Chapter 42

At nightfall!

In the City of Torn Gust, where the pot was kept boiling and thus the day had been extremely eventful, things finally quieted down.

It was unknown how many people had been arrested and how many had been killed.

But eventually, it quieted down. The bloodstains on the streets were the only indications that something extraordinary had happened earlier in the day.

The moon high up in the sky also seemed to be glowing red.

Yun Zhonghe had already downed several pots of tea and ate many pastries.

Just then, the door opened and the warrior who had walked in said, “Lord Yun, you may leave now.”

Yun Zhonghe burped and said with great disdain, “So much bullsh*t. What’s your name?”

“Zhang Zhuo.” The leader of the warriors said, “City guard of the garrison of the Bureau of Torn Gust, deputy centurion.”

“I remember you.” Yun Zhonghe said, “Today, when I wanted to go to the bathroom, you stopped me three times. We share a major hostility between us. I remember you. Tomorrow, I’ll officially become an official. I will take my revenge, so you better remember me.”

The face of that deputy centurion by the name of Zhang Zhuo remained indifferent, yet his eyes flashed a trace of disdain.

The beggar standing before Zhang Zhuo did not even know his own heft and status. Yes, you’re the one who’s about to become an official. But within the slightest bit of foundation, what can you possibly do to me?

What a joke.

Yun Zhonghe swaggered out of the Bureau of Torn Gust and headed towards the residence of the castellan.

There was no one to escort him out, nor was there any horse-drawn carriage. With only his own legs, he walked out and away.

There was no change to his swaggering crab steps. But he was walking faster and faster, and his hands that were hidden within his sleeves were shaking more vigorously.

Something had happened. Something had definitely happened. Something big had happened.

Just as he was walking, a dark shadow suddenly flashed across in front of him, and it was running for dear life in a frenzied manner.

This was a woman who was quite highly skilled in martial arts and was also very good in light body skills.

She was weaving swiftly across the alley with dozens of warriors chasing after her.

This woman moved like a swallow, gently and lightly. She brushed past Yun Zhonghe.

Yun Zhonghe steadied himself and cast a glance at her.

The woman also cast a quick look at him. He recognized this woman. She was that lady from Tianyu Pavilion. She was that pretty lady he saw back at the time when Xu Anting brought Yun Zhonghe to work. She and Xu Anting flirted with each other through an exchange of amorous glances. Though she did not speak, she used her eyes to invite him to have some fun. Yun Zhonghe had then said, “I’m here for work. Since Sister here says so, that’s even better. Let’s all have some fun for free.”

Such smart eyes that seemed as though they could talk, such a beautiful lady. Up until now, Yun Zhonghe could still remember.

Just at that moment that they exchanged a glance.

About less than half of a second.

Then, her exquisitely graceful figure swiftly flew past him and found its way into the next alley.

Just like a young swallow returning home to the forest.

However, at the very next second.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”

A few secret weapons that were fired in the midst of the darkness flew towards her at lightning speed.

That beautiful lady from Tianyu Pavilion immediately fell from mid-air, like a swan hit by an arrow.

More than a dozen Black Blood Warriors pounced over at lightning speed and captured the lady without further ado. They shoved her into the carriage, and then, within the blink of an eye, everything disappeared without a trace. And whether that lady was alive or dead became an unknown.

After they were done with their task of arresting her, one of the warriors of Black Blood Hall even half-bowed at Yun Zhonghe as they were passing by him.

Yun Zhonghe nodded, then continued walking forward.

He passed another alley.

And found that in a dark corner, a dozen or so warriors had rounded up five people, who were all kneeling down in that corner.

“Swish, swish, swish…”

Hands were raised while blades fell in place. Those five people, three men, and two women, were directly beheaded. Without a single utterance, they died. Blood was splattered all over the ground.

Seeing Yun Zhonghe’s gaze directed at them, one of the warriors of Black Blood Hall immediately took his crossbow and aimed it at Yun Zhonghe, while another one drew his sword and walked towards Yun Zhonghe.

