Qianye’s room was the last in the row, and even if Yin’s attendants and guards occasionally had little disputes, such noises wouldn’t escalate to his doorstep.
Qiqi, having pressed her ear against the wall for listens, suddenly furrowed her eyebrows, jumped from the bed, rushed out the door in a few swift steps, and shouted outside: “In the dead of the night, what are you two men up to right outside my door?! And so loudly too! If you want a skirmish, don’t you think you’ve chosen the wrong place?”
Qianye, startled by Qiqi’s sudden outcry, couldn’t help but raise his hand, rubbing the bridge of his nose in slight aggravation.
Outside the door, at the moment, currents of arcane energy flooded the scene; vague shimmering waves of bluish-green clashed with the pale yellow rays of aura. Not even Qiqi dare approach the steps hastily. Close by stood no one. Farther down the passage leading toward the inner garden gate shadowed figures roamed slowly—an unmistakable blend of Song, Wei and Yin houseguards. Evidently, nobody dared come forward and meddle into this commotion.
The men embroiled in fierce combat remained willfully oblivious towards their surrounding. With an outward palm strike, Song Zining met Wei Patian’s clenched-fist impact—resonating thunder shook the area, sending both men sliding one-step backward at the shock. An ice-stiff tone came from Song: “Noble Son-of-Wei, is there something unfinished even after the arena bout?”
At this, Wei Patian’s irises flushed crimson again, resentment sharpening his glare further. That day during the duel had been exceptionally humbling, unlike anything he’d encountered—a humiliating encounter which stung his spirit. Despite having encountered others occasionally—combat artists such as Qiqi who could outmatch certain techniques of his—there had been some measure of challenge left in the brawl. However with Song, that dishonorable rascal, it’d been evasions all the way, ducking every punch relentlessly. Toward the climax of the fight Wei Patian had actually found himself hoping Song finally unleashed a brutal blow; even with his “Thousands Mountains Breaking Peak” breached open, anything would have preferable compared with this prolonged torment Song merciless imposed until exhaustion rendered him sprawled at the ground breathless, as useless as a life-less beast! The entire duel left Wei thinking himself an utter fool!
Snarling with rage, his aura flared with “ThousandsMountains” glowing more fiercely than ever. In moments, an outline of a towering peak shimmered barely visible amidst their battleground. But more impressively his tactics completely diverged—he halted his chase at Song flitting shadows through swift blurs. His movements took a drastic turn simpler—just plain, blunt advancement: a punch thrown to the east without rhythm followed an awkward, blunt pounding toward the west—each seeming strangely clumsy, frequently appearing as wide, misplaced efforts landing nothing—sometimes far from Song Zining’s shadow at large.
Yet it was Song Zining this time whose ease on battling disappeared. Before long, his casual calm was forced into a second straight, brute force clash. In the impact both warriors pushed the other back three paces this time—still, Wei Patian bore nonchalance, while Song Zining’s chest seared with blood turmoil—such confrontation with “Clear Sky Punch under the ThousandMountains” even someone like himself couldn’t gain any upper hand.
Arch eyebrow knit tightly by a frown, Song reflected—the battle tonight had been their third direct duel and Wei advanced astronomically each time. It was now apparent—Wei’s House, having dispatched their Heir here at the Spring Hunt, adopted an intense, battlefield-forging doctrine with expert mentors watching and coaching him post every clash. Resulting moves had been carefully sculpted just to counter Song’s flow. With sudden flair Song spread his palms outward, invoking his arcana; instantly swirling dead leaves danced around their arena again.
Predictably the effect was immediate: Once again, as though dragging himself out thick mud Wei Patian movement slowed dramatically as each step became more resistant but he kept pounding his fists forward, maintaining an independent rhythm, no longer dancing at the invisible strings controlled by Song—his steps unchained at last.
Some exchanges went on. Finally, with growing impatience, Song Zining lost temper. He burned angry now, the killing intent blooming vividly in his eyes at the same time all falling leaves began to sharpen sharply. A chilling murderous Qi seeped outward quickly.
Qiqi’s countenance shifted minutely, and at a glance, seeing Qianye stepped forward already, pulled hastily on his arm yelling, “Either of you still don’t stop now, I’ll cast Xiaoye toward you and let chaos come!”
