Chapter 8, The Black Pot

Pei Qian asked with a smile, "Should I pay attention to my own safety, or to what they are plotting?"

Liu Yunsha nodded, but then heard Pei Qian say: "It's just that, my lord... these ribbons are somewhat strange, almost resembling someone's bustier."

Hua Lingyao gazed at Pei Qian's triumphant face and said, "You seem quite skilled at this, don't you"

Upon entering the car, Pei Qian's intoxication immediately dissipated. He smiled and bowed to the two individuals seated opposite him, saying: "My lords!"

Having understood these key points, Pei Qian realized that Liu Yun was not simply gathering people for the purpose of creating poison bombs. Unbeknownst to him, he was becoming entangled in a vast and terrifying struggle among powerful factions, playing the role of a pawn. Although he appeared to have numerous supporters behind him, he could only grit his teeth and push forward relentlessly.

Pei Qian approached and saw the old goat setting up an octagonal table outside the pavilion, piled high with silver notes and betting slips. Curiously, he asked, "Brother, how did you become the banker? Can I place a bet too?"

Tang Yinbo was unable to draw his sword in time, and his left hand instantly transformed into a crimson aura that surged forth, morphing into a palm blade that sliced towards the water-green satin ribbon

If Liu Yunsha knew what Pei Qian was thinking at this moment, he would most likely be so furious that he would spit blood. Unfortunately, he does not know, so he calmly smiled and said: "Brother Duan, do not misunderstand. General Tang is not here to settle accounts with you; otherwise, there would be no need for him to come in disguise. With just a command, you would have to spend the night in the Taiyang Prefecture prison."

A dozen or so guards nodded in agreement, swearing an oath that they would never betray Lord Duan's whereabouts tonight, and they left in a daze

Without finishing his sentence, Tang Yinbo's eyes suddenly burst forth with a crimson brilliance as he shouted, "Who goes there!"

Pei Qian was no longer polite, driving the carriage straight to Yunchong Town, heading directly for Miss Yu Shi's fragrant boudoir. He kicked a pretty boy, who was shaking his head and reciting something like: "The ospreys call, on the river islet," off the bed, vowing to make up for all the losses of the past three days. Naturally, tonight's bill would not be settled by Liu Yunsha; who would pay it?

Fei Dexing, Qi Wuting, and others had arrived early, while on the other side, there were over a hundred hall masters, lecturers, and academic attendants from the Military Academy, along with a crowd of observing students, making it so crowded that not even a drop of water could pass through

Liu Yunsha was taken aback, grabbed the ribbon that Pei Qian had handed to him, and with a sinister smile said, "What a deep and hidden foul wench!" He then followed in the footsteps of the female assassin and Tang Yinbo

On the second day, before dawn, Pei Qian, after much hardship, got out of bed and had the fortunate Ma Lao Er roll out from under the covers to drive the horse-drawn carriage back to the Yunzhong Military Academy.

In light of the fact that Deng Chengzhi has already passed away, Pei Qian suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "Since the foster son has died, how could Federer let Deng Jue go? It is not surprising that Deng Jue sought refuge with Tang Yinbo for self-preservation."

Pei Qian laughed heartily, leaving Hengyue Pavilion in a half-drunken state as he made his way to his residence. Coincidentally, a carriage was parked in the alley next to Hengyue Pavilion, as if it had been waiting specifically for him.

Pei Qian gradually savored the flavor, of course, he did not believe for a moment that Tang Yinbo had spared him out of some grand scheme to suppress bandits and stabilize the state. He tacitly stated: "I will follow the instructions of both gentlemen."

As the flowing clouds and sands settled, he resentfully gazed in the direction where the female assassin had vanished and said, "Thank you, Brother Duan, for what happened just now"

With a thud, before the words had even left his mouth, three chairs had already toppled over. Several diners awkwardly climbed up from the floor, eagerly pulling out their wallets and saying, "Waiter, I would like to settle the bill!"

Another guard looked at the broken car roof and said, "So this car roof..."

Hua Lingyao listened to him say "son, father, grandson" as if it were a tongue twister, and couldn't help but smile, but immediately reined in her expression and said: "You must be cautious; these individuals surely have grand ambitions."

