Chapter 34

Circling around Zhao Yougong twice, Mu Wanqing couldn't help but feel a bit troubled. This villain's expression was serious, not like he was faking it. Could it be that she really caught the wrong person?

Mu Wanqing didn't show any reaction for a long time, and Zhao Yougong felt much more relaxed. It seemed that his words had finally had some effect. But before he could be happy for long, he saw Mu Wanqing frown and let out a snort. Her delicate hand shot out like lightning and grabbed his shoulder, applying more force. Zhao Yougong felt as if his shoulder had been scratched by an eagle's talons, and his legs trembled with pain.

"Ouch, Lady Mu, Sister Mu... let go... let go..."

Seeing Zhao Yougong's reaction, Mu Wanqing couldn't help but "hmm" in response. What was going on? This villain seemed to have no internal strength at all, yet the Six Pulse Sword Technique required profound internal strength as its foundation.

"Are you really not from the Duan family?"

"Miss... Sister... Please think carefully. This is Bianliang, which is thousands of miles away from Dali. Besides, if I am really Zhao Yougong, just ask the people in the capital. If what I say is false, I'll slit my own throat, no need for you to do it!" Zhao Yougong winced in pain. Mu Wanqing was truly domineering; she only needed to test his internal strength, so why did she have to use so much force?

The more Zhao Yougong suffered, the happier Mu Wanqing felt. She wanted to teach this villain a lesson. "Don't talk nonsense. Who is your sister?" As she spoke, she applied even more force, and Zhao Yougong's handsome face turned a deep red.

"Not sister, then younger sister, Wan Sister, Mu Sister?"

"Smooth talker!"

Mu Wanqing released her grip and turned to walk towards the black horse. After taking about two steps, she suddenly drew her sword. A flash of cold light, and Zhao Yougong's hands were free.

"Go!"

Mu Wanqing's words were abrupt, and Zhao Yougong was stunned, not quite reacting. He looked at her back and hesitated, "Go? Which way?"

"Wherever you want. What, don't you want to go, or do you want to die?"

Mu Wanqing turned and sneered. This guy was truly interesting. He had been clamoring to leave, but now that she let him go, he started to hesitate. She really couldn't understand what he was thinking.

Mu Wanqing was innocent and inexperienced, so she couldn't understand Zhao Yougong's thoughts. He did want to leave, but not now. They were currently on Mount Mang, where people were rare. It was too dangerous to go alone. Zhao Yougong was afraid, but not of Mu Wanqing. He was afraid of the people in the capital. What if someone used this opportunity to kill him? On Mount Mang, anything could happen. As long as he was killed, and the blame was shifted to someone else, it would be completely undetectable, and no one would be able to find fault with him.

"This... we will eventually have to go down the mountain. Why don't we travel together? On this vast Mount Mang, it would be nice to have someone to talk to. We can leave after we go down the mountain!"

Mu Wanqing's eyes flickered, and she curiously stared at Zhao Yougong. Now that he was standing tall, with his sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, and dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, he had a certain elegance. She hadn't noticed it before, but now, this smooth-talking villain wasn't so讨厌了.

"Do you really want to talk to me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

"I am afraid, but Lady Mu is a great master. How could she kill a weak scholar like me?"

A weak scholar? Zhao Yougong felt a bit uncomfortable saying it. It didn't seem to fit him at all, but Mu Wanqing was innocent, so he could probably fool her!

"Maybe, I don't care. If I want to kill you, I will, regardless of whether you are a scholar or not!"

Mu Wanqing was just trying to scare Zhao Yougong. She actually felt a bit reluctant to kill him. From birth, she had never spoken so much to a man before. Although men's words couldn't be trusted, listening to Zhao Yougong's smooth talk made her feel oddly happy.

Zhao Yougong was a seasoned person from Bianliang. He could tell from Mu Wanqing's words that she was no longer as wary as before, and her tone even had a hint of teasing.

"Oh, then this... Zhao Yougong is not afraid. As they say, dying under the peony is a romantic death. Dying at the hands of Lady Mu would be a great honor!"

"Smooth talker, is there any truth in your words?"

Although her tone was still cold, her heart was sweet. The road ahead was relatively flat, and Mu Wanqing lightly leaped onto the horse. Zhao Yougong, with his keen eyes, quickly ran over and grabbed the reins, "Lady Mu, please sit well. Zhao Yougong will lead the horse for you!"

"Hmm?" Seeing Zhao Yougong's fawning and flattering face, Mu Wanqing frowned, almost laughing. There were actually such shameless people in the world.

Zhao Yougong walked ahead, and Mu Wanqing sat on the horse, feeling at ease. It must be said that Zhao Yougong made the right choice, because at that moment, a sinister plot was brewing in Bianliang.

In the White Tiger Hall of the Grand Marshal's residence, Gao Qiu sat calmly at the table, sipping tea. A man stood in the hall, dressed as a warrior, with a pale yellow complexion and a thick mustache. This man was Lu Qian, the Chief of the Imperial Guard.

