95 The Mistake (1/2)
Tha assassination mission was scheduled at midnight. The apprentices started to prepare for it early: putting on their night suits, wiping their sabers, and testing the use of their knockout powder drugs.
The killer leader Shangguan Yushi simply treated Slave Huan as a humble handyman and ordered him to do all sorts of drudgery. For example, she made him clean the snow in the yard, and wash the utensils in all the rooms. She would take every opportunity to mock at his unfruitful return.
Gu Shenwei did not say anything about his suspicions, because his suggestion would only bring about an adverse effect in front of Shangguan Yushi. He was wiping a closet in one of the rooms at around noon when Maid Lotus finally found a chance to come inside alone.
”Listen, tonight's assassination is a trap.”
Since time was pressing, Gu Shenwei came straight to the point on seeing Maid Lotus. She did not seem surprised at all. As she did during the slaughter of apprentices, she was willing to be the leader's assistant and adviser. She nodded, implying she knew what Slave Huan meant.
”The Ten-Dragon Gang will send out not only seven leaders and twelve guardsmen, but also a large group of archers who'll hide in the empty wine jars outside the house and crawl out as soon as you go inside. The house's very simple and crude with thatched roofs. I guess they will set fire to the house first and then shoot from the outside.”
”Is there a mole in the castle?” Although Maid Lotus always stayed calm and collected, she could not help feeling surprised. Golden Roc Fort was the biggest killer organization in the Western Region or possibly even the world. Who would risk working as a mole for a small gang?
”If you all die there, I'll be condemned as the mole.” Gu Shenwei had figured out the whole thing except the last bit. ”By then, someone will prove I have talked to Elderly Dragon. Moreover, there'll be a sum of money under my name in some place unknown to everyone. The trap's perfect.”
”Is it Mister Guo? He still wants to kill you even at the expense of twenty killer apprentices and Master Yu?” Maid Lotus asked.
”It's him, but you're not the expense, I am. Look at the survivors in the Tattooed Arm Gang. Most of them are servants belonging to the Second Young Master, the Sixth Young Master, and the Eighth Young Master. Since Mister Guo is the First Young Master's trusted follower, he must believe that we deliberately eradicated apprentices on his side and want to take revenge.”
”That makes sense. It was said that Wildhorse intended to pledge allegiance to the Second Young Master, and Liuhua also seems to have been drawn to the Sixth Young Master's side.”
Someone walked by the room, so Gu Shenwei waited until there was no sound outside before he added, ”Try to remind Master Yu and don't tell her it's my guess.”
Gu Shenwei breathed a sigh of relief as Maid Lotus left, who was hoping Shangguan Yushi would not be too stupid. Gu Shenwei could not help exclaiming over the unpredictability of life. He had long wished that he could get rid of the little devil, but now he was trying to save her life when a great opportunity was lying ahead.
The man who walked out of the Xu's must be a guard of Golden Roc Fort. He would prove that Slave Huan had secretly talked with Elderly Dragon. The fact that Elderly Dragon's son spent the night with Xu Yanwei was merely a show. Even if Slave Huan had not interfered, he would still find an excuse to fight with Slave Huan before leaving. Thus, Elderly Dragon would have a reason to come for Slave Huan.
They, the siblings of the Xu family, Elderly Dragon, and Dragon Tooth were all pretending.
Gu Shenwei had already wiped the cabinet surface and made it as smooth as a mirror, but he still subconsciously kept cleaning it as he was thinking over the matter.
As the night fell, Shangguan Yushi summoned everyone. With a rag in hand, Gu Shenwei watched her earnestly checking every apprentice's outfit. He also noticed Liuhua who stayed in the corner. With his night suit on, the marksman appeared to be thinner and smaller than anyone else. The shortbow he held in his hand seemed to be a harmless toy.
Liuhua had once attempted to assassinate Maid Lotus but had failed. Gu Shenwei then looked at Maid Lotus, who happened to look back. Judging from her calm expression, Gu Shenwei knew she had already instilled the necessary information into Shangguan Yushi since that was her strength. She would make those thoughts appear to be Master Yu's.
The assassination team set off, leaving Gu Shenwei alone in the yard. He had to clear the remaining weapons and all the sundries away, wait for the 21 people to return in triumph, and then go back to the castle together.
After finishing the work, Gu Shenwei stepped into the yard. It was a quiet winter night, cold enough to freeze the most excited and boiling blood, and also quiet enough to hear your own heartbeat.
Suddenly, an idea appeared in his mind. His heart thumped violently making his chest almost pump blood out of his body.
Holy crap!
Gu Shenwei regretfully threw the frozen rag onto the ground, dashed back into the room to grab a saber, and ran frantically out of the yard, hoping to catch up with the assassination team.
South City was full of winding streets and alleys. Gu Shenwei, who was worried, became increasingly annoyed as he chased the assassination team. He walked briskly with his back against the wall to avoid those guests who came for wine and women.
Looking into the distance, he could see there was no light at the gathering point of the Ten-Dragon Gang yet, so he still had time to correct his mistake.
Gu Shenwei did not head for the destination directly, which was a killer's instinct trained by East Castle. No matter how urgent the situation was, he had to take a detour to check the surroundings.
Located on the fringes of the city, the yard of the Ten-Dragon Gang was far from the city wall; with the wilds in the back and the nearest house about 100 steps away. It was a good place for an arson murder indeed.
Every 15th day of each lunar month was a day for all the leaders to meet. No taverns were open today, therefore, there were less and less pedestrians as Gu Shenwei moved on.
Gu Shenwei detoured to a slightly roundabout alley and climbed several short walls on the way. Unfortunately, he did not find any signs of the assassination team.
He arrived at a dead end at the end of the alley and had to climb over another wall before he could return to the route leading to the gathering place of the Ten-Dragon Gang. As he was about to jump over the said wall, he was attacked.
His intuition had reminded him of hidden dangers many times, but this time it failed to do so. Gu Shenwei was unprepared for the attack, so he could only roll on the ground and escape the strike awkwardly.