as he cast an exceedingly sly glance at Shen Langhun. "Yu Furen ambushed me with a sword last night, and Jiang Wenbo... standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Cheng Yunpao, their camaraderie must run deep. Tracking his movements shouldn't be difficult—Shao Yanping sending these two means he doesn't trust them." Shen Langhun's gaze flickered. "Meaning he understood your underlying scheme?" Tang Lici replied gently, "Mmm..." After a brief pause, he added, "Will Puzhu Shangshi arrive at Good Cloud Mountain today?"
Shen Langhun answered indifferently, "Indeed." Tang Lici's eyes narrowed slightly. "Just as I thought. Tonight will be a bitter battle." Shen Langhun frowned. Tonight was always going to be a bitter fight—what did Puzhu Shangshi's arrival have to do with it? "Surely you don’t suspect Puzhu is also a mole?" Tang Lici chuckled. "Of course not. Puzhu Shangshi is upright and self-disciplined, devoted to saving lives—there’s absolutely no doubt about that. Cough... cough... " Suddenly, Shen Langhun asked, "How is your injury?" Tang Lici lightly pressed a finger to his temple, evading the question. "The sun is setting—why hasn’t Shao Yanping rung the bell yet?" Shen Langhun was puzzled. "The bell?" Tang Lici opened his eyes. "Dinner tonight should be served an hour earlier than usual, shouldn’t it?" Just as he smiled, the crisp clang of the bell resounded—Shao Yanping had indeed signaled the meal.
With a major battle looming tonight, an early dinner ensured everyone would fight on full stomachs. Shao Yanping’s arrangements were thorough. By now, dusk was falling, Yu Furen and Jiang Wenbo had already departed, and if the Dissolute Shop planned a night raid, they would already be on their way. The stage was set, and it was time to brief everyone on the imminent plans and deployments.
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