Chapter 165
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
“No wonder the patriarch only assigned the two of us siblings to guard the entrance and exit of the cave; turns out, he wanted to leave us behind,” Dai Xueyang realized belatedly.
“We need to inform those below the mountain,” Yue Chen said.
“Impossible. Shortly after Young Master Yue was brought in this afternoon, the patriarch ordered the entire fort to be sealed off. I reckon he’s afraid someone might come to rescue the hostages. There are people stationed at every entrance, and apart from our own scouts, it’s practically impossible for anyone without martial skills to leave. However, those with martial skills, if they’re not familiar with the traps and mechanisms outside, it’s difficult for them to escape this mountain,” Dai Heng analyzed.
“Then we can only deal with the problem before they come up,” Huo Luo suggested. “If they’re planning to bury explosive devices and prepare an escape route, there will definitely be significant movements.”
Lin Qingyang looked at the Dai siblings, puzzled, “They must have been doing this for quite some time. How is it that you haven’t noticed anything?”
Both of them shook their heads. Dai Xueyang spoke, “In fact, ever since the looting of disaster relief supplies began, there were nightly activities or training sessions. We, the siblings, chose not to participate and basically stayed in our own courtyard. So, we weren’t aware of the occasional commotion outside or what it was for. Even regarding the hostages, we didn’t pay much attention. At that time, our minds were set on secretly obtaining the antidote to save the disaster victims in the capital and then making a getaway.”
With no positive news from any side and an air of pessimism prevailing, everyone involuntarily turned their gaze to Chu Lishu, as if an unspoken agreement had formed, making Chu Lishu the de facto leader of the action group.
Chu Lishu, seemingly accustomed to giving orders, spoke as if by habit, “Divide into three groups. Since the Dai siblings have tasks within the fort, they can help patrol and investigate any unusual activity within the fort. Xu Wenze, the only ones familiar with formations and traps are you, Yue Chen, and me. So, you’ll accompany the Dai siblings and assist in the search.”
The Dai siblings immediately nodded in agreement, while Xu Wenze furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly contemplating something.
“What’s the concern? You can speak freely,” Chu Lishu noticed Xu Wenze’s hesitation.
Xu Wenze was actually quite intelligent, but his temperament was non-competitive. Once there were a few smart individuals in a group who could contribute ideas and speak up, he generally preferred not to take the lead unless someone specifically asked him.
“Are we not assigning anyone here?” Xu Wenze pointed to the cages behind them.
“Patrols here are not under the control of the Dai siblings. Guards come in approximately every hour, we can capture two people, drug them, change into their clothes, and pretend we are resting. So we can deceive them temporarily. It should be enough time…,” Chu Lishu explained.
“I find it inappropriate. Bring someone over, let them pretend to be you sleeping, and I’ll stay behind. This way, we can ensure fooling the guards and provide you with the most ample time for action. I remember there are signal arrows in the fort; you can give me one. In case we really can’t deceive them in the end, I can notify you in time, and you can be prepared. As for traps and formations, I believe as long as the Dai siblings find something suspicious, contacting you would be just as effective,” Xu Wenze suggested.
After Xu Wenze spoke, he watched as Chu Lishu slowly smiled. “Since they didn’t kill me from the start, they won’t easily kill me later. Rest assured. Perhaps in the end, they might even take me to the other hostages, saving you the trouble of investigating another aspect.”
Chu Lishu exchanged a glance with him, agreeing with his approach. In fact, this was the best plan Chu Lishu had initially thought of, and assigning Xu Wenze to the Dai siblings seemed somewhat unnecessary.
However, leaving Xu Wenze alone here would be too risky. Xu Wenze had no martial skills, and there was a high chance of something going wrong. That’s why Chu Lishu changed his mind.
However, it was evident that Xu Wenze noticed this as well. He voluntarily chose to stay behind and take on the risk, but strictly speaking, he was assuming the smallest risk among all present. This was simply because he lacked martial skills, leaving him unprotected. In the event of an accident, he would be powerless to resist, making it seem dangerous.
Yue Chen originally wanted to speak up but, after glancing at the two of them, seemed to understand something.
