Making a Clean Break

Li Yan sat in his chair, utterly at a loss for a time. One moment he thought of how to escape, the next he thought of his parents, brother, and sister back home. After a long while, Li Yan suddenly rose to his feet, his face faintly savage as he muttered, "Even if I escaped, whether my family ended up well or badly would still be uncertain. Perhaps I would bring a great calamity down upon them because of myself. If that is so, why should I keep painfully searching for a way to flee? I might as well make a clean break with him."

After a while, Li Yan's expression slowly calmed, gradually returning to normal. Then he sat back down and began to ponder carefully.

In a dense forest several million li from Green Mountain Pass, peaks pierced the clouds. Upon a vast platform, a magnificent palace disappeared into the depths of the white clouds. Inside the hall, an elderly man with hawk-like features in a dark green robe was reporting to a blue-robed scholar.

"Peak Master, an enforcement disciple sent back a flying message today. After investigating for some time, they have obtained some clues."

"Oh? Let me hear them." The blue-robed scholar sat in a huge chair carved with ferocious beasts, looking at the hawk-faced elder as he spoke blandly.

"They investigated the area near where that traitor died. There were no mortal towns within ten thousand li, but some Rogue Cultivators were active in that region. After killing several Rogue Cultivators who failed to see what was before their eyes, someone reported that a member of the Immortal-Seeking Lineage had appeared there six or seven years ago. That person spent some time gathering herbs. After further investigation, it was found that the herbs he sought were precisely some of those listed in our sect's introductory body-tempering manual."

"Then that person may well be the one who took the items from that traitor's body." The blue-robed scholar tapped the armrest rhythmically with his slender fingers.

Black qi surged around the hawk-faced elder as he replied in a sinister voice, "It can basically be confirmed without a doubt. Members of the Immortal-Seeking Lineage have always searched everywhere for fortuitous opportunities. Once they obtain immortal arts, they never care about anything else and generally cultivate them on their own. But the message also said that no one had seen this person in that region in recent years. He must have found some place to cultivate. Once we find him, we will make him suffer the agony of soul-entangling silk worms."

"How do you intend to proceed?"

"Peak Master, this subordinate has ordered them to spread out, expand the search area, and investigate in several directions. News should return soon."

In the days that followed, Li Yan cultivated bitterly behind closed doors every day. It seemed that after his last trip into the city, his state of mind had become steadier upon returning. After cultivating for several days, his aura had even grown somewhat. Though the increase was minuscule, it still made the Divine Sense that examined him once each day tremble faintly.

Yet as Li Yan cultivated day after day, he began growing irritable again more than ten days later. He had no choice but to stop after cultivating for half a day. Sometimes he would soak in the pool for half a day. Though this place lay in the southwest, and even winter temperatures were not especially low, soaking in a pool that breathed out cold air during late autumn was still not something an ordinary person could endure.

At other times, he would shut himself in his room and scribble wildly for a while, sending sheets of paper flying everywhere and splashing ink throughout the room.

Chen An and Li Yin kept far away during this time. They had no idea when Li Yan might summon them before him and rain down a baseless scolding upon their heads and faces.

Fortunately, after soaking in the cold pool or scrawling madly in his room for half the day, Li Yan's temperament would improve considerably. Otherwise, they never knew at what hour of the day they might be summoned into the valley for another scolding.

Cultivation passed day by day like this, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month had gone by. During that time, Li Yan went into the city twice more. Strategist Ji still had not emerged from seclusion, so Chen An and Li Yin accompanied him into the city both times.

Each time Li Yan returned, he bought some new clothes, belts, boots, and the like. Strategist Ji would still sweep them with his Divine Sense, but once he discovered they were all ordinary objects, he paid them little attention.

Strangely enough, every time Li Yan returned from the city, he was in a good mood. Moreover, during the following stretch of cultivation, his realm would always improve somewhat. This caused Strategist Ji to become increasingly indifferent toward him after each scan with that strand of Divine Sense.

On this day, Li Yan summoned Chen An and Li Yin again and said he wished to make another trip into the city. The two naturally agreed with great care, then led out the horses and accompanied him.

The three of them soon arrived at the north gate. The man on duty at the gate today was not Liu Chengyong, but the captain of the first squad of War C Camp and his men. The north gate was guarded in rotation by squads from War C Camp, while the south gate was guarded in rotation by squads from War B Camp. Patrols atop the city walls were conducted in rotation by squads from War A Camp.

