Calamity Messenger

Chapter 119 - 96: Arrival in Jiangnan

Yan Qing knew that Yue’Er was the eldest son of the Shang Family, Shang Yue, and Xin Hao was the second young lady of the Shang Family who was already married, Shang Xin Hao.

"Children’s words mean little, why take them to heart? Once they are familiar with each other, the elder brother naturally will care for the sister. Even Buddha and Bodhisattva are inevitably troubled by evil thoughts. If one judges by intention instead of action, the mortal world is full of hells."

"Great Monk, do you think I detest Yue’Er?" Shang Xuanwen turned to look at the Mouse Monk: "What I detest is myself."

"After that incident, I once took off the Heart-Seeking Bell, trying to escape this hell. But what awaited me was not paradise but another hell. Whenever I exchanged words with someone, I assumed they harbored malice. Even when my son came running to embrace me, I felt he might harm me."

"I put the Heart-Seeking Bell back on; it was like a carriage that let me travel faster and more comfortably than anyone else, but after sitting too long, I forgot how to walk. I can only keep sitting in the carriage and never contact anyone outside of it."

"Only in this way, I won’t be hurt by the hell of others."

He slowly regained calmness, transforming back into that taciturn, autocratic, and indifferent Chancellor of Da Liang. He looked up at the paper in the Mouse Monk’s hand, saying, "Since then, in my home, I set the rule: no merit, no reward. Conversely, if you’ve been rewarded, it means you’ve contributed and need not thank anyone else, only yourself."

"Missing fatherly love should be supplemented with education and confidence."

Watching Shang Xuanwen walk back into the room behind, Yan Qing couldn’t resist asking: "Even if your daughter resents you?"

"I’ve long gotten used to it."

Yan Qing checked the system time, it was already 11:26. Soon, the thieves would gather at the Thief’s House. He didn’t have much time left. Though the success rate wasn’t high, all he could do was try to snatch the Heaven-Swaying Sword directly after Shang Xuanwen went to bed.

Yan Qing stood at the door, eager and waiting to hear the creak of the bed board. But what reached his ears first was an explosion coming from afar!

And a master!?

Yan Qing could only watch Shang Xuanwen rush out, fully dressed at the fastest speed. None of those staying over at the Ministry of Personnel remained unaffected by this abrupt explosion. They looked northward and saw a plume of black smoke rising.

"Looking at the direction, it seems to be the City Armory." Shang Xuanwen looked at the military officer on duty at the Ministry of Personnel: "Chen Zaiyuan, how many martial soldiers are there in the Ministry compound?"

"Twenty-six."

"Leave ten for guarding, the rest follow me to inspect the site." Shang Xuanwen glanced at the Mouse Monk: "Aren’t you going back?"

Why did an important facility in Jiangnan City explode right before the thieves began their action? It was like deliberately luring Shang Xuanwen out.

Yan Qing’s mind raced, but the information he held was too scant to even begin guessing what would happen next. Although Shang Xuanwen was right in front of him, the Heaven-Swaying Sword within arm’s reach, he no longer had a chance to steal it.

If the Mouse Monk dared to act, he would instantly be seized by all those around.

What should he do, what could he do?

"Chancellor."

The Mouse Monk said: "I suspect there’s a conspiracy behind the explosion. As a guard, I must accompany you at this critical moment."

"However, I’m unarmed. If we encounter enemies, please lend me the Heaven-Swaying Sword."

"Great Monk, you seem particularly fond of Heaven-Swaying Sword." Shang Xuanwen’s words made Yan Qing tense up outside the screen, but his concern was unwarranted: "Once you switch to being a messenger, I’ll gift you a longsword token."

...

...

The Thief’s House, though the hall was vast, the atmosphere at the moment was nearly suffocating.

The thieves stared at the moving bright points on the sand table, even wearing masks, Yan Qing could tell their faces were grim—at least Pharmacist’s Wish and Ying Rushi certainly were.

"Why is he still running around the city this late at night?" Pharmacist’s Wish spoke like a mother seeing her child not return home from night.

"An explosion occurred at the City Armory north. Suspected to be disturbances caused by the Taihu Rebel Bandits." Shang Xinlei pointed to the burning building on the north side: "The Taihu Rebel Bandits wreak havoc in Jiangnan City several times every year. They just attempted to assassinate Shang Xuanwen a few days ago. Probably because Shang Xuanwen captured many of their accomplices, that’s why they retaliated so quickly."