But a warrior close by whispered something to them.

Immediately, the crossbow was retracted, and the blade was returned back to its sheath.

The warrior of Black Blood Hall, who was killing the people in the alley, also secretly gave a half-salute to Yun Zhonghe.

Not a single word was said.

Yun Zhonghe nodded again and continue walking towards the residence of the castellan.

His hands and legs were getting colder and colder, and it was getting increasingly difficult to breathe. It was almost to the point where he was suffocating, and he really felt like vomiting.

He walked faster and faster, and his mind was racing faster and faster.

Something had happened. Something big had happened.

The source of this all was the seizure of Tianyu Pavilion, which happened more than a month ago.

At that time, Yun Zhonghe had even joked about it being a crackdown on pornography. Yet, in the end, it had turned out to be a murder case that claimed the lives of five sons from highly influential families.

After that, this matter was forgotten.

No one would have expected this matter to bring about such drastic changes in the current day.

It was as if a mass of dark clouds that was a thousand miles away had brewed a flash of lightning there from off in the distance.

Before that, everyone said that Lady Cold Jade was ruthless and unfeeling, for she had killed countless people.

Yun Zhonghe did not feel deeply of their perception, for he had teased Lady Cold Jade more than once or twice. He had the feeling of being somewhat close to her instead.

However, at that very moment…

Lady Cold Jade’s men were bloodying the entire City of Torn Gust by massacring people.

This mass arrest operation had to be due to the intelligence network of the Great Ying’s Order of Black Dragons.

It had to be!

Because the source of it all originated from Tianyu Pavilion.

Would Sister Xu Antiing be safe?

It was unquestionable that she would be in danger as well. Because whenever Black Blood Hall arrested people, they would rather kill the wrong person than spare any life at all.

Besides, Xu Antiing was very closely related to Tianyu Pavilion. She had been teaching the guqin there for the past couple of years.

Although Tianyu Pavilion was not a stronghold of the Order of Black Dragons, it was seen as a place that the Order of Black Dragons could rely on. This was why the pair of siblings, Xu Anting and Xu Antiing, had once wanted to arrange for Yun Zhonghe to get into Tianyu Pavilion to seduce Lady Musk.

Now it seemed that it was simply not a coincidence at all that Lady Musk had left the City of Torn Gust to attend the wedding of some other lord.

It was highly likely that Mr. Wenshan was someone from the Great Ying’s Order of Black Dragons, and he was even one of the leading figures in this intelligence network.

Once again, Yun Zhonghe recalled those resolute final words that he had shouted loudly before his moment of death.

When he found out that he was exposed, he had immediately chosen to commit suicide. He would never allow himself to fall into the hands of his enemy.

Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe felt his knees buckling, and he crouched on the ground.

“Blech…”

“Phew…”

He gasped for air.

This Mr. Wenshan, who was considered to be his colleague, had simply died right in front of his eyes.

Of course, Mr. Wenshan had actually been exposed long ago. Yun Zhonghe had not caused his death, but rather, the enemy had long seen through him.

Even if it had not been for Yun Zhonghe, Mr. Wenshan was bound to meet his doom.

Before this, Yun Zhonghe had not held a trace of emotion or loyalty toward the Order of Black Dragons, as well as the Great Ying Empire, much less a sense of belonging. He even felt as though he was not someone from the Great Ying Empire’s Order of Black Dragon.

Everything he did was just to seek challenges. Life was nothing more than a game to him.

But now, he felt as though he was trembling from deep within him.

One after another, spies of the Order of Black Dragons were dying right before him. They were falling to the ground right in front of his eyes.

The lady from Tianyu Pavilion, whom he had happened to meet once, was captured.

And there was also the lovely Sister Xu Antiing. She had definitely been captured as well.

He had to rescue her from them. He had to hurry up and think of a way to save her.

Yun Zhonghe got back up on his feet and quickly walked towards the residence of the castellan. His mind was racing, trying to think of a way to save her.

