Clouds Stirring

Li Yan quickly arrived at the North City Gate. He hurried through the gate passage and headed out of the city, his mind racing as he walked. Other than the slight delay when I confronted Liu Chengyong at the rear gate of the military supply depot, everything else took very little time, and those intervals had been factored in beforehand. By my estimate, it has only been a little over half an incense stick's time since I entered the camp. Chen An and Li Yin should not suspect anything yet, and Ji Wenhe ought still to be in the Marshal's Manor.

By the time he finished thinking, he had already passed through the gate passage and reached outside the city. Sure enough, Chen An and Li Yin were nowhere to be seen, waiting to intercept him. If they had caught on by now, they would certainly have blocked either the South Gate or North Gate; he had no other way out. Smiling, he greeted the gate guards, then swiftly departed.

The gate guards were rather surprised. First, why had Lord Li left on foot when he had ridden into the city earlier? Second, where were the two guards who had never left his side? Yet they did not dare ask too many questions. After returning his greeting, they let him pass.

After leaving the city, Li Yan had traveled only half a li before abruptly turning and darting westward into Great Green Mountain. He would not foolishly continue along the official road for a while before changing direction. That would only increase his chances of running into his enemies, and that was the last thing he wanted right now.

Inside the Marshal's Manor, Strategist Ji looked at Marshal Hong's tightly furrowed brow and helplessly raised his tea for another sip. It had been roughly an hour past noon. The two of them had spent about a quarter of an hour merely discussing military affairs, then repeatedly deliberated over countermeasures.

"This is already the fourth plan. Sigh." After taking a sip of water, Strategist Ji leaned back against his chair. These matters did not require spiritual power, but they were still tremendously taxing on the mind.

After a while, seeing that Marshal Hong remained deep in thought, he spoke. "Marshal, this plan has already taken into comprehensive account every possible mishap that could arise in the previous three. Though military strategists speak of 'leaving no strategy uncalculated,' the use of troops must still depend on judging the times and weighing the situation. There can be no such thing as an absolutely foolproof plan."

As he spoke, Strategist Ji's expression shifted, and he looked toward the door. Marshal Hong had been listening to him, and when he saw him stop halfway through, he looked up. Strategist Ji was gazing beyond the hall doors, yet Marshal Hong saw nothing and heard no sound. As he was wondering about it, his ears twitched again. Faint footsteps came from outside. His expression immediately turned grave. This fellow's inner strength has become ever more formidable, yet his complexion is worse than before. The poison's ferocity is plain to see. If this had happened to me, I would likely need to use eighty or ninety percent of my internal energy just to suppress it. By that reckoning, the little I had left would make me no more than a second-rate martial artist. Yet after suppressing the poison, the inner strength he has left still far surpasses mine at my peak. It truly sends a chill down one's spine.

A voice came from outside the hall. "Marshal, this month's tax gold and silver collected in the city have been loaded onto carts. They await only your personal inspection before being escorted to the rear garrison camp."

At this, an unintentional sneer flickered across Strategist Ji's face, gone in an instant. He knew this Marshal well. Aside from his fondness for martial manuals from the various jianghu sects, he was especially attentive to gold and silver. This border region had been relatively peaceful in recent years, while the imperial dynasty had long since issued a decree forbidding the people of all frontier lands from migrating, ostensibly to demonstrate the populace's patriotic devotion. Daily necessities were therefore still in great demand, drawing many merchants and travelers to risk their lives in pursuit of gold. Over time, the local economy had instead become quite prosperous.

Ever since Marshal Hong had arrived here, he had seized both military and civil authority, holding all power in his hands. Yet he also knew not to go too far, lest public resentment boil over. Apart from leaving forty percent for the local government offices, he converted the remaining sixty percent into gold and silver each month and directly absorbed it into the army under the name of "military pay."

Naturally, he did not feel secure keeping this "military pay" in this most forward city. If it was not transported away, the accumulated amount over the years would become considerable. And if the city fell, how could there be time to move it? Thus, each month he found a time to send it all to the rear garrison camp. Every time, he had to inspect it personally and affix seals before it could be sent off.

Strategist Ji naturally regarded this practice with utter disdain. As an immortal cultivator, he had no regard for the gold and silver of the mortal world.

