Chapter 10

"Urgent report, the people monitoring the Qin heir Zhao Huizhong have been discovered and captured on the spot."

In the afternoon, Xu Su was playing chess with both hands in the courtyard, with a young maid serving tea, feeling quite at ease.

Disturbed by the sudden news, Xu Su's face darkened, and he was displeased.

After the report was finished, he remained silent, placing a piece on the chessboard after a while before turning to look at the subordinate who had come to report.

It was a lean young man in black.

Xu Su himself was over fifty, with a fleshy face and fair skin, looking well-fed and well-cared for.

He was the leader of the spies the State of Zhao had planted in Xianyang, ostensibly a merchant dealing in furs, but secretly controlling a great deal of power, including the people the State of Zhao had planted in Xianyang from several supported sects, who could be mobilized by him when necessary.

Xu Su looked at the young man calmly and said,

"The two people sent out received their mission through a secret order. They don't know our identity or location, so even if they were exposed and captured, they wouldn't implicate anything else."

"Moreover, a message from Handan said that the Qin heir Zhao Huizhong was repeatedly outmaneuvered by the Young Lord and others in Handan. He is incompetent, and I doubt he has any means."

"You can go now, everything is as usual."

Xu Su sipped a mouthful of fragrant tea, feeling confident.

The young man who came to report said apologetically, "I was too hasty. However, the Qin heir Zhao Huizhong has already handed the matter over to the Night Guard. The messenger said that the Night Guard has gathered a large number of troops, and it seems they are about to take action."

"Night Guard!"

Xu Su's eyes suddenly became sharp: "Have someone continue to monitor the situation there and report to me at any time."

"Be careful, use more covert channels for communication, and do not expose your identity."

"Yes." The young man left quickly.

About half an hour later, the young man returned to Xu Su: "The Night Guard has dispatched forces and attacked the hidden base of the Dusheng Sect in the North Market two hours ago."

"The Dusheng Sect was caught off guard and was quickly defeated, suffering heavy casualties."

Hearing that the Night Guard had moved against the Dusheng Sect, Xu Su first breathed a sigh of relief, then asked in confusion, "We sent people to tail and monitor Zhao Huizhong. Why did they target the Dusheng Sect?"

The young man was also puzzled, baffled by Zhao Huizhong and the Night Guard's confusing actions.

"Continue to investigate."

Xu Su became more cautious: "See what other actions they take."

"Yes!"

The young man hurried away.

This time, it took nearly an hour for the young man to return for the third time, saying, "A secret force planted by the State of Han in the city has also been destroyed by the Night Guard. All the people involved were captured, and their leader, Xiahou Lian, was killed on the spot."

"Xiahou Lian is dead?"

"Yes, before Xiahou Lian was killed, the Night Guard publicly asked if he had ordered the surveillance of the heir Zhao Huizhong. Xiahou Lian naturally denied it and was executed."

"It seems the Night Guard is about to take major action. I wonder who the next target will be."

The young man said, "Although the various forces in the city are well-hidden, if the Night Guard wants to expose them, few can truly escape."

Xu Su thought silently, a cold sweat gradually forming on his forehead:

"The Night Guard's methods are very vicious. They are deliberately making a big show of capturing people, and before capturing them, they publicly ask if they were the ones following Zhao Huizhong, which is very malicious."

The young man looked bewildered, clearly not understanding Xu Su's words.

——

Xia Si and her two companions were hiding in the shadows, almost witnessing all of Zhao Huizhong's operations with the Night Guard.

"What a vicious plan," Shan Kui said coldly, looking at the distant street.

At that moment, the street was tense, the entire street was sealed off.

Just now, the elite forces of the Night Guard had just dismantled another sect's hidden base in Xianyang.

Xia Si, dressed in a long dress, her clothes tightly clinging to her well-proportioned body in the wind, was graceful and plump.

She asked the middle-aged man who looked like a merchant behind her,

"Can you see the intention behind the Night Guard's actions after receiving the news that Zhao Huizhong was being followed, and their destruction of various hidden forces?"

Xia Si's question was quite thoughtful, and the middle-aged merchant did not dare to be careless, pondering for a moment before saying,

"The Night Guard's large-scale actions are intended to make all the forces in the city fear for their own safety, serving as a deterrent."

Xia Si nodded and said, "The various forces fear being implicated and want to avoid trouble, so they will take active actions to help the Night Guard find the true force that was following Zhao Huizhong, to avoid becoming the Night Guard's target."

