Chapter 495: with translation of chapter title

A wild inn beside the official road at the border region of Hebei and Shandong.

As dusk approached, the setting sun like blood dyed the earthen walls and tattered wine flag with an ominous orange‑red hue.

A thin-built man with sharp eyes led an extraordinary divine steed, pure snow‑white with not a single stray hair, into the inn in hurried steps.

This horse was none other than the famed 'Night‑Illuminating Jade Lion' whose renown had spread throughout the martial world.

And this man was Duan Jingzhu, bold to the point of recklessness, who made his living stealing horses.

He tethered the horse in the most concealed corner of the stable behind the shop, lightly covered it with a thick cloth, then entered the inn, found a seat against the wall, and lowered his voice to order some wine and meat.

He appeared calm, but his occasional glances toward the door and the hand resting on his waist dagger betrayed his inner tension.

What he carried in his bosom was not only this priceless treasure horse, but also an object capable of stirring a tremendous upheaval—a jade seal tightly wrapped in yellow silk and carved with a coiling dragon knob.

He had obtained this item during an adventure in the northern lands, 'acquiring' it from a group of scattered Jin‑state nobles.

He had originally intended to use it as capital for advancement, to flee to the renowned Liangshanpo and present it to Song Jiang, Song Gongming, in hopes of securing a future.

But he did not know that this 'chance' encounter, from the treasure horse to the jade seal, was a script meticulously arranged by an unseen hand.

The Iron Crow Army needed this jade seal as the final and heaviest chip to lock down Song Jiang's 'Mandate of Heaven.'

Outside the inn, behind a nearby earthen slope, several pairs of cold eyes were fixed on this place.

Their figures were blurred, as if they could merge with the surrounding shadows—these were the 'Shade' guards dispatched by the Iron Crow Army.

Their mission was to ensure that Duan Jingzhu and the jade seal arrived 'safely' at Liangshan, eliminating any interference along the way.

Yet another invisible net had also been quietly cast.

The innkeeper, a seemingly honest middle‑aged man, lightly tapped the rim of the bowl three times with an almost imperceptible motion while serving Duan Jingzhu his drink.

This was the contact signal of an outpost of the Jing'an Secret Service.

Duan Jingzhu did not notice; he hastily finished his meal, intended to rest a moment, then continue his journey under the cover of night.

Just as he had eaten his fill and his spirit relaxed a little, a sudden clatter of hurried hooves and shouting came from outside the inn.

Seven or eight men dressed as caravan guards burst in, cursing loudly, claiming they had lost valuable goods and demanding to search every passerby.

The inn instantly erupted into chaos.

Duan Jingzhu's heart jolted, and he instinctively shielded the object in his bosom.

Those caravan guards appeared brutish, yet their eyes swept sharply over everyone in the inn, lingering especially on Duan Jingzhu and the direction of the rear stable.

The 'Shade' lurking in the darkness immediately became alert; the shadows began to writhe, preparing to eliminate this 'unexpected' trouble.

At that very moment, dust rose again from the other end of the official road.

A detachment of about twenty‑thirty cavalry, flying the banner of the False Song local patrol, came galloping and directly surrounded the wild inn.

The leading officer shouted sternly: 'We have received intelligence that Jin‑state spies from the north are active here! Nobody may move arbitrarily; submit to inspection!'

The caravan guards inside, Duan Jingzhu, and even the Shade lurking in the dark had their steps disrupted by this sudden turn of events.

The three forces dramatically collided in this tiny inn.

Several dozen li away, within a secluded manor.

Qian Gui listened to the oral report relayed back by his subordinate through a special channel, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

'The fish have been startled, the water stirred.'

He said in a low voice to the communications officer beside him.

'The first step is accomplished.'

These caravan guards and patrol troops are enough to draw the Iron Crow Army's attention, making them suspicious for a while.

'Yes, Commander.'

The subordinate replied respectfully.

'The rumor we spread linking the jade seal to the Jin state has also begun to circulate among the greenwood and borderlands.'

