Initial Move

"You will give me a detailed account of how you came to know Li Yan, as well as everything concerning your most recent meetings. Do not conceal anything, and do not leave anything out. Do you understand?" Marshal Hong said, fixing Liu Chengyong with a stare.

The moment Liu Chengyong heard this, his heart skipped. Could it be that Brother Li has done something to anger the Marshal? I'll need to put in a few more good words for him. He did not dare hide anything and immediately recounted, detail by detail, what Li Yan had said and done upon entering the city, along with their later dealings. Mixed into it were some of his own subjective speculations, all rather favorable toward Li Yan. He could not help mentioning things such as "young" and "inexperienced in worldly affairs," but there was not a single falsehood in the events he described.

Marshal Hong listened with furrowed brows one moment and deep thought the next, occasionally interjecting with questions. This made Liu Chengyong even more uneasy. He felt that since the Marshal was asking so thoroughly, Li Yan must have carelessly committed some mistake.

After Liu Chengyong finished, Marshal Hong pondered briefly. "So, it seems you and Li Yan get along rather well."

"We do get along somewhat."

"Mm. In your few dealings, did he mention anything about himself? For instance, how he lives in the Strategist's Residence, how his martial training has been going, and such matters?"

"He did not mention such things. Still, in our last few meetings, Lord Li seemed somewhat dispirited. I also heard that he has not been in the best of moods lately. I do not know whether it has something to do with his training or his difficulty adjusting to life there."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Upon hearing this, Marshal Hong straightened in his seat.

"I heard this from Chen An. While drinking today, Chen An told me that Lord Li's temperament has been somewhat unstable in the residence recently. He told me to be more careful with my words and not accidentally anger Lord Li. But from what I have seen through our two meetings, Lord Li and I get along quite well. I have not noticed anything improper." Liu Chengyong shook his slightly dizzy head after drinking and carefully recalled the matter.

"His temperament has been unstable... That does bear some resemblance to the reports saying that his disposition has been unpredictable lately," Marshal Hong muttered softly.

Liu Chengyong stood far below the hall and only heard indistinct muttering. He had no idea what the Marshal was saying to himself, nor did he dare ask.

After a while, Marshal Hong raised his head and looked at Liu Chengyong. "How about this? The next time he enters the city, find him and tell him that the information from when he enlisted and registered is still incomplete, and that he needs to come see me. Mm, the sooner this is handled, the better."

Liu Chengyong was thoroughly baffled. His registration records were incomplete? Then how had Lord Li been granted an official post in the first place? Yet how could he dare ask that? Still, if that truly were the case, Li Yan himself would indeed have to come to see the Marshal. After all, Deputy Commandant for Defending Against Insults was no minor post, and it fell directly under military command.

But Liu Chengyong was also an old hand in the army. Hearing this, how could he fail to understand that this was not something meant to be brought into the open? The Marshal wanted him to contact Li Yan privately. Otherwise, a single order would have sufficed. But why do this? For what reason? He had no desire to know. The more one knew, the more trouble one invited.

After considering it briefly, he said uneasily, "Marshal, the Strategist's Residence is not a place one can enter at will. Especially considering Lord Li's other identity as a 'disciple'—Strategist Ji has privately stated in the army before that without his permission, no one is allowed to disturb a disciple's cultivation. In that case, we can only wait for Lord Li to come out on his own. As for the timing, this subordinate has no way to control it."

"Oh? Then think of a way yourself. It would be best to settle this soon. And let me tell you— I bear Li Yan no ill will. There are merely some things I need to explain to him. It is enough that you understand this. Do you understand?" Marshal Hong said, glaring with his round eyes.

"Yes." Liu Chengyong's face immediately looked like an eggplant struck by frost as he answered weakly. At the same time, however, he felt somewhat relieved for Li Yan. He knew that if the Marshal truly held a grudge against someone, he would never act this way. He would simply use direct methods to deal with them. As an old subordinate who had followed Marshal Hong for more than ten years, Liu Chengyong knew there were matters he should not ask about. He only needed to carry out his orders.

After Liu Chengyong withdrew, the hall fell silent for a while. Then, a thick and booming voice suddenly echoed out. "Senior Brother, isn't this a little too hasty? It may alert Ji Wenhe."