"This will lead to mutual suspicion and even conflict among the various forces in Xianyang."

"The Night Guard will not have to exert much effort to consume the various forces and can take the opportunity to sort out the forces in the city, which is very beneficial to the Qin people, indeed a clever plan."

The middle-aged man who looked like a merchant then became enlightened:

"The most powerful aspect of this plan is that even if someone can see through the Night Guard's purpose, they cannot remain uninvolved."

"Otherwise, they might become the next target, so whether they want to or not, they will be driven by the Night Guard to dig into each other, striving to be the first to uncover the true force that was following Zhao Huizhong to calm the Night Guard's actions."

"Unless the various forces are confident they can hide and not be found, they cannot remain uninvolved."

Xia Si shook her head slightly: "The Night Guard has been operating in Xianyang for a long time and has likely known the hiding places of many forces for a long time, but has not taken action."

"This time, they are using Zhao Huizhong being followed to achieve multiple goals at once."

Shan Kui interjected, "I have heard of the Night Guard's reputation for being skilled in battle. It is said that they have many extraordinary people. I wonder who came up with this ruthless plan?"

The middle-aged man who looked like a merchant said, "One of the deputy historians of the Night Guard, Fan Qingzhou, is known for his cunning and intelligence. It is likely his doing."

Shan Kui said, "There is another possibility, that it is the Qin heir himself."

"If he can come up with such a plan, his mind is no less astute than Fan Qingzhou's."

Xia Si frowned slightly: "It's not him."

"When I was in Handan, I asked the Young Lord Zhao Yan in detail. He has had many interactions with Zhao Huizhong over the years, and this person does not have the ability to be so resourceful."

Shan Kui said, "Zhao Yan is not like the Marquis of Pingyuan, Zhao Sheng. He may not be able to see through Zhao Huizhong's thoughts."

Xia Si thought for a moment and smiled, "Although it's unlikely, if it really is the Qin heir, it would be a good thing."

Shan Kui chuckled, "I've been wondering why you came to Xianyang. I suddenly figured it out just now."

"You came for the Qin heir Zhao Huizhong. You want to..."

Xia Si raised her hand to interrupt, directly revealing her intentions: "Since you have seen through my goal of Zhao Huizhong, are you willing to help me and subdue him?"

Shan Kui said, "The reason the people of the State of Zhao went to monitor Zhao Huizhong is that you used your means to push them to the front to test Zhao Huizhong's reaction."

"Moreover, you have arranged other people to stand by in the shadows. Why don't you act yourself?"

"My Yin Nü Sect's people in Xianyang can only distract the enemy, far from being able to break through Zhao Huizhong's guards and capture him."

Xia Si looked at Shan Kui: "If you agree to act, I will not only tell you the location of Bao Si's tomb but also give you two left-hand female venerated ones from my Yin Nü Sect for you to absorb their yin energy. How about that?"

Shan Kui's eyes gleamed as he looked at Zhao Huizhong, surrounded by layers of guards:

"If I act, Zhao Huizhong's guards are not a threat, and capturing him will not be difficult. But once I act, my aura will no longer be hidden, and Lü Buwei and others will certainly sense it."

"With their abilities, can you be sure you can leave Xianyang?"

"My suggestion is to lure Zhao Huizhong out of the city and then act, to ensure a safe retreat."

Xia Si smiled, "Luring Zhao Huizhong out of the city in Xianyang involves too many variables and is not a good strategy."

She reached out and took out a bamboo scroll.

The surface of the bamboo scroll was mottled, the bamboo strips were cracked, and it emitted a pale green glow, looking old and worn.

Shan Kui's eyes widened: "The Mountain and River Scroll!"

"No wonder you dared to come to Xianyang. It turns out the Yin Mother gave you this Dao treasure for protection. In that case, I can act once!"

Xia Si's finely chiseled lips curved: "Then it's settled. My people will act shortly to draw the Night Guard's attention."

"Zhao Huizhong will be your responsibility."

The last ray of sunlight was setting on the horizon, and Xianyang slowly darkened as night fell.

Xia Si and Shan Kui hid in the shadows, very patient, not eager to act.

Until it was completely dark, Zhao Huizhong, under the protection of his guards, separated from the large Night Guard force and prepared to return to the Xianyang Palace.

In the darkness, Xia Si finally gave the order to act.