Zhan Zhao Adventures - Chapter Seven (Part II)
Chapter Seven: Mulan Flowers Slow (Part II)
When the wind began to blow yet again, the sky had already darkened down. Not knowing whether rain was desired to come, or the sky color was about to be late.
Shao Jizu's black cape was ruthlessly rolled up by the wind. That handsome face of his was, however, like this gloomy and overcast wind and rain, iron-green without possessing any expression.
The cliffs on both sides, slanting, appeared as if they wanted to press down.
The misty fine rain finally began, from within the cloud layers pressed very low atop those cliff tops, to float down.
But Shao Jizu appeared just as if he had not perceived all of this.
At this time, he was precisely examining with scrutiny the discovery upon the ground.
Deng Che, who stood by his side, silently on his behalf propped open a bamboo umbrella; the imperial guards behind his body were all light of hand and nimble of foot, not daring to emit any single sound. Only Deng Che was different. He was the only person at present by Shao Jizu's side who could speak a word.
Deng Che raised the bamboo umbrella a bit lower; inside his thick throat, even if the voice was pressed very low, listening to it, it appeared as if it were still very resonant.
"Taoist Mo and his people went to pursue Zhan Zhao's companion; if they succeeded, they should have long since sent a flying pigeon letter over. From the afternoon up to this present time, how is it that not a single shred of news has arrived?"
Shao Jizu straightened up his body, not speaking words; inside his gaze, however, there was deep deep contemplation.
Deng Che carefully and cautiously took a glance at his countenance, and said again: "This matter has already dragged for so long, in the end it is not a solution. Since Chief Zhong and his people have already captured Zhan Zhao, then to what place the Prince's alliance roster has after all arrived, some things can always be questioned out from his mouth."
Shao Jizu finally shook his head, and said: "If it is to want Zhan Zhao to open his mouth, it is unavoidably too much of wishful thinking. Let alone that at present this life of his is all hanging inside the hands of King Yama, even if he fell into their hands without a single hair or feather injured, Chief Zhong and Taoist Mo and their people also might not be able to order him to confess the whereabouts of that companion of his."
Deng Che said hatefully: "If it were not for Zhong Xiong making trouble from the side and standing by with sleeves tucked in, that battle of the Xiqiao Ferry port, how could it then have spent so many hours of Taoist Mo's, killing and wounding so many of our manpower, to the point that even Taoist Mo himself also almost delivered his life. If this matter makes a racket to the Prince's place, he mostly will still possess an excuse to push it clean and clear before the Prince."
Shao Jizu gave a cold laugh, and said: "This person Zhong Xiong has consistently viewed himself extremely highly; except for the Prince, he never lightly puts any person within his eyes; his Iron-Blood Guards of Junshan have moreover consistently and quietly competed with our Jinshi Hall. This turn he suffered defeat beneath the hands of Zhan Zhao, and was furthermore restricted by him; if he exerted his full strength to assist Taoist Mo, would that not be letting the Jinshi Hall fully show off its elegance, and from then on press down Junshan so that it cannot raise its head? If it truly were like this, then when the people of Junshan see us in the future, would they not have to be one grade lower than others?"
Deng Che, having seen that his expression had already turned freezing cold, did not dare to continue further; hesitating, he said again: "This subordinate in truth long since has consistently been thinking, this person Zhong Xiong's thoughts have consistently been difficult to ponder out; at present Taoist Mo and his people have pursued for so long, yet have not found the whereabouts of that companion of Zhan Zhao's whom he spoke of, could it not be that Zhong Xiong intentionally made a mystery of it, and in truth that one surnamed Zhan fundamentally did not possess any companion?"
Shao Jizu gently shook his head, and said: "Chief Zhong in truth did not guess wrongly; the sounding arrow of Junshan indeed has already clearly indicated that there were a total of two people, which is to say, at the time when these Iron-Blood Guards died, by Zhan Zhao's side, there still was another person. Since these people died this morning, then this person, at least at the time of this morning, was still by Zhan Zhao's side."