"It is somewhat hasty, but do we have a better method at present? I have weighed the matter again over these past few days. No matter when we contact that boy, Ji Wenhe will become alert. It will happen sooner or later. Besides, given Liu Chengyong's relationship with the boy now, perhaps it is worth trying."

"Senior Brother, our original plan was to wait another two or three years. Ji Wenhe's health might deteriorate by then, and only then would we make our move."

Upon hearing this, Marshal Hong paused for a moment, then drew in a long breath. "Hah. Over these past years, his health has indeed seemed to worsen year by year. Yet after so many years, isn't he still alive and well? Moreover, his martial arts have not declined in the slightest. On the contrary, they have improved greatly. That contradicts the claim that he was poisoned. Have you ever heard of anyone in the martial world whose strength did not diminish after being poisoned, but instead increased? I have considered this for a long time, but have never understood it. If another two or three years pass and he still has not died, while his strength continues growing at the pace it has these past few years, then we truly will not have even the slightest chance of victory."

Ever since returning from the Marshal's Residence, Liu Chengyong had thought the matter over again and again. Yet he still did not dare go against Strategist Ji's instructions within the army, nor did he dare head to the Strategist's Residence to seek Li Yan. Thus, whether he was on duty at the north gate, craning his neck in hopes of seeing those three riders appear in his sight, or in the barracks waiting to hear news of Li Yan entering the city, he grew increasingly anxious to see Li Yan.

To receive news of Li Yan entering the city, he had even asked his brothers stationed at the north gate to notify him immediately if they heard that Lord Li had entered the city. He promised them a reward for doing so.

What he did not know was that other squads had taken this as proof that he wanted to find an opportunity to climb upward. People like Zeng Wen thus wanted to make a joke of the matter, then deliberately tell him afterward so that he could neither rage nor vent his anger. If Liu Chengyong had known, he would certainly have cursed those heartless brothers to high heaven.

And so more than ten days passed, with the matter still hanging in the air. Fortunately, Marshal Hong had not pressed him, but Liu Chengyong knew that the sooner an order from one's superior was completed, the better. Otherwise, if too much time passed, those above would surely think him incompetent.

He was not on duty today. As he sat in his room, he considered asking Chen An to send a letter to Li Yan, asking whether Li Yan could spare some time to enter the city and meet him. But he had been thinking about this for days and still could not come up with a suitable excuse for the letter. He was no green young man. He understood all too well the twists and turns of officialdom. He could not botch the matter merely because he had failed to handle it properly.

Just as he was fretting and wondering how he could see Li Yan as soon as possible, a soldier suddenly came to report that a Lord Li had arrived to see him. Liu Chengyong froze for a moment, then was overjoyed. He strode toward the barracks gate, leaving the messenger behind him. The soldier muttered inwardly, Even when your father came, I never saw you this fired up!

Liu Chengyong hurried to the gate and spotted Li Yan and the other two from afar. He immediately quickened his pace. "Lord Li, have you been well lately? Hahaha!" His booming laughter drew sidelong glances from the soldiers on duty at the gate, who could not help wondering why Liu Chengyong was so radiant today.

"Oh, thanks to Captain Liu's good fortune, everything has been quite well lately. Heh heh!" Seeing Liu Chengyong emerge from the camp, Li Yan stood with his hands behind his back, looked at him, and answered with a faint smile.

"I wonder what wind has blown Lord Li here today. Do you have some business?" Seeing Li Yan being so courteous, Liu Chengyong could not help feeling delighted. Though he desperately wanted to bring up the matter at once, he still kept up the pleasantries on the surface.

"It is nothing important. I have been feeling somewhat stifled staying in the Strategist's Residence these past days, so I came out to clear my head. I do not know many people in the city, so I came to catch up with Captain Liu. I hope I am not disturbing you?"

"Not at all, not at all. I have nothing to do today anyway, haha."

"Then where do you think we should go?" After laughing, Liu Chengyong asked with some hesitation. He also wanted to find a place to explain the matter to Li Yan, and this was certainly not suitable.

"Oh, that? How about we go into the barracks and take a look? Though I am also a military man, I have never properly spent time in a camp. Would that be possible?" Li Yan asked after a brief thought.