Hearing this, Marshal Hong grinned at Strategist Ji. "Strategist, what you said just now was entirely right. How can there be any foolproof plan in this world? I have thought it over and over. We shall use your final strategy. In a while, I will summon the assistant generals and advisers to discuss it."

Strategist Ji immediately knew that the Marshal's thoughts were no longer on this matter. He rose at once and bowed. "Since it has been decided, this subordinate will no longer participate in the matters that follow. My health has been worsening lately, so I shall return to rest and recuperate."

"Oh, good, good. Strategist, you must also take care of your health. If you need any medicinal herbs, just say the word. I will send men to seek them out with all their strength. It is only that the poison in you is beyond my power to help. I can only blame my own shallow martial skill. Sigh!"

Strategist Ji merely smiled at this, cupped his hands once more, and walked out of the hall.

Watching his departing back, Marshal Hong's expression gradually darkened. After pausing briefly, he looked toward the rear of the hall.

"Junior Brother, since the report has come, let us go to the back and see that boy." Then his body flashed, and he shot toward the main doors. Behind him, another figure swept out from the rear of the hall and followed.

Inside a room in the rear garden of the Marshal's Manor, Marshal Hong entered and immediately shut the door behind him. "Hm? Why did you come alone? What exactly happened?" The figure behind him did not enter, yet there was likewise no sign of anyone in the garden outside, as though he had vanished into thin air.

Upon entering, Marshal Hong swept his gaze around the room. His expression instantly darkened as though water could drip from it. Liu Chengyong was the only one inside, his face full of unease. At the sight of Marshal Hong, he hurriedly stood.

With shame covering his face, Liu Chengyong dropped to one knee, lowered his head, and cupped his hands in salute. "Marshal, this subordinate is incompetent. I was unable to bring Li Yan here. I beg the Marshal to punish me."

Marshal Hong's face was dark as he said coldly, "Speak."

Half a cup of tea later, Marshal Hong held two sheets of letter paper and read them again and again. The little porcelain bottle rested on the table. After repeatedly examining the letters, his expression shifted between light and dark. A moment later, he tucked the papers into his robe.

"So Li Yan's martial arts are actually above yours?"

"Yes. This subordinate would stake his head on it. His aura was incredibly dense and solid. If I failed to subdue him in one strike, it would inevitably draw others' attention." Liu Chengyong spoke while thinking, his voice still carrying confusion. Even now, he could not understand how someone could cultivate his internal energy to such a degree in only a few months. How could such a martial cultivation method exist in this world?

Marshal Hong supported his chin with one hand and thought for a while, disbelief written across his face. If the man before him had not been a loyal subordinate who had followed him for over a decade, he might have killed this man spouting nonsense with a single palm strike. But he also knew deeply that this man would never lie to him.

"Then go back first," he said to Liu Chengyong after calming himself.

Liu Chengyong could not help but let out a breath of relief. He hurriedly excused himself and strode out. His back was already drenched in sweat. Brother Li really did not deceive me. After the Marshal read the letter, his anger faded. I wonder what it said.

Marshal Hong stood alone in the room for a time, then took the letter paper from his robe again. "Junior Brother, come take a look."

A figure drifted soundlessly in from outside the room. Once he came to a stop, he proved to be an immensely brawny man. Such a massive build paired with such extreme lightness created an intensely uncomfortable contrast.

The brawny man took the letters and read them for a while, repeatedly examining one of the pages. "Hiss... Senior Brother, this boy truly did provide the cultivation method."

"Yes. This is the first level of the Wood Yin Technique. Can Junior Brother determine whether the cultivation method of this Wood Yin Technique is genuine?"

At those words, the brawny man raised the sheet again and examined it carefully once more.

"Junior Brother, I too studied it carefully just now. Some of its circulation methods are things I have never even heard of. With my current knowledge, I cannot distinguish truth from falsehood for the moment," Marshal Hong said.

"But this boy gave us only the first level of the technique. He says we can receive the rest only after helping him finish his remaining affairs. Hm, I too cannot determine whether this technique is real. Hm, should we try cultivating it?" The brawny man looked up, expectation glinting in his eyes.

Marshal Hong did not answer immediately. He rested his chin on his hand and considered for a while, looking at the anticipation in the brawny man's eyes. "I have considered what Junior Brother says as well, but the path of internal cultivation is not something that can show results after a single trial."