Wei Patian startled the earliest—the mad little brat, there’s literally no deed beyond that girl. Instantaneously withdrew his fist. But opposite, Song’s posture grew more ominous—the sharp aura around him now had started to send several swirling leaves slicing forth, flashing with deadly edge, however he merely shrugged one sleeve a little later and the entire blizzards of deadly foliage vanished clean into the void, not a single leaf left behind.
Qiqi then reaching for Qianye’s face reached—uttering regretfully, “I just knew—saying it would really get you coming out…”
Yet Qianye this time, unusually alert, stepped aside immediately before she even raised hand enough. He snapped indignantly back at her: “Qiqi. So, what’s the idea here today?!”
Swift was the reply, wearing her casual smirk as Qiqi answered: “Just what they’re literally saying ofcourse!” And she quickly ushered her personal waiting staff outside even amidst their quarrelling, before she finally waved to Wei/Patian and Song/Zining calling: “I know why both of you came looking for Xiaoye—but now, allow me the grace—you got your space!”
Halfways through her leave she turned again suddenly, yelling, “Hey, Xiaoy’e. Come over tonight right after you’ve said them goodbye!”
“And exactly for *what*!?” snapped back irritatedly—Qianye. An entire day soaked in frustration now at this one always ready to incite chaos woman.
“Well—*sleeping together* ofcourse!” Qiqi chuckled back loud enough—her volume possibly ensuring even most inner quarters heard this echo across the yard.
No sooner had door closed than Wei burst with winking exaggerated expressions, overly excited he started, asking, “So then… you think it’s *really true*, what Qiqi just claimed earlier!?”
“Which claim specifically?”
“You know what I mean—*sleep together!*”
“Oh that part? It’s just… happened before.”
“No way——*seriously*!?” asked wide-eyed, Wei clapped hand to his thigh as though struck hard: “You guys already actually…?”
“Do you have some weird problem with being excited for her comment about *bed-sharing*, just by chance?
Grinning wide, Wei laughed on with barely contained fervor: “Back at our clan from her early days she constantly bullied me—and you can imagine, for so long I never even had slightest upper hand in return… Elder clan kept saying she’s got two full years on me, so I could only *possibly* overpower only after rising beyond the rank of warmarshal… But lately, with all my newfound progress—I doubt waiting anymore… So you already surpassed even her ferocity so directly—that’s really, what they’d call… relieving to hear for people like us.”
Qianye stared open wide now, barely believing what came before him. Having to actually hear this entire sleazy monologue being presented confidently and casually as matter-of-factly as a royal proclamation—even with added bragging at same sentence—he finally just answered sourly.
“That is—**not** my gal. She’s—is simply my superior.”
“Wait… so you slept together before, but *say she’s not* your mate? You can’t fool me like this man.”
“*Shared-sleeping, literally sharing bed*. Sleep. Comprende, understand what *sleeping*, is?”
“Wait *sleep*?”
“Yeeap,” nodding.
“No… meaning beyond bedrest like literally? Are you for serious here?”
“What’s the alternative interpretation!?” snapped Qianye, already annoyed beyond.
Total desolation crossed Wei Patian’s expression as his temper rose suddenly. Almost letting slip: “*Man, you’re truly still a he—… huh?*”—Luckily for Wei, that last syllable choked back into stomach amidst sudden chilling death glare in mid air.
Silken low voice suddenly chimed in mockly— “moron.”—and the source of this quippy aside—Song Zining, having quietly taken his seat earlier and even pouring himself tea, only chosen perfect opportunity right after Wei started choking his own foot to make the punchline heard aloud to all.
Turning sharply on his heels back toward the source, Wei’s attention was suddenly redirected. Before the fire re-erupt, cool tones from Song intervened swiftly: “Qianye. Since my source learned that decision had settled already upon your returning to the Dark Continent, permit me, I might provide certain information beneficial for the trip.”
That gave Wei an abrupt reminder—“Wait! Xiao Ye—Leaving for Dark Continent!?!”
Cutting in smoothly, Song interjected again quickly, “Someone there bears grudge against the Captain.”
“What!! Who dares pick fight with Xiao Ye’s life—Tell me now. I’ll make that bastard disappear from the world.”
Song continued: “Certainly—it’s merely an army deputy commander serving under expeditionary command currently.”
