Chapter 163

Song Yusheng sighed bitterly and shook his head, hesitating: "This plan is far too risky. Tukusuo is a formidable warrior; subduing him without his knowledge is nearly impossible." His voice carried deep anxiety and unease.

Li Bo patted Song Yusheng on the shoulder with confidence, saying: "My lord, rest assured. Do not worry—I am already prepared."

"What kind of preparation?" Song Yusheng asked, his voice trembling.

Li Bo grinned triumphantly, pulling out a vial of liquid and shaking it. "This is a sleeping smoke I obtained from a mysterious alchemist in the south. Just a drop is enough to render anyone unconscious, helpless, and unable to resist!"

Song Yusheng frowned. "You… you plan to use this sleeping drug for what?"

Li Bo's eyes flashed with cruelty. "You don't know yet? I intend to use this drug to eliminate that hateful Tukusuo by Jiang Mingyu's side!"

Song Yusheng gasped in alarm. "Are you mad? How could you even think of doing this? Do you know who Tukusuo is? He is Jiang Mingyu's most trusted, closest guard—powerful, brilliant, and regarded by Jiang Mingyu as a brother! If you so much as harm a hair on his head, Jiang Mingyu will never let you live!"

Li Bo sneered. "I know exactly who he is. That's precisely why I must kill him. Then, my lord, you must go speak with Jiang Mingyu, distract him. I guarantee I will seize the moment and slip Tukusuo into a deep, unbreakable slumber. Once he's out, Jiang Mingyu will be at our mercy." As he spoke, his eyes gleamed as if victory were already within reach.

Song Yusheng sighed helplessly. "Fine. We'll proceed with the plan—for now. But I must warn you again: the risk is immense. One misstep, and the consequences will be catastrophic. We must ensure absolute perfection. No room for error." His voice brimmed with deep anxiety, fearing the plan might fail.

Li Bo waved off his concerns with disdain. "My lord, have you ever seen me fail in anything I've done? This time will be flawless—no oversight, no slip. Leave this task to me. I will deliver you a perfect success!" His face beamed with excitement and unshakable confidence.

Song Yusheng understood: Li Bo was determined to strike at Jiang Mingyu. And he himself had been dragged into this conspiracy. He did not wish to be part of it, yet he could not stop Li Bo.

"Very well. Time waits for no one. Let's move now."

Saying this, he seized a dagger from the bookshelf and turned toward the door.

Li Bo asked, puzzled.

"My lord, why take the dagger?"

Song Yusheng sheathed the dagger inside his sleeve, his voice tinged with worry.

"This mission is too dangerous. I'm taking it for my own safety. Let's go."

About a cup of tea's time later, Song Yusheng arrived nervously before Jiang Mingyu's door. He took a deep breath, trying to appear calm and composed.

Seeing this, Li Bo said nothing more and turned to administer the drug to Tukusuo.

At the door, Li Bo slipped in the sleeping smoke. Hearing Tukusuo's heavy snores from within, he smiled inwardly—his plan was progressing smoothly.

He smirked wickedly, muttering to himself: "Sleep well. When the sun climbs high, your head will be severed from your body. Then, I shall rise to glory, a great minister of the court!"

At that moment, Jiang Mingyu opened the door with a smile. "Ah, County Magistrate Song! What brings you here at this hour? Any urgent matter?" He warmly invited Song Yusheng to sit.

Song Yusheng forced a smile. "Not at all, nothing urgent—just came to pay my respects and inquire about your future plans." He strained to sound casual and relaxed.

The two began chatting casually.

Song Yusheng desperately tried to divert Jiang Mingyu's attention, but Jiang Mingyu detected no hint of insincerity or neglect in his words.

Suddenly—CRASH! Li Bo kicked the door open with a forceful kick and roared: "Jiang Mingyu! Today is your death day! Your head will be my trophy!" His voice crackled with excitement and arrogance.

Jiang Mingyu's expression darkened. He asked calmly: "Who are you? Why burst in like this? What do you intend?"

Li Bo gripped a broad crescent blade, his face twisted into a sinister grin. "I am Li Bo, Commandant of Longteng County's city guard. Jiang Mingyu, today is your end."

Jiang Mingyu rose slowly, hands behind his back, brows furrowed. "What is this? We have never met. Why do you seek my life?"

Li Bo stepped forward two paces, his face contorted with malice. "It means I've been ordered to kill you and deliver your head to the newly enthroned Emperor—to earn my fortune!"

Jiang Mingyu's gaze sharpened like a blade. He turned sharply to Song Yusheng beside him, his voice icy with fury: "So this was your doing all along."

Song Yusheng seemed frozen by Jiang Mingyu's stare. He stumbled back two steps, forcing a grotesque smile. "Yes… Jiang Mingyu, I've long planned this with Commandant Li. My visit here was agreed upon. You seized my Longteng County—how could I let it pass?"

Here, Song Yusheng raised his voice, a flicker of cruelty returning to his face. "Today, I will cut off your head and present it to the new Emperor! This will earn me glory!"

Jiang Mingyu stared at Song Yusheng's smug face, his eyes blazing with cold fury. "Listen well—even if you kill me now, you will not escape death. You forget: Tukusuo and my two thousand elite troops still hold Longteng County."

"Tukusuo and I have fought side by side for years—he is like a brother to me. Those two thousand are my most loyal, veteran officers."

Jiang Mingyu's gaze was icy, his tone absolute: "If you harm me even slightly, Tukusuo and my men will tear you into pieces. Try it—and see for yourselves."

Li Bo laughed scornfully. "Jiang Mingyu, still clinging to Tukusuo and your two thousand? They're all drunk, passed out on the ground like rotting meat! As for Tukusuo—he's asleep in his room, dreaming sweet dreams. We'd have killed him already, but we needed him alive to help persuade your men to surrender."

"You still expect those drunks and dreamers to save you? Pure fantasy! Ridiculous!" Li Bo's face hardened into cold cruelty. "Enough talk. Jiang Mingyu—hand over your head!"

Before the words left his lips, Li Bo drew his broad crescent blade and lunged, slashing straight for Jiang Mingyu's neck!