Hua Lingyao nodded and said, "At the very least, you should tell me why Tu Shutang Yinbo is looking for you"

***

He leisurely arrived at the entrance of the Herb Garden located on the back slope of the Cloud Military Academy, only to see a throng of people gathered, all there to watch the excitement. Upon seeing Pei Qian approaching from a distance, everyone exclaimed with excitement: "He has arrived, this guy is here!"

Pei Qian also fell silent for a moment before saying: "In the future, before engaging in such thoughtless actions, it is best to consult me first. Furthermore, Tang Yinbo and the Fei brothers are sworn enemies, and I have stirred up trouble at Liuyunsha. You should go out less in the next few days to avoid being recognized by someone from behind."

Looking at the amiable Flowing Sand, Pei Qian gritted his teeth and said: "Thank you, General Tang and Lord Flowing Sand, for your support (not in literal terms, but this is what Pei Qian truly thought). From now on, with just a word from the two of you, I will not hesitate to go through fire and water for my duties"

Liu Yunsha quietly glanced at Tang Yinbo, noticing that the latter subtly nodded his head. Therefore, in a lowered voice, he said: "You must kill Fei Dexing tomorrow; I will secretly lend you a helping hand"

In the center of the Baicao Garden, there stands an octagonal pavilion. The place where the two individuals decided to duel was chosen here

Pei Qian had long suspected that no one would have faith in him, yet he deliberately feigned anger and exclaimed, "What do you mean? Even you do not believe in me?" He then pulled out a crumpled banknote of unknown origin from his sleeve and declared, "One hundred and thirty taels to bet on my victory!"

"It doesn't matter. Since I took the initiative to ask Brother Liuyun to meet you, this whereabouts can hardly be considered a secret," Tang Yinbo spoke again, saying, "To be honest with you, Brother Duan, I have been in Huangyuan Prefecture for over ten days. However, I have been hiding in the residence of Master Deng Jue, which is why the news has not spread. If it weren't for Brother Liusha personally coming to find me this time, I would probably still be playing chess and drinking with Master Deng right now"

A purple satin ribbon pierced through the car curtain and shot towards Tang Yinbo's chest

As a result, he found that overnight he had become the most unpopular person in the Cloud Military Academy. No matter where he went, people would lower their heads and hurriedly pass by, as if he were a transparent person

The old goat blinked and stared at Pei Qian, unable to utter a word for a long time. Finally, he raised his hand and said: "Brother Duan, I admire you! It's a pity you got the odds reversed."

Pei Qian coughed twice and said, "How did you know that Tang Yinbo has arrived?"

Liu Yunsha shook his head and said, "I actually think you are living quite happily, with no intention of dying at all"

Hua Lingyao was momentarily taken aback, her eyelashes fluttering a few times before she said, "I understand." She turned around and walked out of the main room, not even realizing that a trace of an involuntary smile was escaping from the corner of her lips

Tang Yinbo's eyes glinted with murderous intent as he swept his left palm to disperse the pink ribbon, swiftly closing in and raising his knife to strike. The female assassin floated backward, her right hand twirling the satin ribbon into a swirling mass of purple clouds, locking onto Tang Yinbo's dagger.

"You are happy, but what about me?" Pei Qian then realized Tang Yinbo's true intentions for coming to Qingyang County. "Use your brain, will you? Even if Tang Yinbo is dead, the court still has Fei Dele and Huang Baitao... They have the Five Ping and Five Zhen, the ten great generals. You are indeed formidable, but can you kill them all one by one?"

Pei Qianqi, with a smile on his face, said: "It turns out to be ten to one; you, the banker, are really giving Lord Fei too much face"

Pei Qian pretended not to hear, then cheerfully got up to settle the bill. He pointed to the table where the patrons were most animated and said to the waiter, "The drinks for these gentlemen will be charged to my account"

The guard still felt something was amiss and inquired, "But where could Lord Duan be going at this late hour after borrowing the carriage of the supervisor of Liuyun Courtyard?"

Pei Qian carefully scrutinized the man illuminated by the moonlight filtering into the car. He was of medium build with a formidable appearance. Although he was only dressed in plain clothes, he exuded an aura of decisiveness and combativeness, sufficient to make one realize that he must be a seasoned warrior accustomed to battle.

