Chapter 593: If You Say Your Heart Is Treacherous, Then It Truly Is

The night wind swept across the Wilderness, stirring up the scent of blood on the ground, mingling with shredded dry grass, and slapping each person's face.

The torch's flames were flickered by the wind with a rustling sound, stretching Chen Yan's silhouette tall and lean.

His handsome brows and eyes, half lit and half shadowed in the wavering light, bore a hint of casual sharpness.

Beside him, Yuwen Ze clasped his hands to his chest, the cuff of his Xuanse Jinshen sleeves lifted by the wind, casting a sideways glance at the pallid Mei Renbi beside the carriage; a half‑smile curled his mouth, and his tone was laced with uncontainable mockery: "If you can't guess it, it would truly be a name without substance!"

Mei Renbi's gaze remained fixed on Chen Yan the whole time; those usually clear and wise eyes now churned with raging waves, yet were forcefully suppressed, leaving only a deep, cold composure.

He fell silent for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing, then spoke each word with deliberate pauses, each syllable sounding as if forced through his teeth, ringing clearly across the silent Wilderness: "Senior Pillar of the State, Left Martial Marquis Grand General, Left Martial Guard Grand General, Capital Prefect, Poet Immortal, Duke of Wei, Head of the Office, equal to the Three Ministers, praised by the people of Chang'an as the contemporary Chen Qingtian, Chen Yan, Lord!"

"Is that you?"

"C‑... Chen Yan?!" Lu Yiman's already heavy breathing halted abruptly, as if his throat had been seized.

The hand gripping the hilt trembled even more, the blade striking the carriage pole with a light "Clang".

In the dead silence of the night, it sounded especially harsh.

The few survivors behind him wore blank, colorless faces, stumbling back half a step, their gazes at Chen Yan filled with incredulous horror.

That was Chen Yan, after all!

He was the most astonishingly talented figure in the Zhou State court, a teenage general who, at eighteen, earned the title of Senior Pillar through brilliant battle exploits!

He was the "Chen Qingtian" who held the post of Capital Prefect, striking fear into the petty criminals of Qi State!

Legend has it that he can calm the world with a brushstroke and settle the universe on horseback, making him a backbone minister relied upon by the current Zhou State emperor and Grand Preceptor!

Who could have imagined that this black‑clad youth who set ambushes under night and struck ruthlessly was in fact the legendary Duke of Wei?

Hearing this, Chen Yan slowly shook his head, his fingertips still idly tracing the jade pendant at his waist, his movements as relaxed as if he were merely enjoying the scenery by Qujiang Pond in Chang'an.

The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened, his tone laced with a sly playfulness: "Wrong!"

As the words fell, he stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the stiff‑faced Mei Renbi, then spoke slowly, his voice low yet each word crystal clear, bearing undeniable certainty: "The one standing before you is the Qi traitor Gao Changjing, disguised as a bandit, intent on provoking a war between Zhou and Liang!"

"Hahaha!"

Mei Renbi was first stunned, then burst into a hearty laugh, the laughter dripping with sarcasm and mockery.

He clutched his belly, laughing until he coughed, his gaze at Chen Yan carrying a knowing insight: "Truly worthy of a war‑hero with no defeats, who became a Senior Pillar at eighteen; this reversal of black and white is indeed admirable!"

"Just a petty trick!" Chen Yan pressed his lips into a light smile, waved his hand dismissively, his tone breezy as if speaking of a trivial matter, "Not worth mentioning!"

Standing nearby, Yuwen Ze heard this, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes as he thoughtfully stroked his chin.

In his mind he muttered, "Brother A Xiong's technique of framing others is truly masterful, exceedingly clever; I must study it carefully later, it will surely be useful!"

The night wind grew ever sharper, carrying the scent of blood to their faces; Mei Renbi's smile gradually faded, he inhaled deeply, stared at Chen Yan, and at last could no longer hold back the long‑lingering question in his heart.

