Chapter 843 - Chapter 843: Historic Height
Chapter 843: Historic Height
Editor: Henyee Translations
After being led into the room by their subordinates, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong were greeted by Mou Yongfeng, who welcomed them with a smile.
“Please have a seat. Let’s talk this over slowly.”
Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong exchanged a glance before sitting down.
Chu Qingzhi thought to herself, Mou Yongfeng1 s change of attitude must indicate some complications that have arisen.
Tang Jinghong, recalling the fleeting murderous aura he sensed upon entering the room, now observed the cunning flicker in Mou Yongfeng’s eyes, wondering what schemes he was plotting.
Mou Yongfeng, sitting opposite them, started the conversation with a smile, “Seeing that both of you have come with sincerity, let’s cut to the chase, shall we?”
Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Please proceed.”
Mou Yongfeng’s gaze darkened as he stared at his tea cup, his tone turning cold, “For now, I do not wish to kill Tang Jinghong. I want to eliminate Chu
Qingzhi.”
“Touching Tang Jinghong is off-limits for now. Chu Qingzhi, being Tang Jinghong’s fiancee, killing her would undoubtedly make things difficult for him!”
Tang Jinghong’s fingers clenched, his killing intent swiftly gathering, his eyes turning icy, “Why the sudden change of target?”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at Tang Jinghong and gently placed her hand on his, signaling him to remain calm.
Tang Jinghong relaxed his grip and instead held Chu Qingzhi’s hand.
Mou Yongfeng, oblivious to their exchange, continued, “Our master disagrees with killing Tang Jinghong, but Chu Qingzhi caused my plan to fail, she must die!”
Had Mou Yongfeng already met with his master?
Then, what was the deal with the prince from Chen’an they saw?
Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong were confused.
“When do you plan to act?” Tang Jinghong suddenly remembered the brief surge of murderous intent. Had Mou Yongfeng already made his move?
Mou Yongfeng smirked coldly, “I’ve already sent my men to Chu’s village. If you really want to kill Tang Jinghong, why not join the fray? Kill Chu Qingzhi, and then strike Tang Jinghong when he’s vulnerable and grieving. Why not take this opportunity to get rid of him?”
The revelation that assassins had been dispatched to the village changed their expressions dramatically. This Mou Yongfeng deserved death!
Suppressing her rage, Chu Qingzhi asked, “We’ll head to meet with your men immediately. Where are they?”
Mou Yongfeng, with a sinister smile, drank his tea, “They should have already left. If you hurry now, you might catch up with them!”
Without hesitation, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong leaped out of the window in pursuit of the assassins.
Just as they took off, parrots number five, six, and others flew towards them,
“The assassins are this way!”
Chu Qingzhi’s eyes shone with appreciation, “Number five, lead us. The rest, return to the inn and keep a close watch on Mou Yongfeng. I need to know who his master is.”
Parrot number six responded, “Yes,” and along with the others, flew back to the inn to keep an eye on Mou Yongfeng. Surveillance was their forte.
Led by parrot number five, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong intercepted the assassins on the bluestone path between Shuiyun County and Wancheng!
Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong stood casually on the bluestone path.
The assassins, all mounted, sensed trouble upon seeing the duo. The leading assassin immediately ordered, “Kill them!”
Chu Qingzhi flipped her finger, and a bell appeared. She poured her spiritual energy into it, and with a shake, the crisp bell sound, along with ripples of spiritual light, spread out. As the assassins charged, the bell sound reached their ears, rendering them stupefied and causing them to fall to the ground.
They weren’t dead but were under mind control.
In total, thirty assassins lay on the ground like zombies. Chu Qingzhi clenched her bell and inquired, “Who is your master?”
The leading assassin answered, “Mou Yongfeng.”
Chu Qingzhi’s voice deepened, “I asked who the real mastermind is.”
“I don’t know!”
“Which organization do you belong to?”
“Liang City, the Prefect.”
Chu Qingzhi turned to Tang Jinghong, “How would Liang City’s Prefect target you?”
“I find it puzzling too,” Tang Jinghong analyzed. “Liang City is the poorest among the twenty cities of the eastern border, located on the very edge of the eastern border, bordering Chen’an.”
“The Prefect, Xi Zhaoping, is known for his integrity and was someone I recommended to the Emperor. Could it be that he has become corrupt?”
Chu Qingzhi suggested, “Corruption is a possibility, but if he is your man, maybe he is trying to send you a message.”
Tang Jinghong hesitated, “What do you mean?
Chu Qingzhi pondered, “If the Prefect is making moves on grain, could it be a signal that the eastern border is running out of food? Or that the eastern border is facing a dire situation?”
Tang Jinghong slowly nodded, “It’s not impossible.
Turning her gaze to the men on the ground, who surely knew something, Chu Qingzhi asked, “What is the current situation in the eastern border?” “The eastern border is a hell on earth: collusion between officials and merchants, opium dens everywhere, heavy taxes on the common folk leading to destitution, abandonment, and neglected farmlands. There are houses with meat stinking of dogs and roads with bones of those frozen to death.”
Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong were shocked to hear such a description, realizing the dire state of the eastern border through the words of an assassin likening it to “hell.”
Tang Jinghong’s brows furrowed deeply, “Chu Qingzhi, I must return to the capital as soon as possible.”
“Alright.” Chu Qingzhi handed him a vial, “You should reach the capital by tomorrow. After entering the city, dissolve this medicine in water and drink it before inspecting the grain. Then you’ll understand the cause.” Tang Jinghong had an idea of the cause already. He turned and gently embraced Chu Qingzhi, “Chu Qingzhi, I thank you on behalf of the people of Dahn.1 Chu Qingzhi smiled, “I really hope you can return to civilian life soon.” Tang Jinghong promised with a smile, “I’ll try to return to civilian life before I’m thirty and take you on a tour around the world!”
Chu Qingzhi looked up at Tang Jinghong’s handsome face, “You must keep your word!”
“I will.” Tang Jinghong instructed the parrots to summon Meng Shengdong and had all the assassins killed. The bodies were laid out in front of Mou Yongfeng’s inn, and they spread an astonishing story about the event.
He aimed to deter anyone from targeting Chu Qingzhi ever again.
On the streets, rumors circulated rapidly.
“Someone sent assassins to kill Chu Qingzhi, but all the assassins were killed and displayed in front of their master’s inn?”
“Really? Who did it?”
“Who else but Chu Qingzhi?”
“Could it be Tang Jinghong?”
“Tang Jinghong has many soldiers, but to achieve such silence and efficiency seems unlikely.”
“Everyone says Chu Qingzhi’s martial arts are unparalleled. Even the Martial Champion had no chance against her. It’s said she once kicked someone onto a wall, welding them in place, impossible to pull free.”
“She can even command animals. They say she has a white tiger that acts like a cat in her presence.”
“And her horse can understand human speech. Quite eerie.”
“Some say she possesses a bell that can kill invisibly. Anyone who has seen the bell is dead…”
The rumors about Chu Qingzhi on both the dark and light sides grew increasingly bizarre, with some even claiming she was a reincarnated deity. Those who offended her never ended well.
As the rumors spread, the bounty on Chu Qingzhi on the underworld’s most- wanted list soared from ten million to thirty million, reaching a historic high! This was precisely the effect Tang Jinghong had hoped for.