Chapter Twelve: Underlying Currents (Part One)

Two hours later

Still waiting in the allied camp, Yu Wenqi heard the sound of the returning army and couldn't help but smile.

“It seems Krim has managed to intercept Pang Yuan,” Yu Wenqi thought to himself.

Sure enough, the next moment, Krim flung open the tent flap with a forceful gesture, and his guards tossed over a head that was still dripping blood.

The severed head rolled across the ground, finally coming to a stop at Yu Wenqi's feet. Though Yu Wenqi didn’t closely examine whether the blood-soaked head was truly Pang Yuan’s, he trusted that Krim would not joke about such a thing.

Krim, seeing Yu Wenqi's calm reaction to Pang Yuan’s head, assumed that Yu Wenqi intended to go back on his word.

He strode over in a few quick steps, the scent of blood thick in the tent. Planting both hands on the table, his eyes glinted dangerously as he said, "Brother Yu Wen, since I’ve brought you Pang Yuan’s head, are you still going to keep our agreement?"

His meaning was clear: Yu Wenqi was to hand over the Tianshan Snow Lotus, as a token of good faith from Su Qing’s side.

Yu Wenqi naturally understood Krim’s intent. He had come here under Su Qing’s orders, and Su Qing had instructed him to win over Krim and Corfort at any cost.

Especially now, alone in the enemy camp, he could not afford to falter.

Yet Yu Wenqi did not immediately produce the antidote. After all, Su Qing could not have anticipated that Pang Yuan would use this ploy to coerce Krim’s group.

So for now, the antidote could not be handed over.

"General, there’s no need for haste. Since my marshal has promised you the medicine, you can be sure it will be delivered," Yu Wenqi replied, meeting Krim’s eyes without any trace of fear, unshaken by his formidable aura.

Krim, seeing that Yu Wenqi remained unfazed, decided not to press further and instead ordered his men to tie him up.

"You’ll stay here for a while. Once the marshal delivers the antidote into my hands, then I’ll let you go."

He glanced down at Pang Yuan’s head, shaking his head in regret. "Tsk, tsk, what a pity to part with such an old general’s head—perhaps I was a bit too hasty."

Northern Supervisory Bureau, Tongxuan Hall

A mountain of memorials was stacked before Hua Wenkai, his eyes bloodshot.

He idly opened one of the documents, but as his gaze swept across its contents, his eyes narrowed sharply.

Yuchi Qi, standing at his side, noticed the commander’s expression and guessed the reason. He stepped forward and asked in a low voice, “Is it news from Prince Su’s front lines?”

As one of the Thirteen Guardians of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Yuchi Qi’s status was second only to the four vice-commanders and the Chief Inspector.

Hua Wenkai shot him a sidelong glance and nodded. “Who knows what Su Qing is planning. He threw out forty thousand prisoners from the city, only for them to swell the enemy ranks. Half a month has passed, yet there’s been no further move. I can’t fathom his calculations.”

He looked to Yuchi Qi, “Are all arrangements for the Su family in place?”

Yuchi Qi promptly replied, “Cheng Yuyan sent word ten days ago that everything is ready. At your command, the Su family can be razed to the ground. However…”

He hesitated.

“Speak,” Hua Wenkai ordered coldly.

“Yes, sir.” Beads of sweat formed on Yuchi Qi’s brow. “It’s just that the child born of Yu Nianci and Su Qing—no one knows where Su Qing has hidden him. Even Cheng Yuyan has found no trace. Still, it’s not entirely without leads. A few years ago, one of my subordinates may have stumbled upon something.”

“Where?”

“I dare not speculate, for none of that group returned alive. I only pieced together their general direction from the records of their deaths. If we wish to find where Su Qing’s illegitimate son is hiding, we’ll need more men to follow the trail they left.”

“Enough.” Hua Wenkai cut him off.

Rising and stretching, he said, “The matter is yours to handle. I must now seek two imperial decrees from His Majesty.”

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

“Is one of them… meant for Su Qing?” Yuchi Qi drew a hand across his throat in a grim gesture.

