Chapter 418

Great Jin, Peaceful Yang City, three hundred li north of the city, a stretch of extraordinarily steep and rugged mountain ridges like a screen.

This mountain range is not large in extent, stretching only a few hundred li east-west, the main peak no higher than three hundred zhang, yet it is extremely perilous and strikingly beautiful, with scenery extremely lovely.

Most importantly, the mountain's roots have been refined by a being of great supernatural power with supreme force into a single solid mass, and they extend straight down to the Nine Springs earth veins, merging with the earth as one, extremely solid, indestructible.

Every piece of stone here is arranged with powerful restrictions.

Every grain of sand here is an organic component of a great formation.

Every leaf, every blade of grass, every speck of dust floating in the air is densely covered with restrictions, together forming a profound, deep, and immensely powerful formation beyond imagination.

Following a very clean blue stone slab road into the mountains for a hundred li, several small peaks surround a dozen or so inconspicuous compounds, with towers and pavilions dense, the surroundings thickly dotted with countless open and hidden posts, and moreover large numbers of elite troops in heavy armor patrol back and forth.

This is the Pivot Hall of the Great Jin Military Department; the Great Jin Military Department's scattered spies, traitors, hidden posts, eyes and ears, etc., if they have news to send back, will ultimately gather in the Pivot Hall, where after review and sorting by the Pivot Hall, they are then sent according to importance to the true core high-level leaders of Great Jin for directives and handling.

If the Great Jin Military Department wishes to take special actions against a certain target, such as assassination, bribery, kidnapping, etc., all operation orders also come from the Pivot Hall, executed by the special operations unit of the Military Department controlled by the Pivot Hall.

The Pivot Hall is the eyes and ears of the Great Jin Military Department, and moreover a sharp blade of the Great Jin Military Department.

Those who can serve in the Pivot Hall are none other than the Great Jin Military Department's most trusted, most heavily utilized, and brightest-future power holders.

Three hundred zhang beneath the Pivot Hall, a jet-black metal gate, three zhang six chi thick, slid open with a rumbling sound, and a gaunt-faced man with a bit of beard and a stern demeanor led a group of people slowly out from within the gate.

"Halt!" a burly man completely encased in thick armor, exposing not an inch of flesh, called out in a low voice.

The gaunt man stopped his steps and naturally spread his arms.

The group behind him likewise assumed the same posture; above, a thick, heavy treasure mirror several zhang in diameter on the dome emitted a blinding flash of light, which slowly swept over the gaunt man and those behind him.

Where the flash passed, the gaunt man and his companions' clothing all turned translucent, and their skin, muscles, bones, meridians, five viscera and six bowels, etc., became layer by layer transparent.

Dozens of armored soldiers, packed like canned goods and wielding various immortal weapons, surrounded the gaunt man and his entourage in a tight circle.

After a good while, the flash faded, and a faint sound of a jade chime came from somewhere.

The gaunt man lowered his arms and, smiling, clasped his hands toward the heavily armored man ahead: "General!"

The burly man in heavy armor nodded, took a scroll from the clerk beside him, and handed it to the gaunt man.

The gaunt man picked up a vermilion brush on the scroll and carefully filled in the date and time, his own name, his post in the Pivot Hall, and other information; then, stroke by stroke, neatly, he filled in the names and posts of the twenty-four attendants behind him on the scroll as well.

"Vice Hall Master, you've worked hard." Only after the gaunt man finished filling in all the information did the armored man greet him in a muffled voice.

"Just doing my duty." The gaunt man laughed, he and his twenty-four attendants stepped aside, and then a man wearing the same robe as him, likewise followed by twenty-four attendants, walked over slowly.

The gaunt man and the other exchanged smiles and nods, but cautiously kept a distance of more than three zhang.

The treasure mirror's flash descended, slowly sweeping over the newly arrived group; after a good while, the flash withdrew, and that person likewise registered all information on another scroll, then stepped forward with steady, square steps into the passage behind the gate.

The three-zhang-six-chi-thick metal gate slowly closed, emitting a loud "Boom."

The gaunt man exhaled heavily, turned around, and in a solemn voice told the twenty-four attendants behind him: "Lords, you have worked hard this past year; return and rest well, and after one month, when you resume your regular duty at the Pivot Hall, be sure not to miss the appointed time… military law is merciless."

The group all exhaled relaxedly, smiling and clasping their hands in salute to the gaunt man.

The group followed a winding passage with nine turns and eighteen bends, slowly walking up to the surface, where a group of Pivot Hall clerks waited holding trays containing the gaunt man and his companions' weapons, armor, and other secret treasures.

In that underground place, no one may bring in anything except the blue cloth long robe they wear; not even a needle is allowed.

The gaunt man opened his mouth, and the twenty or thirty brilliant secret treasures on the trays held by the two clerks before him all turned into flowing light and rapidly entered his mouth. Silently circulating his cultivation method, he nourished them with his qi and blood after a year of separation; his body trembled and he turned directly into a wisp of clear wind and departed.

The clear wind blew out of the Pivot Hall, along the clean blue stone slab road all the way out of this strange and perilous mountain range; at the end of the blue stone slab road, a small black-lacquer carriage was already waiting.

