Calamity Messenger

Chapter 120 - 97: Squads

The Armory is on fire, the Imperial Palace is smoking; it sounds so delightful. Such a grand spectacle naturally makes the residents of Jiangnan City stay up all night to watch. They pour out of their homes, gather with neighbors, and fervently discuss whether it’s a rebellion by a powerful official or a usurpation by a royal family member, filled with a laid-back attitude befitting of the Southern Lord Jing.

If you live your whole life in a place where no one can harm you, it’s hard not to feel relaxed.

Occasionally, people hear the sound of tiles being stepped on from the rooftops, but when they look up, they can only vaguely see a few swift shadows passing by, like crows flying overhead.

Unlike the leisurely stroll last time in Chang’an City, the distance from the archway to the Imperial Palace is a full three thousand steps, and the thieves must run as fast as they can. At this moment, the difference in strength among the thieves is reflected in their speed.

The fastest is Pharmacist’s Wish; her footsteps are the loudest, seemingly armored beneath her black Night Traveling Clothes, yet her strides are steady like a leopard hunting in the forest; next is Shang Xinlei, who makes almost no sound when running, as if familiar with every rooftop and tile in Jiangnan City, moving with the ease of a post-meal walk.

At the back are Yan Qing and Ying Rushi, with loud footsteps and slow pace, making Pharmacist’s Wish turn back several times, eyes full of disdain. Yan Qing isn’t fast because he hasn’t grasped advanced steps, while Ying Rushi seems intentionally slow, her left hand always gripping the sword hilt, making it impossible to run at full speed.

In just ten days, the thieves seem to have acquired new powers, new secrets.

After crossing eight streets and five residences, they finally reach the foot of the Imperial City. Jiangnan City is not lacking in five-story or seven-story buildings, but within a mile radius of the Imperial City, all structures are single-storied, and the city wall stands about twenty zhang tall. It doesn’t look daunting from afar, but approaching the Imperial Palace Walls, they have to tilt their heads up to see the top.

That’s not all; a moat is also dug outside the Imperial City, not wide but rather deep, so deep an adult can’t touch the riverbed standing in it. Such a tight city defense isn’t to fend off foreign enemies, but simply to prevent mad messengers from sneaking into the Imperial Palace to steal or defecate.

Some truly do defecate, even on the throne. Anyway, madmen who can break into the Imperial City naturally have a way to get out, and no one in the main city can harm them, so why wouldn’t they take a dump and fiercely humiliate the Emperor and ministers? Messengers, as a group, are not necessarily educated, and many enjoy lowbrow humor.

Thus, not just the Imperial City, but even important places like the Ministry of Personnel have exceptionally high walls, as if the Emperor and bureaucrats are locked in a cage.

But given three days to prepare, the cage naturally can’t stop the thieves’ strides.

Ying Rushi takes out the Murong Family’s Snake Pattern Rope, one end of which is tied with a hook. She laughs, "Such a tall palace wall, Black Wolf, can you throw it over? It’s got to hook onto the railing inside, you know."

Unlike conventional city walls, the top of the Imperial Palace Walls is oval-shaped to prevent thieves from using hooks to climb. But with the help of a sandbox, the thieves discover that this part of the wall encloses a courtyard with a pavilion and hollowed-out railings that can serve as a hook support.

But tossing the hefty Snake Pattern Rope and hook over the twenty-zhang palace wall and further into the pavilion ten steps away, that’s not something an ordinary messenger can do. At least Yan Qing isn’t confident enough.

Yet Pharmacist’s Wish merely sneers, snatching the hook from Ying Rushi’s hands. She glances up at the wall, determines the position, and begins to turn her body dramatically!

Her left foot forward, right foot in a squatting bow stance, her upper body twists nearly 180°, making the rope and hook spin with a whooshing sound!

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Yan Qing would hardly believe a body could be so flexible. Known typically for a warrior’s posture, Pharmacist’s Wish now moves like a top-notch dancer building momentum, and even those standing nearby can feel the scorching heat radiating from her!

"Secret Technique: Blood Burst?" Ying Rushi is somewhat unsure: "Is she learning it or has she mastered it?"

Whoosh!

Like a startled string and a wave crashing against the shore, in a split second, Pharmacist’s Wish unleashes her body’s energy, throwing the hook with a crisp sound through the air. The Snake Pattern Rope gets sucked up as if Heaven is slurping noodles. Eight seconds later, Pharmacist’s Wish feels the rope vibrate, confirming the hook has landed. With a strong pull, she soon stops, the hook securely caught on the railing inside the palace wall.

"Impressive!"

"Throwing such a heavy hook and rope so high, truly deserving to be called Black Wolf!"

"Indeed, only you among us could do it!"

Pharmacist’s Wish raises an eyebrow slightly, arms crossed, exhaling a foot of white vapor, delighted inside but keeps her voice neutral, as if it’s a trivial task: "Simply child’s play for me, you... what!?"

Turning around, she finds her teammates already climbing the palace wall using the Snake Pattern Rope, not a single one watching her show off. Usually, she’d mentally note down their behavior, but the earlier compliments were too satisfying. Pharmacist’s Wish chooses to magnanimously forgive them and follows up the rope after the others.