Deng Che blurted out: "Perhaps this person was not his companion, but was rather his enemy."
Shao Jizu smiled and said: "To say you think of matters without using your brain, you fruitfully and truly do not use your brain, in vain being called the 'Sacred-Hand Divine Thief.' Look closely at the sword wounds upon these people's bodies, they are all traces left behind by the same single sword. This sword, however, is not Zhan Zhao's 'Zhanlu' sword. That is to say, the one who killed these people was someone else. These Iron-Blood Guards came for the sake of capturing Zhan Zhao; the sounding arrow indicating alarm was clearly having discovered his trace. Since they died right here, the person who killed them, if it were not for the sake of Zhan Zhao killing people, it was for the sake of what? Since killing people for the sake of him, mostly it precisely is his companion."
His expression had already turned bewildered, and he continued: "Chief Zhong, he also did not guess wrongly; since upon Zhan Zhao's body there did not possess this alliance roster, then this alliance roster must bound to be upon this person's body. Only it is a pity that they however guessed one person wrongly."
Deng Che said: "Guessed who wrongly?"
Shao Jizu said word by word: "They guessed Zhan Zhao wrongly."
Deng Che rubbed his head, already somewhat muddled, only after a long while saying: "Guessed him wrongly? Know not how Commander Shao explains this word?"
Shao Jizu said: "When they captured Zhan Zhao, searching his body, they however did not discover that alliance roster. Obviously, that alliance roster was either hidden by Zhan Zhao in some secret place, or handed over to the person traveling together with him. Only with the severity of this matter, Zhan Zhao absolutely would not hide the alliance roster in another place; he must bound to hurry to the capital city, to deliver this object into the Emperor's hand. Therefore the probability of that alliance roster falling upon his companion traveling together is relatively large."
Speaking up to here, he faintly let out a breath, and his tone of voice had already turned even more complicated.
"When they saw Zhan Zhao, he was already heavily injured; therefore naturally and inherently they thought that if Zhan Zhao attracted them to the Xiqiao Ferry, then his companion must bound to have already taken another road to go to Kaifeng."
Deng Che, thinking closely on it, could not help but slap his thigh, and said: "Correct, inside yesterday's night, Taoist Mo and Yanzi Qing and their people clearly had already discovered the traces of Zhan Zhao and the Cold Water Palace, and were already about to pursue to the shrine temple of Wushi Ridge, yet it happened that Commander Shao anticipated the enemy's moves first, and forcedly transferred and deployed them to the Xiqiao Ferry port to wait for the tree to catch the rabbit."
He looked at Shao Jizu, his eyes already full of admiration, and said again: "Since they from last night have been waiting at the Xiqiao Ferry port, and this person up until this morning was still together with Zhan Zhao, then even if this person wanted to pass the Xiqiao Ferry port, Taoist Mo and his people would bound to know! Since knowing, they would bound to apply interception. From this it can be seen, that companion of Zhan Zhao's must bound to have already separately sought another road, hurrying toward Kaifeng."
Shao Jizu however yet again gently shook his head, and said: "This is only one of the possibilities, that is all."
Deng Che's face was full of bewilderment, and he wondered: "Commander, could it be that this still possesses other possibilities?"
Shao Jizu said: "Correct. Since capturing Zhan Zhao, Taoist Mo and Chief Zhong have already sealed up all the ferry road openings that possibly lead toward Kaifeng; after searching minutely, they were however without a single gain. In truth they omitted one place."
Deng Che said: "What place?"
Shao Jizu said slowly: "The Xiqiao Ferry port."
Deng Che almost did not believe his own ears. He opened his eyes wide in shock, and involuntarily repeated: "The Xiqiao Ferry port?"
Shao Jizu said: "Correct, this other possibility is precisely that this companion did not come to the Xiqiao Ferry port prior to Zhan Zhao, but came after him."
Deng Che murmured: "After him? How could that again be possible? This fundamentally does not conform to common sense."
