Chapter 201
Tonight, Chu Lishu went out with Lu Yi and Lu Shi to handle affairs, while Lin Qingyang stayed at home to accompany Mu Huichun in medical research.
“What are you daydreaming about? Senior Brother isn’t here, but you don’t have to be so absent-minded. Check again to see if there are any scars on your body.” Mu Huichun stared at Lin Qingyang, holding a greenish paste in his hand, which made Lin Qingyang, who had undergone various treatments during his long hospitalization, feel uneasy.
“I’ve already used up everything. I’m a precious young master. How could I have so many scars? I’ve already asked Shuncai to find other servants to come over. Don’t worry.” Lin Qingyang said helplessly, then couldn’t help adding, “And I’m not daydreaming, just a little worried about Chu Lishu going out.”
Mu Huichun couldn’t be bothered to listen to Lin Qingyang’s excuses. He had been daydreaming several times that night, feeling somewhat regretful as he sat down and complained, “There might not be anyone coming. They’re all avoiding me.”
Lin Qingyang had heard about it too. After all, Mu Huichun always used people from the other courtyard for his experiments whenever he came up with something new. At first, everyone cooperated eagerly, but sometimes the effects of the medicine were unstable and it was really troublesome. Since the master was kind-hearted, he naturally wouldn’t force the servants, and everyone found various excuses to decline.
“How did you and your master test medicine before?” Lin Qingyang asked curiously.
“Most of the time, we would test on each other, inducing corresponding symptoms before trying the medicine,” Mu Huichun said matter-of-factly.
Lin Qingyang’s mouth twitched at the revelation. Indeed, ruthless was ruthless.
“But when Senior Brother was still around, we often used him as a test subject. His martial arts skills were strong, and he had a good physical foundation, making him more suitable than us. Besides, he always complied with Master’s requests and was easy to talk to. Now that his health is poor, I dare not let him try many medicines anymore. It’s a pity,” Mu Huichun said, oblivious to the need for discretion, especially when speaking to close acquaintances. Lin Qingyang, even as the original persona, would have known about these details.
But thinking about the Crown Prince himself conducting medicinal research for others, Lin Qingyang suddenly felt that his current situation wasn’t so bad after all.
The medicine they were currently experimenting with was requested by Huo Luo before he left, on behalf of Miss Mo.
In the original plot, Mu Huichun did not appear, so Miss Mo remained disfigured. With a Divine Physician now present, it remained to be seen whether anything could be done to help. Lin Qingyang could tell that Huo Luo didn’t want to owe Miss Mo anything.
Just as Lin Qingyang was pondering the awkward situation of those three, a new mission notification sounded in his mind.
Ministry of Justice? Does that mean Yue Chen and Huo Luo are on the move already? So soon? Wasn’t the plan to investigate first before taking action?
Wait a minute, Huo Luo isn’t even in the capital right now. Could it be that Yue Chen’s side has already found some clues and is preparing to act?
In the original plot, the description of this part is actually quite similar to Chu Lishu’s plan.
It was Yue Chen and Huo Luo who tracked down the convicted criminals involved in the transaction. They encountered some dangers along the way, but managed to resolve them and brought back the prisoners.
Afterward, with the additional evidence collected by Chu Lishu, several high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Justice were directly implicated and punished, effectively reinstating the authority of the Minister of Justice, who was aligned with Chu Lishu.
Lin Qingyang carefully recalled the details, but many were fuzzy in his memory. Since this event mainly involved supporting characters, there weren’t many descriptions. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help feeling a bit worried, especially since Huo Luo wasn’t currently by Yue Chen’s side.
As Lin Qingyang pondered over Yue Chen’s actions, assuming he wouldn’t rashly take risks, he decided to wait and ask Chu Lishu about the progress upon his return.
While lost in these thoughts, he suddenly heard commotion from outside the courtyard. Lin Qingyang thought it might be Chu Lishu and the others returning, as they often appeared unexpectedly.
However, upon stepping outside, he was surprised to find a tense-looking Huo Luo standing in the courtyard.
“Big Brother Huo?”
“Where’s Chu Lishu?” Huo Luo asked urgently.
“He’s out on business, I’m not sure where exactly,” Lin Qingyang furrowed his brow. “Why are you back so soon? Is something wrong? It’s only been three days.”