After entering the city on his first two visits, Li Yan had sought out Liu Chengyong and treated him and his brothers to a meal at Natural Wine Lodge, drawing their relationship closer. This made the other squads of War C Camp envy them greatly. By now, Li Yan could be considered half a familiar face in War C Camp, and quite a few men from the other squads recognized or had heard of this "Lord Li."

At the city gate, the captain on duty was Zeng Wen, captain of the first squad of War C Camp. He was around thirty, of middling height and sturdy build. From afar, he had seen this "Lord Li," whom Liu Chengyong and his men had recently been discussing over tea and after meals.

"Ah, Lord Li. Are you entering the city on business today?" Zeng Wen recognized Chen An and Li Yin. He had heard more than once that Li Yan was always accompanied by these two whenever he traveled, not to mention that he had met Li Yan before.

"Oh, Captain Zeng is on duty today? Where is Captain Liu now?" Li Yan truly had an excellent memory. Especially after cultivating immortal arts, he was practically able to remember everything at a glance. He had seen this man from afar in the barracks last time, when Liu Chengyong had casually greeted him, and he remembered him.

Without wasting words, Li Yan went straight to the point.

Delighted that Li Yan had called him by name at once, Zeng Wen said, "Captain Liu is resting today. He should be in the barracks."

"Good. Then I'll go find him." Li Yan smiled at him, tugged the reins, and headed into the city. Chen An and Li Yin cupped their hands toward Zeng Wen before following Li Yan away.

"Captain, that brat Liu Chengyong has been riding high on the wind lately. He keeps bragging before the other squads about Lord Li treating his squad to drinks. Even those blockheads under him get so excited whenever they mention it, it's like they've just climbed onto a brothel girl." One of the soldiers behind Zeng Wen spoke sourly.

"Those bird bastards really don't know where they got such dumb luck. Next time we meet Lord Li, let's all show a little more respect. Who knows, perhaps there will be something in it for us too."

"And didn't Liu Chengyong ask us to notify him if we saw Lord Li entering the city? He even said he would give us some benefits. Bah, I refuse to tell him. What benefits could he possibly give us? He just wants to find more chances to cozy up to the man. I won't give him that chance. Heh heh." Zeng Wen said this darkly to the soldiers beside him, drawing a round of teasing laughter from the men.

Naturally, Li Yan knew nothing of this. After entering the city, the three rode straight toward the drill grounds. The barracks were set beside the drill grounds. Li Yan had gone there to find Liu Chengyong before, so he was fairly familiar with the route.

Horses could not be urged to a gallop within the city, so the three proceeded slowly. Li Yan sat on horseback with his eyes narrowed, appearing somewhat aloof and arrogant. Chen An and Li Yin trailed half a horse-length behind him on either side, not daring to speak much.

At this moment, Li Yan was weighing matters in his heart. Since returning from his first trip to the city, he had entered the city twice more. Chen An and Li Yin had indeed followed him closely. Even when he invited Liu Chengyong for drinks last time and deliberately had him bring all the soldiers from his squad, opening several tables, those two had remained seated beside him without leaving.

Fortunately, when he used his drunkenness as an excuse to go to the latrine with Liu Chengyong, he had finally managed to get away for a short time. Those two had even wanted to follow, but he drunkenly kicked each of them once, leaving them frozen where they stood and not daring to move.

Only then had he been able to probe Liu Chengyong for information indirectly. This allowed him to basically confirm that Liu Chengyong was one of Marshal Hong's men. Though Liu Chengyong held Strategist Ji in the highest regard, the object of his loyalty was undoubtedly Marshal Hong.

The purpose of Li Yan's visit to the city this time was to see whether Liu Chengyong had shown any intention recently. According to Dong Fuyi, Marshal Hong very much wanted Strategist Ji's "martial arts manuals." Of this, there was no doubt.

His contact with Liu Chengyong over these two visits had served two purposes. First, he needed to determine whom Liu Chengyong was loyal to and whether he could be used as a conduit. Second, he wanted to send Marshal Hong a signal: he had opportunities to make contact with Li Yan himself.

But Li Yan's heart was still in turmoil. These were all his plans, his conjectures. Whether reality matched them was still impossible to say. If, after this contact, Liu Chengyong still showed no reaction the next time he entered the city, then Li Yan would have to seek another method.

