Chapter 293: Closing the Net (1)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

At dusk, the red sunset sprinkled light down on the western horizon. Two women and one man sneaked out of the forest. After looking around, they mounted their horses and quickly left.

Luo Ning and Pei Xiangjun followed behind while Ye Jingtang rode at the front with a black face scarf and the bird in his arms. It had flown for a day and a night and was half-dead from exhaustion.

As Ye Jingtang had expected, Guan Yujia, who was seriously injured and had nowhere to go, ran 100 kilometers in a straight line during the day and reached the wilderness more than 50 kilometers away from Rising Sun City, which was probably where the Prince of Wu was hiding.

The three of them could cross over mountains, but even if they traveled a long distance to the place, it would be difficult to capture the prince alone. For this reason, they should use the power of the government to surround and capture him. Then they would take advantage of the chaos to capture Zhang Jinglin or find the formula for the Snow Lake Powder.

After the commotion at the Iron River Manor yesterday, many Jianghu people who were not afraid of death came to the vicinity of Martial Understanding Mountain to watch the excitement. There were many trivial conversations.

“Ye Silang knocked down Guan Yujia with one move?”

“Why would I lie to you? I was nearby at the time and saw it with absolute certainty. When Ye Silang was poisoned and couldn’t escape, he punched Guan Yujia and sent him flying dozens of feet away, scaring the group of people chasing after them. I didn’t dare to look at the rest…”

“In that case, wouldn’t Ye Silang be able to fight the Fist Chief with one hand at his peak?”

“I think he can beat the Fist Chief and the Spear Chief without issue. If he prepares seriously, maybe he can even fight Daoist Xuanji…”

Ye Jingtang passed by on his horse and heard these chaotic conversions, but he didn’t take them to heart. Pei Xiangjun and Luo Ning, on the other hand, listened with bright eyes. On the way, they even discussed this matter.

“Ning’er, what do you think Jingtang’s title will be if he becomes one of the Eight Chiefs in the future?”

“According to the rules, he will gain the title of whoever he defeats.”

“What if he beats two of them?”

“Two…” Luo Ning fell into a dilemma regarding this question. In history, there had been many people who had defeated a few Martial Chiefs in a row. However, if they used a weapon to fight the Fist Chief or a spear to fight the Saber Chief, they would definitely not be able to inherit the other party’s title. Only by defeating the other party in their domain could they inherit the title. Throughout history, there had been several people who had attained multiple titles at once, and the last one was Feng Guancheng.

Luo Ning pondered for a moment and recalled an old joke. “Those who are called ‘Chief’ all rank at the back. The first three have respectful titles, such as the Pacifying Heaven Cult Master and Daoist Xuanji. If Ye Jingtang beats two Martial Chiefs, he’ll be called Flying Tanglang in the future…”

“Flying Tanglang, it sounds a little strange…”

Ye Jingtang was walking in front and was a little speechless when he heard them. He wanted to slow down and interrupt, but from the corner of his eye, he saw Yang Guan of the Blue Lotus Gang standing at the intersection in the distance. He was sizing up the Jianghu people passing and even looked in his direction.

Ye Jingtang asked the two women to slow down their horses and arrived first.

Yang Guan had been waiting by the roadside for the entire day. When he saw the familiar black-robed man, he hurriedly ran up to him and whispered, “Young Hero Ye, I’m Yang Guan…”

While speaking, he even secretly looked up, seemingly wanting to confirm something.

Ye Jingtang knew that Yang Guan found him familiar, so he made his voice deeper and said, “What is it?”

Hearing that this familiar ruthless man’s tone was unfriendly, Yang Guan lowered his head and stopped looking around. “Young Hero Ye, my master, the Three Absolutes Elderly Immortal, asked me to send you a message. In the morning, the two leaders of Jun Mountain Terrace came to Martial Understanding Mountain and left without stopping. My master asked you to pay more attention.”

Ye Jingtang was rather surprised and asked, “Do you know where they went?”

“That’s hard to say. Those two people are probably stronger than my master. No one can track them. But my master suspects that Jun Mountain Terrace is in contact with the Prince of Wu. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have risked coming to the Iron River Manor at this time…”

Ye Jingtang exchanged a few words with Yang Guan. After noting down the news, he bade farewell to him and left Martial Understanding Mountain with the two women. He only mentioned this matter when they arrived on a deserted road.

Pei Xiangjun clearly understood why Jun Mountain Terrace was here. “Jun Mountain Terrace must be here to eliminate the root of their trouble. Even the two Wang brothers of Yan Province couldn’t deal with you. With Xuanyuan Hongzhi’s personality, he might have even asked Xuanyuan Chao to come…” Luo Ning shook her head, “Wu Province is so chaotic now. Xuanyuan Chao isn’t so stupid that he would come here and cause trouble. At most, Yao Wenzhong will come.”

“Between Guan Yujia and Yao Wenzhong, who is more powerful?”

“It’s hard to say. They’re not ordinary people. Since two leaders came, the three of us may not be able to defeat them.”