"That... Of course it is possible. But there are some areas in the camp that cannot be entered without the Marshal's written authorization. You see..." Liu Chengyong said, momentarily stunned and somewhat hesitant.

"That is no concern. I merely want to look around inside, to get an idea of what a military camp is like," Li Yan said. It was not that he insisted on entering the barracks. He simply wanted to find a way to escape Chen An and Li Yin's watchful eyes. Outside, the two had countless reasons to protect him closely, but once inside the barracks, did he still need their protection?

"Then, Lord Li, please!" Liu Chengyong had also wanted a chance to speak with Li Yan alone, so he extended a hand in invitation.

Chen An and Li Yin followed several steps behind. Li Yan could not help frowning. He turned and snapped, "Must the two of you protect me even inside the barracks?" A faint anger laced his words.

After handing his reins to Li Yin, Chen An stepped forward two paces, bowed, and smiled. "Young Master, neither of us has been here for quite some time. We also wish to enter the camp and catch up with some of our old brothers. Please grant us permission."

Once he said that, Li Yan was left speechless. After all, could they not return to the army and visit old brothers? Those two were truly a pair of slick gourds.

Thus the four entered in single file. Liu Chengyong and Li Yan walked in front, while Chen An and Li Yin led the horses behind them. By then, some soldiers at the gate had learned Li Yan's identity from the conversation and had also recognized Chen An and Li Yin as old soldiers who had left the camp many years ago. Li Yan held rank, and Chen An and Li Yin were military men as well, so naturally no one stopped them. As for the restricted areas within the camp, other soldiers were guarding them. There was no need for the gate guards to concern themselves.

After entering the camp, Liu Chengyong led Li Yan toward his quarters. Chen An and Li Yin, familiar with the place, found the stables, tethered the three horses inside, and then went to "catch up" with acquaintances. Yet the direction in which they sought those acquaintances was basically the same direction Li Yan was heading, and they did not go far away. Even so, it was enough to give Li Yan room to speak with Liu Chengyong.

When they reached Liu Chengyong's quarters, Li Yan looked back at Chen An and Li Yin, who were chatting nonsense with a group of old soldiers some distance away. After confirming the distance, he headed into the quarters. This room was merely one among rows upon rows of barracks, but a squad leader like Liu Chengyong was entitled to a small room of his own and did not need to squeeze into the communal sleeping quarters.

Liu Chengyong's little room was extremely simple: a plain campaign bed, a long table, a wardrobe, and a weapons rack holding several weapons, including sabers, swords, and spears.

Liu Chengyong looked at Li Yan somewhat awkwardly. "The barracks are all this crude. Please do not laugh at it, Lord Li."

Li Yan did not mind. "The army never places much importance on such things. Captain Liu, you are too polite. And do not keep calling me 'Lord Li.' Just call me Brother Li. I am not used to hearing it, haha."

A flush rose on Liu Chengyong's dark face. "How could that be proper? That would be overstepping our ranks."

Li Yan waved a hand. "It is nothing. You know that I only hold this post through my teacher's name. I do not care much for such things. When you keep calling me 'Lord Li,' it feels far too distant." As he spoke, he casually wandered around the room. When he reached the weapons rack, however, curiosity rose within him. He drew out a fine sword and examined it carefully in the light.

"This sword of yours truly is a fine blade." He was not merely flattering Liu Chengyong. Back in the village, he had often gone hunting in the mountains with the adults and knew a little about weapons.

Having heard Li Yan's earlier words, Liu Chengyong no longer stood on ceremony. Seeing Li Yan draw a weapon and display considerable interest, he smiled. "Brother Li, you have a good eye. These weapons are not standard military issue. They are spoils of war I captured on the battlefield, among several fine trophies. If you like it, take it." He spoke with some pride, for these weapons truly could not compare with ordinary standard-issue arms.

Li Yan carefully studied the treasured sword in his hand. It gleamed under the light, its chill pressing against the skin, while a faint bloody aura seemed to emanate from it. One look was enough to tell that it was a weapon made for killing. Hearing Liu Chengyong's words, Li Yan's eyes immediately lit up.