It was not as though he had failed to consider other methods lately. But after turning them over in his mind, he still felt Dong Fuyi had been right. Only by borrowing Marshal Hong's strength would he have the greatest chance of carrying out his plan.

Thus, with his eyes narrowed atop the horse and his body swaying with its gait, Li Yan arrived outside the barracks.

At the barracks gate, several dozen armed soldiers had long noticed the three approaching. One man immediately stepped out from the crowd, raised a hand, and shouted, "Military grounds are a restricted area. Idlers are not permitted to enter!"

He was a perceptive man. Though he did not recognize Li Yan, Chen An and Li Yin looked vaguely familiar to him, so he spoke politely.

When Li Yan and the other two reached him, they had already dismounted. Li Yan flicked his hand, sending a waist token flying toward the man. The soldier caught it, examined it carefully, then stepped forward and bowed deeply, presenting the token back to Li Yan with both hands.

"My lord, may I ask what business brings you here?"

"I've come to find Liu Chengyong of the third squad, War C Camp." Li Yan took back the token and spoke softly. By now, he understood the general nature of his official position. He was also considered a military official and could enter the barracks, so long as he did not go without orders to the central command tent or other military restricted areas.

"This subordinate understands. I will send word to Captain Liu at once." With that, the soldier turned and walked toward the barracks gate.

He stopped before another soldier and spoke a few words. That soldier then hurried into the barracks.

Li Yan was in no rush and simply stood outside waiting.

Liu Chengyong had been rather troubled lately. Ever since drinking with Li Yan that day, he had barely returned to the barracks before someone sent by Marshal Hong summoned him. At the time, he had been utterly baffled.

Though drinking was generally forbidden in the barracks, he was an old hand, and he had not been on military duty at the time. Usually, those above simply turned a blind eye to such things.

Now that Marshal Hong had summoned him, his heart could not help but rise and fall uneasily. He did not know whether someone had stabbed him in the back over that matter, and he cursed inwardly, Which turtle bastard has been wagging his tongue behind my back? Damn it, plenty of people drink in this army. If I find out who has been wielding a knife behind my back, I'll skin him alive and tear his bones apart.

When he arrived drunkenly at Marshal Hong's residence, he was immediately called into the rear hall. Inside, he saw that only Marshal Hong was present, and hurriedly knelt to kowtow.

"This subordinate greets the Marshal. May I ask what task the Marshal has summoned this subordinate to perform?"

"Heh. What task? If I have something for you to do, can you handle it in this state?" Marshal Hong's bald head gleamed with a blue sheen as he glared at him with round eyes.

"This subordinate... this subordinate happened to meet a good friend and had to keep him company. Heh heh. I accidentally drank a little too much horse piss." Seeing that the Marshal did not seem terribly enraged, Liu Chengyong shamelessly explained himself.

He knew that their Marshal was black-faced but soft-hearted toward brothers who had fought through life and death with him. So long as they had not delayed an urgent military matter, it was generally not a problem.

Marshal Hong said nothing and simply stared at Liu Chengyong. After waiting a long while without hearing the Marshal speak, Liu Chengyong raised his head. When he saw the Marshal still staring at him with those round eyes, the hair on his heart stood on end.

"Ma-Marshal, if you have something to say, just say it. If this subordinate has made a mistake, you might as well drag me out and give me a beating."

After watching him for a while, Marshal Hong suddenly asked, "Who did you drink with today?"

"Th-this... this subordinate drank with Lord Li, Strategist Ji's disciple. But... but that was entirely this subordinate's idea. I dragged Lord Li along by force."

It had to be said that Liu Chengyong was an extremely loyal man. Afraid that drinking and causing trouble would violate military regulations and implicate Li Yan, he took all responsibility upon himself.

"Oh? So you are quite familiar with Lord Li?"

"We are fairly familiar. When Lord Li first entered the city, he met this subordinate. We have had contact since then and get along quite well. But Marshal, this drinking matter has nothing to do with Lord Li. It was this subordinate whose wine bug hooked his soul away, and I dragged Lord Li along."

"Oh, so that is how it is." After a pause, he added, "Get up first."

Hearing the Marshal's tone soften, Liu Chengyong could not help but relax. He had already prepared himself for a round of military cudgels, and had even planned to find out who had informed on him after returning, then secretly give that person a taste of his own medicine.

After rising, he stood with his hands lowered, quietly awaiting the Marshal's next words.