“It’s better to focus on finding the Prince of Wu first and transfer the troops from White Millet Town over. Let’s be careful on the way…”

More than ten official ships were sailing under the moonlight. The luxurious ship in the center was brightly lit, and many palace maids who had left the capital for the first time were standing in the corridors of the deckhouse and looking at the magnificent scenery of the intersection of the two rivers at the Wuxi Estuary.

There was a terrace on top of the deckhouse. It was originally for the emperor to view the scenery. At this moment, there were carved soft couches and a painting table on it. A few palace maids were holding lanterns at the side, while Hongyu was cutting watermelons nearby.

The curvy and fair empress dowager was afraid that the official of the Six Ministries would find out that she had run out with them, so she had dressed up as a female official. But her bearing was still very elegant and noble. She was standing in front of the painting table with her left hand holding her sleeve and her right hand holding a brush. First, she carefully observed the perilous peaks under the moon by the shore. Then she raised her brush and outlined on the paper—two towering steamed buns with black circles on them…

Dongfang Liren, dressed in a silver python robe, was standing by the railing of the terrace with her hands behind her back and examining the imperial guards on the ship. She had the aura of a ‘king on a personal expedition’, but what she was actually thinking was: It’s over. 1 haven’t mastered the Overlord Spear, and my Wind Listening Palm isn’t that good either. When Ye Jingtang meets me, he’ll probably treat me as a stupid princess again… But I can’t let the fleet slow down and move slowly…

Just as Dongfang Liren was letting her imagination run wild, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind her. “What are you drawing?”

The voice was natural, as if it had always been behind her, but its ethereal and clear tone seemed to have sounded from beyond the heavens.

Because the voice cut in too naturally, Hongyu, who was fiddling with the watermelons, didn’t notice that there was another person on the terrace.

The empress dowager, who was engrossed in painting, replied rather unhappily, “I’m painting the landscape. Doesn’t it look like… Huh?!”

At this point, the empress dowager realized something and quickly turned around. She saw a tall woman standing behind her.

The woman was wearing a black and white Daoist robe. Her black hair was tied up with a silver lotus crown, and her face was covered with a thin veil, revealing only a pair of amiable peach blossom eyes. There was a horsetail whisk on her wrist. Coupled with her otherworldly aura, she looked like a Daoist expert who had just come down from the mountain.

The empress dowager’s eyes clearly began to glow, and the brush in her hand fell to the floor. After confirming that this woman wasn’t an illusion, she raised her hand and gave her a bear hug. “You have no conscience. You’re finally here. Do you know how I’ve been living for the past year? Liren and them hardly ever let me out of the palace, but as soon as I went out, there was lightning, rain, and assassins…”

“Alright, alright, I’m here now…”

“Why are you dressed so properly?”

“Was I not proper before?”

“Yes.”

“Sigh, there are courtiers on the ship. It’s not good to be seen dressed too casually.”

“That’s true…”

Dongfang Liren watched as the empress dowager refused to let go. She didn’t even have the chance to go over and speak. After the empress dowager finished speaking, she went over and cupped her hands. “Master, why are you suddenly here?”

“I just finished my seclusion on the mountain and wanted to enter the capital directly. On the way, I heard that you came to Wu Province, so I came to take a look. I didn’t expect the empress dowager to be here.”

Seeing that there were no outsiders on the terrace, Daoist Xuanji threw her horsetail whisk and veil to Hongyu. Then she walked over to Dongfang Liren and straightened the lapels of her python robe. “I haven’t seen you for a year. You’ve grown up again.”

Ordinary people would think that this was the condolences of an elder, but Dongfang Liren didn’t think so. She raised her head and slightly puffed up the fat-headed dragon. “I’ve always been this mature. Master, it’s been too long.”

“Heh~ It’s all because I’ve built a good foundation for you since you were a child. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen you for a year. Have you found someone you like? Is he on the ship?”

The empress dowager’s lips curled up slightly when she heard this, wanting to help answer.

But Dongfang Liren hurriedly waved her hands and pretended to be calm. “Master, don’t joke. I’m so busy in the capital that I don’t even have time to relax with the empress dowager. I low can I be in the mood to find someone I like…”

Seeing Dongfang Liren’s unnatural reaction, Daoist Xuanji understood most of it. She didn’t ask about this anymore and inquired, “i heard in Jianghu that there’s a very powerful new chief constable in the Black Office. I’ve never seen him before. Is this true?”

Dongfang Liren thought for a moment. “There is one. His surname is Ye. He came to the capital in April. I’ve inspected him, and he has a good character and ability, so I let him enter the Black Office.”

Daoist Xuanji nodded thoughtfully, but she couldn’t tell Dongfang Liren’s exact attitude toward Ye Jingtang. She couldn’t figure it out for the time being, so she didn’t talk more about this matter. She turned around, hugged the empress dowager’s waist, and walked into the deckhouse. “Do you have any wine? I drank all my wine on the way, and I feel weak all over…”

“Yes. I thought I would meet you in West King Town, so i specially prepared the best Jade Spring Roast from the Dragon Cry Pavilion for you…”

“Is that so? Let’s go…”