"I’m not interested in the internal strife of Liang Kingdom. The question now is what to do!" Pharmacist’s Wish looked at Yan Qing: "Does your mole still have any way to steal the Heaven-Swaying Sword?"

"I can only say, don’t hold too much expectation." Yan Qing said: "Regardless, for us to obtain the Heaven-Swaying Sword, we first need to find Shang Xuanwen."

"When the armory is on fire, surely many people will rush in that direction." Ying Rushi calmly said: "Our advantage lies in operating from the shadows, using stratagems against the unstratagems. If we face the army head-on, and they realize the central city rules are temporarily lifted, by then, not to mention completing the task, even preserving life might be a luxury."

Compared to this mission, the first mission in Chang’an City was as relaxing as a picnic. The treasure was hidden in an immobile chest, the chest hidden in An Guo Temple. From start to finish, the thieves never fought face-to-face with the Court of Chang’an, encountering enemies who were merely a few bald heads.

But this time their target is the personal sword of the Chancellor of Da Liang. Anyhow, it’s bound to clash with Liang Court. Even though Pharmacist’s Wish and Ying Rushi usually consider Nanliang weak and vulnerable, facing the country’s machinery individually still incites a pressure akin to a mountain’s roar and ocean’s wave.

Furthermore, they are in the capital of Liang Kingdom, dealing with the country’s most powerful Chancellor!

The opponent was already in possession of geographical and social advantages, now even temporal advantage has escaped. How could the thieves not be anxious?

"Confirm all members are present, countdown five seconds to start the mission, descending location Shangxiajiu Archway in Jiangnan City, five..."

Right before the transmission, everyone saw another explosion happen in the sand table’s central region, sending thick smoke rolling. This area was precisely the core of the Court of Da Liang, Jiangnan City’s most critical spot: the Imperial Palace!

No one cared where in the Imperial Palace was bombed, they all turned to look at Shang Xuanwen, noticing he immediately stopped and turned to gaze toward the palace.

As the five-second countdown ended, the thieves’ vision went dark. Their bodies felt the embrace of Jiangnan’s night breeze even before their eyes opened again.

The surrounding road was pitch black, only lanterns hanging at both ends of the archway illuminated the four big characters on it: "Jiangnan’s One Wonder."

Apart from the four big characters, there were many names on both sides, all names of restaurants and eateries in Jiangnan City. Unlike the common loyalty archways or chastity archways, Shangxiajiu Archway was a gourmet archway, only winning contestants of the five-yearly gourmet competition were qualified to have their shop names engraved on it. Foreign tourists needed only to glance at the archway to know where to find the delicacies of Jiangnan.

Regrettably, it’s night now, otherwise, Yan Qing would truly want to find a chance to eat something.

"Look over there." Pharmacist’s Wish pointed east.

They turned their heads to look, seeing dense black smoke rising from the majestic Palace City in the distance, countless torches lighting up in the residences outside the Palace City. After a brief panic, they gathered together, resembling a swarm of fireflies imprisoned by four walls.

"Just now Shang Xuanwen was also paying attention to the situation in the Imperial Palace." Ying Rushi said: "Compared to the Armory, the Imperial Palace is undoubtedly more important. As Chancellor, he has the responsibility and qualification to inspect the palace situation."

"Moreover, even if we can’t find Shang Xuanwen in the palace, we have another choice." Pharmacist’s Wish crouched on the archway like a feisty girl, coldly uttering the highest name in Jiangnan City: "Emperor!"

"Can’t catch Shang Xuanwen, then use the Emperor to lure him out! If I can’t complete the mission, then let Liang Kingdom taste the feeling of the Emperor being kidnapped in the capital!"

"Crazy idea." Ying Rushi said indifferently: "But we have no other choice."

At this moment, Yan Qing turned to look at Shang Xinlei.

From the start, Shang Xinlei suggested the plan of infiltrating the Imperial Palace to kidnap the Emperor. After everyone vetoed it, she didn’t mention it again, remained quiet, not even leading the meeting... Even with so many situations emerging now, she still hasn’t said a word.

Does she not care, or... not surprised?