Huo Luo’s expression tightened. “Have you been in contact with Yue Chen recently? Have you seen him today? Did he mention what he was up to?”
Seeing Huo Luo’s obvious distress, Lin Qingyang quickly briefed him on what he knew.
In fact, the only time they had heard from Yue Chen recently was when rumors surfaced about someone committing suicide in the prison department. Yue Chen had relayed a message to them, explaining the department’s methods of trading, before continuing to monitor the next steps.
Similarly, Huo Luo had heard from Yue Chen before leaving that there were suitable death row inmates to watch over. Knowing Yue Chen’s temperament, he had a feeling that if Yue Chen had discovered something, he wouldn’t wait for his return before taking action. So, feeling uneasy all the way, Huo Luo had dropped off the person and immediately returned alone.
As the night grew later, Yue Chen was still absent from the residence. The Yue family mentioned that he had gone to the Imperial Court of Justice Review during the day and hadn’t returned since. Normally, if he went out for leisure in the evening, he would inform his family. Only when he was handling official business would he leave without saying anything, as those instances were usually impromptu.
He had also gone to the Imperial Court of Justice Review, but no one had seen him there either. Growing increasingly uneasy, Huo Luo immediately went to find Chu Lishu.
Upon hearing Huo Luo’s concerns, Lin Qingyang also became uneasy. It was too much of a coincidence that this was happening just as the new mission had been issued.
Seeing that Huo Luo was about to leave, Lin Qingyang immediately spoke up: “I’ll accompany you to search. It’s better to have more people to discuss the situation.”
Huo Luo naturally didn’t refuse. He just wanted to find Yue Chen as soon as possible. He had a bad feeling about this.
Seeing that they seemed to be in trouble and about to leave, Mu Huichun suggested, “Why not take some medicine with you, just in case?”
Lin Qingyang hurriedly rushed to Mu Huichun’s medicine cabinet. He was very familiar with the layout, but Mu Huichun’s habit of randomly placing medicine bottles still frustrated him. Lin Qingyang saw antidotes and life-saving medicines piled together and grabbed a few randomly before rushing out.
Once outside, he mounted his horse and quickly found Huo Luo, who was lost in thought. When he saw Lin Qingyang coming out, he mentioned a few locations and planned to search separately.
But Lin Qingyang suggested, “Why don’t we make a trip to the disorderly burial mound north of the city first?”
Huo Luo looked puzzled.
Lin Qingyang could only muster a feeble excuse. “Earlier, Big Brother Yue mentioned the possible trading routes of those people, and the disorderly burial mound is a crucial location. If Big Brother Yue is investigating, the most likely place for something to happen would be the disorderly burial mound. Aren’t you most worried about Big Brother Yue getting into trouble? Let’s just take a detour there. Even if it delays us a bit, we can directly rule out the danger. Then you won’t have to worry anymore.”
Huo Luo looked at Lin Qingyang in surprise. “You’re really smart.”
Lin Qingyang felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. Actually, he didn’t consider himself particularly smart; he just reasoned backward. In the original plot, the place where Huo Luo and Yue Chen clashed with the enemy was indeed the disorderly burial mound.
He was genuinely worried about Yue Chen’s safety, especially since it was because of him disrupting the plot that they had taken a different path from the original story. If they encountered danger, it would be disastrous. So, they decided to go check it out directly to ease their minds.
With determination, they spurred their horses and galloped straight toward the disorderly burial mound.
As they passed by a desolate tea stall, suddenly Huo Luo pulled the reins of his horse, and Lin Qingyang quickly followed suit, looking at him puzzledly. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s blood.” Huo Luo glanced directly at the tea stall nearby, where the tables and chairs appeared to have been smashed. In the moonlight, they could see strange marks, and Lin Qingyang soon detected a strong smell of blood.
The two immediately dismounted to investigate. Instinctively, Huo Luo positioned himself in front of Lin Qingyang, a habit he had developed from working alongside Yue Chen.
Soon, they saw traces of blood on the tables, chairs, and ground, leading all the way to a loose mound of soil behind the tea stall. The two exchanged uneasy glances; this was evidently a scene of murder and burial.
This road was a must-pass route to the cemetery, and the sudden appearance of a murder scene made them both uneasy. Regardless of what they were thinking, their immediate reaction was to dig open the mound and see who had been buried there.
