King of Hundred Victories Saber

Chapter 325 - 143: Battle of Wits: The Underlying Currents Between Lv Yuan and Shi Feiyang (Part 5)

Xiang Yushan nodded slightly, believing that Kang Fusheng’s words made a lot of sense. After a brief deliberation, he decided to adopt the suggestion.

At once, he waved a big hand and assigned the Assistant Chief of the Imperial Guard, known as Lv Yuan, the "Cold Ice Palm," to lead a group of experts from the Jinyi Guard. Along with Cai Kun, the "Nine Provinces Staff," and Xiang Laixiang, they led over three thousand elite Jinyi Guards, disguised themselves as ordinary citizens. These people shed their usual imposing flying fish uniforms, changed into coarse linen garments, and blended into the market crowd, quietly heading south towards Suzhou Prefecture.

They were entrusted with a secret mission — to capture Shi Feiyang, a renowned figure in the Jianghu now considered a thorn in the side by the Imperial Court, and bring him to justice, thereby maintaining the lofty authority of the Imperial Court and restoring the so-called order of the Jianghu.

To ensure that this operation was foolproof, Xiang Yushan specially called Lv Yuan to his side, his expression grave, and advised earnestly, "Lv Yuan, this mission is of utmost importance. You must make good use of our Jinyi Guard’s intelligence network to thoroughly ascertain Shi Feiyang’s whereabouts and hideouts. Furthermore, this operation must be extremely secretive; all participating Jinyi Guards must strictly adhere to discipline. Should our movements be leaked and the snake be startled, it would be a great failure."

Lv Yuan appeared solemn, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in respect, and accepted the order.

He understood in his heart that this mission was of great significance, concerning not only the authority of the Imperial Court but also the honor of the Jinyi Guard. Successfully completing it would surely elevate his position within the Jinyi Guard.

After receiving the order, Lv Yuan dared not slack off and immediately started the preparations.

He was well aware that the opponent, Shi Feiyang, was no ordinary person; capturing him would not be an easy task.

Therefore, he racked his brains, meticulously planned, and devised a series of detailed plans, scrutinizing each detail repeatedly to ensure nothing was left to chance, just waiting for the right moment to pounce on Shi Feiyang like a leopard hunting its prey.

At this moment, Suzhou Prefecture was in early spring, full of life and vitality.

The willow trees by the street sprouted tender green buds, and the slender branches swayed gently in the breeze, resembling graceful young maidens dancing lightly. Peach blossoms glowed pink and green, full of blooms, clusters, and clumps, like clouds descending from the sky, attracting bees and butterflies to flit among them, buzzing constantly.

From the teahouses by the street came the sound of ballad singing, the soft Wu dialect telling ancient stories amidst the fragrance of tea.

The marketplace was bustling with people, lively and extraordinary, with the cries of vendors rising and falling, presenting a harmonious scene.

Lv Yuan first selected a few Jinyi Guards who were meticulous and agile, secretly tracking Shi Feiyang’s close associates, hoping to catch a glimpse of Shi Feiyang’s traces from their daily movements.

These Jinyi Guards, like ghosts in the night, followed their targets silently, their eyes locked tightly, not missing any subtle move. Meanwhile, he ordered another group of Jinyi Guards to set up ambushes at places Shi Feiyang might appear, such as inns, taverns, and docks. They hid in the shadows, blending into the surroundings, clutching their weapons, ready to pounce on Shi Feiyang like a hungry tiger once he appeared.

To ensure the foolproof execution of the plan, Lv Yuan even arranged for several Jinyi Guards skilled in disguise. These individuals, like skilled craftsmen, quickly altered their appearances and mimicked others’ demeanors.

They were already prepared; once Shi Feiyang was captured, they would immediately impersonate his identity to continue investigating other suspicious figures associated with him, delving deeply into the forces behind Shi Feiyang.

Everything was ready, and Lv Yuan hid in an inconspicuous courtyard, quietly waiting for the right moment.