The flowing cloud sand leaped out from the carriage, launching a surprise attack from the side. Pei Qian also seized the opportunity to slip out, just in time to see the female assassin unexpectedly shoot out a black satin ribbon from beneath her skirt, soaring towards the neck of the flowing cloud sand

When did General Ke Tang arrive at Huangyuan Prefecture? Pei Qian's mind was in a state of confusion, and as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt he had spoken out of turn, saying: "I deserve to die; such military secrets should not be casually inquired about"

It was only at this moment that Pei Qian realized that the coachman had been struck at his acupoints and had long since died in his seat.

The flowing clouds and sand are also smiling, but it is clearly a bitter smile, saying: "Brother Duan, I truly admire your ability to still smile."

Hua Lingyao said gloomily: "Didn’t I retreat and hide as soon as I saw you intervene?"

Pei Qian chuckled without responding, as he had not yet figured out the background of the person beside Liu Yunsha.

Pei Qian secretly cursed Tang Yinbo as an old fox. These words sounded very candid, as if everything had been said. However, his purpose for coming to Huangyuan Prefecture, the reason for hiding in the Deng residence for over ten days, and what he was doing at the Yunzhong Military Academy remained completely undisclosed

Pei Qian scoffed and said: "What benefit is it to me if Liu Yunsha is dead? What benefit is it to you? I do not understand why you must kill Tang Yinbo, but if he really dies in the carriage, I will be in big trouble later."

Pei Qian, without a moment's hesitation, shouldered his way through Liu Yunsha, who was about to join Tang Yinbo in encircling and capturing the female assassin, and shouted, "My lord, wait—" However, the word "god" could not escape his lips, as his neck was suddenly tightened and he was lifted into the air by the female assassin.

Mo Dake could only curse and scold Qi Tianhu, temporarily setting aside the matter of Pei Qian, and rushed to Yunzhong Town under the starry night.

Tang Yinbo said: "I have already had a secret meeting with General Mo, so you can rest assured about that. As for my father, I will also write to inform him and advise him to calm down—" Just as he was speaking, he suddenly fell silent and looked towards Liuyunsha.

The female assassin heard voices coming from the military academy and realized that the assassination had failed. With a graceful movement, she vanished into the forest, disappearing from sight

Pei Qian glanced at the coachman, staggered over with a tipsy demeanor, and tapped on the carriage with the back of his hand, saying: "Good evening"

Pei Qian suddenly realized that Tang Yinbo was the backing of Liu Yunsha and Qiu Huosheng. The person he needed to deal with happened to share the same aspirations as himself. Thus, he decided to give some leeway, temporarily ("just temporarily," Pei Qian thought), allowing himself to pass through the door.

Pei Qian slowly walked back to the carriage, kicked the coachman into the vehicle, and then sat down, urging the horse forward with a whip. A dozen or so guards caught up and, upon seeing Pei Qian driving the carriage, were momentarily taken aback, asking, "Lord Duan, what just happened here?"

Pei Qian politely cupped his hands in greeting to those around him, calling out as he walked, "Excuse me, excuse me—"

He is the father of Sheng from the Tang Dynasty, the eldest son of the old general of this dynasty, General Tang Yinbo of Pingbei. Liuyunsha looked at Pei Qian's expression and sighed, saying: "Brother Duan, the trouble you have caused this time is truly significant. Neither I nor Director Qiu can handle it, so we can only rush to Huangyuan Prefecture overnight to invite General Tang to personally deal with this matter"

Pei Qian let out an "oh" and looked at Hua Lingyao, remaining silent for a while. Then he slowly said, "He wants me to work for him, so he first sold his son to me. I pretended to agree, and after dealing with Fei Dexing, I'll see what tricks this grandson has up his sleeve."

Pei Qian stopped the carriage and said: "It's nothing, I borrowed a carriage from Lord Liushasha to wander around casually. Is there a problem?"

Pei Qian calculated that he was currently a deputy lecturer of the fifth rank. If he were to be demoted by three ranks, he would no longer be able to stay in this military academy. However, if he were only demoted by two ranks, he could still serve as a deputy academic attendant of the lowest rank, allowing him to continue with his duties and not hinder his ability to be used by others. He couldn't help but admire the calculations of Liu Yunsha greatly.