This surprised Yue Chen quite a bit. He thought Chu Lishu wouldn’t care about Xu Wenze’s life or death. He believed that the Chu Lishu who returned would only see the value of using others in his eyes, with the lives of other people being merely a matter of whether they were useful or not. Because if Yue Chen had gone through those experiences, he felt he would have become like that, at least that’s how he was when he first encountered Chu Lishu. However, seemingly unnoticed, Chu Lishu had changed. He had become someone who considered the life and death of those around him. There seemed to be a trace of the former Crown Prince in him.
While Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang were explaining important details to Xu Wenze, suddenly Huo Luo pulled Yue Chen’s arm.
Yue Chen knew he had something to say, so he leaned in. He then heard Huo Luo speaking in a stiff tone, whispering, “No matter what he assigns later, let’s stick together.”
Yue Chen nodded naturally, but suddenly, as if having an epiphany, he realized his earlier assumption was incorrect. If he had gone through what Chu Lishu had experienced, he wouldn’t have turned into someone cold-blooded and ruthless, using people and things for his own gain. After all, he had Huo Luo by his side.
Dai Heng happened to have signal arrows, so he handed one to Xu Wenze. Huo Luo left him a defensive weapon, and Lin Qingyang, improvising, gave him a small antidote from the divine physician.
Chu Lishu looked at Yue Chen, who nodded in understanding, “Confidants around the patriarch?”
Chu Lishu nodded, “You and Huo Luo, adapt to the situation.”
Lin Qingyang immediately looked at Chu Lishu eagerly, afraid of being left behind again.
But this time, Chu Lishu sighed, “You come with me to watch over the Master.” In this crisis-ridden situation, and considering his tendency to get into trouble, it was safer to keep him close.
“None of you have martial skills. Is the Master dangerous?” Xu Wenze expressed concern.
“Don’t worry. Prime Minister Li has secretly arranged for two experts for me, and they entered not long ago,” Chu Lishu assured.
Lin Qingyang raised an eyebrow. This was the opportunity for Lu Yi and Lu Shi to make an appearance. Since it was a secret arrangement, Xu Wenze naturally wouldn’t ask more questions. It served as a good enough excuse.
“At that time, they will also be responsible for passing messages between us,” Chu Lishu stated.
Everyone nodded, accepting their assignments. Everything proceeded according to Chu Lishu’s plan.
Except for Xu Wenze staying behind, the others returned to their respective courtyards with the Dai siblings to make preparations.
Before Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang left, Dai Xueyang provided detailed information about the garden.
Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu changed into the fort’s attire, donned masks, and quietly headed to the garden where the Master was located.
The reason Chu Lishu allocated tasks this way was because he had no interest in the patriarch; he was just a deserter. However, he was determined to personally meet the Master from Tianheng Country.
As everyone else departed, Dai Heng couldn’t help but speak up, “Sis, they’re all so talented. Indeed, there are many outstanding young talents in the capital. I’ve heard about Huo Luo from Dad; the Huo family’s military is quite formidable… And Young Master Yue and Young Master Xu are both very clever. Of course, the cleverest of them all is Chu Lishu. I initially thought he was just a wealthy pretty boy, but it turns out he’s brave and strategic. So many capable people are willingly following his orders; he’s the most formidable among them.”
Dai Xueyang nodded, “Indeed, they are all quite impressive.”
Dai Heng couldn’t help but brighten up, “Sis, you’re both smart and beautiful. With so many outstanding people around, have you set your eyes on anyone…”
Dai Xueyang immediately knocked on her brother’s head. “Now is a matter of life and death, and you’re thinking about this?”
“Hehe, I don’t know why, but I just have a feeling that with them around, everything will succeed. So, I started daydreaming. Sis, you’re not young anymore; it’s time to get married,” Dai Heng couldn’t help but tease.
“We are different from them; we are fugitives,” Dai Xueyang stated firmly.
Dai Heng wasn’t too happy to hear that. He believed his sister deserved the best. “If we weren’t fugitives, who would you be interested in?”
“Focus on the task!” Dai Xueyang dismissed him, adopting a stern tone.
Dai Heng rolled his eyes and went to make preparations.
Dai Xueyang couldn’t help but feel a stir in her heart. Watching Chu Lishu strategize just now somehow made her think of the Crown Prince, that glimpse of brilliance from her youth, the savior of her entire family—someone eternally unforgettable in the heart of a young girl.
