Chapter 487 - 294: No Greater Sorrow than Parting in Life
Chapter 487: Chapter 294: No Greater Sorrow than Parting in Life
"Three hundred li outside the city, at Puyin Temple on the Chishui Riverbank. I’ll be waiting for you there!"
"Haha... Liu Wu, don’t keep an old man waiting too long!"
Du Cang’s laughter was like a blade.
Pine needles snapped in two, drifting down like withered petals.
They partially obscured the body that had once belonged to Uncle Gui.
In an instant, he vanished from the Spring Lotus Garden.
As if he had never been there at all.
Chen Yi stared at the spot where he had been, but his eyes followed the wisp of cold aura.
It joined with the other cold aura—the one that had abducted Xiao Wan’er from the Marquis’s Mansion—and sped toward the North City.
’North City... then head west... Puyin Temple...’
Chen Yi retracted his gaze and straightened his chest. The pallor vanished from his face as the internal organs he had deliberately injured began to heal rapidly.
He then erased all traces of his presence in the Spring Lotus Garden, suppressed his aura once more, and hurried to the study.
He couldn’t wait half a day.
Even an hour was too long.
Du Cang was not like Yan Fusha. He was decisive, ruthless, insidious, and cunning. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t realize he’d been deceived.
If Xiao Wan’er was harmed because of this...
Chen Yi feared he would regret it for the rest of his life.
His self-recrimination grew even stronger after he deduced that her coincidental return was likely connected to him.
’If I hadn’t been in such a hurry to deal with the Ji State Trading Company and made Zhang Dabao act ahead of schedule, Lin Zhenghong and the others wouldn’t have gone to Tingyu Pavilion.’
’If they hadn’t gone, Xiao Wan’er wouldn’t have returned to the mansion early to avoid suspicion.’
’And she wouldn’t have run right into Du Cang...’
As Chen Yi connected the dots, the killing intent in his heart intensified.
He wished he could tear Du Cang limb from limb.
But he also knew he couldn’t be rash. When facing a vicious man like Du Cang, anything out of the ordinary could arouse his suspicion.
So, although he was burning with anxiety, Chen Yi still needed to make some preparations before setting out.
Meanwhile, the Xiao Family had been thrown into chaos.
When Xiao Wan’er was abducted at the gate of the Marquis’s Mansion, the Third Steward Lu Guan and several Personal Guard Armored Warriors were right there.
With the anxious return of Shen Huatang, who had lost Du Cang’s trail, everyone in the Xiao Family had naturally gotten the news.
Shen Huatang didn’t have time for formalities. She barged directly into the Qingjing Residence, shouting anxiously,
"Elder Master, the person who abducted the Eldest Miss practices the Black Magic of Poshisu Country! His Cultivation should be in the Upper Three Grades Realm!"
"Please, Elder Master, you must find a way to save her!"
"Those dogs from Poshisu Country! How dare they be so audacious and reckless?!"
Elder Master Xiao, who had just recovered from a serious illness, was enraged. He threw down his cane, intending to track Du Cang himself.
But Xiao Shen, who had rushed over after hearing the news, stopped him.
"Big Brother, the villain has taken Wan’er, and her whereabouts are unknown. If you leave now, the entire Xiao Family will be without a leader."
"If, by some chance, something were to happen to you, I’m afraid the whole Xiao Family would..."
He didn’t finish the sentence.
But Elder Master Xiao understood.
His tall, gaunt frame trembled several times, his expression flickering.
"Wan’er..."
"I have already failed Fengchun and Wanqing. I absolutely cannot let their child come to harm!"
「A moment later.」
Elder Master Xiao made his decision. Standing tall outside the Qingjing Residence, he suppressed his rage and gave his orders.
"Third Brother, inform all Government Offices to investigate every person from Poshisu Country within the city. If any resist, kill them on sight!"
"Lixing, take my command medallion, mobilize the garrison outside the city, and lock down the Western Passage and the Chishui River."
"Huatang..."
Elder Master Xiao looked at her with slight hesitation. "You... I must ask you and Miss Tingyun to find a way to pursue the villain."
"If you find anything, inform me immediately."
Shen Huatang nodded firmly, immediately using her Body Technique to leave the Marquis’s Mansion and find Xie Tingyun.
A Black Magic Master of the Upper Three Grades was far beyond her ability to handle. For now, she could only hope her Senior Sister would be strong enough.
Without hesitation, Wang Lixing took Duke Dingyuan’s command medallion and headed north out of the city.
Xiao Shen hesitated, leaving with the words, "I hope you can remain calm, Big Brother," before quickly departing as well.
Seeing them go, Elder Master Xiao’s expression remained tense. He looked at Xiao Xuanshuo, who was standing nearby, and said,
"Take Wuge and hide in the secret chamber. Do not leave for any reason until you hear from me!"
Xiao Xuanshuo understood the gravity of the situation, accepted the order, and left.
After they had all departed, Elder Master Xiao stared at the rain outside the Qingjing Residence. After a moment of thought, he gestured to the shadows nearby.
"Go to Hundred Herbs Hall. Ask that person to make a move!"
Xiao Jing acknowledged the order in a low voice. As he was about to leave, he turned and saw a calm figure standing inside the Qingjing Residence.
"You..."
Xiao Jing froze for a second. When he saw the person’s face, he was overjoyed. "Elder Master, he... he’s here!"
Elder Master Xiao looked back, a flash of confusion in his eyes, but he had no time to dwell on it. He said urgently,
"Your Excellency, ’Dragon Spear,’ you’ve come at the perfect time! Wan’er... Wan’er has been abducted by a villain. I must ask for your help!"
The newcomer was none other than Chen Yi.
Or rather, Chen Yi disguised as Chen Yu.
He was dressed in black brocade, and beneath his calm expression was a hint of deadly seriousness.
He wasted no time on pleasantries, getting straight to the point.
"Marquis, the one who abducted Wan’er... the Eldest Miss... is Du Cang, a Grand General under King Landu of Poshisu Country."
Xiao Jing was shocked. "Du Cang?!"
"How... how could he be in Shu State? Is it because of Lv Jiunan?!"
Elder Master Xiao’s expression also grew heavy.
For years, he had indeed not stepped out of the Marquis’s Mansion, but that didn’t mean he was oblivious to the world. He had naturally heard the name Du Cang before.
He knew Du Cang was a ruthless bandit who had been ravaging the Ancient Tea-Horse Road in recent years, earning the moniker "Jackal."
He had always been vicious, cruel, insidious, and cunning.
Many Wandering Martial Artists escorting caravans to the Western Regions had died at his hands.