ebookslot Chapter 100: Undercurrents of Intrigue
Chapter 100: Undercurrents of Intrigue
Zhao Yuankui watched the direction he had left, then leaned back in his chair, his gaze deep and unfathomable. Qingzhou Prefecture… hopefully it was just a false alarm. Otherwise, he wouldn't mind letting Zhou Yan know who the true master of the Demon Suppression Division was.
From behind the rosewood screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl depicting flowers and birds of the four seasons in the corner of the study, a barely audible rustling sound of fabric suddenly rang out. Immediately afterward, a graceful figure emerged.
She was a woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a slender figure. She wore a long, flowing robe of smoky-blue brocade with gold thread, paired with a moon-white skirt with cloud patterns, and a light, misty fox-fur cloak. Her dark, cloud-like hair was styled in a fashionable updo, adorned with a red-gold and kingfisher-feather hairpin that swayed gracefully with each movement. She was exceptionally beautiful, with willow-leaf eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, cherry lips, and skin as white as snow. Her eyes, in particular, seemed to hold a pool of spring water when they moved, capable of captivating one's soul. Yet, upon closer inspection, deep within that spring water, there seemed to be an unyielding ice, and a chilling sharpness would occasionally flash within them.
She moved gracefully to the desk, not bowing, but casually picking up the secret report Zhao Yuankui had just put down and glancing at it. Her lips parted slightly, her voice soft and charming, yet carrying an indescribable chill: "Liu Ba's temperament is still so impatient. His eagerness for revenge might hinder your plans, sir."
Zhao Yuankui seemed unsurprised by her appearance and didn't mind her rudeness. He simply said, "Liu Ba is doing this openly, firstly to investigate the case, and secondly... as a test. If Zhou Yan has something to hide, he will definitely make a move. The bigger his move, the more flaws he will reveal."
The woman—if anyone familiar with the secret affairs of the Demon Suppression Division headquarters were here, they might recognize her as "Miss Yun," a woman who was quite famous among the higher-ups but rarely appeared in public, and whose specific duties were not even clear to many of the deputy envoys—tossed the secret report back onto the table, her slender white fingertips gently brushing her smooth chin, and with a flicker of her eyes, she understood Zhao Yuankui's intention.
"Does Your Excellency mean... to have Liu Ba act as that stone to strike the mountain and intimidate the tiger, to stir up the waters of Qingzhou Prefecture?" She chuckled softly, her laughter like jade beads falling onto a plate, melodious and pleasant, yet somehow carrying a chill. "Whether his stone is shattered or swallowed by the water is irrelevant; what matters is that what lies beneath the water will be startled out."
"Not bad." Zhao Yuankui gave her an approving look. "Liu Ba's cultivation level and status are enough to put pressure on Zhou Yan. But Zhou Yan is cunning and calculating. If the matter of Liu Xiong and Zhao Kun is truly related to him, he must have made thorough preparations. Liu Ba may not be able to find anything. So..."
Miss Yun picked up the conversation, her tone still languid and alluring, yet each word clear: "Therefore, we need another line of inquiry. One hidden in the shadows, one that won't arouse Zhou Yan's suspicion, or even... one that he might overlook."
Zhao Yuankui nodded slightly: "The 'line' in Qingzhou Prefecture suddenly broke. Liu Xiong was the person in charge on the surface, and Zhao Kun was the executor. But Liu Xiong may not have handled everything, including the handover of 'goods' and some more secretive dealings. Go there personally and investigate secretly. The key point is not how Liu Xiong died, but where exactly the 'line' broke, and whether there were any traces that might connect to the headquarters, or... 'over there'."
He paused, then emphasized, "Also, investigate that inspector named Lin Yan. In Liu Xiong's last few letters, he expressed considerable apprehension towards this man. How could a young inspector from a border branch make Liu Xiong so uneasy? We must find out his background."
Yun listened quietly, the alluring smile on her face gradually fading, the spring water in her almond-shaped eyes seemingly freezing instantly, leaving only a deep, cold, and focused gaze. Those who knew her well knew that when she showed this expression, it was her most dangerous moment.
"Qingzhou Prefecture..." she repeated softly, as if savoring the weight of those three words, "It's been a long time since I've traveled to the southeast. I've heard that the winters there have a unique damp chill."
Zhao Yuankui took out a dark purple token—neither gold nor wood, engraved with intricate cloud patterns—from the drawer and pushed it in front of her: "With this token, all the secret agents and treasuries in the three southeastern prefectures are at your command. Act as you see fit, and if necessary... cut your losses and save your life."