The four stand atop the oval palace wall, refraining from descending immediately. At twenty-zhang height, the Imperial Palace and Jiangnan City fall within their view. Jiangnan City is bustling, and the palace is not to be outdone, with many palace attendants awakened, holding lanterns and awaiting their master’s summons; the guards can’t snooze either, all stirred awake to stay on night watch.

"The Emperor has one Empress and two Consorts, but from the sandbox, he’ll rest in his Chengqian Hall tonight," Shang Xinlei says. "If Shang Xuanwen enters the palace for an audience, he wouldn’t go into the rear palace but wait in the Wenyuan Pavilion. However, Chengqian Hall is to the northeast, Wenyuan Pavilion to the southeast. Where to first?"

"Chengqian Hall!" "Wenyuan Pavilion."

Pharmacist’s Wish and Ying Rushi simultaneously say the two place names, exchanging glances, like needle tips facing off against awls.

"We should pursue completing the mission with minimal risk," Ying Rushi said.

"We must ensure the mission will be completed!" Pharmacist’s Wish was very resolute: "We don’t know Shang Xuanwen’s exact location now. If he hides, an hour isn’t enough for us to turn Jiangnan City upside down!"

The conflict between the wolf and the fox ended with the fox considering the bigger picture.

"Then let’s go to Chengqian Hall," Ying Rushi said coldly. "You’d better pray there’s no Foundation Establishment Messenger jumping out from the Emperor’s bedchamber."

"Hmph, who would—"

The thunderous explosion caught everyone’s attention, and they turned to see a place in the northwest ablaze. From their height, they could see walls collapsing and houses burning.

"What happened..."

"That’s the Shang Family!"

Yan Qing instantly judged that the third explosion happened in the corner of the Shang Family. He glanced at the stunned Shang Xinlei, wondering if she was also surprised, perhaps the explosions had nothing to do with her?

The other two had memorized the important locations and appearances of Jiangnan City, and concurred with Yan Qing’s judgment. This was quite awkward; although the Imperial Palace was important, the family was even more crucial. Would Shang Xuanwen go to the palace first, or return home to check things?

The thieves seemed to have an hour, but in the vast Jiangnan City, a wrong decision could waste a lot of time, and they couldn’t determine if their choice was correct—without a sandbox to assist, they couldn’t ascertain Shang Xuanwen’s location. Moreover, Shang Xuanwen had a token for concealing his form, even brushing past the Heaven-Swaying Sword might not recognize it.

"I’ll go to Wenyuan Pavilion, you go to the Shang Family."

At this crucial moment, it was still the local Shang Xinlei who gave the suggestion: "Shang Xuanwen is very likely to return home. If he goes to the palace first, I’ll try to make noise to alert you."

"Alright!" Without any hesitation, Pharmacist’s Wish and Ying Rushi directly accepted this plan, the thieves split into two teams, one trying to intercept Shang Xuanwen, the other waiting at the Imperial Palace.

However, Yan Qing had an inexplicable sense of unease, like seeing a mischievous child standing in front of a tall display cabinet, although nothing had happened yet, he could foresee a catastrophic disaster. But Shang Xinlei ran quickly, swiftly jumping off the twenty-zhang-high city wall, landing silently, and skillfully infiltrating the Imperial Palace.

A heavy sound came from behind, Yan Qing turned to see Pharmacist’s Wish had also jumped out. The teams had split inevitably, the question now was which side he should choose.

Logically, he should intercept Shang Xuanwen, as he had arranged Mouse Monk as a backup. As long as he’s present, not only could he easily acquire the Heaven-Swaying Sword, but also prevent unnecessary fighting between the thieves and the Chancellor of Da Liang.

But he couldn’t let go of Shang Xinlei’s actions tonight. To be honest, Yan Qing still didn’t like Shang Xinlei; she was too smart, her city schemes were too deep, like a colorful venomous snake, even just approaching made Yan Qing uneasy.

However, in this world he had met few people he was willing to get close to, Qian Gongyu was the only exception.

He actually wanted to see Qian Gongyu tonight... Though they weren’t friends, Qian Gongyu didn’t know him, but like finding a good teammate in a game, even if you wouldn’t be friends in reality, you’d want to glance at her, see if she’s as reassuring as in the game.

So, he had to follow Shang Xinlei.

She was a friend of Jiang Shi and Qian Gongyu, and that reason was enough.

"White Fox!" Yan Qing grabbed Ying Rushi’s wrist. "If you find Shang Xuanwen, there might be a tall monk beside him, that monk is mine! Once you fight Shang Xuanwen, he’s likely to give the Heaven-Swaying Sword to the monk."

Ying Rushi was taken aback, Yan Qing couldn’t see the expression behind the White Fox Mask, and said to himself, "I’m going to chase Red Snake now, the monk can’t see me, he won’t cooperate with you, instead he’ll do everything to protect Shang Xuanwen."

"I don’t care how you do it, but don’t waste all my preparations."

Yan Qing could only offer this much help, the backdoor instructions designed for Mouse Monk could only be triggered by him. He thought the preparation was sufficient, but ever since the letter from Mansu Forest Land arrived tonight, the plans couldn’t keep up with the changes.

"I understand," Ying Rushi said slowly.

Not knowing what she imagined, Ying Rushi continued: "Since you trust me so much, I won’t let you down. I promise your mole will be safe and continue to hide."

Huh?

Before Yan Qing could say, ’actually killing him wouldn’t matter,’ Ying Rushi jumped off the palace wall, closely following Pharmacist’s Wish.