Chapter 42: Feng Ru Nan |
Song Chuan supported the grief-stricken Song Shu, for Song Yang Qing was his only son.
— Master, our Song family has failed you!— Song Jiu Ming sighed, bowed, and clasped his hands, saying.
Wang Heng was utterly distraught. He also understood that this was not the Song family's fault. One cannot go against an imperial decree! However, the death of that scoundrel Song Yang Qing even played into his hands. He himself already regretted arranging this marriage and kept wondering how to extricate himself from this situation.
Standing behind him, a bodyguard seemed to grasp the situation and asked in a cold tone, — Who dared?— his voice also containing murderous intent.
Hearing him, Wang Heng seemed to come to his senses and immediately asked angrily:
— Who is this Niu You Dao, to dare kill the son of the Song family? Does he have a death wish?
Song Chuan, supporting Song Shu, clarified: He is a disciple of Dong Guo Hao Ran.
— Dong Guo Hao Ran?— Wang Heng knew of this man. During Ning Wang's lifetime, among all cultivators, Dong Guo Hao Ran was the one who maintained a good relationship with him. Dong Guo Hao Ran was also a well-regarded man in the capital. During Ning Wang's lifetime, no one dared provoke him. Wang Heng, gritting his teeth, said:
— So, he is the disciple of an outlaw. I will turn both this disciple and his master to ashes!
— Passed away?— Wang Heng did not know this, as the Supreme Purity Sect had kept everything under wraps. Wang Heng spoke venomously again:
— Ning Wang is dead, yet the Supreme Purity Sect dares to be so insolent. I will flatten it!
Song Jiu Ming raised a hand and said: — The Supreme Purity Sect cannot be touched. There are those above who watch over it. Master, you should not act rashly, otherwise, you might invite trouble upon yourself.
Wang Heng said angrily: — What then can be done? Such a thing has happened. Judge, just say the word, and I will act!
Song Jiu Ming shook his head and gestured for him not to ask too many questions:
— Master, it's best you listen to me. It is inconvenient for me to speak about what happened. However, I can tell you that if you act rashly, His Majesty above may be enraged. Then you will not be spared either!
Some things could not be told to Wang Heng. After all, the hundred-thousand strong Crows army was no trifling matter. And it was possibly related to the Supreme Purity Sect. If Wang Heng interfered, even if he had ten heads, all of them would be chopped off!
— Are we just going to leave it at that?!
Song Jiu Ming calmly replied: — A murderer must pay with his life! For now, we shall proceed only in this manner; we'll see about the rest later.
Wang Heng understood him. This meant Niu You Dao could be killed, and for the others, their time would come. He spoke again with a stony expression:
— I will take care of this matter.
Song Jiu Ming said sternly: — He is currently with Shang Chao Zong, and Shang Chao Zong cannot be touched for now.
Wang Heng:
— My Lord, please calm yourself. I will tell Feng Lin Bo to capture that rascal for me. I will not touch Shang Chao Zong. Feng Lin Bo will merely capture Niu You Dao and bring him to the capital, and then I myself will cut him into a thousand pieces!
Regarding this, Song Jiu Ming remained silent, giving his tacit approval.
He knew that although Feng Lin Bo opposed the imperial house, he had not completely turned against the empire. And Wang Heng was a man of such stature for whom a petty cultivator could be captured. Feng Lin Bo should show Wang Heng respect in this matter. After all, Feng Lin Bo also had his own businesses in the capital, or rather, his own people. And if he refused Wang Heng, Wang Heng could create problems for him in the capital.
Having received tacit approval, Wang Heng spoke again:
— My Lord, I will take Liu Fang home for a period then.
Song Jiu Ming nodded: — That is also true! Though Song Yang Qing has died, this is still her home. If the Wang family needs anything, and if the Song family can help, we will certainly help!— this was a kind of guarantee for the continuation of ties between the families.
Wang Heng nodded and, without even observing proper etiquette, turned and left. His mind was in turmoil. He truly did not know how to tell his daughter what had happened...
Song Chuan personally escorted him to the door, and when he returned, he saw the dejected Song Shu sitting on a chair. He sighed. When his daughter-in-law learned of her son's death, how long would she cry?
Standing, Song Jiu Ming held his hands behind his back and looked at the door. He said in a cold tone:
— Tang Su Su has lost her sense of propriety. She knew it was forbidden to send anyone to Shang Chao Zong, yet she still sent him!
Song Chuan replied: — Father, based on the latest news, Tang Su Su also had selfish intentions. She used Song Yang Qing for her own ends. Otherwise, we would have long known that they sent a mentor to Shang Chao Zong. And it seems Song Yang Qing had his own calculations, since he didn't report to us immediately!
Song Jiu Ming nodded. He understood what Song Chuan wanted to convey. Wang Heng did not know the situation within the Supreme Purity Sect, but they knew it very well. Song Yang Qing had loved Tang Yi all these years and constantly wanted to marry her. That was why he had remained in that desolate place all these years. If not for the pressure from the Song family, he would not have left her.