Yun reached out her slender hand, picked up the cold token, gently stroked its patterns with her fingertips, and then tucked it into her sleeve. Her smile returned, a smile as bright as the first rays of spring sunshine in the still chilly early spring, enough to make any man's heart flutter.
"Rest assured, my lord." She curtsied, her posture elegant and impeccable. "Yun'er's greatest skill is... making people say things they shouldn't say and reveal things they shouldn't reveal without them realizing it."
After saying that, she didn't linger. She turned around and, just as she had come, disappeared silently behind the exquisite screen, as if she had never been there at all.
Inside the study, Zhao Yuankui was once again alone. The fire in the charcoal brazier crackled occasionally, and the sandalwood incense still wafted gently. He gazed at the empty screen, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table again, his eyes even more profound and unfathomable than before.
In the open, there is Liu Ba, consumed by rage and eager for revenge; in the shadows, there is this alluring yet deadly "Bamboo Leaf Green"... Zhou Yan, Lin Yan, can you handle this game in Qingzhou Prefecture?
***
In Qingzhou Prefecture, the winter chill was growing ever more intense.
Within the Demon Suppression Division's branch, after several days of reorganization, the atmosphere had changed dramatically. Zheng Tong acted swiftly and decisively, purging those clearly incompetent or with long-standing bad records left behind by Liu Xiong and Zhao Kun, and replacing them with a group of capable individuals or previously suppressed key personnel. Sun Wenyuan meticulously organized documents, files, supplies, and funds, working seamlessly with Zheng Tong. Zhou Yan remained steadfast in his central command. Despite the dramatic changes at the top, the branch exhibited an unprecedented level of efficiency and cohesion.
The courtyard in Qingliu Lane has been unusually "quiet" these past few days.
The incessant sounds of forging, grinding, and etching that once filled the air have all ceased. Only a few old craftsmen, with their apprentices, are still tidying up their scattered tools, carefully sealing away items that are inconvenient to carry or too conspicuous. The old trees in the courtyard have long since lost all their leaves, their bare branches pointing towards the leaden sky, adding to the desolation.
The items that were actually intended for transfer had already been quietly transported out of Qingzhou Prefecture several days ago through various channels.
Under the guise of logistics allocation for the branch headquarters, Sun Wenyuan issued several seemingly legitimate approval slips—a batch of pig iron ingots and copper materials for "repairing city defense equipment," several cartloads of "pharmacy-standard stock" mineral powder and dried herbs, and a certain amount of clothing and food "distributed to remote outposts." These supplies were loaded separately onto trucks, mixed among the many freight cars entering and leaving the city daily, escorted by reliable individuals, taking different routes, and ultimately converging at a pre-arranged location outside the city.
As for the true core elements—the semi-finished talisman treasures with their basic patterns already etched, the specially prepared spiritual materials, the core talisman patterns hand-drawn by Su Qingyao, and most importantly, the core craftsmen—they will be handled separately.
The sky was overcast that day, and a biting north wind whipped up fine dust that stung our faces. It was perfect weather for a long journey, so we wouldn't attract attention.
At the entrance of the small courtyard in Qingliu Lane, only three seemingly ordinary mule carts with blue canopies were parked. The carts were somewhat worn, and the mules pulling them were also unremarkable. Seven or eight men dressed as ordinary guards or servants were loading the last of the trunks and bags of luggage onto the carts. The trunks and bags were not large and looked like they contained personal clothing, books, and daily necessities.
Lu Ling, Wang Dashan, Zhou Fu, Zhao Si, and four other elite team members were already scattered at the front and rear of the convoy. They were not wearing armor, only thick cotton robes or fur coats, their waists bulging, and their eyes were scanning the alleyway alertly. Su Qingyao had also gotten into the middle mule cart. She had changed into a blue cotton dress, with an old lotus-colored cloak over it. Her hair was tied up with a simple wooden hairpin, and her face was bare of makeup. She looked like an ordinary girl from a poor family traveling with her brother.
Lin Yan stood in the courtyard, giving final instructions to Li Tie, who was left behind.
In a sheltered corner of the courtyard, the two spoke in hushed tones.
"...Qingliu Lane is our fundamental stronghold. Although the core has shifted, this place remains indispensable. Liu Xiong's confession, some backup maps, and the hub for communication with the city are all located here. Your burden is heavier than when you go to Blackstone Town." Lin Yan looked at Li Tie with a solemn gaze.