Four guards wearing soft armor stood beside the carriage, and a white-haired old man paced anxiously beside it, occasionally shaking his head and sighing.

"Rong Bo, why have you come?" As the clear wind settled, the gaunt man appeared beside the carriage, and he said with a smile: "I said before, serving a rotation in the Pivot Hall, although the one-year term is a bit long, it's no big deal; why would you need to come personally to fetch me?"

The white-haired old man drew a deep breath, looked at the gaunt man, and said in a low voice: "Young master, please accept my condolences."

The gaunt man's face suddenly stiffened, a gentle force spread outward in all directions with a continual "hiss-hiss" sound, and countless grains of sand and gravel on the ground instantly turned into wisps of blue smoke and dissipated.

"What is it that Rong Bo spoke of? At home, which elder has met with misfortune?" The gaunt man quickly reined in his force and calmly looked at the white-haired old man.

"It's the young master who has met with misfortune." Elder Rong stared fixedly at the gaunt man and said in a low voice: "The young master led people to Great Marsh Prefecture to investigate the matter of several successive prefects and military commanders of Great Marsh being killed…… the young master…… unfortunately……"

The gaunt man closed his eyes.

A faint phosphorescence faintly glowed all around him; after a while, he spoke in a very calm, almost overly calm voice: "Great Marsh Prefecture, according to military department records, it was only recently opened up ten years ago…… no, now the killing has come, it is the new prefecture of eleven years."

"Zhao Yin cultivates the Great Bright King Physique, his combat ability is not lacking, he also has secret treasures protecting his body, and furthermore those around him……"

The gaunt man shook his head and said in a low voice: "These conditions are not important…… what matters is that Zhao Yin is dead. Excellent, my Zhao Xiong's only son, he is dead. This is the final result……"

Zhao Xiong closed his eyes, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Somewhat interesting, but just serving a one-year rotation in the Pivot Hall, and yet this sort of thing happens. Hmm, tracing the cause and effect, I had instructed Zhao Yin, given his manner of conduct, why would he run off to such a newly opened prefecture for no reason?"

Rong Bo lowered his head and said softly: "These days, the young master has been on very good terms with the newly appointed Marquis Jiang, Sima Yu, and also Sima Xin and Sima Hu of the Divine Martial Army."

Zhao Xiong grinned, showing a mouthful of bright white teeth that reflected the sunlight, oddly giving a feeling of icy coldness like an iceberg.

"Good, I'll send out invitations in my name, inviting Sima Yu, as well as Sima Xin and Sima Hu, together with their fathers, to a feast at the 'Brocade Emerald Pavilion'…… hehe, my Zhao Xiong's only son is dead…… hmm, has the lady made any arrangements?"

Rong Bo raised his head and said softly: "The princess said, wait until you return, then make a decision; the princess only ordered the household guards to keep a close watch on Sima Yu, Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the like."

"Excellent, no wonder she is my Zhao Xiong's lady." Zhao Xiong gave a light smile, his body flickered, and he entered the black-lacquer carriage. He lightly stomped his foot and said calmly: "Return to Peaceful Yang City; my Zhao Xiong's son is dead, and no matter what, they must give me an accounting."

Peaceful Yang City, Brocade Emerald Pavilion.

This is an establishment that does not show off its mountains or reveal its waters, outwardly simple and unassuming, yet inside elegant and luxurious—a tavern.

The style of the Brocade Emerald Pavilion is just like Zhao Xiong's character—externally plain as water, but internally hiding knives and soldiers; therefore Zhao Xiong most likes to entertain guests here.

But today, in the elegant pavilion that Zhao Xiong usually reserves for himself, the atmosphere is rather grim.

Zhao Xiong sat upright in the master's chair at the center of the elegant pavilion; behind him was a row of six large chairs, on which sat the six elders of the Zhao clan, the military family of Great Jin, six individuals who have cultivated to the utmost of the Embryonic Treasury realm and, in the Great Jin military, are also called "veteran famous generals."

Regardless of their personal strength or their connections in the military, these six, with eyes narrowed and motionless, like wooden-carved elders, all carry great weight.

At the very least, when these six sit down behind Zhao Xiong, it represents the attitude of the Zhao clan.

The combined aura of the six completely overwhelms the fathers of Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others seated in the elegant pavilion, and even the father of the newly appointed Marquis Jiang, Sima Yu—namely, Sima Chan, the Blazing King of the Great Jin Divine State—is made somewhat uneasy by the solemn aura emanating from these six old-timers.

Zhao Xiong sat quietly in the master's chair, gazing at Sima Yu and his entourage of well-known wealthy playboys from Peaceful Yang City kneeling before him.

Among them, Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others were still in the Divine Martial Army; after Zhao Xiong's invitations reached their homes, they were urgently recalled from the army, and even before they could take off their battle armor, their elders brought them to the Brocade Emerald Pavilion, where they knelt before Zhao Xiong.

Zhao Yin died.

This matter, a few months ago, gave the whole city of Anyang a slight shake.