The guard also did not understand how he had suddenly offended this Lord Duan, and he replied submissively, "I heard that he is going to duel with Lord Fei"

After noon, Pei Qian leisurely set off for the Hundred Herb Garden. He carried nothing with him, as the outcome was already determined; those burdensome matters would be left to Liu Yunsha to handle—after all, who told him to use me as a pawn

Since the duel was scheduled for the afternoon, Pei Qian was not in a hurry to set off. He first returned to his residence and reflected on the events of the previous night, pondering how he felt that Tang Yinbo's intentions were not good.

Liu Yunsha was taken aback by the assassin's elusive movements and exclaimed, "My lord, be careful!" However, he did not dare to raise his voice to summon the guards of the military academy, fearing it would reveal Tang Yinbo's whereabouts. Instead, he unleashed a fiery blade, cleaving the air with a crimson palm force.

The old goat did not lift his head and quickly placed an order, receiving a banknote: "If you can walk out of the Octagonal Pavilion alive, you will immediately have a fortune of one thousand three hundred taels. Brother Duan, as your elder brother, I would like to congratulate you in advance."

In the crowd, the old goat shouted loudly: "Place your bets, place your bets, ten to one, once you place your bet, you cannot withdraw!"

"Could it be Mo Dake?" Pei Qian's heart skipped a beat, doubting whether he had been completely sold out by Liu Yunsha. He hurriedly said, "My lord, I had a bit too much to drink just now. Could you please stop the car so I can find a place to relieve myself?"

The old goat chuckled and said, "Aren't you supposed to duel with Master Fei? Everyone is discussing it, some say you will win, while others say Master Fei will win. I thought to myself, it's pointless to just talk about it; why not place a bet instead, which is much more straightforward"

Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind the curtain of the carriage, forcefully pulling Pei Qian inside. The coachman let out a soft shout, and the carriage moved forward.

Hua Lingyao said: "Tang Yinbo is a master at the Golden Core level; I do not dare to extend my spiritual awareness to eavesdrop, lest I alert the snake by disturbing the grass"

Hua Lingyao said softly: "Only if your life is preserved can you know what they are doing"

Tang Yinbo sprang up and crashed through the roof of the carriage, narrowly avoiding the incoming purple satin ribbon. However, he saw a graceful figure veiled in black gauze, obscuring her features, who was also ascending to evade the fiery blade formed by the flowing clouds and sand. With her left hand, she maneuvered another pink satin ribbon to wrap around his waist.

At this moment, the carriage had already left the Cloud Military Academy, following the mountain road without knowing where it was headed.

Pei Qianxin jumped and quickly took out the death certificate to hand it over to Liu Yunsha. After Liu Yunsha reviewed it, he tucked it into his sleeve and raised his voice slightly, saying: "According to the mountain rules, a teacher who strikes a student must at least be demoted by three ranks, with a suspension for investigation. Considering that the incident was instigated by Fei Dexing's malicious provocation and that Young Master Tang only sustained minor injuries, I will only demote you by two ranks, and the suspension for investigation will be waived."

Tang Yinbo let out a low grunt, his body swaying forward, and with a swift motion, his right hand drew the dagger, cutting the silk ribbon with a sharp "snap".

A water-green satin ribbon burst through the car roof, as if a knife had sliced through, directly aimed at Tang Yinbo's throat

The second day passed in an unusually calm manner, almost without notice. Those seeking revenge and onlookers did not show up at all. Even the visitors that Pei Qian had anticipated did not appear—could it be that Liu Yunsha and Qiu Huosheng were also frightened by the old man Tang and decided to distance themselves from the matter?

Pei Qianyi said with a smile, "That's right. If we want Tang Yinbo dead, it doesn't necessarily have to be through violence. To kill without shedding blood, now that is true skill"

Pei Qian was furious and threw down the riding whip, saying: "Do you know what I am going to do tomorrow?"

Pei Qian calmed down and proudly declared, "Very well, a man should take responsibility for his actions. General Tang, it was I who struck your son, and it was I who insulted your father. Whether you wish to kill or punish me, I will not flinch, for my surname is... Duan!" As he spoke, he tightened his legs in front of him. As soon as the Tang and Liu families turned against each other, he would not hesitate to kick them hard, regardless of the consequences.