Gazing at the disheartened Song Shu, Song Jiu Ming said in a cold tone: — The Supreme Purity Sect cannot be touched for now. However, that old woman, who always considers herself in the right, must also not be without fault. We must keep an eye on her!
— Understood!— replied Song Chuan.
Kuangai County.
Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang had already strolled through the city and returned to the inn. The three bodyguards they had sent out had already returned and were waiting at the door. As soon as they met at the doors, they immediately entered their rooms, and one bodyguard began pointing on a map:
— Lord Dao, here is the county governor's residence, and there is Feng Lin Bo's private residence. There are guards around it, so it is difficult for ordinary people to approach him. The eldest son, Feng Ru Yi, leads troops in the eastern part of the county, seizing important strategic points. The second son, Feng Ru Jie, leads troops and occupies key positions on the western side of the county. They have everything firmly under control. The daughter, Feng Ru Nan, leads the troops in the city and, according to reports, does not live in the main palace, but spends most of her time on the eastern side of the city, near the East Gate.— The bodyguard pointed to a spot near the East Gate.
Niu You Dao looked at the map, was silent for a moment, then asked: — Is Feng Lin Bo at his residence? Is Feng Ru Nan in the camp?
The bodyguard replied:
— We heard that the county governor inspected the troops this morning and returned to his residence. In the camp on the eastern side of the city, Feng Ru Nan was also seen conducting troop training.
— There's no time to lose. Gather all the brothers.— Niu You Dao gestured to Yuan Gang.
Very quickly, a group of riders rode out. Along the way, they also acquired a carriage.
In the eastern part of the city were vacant houses. It appeared to be a military garrison. It was fenced off, and soldiers stood guard all around. Ordinary people could not approach.
Niu You Dao and his group rode up to the guards.
— I apologize for the disturbance. Could you please inform General Feng that an old friend, Niu You Dao, has come to visit?— Niu You Dao dismounted his horse and said with a smile to the guards. He believed that Feng Ru Nan must still remember him.
Looking at Niu You Dao and his entourage, it was clear they were no ordinary folk. Therefore, the guard immediately sent someone to convey Niu You Dao's words.
Not long after, they were allowed to enter. However, they were forbidden from entering the garrison on horseback and were searched for weapons. Niu You Dao handed his sword to the guards and entered the garrison with Yuan Gang, while the other bodyguards remained outside.
A guard led them to the drill ground. They could see a multitude of soldiers training with swords and other weapons.
Standing on a platform was a warrior. He was tall and held a pike firmly. At this moment, he was observing the troops' training.
A soldier approached him and whispered something; the warrior turned his head and looked at Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang.
As soon as he turned his head, Niu You Dao froze. If not for the distinguishing features of a woman's face, Niu You Dao would have thought it was a robust man.
This woman was more robust than an ordinary man. She had an imposing bearing. She had a tiger's back and a bear's waist. This was not a girl who constantly looked in a mirror and applied ointments and creams. She had thick eyebrows, and her temperament was martial, yet at the same time graceful.
Niu You Dao still wondered if this was the same commander he had seen on the raft. When this woman caused him trouble, he had not seen her clearly. If not for her clear voice, he would have thought it was a man.
The woman waved her hand, and the training soldiers stopped. They began to run off the drill ground, and it gradually became quieter.
Watching the soldiers leave, the woman now turned fully and, suddenly raising her hand, launched a pike towards Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao only smiled faintly, but did not move. And when the spear was about to reach him, a hand suddenly grasped it firmly.
Yuan Gang shifted the spear to his other hand and threw it twenty meters away.
Swoosh.
The long spear traversed twenty meters and embedded itself in a flagpole ten meters high. Such a display of technique revealed Yuan Gang's abilities. This was both power and precision. The girl's eyes sparkled. She looked at Yuan Gang. Feng Ru Nan was an experienced person and had already seen cultivators. But it was clear that Yuan Gang was not a cultivator, because when he used his strength, no qi emanated from him. This is evident when one's clothes begin to ripple. And she did not believe that such a young Yuan Gang could have already reached a cultivation level where even when using qi, his clothes would not ripple. Then it meant only one thing: this was raw strength!
Yuan Gang's attack did not go unnoticed. Immediately, four silhouettes flashed and appeared around Feng Ru Nan. They were dressed in dark robes, with swords protruding from their backs. All of them stared with cold gazes at the two friends. Niu You Dao noticed with interest that these were cultivators. And two of them seemed stronger than him.
Whom else would cultivators be guarding here, if not Feng Ru Nan?
The woman approached the edge of the platform and looked down at Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang:
— Which of you is Niu You Dao?— She scrutinized their faces, and her gaze finally settled on Niu You Dao. She seemed to understand who was in charge between them.