Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 14 Leaving Beijing [Seeking follow-up reading]

Yin Cheng came back not long after he left.

Just by looking at his decadent face, as if his father had died, Jiang Xuan knew the result without asking.

"Master Xu said that this case was handed over to Lu Wenzhao by Eunuch Wei, and that Lu Wenzhao had bought it for two hundred taels of silver, so it was not appropriate for him to interfere."

Yin Cheng's face turned grim: "This bastard clearly wants us to die!"

Jiang Xuan shook his head, not surprised by this, and continued to frown as he pondered over a solution.

"Cousin, why don't we run away!"

Yin Cheng suddenly looked up and said through gritted teeth, "If we don't go, we'll die. If we go, we'll be in great danger of death. We might as well just run away and find a new way to live."

Jiang Xuan glanced at him and said, "The whole world is full of Dongchang's spies. They even found Yang Lian's daughter in Jinglu Tunbu. Where can you escape to?"

"What's more, you don't care about your mother anymore? How are you going to escape with your mother? Are you going to tell Lu Wenzhao that you are taking my mother to investigate the case?"

Yin Cheng choked for a moment and said angrily, "Then tell me, what should we do? Are we really going to die?"

Jiang Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "It's not certain we'll die. Just like you said, if we don't go, we'll definitely die. If we go, we'll have a narrow escape, but it doesn't necessarily mean we'll die."

Yin Cheng's expression changed slightly, and he frowned, "Cousin, you've only just joined the Jinyiwei, so you might not be aware of the dangers of the Jinglu Tunbao area."

"It's close to the northern border, so the people who live there are all rebels who oppose the court and various wanted criminals. Ordinary people might be fine if they go there, but if the court personnel, especially our Jinyiwei, reveal their identities there, they will definitely die. Many colleagues have gone there to handle cases and never returned."

"So what? Do you have any other ideas?" Jiang Xuan asked.

"I..." Yin Cheng choked and cursed through gritted teeth, "Lu Wenzhao, you bastard!"

Jiang Xuan shook his head and said, "That's it. You don't have to go. I'll take the people to handle this case."

Yin Cheng's expression changed: "Cousin..."

Jiang Xuan waved his hand. "As you said, revealing our identities over there means certain death. The more people we go, the more dangerous it will be. So, for this mission, the fewer people we have, the better."

"You stay in the capital. I'll take a few reliable people with me and handle it under concealed identities. If anything goes wrong..."

Jiang Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Auntie won't be left without someone to take care of her."

"No!" Yin Cheng said anxiously, "Then I'll go..."

Jiang Xuan frowned: "With your mediocre skills, are you going to die?"

Yin Cheng's face flushed immediately. "That's too much, Xiao Xuanzi. I admit that you've been training very hard recently, but after all, I've also been making some progress in my swordsmanship for over two years..."

bass--

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Xuan suddenly drew his sword and slashed it, as fast as thunder.

"Crash..." After a brief silence, the wooden chair next to it suddenly split in the middle and broke into two halves that scattered on the ground. The cut was extremely smooth.

"Great...great swordsmanship?!" Yin Cheng was stunned.

After a moment, he turned around and looked at Jiang Xuan in disbelief: "You... weren't you only at the minor level a while ago? How long have you been practicing and you've already achieved the major level?!"

"There are people in this world called geniuses, you know." Jiang Xuan calmly put the knife back into the sheath.

The corners of Yin Cheng's mouth twitched. I understand your second uncle!

No matter how talented one is, it is impossible to master swordsmanship in just half a month, right?

Jiang Xuan said calmly, "Now you understand, don't you? I'm stronger than you, so I have a higher chance of completing this task, and I have a greater chance of coming back alive."

"If you go with me, I'll have to distract myself from taking care of you if something unexpected happens. You'd better stay home and take good care of your aunt. I'll be back in a month at most."

"That won't do!" Yin Cheng said in a deep voice, "We're going to do business, not to wander the underworld. Even if your swordsmanship is great, it's just second-rate. But over at Jinglu Tunbao, it's said that there are quite a few first-rate masters, and there are even rumors of master-level masters!"

