Free Web NovelChapter 418: Chapter 196: Spear Intent Manifests, a Brush with Death
The Celestial Fragrance Pavilion was an organization of assassins.
They only cared about money, not people.
Eunuch Liu had discovered that True Martial Realm assassins had indeed entered the Qiling Governor’s Mansion.
He was both extremely curious and a little worried about Chu Lingguang, so he had tailed them. At first, he thought he was just being paranoid, but then he saw them disembark at South City, mount horses, and race toward Fishing Town.
Remembering that Baiyang County was just past Fishing Town, Eunuch Liu became even more certain that something was wrong.
"Master, why are you so concerned with the movements of those three?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang asked, confused. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
"Those three are assassins from the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion. They’ve been heading south, likely to target a friend of mine."
Eunuch Liu explained.
"Then why not just capture them and question them?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang said.
"The Celestial Fragrance Pavilion has a mysterious background. Once you provoke them, not even I can remain uninvolved."
Eunuch Liu cautioned.
There was something he left unsaid: one of the three was a True Martial Realm expert. If a fight broke out, he wasn’t certain he could gain the upper hand, let alone capture them for questioning.
"Er... so, are we still going to follow them?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang asked.
"Yes, but we’ll wait a little."
Eunuch Liu replied.
He then took Xuanyuan Jinkang to do some shopping at the docks.
The leader of the three figures, who were riding off into the distance, stopped just out of sight. After waiting a long while and seeing no one in pursuit, he finally continued on horseback toward Fishing Town.
’Such powerful Spiritual Sense. The energy in his sea of consciousness must have already formed a grand Qi Vortex.’
Eunuch Liu sighed in admiration.
No one who reached the True Martial Realm was to be underestimated.
He had been able to follow them this far by traveling down the Canal. Since there was only one waterway, his presence wasn’t overly suspicious. If he were to give chase on horseback now, however, he would be exposed almost immediately.
Even if he remained unseen, the man’s powerful Spiritual Sense would be able to detect the approaching danger.
"Find an inn near the docks and stay there. I’ll come back for you once I’m finished with my business."
Eunuch Liu said.
"Master, you’re leaving me behind,"
Xuanyuan Jinkang said, caught completely off guard.
"They’re already on alert. With you following me, we’d be easily exposed."
Eunuch Liu explained.
"Then please hurry back, Master."
Xuanyuan Jinkang could only relent.
Eunuch Liu promptly bought a horse at the docks, put on a simple disguise, and rode off in the direction of Fishing Town.
Xuanyuan Jinkang, meanwhile, found an inn near the docks to stay in.
Just after checking in, he asked curiously, "Attendant, where does that road ahead lead?"
Seeing Xuanyuan Jinkang point toward Fishing Town, the attendant smiled. "That road leads to Fishing Town, Young Master. Beyond that are a dozen or so counties. You might not know this, sir, but the top scorer in South City for this year’s Daoist and Martial Arts Examinations was a candidate from a small county in that direction. His name is Chu Lingguang, from Baiyang County. I was there in person when he competed against Young Master Yan for the top spot."
The inn attendant had a silver tongue. With people constantly coming and going through the inn, there was always fresh news, and customers often asked who this top scorer from South City was.
Assuming Xuanyuan Jinkang was also interested, he began telling him all about Chu Lingguang.
’Oh, so Baiyang County is back there,’
Xuanyuan Jinkang mused.
Back in his room, he recalled the change in Eunuch Liu’s expression when they had overheard some Turkic people discussing Guo Wei. That very day, the eunuch had even written a memorial and had him give it to the local officials for urgent delivery to the Imperial City.
’Could those three be after Guo Wei?’
’But if they’re just after Guo Wei, why would he be so nervous? So nervous that he’d turn back to South City mid-journey, and now he’s even tailing them all by himself?’
’Could it be...?’
’Damn it! That damn eunuch! Don’t tell me he’s planning to wait for those assassins to kill Guo Wei, and then take Chu Lingguang as his disciple!’
’That has to be it!’
’He’s always going on about Chu Lingguang, treating him like his own son.’
’What’s so wrong with me, Xuanyuan Jinkang?’
’Just teach me the Soft and Flexible Technique! Why does he always have to be thinking about Chu Lingguang?!’
’Damn it!’
’Only when Chu Lingguang is dead will that old bastard finally stop doting on him.’
Xuanyuan Jinkang was clever by nature. After some careful deduction, he believed he understood the whole situation.
Last time at Yang Shaorong’s mansion, he had clearly defeated Chu Lingguang, even kicking him so hard he spat blood. But Eunuch Liu had declared it his loss, forcing him to kowtow and beg for mercy at the gate. It was only with great difficulty that he was allowed to continue following the eunuch. He had thought the matter was settled, but now, to his astonishment, Eunuch Liu had dragged him back to South City halfway through their journey, all for Chu Lingguang.
And look how nervous the man was.
It was as if Chu Lingguang was the only person he could see.
The more Xuanyuan Jinkang thought about it, the angrier he became.
If Guo Wei died and Chu Lingguang became Eunuch Liu’s disciple, he would have to compete with Chu Lingguang for cultivation resources in the future. And given Eunuch Liu’s attitude, he would almost certainly favor Chu Lingguang.
At this thought, Xuanyuan Jinkang grew anxious.
’I absolutely cannot stand by and watch that damn eunuch bring Chu Lingguang back with him.’
The Great Yuan Dynasty promoted the principles of honoring one’s master and respecting the Dao.
But not everyone was capable of upholding them.
Xuanyuan Jinkang had always been hostile toward Chu Lingguang. Now, realizing that Eunuch Liu might be going to fetch Chu Lingguang, he completely forgot his master’s teachings and instead saw the eunuch as a blind fool.
To avoid arousing suspicion, he booked the room for seven days and told the inn attendant he was going to walk around South City and should not be disturbed.
He then bought a horse at the docks and headed for Baiyang County. By asking at roadside tea stalls and with passing merchant caravans for news of Eunuch Liu and the three assassins, describing their appearances and route, he followed the trail toward Baiyang County.
「Baiyang County, Guo Wei Martial Arts Hall.」
