Chapter 612

Hu Xiaotian said: "I suppose I won't be in their way, right?"

Cao Xi smiled and said: "Sir Hu, please don't make things difficult for me; how about you come again tomorrow?"

Hu Xiaotian didn't insist, nodded and said: "Then I'll come again tomorrow; please trouble Commander Cao to report to my princess that I've come."

No problem!

Hu Xiaotian turned his horse, gave Zhou Mo a glance behind him, was about to leave when he saw a rider coming from ahead; it was Liu Yucheng, the young master of the Shen Nong Society. Seeing Hu Xiaotian, Liu Yucheng couldn't help but exclaim delightedly: "Sir Hu, I've finally found you."

Hu Xiaotian spurred his horse over and said to Liu Yucheng: "This isn't a place to talk; let's leave here first and then speak."

Liu Yucheng said: "There's a Spring River Teahouse ahead; let's go there to talk."

Liu Yucheng, having grown up in Yongdu since childhood, was extremely familiar with the surroundings; he brought Hu Xiaotian and Zhou Mo to the Spring River Teahouse he mentioned. Everyone in the teahouse treated him very courteously, because the Shen Nong Society is famous throughout Yongdu; Liu Changsheng is generous and kind, devoted to helping the world, and enjoys high prestige in Yongdu. Not to mention, just the number of patients he personally cured in Yongdu runs into the tens of thousands, enough to be called a blessing to the region.

Liu Yucheng ordered a private room and had someone brew a pot of Biluochun tea.

After sitting down, Liu Yucheng said: "I went to the Qichen Palace early this morning to look for Sir Hu, but was told you had already moved out, and they wouldn't say where you went; I was hesitating when I didn't expect you to come. Sir Hu, why did you leave the Qichen Palace?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "This is a long story; he briefly explained the whole background of the matter to Liu Yucheng."

Liu Yucheng, upon hearing, couldn't help but frown; regardless of the relations between the two states, Hu Xiaotian's entourage came here for a marriage alliance. Da Yong's current conduct is truly unbecoming; not to mention the lack of a formal welcoming ceremony, they actually drove the Dakang marriage envoy out of the Qichen Palace—if this got out, it would be a laughingstock! Liu Yucheng asked: "Sir Hu, have you found a place to stay?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've found one; we're staying at the South Wind Inn not far from here."

Liu Yucheng said: "That's excellent."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Liu, why did you come see me so early?"

Liu Yucheng said: "I came to tell Sir Hu that my father has asked me to accompany you to General Weichi's residence to inform the general about the envoy's matter; perhaps he knows the reason."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed delightedly: "Brother Liu, the General Weichi you mentioned is the famed General Weichi Chong, isn't he?"

Liu Yucheng laughed: "Exactly him; he is actually a Dakang native. My father and he were close friends; I believe General Weichi, out of regard for our former country, will not ignore us."

Hu Xiaotian felt genuinely moved; the Liu father and son are both enthusiastic, and based solely on a letter from Qin Yutong, they are wholeheartedly helping him. This favor must be remembered, and if there is ever a chance, he will surely repay them.

Liu Yucheng had arranged with the general's residence to meet at the si hour; it's still early now, so he ordered some snacks. Liu Yucheng said: "Sir Hu, how is Miss Qin doing?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "She's fine; she's the personal disciple of the head of Xuantian Guan, and the palace also holds her in high regard."

Liu Yucheng said: "It's been three years since I last saw her; Miss Qin is brilliantly intelligent. Her aptitude in medicine is outstanding among the younger generation, and my father often has me learn from her."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Brother Liu, your family's learning runs deep; your future achievements will surely be limitless."

Liu Yucheng modestly said: "I'm not that capable; my father often says I lack flexibility in medicine, sticking rigidly to old ways, so I won't achieve much in the future."

Although his contact with Liu Yucheng hasn't been long, Hu Xiaotian already sensed he is a modest gentleman, and felt inclined to befriend him. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Brother Liu, how old are you this year?"

Liu Yucheng said: "I was born in the year of Wu Xu; I am twenty-one this year."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am seventeen this year; I should address you as Elder Brother Liu."

Liu Yucheng said: "That won't do; Sir Hu is an imperial envoy of Dakang, while I am merely a commoner—I dare not presume to be your equal."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "What envoy? Friends need not worry about status; Brother Liu should know my background—if you don't despise me, from now on just call me Brother Hu."

Liu Yucheng nodded and said: "Since Brother Hu says so, if I say more it would sound affected." He turned to Zhou Mo and said: "This is..."

Zhou Mo said: "I am Zhou Mo, a guard beside Sir Hu." This was an understanding they had reached earlier, letting Hu Xiaotian not publicize their relationship; Hu Xiaotian could only go along with it.

Liu Yucheng said: "From Brother Zhou's appearance, he is also a warrior."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Brother Liu, are you married?"

Upon being asked this, Liu Yucheng's expression showed a bit of embarrassment.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "So you have someone in your heart?"

Liu Yucheng said: "No, there isn't." But his expression clearly confirmed Hu Xiaotian's words.