He watched with hawk-like eyes, constantly monitoring messages from various directions, just waiting for the perfect moment to capture Shi Feiyang in one swoop.

However, Shi Feiyang seemed to have already sensed the impending danger. Like a sharp lone wolf, he became increasingly cautious.

He reduced his outings, and even when he did go out, he always proceeded very carefully, vigilantly observing everything around him.

His interactions with close associates also became unusually low-key, with meeting locations changed from public places to concealed ones, and conversations were conducted in whispers, fearing detection.

This made the Jinyi Guards sent by Lv Yuan feel like headless flies, unable to capture his movements.

The mission to track Shi Feiyang fell into a deadlock, turning into a silent yet thrilling confrontation, with a strange atmosphere pervading the entire Suzhou Prefecture.

Lv Yuan, a highly esteemed Assistant Chief in the Jinyi Guard, was by no means an ordinary person.

His eyes, deep as an abyss, flickered with sharp light in the darkness, seemingly capable of seeing through all secret matters in the world.

The distinct scar that extended from the corner of his eye to his temple added a touch of sternness and ruggedness, underscoring his remarkable past experiences. Despite the deadlock in his confrontation with Shi Feiyang, Lv Yuan showed no discouragement; instead, his entire being exuded a fierce determination not to stop until his goal was achieved.

He was like an experienced and patient hunter, knowing well that in this game of wits with a cunning prey, only by maintaining composure could one laugh at the end.

Thus, he quickly adjusted his strategy, his decisive and resolute demeanor announcing his absolute control over the situation. Without hesitation, he ordered the Jinyi Guards to intensify the surveillance of Shi Feiyang’s close associates comprehensively.

Personally, he meticulously assigned tasks to the Jinyi Guards responsible for shadowing, his tone stern yet clear: "Remember, every move of the target, even the slightest change, could become a crucial clue; there must be no slack!"

The dispatched Jinyi Guards, under his strict orders, were like ghosts hidden in the shadows, always remaining highly vigilant, not missing any action of the target, and no slight anomaly escaped their keen eyes.

Meanwhile, Lv Yuan waved his hand again and ordered a significant expansion of the search scope for places where Shi Feiyang might appear, from the bustling alleys of the market to the secluded paths in the suburbs, from bustling inns and taverns to serene temples and monasteries. The search work spread like dense and resilient fishing nets, evenly cast little by little, striving to leave no stone unturned.

Moreover, knowing that details determine success or failure, Lv Yuan, undeterred, personally visited each ambush point. At each place, like a precise detector, he carefully checked the preparations made by the Jinyi Guards.

In terms of weaponry, he would personally take up the weapons, examining their sharpness and handiness. In selecting hiding places, he would carefully consider the surrounding environment, ensuring suitability for concealment and strike. Regarding signal transmission methods, he would inquire into every aspect in detail, ensuring the accurate and error-free transmission of information. In drafting contingency plans, he would question each potential scenario one by one, repeatedly simulating all possible situations, striving for perfection in every detail.

As he inspected, he murmured to himself, occasionally frowning, sometimes nodding, strictly requiring his subordinates, "This concerns whether we can successfully complete the mission, it concerns the Imperial Court’s dignity; any small mistake could lead to total defeat, so everyone must stay on high alert with maximum concentration!"

He understood in his heart that this operation held great significance, concerning the dignity of the Imperial Court and his own honor. Any mistake could lead to failure, and all efforts would go to waste. During the long wait, Lv Yuan was like a tightly drawn bowstring, always maintaining a high degree of vigilance, his ears constantly capturing the sounds of wind and grass around, and his eyes not missing any suspicious signs.

He sat in a dimly lit room, surrounded by piles of intelligence documents, the tea cup in his hand long cold, but he was oblivious.

His brows furrowed, continuously contemplating various possibilities, his focused expression seemingly detached from the world, concerned only with this confrontation with Shi Feiyang.

He harbored a firm belief in his heart, confident that as long as he persisted with unwavering determination, one day he would seize the handle on Shi Feiyang and bring him to justice.