Chapter 606: Where is Gu Beiyue? (2/2)

“This is Heaven’s will,” Chu Yunyi said simply as he pocketed his coin again. Actually, he hadn’t told anyone, but the coin was weighed to always show the reverse side. Unfortunately, General Chu would never get the chance to try a second toss again. Chu Yunyi patted General Chu’s disappointed shoulders. “Trust me, Long Feiye and Han Yunxi would never give up on Gu Beiyue. Tianyin will return to us.”

Without a choice, General Chu immediately went to answer Ning Cheng’s letter. Chu Yunyi wanted to risk it, but he couldn’t afford such dangers. He had to make sure Ning Cheng could complete his trade with Long Feiye before tomorrow night, or else Long Feiye might kill Chu Tianyin in rage. Then he would have no more hopes for this life. Once the letter went out, General Chu didn’t sleep for one day or one night. It wasn’t until sunset of the second day that Ning Cheng wrote back to say he’d already arranged everything with Long Feiye. The next day at noon, they would exchange their hostages at Fenglin City’s famous octagonal pavilion.

“In other words, Long Feiye’s agreed to exchange the hostages!” General Chu was overjoyed at the news.

Chu Yunyi wasn’t surprised. “I told you to stop worrying ages ago. Han Yunxi is Long Feiye’s weak spot, which makes her weaknesses his weaknesses as well!”

As long as Tianyin can come back, I don’t need to worry about my crippled arm anymore. The Chu Clan will just rely on him in the future.

Since the Chu Clan chose Ning Cheng, they had to stay and take care of Fenglin City. General Chu missed another night’s of sleep to fortify the walls and make precautions for every possible scenario. Everything was to prepare for Great General Ning’s arrival and defend against any surprise attacks from Long Feiye after the exchange. They were also prepared to answer Long Feiye if he went back on his word and didn’t exchange Chu Tianyin at all. After all, neither of them could use the Driving Arrow Arts at the moment, nor was Ning Cheng Long Feiye’s match. For General Chu to take such precautions against Long Feiye even in his own territory was a mark of how much he dreaded the man.

The next day, Ning Cheng arrived early, while Long Feiye came right on time. The Chu Clan had arranged a team of archers around the pavilion, with more hiding in ambush. Ning Cheng sat by himself drinking wine within while Chu Yunyi and General Chu both stood on one side. Meanwhile, Long Feiye had brought along Han Yunxi and Tang Li despite coming straight into the tiger’s den. He held her in his arms while Tang Li kept a tight grip on Chu Tianyin. Despite the torment he’d suffered at the hands of Han Yunxi and Tang Li, he didn’t have any lasting injuries. At most, he was just skinnier than before.

Long Feiye sensed the hidden experts lying in ambush around them as soon as they approached the octagonal pavilion, but didn’t consider them a threat. He saw Ning Cheng sitting in the distance and brushed him aside as well, his face expressionless. Han Yunxi, on the other hand, did notice the man. He wasn’t wearing his Confucian styled robes today nor a typical general’s armor. Like Long Feiye, he had dressed in a set of black robes that made him look both noble, oppressive, and domineering.

Still, she could tell the differences between both man with a glance. Long Feiye’s domineering air was ever cold and frosty, while Ning Cheng had an arrogant, almost wildly overbearing attitude. The ice in his eyes differed from Long Feiye’s in that it was both proud and haughty while her husband’s tended to be distant and unmoved. As expected, his gentlemanly act from before was all an act!

Of course, that wasn’t the most important part. She was more concerned with Gu Beiyue, because he wasn’t amongst the three people already in the pavilion. Long Feiye seemed to sense her worry, because the first thing he asked upon arrival was, “Where’s Gu Beiyue?”

Ning Cheng’s lips quirked up into a cold smirk. Instead of acting respectful, he lounged in his seat and poured Long Feiye a cup of wine. “Sit!”

What a strong and powerful air!

But Long Feiye wasn’t someone to be cowed. He held Han Yunxi tightly with one hand while pressing his finger against Chu Tianyin’s elbow joint! If bloodflow wasn’t restored in time, it would adversely affect his arm. Forget about shooting arrows, he wouldn’t even be able to lift heavy objects! Both Chu Yunyi and General Chu panicked. With their arms now rendered useless, Chu Tianyin was the Chu Clan’s final hope.

General Chu instantly cried out, “Gu Beiyue’s within the woods! Duke of Qin, as long as you release Tianyin, this old man will bring him back personally!”

Neither General Chu nor the other members of the Chu Clan had the right to talk terms with Long Feiye now. He didn’t waste words with them at all, but next pressed his finger firmly against Chu Tianyin’s shoulder joint! At the motion, Chu Tianyin couldn’t help but groan softly as he stood with his head still bowed.

“Tianyin!” General Chu panicked, but Chu Tianyin only glanced at him wordlessly. He had no idea what was going on, nor why Gu Beiyue had fallen into Ning Cheng’s hands, much less Ning Cheng’s true identity. He was far more prudent than either his father nor uncle, and knew to keep him mouth shut when he didn’t know all the details.

With his acupoint sealed, Chu Tianyin’s arm now hung limply by his side like a puppet without its strings. His arm was the entire future of the Chu Clan! General Chu immediately turned back without a word to head into the forest and fetch Gu Beiyue.

But would Ning Cheng…try to stop him?