The room fell silent for a time. Then Marshal Hong said, "Still, we can give it a try. Perhaps experiencing its circulation route may grant us some insight. It is only that the boy is using the later portions of the technique to coerce us into helping him." A fierce glint flashed in Marshal Hong's eyes.

"Senior Brother, let me try this technique. If it is genuine, helping him will be worthwhile. Then we can slaughter him afterward. He is merely a wild mountain brat, yet he dares be so insolent. Hmph."

"Very well. Junior Brother, let us go to the secret chamber. I will stand guard for you while you try it." As he spoke, he picked up the little porcelain bottle from the table and tucked it into his robe. Turning to leave, he continued, "Still, that boy has some skill. He actually managed to place this thing on Ji Wenhe without being discovered. Heh heh, I am almost reluctant to kill him. But the boy is too cunning. If he were to use such tricks against us, would we not fall into his trap the moment we were careless?"

Chen An and Li Yin had already become like ants on a hot pan as they rushed anxiously out of the military camp.

The two had chatted with their former comrades in the camp for roughly two hours, yet Li Yan had still not emerged. Anxiety rose in their hearts, and they repeatedly looked toward the central command camp, occasionally exchanging glances. Each sensed unease in the other's eyes. After a while, they looked at each other again, then stood at the same time. After apologizing to the others, they walked aside and discussed matters in low voices.

The two steeled themselves and headed toward the central command tent. Entering such an important military area without orders could cost them their heads. Before they had even reached the central command tent, a patrol spotted them and immediately shouted for them to produce their passage tokens. Fortunately, the two were old hands in the army and had their explanation ready. They said that an urgent matter required them to see Lord Ji and asked that someone report their request.

Seeing their manner, the patrol soldiers realized they might truly have urgent business with Lord Ji. Moreover, someone recognized them as men of the Strategist's Manor, so one soldier went to report to the central command tent. A short while later, the reporting soldier returned and said to them unpleasantly, "Are you two messing with me? When did Lord Ji ever come to the army today? Get lost, quickly."

The moment they heard this, the two immediately sensed that something was wrong. They hastily offered their thanks and sprinted for the camp gate.

The patrol squad could only stare blankly at their demon-wind-like retreating figures. "It seems their business with Lord Ji truly was urgent enough to burn their eyebrows."

Chen An and Li Yin knew that the military camp had only one exit. As for the exit behind the supply depot camp, they had not even considered it. What sort of place was that? It was the most vital place in the army, and not somewhere people could casually enter or leave.

After reaching the camp gate, the two hurriedly questioned the guards. In the end, they received an answer that horrified them. "Lord Li left alone over two hours ago." How could they know that these guards had also been arranged by Marshal Hong to wait here specifically for them to come asking?

The two were struck dumb with alarm. They knew they had committed a grave error. Lord Ji had issued a strict order that they were not to leave Li Yan's side.

They nearly lost control and came to blows with the gate guards, but the guards merely said flatly, "Lord Li wanted to leave. Did I have the authority to detain him? Do you want us to commit insubordination?"

Chen An and Li Yin could only gallop out on horseback in fury, one heading for the South Gate and the other for the North Gate. If Li Yan had left the city, he must have gone through one of those two gates. They only needed to confirm whether he had gone out. If he had not, things would be easier.

A quarter of an hour later, the two met again at their appointed location. After sharing what they had learned, they rode together at full speed toward the Strategist's Manor.

At the North City Gate, they had easily learned that Li Yan had departed alone over two hours ago. This made them uneasy, though they still clung to a thread of hope.

In only a short while, the two rushed to the Strategist's Manor. They leaped off their horses and charged into the valley, leaving the many people in the grounds outside the valley baffled.

They had even forgotten the warning that no one was to enter the valley without orders. Once inside, they headed straight for Li Yan's room. But when they entered, the room was completely empty. There was no one there.

Their backs were both soaked through. They hurriedly left the room and carefully scanned the valley. The valley was not large enough to hide from sight. At this moment, aside from the swaying flowers and the spring water slowly trickling down the rock walls, there was only the breeze passing through.

Just as they were about to search the valley carefully, hoping Li Yan might be hiding in the pool or lying among the flowers—even in the latrine would have been wonderful—a voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Why are only you two here? Where is Li Yan?"