Li Tie's aura was now calm and profound, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light; he had clearly reached the Transcendent Realm. Since returning from Seven Star Pass, Lin Yan had given most of the spiritual milk he had obtained from the Spiritual Milk Cave to Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan only took a small bottle, saying that this would be more useful for Lin Yan and his subordinates' cultivation, leaving the rest for Lin Yan to distribute as he saw fit. Lin Yan was grateful for Zhou Yan's trust and knew the importance of a solid foundation, so besides distributing some to Lu Ling and other key members of the group, he deliberately kept a sufficient amount, secretly distributing it in batches to Li Tie and the ten remaining team members. These loyal subordinates, aided by the power of the spiritual milk, all made progress in their cultivation, with Li Tie, in particular, achieving a breakthrough to the Transcendent Realm in one fell swoop.
"Rest assured, sir!" Li Tie clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice steady and powerful. "As long as I live, the alley will live! I will certainly not fail the trust placed in me by you and Steward Zhou!"
Lin Yan nodded, took out an inconspicuous coarse cloth bag from his pocket, stuffed it into Li Tie's hand, and whispered, "Inside are a small amount of emergency supplies and medicine. The best course of action is to remain cautious and follow the instructions of the people sent by Mr. Sun. However, if any unexpected events occur, you can make your own decisions on the spot."
Li Tie felt the weight of the small package, his heart warmed, and he nodded vigorously: "Yes! I understand!"
After giving his instructions, Lin Yan took one last look at the small courtyard that held countless efforts and secrets before turning and walking towards the convoy at the gate.
Su Qingyao gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing half of her beautiful face, her eyes filled with inquiry.
Lin Yan nodded slightly to her, indicating that everything was ready.
Just then, Zhou Yan, Zheng Tong, and Sun Wenyuan also walked over from the direction of the branch headquarters. They had all changed into casual clothes, like ordinary neighbors passing by.
"Is everything arranged?" Zhou Yan walked closer, his gaze sweeping over the three inconspicuous mule carts and the sparse manpower, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. Such a simple and unassuming manner was precisely the way to operate in secret.
"Reporting to you, sir, everything is in order. The craftsmen and essential materials have already left the city via different routes, and we have agreed to meet at Laosongpo, fifty miles away," Lin Yan reported in a low voice.
Zhou Yan nodded, took out a flat wooden box from his sleeve, and handed it to Lin Yan: "The journey is long and arduous, and Black Stone Town is in dire need of reconstruction. This small token of my appreciation may provide some temporary relief." The wooden box was quite heavy. It did not contain gold or silver, but rather large-denomination official notes that could be exchanged in several southeastern states, as well as some rare small pieces of spirit stones. It was valuable yet easy to carry.
Lin Yan knew that this was Zhou Yan's private savings taken from his own treasury, so he did not refuse and solemnly accepted it, saying, "Thank you, sir."
Zheng Tong simply patted Lin Yan on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Take care." Sun Wenyuan then handed over several documents stamped with the official seal and whispered, "The checkpoints along the way have all been taken care of; seeing these documents will make things easier. The basic information from Blackstone Town is also included."
"Thank you all for your trouble." Lin Yan carefully put away the items, cupped his hands, and said, "I entrust the overall situation of Qingzhou Prefecture to you."
Without another word, Lin Yan turned and sat on the shaft of the first mule cart. The driver gently cracked the whip, and the mule cart slowly started moving, rolling over the bluestone road with a monotonous sound. It quickly blended into the sparse traffic of Qingzhou Prefecture on a winter morning, becoming inconspicuous.
Zhou Yan and his two companions stood rooted to the spot, watching the mule cart disappear around the corner of the long street, motionless for a long time. The cold wind whipped up the hems of their robes, making them flutter loudly.
"Openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass. Lin Yan's actions are becoming increasingly meticulous," Sun Wenyuan sighed softly.
Zheng Tong remained silent, only his knuckles turned slightly white as he gripped the hilt of his sword. He knew that Lin Yan's departure was to pave the way for them at the front, while those of them who remained in Qingzhou Prefecture would face pressure from the imperial court.
Zhou Yan looked up at the leaden sky, which seemed to be pressing down, and slowly said, "Liu Wenhuan's little tricks can't be hidden from people. And the capital... a storm is brewing."
He withdrew his gaze, his eyes sharp as a drawn sword: "Pass down the order, all branches, to enter a state of alert immediately. All correspondence with the outside world must be personally reviewed by Deputy Commander Sun. Commander Zheng, conduct another thorough inspection of the defenses, especially the outposts adjacent to the garrison headquarters."
"Yes!" Zheng Tong and Sun Wenyuan solemnly responded.