His voice bore a hint of fatigue yet remained crystal clear: "Senior Pillar Chen, Lord Chen Yan, we have never met, hold no grudges, why set this ambush here and seek to exterminate us?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Yiman and the others lifted their heads, their gazes at Chen Yan filled with bewilderment and indignation…

Hearing this, Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes landing on Mei Renbi's pale yet still handsome face, and, unhurried, replied casually: "Then you must ask Mr. Mei what purpose brings you a thousand miles into Chang'an!"

He paused, stepped forward, the Air Pressure around him suddenly dropped a few degrees, and a cold edge flashed in his deep eyes.

A meaningful smile curled at his mouth, his tone playful: "After all, I have always liked to snuff out danger while it's still in its bud!"

The moment his words fell, the wind over the Wilderness seemed to pause for an instant.

The torchlight reflected on Chen Yan's face; the chill in his eyes made Mei Renbi's heart drop sharply, an unprecedented sense of danger instantly flooding his limbs.

Lu Yiman's complexion turned as pale as paper, the veins on his hand gripping the hilt bulging, he guarded himself cautiously.

Yuwen Ze watched the scene, his smile widening, arms crossed as he stood, studying Mei Renbi's expression with keen interest, as if admiring an amusing plaything.

In the night sky, the waning moon slowly pushed aside the clouds.

The cool moonlight fell, illuminating the blood and corpses on the ground, as well as Chen Yan's handsome yet cold face.

Above the Wilderness, dead silence reigned, only the whimper of wind through dry grass echoed through the night.

Mei Renbi clenched his jaw hard, the pressure of his back molars nearly grinding the roots to dust.

He lifted his eyes to Chen Yan, his throat bubbling; the habitual "I, the seat" rose to his lips but he forced it back, then stiffened his neck, mustering boldness, and said, his tone tinged with both fierce and timid stubbornness: "I… came to Chang'an, first to visit a friend, second to recuperate my health!"

The night wind, carrying the scent of blood, whipped his cheeks raw, yet he straightened his back, refusing to show any hint of fear.

In those usually clear eyes, a forced openness now held, as if he truly were just a wandering wanderer passing through.

Beside him, Yuwen Ze still kept his arms crossed, his gaze fixed unflinchingly on Mei Renbi's face, capturing the fleeting panic and the feigned composure within his eyes.

He silently sighed in his heart: "That 'Qilin' prodigy does have some skill; to be reduced to a situation with no way up to the heavens nor down to the earth, yet still speak without a change of expression!"

Hearing this, Chen Yan nonchalantly blinked, his long lashes casting a faint shadow in the firelight, making his eyes appear even deeper and inscrutable.

He raised an eyebrow with a half‑smile, his tone light and airy yet carrying an invisible pressure: "Is that so?"

The words hung, then his tone sharply shifted, the mockery in his eyes deepening, and he leisurely tossed out a sentence, each word cutting to the heart: "How did I hear that the Liang Kingdom's 'Qilin' prodigy, coming this time, intends to turn Chang'an upside down, making chickens and dogs restless?"

"Thump" sounded, and Mei Renbi's heart sank hard, his complexion turning a few shades whiter in an instant.

He clenched the hand hidden in his sleeve so tightly that his fingernails dug deep into his palm, delivering a sharp sting.

A wave of indescribable astonishment and doubt surged to his mind: "Why does he know so clearly the purpose of my coming?"

The thought gnawed at his mind like a poisonous snake, yet not a hint showed on his face.

He inhaled deeply, forcefully suppressing the raging waves within, lifted his head, stared straight at Chen Yan, and spoke earnestly, his tone as if grievously wronged: "I am merely a modest wanderer, lacking the strength to bind a chicken; how could I possess such power to overturn clouds and rain?"

"Senior Pillar Chen, you jest!"

"Oh?" Chen Yan's mouth curved slightly upward, he raised a hand and pointed at Mei Renbi, his fingertip aimed precisely as if an invisible sword thrust toward him, "It's true you are a wanderer, but your wanderer's skill is no small thing!"

He paused, the playful tone growing richer, each word clear to every ear present: "He hasn't even entered Chang'an's city gates, yet every street and alley is already full of rumors about you!"

"What 'Qilin' appearing in the world, one who could obtain the realm—tsk tsk, this display is truly grand!"