Shao Jizu gave a light sigh, and said: "This is precisely Zhan Zhao's extraordinary place. No matter whether he himself can pass or cannot pass this Xiqiao Ferry port, he will both cause Zhong Xiong and the others to generate an illusion; he precisely wants them to think that since he has already taken the Xiqiao Ferry, then his companion who bears the heavy responsibility will bound to not take the Xiqiao Ferry, but rather snatch a head start in another place first, and then meet with him."
He said again: "For Zhong Xiong to think like this was originally also logical and natural; he however did not know that Zhan Zhao's companion had long since borne injuries upon the body; since it was this morning that the person was still traveling together with him, the person absolutely would not depart very far from him. Zhan Zhao precisely calculated thoroughly the thoughts of Zhong Xiong and the others, only then to clearly know the hardships and dangers of the Xiqiao Ferry, yet still want to go there. This person's shrewdness and talent are truly not beneath mine. No wonder even a hero of the caliber of Chief Zhong would also fold into his hands!"
Deng Che said: "But even if we know this person once bore injuries, we however do not even know what he looks like. Within the boundless sea of people, to search for such a single person is no different from scooping a needle from the great ocean. Furthermore, if he has already passed the Xiqiao Ferry port, that opposite bank is already not the directly governed territory of the Prince. When we act, it will in the end be inconvenient."
Shao Jizu said faintly: "Scooping a needle from the great ocean, that also may not be so. Zhong Xiong's civil governance and military strategy are both of the first-class talents; his Flying Sky Fork is moreover reaching the supernatural and transforming into the divine; if once entering the martial forest, he must bound to be a first-rate good hand. It is only that he after all is not familiar with the paths and patterns upon the martial forest; many subtle clues have clearly already indicated the traces and clues of Zhan Zhao's companion, yet he did not pay heed."
Deng Che said: "Could it be that Commander already holds the wisdom pearl within grasp?"
Shao Jizu said: "The reason why I conclude that that companion of Zhan Zhao's must bound to be after the battle of the Xiqiao Ferry port between Zhan Zhao and Taoist Mo before passing through the Xiqiao Ferry port, is because he has already received injuries, and moreover it was his left leg that received injuries."
His voice, not knowing for what reason, had already gradually become bitter: "It is merely that although this person received injuries, he is a person who harbors top-tier lightness skill upon his person."
Deng Che's eyes opened larger and larger: "How does Commander Shao again know that that person received injuries upon his left leg, and moreover harbors top-tier lightness skill?"
Shao Jizu said: "We came along this road, and saw beside those horses that fell dead, apart from Zhan Zhao's footprints, there was also a pair of shallow footprints, but subsequently they turned so faint as to be almost unseeable. If that companion of Zhan Zhao's did not possess the lightness skill of treading snow without leaving traces, harboring him, how could he then still leave behind such light footprints. It is only that one of these footprints is shallower than the other. That companion of his' left leg, I am afraid, received injuries."
He paused for a bit, and said again: "Other than this, within this person's hand, there is also a miraculous weapon."
Deng Che had already completely failed to touch the head or brain, not understanding from where Shao Jizu after all looked out all of this: "Within this person's hand, what kind of weapon is it after all?"
Shao Jizu shook his head, and said: "I also cannot recognize it, what kind of a sword that after all is. I only know that the Junshan Iron-Blood Guards inside that canyon, the sword wounds they suffered upon their bodies, although they were at the vital parts, however one cannot look out that any trace of blood had ever flowed out, just as if the blood at the place reached by the sword-edge had already been sucked dry. The person who killed them, the weapon within his hand, must bound to attach a kind of evil magic power. The 'Zhanlu' within Zhan Zhao's hand absolutely cannot leave behind this kind of wound."
Deng Che had already broken his head thinking, saying as if to himself: "Top-tier lightness skill, a miraculous weapon, who after all is this person?"
Shao Jizu's countenance however suddenly changed.
