Calamity Messenger

Chapter 118 - 95: The Hell in the Human Heart

Yan Qing approached the room behind the Capital Hall. It is worth mentioning that all windows in the Ministry of Personnel are made of glazed glass, probably because the nearby Secret Realm can produce a large quantity of such glass. Although the bed inside is not visible from outside, Yan Qing can see the Heaven-Swaying Sword placed with clothes on the wardrobe beside the bed.

Though the Heaven-Swaying Sword is a precious relic, bestowed by the Emperor, it is ultimately just an ordinary longsword, primarily used to highlight Shang Xuanwen’s status and favor, and naturally wouldn’t be hidden in a Storage Ring.

Yan Qing’s plan was simple: enter and steal it. If Shang Xuanwen wakes up, then the burglary will turn into a robbery. Regardless, as long as the small account grabs it and runs away, Shang Xuanwen wouldn’t be able to hurt the small account in the main city area. Then find a place to hide and meet the large account victoriously at dawn.

That’s why the powerful don’t like living in the main city; it has its reasons. If someone dares to blatantly rob, they wouldn’t have a way to respond quickly.

However, such actions would definitely result in the Mouse Monk’s account being deleted. But if the theft could be completed successfully, sacrificing it would be worthwhile.

Yan Qing looked at the Heaven-Swaying Sword in the room, wondering if this would bring too heavy a psychological shadow to Shang Xuanwen.

These days, Yan Qing has come to understand that Shang Xuanwen, because he can faintly hear others’ inner voices and perceive their ugliness, trusts no one.

It’s as if he sees everyone ready to distrust him at any moment, making him unwilling to believe anyone. He doesn’t even want servants to attend to him daily, almost like having misanthropy. Whereas someone like the Mouse Monk, a ’son of sincerity,’ appears to him as an eternally clean and beautiful maiden deserving his absolute trust.

If the Mouse Monk steals the Heaven-Swaying Sword and backstabs him, who knows if his worldview would collapse, fearing not being able to trust anyone anymore. But it’s better for his worldview to collapse than to be ganged up on by his daughter with three thieves, only to suffer while the bad name of a rogue monk takes the blame.

As time passed by minute by minute, Yan Qing planned the theft at midnight (11 PM). There is a long time until the agreed time of 2:45 AM, even if Shang Xuanwen is alerted, at night he wouldn’t mobilize troops quickly enough to search the whole city, allowing the Mouse Monk enough time to hide and wait to join the large account.

It’s almost time...

Ding—

The front hall’s doorbell suddenly rang, indicating an urgent matter arriving late at night. Yan Qing watched Shang Xuanwen in the room quickly get up to dress, dumbfounded.

A normal person who hasn’t transferred jobs, wanting to forcefully seize the Heaven-Swaying Sword from a Third-Turn Messenger? Even if the injury isn’t feared in the main city, Shang Xuanwen isn’t incompetent to the point he couldn’t even protect a sword!

Who the heck ruined my good plans!

Yan Qing watched a guard dismount from the fast horse onscreen, followed the guard into the Capital Hall using security as a reason. He intended to see what business could disturb the Chancellor so late at night, perhaps the northern side was invading?

Yet it was neither an urgent military matter, nor a natural disaster; merely a hastily delivered letter from Mansu Forest Land, after delivery, the soldier went to rest.

Mansu Forest Land?

It’s like hearing about a crime you committed suddenly discovered at the police station. Yan Qing naturally became curious, eager to see how others described Jiang Shi blasting through all battles. Thus, he asked the Mouse Monk to creep over and take a peek.

Upon reading the letter’s contents, Yan Qing was somewhat disappointed as Jiang Shi wasn’t mentioned at all, only a long list of items that overwhelmed the reader, mostly materials or supplies, with the ten treasures on top being the most critical.

Yan Qing’s heart stirred, probably guessing what it was.

Noticing the Mouse Monk’s curiosity, Shang Xuanwen, without turning his head, said: "This is the reward list from the Secret Realm of Mansu Forest Land. You can go next year to see the world; it’s quite beneficial to temper your will."