Hua Lingyao said: "His purpose in coming to Huangyuan Prefecture this time is to replace the former General Huang Baitao in the campaign against the righteous army. Killing him would at least deal a blow to morale and shake the court and the public."

Hua Lingyao fell silent for a moment and then replied, "After you left, I have been secretly following and protecting you."

This is quite good. Originally, Pei Qian was always troubled by the difficulty of finding a spacious and comfortable seat to eat and drink at Hengyuexuan. However, tonight, as soon as he sat down at a table on the second floor, the surrounding diners hurriedly settled their bills and left. Pei Qian did not mind; he poured his own drinks and enjoyed himself. Yet, some were already pondering whether this might be Lord Duan's last supper

The guard then understood why Pei Qian was angry and felt a twinge of sympathy, saying, "Yes, one should enjoy life while they can." Upon reflection, he realized that this could be interpreted as cursing Pei Qian to die tomorrow, and he quickly stopped speaking, awkwardly glancing at Lord Duan.

Pei Qian was taken aback, suddenly realizing that there truly exists a type of person in this world who is inherently lowly, feeling restless if they are not scolded for three days or beaten for five days. After being beaten and scolded, they would still cheerfully call out "Hero".

Hua Lingyao said: "If you do not intervene, after three moves, Liuyunsha will be a dead man."

Yet he could never have imagined that Tang Yinbo not only did not turn against him, but instead smiled broadly and quietly cheered, "Indeed, a true hero!"

Pei Qian's face suddenly became even uglier than a bitter herb, and he sighed, "Damn it, I don't know where a big rock rolled down from, but it smashed a hole in the roof of my car. Now I have to pay out of my own pocket to repair it, what bad luck"

But isn't it true that Deng Jue has raised Fei Dele's son to adulthood? Thus, the relationship between these two is certainly not ordinary. Why then would Tang Yinbo still reside in Deng Jue's residence?

Pei Qiangang was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, but the next words from Liu Yunsa choked that breath right back into his lungs, nearly causing him to faint from the pressure

Pei Qian nodded, and Hua Lingyao said, "I will go make you some tea." She turned and walked outside. Suddenly, she heard Pei Qian say from behind, "Thank you." She couldn't help but pause and turn back, only to see him shaking his leg and saying, "I know you are worried about me being harmed, which is why you acted so hastily. Otherwise, you could have continued to follow Tang Yinbo and look for a more suitable opportunity. However... thank you for your concern, but I must sternly warn you about one thing: do not rummage through my belongings in the future, especially my collectibles!"

Upon entering the Baicao Garden, one can see that the entire area spans at least 1,000 acres, filled with flowers and plants that cannot be touched or eaten. Surrounding the garden are numerous water pools and iron cages, and it is evident what kind of creatures are kept inside.

Hua Lingyao said coldly: "Why did you stop me from killing Tang Yinbo last night?"

The meaning of General Tang is that, for the sake of the court's efforts to suppress banditry and ensure stability, he can overlook personal grievances and losses to speak on behalf of Brother Duan. However, Brother Duan did indeed strike Young Master Tang in front of many witnesses, and if the Tang residence and the military academy do not respond at all, it will invite ridicule and suspicion from the ignorant.

The "Flame Blade" of the Jade Purity Sect possesses at least the cultivation level of Golden Core! Pei Qian's heart trembled, grateful that he had no opportunity to unleash those two long-planned kicks.

Upon pushing the door open and entering the room, he saw Hua Lingyao cleaning the small hall. He swaggered over and sat down in a chair, saying: "Yao Hua, I am quite thirsty; please brew me a pot of fragrant tea."

Pei Qian rolled his eyes and said, "You are so powerful; how can I, with my thin arms and legs, possibly stop you?"

Liu Yunsha let out a cold snort, and a chilling light suddenly appeared from the cuff of her sleeve, revealing a two-foot-three-inch long azure magic blade. There was no need to grip it tightly; it spun rapidly against her palm, transforming into a dazzling circle of cold light that swiftly sliced the ribbon wrapped around Pei Qian's neck into several segments with a flick of her fingers.

