Chapter 221 - A Pre-emptive Strike (1/2)

Chapter 221: A Pre-emptive Strike

Translator: DragonRider

Ling Zhang secretly heaved a sigh of relief in the knowledge that Yuwen Tong was not personally going to the Wan Kingdom. He suddenly realized that he couldn’t do without Yuwen Tong. The very thought of a separation of some time from Yuwen Tong made him feel upset.

Ling Zhang said, “That kind of weapon doesn’t exist. If by any chance the truth is found out, His Majesty would know that the a.s.sa.s.sin’s target was me rather than you. Would it be regarded as the crime of deceiving the emperor?”

Yuwen Tong said, “They themselves were the ones who drew the conclusion that I was the a.s.sa.s.sin’s target. From start to finish, that short bolt was the only thing they saw. Given the circ.u.mstances back then, if you hadn’t stopped and I hadn’t cut the second bolt in half, it indeed would’ve missed you, which is an unquestionable fact. The worst case scenario is they suspect us. Without evidence, n.o.body could accuse us of deceiving the emperor.”

Ling Zhang was still worried. “What if the mastermind is seized and then states their intentions?”

Yuwen Tong said, “Again, there’s no evidence, is there?”

Ling Zhang did a double take. Indeed, those people wouldn’t be able to show any proofs, because that short bolt was now in their hands.

After the two of them finished dinner, Yao Yi returned, telling them that there had been no message from the courier hostel so far, and news of the attempted a.s.sa.s.sination in the horse race had spread to the capital city. It had come to the knowledge of people in the courier hostel, but Shan Congwen, who was very poised, as yet had been behaving as usual.

Yuwen Tong asked, “What about those going in and out of the courier hostel?”

Yao Yi replied, “The diplomatic corps of the Wan Kingdom are the only customers staying in the courier hostel today. Shan Congwen hasn’t received any invitations and been in the courier hostel all day along with other members of the diplomatic corps. As regards people going in and out of the courier hostel, apart from a small band of people delivering food there in the morning, there were also a group of people going there to transfer goods at night. Both the two bands only stayed in the rear yard for a very short time. There were n.o.body else.”

Yuwen Tong queried, “Did you look into the background of those delivering food and those transferring goods?”

Yao Yi answered, “Yes, but nothing anomalous has been found so far. Tonight n.o.body has entered or exited the courier hostel except for the band of people going there to transfer goods, and the communication between them and staff members of the courier hostel were under our close watch.”

Yuwen Tong, after a few moments’ contemplation, said, “Shan Congwen’s being quiet is itself something abnormal. Keep an eye open for them. These days the emperor’s men as well as people of other sides definitely have all been staking out the courier hostel. Be careful not to be exposed.”

Yao Yi nodded. “Yes, Marshal.”

Nothing unusual happened the rest of the night. All sides were very quiet, as if waiting for someone hiding in the shadows to make their move.

The next day, Ling Zhang had to go to school. Yuwen Tong accompanied him there, and they paid a visit to Ji Yin once again.

The princ.i.p.al, after being informed that Yuwen Tong had come again, was almost as alarmed as the last time. Given the serious incident the day before, he started to fret the moment he heard about Yuwen Tong’s arrival. For fear that an a.s.sa.s.sin might show up in his college, he hurriedly had Feng Zhangs.h.i.+ instruct college security guards, who were few in number, to stay close to Yuwen Tong providing protection.

Ling Zhang, on seeing the sweat on the princ.i.p.al’s forehead, felt some sympathy for the princ.i.p.al who was clearly in panic.

The first thing Ji Yin did as he laid eyes on Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong was also ask about the a.s.sa.s.sin.

Neither of them told him the a.s.sa.s.sin’s target had been Ling Zhang. After hearing their words, Ji Yin said, “It’s rumored that the a.s.sa.s.sin was sent by the Wan Kingdom. Was it true?”

Yuwen Tong said, “All those are just speculations. There’s no proof that the Wan Kingdom was behind it.”

Ji Yin inclined his head. Though Ling Zhang and Yuwen Tong’s arrival had come as a surprise to him, he was very pleased to see them.

Ling Zhang stated the purpose of their visit, telling his grandfather that he’d encountered some difficulties during the process of cultivating the second layer of the mental cultivation method of internal energy.

Ji Yin, after hearing it, answered all Ling Zhang’s questions one by one in the presence of Yuwen Tong and then said, “You’ve reached the second layer after cultivating for merely one month. There’s no need to hurry. You’ll naturally enter the third layer in due course. Your comprehension is very impressive, far better than that of any of your peers in the Millennium Pavilion. More haste, less speed. I suggest you maintain composure and take baby steps.”

Ling Zhang, after hearing Ji Yin’s replies to his questions, came to understand a lot that had been puzzling him previously. Feeling that he was seeing the light, Ling Zhang took Ji Yin’s advice willingly without any contradictions.

“Grandfather, it was Professor Gu who recommended you. Does he know who you truly are?” asked Ling Zhang.

Ji Yin responded, “He doesn’t. To his knowledge, I’m a scholar well-known in Youzhou. A few years ago he encountered a crisis in Shengzhou and I saved his life, which was why this time around when I asked him to help me land a job in the Imperial College, he came to my help without asking any questions.”

Ling Zhang gave a nod. “This is where you’re living, grandfather? I’m afraid people might find something out about your ident.i.ty if you stay in this place for long. You–”

Ji Yin smiled, “There’s no need for such worries. If anything does happen, I can always leave and hide. You may rest a.s.sured that your grandfather is still robust and knows a thing or two about making himself scarce.”

Ling Zhang recalled what Ji Yin looked like when not wearing disguise. He was more than just robust; he was literally quite young!

“You know where I live, and given your kung fu skills, it’ll be very easy for you to find me. If trouble comes, please don’t hesitate to go to the Ling Mansion.”

Ji Yin inclined his head, very glad to receive this invitation from his grandson. “I will.”

“I’ve sent a letter back to the clan stating your request. It’ll take a couple of days for the reply to arrive.”

Ling Zhang gave a bob of his head. Even if he had got the permission already, he wouldn’t be able to depart for the Millennium Pavilion right away, for currently it was inconvenient for him and Yuwen Tong to leave the capital city.

“By the way, I heard that since yesterday the horse race was canceled in midstream, the princ.i.p.al consulted with the president of the Oriental Rite Academy and the two of them agreed that a second horse race shall be held in a few days. I think you’ll hear people talking about it very soon,” said Ji Yin.

Ling Zhang was amazed. A second horse race?

It seemed that the princ.i.p.al actually set great store by this horse race, probably because he wanted the Imperial College to win.

Unsurprisingly, after returning to the cla.s.sroom, Ling Zhang heard the news from Yuwen Jin and others.