But at that time, Zhao Xiu was on duty in the most crucial Pivot Pavilion of the Pivot Hall, serving a one-year term; while he was away, he received no outside information at all. Thus Zhao Xiu had no reaction, and his wife, the deeply beloved Great Jin princess, likewise remained inactive.

So, no one knew that Zhao Yin's death was actually connected to Sima You and those few young idlers.

Prince Yan Sima Yan, along with the fathers of Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and others, each had an ugly expression, grim-faced as they looked at their own sons kneeling on the ground.

Sima You and the others knelt on the ground, each lowering their heads to stare at the floor, cold sweat continually seeping from their foreheads.

When the news of Zhao Yin's death arrived, they knew things were bad.

In truth, they were on good terms with Zhao Yin in daily life; Sima Xin and the others felt unwilling to let Huo Xiong live, so they entrusted Zhao Yin, asking him to find an opportunity to kick Huo Xiong to death.

So, when the news came back to Anyang that the spatial gate in Great Marsh Prefecture had been destroyed and Zhang Xibai killed, Zhao Yin set off eagerly with his men.

Who could have imagined that Zhao Yin would actually die in Great Marsh Prefecture?

Zhao Yin was Zhao Xiu's only son.

Zhao Xiu, whom the Great Jin's premier military Zhao clan had fully cultivated as the next sect leader, was already, at a young age, the Vice Hall Master of the Great Jin Military's Pivot Hall; on the surface he seemed to hold no military post, not a single soldier under his command……

But who doesn't know what shady dealings the Great Jin Military's Pivot Hall engages in?

Under Zhao Xiu, heaven knows how many terrifying assassins and killers he has; heaven knows how many spies and secret agents he hides in the dark; heaven knows how many shameful secrets of those present he holds.

The position of Vice Hall Master of the Pivot Hall is enough to suppress Prince Yan Sima Yan.

Even if Sima Yan is the king of the Great Jin Divine State… the kings of the Great Jin Divine State number at least a thousand, whereas there is only one Vice Hall Master of the Pivot Hall named Zhao Xiu.

Cold sweat dripped onto the ground, and Sima You's body involuntarily began to tremble.

After all, in the matter of Zhao Yin's death, Sima You is the most directly responsible party; he cannot help but fear, cannot help but be afraid.

After all, Zhao Xiu is a rising military titan that even his father, King Sima Yan, cannot handle or withstand.

"I've roughly understood the cause and effect of the matter in the past hour." Zhao Xiu said lightly: "You bear responsibility for Zhao Yin's death…… but I can also understand what you youngsters think; after all, youthful recklessness, I was like that too—when I was young, the troubles I stirred up were greater than yours."

"It's just taking credit for a merit, scheming for an earldom—trivial, not worth mentioning."

Zhao Xiu said calmly: "Although I can understand what you've done, after all, Zhao Yin is dead…… and he is my only son, moreover the only son of Princess Jingrang. Because he is my son, this matter cannot be let go so easily."

Zhao Xiu turned to Sima Yan, smiling as he clasped his hands: "Your Highness, sorry, the princess Jingrang's anger needs you to personally soothe it…… I think, within your Yan Region, there is a mountain called Mount Cangxiu; if you could cede Mount Cangxiu to Princess Jingrang, her anger would lessen a bit."

Prince Yan Sima Yan's face turned as ugly as it could get.

Mount Cangxiu is a spiritual mountain stretching over tens of thousands of li; the key is that its underground mineral veins are extremely rich, and furthermore three great Earth Mother Veins run through it. With the Earth Mother Veins, the rare minerals can be called inexhaustible and everlasting—it is an inexhaustible treasure trove.

But once Zhao Xiu spoke, Mount Cangxiu could only belong to the Zhao Xiu family.

"Good." Sima Yan forced a smile toward Zhao Xiu in salute, his heart wishing he could draw his sword and stab that son of a bitch Sima You to death.

He has many sons, but there is only one Mount Cangxiu.

Zhao Xiu then turned to the fathers of Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and others, making his requests separately.

Zhao Xiu grasped the situation perfectly; the compensation he demanded happened to hit the fathers of Sima Xin and the others right where it hurt, yet it stayed just at the bottom line, leaving them anguished but still able only to pay him.

The fathers of Sima Xin and the others each agreed to Zhao Xiu's terms; in their hearts they simultaneously thought, just like Sima Yan, 'Such a son who brings trouble to his father—better to run him through with a sword and pretend he was never born.'

Zhao Xiu smiled and thanked Sima Yan and the others, then he smiled and looked toward Sima You, Sima Xin, Sima Hu, and the others.

"Gentlemen, the matter of avenging Zhao Yin is now in your hands."

"I will issue a transfer order to assign you to the Pivot Hall…… I have heard that the army of Great Marsh Prefecture has unstable morale, the troops are restless, and since the Pivot Hall's duty lies there, we must send capable officers to investigate."

Zhao Xiu clasped his hands toward Sima Xin and the others, saying calmly: "I have specially devised an action plan for you gentlemen, named 'Slay the Hero.' I ask you all to work together and…… make this matter turn out splendidly."