Standing beside, Yuwen Ze immediately took up the thread, his tone full of agreement yet tinged with a sarcastic, odd‑toned mockery, his voice ringing loudly across the silent Wilderness: "Exactly!"

"They say the 'Qilin' prodigy first helped Liang Kingdom's King Ba Dong clear his grievances, overturning old cases, then assisted Xiao Ji in governing Shu…

"…In less than a year, he made Shu's administration clear, the people live peacefully, and ultimately secured his appointment as Governor of Yizhou!"

He deliberately elongated his tone, the sarcasm in his eyes unabashed: "The rumors call him a god‑like figure, as if he could strategize and win battles a thousand miles away, a truly celestial being!"

Mei Renbi's gaze fell coldly on Yuwen Ze, silently appraising the young man.

He was dressed in Xuanse Jinshen, his brows bearing a hint of soaring sharpness, yet faintly exuding a similar noble aura.

He muttered in his heart, "Who is this young man that follows Chen Yan?"

"Could it be… could it be Yuwen Ze?"

When that speculation arose, Mei Renbi's heart trembled again.

Prince of Ancheng Yuwen Ze, the sole son of Grand Preceptor Yuwen Hu of Zhou State, has long been close with Chen Yan…

Chen Yan took in the surprise and doubt in Mei Renbi's eyes, exchanged an unspoken glance with Yuwen Ze, then laughed loudly, his tone full of teasing, "No wonder he's called a kirin prodigy!"

"The person hasn't arrived, yet his name already spreads; this art of hype is truly masterful!"

"Compared with those street‑performing jugglers, it's a hundred‑fold, a thousand‑fold stronger!"

Yuwen Ze echoed in agreement.

The two sang in harmony; the sarcasm and mockery in their words were like fine needles, densely pricking Mei Renbi's heart.

Mei Renbi watched the two's back‑and‑forth, a faint smile tugging at his face—a forced grin, his eyes icy cold.

They drew a deep breath, straightened their back, and with a tone of restrained anger refuted, "You two are committing a crime of accusation; what lack of words could there be!"

Pausing, their gaze swept over Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze, and they said clearly, "Those are merely baseless rumors from the streets, mis‑propagated, and cannot prove any illicit intent on my part!"

"Chen Zhuguo is the pillar of the current court, wise and mighty; he would not condemn me solely on these shadowy rumors, would he?"

When the words fell, the Wilderness fell silent once more.

The night wind howled, stirring up dust and the scent of blood; the torch flames flickered wildly, casting shadows that stretched and shrank.

The atmosphere in the air grew increasingly heavy.

Chen Yan heard this, his smile unchanged, as if he had heard an amusing jest, and he shrugged nonchalantly.

He slightly raised his brow, his tone casual, and lightly retorted, "So what?"

Before the words finished, the scattered smile in his eyes suddenly vanished, replaced by a cold, icy chill.

The air pressure around him instantly dropped, even the torch flames seemed to shrink under the cold.

Stepping forward, he declared loudly, "I am the Chief of the Capital and also head of the Mingjing Office; in this Chang'an city, any underhanded deeds within three feet, I decide!"

"If you say I harbor ill intent, then I do harbor ill intent!"

Do you know what the ultimate interpretive authority of the law is?

This thing is in Chen's hand!

Mei Renbi shivered all over, feeling a strong sense of crisis wrapped in the breath of death.

Like a tide it engulfed him, cold sweat instantly seeped down his back, like barbs on his spine.

They looked at Chen Yan's bottomless eyes, knowing the other was far from empty threats.

This Duke of Wei has always acted on a whim, yet each step is ruthless, never leaving the enemy any leeway…

His mind raced, weighing pros and cons…

Resist?

Beside him, Lu Yiman and others were already spent, and all around were Chen Yan's troops, like an egg striking a stone.

Hold on?

Probably within a heartbeat, his head would be separated from his body, meeting a death without a whole corpse.

At that thought, Mei Renbi hesitated no longer.

Thump!

A muffled thud was heard.

The illustrious kirin prodigy fell to his knees, heavily striking the dust‑and‑blood‑stained ground.