Chapter Sixty: A Leap of Faith (Part Two)

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"Who goes there!" The sentry had only just spotted a shadowy figure when he suddenly felt his body grow light, and then collapsed straight to the ground in a faint.

A breeze seemed to waft through; the tent flap was lifted just a crack, and a streak of black light slipped silently inside. Apart from the two hapless guards, it was as if nothing at all had happened around the tent.

Within, only Wenshan Yuan remained, lying on his side amid a heap of documents.

A soft footfall rang out, barely audible, reaching Wenshan Yuan’s ears. The dying candle at his bedside was scattered by a cold gust carried in with the intruder.

"Who’s there?!"

Wenshan Yuan did not make any rash moves. He knew this man’s martial skill far surpassed his own. If he were to cry out for help now, it would only guarantee his own death, and besides, he already had a fair guess as to who this person was.

"Wenshan Yuan, after all those years by Su Qing’s side, do you still not know who I am?" A cold, emotionless voice echoed through the tent.

With a sudden flare, a dozen candles in the tent blazed to life.

A man sat sideways before Wenshan Yuan: he wore a black robe embroidered with a white flood dragon, beneath it a plain white garment, and at his waist hung a jade flute of emerald green.

His appearance was unremarkable, yet Wenshan Yuan’s palms broke out in a cold sweat—especially when he noticed the three-inch-long pale golden badge at the man’s waist, inscribed with just three characters: The Six Gates. This alone revealed the man’s true identity—Chief Constable Chu Shanhe of the Six Gates.

Wenshan Yuan clenched his fists. Seeing that Chu Shanhe had come alone, he steadied his breath and said, "Chu Shanhe, what... what is your purpose here?"

Chu Shanhe seemed to see through Wenshan Yuan’s thoughts, and chuckled lightly. "No need to stall for time. I have already sealed this tent with my inner force. Even if I were to kill you right now, no one outside would notice a thing."

"It seems the Chief Constable has already investigated every corner of my camp. Since that’s the case, why don’t you just take my life? Why waste words on me?"

Feigning ignorance and a death wish, Wenshan Yuan spoke with apparent indifference.

Chu Shanhe burst out laughing. "Why does the Chief Constable laugh?" Wenshan Yuan asked, feigning puzzlement.

"Wenshan Yuan, for someone nearly a century old, why speak like a child?"

"What do you mean? Why have you come here? Wouldn’t it be better to speak plainly?"

Chu Shanhe coughed softly, then began, "You had a powerful ally help you annihilate my army’s vanguard, yet you haven’t pressed your advantage and attacked. Why is that?

I know what you’re thinking. Even though the court’s vanguard was dealt a heavy blow by the rebels, the Imperial Army is still vast—one hundred thousand men, even if they stood still and offered their necks, couldn’t be cut down in a day. And there are more troops yet; soon, the Empire will surely dispatch even stronger forces to crush the rebellion completely."

He watched Wenshan Yuan’s expression and continued, "You held back because you want to protect your soldiers, am I right? Living as a mountain bandit is a fleeting joy—such days cannot last."

At this, Wenshan Yuan’s face grew even darker. After a long pause, he finally looked up at Chu Shanhe and said, "You speak the truth. But what’s done is done—how can I change the course of events now?"

"There’s a broad road open before you, General. If you but nod your head, the lives of tens of thousands of your men can be spared. The only question is whether you’re willing."

Chu Shanhe played with his jade flute, his fingers twisting it idly as he spoke with a hint of amusement. "It’s well known that after Su Qing’s death, the Su family’s power crumbled. You old followers of Su Qing are bound to be implicated. If you resist now, you’ll be wiped out. But... if you wish to leave with your life, I have a way."

He laid out the stakes, then waited quietly for Wenshan Yuan’s reply.

Wenshan Yuan’s face was torn with hesitation, unable to make up his mind.

Chu Shanhe, meanwhile, sat at ease on a stool beside the sand table, while for Wenshan Yuan, every second dragged like a year. His heart was in turmoil.

No one knew if it was a moment or an eternity before Chu Shanhe’s gaze grew less relaxed, and Wenshan Yuan finally spoke: "If you truly have a way to spare my soldiers, then I... I want to hear it in detail."

Chu Shanhe smiled, relieved. He had come prepared for the worst. After all, he had fought at Su Qing’s side for decades—one of Su Qing’s inner circle.

Since Su Qing’s death, he had raised troops in rebellion and become a king of the mountains.