Snorted back Wei instantly: “*Just a deputy general-commander of army!!*—That’s just laughable level to be calling someone important… I only twitch little finger and he won’t fare much sturdier than stepping hard upon a little ant—Hahahaha! Come—count on me, Captain! My arm here can handle that trash anytime…”
There seemed a certain ring about those words—the logic that with brute power and political might held, powerful houses would not necessarily struggle much to execute certain generals—indeed quite a few had the protection from elite-ranked guardians, particularly scions with core privileges like Wei Patian and Song Zining himself.
Smiling Song added, “True, of course, in Marquess Bowang’s son’s opinion, one general of army ranks in a long distance, well beyond homeland territory, could be trivial… In Wei Family in Far East too, we certainly aren’t missing hands capable taking command of such military outpost after the disposal, wouldn’t say otherwise.” Paused a second before continuing with, “Only a level -III security province afterall.”
At this stage, gradually piecing things over in his mind, Qianye sensed something deeper going between these words—when Wei tried again saying more. Qianye stopped friend from saying anything rash by pressing Wei’s shoulder solidly before he could vocalize the next foolish idea. Facing toward Song Zining, he made it clear.
“Zining—understand your concern—but I’m aware the matter is quite complex. This certainly isn’t some mission urgent enough that I’d drag two of you along recklessly into its dangers right *this* second. Wait til I myself attain rank of warmarshal—I’ll eventually manage some avenue to eliminate him myself.”
A brief silence gripped the chamber now—everyone aware precisely what Qianye implied: to assassinate this person covertly—himself personally.
Crashing one hand down hard on table in frustration was Wei again, “So what if I’m terrible at backstreet takedowns of military brass huh!! Why not then—you and me charge straight to this general’s HQ, we slaughter him right in office!! That’s a clean enough method? What’s so damn complex??”
At this absurd, Qianye couldn’t stop himself slightly breaking into smile while giving an affectionate slap Wei’s shoulder. “Wei-brother—if right now, *just you and me two*, rushing over *that*武 Zheng Nan’s fortress—you’ll really just be signing death warrant, buddy.”
“F*** it—who dies who live—who gives half-a-shit anyway when life is but risk of sword? No matter what—you say ‘attack’ and we attack!! What does dying even mean if that what takes solving it!.”
Shaking slightly his own head in resigned disbelief, he answered, “Okay, if I perish, it’s fine—but if you die—rest assure your whole Wei-family bloodthirsty warlords—start chasing after *me* for this, you think?”
For a heartbeat Wei fell pensive. Slowly beginning to register why Song Zining deliberately mentioned matter in front of himself. He glared slightly at Song who stared back impassively while carrying a mysterious unreadable expression that somehow gave his abdominal insides mild unease and pain. Finally he turned to Qian, asking in subdued tone this time,
“Then why the hell did you even bother dragging that ineffective waste into this for anything important at all, Little Ye?”
Even as the usual irritation stirred from old stereotype of Song being merely a dissipated scion he resented—since the day of the draft they first met years ago…
Protest Qianye began saying: “Wait—actually—he heard—me talking vaguely about *next* trip—I had not said…”
“You know better, I’m a truer partner for your purpose.” As always, Song cut back with the preemptiveness to his tone.
This time Wei didn’t lose temper quite immediately. Stared a long glance toward Song, before saying slowly: “Littleye, do we actually… knew each other way before? Back with some previous time?” Not really demanding clarification but followed up quickly, “So, the deputy-commander—the army general we’re facing: Is he serving as field troop or a dispatched unit? And—what *exactly* he is being accused for?”
And so Song, gradually, presented the data he had just recently compiled. While periodically interjected by precise inquiries from Wei, the picture unfolded, piece-by-piece until in end—the truth dawned clearly for Qianye precisely Song earlier intention of looping Wei inside the scheme: the scale and complexities surrounding of removing Wu Zhengnan’s influence is larger than imagined.
The entire Expeditionary Corps the empire deployed on dark continent function as essentially independent force—granted at half-support of regular imperial regiments, with orders primarily to ensure certain territory’s defense perimeter. The empire didn’t usually care about specifics of *how* these units managed these requirements. These directives fell entirely into the routine jurisdiction—only special operation orders dispatched by imperial general staff or massive warfare campaigns against dark race or incidental operations conducted by other legion forces operating there—might earn this expedition corps momentary spotlight back—some limited additional fund sometimes even dispatched.
Only in those limited scenarios.
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