Hua Wenkai chuckled, “That’s one of them. If, when I reach Chenggao, he’s still holding the city in a stalemate, I’ll present the first decree.”

“And if, upon your arrival, he wins a great victory?” Yuchi Qi asked, for Su Qing’s presence weighed heavily on the court; no matter how difficult the front, he was expected to rout the enemy.

But Hua Wenkai was prepared. “If he wins, the second decree will be my ‘gift’ to him—a gift he cannot refuse.”

“You’ve considered every angle. I admire your foresight,” Yuchi Qi flattered him.

Hua Wenkai’s expression remained unchanged. “Once you learn the child’s whereabouts, inform Cheng Yuyan at once. Leave not a single member of the Su family alive. I want them all wiped out.”

Yuchi Qi accepted the order without hesitation. “Understood. I’ll see to it at once.”

As Yuchi Qi exited the hall, a sudden, inexplicable smile broke across Hua Wenkai’s face.

“Su Qing, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Only your head can quiet the clamor of those self-righteous scholars in court.”

“No matter how much you’ve done for Ming, you cannot escape a manufactured crime.”

Two days later

Su Qing stood atop the walls of Chenggao, surveying the hundreds of thousands under Krim and Corfort’s command.

At that moment, Yang Tingyu approached Krim, cradling a jade casket.

Krim strode forward to seize it, but Yang Tingyu suddenly stepped back two paces, clutching the box tightly.

“General, now that my marshal has handed this over, it’s time you return our man,” he said.

Krim glanced at him, then up at Su Qing atop the battlements.

With a hearty laugh, he said to all present, “You see, since I’ve given my word to Marshal Su, I’ll keep it.”

With a sidelong glance, he signaled a nearby subordinate, who, after a furtive look at Yang Tingyu, brought forth Yu Wenqi and released his bonds.

Once freed, Yu Wenqi hurried to Yang Tingyu’s side, looking ashamed. “I was careless this time, and the marshal had to ransom me.”

“Nonsense, Brother Qi. You’ve rendered great service to the alliance. Such trifles need not be mentioned. Come, let’s return,” Yang Tingyu replied gently, seeing Yu Wenqi’s strained expression.

“Yes, let’s go,” Yu Wenqi said, clasping his hands in salute before quickly returning to Chenggao.

“Well? Now it’s your turn to give me what you promised,” Krim said, his gaze dangerous as he looked at Yang Tingyu.

Yang Tingyu froze under the weight of Krim’s stare, feeling as if he had fallen into an icy pit.

But at that instant, a thunderous voice crackled in Krim’s ears: “Young men often speak rashly. But if you keep pushing your luck, don’t blame me for ripping off your old hide and using it as a rag.”

Though Su Qing was a hundred yards away, his words sounded as if they were spoken right beside Krim, and a wave of even greater force shattered his aura. The pressure on Yang Tingyu vanished at once.

“Tingyu, hand it to him. There’s a banquet waiting for you when you return,” Su Qing called.

“Yes, sir.” Yang Tingyu stepped forward and handed the jade casket to Krim’s chief guard.

A bead of sweat formed on Krim’s brow as he squinted up at Su Qing. For the first time, he truly felt the pressure emanating from him—this man’s prowess in both warfare and martial cultivation was utterly beyond his reach.

“Let’s go back,” Krim muttered in English. He had only wanted to test Su Qing’s mettle; now that he had, there was nothing left to keep him here.

Most of Pang Yuan’s spoils had been taken by Su Qing, but Krim had gained a fair share himself—none of which he intended to hand over to the king. With his forces growing, perhaps he could annex some neighboring territories for himself.

Meanwhile, far to the east on the coastal frontier, in Mingzhou

Governor’s Office, Mingzhou

“Su Ming! You’ve really done me a great service. Ha! Whatever you want—so long as it’s not excessive—I’ll see you rewarded,” Xu Zhe, dressed in plain attire, sat at the head of the room, sipping tea as he listened to Su Ming’s report.