The Su family’s tens of thousands of elite were more than just a thorn in the Empire’s side—especially after a recent leak of intelligence had led to the vanguard’s crushing defeat, with fifty thousand dead at rebel hands. This was a grave challenge to the Empire and its Emperor.

Hua Wenkai and his Brocade Guards had nearly replaced him, and the Emperor had issued a last ultimatum.

Thus, he could only seek to placate the rebels, minimizing the court’s losses. This midnight negotiation had to succeed; otherwise, if battle broke out, he could not guarantee there would not be another disaster.

There was no longer room for "maybes."

At this thought, even the high-ranking Chu Shanhe’s hands tightened unconsciously.

"Since you have such intent, I won’t keep you guessing," Chu Shanhe said, rising slowly and stepping up to Wenshan Yuan.

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At this moment, Wenshan Yuan sat on his bed in nothing but thin underclothes, looking utterly defeated. This only increased Chu Shanhe’s confidence.

"The court’s intentions are clear: the Su clan must be thoroughly scattered. Those who served at Su Qing’s side still harbor resentment over his death and cannot be easily trusted by the court. Thus, after your surrender, you must immediately relinquish your command. But there is one more condition—a prerequisite for your acceptance."

He paused deliberately, prompting Wenshan Yuan to ask, "And what is that?"

"A head. A head that proves your innocence."

Chu Shanhe gave special weight to that word, "innocence," and his powerful presence instantly filled the tent, making it impossible for Wenshan Yuan to raise any objection.

"Whose head?" Wenshan Yuan forced out.

"Tang Jiuyuan," Chu Shanhe pronounced, releasing his pressure.

Wenshan Yuan fell silent, neither agreeing nor refusing. The two men lapsed into another standoff.

Just as Chu Shanhe was about to press him further, Wenshan Yuan suddenly asked, "Why not make this offer to him? Tang Jiuyuan holds more authority in the army than I do, and Marshal Su never favored him. By rights, he should have even less resistance to the court’s terms. So why choose me?"

"General Wen, I still call you that out of respect. But too many questions seldom have a happy ending," Chu Shanhe replied, now impatient, cutting off any further probing.

Wenshan Yuan knew full well the threat in Chu Shanhe’s words.

"Very well! I agree. Three days from now, at the decisive battle, I will open the city and surrender. Tang Jiuyuan’s head will be delivered to you."

"A wise decision, General. Turning from darkness to light is a blessing for you and your men alike," Chu Shanhe replied, a faint, nearly imperceptible smile on his lips.

"Then I shall look forward to your performance in three days’ time."

As soon as the words fell, only a fading afterimage remained where Chu Shanhe had stood. The chirping of insects outside finally pierced the silence of the tent. Wenshan Yuan felt the pressure lift from his body and collapsed onto the bed, breathing deeply.

He closed his eyes, savoring the relief after such tension.

"Yang Tingyu, you were right after all. Ha... ha ha ha..."

He recalled the plan the straw-hatted man had outlined: reduce the number of his guards and wait for Chu Shanhe’s arrival. He would most likely attempt to negotiate a surrender. This was the crucial first step of their plan.

"But..." Wenshan Yuan thought of Chu Shanhe’s condition, and for a moment, was torn.

As he was lost in thought—

From the depths of the night, a figure silently appeared at Wenshan Yuan’s side. It was none other than Tang Jiuyuan.

"You’re here," Wenshan Yuan said coolly, as if not at all surprised by his appearance. He turned to the shadow and asked, "You heard everything Chu Shanhe said?"

"Yes." The shadow stepped forward, revealing himself as Tang Jiuyuan. He merely nodded, his expression calm, far less troubled than Wenshan Yuan.

"Have you thought of a way forward?" Wenshan Yuan pressed, seeing Tang Jiuyuan’s composure.

"Why should you need me to choose? All our performance before others has been for this very battle, has it not?" Tang Jiuyuan countered. "The Marshal divided us into three routes before he left; our end was decided from the start. Early or late, death is death all the same."

He looked into Wenshan Yuan’s steady gaze with profound respect.

"Enough. I didn’t come here for sentimentality. We have serious matters to discuss. There’s much to plan for after the surrender. Tingyu’s plan was only a framework; how we carry it out is up to us."

After they had finished discussing the arrangements, Wenshan Yuan asked, "Is there truly no perfect solution?"

Tang Jiuyuan chuckled bitterly. "Have we come this far still hoping for a flawless plan? Sacrificing the few to save the many and buying time—that’s the best we can hope for. Don’t think you can win without paying any price."

