Fan Xian's eyes lit up.
This was the token he had handed to Wang Qinian.
They had discovered it by chance while investigating Cheng Jushu's hiding place.
At the time, Wang Qinian had found the symbol on the token familiar and volunteered to investigate. To think he had actually uncovered its origins in so little time!
"Northern Qi's expert Cheng Jushu, Northern Qi's spies..." Fan Xian murmured, a cold smile curling his lips. "What an impressive array of forces just to deal with me. They even brought in people from Northern Qi here in Southern Qing's Capital."
He did not believe Northern Qi would target him, a mere illegitimate son of Count Sinan.
Northern Qi's involvement in the attempt on his life could only mean that the person behind it wielded astonishing influence but did not want to reveal their hand, and had used some unknown means to enlist Northern Qi's spies.
"Have you traced the origins of those weapons?" he asked.
Neither the encrypted note nor the token offered a trail they could readily pursue.
Their only remaining lead was the military weaponry positioned at the street corner.
Wang Qinian nodded confidently. "I looked into that straightaway."
"There's no time to lose. We move now!"
Fan Xian did not want to wait another moment. Now that he finally had a lead to follow, he feared a long night would breed too many dreams.
Night fell.
Under cover of darkness, two figures slipped soundlessly into the assistant general's residence from which the weapons had gone missing.
The residence was quiet.
Unnaturally quiet.
A flicker of foreboding passed through Fan Xian's heart.
He quickened his pace and slipped farther inside.
Soon, his whole body jolted. He saw figures dangling in the air, their feet clear of the ground.
Unwilling to give