As they saw the face, Lin Qingyang didn’t recognize the person, but a wave of horror emanated from Huo Luo in an instant.
“What’s wrong? Do you know him, Big Brother Huo?”
“He’s a guard from the Imperial Court of Justice Review, recently working with Yue Chen.” Huo Luo’s face turned ashen as he spoke, immediately standing up. His expression remained stoic, but his facial muscles trembled uncontrollably. His fierce eyes scanned the surroundings; he wanted to find Yue Chen, yet he also feared what he might find.
Lin Qingyang’s face also went pale. At this moment, they couldn’t afford to consider anything else. He searched the body for clues and suddenly felt an emblem. He picked it up and exclaimed, “Big Brother Yue, is this Big Brother Yue’s?”
By now, Huo Luo had circled around swiftly using light-footed technique, removing any remaining traces of blood. He hurried over to inspect and, upon seeing the emblem, immediately confirmed, “It’s his.”
Lin Qingyang pondered for a moment. Combining the current situation with the original plot, could it be…
“Big Brother Huo, if they encountered something and needed to mobilize personnel, would they give the emblem to the guard to go instead? After all, he’s more convenient in terms of martial arts skills. So, could it be…” If Yue Chen and the guard were discovered simultaneously, they should have been killed at the same time. But there’s only one body here, with Yue Chen’s emblem on it. So, the most likely scenario is that they split up. Yue Chen should still be…
“The chaotic burial mound!”
Both of them thought simultaneously, immediately mounting their horses and continuing their frantic ride.
As they neared the chaotic burial mound, the two of them abandoned their horses and began to walk, carefully inspecting every area around them. After all, it was highly likely that Yue Chen was hiding nearby.
They quickly discovered an abandoned hut with signs of recent habitation, but there was no trace of Yue Chen in the vicinity.
Growing anxious, Huo Luo instructed Lin Qingyang to hide and then swiftly climbed onto the roof of the hut to assess the situation.
Lin Qingyang obediently waited, racking his brain and desperately trying to recall any clues that could help. But before long, a warning alarm sounded in his mind, signaling that his life was under threat.
Having experienced this situation many times before, Lin Qingyang remained remarkably calm. Based on the frequency of the warning alarms, he could gauge how many chances he had left.
As Lin Qingyang scanned his surroundings, he found no one and no suitable hiding places. If the opponent was lurking behind him so silently, they were undoubtedly a skilled adversary. With no options left, his own safety took precedence.
As the warning alarms intensified, Lin Qingyang abruptly stood up and dashed towards the direction of the derelict house. As he ran, he loudly shouted for help, drawing attention to his plight.
The person behind him likely hadn’t anticipated this move, hesitating for a moment before quickly giving chase.
The derelict house wasn’t far from their location, so it took almost no time for Huo Luo to reach Lin Qingyang’s side. He swiftly repelled the assassins emerging from the darkness.
The assassin, skilled in martial arts, chuckled sinisterly and engaged in combat with Huo Luo.
Meanwhile, the thugs from the abandoned house also emerged, and some recognized Huo Luo. One of them exclaimed in alarm, “We can’t let them escape! Kill them all to silence them!”
In an instant, five people surrounded them, each skilled in martial arts. While Huo Luo could have directly engaged them in combat, Lin Qingyang was present, so they had to fight defensively, looking for opportunities to strike. Among them, the most formidable opponent was the assassin who initially targeted Lin Qingyang.
The assassin had a peculiar appearance, hunched back, and wore a black turban that covered half of his face. His movements were eerie and unpredictable, defying normal human kinetics, making it difficult to anticipate his next move.
Several times, he came perilously close to injuring Lin Qingyang. This was partly due to the lack of seamless coordination between Lin Qingyang and Huo Luo, making it impossible to provide one hundred percent protection.
Soon enough, in an attempt to shield Lin Qingyang, Huo Luo’s arm was slashed, and to their surprise, the weapon carried poison. In an instant, Huo Luo’s body went limp. Although Lin Qingyang hurriedly administered an antidote, in such a critical moment, it was too late.
Lin Qingyang could only barely repel one opponent with a hidden weapon. Just as the alarm sounded again in his mind, it abruptly ceased the next moment.
Lin Qingyang, still dazed from the tension, watched as the assailant fell to the ground in an instant, with two figures flying over and engaging in combat with the enemy.
