Chapter 385 - 248: Strike the Mountain to Frighten the Tiger
Chapter 385: Chapter 248: Strike the Mountain to Frighten the Tiger
"Switching the crown prince for a wildcat?"
A flicker of disdain crossed Chen Yi’s eyes behind the black iron mask.
"That’s not the right phrase to use."
"’The golden cicada shedding its shell’ is more like it."
"But it’s a shame I’m here. This ’golden cicada,’ Asutai, won’t be shedding its shell today."
It’s not about being early, it’s about being on time.
Now that he had stumbled upon this, he couldn’t possibly let Liu Hong get what he wanted.
Chen Yi then focused his senses, scanning his surroundings while keeping his attention fixed on the situation inside the residence.
After a muffled shout in the barbarian tongue, the only sound left in the residence was Asutai’s irrepressible, guttural sobbing.
"I... I won’t... let you... get away with this..."
"I’ll... kill you... kill..."
"Targos, Lu Liyi, Bach... I, Asutai, swear by the Barbarian God that I will kill you!"
The man who had spoken earlier replied, his tone as contemptuous as ever.
"Your Highness Asutai, your father, the Left King, personally led his grand army, only to be crushed at Mengshui Pass. What are your odds of success if you wait to inherit his title and stage a comeback?"
"Besides, you are merely the Left King’s youngest son, not *the* Barbarian Left King."
"It won’t be too late to say such things to me on the day you actually become the Barbarian Left King."
"ARGH—I’ll kill you!"
It sounded as if someone had covered Asutai’s mouth, and he could only manage a muffled roar.
But it was quickly drowned out by the laughter of the man who had spoken before.
"My apologies, Your Highness Asutai. You’ll just have to bear with staying here alone for a while."
"But rest assured, I will instruct them to prepare the strongest spirits and the most delicious venison for you, ensuring you have an unforgettable time here in Shu State."
"Haha..."
Listening to the arrogant laughter, Chen Yi paid it little mind, his expression turning thoughtful.
He had seen plenty of arrogant people in his time.
But it wasn’t every day he met someone as brazen as this speaker.
Especially since the target of his ridicule was the youngest son of the Barbarian Left King—a man Liu Hong was risking his own head to protect.
After a moment of thought.
Chen Yi arrived at two conclusions.
First, Liu Hong’s plan to return Asutai to the Barbarian Race wasn’t a task entrusted to him by the Left King. Rather, he was eagerly currying favor in exchange for some kind of benefit.
Second, Liu Hong and the Left King had a deeper level of cooperation, and the two considered each other equals.
Otherwise, it was impossible for Liu Hong’s confidant to have such an attitude toward Asutai.
If it were him, Chen Yi could think of countless ways to return Asutai to the Barbarian Race without the man ever being the wiser.
He certainly wouldn’t orchestrate it like this, forcing Asutai to witness his clansmen die tragically because of him.
Of course, there was a third possibility—Asutai was not valued by the Left King within the Barbarian Race.
But that seemed unlikely.
Chen Yi gazed thoughtfully at the residence, subconsciously tapping a finger on the carriage window frame.
’If it’s the second possibility, then Liu Hong’s dealings with the Barbarian Race might have been going on for a very long time.’
’A year, two years... or perhaps even before the Barbarian Left King Mu Hage attacked Mengshui Pass?’
Chen Yi couldn’t know for sure. He only knew that this Liu Hong was not only incredibly ambitious but also audacious enough to defy heaven itself.
Throughout history, many have been obsessed with power, but most limit themselves to forming factions for personal gain and wooing the great Noble Families.
But those like Liu Hong, who secretly colluded with foreign enemies, were exceedingly rare—and utterly ruthless.
No wonder that after discovering Liu Taofang’s affair with Lin Huai’an, he was determined to eliminate the latter, disregarding his status with the Ji State Trading Company.
No wonder that upon learning of Liu Taoyao’s encounter last night, which threatened to expose his dealings with Poshisu Country and the Barbarian Race, his first move was to deal with the barbarian slave, Lv Jiunan, and the others.
’If a man like Liu Hong isn’t dealt with in a single, decisive blow, he will only become a massive problem later.’
With these thoughts, Chen Yi made his decision.
He lowered the curtain, rose to his feet, and headed out.
Pei Guanli saw him move and was about to follow, but then she heard Chen Yi speak.
"You stay here. Keep an eye on our surroundings."
"If anyone approaches, use this to knock them out."
Chen Yi tossed her a bottle of Immortal Drunk, pulled his cloak tighter around himself, and moved silently toward the residence.
Pei Guanli glanced at the bottle in her hand, then peered out at Chen Yi through a crack in the carriage wall. Beneath her mask, her lips formed a pout.
’Didn’t you say you were bringing me here to watch a show?’
’What show?’
Her Cultivation was too low. Even when she infused her ears with True Essence, it was nearly impossible to hear the conversation between Asutai and the others over the din of the rain and through the sound-proofed room inside the residence.
It wasn’t Chen Yi’s fault, really.
Chen Yi, of course, paid no mind to the Tiger Girl’s mutterings as he arrived silently at the residence.
Once he had confirmed the locations of everyone inside, he executed the Meteor Butterfly Step without hesitation.
His Great Success Martial Arts·Step drew upon the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism, pushing the speed of his Body Technique to its absolute limit.
Barely more than a blurred afterimage, he first swept past the Guards stationed around the perimeter.
Before they could react, Chen Yi landed a lightning-fast knife-hand strike precisely on the back of each of their necks.
Next, Chen Yi took out a bottle of Immortal Drunk, uncorked it, and held it under each of their noses for a moment.
Once he was certain the eight gray-clad men on the perimeter were deeply unconscious, he sauntered into the main hall of the inner residence.
He made a beeline for the western side-room.
The two Martial Artists guarding the door were startled to see him suddenly appear, and both froze for an instant.
"Who... who are you?!"
"Boss, we have an intruder!"
The two shouted their questions while alerting the people in the chamber below, then drew their blades and charged.
With a slight flicker of his body, Chen Yi was already moving to meet them.
He swept past them like a gentle breeze.
The two Seventh-Grade Martial Artists collapsed to the floor.
Using his Qi Observation Skill, Chen Yi had already ascertained their Cultivation levels. Most of them were in the Lower Three Grades Realm.
They were no cause for concern.
But as his gaze fell upon the entrance to the quiet chamber within, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
’Lower Fifth Grade?’
To think Liu Hong had an expert of this caliber in his service.