Yan Qing opened the announcement page and found that Mansu Forest Land indeed had concluded.

Previously mentioned that after the Mansu Forest Land event ended, ten large treasure chests would be rewarded, where all players could compete fairly. However, the Liang Kingdom, kind-hearted enough to avoid a massacre for prizes, chose to give a portion to all participants with the majority going to the Court.

The top line saying "Third-Turn Healing Relic: Blood Jade," had Jie Yuan Shao’s name beside it, likely already reserved by Jie Yuan Shao.

Yan Qing took a glance. The rewards were indeed satisfying; next year if I achieve Foundation Establishment, I’ll monopolize these without leaving any for you lucky loafers.

Now that the letter has been read, Chancellor, could you please return to bed? I’m in a hurry!

Yet Shang Xuanwen was not rushed; he poured himself a slow drink of water, his gaze consistently fixated on the list’s contents. But is it necessary to look at such trivial things for so long? Is he becoming farsighted?

After a while, Shang Xuanwen took out a piece of paper, prepared ink, and wrote down—

"Shang Xinlei: Secret Technique Book: Shocking Fist"

"Qian Gongyu: Third-Turn Token: Wolf Fang Claw"

"Qian Gongyu: Three-Section Storage Ring"

After writing, he blew on the ink on paper and handed it to the Mouse Monk beside him: "You don’t have to stand guard tonight, take this sheet and deliver it to the Fourth Miss, then take your own rest."

Yan Qing looked at the paper and then at Shang Xuanwen, somewhat puzzled.

The reward quantity wasn’t problematic; Qian Gongyu was claiming Jiang Shi’s prize, so she had two shares. Yan Qing’s confusion lay in the fact that the list didn’t mention a Secret Technique Book, why did Shang Xuanwen write that Shang Xinlei would receive a Secret Technique Book as a reward?

Moreover, the top ten most precious rewards, the Wolf Fang Claw and Blood Jade, are merely Third-Turn Ordinary Tokens, incomparable to the Secret Technique Book — as the chat among Shang Xinlei and others previously mentioned. As a must-path of Third-Turn, the grand technique enhancing Token Authority, the value of Secret Technique is at least equal to Third-Turned Rare Token, truly having a value beyond market price.

"Just say this is the reward from Mansu Forest Land, don’t speak unnecessarily." Shang Xuanwen, recognizing the Mouse Monk’s confusion, added a sentence.

"Isn’t this a gift you’re giving the Fourth Miss Shang? Why pretend it’s from Mansu Forest Land?" Yan Qing asked curiously: "This is your chance to mend ties with your daughter."

Shang Xuanwen didn’t speak, Yan Qing knew he wasn’t refusing to answer, but consolidating his words mentally. From outsiders’ perspectives, this Chancellor of Da Liang is solemn, reticent, meticulous, like a dormant volcano eliciting awe. But Yan Qing understands, often he’s merely pondering how to respond — if quarrelling, he’d certainly be left speechless, lacking the ability to react adroitly.

Though recognized for only three days, this man feels like a steadfast old friend, obstinate and clumsy.

"The only child I’ve personally raised is Yue’Er." Shang Xuanwen slowly stated: "When he was young, he was often sick; said to have innate fragility incurable. I’d massage his Qi Blood nightly, even voluntarily resigning certain tasks."

"After Xin Hao’s birth, I inevitably split time to care for Xin Hao, lessening the moments spent with Yue’Er. Once, I saw Yue’Er teasing Xin Hao in the cradle and asked if he liked his sister, and Yue’Er nodded affirming he did."

Recalling that moment’s scene, Shang Xuanwen’s expression suddenly became hideous, the tone biting, arms trembling continuously. It resembled anger rather than fear: "But I heard him internally wishing his sister would die. As long as there was no sister, father would have more time to play with him."

"Then he was only five years old, my five-year-old son, driven by jealousy that a sister diverted parental love, wished his sibling dead!"