Chapter 1530

Yan Hu Cheng's lips twitched, finally gathering courage to say: "A fine bird chooses its tree to roost."

Zhang Ziqian's face suddenly turned cold; he raised his hand and gave Yan Hu Cheng a hard slap, leaving Yan Hu Cheng dazed.

Zhang Ziqian flew into a rage, hair standing on end, and shouted: "As a subject, one must put loyalty and filial piety first; you are not allowed to mention such talk in front of me!"

Yan Hu Cheng pressed his lips and said: "I merely feel wronged for my adoptive father."

"Get out!"

Yan Hu Cheng turned and strode out of the tent; a figure flashed from the shadows ahead—it was Zhu Jingyao, chief of the Xichuan Four Heroes. Seeing Yan Hu Cheng's expression, he immediately understood something. Yan Hu Cheng said nothing and strode forward, with Zhu Jingyao following behind, arriving at a grassy knoll in the camp.

Seeing no one around, Zhu Jingyao cautiously asked: "General, what did the advisor say?"

Yan Hu Cheng shook his head.

Zhu Jingyao said: "Could it be that the advisor cannot see through the situation?"

Yan Hu Cheng said gloomily: "It's not that he can't see through; he sees too clearly. No matter what happens, he will not change his original intention."

Zhu Jingyao said: "Hope is clearly gone, why persist? You also didn't tell the advisor that Li Honghan slandered him before the Grand Marshal, claiming he colluded with Hu Xiaotian?"

Yan Hu Cheng nodded.

Zhu Jingyao, responsible for Li Honghan's safety on this trip to Tianxiang State, and also one of Li Honghan's personal guards, had told Yan Hu Cheng all these details. Zhu Jingyao sighed: "Although the Grand Marshal appears to trust the advisor, sending him as supervisor this time is actually a test; if Red Wood River cannot be taken smoothly, then..."

Yan Hu Cheng clenched his fists and said lowly: "Li Honghan is truly hateful. If I get the chance, I will surely cut him down with one stroke."

Zhu Jingyao said: "General, calm your anger; the biggest problem now is not Li Honghan, but the Grand Marshal's suspicion of the advisor."

Yan Hu Cheng said indignantly: "Xichuan has held on until now only because my adoptive father has labored diligently; if he too doubts my adoptive father, that would truly be lacking in conscience."

Zhu Jingyao sighed and whispered a few words into his ear.

Yan Hu Cheng's face changed upon hearing it: "What?"

Zhu Jingyao nodded and said: "I see Xichuan's defeat is only a matter of time; General, you should make plans early!"

Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue sat on the flying eagle; its flight speed was slow, as if floating in the night sky. Hu Xiaotian looked down—below lay the Xichuan encampment. From their altitude, the camp looked as small as a matchbox, yet despite the distance they could still see the enemy's camp laid out in orderly fashion.

Hu Xiaotian commanded the flying eagle to lower a bit for a clearer view; Long Xi Yue leaned against his chest. Her beautiful eyes admired the lovely, tranquil night; when she saw the camp's banners swaying below, she snapped out of her reverie, thinking of the impending assault on Red Wood River and Hu Xiaotian's assassination plan. Her heart tightened involuntarily; she turned and clung tightly to Hu Xiaotian's body.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't know who the commander here is; from the military discipline, this person is no ordinary figure."

Long Xi Yue whispered: "You forgot—isn't it Zhang Ziqian?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "He is merely a strategist; deploying troops, setting up camps—these are not things he could actually do." Then he recalled that Meng Guangxiong had mentioned before that the commander here is Zhang Ziqian's adopted son, Yan Hu Cheng; from the camp's layout, Yan Hu Cheng is certainly no ordinary person.

Hu Xiaotian told Long Xi Yue: "Tomorrow night we will launch the operation; Zhangming will escort you away first, and we will regroup after things are settled."

Long Xi Yue nodded; she understood the situation, and any reluctance now would disturb Hu Xiaotian: "Take extra care; once you see the flying eagle, I'll feel more at ease." In fact, her worry had not lessened at all; she merely tried not to show it.

Hu Xiaotian still read her concern and reluctance from her eyes, opened his arms, and tightly embraced her.

Xia Zhangming's duty was not only to protect Long Xi Yue; Hu Xiaotian also gave him another task: go to Tianlang Mountain to inform the Yan Kui faction, so that the mountain bandits would mobilize and create a disturbance near Qingyun Xian to divert their attention.

Long Xi Yue decided to go together with Xia Zhangming; her innate talent was sharp, and she quickly learned from him how to ride the Snow Eagle.

Watching the Snow Eagle carry their two figures disappear into the blue-gray dawn light, Hu Xiaotian then turned back to his room; the five warriors who had accompanied him were also sent away early. Though these five warriors were brave, they could not help in an assassination, and Hu Xiaotian did not want useless sacrifice. When he left Piaoxiang City, he had taken twenty warriors; now only five remain. These five, having undergone this harrowing life-and-death journey, have essentially transformed and become a core part of Hu Xiaotian's retinue. Everything is ready; only night remains to fall.