Su Ming had just announced he’d eliminated a band of pirates that had long been a thorn in Xu Zhe’s side.

Those pirates, hunkered behind natural defenses, had been a persistent headache. Sending the army was costly and inefficient, yet leaving them alone was a festering wound—especially since their numbers had been surging in recent years. Xu Zhe was relieved to find the matter so neatly resolved.

“Your Excellency overpraises me. I was only sent here by imperial order to gain some experience—there’s no need to speak of rewards,” Su Ming replied, quickly rising and bowing with humility.

Xu Zhe, seeing Su Ming’s sincerity, waved him down. “Come now, you’ve served here for several years. I’ve seen your diligence and your achievements. If a little reward frightens you so, how can I entrust you with greater tasks?”

Su Ming caught the deeper meaning. Ever since his inexplicable promotion from his foster father’s side to the Governor’s office, he had served here for eight full years.

In that time, he had worked tirelessly, yet never gained Xu Zhe’s favor. The Su family had sent no word; by now, few would even believe he belonged to them.

But now Xu Zhe seemed unusually cordial, as if he had something of utmost importance to entrust to him. Su Ming’s naturally cautious nature made him all the more wary.

Xu Zhe, seeing his wary face, grew displeased. “Let me tell you, this is an important assignment from above. If you refuse, you’ll answer to their wrath.”

Xu Zhe wielded great power as governor of one of the empire’s eleven provinces, but the one who issued this task was someone even he called “the lord.” Unless it was the Governor of the Metropolitan Area, it could only be the emperor himself.

Having been exiled here for years, and with word now coming from the capital, Su Ming had every reason to be on guard.

Though anxious, he replied diplomatically, “How could I dare disobey, sir? Yet I am young and unproven—hardly worthy of such favor.”

“Hmph!” Xu Zhe snorted. “I’m giving you a chance to rise in a single leap. Whether you take it or not is up to you. You served under Prince Su for years—what did it get you? Nothing compared to a simple decree from the court. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, or you’ll regret it forever.”

Su Ming remained bowed, answering evasively, “I will do my best to satisfy Your Excellency,” and made to leave.

But as he stepped away, a familiar yet distant laugh echoed from the inner hall.

Turning, Su Ming found himself staring at someone he never expected—Cheng Yuyan.

Back then, Cheng Yuyan had been rescued by Su Bai and immediately promoted by Su Qing, enjoying greater access to the Su residence than Su Ming himself.

Even from afar, Su Ming knew Su Qing had gone west to defend the frontier, leaving someone behind to guard the family. The one most likely to do so now stood before him.

After Cheng Yuyan appeared, before he spoke a word, he waved his hand, and at once hundreds of men flooded out from the Governor’s office, surrounding Su Ming completely.

Seeing this, Su Ming’s face turned ashen.

Any fool could see the situation clearly: if he refused this assignment, it would mean certain death.

But since Xu Zhe had spent so much effort persuading him, the task must be one that only he could fulfill. Otherwise, they would have simply arrested and tortured him into submission.

Understanding this, Su Ming straightened up, looked directly at Xu Zhe and Cheng Yuyan, and said, “Sirs, is all this really necessary? Isn’t it a bit of overkill for someone like me?”

Xu Zhe said nothing; he was only following orders, and knew little of the real scheme. Years in office had taught him the wisdom of knowing what not to know.

Cheng Yuyan glanced at him, recognizing the old fox’s feigned ignorance.

He stepped forward, bowed, and motioned gracefully toward the inner hall. “Master Su, could you spare a moment? I have important business to discuss with you. Please, do grant me the honor—otherwise, I truly won’t know what to do.”

Su Ming gazed at him for a long moment. Not even his foster father had seen through this man—how much more cautious should he be.

But, cornered as he was…

Very well. He likely means me no harm, for now. Let’s see how he chooses to persuade me.

With that, Su Ming walked toward the inner hall under the watchful eyes of all.

And the smile on Cheng Yuyan’s face grew ever more devilish.

Page (3/3)