Eternal Saber

Chapter 632: Chapter 53: Old Friend Haitang (Third Update)

Chen Tang took out a Human Skin Mask from his bosom and had Li Shuhu put it on.

After all, he was still wanted everywhere right now; with that face of his, he’d probably have to kill his way all the way from here to the Wusun Royal City, which was really unnecessary.

Chen Tang himself didn’t care; no one here knew him anyway.

Supporting Li Shuhu onto the back of the Thunder Leopard, Chen Tang ran along behind.

Given the Thunder Leopard’s broad, long back, it was more than enough to seat two people.

It was just that Chen Tang always felt a bit weird about it; after thinking it over, he decided to forget it.

With the Thunder Leopard’s leg power, shaking him off would be the easiest thing in the world.

But Chen Tang’s viscera were powerful, his Breath Long; in addition he had Horizontal Body Training, had reached the Extreme Meridian Passage, and his Qi and Blood circulated through his body in a full cycle, making him actually a bit faster than an ordinary horse’s pace.

The two men and one beast barely stopped to rest, only taking short naps when they were exhausted.

After three days and four nights, they finally arrived at the Wusun Royal City.

As usual, they left the Thunder Leopard outside the city, and Chen Tang and Li Shuhu entered the city.

Just as Li Shuhu had said, the Royal City was tightly guarded, with people everywhere hunting down those of the Great Kunmi’s faction.

The entire Royal City was in a state of nervous alarm, seeing enemies in every rustle of wind and grass.

At the city gate, several guards stopped Chen Tang and the other man and questioned them for a long time.

In the end, it was only after they slipped them some silver that the two were allowed into the city.

In the Royal City, Chen Tang and Li Shuhu found an inn from which they could see in the direction of the Royal Palace, and temporarily settled in, planning to first gather some information.

The two went up to a window-side seat on the second floor and ordered a tableful of food and wine.

On the way here, they had scarcely eaten at all and were already ravenously hungry.

Li Shuhu tore into the meat in big chunks and drank in great gulps.

This meal might very well be their last.

Chen Tang ate absent-mindedly, watching the passersby from the window and occasionally glancing toward the Royal Palace.

Just then, Chen Tang’s gaze shifted; in the crowd he saw a familiar figure, and he couldn’t help freezing for a moment, hardly daring to believe it.

He stared at the man closely for quite a while; after confirming it beyond doubt, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

He watched this person enter a residence not far away.

Chen Tang observed a bit more and saw that around this residence there were also some people whose expressions were somewhat off, who kept sneaking glances at the residence, as if secretly watching over the place.

"Waiter."

Chen Tang grabbed the server who had just brought up the dishes, gestured in that direction, and asked, "Who lives in that residence?"

The waiter said, "Over there? That’s the Wusun Delegation from the Qian Country."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang asked again, "What did they come for?"

The waiter smiled and said, "What else could it be? Just the usual—spending money for face."

"They have our Wusun Delegation go to the Qian Country to pay tribute. In name it’s a pilgrimage and tribute, but in reality you just bring a few token gifts, say some nice-sounding words, and you can exchange them for heaps of gold and silver, jewelry, and bolts of cloth and silk."

Chen Tang raised his brows slightly.

After the waiter left, he called to Li Shuhu, "Come on, let’s go visit an old friend."

-----------------

The Delegation Residence.

Hearing noise outside, a delicate and beautiful young woman in a white gauze skirt came out to greet them.

The woman was not very old, yet her hair was done up in a married woman’s bun; her eyes were clear as water, but there was a faint worry on her face as she softly asked, "Husband, how is it?"

"Got it."

The one who came in was a man of about twenty, dressed in black, his figure straight, swordlike brows reaching his temples; his whole person was like a great spear, brimming with heroic spirit.

After the delicate young woman closed the door, she poured the man in black a cup of tea before softly saying, "This matter is far too dangerous. Even if it’s a foreign land, that’s still the Royal Palace."

The man in black said, "These past two days, I’ve contacted a few of the Great Kunmi’s old subordinates. Tonight they’ll stir up some trouble in the city and draw away part of the Imperial Guard."

"There are people inside the Royal Palace to receive us as well. I just got hold of a map of the palace. The arrow is already on the string—we have to at least try."

The delicate young woman still wore a worried expression and said, "But for things to go this smoothly, I’m afraid it might..."

She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

The man in black also fell silent.

"It really might be a trap."

After a long moment, the man in black finally said, "But even knowing it’s a trap, I have to go. After all, Elder Feng’s life and death are tied to my brother’s fate as well. I can’t just sit by and do nothing."

"Alas."

The delicate young woman sighed and said, "Qing Mo big brother is still part of the Royal Family, considered Your Majesty’s royal uncle. Maybe after some time, Your Majesty will soften and rescind the decree."

"Hmph!"

The man in black gave a cold snort and said, "That little brat is vicious and ruthless, recognizing no kin. These past two years, when have you ever seen him soften? In just two years, he’s tormented the entire Qian Country until it’s riddled with wounds—disasters and misfortunes one after another, corpses of the starved all over, Refugees everywhere—yet he still indulges in drunken debauchery in the palace, carousing every night!"

"Sometimes I really want to storm into the Royal Palace and run him through with a single spear!"

The delicate young woman’s expression changed slightly as she said, "Husband, it’s one thing to say these things to me in private, but outside you must be extremely cautious with your words."

The man in black knew she was worried for him, and his expression eased slightly as he said, "Haitang, don’t worry. Even if it is a trap and I get caught, given my identity, the Wusun Country will still have some scruples. They won’t dare take my life."

"Mm."

The delicate young woman nodded.

Just then, an Attendant came to the door to report.

"Young Master Ming, there are two people at the gate asking to see you. One of them says he is an old acquaintance of yours from the Qian Country."

"Hm?"

The man in black frowned slightly.

He had no old acquaintances from the Qian Country here in the Wusun Country.

The delicate young woman asked, "What is this person’s name?"

"Reporting to Young Madam, he said, he said he’s also called that..."

The Attendant hesitated for a moment, hemming and hawing, not speaking clearly.

"Called what!"

The man in black barked.

The Attendant braced himself and said, "Called Haitang."

"Bang!"

At this, the delicate young woman flew into a rage, slamming the table as she said coldly, "Who is so bold as to make sport of me and my husband like this!"

The Attendant hurriedly said, "I was furious when I heard it too and wanted to cross fists with him, but he spoke with such certainty, saying Young Master Ming would definitely know him, and told me just to come in and report. So I had no choice, I had no choice..."

"Husband, you just stay here. I’ll go meet him! If he dares keep spouting nonsense in front of me, I’ll stab a hole in his chest with one spear!"

The delicate young woman grabbed a Bright Silver Spear leaning against the wall and was about to rush outside.

In front of the man in black, she was gentle as water.

But in front of outsiders, her temper was fiery in the extreme.

"Wait!"

The man in black seemed to think of something and stopped her, asking, "Is that person a man or a woman?"

"A man."

The Attendant replied, "About twenty years old, tall and well-built, handsome in appearance."

The man in black and his wife exchanged a glance and simultaneously thought of the same person.

"Could it be?"

The delicate young woman’s tone was a bit uncertain as she said, "Didn’t Changsun He say he was captured by the Demon Venerable? He’s not dead after all, and even made it to the Wusun Country?"

"Let him in!"

"I knew it, I knew it—my brother’s life is as tough as they come!"

The man in black looked excited, rubbing his hands together.

After saying that, he quickly corrected himself, "No, I’ll go greet him!"

With that, the man in black grabbed Haitang’s wrist, pushed open the door, and rushed out in a hurry.