Clouds Stir

Li Yan quickly arrived at the North City gate. He swiftly passed through the gate and headed out of the city, his mind racing as he walked. Besides the slight delay confronting Liu Chengyong behind the military supply depot's back door, everything else was quick, and those times were accounted for beforehand. Roughly calculating, from entering the military camp until now, it's been about half an incense stick's time. Chen An and Li Yin shouldn't suspect anything yet, and Ji Wenhe should still be at the Marshal's Residence.

Lost in thought, he had already exited the city gate. As expected, Chen An and Li Yin were not there to intercept him. If they had realized what was happening, they would definitely be blocking the south or north gates, as he couldn't leave through any other place. He smiled and greeted the soldiers guarding the city gate before quickly departing.

The soldiers were somewhat surprised. Firstly, why was Lord Li leaving on foot when he had ridden into the city? Secondly, where were his two ever-present guards? However, they didn't dare ask too many questions, simply returning his greeting and letting him pass.

After leaving the city, Li Yan only traveled about half a li before abruptly turning west into the Great Green Mountains. He wouldn't be foolish enough to walk further down the official road before changing direction, as that would only increase the chances of encountering enemies, which was not what he wanted right now.

Inside the Marshal's Residence, Military Advisor Ji looked at Marshal Hong's deeply furrowed brow and helplessly took another sip of tea. It was now about two hours past noon. They had spent about fifteen minutes discussing military matters and then repeatedly deliberating on countermeasures.

"This is the fourth plan already, alas," Military Advisor Ji said, leaning back in his chair after taking a sip of water. Although these matters didn't require using spiritual energy, they were still mentally exhausting.

After a while, seeing that Marshal Hong was still deep in thought, he spoke, "Marshal, this plan has already comprehensively considered all the possible unexpected events that could arise from the previous three plans. Military strategists speak of 'leaving no stone unturned,' but in warfare, one can only adapt to the situation; there can be no foolproof plan."

As he was speaking, Military Advisor Ji's expression changed, and he looked up towards the door. Marshal Hong was listening to him and, seeing him stop mid-sentence and look up, followed his gaze towards the entrance of the main hall. However, he couldn't see or hear anything. Just as he was wondering what was happening, his ears twitched again. This time, he faintly heard footsteps outside. His expression immediately turned serious. This fellow's internal energy is becoming more and more impressive, but his complexion is even worse than before, indicating the potency of the poison. If this situation were to happen to me, I'd probably have to use eighty or ninety percent of my internal energy to suppress it. So, with that calculation, the little internal energy I have left would only be enough to make me a second-rate martial artist. But this fellow's remaining internal energy after suppressing the poison is still far superior to my peak state. It's truly alarming.

A voice came from outside the main hall, "Marshal, the gold and silver taxes collected in the city this month have been loaded onto carts, awaiting your personal inspection before being escorted to the rear garrison camp."

Military Advisor Ji's face inadvertently showed a hint of mockery, though it was fleeting. He knew this Marshal well; besides being fond of martial arts manuals from various schools, he was also quite keen on wealth. Since this border region had been relatively peaceful in recent years, and the Imperial Dynasty had long issued decrees prohibiting local residents from migrating, to show the people's love for their country, there was still a large demand for daily necessities. This led many merchants to venture here in search of riches, and over time, the economy here flourished.

And this Marshal Hong, since...

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...arriving here, had seized military and political power, taking control of local tax revenues. However, he also knew that he couldn't be too heavy-handed, lest he incur the people's resentment. Besides leaving forty percent for the local government, he converted the remaining sixty percent into gold and silver each month and directly incorporated it into the army, calling it "military provisions."

He certainly didn't trust leaving these "military provisions" at the forefront of the city's defenses. If they weren't transported away, the accumulated amount over the years would be considerable, and if the city fell, there wouldn't be enough time to move it. Therefore, he would find time each month to transport it to the rear garrison camp, and each time, he had to personally inspect it and affix his seal.

Military Advisor Ji naturally scoffed at this practice. As a Cultivator, he looked down on worldly possessions.