To his surprise, the newcomers were Lu Yi and Lu Shi. Lin Qingyang was astonished and turned to see Chu Lishu’s figure rushing towards them not far away.
Anger once again flashed across his face, but his eyes betrayed a hint of panic. It seemed that when he had called for help just moments ago, they were already nearby.
Huo Luo, now recovered, quickly joined the fray.
Seeing that he was no longer needed in the fight, Lin Qingyang disengaged and was immediately scooped up by Chu Lishu as soon as he arrived. Chu Lishu seemed on the verge of reprimanding him but held back, opting to inquire first, “Are you hurt? What happened to you?”
“I’m fine. I noticed danger and shouted to alert everyone. That’s why Huo Luo was able to arrive in time. I was just being quick-witted,” Lin Qingyang explained hastily before continuing, “Lishu, something’s wrong. Did you hear about me…”
After Lin Qingyang’s revelation, Chu Lishu’s expression indeed changed. They had encountered a body when they arrived, but the insignia had already been taken, and they didn’t recognize the deceased. Thus, they weren’t certain if it was related to Yue Chen. Chu Lishu immediately shouted, “Capture them alive!”
“Aren’t you here to find out about Yue Chen?” Lin Qingyang asked, puzzled.
“We’ll discuss that later. Our arrival was unexpected,” Chu Lishu replied before turning his attention to the battle. With their unreserved intervention, capturing those individuals alive would be swift.
When Chu Lishu saw the strangely dressed individual, his expression changed slightly.
Several people were restrained by Lu Yi and Lu Shi, while Huo Luo interrogated them about Yue Chen’s whereabouts.
Initially, they attempted resistance, but Huo Luo swiftly resorted to severe measures, breaking their limbs. Eventually, they broke down, crying and begging for mercy. They were merely thugs from the Ministry of Justice, not trained to withstand intense interrogation. Unfortunately, they genuinely hadn’t encountered Yue Chen or any deceased guards.
With hope pinned on the last individual, it became apparent that he was different from the others.
Under their interrogation, his identity emerged as someone arranged by Chief Steward Ning to provide assistance.
Despite being captured, the man maintained a constant smile. Huo Luo, losing his composure, held a dagger to his neck, a sight that amused the assassin greatly.
Without waiting for Huo Luo’s interrogation, the assassin spoke directly: “I know the person you’re looking for, a handsome scholar, right? Don’t worry, I didn’t kill him. I’m kind to beautiful things.”
“Have you seen him? Where is he?” Huo Luo’s demeanor showed no signs of relaxation upon hearing this, resembling a volcano on the brink of eruption.
“I’ve kept him safe, but I won’t tell you where. Only I know,” the assassin grinned grotesquely, appearing to be nothing short of a deranged lunatic.
Huo Luo, enraged, attempted to use extreme methods to extract information, but deep down he knew that such a person feared nothing, not even death.
Chu Lishu stepped forward to halt Huo Luo, preventing him from wasting any more time. He scrutinized the assassin carefully, then asked, “You are… Tu Feng.”
Tu Feng’s expression instantly lit up with surprise. “You know me? I haven’t been in the martial world for a long time, yet there are still those who recognize my name.”
Hearing the name Tu Feng, both Lu Yi and Lu Shi lost their composure, while Huo Luo staggered, the blood draining from his face as if his soul had been half extracted.
Tu Feng… the assassin from Blood Abyss Pavilion.
His method of killing… burying victims alive.
The previous guard was probably buried alive when he was almost dead from the beating.
What about Yue Chen?
His implication just now was…
Suddenly, Huo Luo reached out and grabbed the assassin’s neck, his eyes already turning crimson, his murderous intent overflowing, as if the air around him was filled with blades. Every muscle in his body trembled in agony.
“Tell me, where did you hide him?!”
The assassin could hardly breathe, but still smiled, “Anyway, the mission failed, and I won’t survive. Don’t waste your effort. It doesn’t matter if I die, I’ll have beautiful flowers to accompany me in death.”
Huo Luo felt like his heart had been stabbed fiercely, the pain making it hard to breathe. He almost lost his sanity, crazily demanding, “Where did you hide him?! You tell me!”
If Yue Chen was dead, if he was dead… then did he still have to live?
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