Book 14: Chapter 90
Night Night Night Night
Save for the two servants who oversaw serving food and tea, the only people who accessed the palace were the ten-odd of them. Wang Zhenyun was the leader of the operation, and only those who were willing to participate were allowed in, yet he didn’t recognise the voice.
A man attired in black garments with his face covered emerged from the darkness. The dark-long-rectangular iron chest on his back had to be the storage for a weapon, but it was too short to store a sword-length weapon and too narrow for an axe. Needless to say, his appearance and the suddenness of his appearance had the defenceless elders shaking in their boots.
“Who… are you?” Wang Zhenyun fearlessly questioned.
“You?” The intruder snorted condescendingly.
More than four trained individuals suddenly appeared behind Wang Zhenyun’s group. Despite having the physical advantage, the group still blocked all escape routes. Their leader cooly said, “Relax, brothers. Relax.”
The four individuals retreated three steps and assumed relaxed postures that showed complete disregard for vigilance. One sat down on a chair and crossed his legs. Another stood by Chen Lin’s head. One assumed the bottom of a squat and picked his nose.
Wang Zhenyun could tell they were dangerous from their behaviour and the fact that they could infiltrate the imperial city, but he didn’t panic. It wasn’t the first time he had faced off against martial artists. He boldly stepped forward and offered a cupped-fist salute. “May this one ask for your names? While his knowledge is shallow, he may recognise you.”
The leader placidly wagged his hand. “Don’t ask someone dressed in black in the middle of the night for their name. I’ll be upfront with you. We hail from different parts of the land and take jobs from people from all walks of life to stay afloat. We only banded together for we share a common enemy, but we have become sworn siblings. We aren’t any acknowledged group; it doesn’t matter who we are.”
“May this one ask what your goal is? What can we senile fools do for you?”
“Hoho, you are not our goal, and we have no vested interested in joining your grand plan. As for how you can help, there certainly are a few things you could aid us with… Sir Qi, it is rude to run away without greeting visitors.”
Sir Qi, the very person who was missing a part of his ear, was rolling around on the ground whilst groaning and moaning. The arrow plunged through his chest was shot into a non-lethal spot purely to make him feel pain.
“Brother Archer, watch them closely. They all read a tremendous amount; they can think of infinite things that we brutes could never think of.”
“Brother Archer” was none other than the archer who tried to assassinate Ming Feizhen. His injury didn’t hamper his shooting speed, so there was no need to be concerned about anyone escaping for as long as he was watching.
Only now did Wang Zhenyun’s colleagues realise that the leader was in full control notwithstanding that appearing so. Hence, they gave up any thoughts of running away.
“He must be the one who has been helping you from the inside.” If Wang Zhenyun couldn’t figure out Sir Qi was in cahoots with the five, then he wouldn’t have lasted in the political arena for so long.
“Excellent perception. What do you think of my decision?”
“Good, but not good enough.”
“What makes you say so?”
“He’s a spineless scoundrel who was willing to sell his wife for a meagre sixty taels. His kind is easy to purchase, but he is only a burden in the pursuit of big goals.”
“Hmm, it sounds like you have better advice for me?”
“That would be this old one.” Wang Zhenyun tugged up a corner of his lips. “You wouldn’t be here right now otherwise. Given you have a common enemy, you must be here to kill him, but he is either too strong to kill or it is too difficult to approach him due to the imperial guards. Is it safe for this old one to assume you seek his assistance?”
The leader clapped nice and slowly. “I must admit I underestimated you. I should’ve expected this from academicians. It’s true that we can’t succeed without your assistance.”
“You need not downplay your abilities. It takes true skill to infiltrate the imperial city. Tonight may be the start of a long-standing collaboration between us. There will be times that this old one will need your skills, and he can promise generous renumeration.”
In one fell swoop, not only did Wang Zhenyun meet their needs, but he also secured his safety. He was a man who understood the idea that both parties had to continue providing benefits in order to have a long alliance, and he understood the importance of not burning bridges.
The leader showed neither distaste or joy. “Thank you in advance.”
“May this old one now ask what your goal is?”
“We are after one person’s life. He is one of the examinees this time.”
“You would not have had to take the risk of infiltrating the imperial city if your target was not an examinee. How about you state his name so that this old one can see how he can assist you?”
“I like it. We made our first attempt tonight, but it ended in failure.” The leader pointed to Chen Lin and smiled. “We brainwashed him and sent him to our target’s room. Do you know who he is now?“
Wang Zhenyun’s smug expression stiffened. “Wh-what? You sent Chen Lin to his… Y-you would dare to kill him?! H-have you any idea who he is?!”
“Hahaha, of course we do. He is known far and wide. Even His Majesty speaks to him with courtesy, doesn’t he?”
Wang Zhenyun: And yet you would have the gall to kill him?! Kill that Ming Feizhen, why don’t you?! What gives you the gall to kill Young Master Feng?!
“If you know that, then why…?”
“Personal vendetta.” The leader smirked. “I can understand you not wishing to help, and I have never wanted to kill a government official. All I would’ve asked for you to do is give orders. Regrettably, since you know everything, you’re part of us now, and I can’t let you off. Luckily for both of us, you’re not clean, either. Should you dare to leak a word about what took place here tonight, you can count on me to ruin your plan.”
Wang Zhenyun would perish all the same if he aided them in assassinating Young Master Feng!
The leader had the archer continue watching them while he discussed with his companions how to proceed. No matter how long they dragged out their talk, they only discussed positioning, method of assassination and so forth. One listen and a veteran would realise they weren’t experts on the subject.
Think and think, Wang Zhenyun couldn’t figure out what sort of personal vendetta would compel them to want Feng Jiutian’s life. “What… exactly do you people want?”
As the leader went to answer, he heard a man say, “Yeah, I’m curious, too. Do tell.”
The assassins instantly spread out to defend themselves. When the leader saw the face of the speaker who appeared seemingly out of thin air, he yelled, “It’s you! Brothers, our target has app-”
The man with his eyes covered raised his hand. Following something similar to an ember shooting up, the archer groaned as he plummeted from the beam onto the ground. While the assassins were shocked someone could take out the third strongest among them in one wave of his hand, Wang Zhenyun celebrated as he identified the man wearing the hood based on the assassins’ leader’s reaction.
Wang Zhenyun: I had no idea Young Master Feng was well-versed in martial arts! We can turn the tables now! No, this is a chance to shine!
“Young Master, this old one shall protect you!” Wang Zhenyun put his life on the line as he jumped into the frontline, only to be hammered on the skull with a hammer. Although Young Master Feng didn’t support him as he expected, he loyally extended his arms out to the side as he lied on the ground and bled. “As long as this old one is still breathing, you’ll have to step over his corpse to reach Young Master F-, ow!”
Even though “Young Master Feng” stepped on him, Wang Zhenyun’s smile didn’t fade. “This old one apologises for getting in your way, Young Master Feng!”
“I never knew you were so faithful to me.” The man stepping on Wang Zhenyun’s head lowered his head so that Wang Zhenyun could see his face. Smiling, he proposed, “How about we join hands, Sir Fart?”