After hearing this, Marshal Hong grinned at Military Advisor Ji, "Military Advisor, you're absolutely right. There's no such thing as a foolproof plan in this world. I've thought it over and over, and I'll go with your final plan. I'll summon the adjutants and staff for a meeting later."

Military Advisor Ji knew that his mind was no longer on this matter. He immediately stood up, bowed, and said, "Since it's been decided, then I won't participate in the subsequent matters. My health has been deteriorating lately, so I'll go back to rest."

"Oh, good, good. Military Advisor, you must take care of your health. If you need any medicinal herbs, just let me know, and I'll send people to find them with all our efforts. It's just that I can't help with the poison you've contracted. I can only blame my own shallow Martial Arts, alas!"

Military Advisor Ji simply smiled at these words, bowed again, and walked out of the main hall.

Watching the departing figure, Marshal Hong's face slowly darkened. After a brief pause, he looked towards the back of the main hall.

"Junior Brother, since the report has come, let's go to the back and see that kid." Then, with a flicker of his figure, he flashed towards the door. A figure also rushed out from behind the main hall and followed him.

Inside a room in the Marshal's Residence's back garden, "Hmm, why did you come alone? What exactly happened?" Marshal Hong asked as he entered the room and closed the door behind him. The figure behind him didn't follow in, but the garden outside was also empty, as if everyone had vanished.

After entering the room, he scanned the surroundings, his face immediately turning as dark as water about to drip. He saw Liu Chengyong alone in the room, a look of apprehension on his face. Seeing him enter, he quickly stood up.

Liu Chengyong knelt on one knee, his face full of shame, and bowed his head, "Marshal, your subordinate is incompetent and was unable to bring Li Yan here. Please punish me, Marshal."

Marshal Hong said coldly with a grim face, "Speak!"

Half an incense stick's time later, Marshal Hong looked at the two pages of letter again and again. On the table was the small porcelain bottle. After repeatedly looking at the letter, his expression changed unpredictably. After a while, he put the letter in his pocket.

"So, Li Yan's Martial Arts are actually above yours?"

"Yes, your subordinate can guarantee it with my head. His aura is extremely dense. If a single strike doesn't hit, it will definitely attract attention," Liu Chengyong said, thinking and still confused. He still couldn't understand how a person could...

...cultivate internal energy to this level in just a few months. How could there be such a Martial Arts cultivation method in the world?

Marshal Hong rested his chin in his hand and pondered for a while, also looking incredulous. If the person in front of him wasn't a loyal subordinate who had followed him for more than a decade, he might have slapped this person who was talking nonsense to death. But he also knew that this person wouldn't lie to him.

"Then you can go back now," he said to Liu Chengyong after a moment.

Liu Chengyong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He quickly thanked him and hurried out, his back already soaked with sweat. So, Brother Li didn't lie to me. The Marshal's anger subsided after reading the letter. I wonder what it said.

Marshal Hong stood in the room for a while, then took out the letter from his pocket again. "Junior Brother, come and take a look." ????

A figure floated in from outside the room, silently. After standing still, it was a very strong man. Such a figure was so light, giving people an extremely uncomfortable contrast in their hearts.

The big man took the letter and looked at it for a while, repeatedly looking at one of the pages. "Hiss, Senior Brother, this kid really gave us a cultivation method."

"Yes, this is the first layer of the Wood Yin Skill cultivation method. Junior Brother, can you tell if this Wood Yin Skill cultivation method is genuine?"

Hearing this, the big man picked up the paper again and looked at it carefully again.

"Junior Brother, I've also looked at it carefully just now. Some of the energy circulation methods are unheard of. With my current knowledge, I can't tell if it's real or fake for the time being," Marshal Hong said.

"But this kid only gave us the first layer of the cultivation method. The rest requires us to help him complete the remaining tasks. Hmm, I can't judge the authenticity of this cultivation method either. Hmm, should we try this cultivation method?" The big man said at this time, looking up, his eyes flashing with expectant light.

Marshal Hong didn't answer immediately, resting his chin in his hand and considering for a while, looking at the big man's expectant gaze. "I've also considered what Junior Brother said, but the path of internal energy can't be effective with just one try."