Since Yang Daoyuan arrived at Red Valley, his mood has been unable to calm; even Feng Xianlin noticed his unease and agitation, and respectfully said: "Sir, do you have something on your mind?"

Yang Daoyuan glanced at him, then sighed: "The Grand Marshal sending that old scholar as supervisor is clearly just to keep an eye on me!"

Feng Xianlin said: "Does he not trust you?"

Yang Daoyuan gave a heh-heh laugh: "Trust?" He thought to himself, aside from himself, who in this world is worth trusting?

Feng Xianlin said: "You have laid down so many meritorious services for him, yet he still doesn't trust you—truly chilling."

Yang Daoyuan said with deep meaning: "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are gone, the fine bow is stored. Since ancient times, one cannot escape this principle."

Feng Xianlin puzzled: "But he hasn't yet unified the realm; how could he do such a thing?"

Yang Daoyuan said: "If he doesn't do it, that little beast might not either." The "little beast" he referred to was Li Tianheng's son, Li Honghan.

Feng Xianlin grasped his meaning: "Li Honghan?"

Yang Daoyuan nodded: "Li Honghan this brat is ruthless and narrow-minded; he has always disliked me, wanting to seize my authority in Xiezhou. I have indulged him, avoiding conflict, but this scoundrel has only worsened, spreading rumors about me everywhere."

Feng Xianlin whispered: "You mean those rumors are all spread by him?"

Yang Daoyuan said: "Over the years, regarding Li Tianheng I have had no merit but also endured hardship; I ask myself I have done nothing to disappoint him, yet Li Tianheng is indecisive, mediocre, and has wasted good opportunities."

Feng Xianlin puzzled: "But why would Li Honghan target you, when he is destined to inherit Xichuan's great power? Why would he value the little authority you hold?"

Yang Daoyuan said: "He wants to clear obstacles to prepare for his own ascent; this beast has little talent, yet his mind is utterly corrupt, always thinking he possesses the ability to govern the world—civilly to pacify the state, militarily to decide the nation—heh… simply ignorant of heaven's height and earth's depth."

Feng Xianlin said: "But they are father and son; in Li Tianheng's eyes, his own son certainly has a thousand virtues. Sir, once we attack Red Wood River and succeed, we can seize it for ourselves, hold its land—advance to attack, retreat to defend—and thereafter we will no longer have to endure the filthy air of these two father and son."

Yang Daoyuan actually had a plan in mind all along, but he had not revealed it; now even Feng Xianlin, a mere warrior lacking great talent, could say such things, making him feel not only relieved but also uneasy. He also hadn't expected the grain and forage supply to be delayed this time; dragging on too long is hardly good, possibly exposing their true purpose in attacking Red Wood River.

Yang Daoyuan said: "Tomorrow is the time to advance; however, I think the Tianlang Mountain side has already seen through our true purpose."

Feng Xianlin said: "So what? Not fighting them is already good; dare they provoke us? A sixty-thousand-strong army could easily flatten Tianlang Mountain." To him, a martial artist, numbers and strength mean absolute advantage; he hasn't considered many factors.

Yang Daoyuan said: "They won't provoke us, but this way the Red Wood River side might get advance notice, making this battle likely difficult."

Feng Xianlin said: "Let Yan Hu Cheng and that old fogey take the front; better they die in battle!"

Yang Daoyuan said: "Do you think that upon reaching Red Wood River they won't first move to eliminate us?"

Feng Xianlin startled at the words, gaped at Yang Daoyuan.

Yang Daoyuan extended his fat hand, seized the side sword on the table, slowly drew the blade; after the sword left its sheath, though he made no visible motion, it trembled like a spirit snake, as if the sword in his hand had suddenly gained life.

Feng Xianlin gazed at everything before him, his eyes turning fervent, full of envy: "Senior brother..."

Yang Daoyuan abruptly turned his head; his cold gaze made Feng Xianlin feel a chill despite not being cold.

Feng Xianlin lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.

Yang Daoyuan said: "I want you to help me do something; it must be done without anyone knowing, not even ghosts!"

Feng Xianlin stepped forward: "Sir, please give your orders!"

"Tonight you lead the Seven Killers into action; help me eliminate Zhang Ziqian and Yan Hu Cheng!"

"What?" This news was truly too sudden; Feng Xianlin thought he had misheard.

Yang Daoyuan said: "Zhang Ziqian is an old fox; with his wisdom it's not hard to see our purpose in going to Redwood River."

"Why not wait until after we capture Fire Tree City to kill him?"

Yang Daoyuan shook his head and said: "I've been uneasy these past two days, always feeling an ominous portent; if he strikes first before we act, it will be too late to regret. In doing things, one must be decisive—any hesitation could lead to irreversible consequences." His arm moved slightly, and his long sword shot into its sheath at astonishing speed, without making the slightest sound; his control of force had already reached the point of effortless release and retraction.

Tonight there are still two more updates, with only two days left until the end of the month; don't hold onto your Monthly Tickets—contribute whatever strength you have, give whatever affection you feel, help Lao Zhangyu save face! Lao Zhangyu thanks you here! (To be continued~^~)