At that moment, a green-clad servant rushed up from downstairs, burst into their private room, panting, and said: "Young master… a… a great matter has happened…"

The one who came was a servant of the Shen Nong Society; Liu Yucheng disliked his rudeness, furrowed his brows and said: "Liu Bao, didn't you see I'm entertaining guests?"

Liu Bao, while wiping sweat, said: "Young master, there really is a major incident—the chief has gone missing."

"What?" Liu Yucheng sprang to his feet.

Hu Xiaotian was also startled upon hearing; yesterday he had just visited Liu Changsheng, and clearly saw Liu Changsheng with an injured leg lying in the room—how could he just vanish? Liu Yucheng shared the same thought and shouted: "How is that possible? My father can't even walk!"

Liu Bao said: "We don't know either; this morning we went over and saw the chief's compound gate tightly shut, and it seemed to be bolted from inside; we found it odd, but no matter how we knocked, there was no answer. So we plucked up courage to climb over the wall, entered, and found the inner room door open, yet the chief was nowhere to be seen, and even his medicine chest was missing."

Upon hearing, Liu Yucheng turned pale with fright, hurriedly apologized to Hu Xiaotian: "Brother Hu, I'm afraid I can't go today."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Mr. Liu's matter is the important one; Brother Liu, we'll accompany you to have a look."

Liu Yucheng nodded and said: "That works."

At once, the few of them hurriedly left the teahouse and went straight to the Shen Nong Society; inside the society it was already in utter chaos, disciples seeing Liu Yucheng return swarmed around him, all talking at once, the scene extremely disorderly.

Liu Yucheng said: "Everyone, please calm down for now; I'll first check the rear courtyard."

Arriving at the courtyard where Liu Changsheng lived, they saw it as tidy and clean as usual, with no signs of a struggle; all the disciples could notice was that the chief and his medicine chest were both missing.

Fan Ling'er, tears in her eyes, said: "Uncle Master, should we report to the authorities?"

Liu Yucheng said: "Liu Bao, go to the Jingzhao Prefecture to seek help from Elder Brother Bai; for now, let's not make a fuss, and split up to search everywhere."

Zhou Mo looked around inside the room, then walked slowly toward the outside, standing in the garden to look; suddenly his eyes sharpened, he tapped the tip of his foot lightly on the ground and, like a startled swan, leapt onto the wall top.

Everyone stared, mouths agape; Liu Yucheng inwardly sighed, never expecting Zhou Mo's skill to be so formidable.

Zhou Mo stood on the courtyard wall, looked around, then leapt toward the large tree outside the wall, snatched a piece of dark blue cloth from a branch—this cloth was clearly a fragment of robe snagged on the branch. The others also came out to the courtyard exterior; Zhou Mo floated down from the tree and handed the cloth to Liu Yucheng.

Liu Yucheng took the cloth and immediately recognized it as coming from his father's robe; he instantly panicked.

Hu Xiaotian saw that Zhou Mo had something to say and whispered: "Brother Liu, let's talk while we walk."

Liu Yucheng instantly understood that Hu Xiaotian disliked the crowd and wanted to avoid further chaos, so he stepped aside with him; Zhou Mo then said: "Young Master Liu, does your father know martial arts?"

Liu Yucheng shook his head: "No!"

Zhou Mo said: "There are trampling marks in the garden, and some mud on the wall; I originally thought it was your household's servants climbing over the wall and leaving traces, but seeing this cloth on the tree, we can basically conclude that your father climbed over the wall, then clambered up this large tree and leapt directly over the outer wall to leave the Shen Nong Society."

Liu Yucheng looked up at the tall tree, shook his head firmly, and said: "Impossible; my father doesn't know martial arts, and his leg is injured."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Then only one possibility remains."

Liu Yucheng's heart sank instantly; judging from the situation before his eyes, his father was nine out of ten likely kidnapped.

Zhou Mo said: "Mr. Liu, do you usually have any enemies?"

Liu Yucheng shook his head and said: "My father has always been kind and generous, devoted to helping the world; how could he have any enemies?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If it's not for revenge, could it be for robbery?"

Liu Yucheng gave a bitter smile and said: "Don't hide it from you two brothers, although our Shennong Society has a reputation abroad, my Liu family does not have vast wealth, because my father every year takes out his consultation fees to do good deeds. What can we do about this? My father's leg is still injured."

Hu Xiaotian comforted him: "Brother Liu, don't be anxious; let's look together." He then turned to Zhou Mo and said: "Brother Zhou, see if you can track down any other traces."

Zhou Mo nodded, turned, and headed toward that big tree.

Just as Liu Yucheng was at a loss, suddenly he heard another report from outside—it was the people from the Prince Yan's mansion arriving.

The steward of the Prince Yan's mansion, Tie Zheng, strode in with two guards; Liu Yucheng went forward to meet him: "Steward Tie!"

Tie Zheng wore a look of cold arrogance: "Is the Manor Master Liu present?"

Liu Yucheng said: "My father is not here."

Tie Zheng frowned coldly, looking fierce and menacing, and snorted: "You said yesterday that Manor Master Liu's right leg was broken; if his leg is injured, where could he have gone?"

Please vote for the guaranteed monthly ticket! (To be continued... ^~^)