There was a time when she trained herself for the Crown Prince, hoping to become well-rounded, excelling in both literary and martial arts, to the point where her reputation would reach the capital. She knew her status would never allow her to enter the Eastern Palace, but she still fantasized about being selected into the palace through a beauty contest, accompanying the Crown Prince by his side after he ascended the throne. However, those were just naive fantasies from her youthful days.
Given the current situation, she dared not think about marriage. She also wouldn’t casually deceive herself for the sake of marriage. Therefore, it seemed that marriage was out of the question in this lifetime.
On the other side, Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang had reached their destination. Outside the garden, guards appointed by the patriarch were stationed in fixed positions at five different points. Additionally, five others were patrolling back and forth, remaining vigilant. Observing the situation, Lin Qingyang wondered how they would manage to get inside.
“Stay close to me later,” Chu Lishu suddenly spoke after observing for a while. Without hesitation, he grabbed Lin Qingyang’s hand.
Lin Qingyang was about to nod in agreement when suddenly Chu Lishu pulled his towards a corner of the garden, running swiftly.
While Lin Qingyang instinctively followed along as they ran, his mind was in a state of shock.
What’s going on? There are guards all around, and they aren’t invisible. Are they just going to charge in like this?
However, to Lin Qingyang’s surprise, just as they approached the line of sight of the guards, the patrolling guard happened to block the fixed guard’s view. With their movements, Chu Lishu led Lin Qingyang while running, and the timing was perfect. They seamlessly entered the blind spots of the guards’ vision, making their way into the garden without being noticed.
The garden was filled with various plants, and from their current angle, the vegetation was lush and half a person tall. As they entered, Chu Lishu pressed Lin Qingyang down, taking advantage of the dense foliage.
In a matter of seconds, the patrolling guard turned around to begin a new round, completely unaware that two people had slipped away right under their noses.
Hidden in the shadows with special stealth techniques, Lu Yi and Lu Shi could move silently and seamlessly infiltrate without attracting attention, especially when not accompanied by others.
Lin Qingyang realized he dared not even breathe audibly. However, Chu Lishu, whose arm was draped over Lin Qingyang’s shoulder, remained composed, as if they had just taken a casual stroll. His gaze had already shifted forward, paying no attention to the situation behind them.
The area was filled with various plants, more of a medicinal herb garden than a traditional garden. According to the Dai siblings, poisonous herbs dominated the area, and there were traps and mechanisms scattered throughout. The Master set them up to prevent anyone from entering the medicinal hut at the center of the garden. Only one path was safe, the pebble path leading from the main gate to the entrance of the medicinal hut. However, walking on that path meant being completely exposed to all directions, as the Master’s men guarded that unavoidable route. Therefore, they had to navigate a path full of traps.
For Chu Lishu, this was a task without any difficulty, and there was no need for Lin Qingyang to make a conspicuous entrance. Chu Lishu effortlessly guided Lin Qingyang through the perilous garden in the darkness, indicating the way for Lu Yi and Lu Shi following behind.
Soon, Lu Yi and Lu Shi silently concealed themselves on the roof of the medicinal hut. Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang found themselves behind the medicinal hut, taking cover beneath a window.
The voices from inside were clearly audible, with the Master conversing with his subordinates. They were discussing the poisoning incident involving the Second Master. However, it was evident that the Master wasn’t entirely sure whether the Second Master had truly fallen victim to his poison. It should have been the case, but the symptoms weren’t aligning properly. Moreover, Chu Lishu’s demeanor convinced him that there was something more to this situation.
“Why don’t I sneak out and find the patriarch? I can explain the suspicious points to him,” one of the subordinates suggested.
“I think he wants to seize the opportunity to eliminate me. He doesn’t care about any suspicions. Otherwise, the investigation would have ended long ago. Why hasn’t he come over yet? It seems he intends to abandon us,” the Master said with a chilling tone.
“Then, let’s take the initiative!” the subordinate exclaimed.