"Lu Qian, I heard that you and Mu Yizhao from Mount Mang are old friends. Is this true?"

Gao Qiu's tone was indifferent, and no one could tell what he was planning. Lu Qian felt a chill run down his spine, and soon sweat appeared on his forehead. He thought Gao Qiu was going to use this as an excuse to kick him out of the Imperial Guard. Panicking, he fell to his knees, "Grand Marshal, I admit that I do have some acquaintance with Mu Yizhao, but since I took office, I have not had any contact with him..."

"Why are you so nervous? Stand up. If I wanted to punish you, would I have called you here to ask?"

Gao Qiu frowned and placed his teacup on the table. Lu Qian was not stupid. He knelt and bowed, "Grand Marshal, do you have some difficult matter? Whatever it is, please command, and I will do my best!"

At this, a smile appeared on Gao Qiu's face. Lu Qian was a clever man, and cleverness was good. He was afraid of encountering a fool.

"Indeed, Lu Qian is a clever man, and I am pleased. You know about the matter of the Prince of Yongning, right?"

"Of course!"

"Good to know. I have received information that the Prince of Yongning has been kidnapped by bandits to Mount Mang. So I want you to go to Mount Mang and do some business with Mu Yizhao!"

Gao Qiu spoke slowly, and Lu Qian began to wonder. What did Grand Marshal Gao mean? If he knew the Prince of Yongning was on Mount Mang, why not send soldiers? Why did he need to send him? Did the imperial army not match the bandits? He felt something was off, but he didn't want to refuse. This was his chance. As long as he made Grand Marshal Gao happy, getting a promotion and wealth would be easy.

"May I ask what kind of business? Please enlighten me, Grand Marshal!"

"Come closer!" Gao Qiu beckoned, and Lu Qian, without hesitation, stood up and bent over to approach.

"Lu Qian, remember this: the Prince of Yongning has already been killed by the bandits. Do you understand?"

Lu Qian felt his head buzz. Now he understood why Grand Marshal Gao wanted to do business with the bandits on Mount Mang. He wanted to use the bandits' strength to kill the Prince of Yongning and the bandits. He was shocked, but he still bowed and agreed. Whether the Prince of Yongning lived or died had nothing to do with him. He needed to seize this rare opportunity.

"Grand Marshal, I understand!"

"Lu Qian, do well. After this matter, I will appoint you as the Commander of the Divine Might Camp!"

"Thank you, Grand Marshal!"

With Gao Qiu's promise, Lu Qian left happily.

In the White Tiger Hall, Gao Qiu still had a smiling face. Using the bandits on Mount Mang to kill Zhao Yougong was his own decision, but he was confident that as long as Zhao Yougong was eliminated, the emperor would be grateful, even if he scolded him verbally.

The bandits on Mount Mang had been around for some time. Since the second year of Zhenghe, Mu Yizhao had led a group of refugees from the north to start robbing. Mount Mang was near Bianliang, and there were countless passing merchant caravans. In just two years, Mu Yizhao had accumulated a substantial fortune. The court was not unwilling to eliminate this small group of bandits, but every time the imperial army arrived, Mu Yizhao would lead his men to hide in the vast Mount Mang, and they would disappear. After several attempts, the court gradually lost interest in these bandits. Fortunately, Mu Yizhao did not rob frequently, otherwise the court would have used a large army to suppress them. After all, Mount Mang was between Bianliang and Luoyang, and if things got too out of hand, it would be embarrassing for the court.

By the third hour of Shen, Lu Qian finally arrived at Mount Mang on horseback. He didn't know where Mu Yizhao was hiding, but he knew how to contact him. He had been friends with Mu Yizhao since he was twelve, and it had been twenty years. So Mu Yizhao wouldn't hide anything from him.

Of course, Lu Qian had lied before. He not only hadn't cut off contact with Mu Yizhao but also often provided him with information. Otherwise, the imperial army wouldn't have failed to surprise Mu Yizhao every time.

At the foot of the southern slope of Mount Mang, there was a small teahouse. The teahouse was by the mountain road, and most passing merchants would stop to rest. Lu Qian tied his horse outside the teahouse.

Placing his sword on the table, Lu Qian called to the waiter, "Bring half a pot of tea, three large bowls, and extra salt!"

There weren't many people in the teahouse, and the waiter quickly came over. He took the cloth from his shoulder, wiped the table, and smiled, "Sir, do you want a large bowl or a small bowl?"

"Neither too large nor too small!"

"Alright, sir, please follow me!"

Lu Qian's use of the secret code was smooth, showing that he had been to Mount Mang before. In the evening, with the waiter's guidance, Lu Qian finally found Mu Yizhao on the waist of Mount Mang.

Mu Yizhao was a rough man. When he saw Lu Qian, he was barefoot, gnawing on rabbit meat.

Holding the rabbit meat in his right hand and scratching his foot with his left, even though Lu Qian knew Mu Yizhao well, he couldn't help but frown.

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