“Yun Zhonghe, you must get stronger and more powerful. Many times, battles are sudden. They will not give you any time to prepare yourself before they happen again.” Yun Zhonghe picked up his pace, and he felt the burning sensation within his chest intensifying.

Who is my enemy?

Who is the one who had taken down the entire intelligence network this time?

That senior brother that Jing Zhongyue spoke about, it had to be him. His name seemed to be Chu Zhaoran.

Yun Zhonghe walked faster and faster, faster and faster!

Suddenly, he came to a halt mid-step!

Next, he felt a slight numbness in the back of his head, and his entire person fainted right away.

Then, he was put into a sack and carried away. In the blink of an eye, he had disappeared into the depths of the night.

***

After some time, Yun Zhonghe groggily woke up.

This was an underground chamber that was most likely a secret stronghold.

His entire body was tied up.

There were four warriors in front of him. Their eyes were red, and they were all filled with grief and rage.

“Your name is Yun AoTian, right? You’re the one who caused Mr. Wenshan’s death.” One of the scar-faced warriors slowly said, “Do you still remember what Mr. Wenshan said before he died? We will come for you.”

At that time, Mr. Wenshan had mouthed those words to Yun Zhonghe. He had not made any sound at all.

“Now, we’ve come to seek revenge.” The scar-faced leader of the warriors said, “Right here, I formally introduce you to who we are. We are the warriors of the Great Ying Empire’s Order of Black Dragons!”

Then, each of the five warriors poured a cup of wine, drank half of it and spilled the other half on the ground.

“Mr. Wenshan, your humble subordinates have avenged your death!”

“Brothers and sisters of the Order of Black Dragons who died tonight, we have avenged your deaths.”

“Rest in peace; this Yun AoTian is only the first one. We will be sending more and more enemies to be buried with you all soon.”

The five warriors knelt down and kowtowed until there was blood. Then they wailed and bawled.

For as long as a quarter of an hour, they cried with such overwhelming sorrow, almost as if they were cuckoos crying tears of blood.

Finally, the massive wailing came to a stop. When the five warriors looked up again, their foreheads were all dripping with blood.

The scar-faced leader of the warriors came over with a sharp dagger in his hand. He then ripped off Yun Zhonghe’s shirt to expose his chest.

“Traitor. I am going to dig out your heart as an offering to pay my respects to Mr. Wenshan and the victims of the Order of Black Dragons. Do you have anything else to say before you die?” The scar-faced warrior pressed the sharp and cold dagger against Yun Zhonghe’s chest.

It would just take a little more force exerted to cut open his chest and gouge out his heart. It seemed like a tragic scene of fratricide was about to unfold soon.

“Say it, this is going to be the last thing you say in this world,” said the scar-faced warrior in a cold voice.

Yun Zhonghe remained silent.

“Since you have no wish to say your last words, then don’t blame us for not giving you a chance.” The scar-faced warrior said in a cold voice, “Kill the traitor, the royal furnace of the Great Ying Empire’s Order of Black Dragons!”

Then, the dagger of the scar-faced warrior pierced right into Yun Zhonghe’s heart with great ferocity.

Yun Zhonghe merely felt a chill in his chest.

Then… Nothing happened.

He did not die, and the dagger bounced back again.

Yun Zhonghe sneered disdainfully and said, “Are you done with the show? The man behind you can come out now!”

“Please come out, whichever lord you are!” Yun Zhonghe shouted.

A moment later, a figure walked out.

With a graceful bearing and dressed in clothes white as snow, this was an utterly beautiful scholar with a handsome look and elegant demeanor.

“I am Chu Zhaoran, hereby paying my respects to Brother Yun.”

This man was none other than Jing Zhongyue’s senior brother.

He was the big shot who had ended three years of mourning and had immediately made a meritorious achievement upon his return, where he had directly brought down the entire intelligence network of the Empire’s Order of Black Dragon.