The room was silent for a while, and Marshal Hong said again, "But it can also be tried. Maybe we can experience his energy circulation route, maybe we can gain some insights, but that kid is using the subsequent cultivation methods to coerce us into helping him." Marshal Hong's eyes flickered with fierce light.

"Senior Brother, I'll try this cultivation method. If it's real, it's worth helping him. Then we'll kill him. He's just a wild mountain child, daring to be so presumptuous, humph."

"Okay, Junior Brother, let's go to the Secret Chamber. I'll protect you, and you can try it." After saying that, he reached out and picked up the small porcelain bottle on the table and put it in his pocket, turned and walked out, saying as he walked, "But this kid still has some skills. He can actually put this thing on Ji Wenhe without being detected, hehe, I'm really a little reluctant to kill him, but this kid is too cunning. If he treats us like this, if we're not careful, wouldn't we also fall into his trap."

Chen An and Li Yin were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, rushing out of the military camp in a hurry.

They had been chatting with their old colleagues in the military camp for about two hours, but they still hadn't seen Li Yan come out, and they couldn't help but feel anxious. They frequently looked towards the direction of the central military camp, occasionally exchanging glances, both feeling uneasy in each other's eyes. After a while, the two looked at each other again...

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...and stood up at the same time, apologizing to the others and walking aside to discuss in a low voice.

The two bit the bullet and walked towards the central military tent. They didn't have military orders to break into the central military area, and they might lose their heads. When they were still some distance away from the central military tent, they were discovered by the patrolling soldiers, who immediately shouted at them, asking them to show their passes. Fortunately, the two were also veterans in the army, and they had their own excuses, stating that they had important matters to see Lord Ji and hoped they could report it.

The patrolling soldiers saw their situation and realized that they might have urgent business with Lord Ji. Moreover, some people recognized that the two were from the Military Advisor's Residence, so someone went to report to the central military tent. After a short time, the reporting soldier returned and said unkindly to the two, "Are you two kidding me? When did Lord Ji come to the military camp today? Leave quickly."

The two immediately felt bad when they heard this. They quickly thanked them and rushed towards the camp gate.

The patrol team watched their frantic figures with some bewilderment, muttering, "Looks like finding Lord Ji really is a matter of life and death."

Chen An and Li Yin knew there was only one exit from the military camp. They didn't even consider the exit to the rear supply depot, as that was a crucial area under heavy guard and not a place for casual comings and goings.

Arriving at the camp gate, the two hastily questioned the gate guards, only to receive a shocking answer: "Lord Li left alone more than two hours ago." Little did they know that this shift of soldiers had been arranged by Marshal Hong to await their inquiry.

Dismayed, they realized they had made a grave mistake. Lord Ji had given them a strict order not to leave Li Yan's side.

They nearly lost their composure and started a fight with the guards, who simply said, "Lord Li wanted to leave; did you expect us to detain him? Do you want us to commit insubordination?"

Chen An and Li Yin could only grit their teeth, mount their horses, and ride out. One headed for the south gate, the other for the north gate. If Li Yan had left the city, it would have been through one of these two exits. They just needed to confirm whether he had left the city. If he hadn't, things would be much easier.

A quarter of an hour later, the two reunited at their agreed-upon location, exchanged results, and then rode together at full speed towards the Military Advisor's Residence.

At the north city gate, they had easily obtained the information that Li Yan had left alone two hours prior. This made them uneasy, but also gave them a glimmer of hope.

In a short while, the two hurriedly arrived at the Military Advisor's Residence. They jumped off their horses and rushed into the valley, causing the people in the outer area to look at them strangely.

Forgetting the warning that no one was allowed to enter the valley without orders, they rushed straight to Li Yan's room. Upon entering, they found the room empty, devoid of any sign of him.

Both of their backs were soaked with sweat. They hurriedly exited the room and carefully surveyed the valley. The valley wasn't large; they could see everything at a glance. At this moment, besides the swaying flowers and the slowly trickling spring water on the rock face, there was only a gentle breeze.

Just as they were about to search the valley thoroughly, hoping that Li Yan was hiding in the water pool or lying in the flower bushes – even the outhouse would have been a welcome sight – a voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Why is it just the two of you? Where's Li Yan?"