"For us officials, power and background are our priorities. Fighting skills are useless. Bring more people with you. If we really run into trouble, we can kill even a top-notch expert..."

Jiang Xuan shook his head: "We're just going to kill one person. If we bring too many people, the forces over there will think we're going to suppress bandits. If a conflict breaks out, the danger will be even greater. Besides, Lu Wenzhao won't agree to us bringing so many people."

Yin Cheng wanted to persuade him again, but Jiang Xuan waved his hand and said, "Alright, it's decided. I'll go find someone. You keep it a secret from your aunt. Don't let her worry."

After saying that, Jiang Xuan turned and left without waiting for Yin Cheng to say anything.

A moment later, Jiang Xuan called over his two subordinates, Xu Longqing and Chu Mo, and briefly explained the mission and his plan to them. He said, "You two should get ready and follow me to Jinglu Tunbu tomorrow."

Xu Longqing saluted solemnly: "I obey your orders!"

Chu Mo hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir, the situation in Jinglu Tunbao is chaotic. It would be too dangerous for the three of us to go there. Otherwise..."

Jiang Xuan frowned and interrupted: "I am informing you, not discussing with you."

Chu Mo's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his head quickly: "I obey your orders."

Jiang Xuan glanced at him coldly and turned away.

Xu Longqing also glanced at him indifferently, without saying a word, and followed Jiang Xuan away.

Only Chu Mo was left standing there, his face gloomy and uncertain.

……

The next morning.

At daybreak, three fast horses left the capital from the north gate and headed towards the northern border of the Ming Dynasty under Yin Cheng's worried gaze.

Xu Longqing wore a dark green rattan armor and carried a long sword on his back.

Ten miles from the capital, when they reached a fork in the road ahead, he reined in his horse and looked at Jiang Xuan standing beside him. He asked, "Sir, both roads lead to the northern border. The official road on the right will take us to the border in five days if we gallop at full speed. The post road on the left is westward, which is a bit more circuitous and will take about seven days. Which way should we go?"

Jiang Xuan glanced back in the direction they came from, his eyes flickering as he said, "Let's take the side road and find a place to change clothes before we go."

He wore the official uniform to let Lu Wenzhao know that he had left Beijing to handle a case. Since his purpose was to get rid of him, Jiang Xuan didn't believe that he would not send someone to keep an eye on him.

Changing clothes is to hide one's identity and make things easier.

"Gee!" After saying that, Jiang Xuan flicked the reins and rode his horse onto the path on the left.

Xu Longqing and Chu Mo followed closely behind and disappeared at the end of the trail.

And the facts were exactly as Jiang Xuan expected.

Just after they left, a figure dressed as a ranger came riding over. He stopped at the fork in the road and carefully observed the traces on the two roads, then turned and stepped onto the path on the left.

……

The disappearance of just one general flag and two small flags did not have any impact on the most prosperous capital of the Ming Dynasty, nor did it attract much attention.

Of course, there are always a few people who still care about it.

The sun is rising.

The Jinyiwei front-line military headquarters was bustling with people, and many officers and soldiers who had just finished their work came out one after another to patrol their respective areas.

No one noticed that a white dove flew across the sky and quietly landed in a study in the backyard of the yamen.

A white hand picked up the carrier pigeon and removed the letter from its leg.

"Including Jiang Xuan, only three people went? And Yin Cheng didn't go either?"

Lu Wenzhao frowned, thought for a moment, and quickly saw through Jiang Xuan's plan.

"Are you worried that too many people will attract attention and want to conceal your presence by heading towards Jinglu Tunbu?"

A sneer flashed in Lu Wenzhao's eyes, and he looked at the other two names on the letter: "Chu Mo, Xu Longqing, two second-rate..."

"What a shame! This was originally a trap set for Jiang Xuan and Yin Cheng. Since you two jumped into it, you're just unlucky."

"As for Yin Cheng and Pei Lun..."

Lu Wenzhao narrowed his eyes slightly, with a cold murderous intent flashing in his eyes: "As long as we are still in the capital, there are plenty of opportunities to deal with them!"

"Junior sister, I will never let your blood be shed in vain!"

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(End of this chapter)