'Many factions have taken interest, especially those with blood feuds against the Jin people, all inquiring about the seal's whereabouts.'

'Very good.'

Qian Gui nodded.

'The Iron Crow Army wishes to smuggle the jade seal onto Liangshan unseen; we intend to put it out in the open.'

'Let everyone know that this symbol of the Mandate of Heaven is not so cleanly obtained; it may even reek of barbarian stench.'

'Inform our people to keep creating trouble for Duan Jingzhu, but mind the scale—don't actually kill him, and don't let the jade seal fall into other hands.'

'Make him feel that only by rushing to Liangshan as fast as possible and finding Song Jiang can he be safe.'

'At the same time, let this process be sufficiently winding and eye‑catching.'

The chaos at the inn did not last long.

That patrol troop and the caravan guards seemed to have a quarrel, swords drawn, on the verge of fighting.

Seizing the opportunity, Duan Jingzhu dared not linger; he slipped silently to the rear, untied the 'Night‑Illuminating Jade Lion,' without waiting for night to fall, mounted, and fled hastily along a side path.

The Shade in the darkness quickly split into two groups.

One group remained behind to monitor and prepare to deal with these two 'unexpected' forces that had appeared.

The other group, like a bone‑deep maggot, silently tailed Duan Jingzhu.

Their primary task remained to ensure the safety of the jade seal.

However, after this disturbance, Duan Jingzhu's itinerary had been disrupted, and his vigilance reached its peak.

He no longer traveled the exposed official road, choosing forest trails instead, and his speed inevitably slowed.

More importantly, the various rumors about the jade seal had spread like a plague across the Shandong territory he had yet to reach.

Liangshanpo, the residence of Song Jiang.

Wu Yong lightly shook his feather fan and handed a freshly received secret report to Song Jiang.

'Gongming brother, the border region of Hebei and Shandong is not peaceful.'

Several forces seem to be chasing a precious horse and a man carrying a great treasure.

Rumors abound, all saying that the treasure…… is related to the former dynasty's imperial seal, and also involves the northern Jin.

Song Jiang received the secret report, skimmed it quickly, and his brows gradually furrowed.

「Imperial seal? Jin people? 」

He set down the report and paced a few steps inside the room.

「Military advisor, what do you think of this? 」

「This imperial seal…… is it a blessing or a calamity? 」

Wu Yong smiled faintly, his smile carrying deep meaning.

「Brother, whether it's a blessing or a calamity depends entirely on how it's used. 」

「If it is indeed the Heirloom Imperial Seal, then it is the strongest symbol of the Mandate of Heaven, enough to draw heroes from all under heaven to admire and flock to. 」

「As for its connection with the Jin…… the victor writes history, the loser is vilified; history's pen is like a sword. 」

「Once Brother achieves great undertaking, these rumors will settle themselves. 」

He had not finished speaking, but his meaning was already clear.

This imperial seal must be obtained; as for its origin, it can be "dealt with" afterward.

Song Jiang pondered a moment, a flash of resolve crossing his eyes.

「If so, we must dispatch more men to meet the one presenting the treasure. 」

「We must ensure the imperial seal's safe arrival at Mount Liang! 」

He seemed to already see himself holding the imperial seal, with heroes from all under heaven bowing in submission.

The Mandate of Heaven revealed by the astral inscription on the stone stele will thus become even more indisputable.

「I understand. 」

Wu Yong bowed to receive the order, lowered his eyelids, concealing the fleeting calculation in his eyes.

「I'll see to it at once; I will make sure this treasure arrives safely. 」

In the night, Duan Jingzhu galloped his horse at full speed, the wind howling past his ears.

The imperial seal in his bosom felt heavy, like a branding iron, burning him with anxiety.

What he did not know was that he and the imperial seal in his bosom had already become a crucial pawn.

It stirred the undercurrents of Shandong and Hebei, tugging at the nerves of countless people.

The Iron Crow Army sought to use this to establish the Mandate of Heaven, while Chen Wen's side hoped to use it to break the stalemate.

And he himself was merely a small boat, helplessly adrift in that turbulent current.