Free Web NovelChapter 635: Chapter 56: Trap
Li Shuhu remained silent, his brow furrowed, filled with worry.
Without the support from Qian Country, it means Liangzhou is isolated.
Even though over the years, his father’s command has gathered some loyalists from the Jianghu, including some Third Grade and Second Grade experts, they ultimately cannot withstand the Barbarian Lion Army, which boasts two grandmasters.
Though his father strategizes adeptly and his elder brother has trained the light cavalry, Liangzhou lacks a grandmaster.
And grandmasters on the battlefield definitely have the power to change the tide of battle!
"Worried about Liangzhou?"
Chen Tang noticed Li Shuhu’s unusual expression and asked.
Li Shuhu sighed, "The alien race from the barbarian land worships beasts as totems, inherently cruel and bloodthirsty. Whenever they reach a city, if there’s any resistance, they will massacre the city, burning, killing, and looting. Once Liangzhou falls, many will surely perish."
"And by now, those two grandmasters should have accompanied the Barbarian Lion Army to Liangzhou."
Chen Tang said, "As long as we rescue the fat old man, with his help, we might have a chance."
Changsun Ming said in a deep voice, "Actually, another important matter on my journey is for Liangzhou."
"Though no one dares openly oppose the Little Emperor at the imperial court, many secretly wish to help Liangzhou. This time, the Dugu Family and my family prepared some food supplies and sent them to Liangzhou City."
Li Shuhu quickly stood up and expressed his gratitude.
War consumes an enormous amount of food, medicine, and other resources.
Although the Dugu Family and Changsun Family did not directly participate, sending these supplies is already a great help.
Changsun Ming continued, "Ling Guang is no longer the Vermilion Bird Lord, entrusted by Eldest Princess Qingmu, he brought some former Vermilion Bird Bureau members, some old people from the Qilin Bureau, and came with us to stay in Liangzhou City to fight against the barbarians."
Li Shuhu was profoundly shocked.
The Vermilion Bird Lord is a true master of the imperial palace, the most elite innate martial artist.
However, an innate expert is still far from being a grandmaster, and Liangzhou’s situation remains precarious.
Still, this act has moved Li Shuhu deeply.
No matter how bad Qian Country becomes, there are still some loyal individuals.
Moreover, this sacrifice by the Vermilion Bird Lord and others is enormous, equating to abandoning their original status and privilege, giving up all wealth and honor.
They might even end up in peril, buried in the battlefield!
This gesture of kindness is too heavy!
"Eldest Princess Qingmu stays deeply secluded in the palace, how could she..."
Li Shuhu didn’t know how to continue.
Changsun Ming said, "I asked at the time, Eldest Princess Qingmu said she had fought alongside several members of the Li Family in Wu’an County and didn’t want to see the Li Family trampled by the barbarian’s iron hoof. If the former Emperor was still here, he would definitely send troops for support."
"The Princess is magnanimous."
Li Shuhu sighed with emotion.
Chen Tang, however, felt a trace of worry.
The Vermilion Bird Bureau, in name, follows the Emperor’s orders, but in fact, part of it is controlled by Yuan Qingmu.
This is also Yuan Qingmu’s foothold in the imperial palace.
Now, with Ling Guang and others leaving, Yuan Qingmo is imprisoned, and Qingmu has no one to protect her. She must be walking on thin ice, her days surely not easy.
Once this is over, Chen Tang plans to return to the capital!
Not only to meet Qingmu but also because of the matter with Heigou.
If the fat old man only rescues Heigou, it would be too cheap for the Little Emperor.
Since Qian Country’s fate is nearly exhausted, and the massive structure about to collapse, he doesn’t mind giving it the final push!
-----------------
Night fell.
Four figures left the Qian Country delegation’s residence quietly, avoided the nearby surveillance, and bypassed a few patrolling imperial guards.
They arrived outside a courtyard where Changsun Ming knocked on the door with three times lightly and twice heavily.
After a while, the door opened.
In the courtyard stood scattered, over a hundred people, all loyal to the Great Kunmi, now reunited.
Recently, the Great Kunmi’s faction was hunted around and suffered heavy losses.
Gathering over a hundred people in just a few days is already quite rare.
"I bother you to create some commotion in the city."
Changsun Ming clasped his hands and said, "Rest assured, I will do my utmost to rescue the Great Kunmi and Elder Feng."
The two sides did not talk much and dispersed.
Changsun Ming, Chen Tang, Murong Haitang, and Li Shuhu avoided several sentries and quickly reached outside the royal city.
Chen Tang used the Gecko Wall-Climbing Technique, and in the blink of an eye, slipped into the wall.
After checking around, finding no danger, he let the three enter.
All three had inner qi, and had prepared beforehand with tools like hooked claws for climbing over the wall, quickly scaling the palace wall.
According to the map directions, the four proceeded cautiously.
The map detailed comprehensive information, including where there were sentries and when and where the guards would patrol, all written clearly.
Along the way, they encountered almost no obstacles.
Half an hour later, they arrived near the Celestial Prison.
Reportedly, this Celestial Prison was temporarily remodeled from a palace, specially to imprison the Great Kunmi and his rebellious subordinates, guarded by some imperial guards.
"Isn’t this going a bit too smoothly?"
Murong Haitang was somewhat worried.
Li Shuhu frowned, "I also feel something’s off. Though Wusun Country’s national strength isn’t strong, the royal palace’s defense seems too weak."
Changsun Ming’s expression was hesitant.
He too noticed that this journey seemed too easy.
It’s as if someone had laid a trap, waiting for them to fall in.
But the Celestial Prison is right in front; should they turn back now?
At that moment, chaos faintly arose from directions east and west of the city, with firelights emerging.
It appeared that the Great Kunmi’s faction was acting as agreed.
Changsun Ming looked at Chen Tang, showing an inquiry expression.
Chen Tang remained calm and nodded.
Changsun Ming took a deep breath, "Act!"
The guards’ attention was momentarily drawn by the firelight outside the city, and suddenly, from an unseen angle, four figures rushed at them.
Changsun Ming and Murong Haitang both wielded spears, inheritors of Murong Daoye martial arts.
A cold gleam appeared, and the spears moved like dragons.
Pu pu pu!
The two twirled their spears, forming a trail of blossoms, simultaneously piercing bloody holes into the guards.
Before Li Shuhu could draw his blade, the guards at the door lay dead, silent.
Chen Tang followed behind, seeing this scene, did not act.
The four entered the courtyard, heading straight for the large hall.
Opening the door, the stench of blood hit their faces.
The palace hall was dim, with weak light.
Faintly visible were a few prisons crafted from forged steel in the hall, along with various blood-stained torture devices placed on one side.
However, the hall had no guards.
Murong Haitang’s brow tightened, feeling increasingly uneasy.
Chen Tang quickly scanned the area and found the fat old man.
In the last of these prisons, his hands and feet were shackled with iron chains, covered in blood, gasping weakly.
On the other side, Li Shuhu’s eyes glanced over, seeing a disheveled-haired person in a prison, he couldn’t help but exclaim, "Second Brother?"
The person raised his head. Though subjected to torture and covered in wounds, he was recognizable as Li Zhongmou.
"Leave quickly, this is a trap!"
Li Zhongmou struggled to say.
"Hahaha, it’s too late now!"
A loud laugh resounded outside, followed by numerous footsteps approaching.
By the sound, there seemed to be thousands.
