Chapter 234 - The Forthcoming Hunt Meeting (2/2)

A thought flashed across Ling Zhang’s mind, and he maintained his pretence of deep sorrow regardless of who the one guiding him was. It was not until someone walked him back to his own chamber that he slowly stopped sobbing.

Faking tears was also skilled work, and this was the first time that Ling Zhang had found that he was so good at acting.

Miao s.h.i.+ba, who was still dressed as a study-servant (a boy serving in someone’s study), had been staying in Ling Zhang’s courtyard house. While n.o.body was watching, he sneaked into Ling Zhang’s room and stealthily gave Ling Zhang a thumbs up. “You were so good, Childe Ling.”

Ling Zhang flicked a glance at the doorway. It was true that his hearing was much sharper than before, but on that day when they were in the hunting ground in the western suburbs, he’d failed to sense the presence of that secret bodyguard of the emperor, so he didn’t dare let down his guard.

Miao s.h.i.+ba said in a quiet voice, “Xie s.h.i.+ is on the rooftop. They won’t hear us if we speak in undertones.”

On hearing this, Ling Zhang heaved a sigh of relief, asked Miao s.h.i.+ba about the situation in this residential compound and relaxed slightly after being informed of what was going on in other areas.

“There are so many court physicians here. How come none of them see through Yuwen Tong’s faked wound?”

Miao s.h.i.+ba said, “I don’t know either. It seems that some expert has been helping the Marshal.”

Expert?

Ling Zhang was confused. Who was this expert?

The answer presented itself that very night. He was frightened when he saw his grandfather noiselessly materialize in his room and with that a thought occurred to him in a flash of inspiration.

“Grandfather, is it you who’s been helping Yuwen Tong?”

Ji Yin said with a smile, “Yeah. Marshal Yuwen is indeed worthy of his t.i.tle. He has a supple mind. After I demonstrated the formation that day, he came to me.”

Ling Zhang felt that the weird feeling he’d had in that room a while ago had not been his illusion, and nor had it been a dizzy spell resulted from malnutrition. It was because there’d been a formation.

Ji Yin had personally laid that formation, which was more or less of the same style as the Illusive Trap that Ling Zhang had laid in Jia family, only that it was far more powerful than the latter. The one laid by Ling Zhang previously had been just a simple and crude formation, but this one in Yuwen Tong’s room was so ingenious and profound that even Ling Zhang was unable to find any flaws in it.

“The peculiar odor you smelled did exist. It’s from an inducer drug. Your blood has special properties and you’ve been following mental cultivation method of the Millennium Pavilion, so you were unaffected by it.”

On top of these, Ji Yin had been hiding in the dark at that time, so naturally he hadn’t exerted all his power on Ling Zhang.

A formation, an inducer drug and a half-illusory effect created by Ji Yin hiding in the shadows with his internal energy had been ensuring that n.o.body would see through Yuwen Tong’s faked injury, no matter how many visitors or court physicians came.

“You’re awesome, grandfather.” Ling Zhang expressed his heartfelt admiration once again.

“Your comprehension is even better than mine. The mental cultivation of the Millennium Pavilion will, to a greater degree, help you fulfill the potential of the Force of Blood in you. Someday you’ll be more awesome than me,” Ji Yin smiled, looking at Ling Zhang with proud and expectant eyes.

This was the first time that Ling Zhang had heard that cultivation of internal energy would affect the Force of Blood in him. He wanted to ask for more details, but this was not the right time, so he had to subdue his curiosity for the moment.

Ji Yin didn’t stay long. After talking with Ling Zhang for a while, he took his leave, going back to Yuwen Tong’s room to resume watching over him lest the plan go awry. The reason why he had found some time to come here to talk with Ling Zhang was that after so many days, people had finally stopped visiting Yuwen Tong’s room as frequently as they had previously.

The next morning, Ling Zhang was given permission to tend Yuwen Tong at his bedside as well.

When Ling Zhang entered the room, Yuwen Zhi happened to be present. Seeing Ling Zhang walking inside, he made no effort whatsoever to conceal the revolted look on his face.

Ling Zhang pretended not to notice, showing a disregard for his existence.

Yuwen Zhi’s countenance went apathetic. Had it been in ordinary circ.u.mstances, he would have started picking on Ling Zhang already, but maybe because of Yuwen Tong’s serious wound, he was not in the mood for discomfiting Ling Zhang. He had no love for his nephew, but whether Yuwen Tong would survive or not was bound up with the well-being of all members of Yuwen family, so he had to take this matter seriously.

During Ling Zhang’s stay in the room, Yuwen Feng, Yuwen Han and some other members of Yuwen You’s branch of the family also come to visit. With a heavy heart, n.o.body felt like talking about any other topics.

Uneventfully, another few days pa.s.sed. Yuwen Tong seemed to be on the mend, and slowly, he had improved enough to come around on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, the hunt meeting had started.

Yuwen Zhi, Yuwen Feng and some members of Yuwen You’s branch of Yuwen family all partic.i.p.ated. Yuwen Jin and Yuwen Han were the only two staying keeping Ling Zhang company at Yuwen Tong’s bedside.

“You guys are not going?” Ling Zhang asked them.

Yuwen Han shook his head. “My grandfather and the others went there because they had to. I’m staying watching over Tong.”

Yuwen Jin, his face wan, also said, “I’m staying with my cousin as well.”

Ling Zhang looked at their drawn faces with a surge of guilt, thinking that he must apologize and make it up to them after this matter was settled.

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