His head had already been lifted up; his person had already walked into the rain, letting the rain threads that were like tightly and closely shattered pearls soak through his own body.
——Could it be that he already knows what kind of a weapon this is?
His gaze had already been looking toward the far distance. Piercing through the misty rain and fog, he appeared as if he had already seen a person.
——Could it be that he already knows, who this other person after all is?
Deng Che looked at his lonely, solitary, yet robust back silhouette, his body giving a slight tremble. A strand of ominous premonition had already within a single instant spread through his entire body, unexpectedly ordering him to involuntarily strike a cold shiver, no longer able to speak words out.
A long silence.
Amidst the silence, it was the breathing of the imperial guards behind them that although pressed very low, was still thick and heavy.
The one who broke the silence this time was however Shao Jizu.
He did not turn his head back, yet suddenly and slowly asked: "Inside Taoist Mo's flying pigeon letter, did it ever mention, to what place that person Zhan Zhao at present belongs?"
Deng Che reported in a light voice: "Taoist Mo's letter says, a portion of the Iron-Blood Guards of the Jinshi Hall and Junshan are currently receiving the Prince's urgent order; starting from the Xiqiao Ferry, they then change horses but do not change people; at this moment mostly they are already upon the road of escorting him toward Xiangyang."
Within Shao Jizu's voice there was already a trace of disappointed loss. The misty rain and fog appeared as if it were already insufficient to wash away a strand of anger accumulated inside his chest for a very long time.
"In the end we still missed it. Even a person whose eyes are higher than the top of his head like Zhong Xiong must praise him without end of mouth; looking from his behavioral matters of these few days, he moreover possesses extraordinary talent and wisdom. If it were not that he had already traded hands with the people of the Cold Water Palace, I am afraid theε± set up at the Xiqiao Ferry port still would not be so easy to get ahold of him. Calculating it up, this person is afraid to be the best opponent I have encountered in my life. Only it is a pity, I unexpectedly twice missed the opportunity to cross steps with him, and at present furthermore will never again possess an opportunity to trade hands with him."
Deng Che however said: "No wonder Commander Shao unexpectedly has to be disappointed; at this moment whether he can even turn and wake up is also not yet able to be known. However, this subordinate however knows, even if he himself were perfectly intact as at the beginning, once trading hands, he still would lose one chip to Commander."
Shao Jizu said: "Oh, how do you explain this word again?"
Deng Che said: "Only because Commander Shao regarding Zhan Zhao's weakness has already understood very clearly. This person of his just has too many misgivings——"
His words were not spoken down. Only because he already did not need to speak down. The person opposite already understood.
Shao Jizu still did not turn his head back, yet said with a smile: "Can not look it out, a person of your character truly still is coarse within possessing fineness."
His laughter, not knowing for what reason, was however dry and hollow.
Deng Che also followed along with two bursts of laughter, and said again: "It is only that what this subordinate does not understand is however the Prince's thoughts. At this moment even if Zhan Zhao can live down, I am afraid he is already completely devoid ofζ¦ε, a discarded person completely; how can the Prince still apply a green eye to him?"
Shao Jizu said faintly: "The reasons within this internal matter are probably insufficient to be spoken to outsiders. Perhaps the Prince possesses other arrangements, and it is also not able to be known."
Deng Che however suddenly gave a "hei-hei" single smile, and said: "Could it be the Prince is keeping his life, still wanting to question out from his mouth the whereabouts of the alliance roster? Speaking of it, it is also strange; this Zhan Zhao was sealed by the Emperor as the 'Imperial Cat,' could it be that he truly possesses nine lives? He successively received injuries, and again operated and moved the 'Crane Rushing to the Sky'; changing to another person, they would have long since been unable to support down; he unexpectedly can successively face battle, and support for so long."
Shao Jizu's chest-mouth had already turned painful, and he murmured: "If it were not for the Linglong Honey of the Linglong Manor, how would he then possess such endurance." It was only that this single sentence, in the end, was not continued to be spoken down.