“That is inevitable,” the Master said slowly. “But… Chu Lishu… I must be the one to kill him.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but look at Chu Lishu. Chu Lishu also showed a puzzled expression. It was understandable that people from Tianheng Country would want to kill Yuan Ran, but not many knew that Yuan Ran was Chu Lishu. The Country’s words clearly indicated some old grudge.
In the midst of confusion, a sudden alarm rang in his mind.
Lin Qingyang knew there was danger, but strangely, only Chu Lishu’s alarm went off, not his, even though they were right next to each other.
At that moment, Lin Qingyang noticed a flash of green light within his line of sight. In the nick of time, he seemed to have realized what it was. Despite his fear of the creature, he instinctively reached out and grabbed the green triangular snakehead that shot toward him like an arrow.
There was a momentary pain in his hand, and Chu Lishu also suddenly sensed something. He turned around and saw Lin Qingyang, his face pale, holding a poisonous snake. The snake was…
Chu Lishu’s heart tightened abruptly. He drew his knife and severed the snake at seven inches.
Lin Qingyang immediately felt nauseated and tossed the snake away.
Chu Lishu swiftly grabbed Lin Qingyang’s hand to extract the venom, but he pulled her hand away. “I’ve taken an antidote; I’m fine…”
Lin Qingyang meant that the antidote he had consumed earlier still had its effects, providing protection against any poison?
How could it be possible? The medicine concocted by Mu Huichun could indeed detoxify, but its effects would disperse after some time. How could it be maintained?
However, Chu Lishu’s mind quickly calmed down because Lin Qingyang, apart from having a somewhat pale complexion, showed no signs of poisoning. Even the blood oozing from the bitten tooth marks was red. All of this made Chu Lishu think that he had just misidentified the snake.
At that moment, the sound of weapons breaking the air reached them from not far away.
Chu Lishu immediately turned back in vigilance, and Lin Qingyang also looked over curiously. Both of them felt a chill down their spines.
The open space around them was densely populated with green snakes, all of them staring at the duo.
The weapons from earlier were shot from above, precisely targeting the several snakes that were closest to them.
These snakes were extremely elusive, moving silently in their crawl without emitting any hissing sounds. Even the keen-eared Chu Lishu could only hear their movements when they revealed half of their bodies. Above them, both Lu Yi and Lu Shi, upon hearing Lin Qingyang’s hushed words and sensing him checking for something, realized that something was amiss.
Without hesitation, Lin Qingyang preemptively handed Chu Lishu a dose of the antidote from the system for protection. After all, the system had been repeatedly warning them, indicating a high level of danger.
Lin Qingyang also understood that the system’s antidote not only could counteract various poisons but also provided immunity to toxic damage for a period. In the territory controlled by the Master, it would undoubtedly prove to be extremely valuable.
Sure enough, as Chu Lishu instinctively swallowed the antidote, the system stopped alerting.
This was a snake formation arranged by the Master, absent in the garden but present only near the medicinal hut. No wonder there was no defense in this area. Initially, Chu Lishu found it strange, thinking that the Master was confident about the traps set in the garden. However, now he understood that there was another move.
Even someone with formidable martial arts skills would find it challenging to escape from such a snake formation. Although they were immune to poisoning due to the antidote, the commotion caused by a large number of snakes was still troublesome.
Chu Lishu became even more unwilling to let Lin Qingyang get bitten. Without hesitation, he made a quick decision, opened the window, and jumped in while holding Lin Qingyang.
The two inside, engaged in conversation, immediately became alert upon hearing the commotion, looking in their direction. Never did they expect that the subject of their conversation would appear before them so abruptly.
“Chu Lishu!”
In an instant, the four individuals clashed directly. However, the martial artist by the side of the Master easily subdued Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang.
However, Lin Qingyang found it strange because Chu Lishu seemed to have no intention of resisting, appearing completely submissive as if he were a weak scholar being captured.
Surprisingly, neither Lu Yi nor Lu Shi came down.
Lin Qingyang was surprised, and he saw the reassuring look in Chu Lishu’s eyes. It seemed that this was another impromptu idea from Chu Lishu.
Presenting weakness to feign strength – was he trying to gather information?
Thinking it made sense, Lin Qingyang suddenly heard the stern voice of the Master, “Keep a close eye on Chu Lishu. Once he goes crazy, you won’t be able to control him either!”
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>