"Brother Duan, where have you been lost in thought?" Tang Yinbo had clearly accepted Pei Qian's loyalty with a smile, yet he shook his head and said solemnly: "We are both officials of the court, and we must serve our duty to alleviate the Emperor's worries and difficulties, without harboring any selfish thoughts. Of course, as long as you diligently serve the court, talents like you will never be overlooked."

Pei Qian secretly cursed while smiling, and said: "Listening to General Tang's teachings truly makes me feel that I have learned more than a decade's worth of knowledge, having understood ... ... "

Liu Yunsha was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and said: "So you really do have moments of fear. Don't worry, this person is not General Mo."

Pei Qian blinked and said, "I am well aware that death is not far from me; I am merely finding joy amidst the suffering."

They said: Tianhu | Commander Mo Dake was furious upon hearing the news and that night ordered a squad of elite soldiers to prepare to storm the Cloud Military Academy and directly take Pei Qian away. However, just as they reached the camp entrance, they received an urgent report from the garrison in Yunzhong, stating that thousands of mountain bandits were approaching this area, with torches illuminating half the sky

Pei Qian was taken aback and asked, "Did you not hear what we were talking about in the car?"

Despite the obstruction of his view by the car roof, the assassin was still intimately familiar with Tang Yinbo's techniques, transforming the ribbon from rigid to soft, and conjuring nine colorful rings that ensnared his arm

"Do you not recognize this general?" Liuyunsha first brought the conversation to the main topic, as he indeed had little time to chat with this trouble-prone individual. "Once I mention it, you will know."

Pei Qian, filled with rage, exclaimed: "Then why do you ask me knowingly? Who knows, I might be dead by tomorrow, and am I not allowed to find a beautiful girl to enjoy myself before I die?"

Mr. Duan's temper comes and goes quickly. Suddenly, he chuckled and said: "At last, you few can be considered clever people, understanding the pain in my heart. However, it is enough for you to know about this matter. Be sure not to spread it around, otherwise, if people hear that I went to a brothel the night before I died, I fear that in the future, not even a single person will come to pay their respects."

Pei Qian sighed, "Your words sound like comforting phrases meant for the dead." He straightened his chest, parted the crowd, and walked towards the octagonal pavilion, shouting loudly, "Fei Dexing, your grandfather is here!"

Pei Qian felt restless and bored, so he decided to take a stroll around Hengyue Pavilion, have a meal, and find something to complain about

He is not actually speaking out of turn; he genuinely wants to know—why did General Tang Yinbo of Pingbei, instead of staying honestly in the northern frontier, suddenly run quietly to the county seat of Qingyang, Huangyuan Prefecture? Moreover, regarding the matter of his son getting beaten, he traveled five hundred li in disguise, then stealthily got into the carriage of Liuyunsha, and called out to himself: "Good man!" What else could this be if not a sign of madness?

Fedexing looked at Pei Qian with a cold smile and said, "Lord Duan, even if you are certain of your impending death, there is no need to resort to foul language in front of so many people, seeking to vent your frustrations before you die"

"Pah!" Pei Qian walked up to Fei Dexing, full of enthusiasm, and said: "Bring it on!"

They also said: Even if Fedex doesn't die from the poison tomorrow, Master Qiu will quickly transfer him away to avoid bringing trouble to the Cloud Middle Army Academy and creating an even bigger mess. In short, this guy won't have many more days to jump around.

Pei Qian smiled and said, "He drank too much, and I am worried that he might have an accident on the mountain path tonight, so I taught this guy to go in and take a nap."

Liu Yunsha, with a desire to pursue, said with a slight gasp: "Brother Liu Sha, you handle the aftermath. I will take my leave first." He paid no attention to the valiant Pei Qian and swiftly disappeared into the dense forest on the other side

Pei Qian stared at the dozen or so guards from the military academy rushing towards him, and leaned closer to Liu Yunsha, whispering: "My lord, rest assured, I know what to say shortly. Please proceed first."

They were also discussing matters concerning Pei Qian, but their voices were kept extremely low, believing that this would allow them to evade eavesdropping

A guard hesitated and said, "Wasn't there Ma Laoer driving the carriage when we left earlier?"