"But isn’t this price too high?" Wenshan Yuan was almost overcome, grasping Tang Jiuyuan’s arms tightly.

"Paying a price is nothing, so long as it brings enough benefit," Tang Jiuyuan said quietly, gently prying Wenshan Yuan’s hands away. Then he asked, "What about the young heir? How do you plan to handle him?"

"I’ve already staged a farce with him recently," Wenshan Yuan replied with a wry smile. "He thinks he’s gained my trust and will probably slip away when the battle begins. His safety is not our greatest concern—he’s far more clever than either of us.

And you were right, times have truly changed. Perhaps a youth like him can one day bear the Su family’s banner. But wandering the world alone... I just fear for the worst if no one’s there to protect him."

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"That’s not something we can worry about," Tang Jiuyuan said as he strolled to the tent entrance. "Our young lord does have his flaws, but in time he’ll reach the Marshal’s heights. He just needs more trials in the world—pity we won’t live to see it."

Hearing this, Wenshan Yuan asked, "You rate the young heir so highly, but haven’t even met him yet, have you?"

Tang Jiuyuan shook his head, his voice steely. "It’s not that I rate him highly—if he wants to survive, he must reach that height. The burden on his shoulders is heavier than ours, and it’s not something he can choose to put down."

As they parted, Wenshan Yuan bowed deeply to Tang Jiuyuan, and the two men went their separate ways.

A fine rain began to fall before Wenshan Yuan’s eyes. Staring after the receding figure, he sighed deeply. "May the sacrifices we make for this be worth it."

…

A thousand miles away, in Chanzhou—

A young man sat at the head of the hall. Dressed in blue, with features like sculpted jade, his eyes now blazed with fury as he rebuked those before him. "I really don’t know what use any of you are. After all this time, still not a single word of news!"

Dozens of officials below kept their heads lowered, not daring to respond, only frowning as they endured his tirade.

"Months of investigation, and still not a trace of the Su family boy or Cheng Yuyan. Do you all want to lose your heads with me to the Chief Inspector?"

This was Qing Jing, who had traversed several southern provinces and deployed over ten thousand elite Brocade Guards. They were hidden everywhere, a net tight enough to catch the wind—yet for months, not the slightest sign of Su Bai.

Hua Wenkai had given Qing Jing an antidote, but it was only a temporary remedy, not a cure. With the investigation at a dead end, he grew increasingly agitated.

As his anger reached its peak, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

That silhouette was so familiar he could not help but tremble. "Chief... Chief Inspector—no, that’s not right!"

Just as Qing Jing was about to kneel and salute, it struck him—how could Hua Wenkai be here?

His eyes cleared; inner force surged through him, and a burst of blue-violet energy erupted from his body.

Seeing the dazed expressions of the Brocade Guard officials below, Qing Jing frowned and barked sharply, "Fifth Senior Sister, if you keep playing ghost, don’t blame your little brother for being rude!"

"You’re as humorless as ever, little brother. I’m here on business too, can’t you at least welcome me with a smile?"

That voice was enchanting, enough to bewitch any ordinary man. But Qing Jing was already of extraordinary cultivation and not so easily ensnared.

"Get to the point. You’ve brought an order from the Chief Inspector, haven’t you?"

"You never were one for pleasantries. You had me worried for nothing. I was hoping to help you find your fugitives."

Though her tone was still coy, the seduction faded as a one-inch message tube shot toward Qing Jing like an arrow.

His eyes narrowed, and he caught the tube between two fingers. Inside was a slip of paper:

"An incident has arisen in the west. Suspend the search for now."

Qing Jing peered into the tube, where a crimson pill lay. He instantly understood Hua Wenkai’s meaning.

Looking up, he saw Xuan Huanshan—his Fifth Senior Sister—standing before him: dressed in a sapphire gown with a white gauze shawl, a high-waisted purple-green scholar’s skirt beneath. Beneath slender brows, her eyes fluttered with long lashes, bright and lively as twin blossoms.

She parted her lips and said, "The Chief Inspector wants the two of us to head to Great Wei. There’s an urgent matter to address."

Qing Jing seemed to guess her meaning. "The Huo family affair?"

"Mm." Xuan Huanshan nodded slightly. "We must set out at once. This matter will influence both countries. The Su clan’s remnants can’t stir up much trouble—let the Six Gates worry about them."

"Understood!" The prospect of an antidote was exactly what Qing Jing wanted.

Turning to the still-dazed officials, Xuan Huanshan smiled lightly. "They’ll wake up in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

…