Chapter 895: Blacktower, who and whom reunites? (2/2)

Where was Gu Qishao?

“Could Gu Qishao have fallen into Ning Cheng’s hands?” Han Yunxi murmured. From what she understood of the man, Gu Qishao would never agree to work with Ning Cheng again after receiving her letter. He should have taken Bai Yuqiao away himself and looked for Gu Beiyue independently. Now it was Ning Cheng and Bai Yuqiao entering Blacktower, so where were Gu Qishao and Mu Linger?

“Could something have happened to Gu Qishao and Mu Linger?” Han Yunxi was getting anxious.

“You don’t need to worry. Nothing big will happen to him,” Long Feiye intoned. Although he’d already said so much, he still didn’t reveal the secret of Gu Qishao’s undying body.

“Then could something have happened to Linger? She’s in Ning Cheng’s hands instead?” Han Yunxi asked next. Unless Gu Qishao had specific reasons, he’d fight desperately against Ning Cheng until the end! Why would he give the man such a huge advantage?

Long Feiye had many people mired as scouts at Blacktower. They were hard to find, but it wasn’t convenient to ask them to probe around now with the archers in ambush. “It’s useless to think too much,” he said instead. “Bai Yuqiao must have teamed up with Ning Cheng. We can just watch the show.”

“It’s unlikely they can deal with Bai Yanqing,” Han Yunxi lowered her voice. She silently cursed Ning Cheng for being so impulsive and underestimating Bai Yanqing after fighting one bout against him already. If Bai Yanqing’s poison couldn’t be kept in check, even Long Feiye wouldn’t dare to be careless!

Long Feiye’s lips curled into a cold, wordless smile. They were hiding in the thick grass while Baili Mingxiang and Xu Donglin stood behind them. Time always passed slowly when one was waiting. A long, long while later, Bai Yanqing still hadn’t shown up. But it was at times like this that demanded patience. Han Yunxi sat in her wheelchair while Long Feiye crouched by her side, his hand holding hers. Xu Donglin kept watch on their surroundings and every breath of wind against the grass. Baili Mingxiang was kneeling in the meadow, tightly clutching the secret object in her sleeve. She mentally repeated the words His Highness had left with her when handing over the object.

He had said, “Look clearly before you use it. Your life is in your hands.”

This item was none other than the Tang Clan’s number one assassination weapon, the Raging Flame Lotus (烈火莲花 liehuo lianhua). It was a long-distance projectile weapon that didn’t require her to get close to Bai Yanqing. If she could grab the perfect timing, she’d not only kill the man, but preserve her own life. Of course, why wouldn’t she be fearful at the prospect? It was only His Highness’s words that gave her warmth and strength. Although it was an honor to sacrifice oneself for the sake of East Qin’s revival, and although she was willing to die for His Highness’s sake, his words at least proved that her life was worth more than a pittance in his eyes, and not to be tossed away carelessly. As she held the weapon and looked at His Highness’s proud back, Baili Mingxiang mentally thought, Your Highness, those words of yours have given Mingxiang a life without regrets.

Time trickled by via the shifting shadows of the trees above them. When the sun finally crept overhead at noon, the sound of hoofbeats broke the silence of the forest. Very soon, a familiar figure appeared before their eyes.

“He’s finally here,” Long Feiye muttered.

Han Yunxi slowly narrowed her eyes in silence. Xu Donglin and Baili Mingxiang were both a little nervous, especially the latter. She unconsciously tightened her grip on the Raging Flame Lotus.

On the other side, Ning Cheng had already settled to crouch next to the red coat cannon and finished preparations around the perimeter. Like a fully nocked arrow, the cannons were really to shoot at a moment’s notice.

Bai Yanqing had hardly reached the entrance when a few guards hastened out to welcome him by kneeling all in a row with their heads bowed. Long Feiye silently admired Ning Cheng’s efforts. His soldiers were capable of taking on monumental tasks and didn’t betray a single detail. Someone came to take Bai Yanqing’s horse as soon as he dismounted and went to take off his dusty cape. No one hidden in the meadow dared to make a move. Many more had already held their breaths. If they hadn’t hidden themselves well ahead of time, it’d be impossible to escape Bai Yanqing’s eyes and ears. Even so, their target still turned to sweep his eyes across his surroundings with a severe expression.

Long Feiye and Han Yunxi remained extremely calm. If Ning Cheng hadn’t upset their schemes, they would be fighting the man outright instead of hiding in the grass. Long Feiye’s martial arts were better than the old man’s, making him the superior for in a match without poisons. But precisely because Bai Yanqing had poison skills, Long Feiye needed to bring Han Yunxi along to even fight with him. Han Yunxi’s legs were currently crippled, so that added another additional burden for Long Feiye. Thus, it was hard to tell which one of them would be the victor. However, Long Feiye’s side still had a hidden ace in the form of Baili Mingxiang, so they had much better chances. There was no need for the two of them to feel nervous at all.

By contrast, everyone else was nursing some level of anxiety. Uncle Cheng was about to speak from the other side of the red coat cannon when Ning Cheng silenced him with a stern look. His right hand had already clenched into a fist, while Baili Mingxiang was so frightened that she had squeezed her eyes shut, afraid to see any more.

The tension in the woods rose to its limits as Bai Yanqing swept his eyes over their hiding spots. Abruptly, his gaze stopped at Long Feiye and Han Yunxi’s location…