Quick announcement: Bocah has finished helping me with the 'marker' between scenes per the original text; I will try to update the unabridged thread (cross my fingers) this weekend.
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Xu Ziling shot toward the city wall like an arrow, the ‘divine escape' in his hand shot out, controlled by his internal power, noiselessly grabbing the top of the wall in between two lookout towers, and then at the dead end, out of the line of sight of the guards, he flipped over the wall, and then after loosening up the divine escape, again he noiselessly flipped over the fifteen-zhang city wall, and stuck himself to the wall he slid down to the ground.
Taking advantage while the guards' attention was focused on the pasture outside the city, he darted along the foot of the wall toward a safe place where the river was running along the city wall.
The stars filled the sky, but the moon was hazy; suddenly a strange feeling welled-up in his heart.
A strong feeling of loneliness overwhelmed his heart, as if he was entering an isolated world, where he no longer related to anybody else.
The divine escape shot out again, grabbing a large rock on the opposite bank of the river. The vortex of power concentrated at the yongquan acupoint on his right foot, enabling him to shoot to the other side almost parallel to the water surface, greatly reducing the chance of being detected.
Without even stopping he entered a sparse forest and ran toward the eastern gorge entrance.
He had neither a plan nor confidence that he would be able to avoid detection from the guards at the eastern gorge entrance, because by using the ‘flying divine escape', he could easily climb over the steep and dangerous cliff to get to the battlefield outside.
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Kou Zhong leaped over the wall, the divine escape in his hand shot out like lightning, the claw traversed an eight-zhang of empty space and caught the eaves of the building nearby, propelling him toward the roof, where he quickly ducked into the darkness.
After listening carefully and making sure he clearly grasped the layout of his surroundings, he slipped down to the ground. Halting and darting, he passed through a small garden and flitted across three buildings, and finally hid under a flowering shrub.
Sweeping his eyes around, Kou Zhong found out that he was in right in the heart of the garden, with flowers and trees, a pond, rockery and a pavilion around him; an elegant and serene environment.
All the buildings surrounding the garden were brightly lit, and he was able to faintly hear voices from those buildings.
Focusing his heart and mind, Kou Zhong listened carefully. Immediately a woman's voice coming from the building to his left caught his attention.
Just by hearing her voice Kou Zhong immediately recognized that this was the woman whom he trailed secretly the other night; the spy.
Deliberately lowering her voice, she said, "Princess Ning ought to understand by now, that since Changzhu knows Li Tianfan and is going to have confidential meeting with him in the near future, she is very likely to provide Li Mi with war-horses and equipment. Although Housekeeper and most of the Managers are in strong opposition, their urging is in vain.”
Kou Zhong shivered in fear; he had a faint feeling that this conspiracy is somehow related to Li Mi. Because no matter what happened to Li Xiuning, the Li Clan would naturally suspect that the root cause was the collusion between Shang Xiuxun and Li Mi.
If Li Tianfan was Li Mi's son, then he must also be Song Yuzhi's fiancé.
"This is serious,” Li Gang's voice was heard, "I wonder if your honorable husband is aware of Madam's visit this time?”
Full of confidence, the woman replied, "Of course, it was Laoye who implored Yuan'er to seize this opportunity to come and discuss this matter with you, with the hope that our relationship with your honorable Clan will not be damaged just because Changzhu is unable to think straight.”
Kou Zhong praised her in his heart; under these no-conflict circumstances, she was able to make Li Xiuning's side at least have some misgivings.
Dou Wei's deep and heroic voice was heard, "This is really strange, because as far as we know, Li Mi is the main culprit who secretly supporting the Four Big Bandits in disrupting the South; why would the Four Big Bandits come to attack the Ranch?”
The woman named Yuan'er calmly replied, "Laoye has already analyzed this matter; it may be a deliberate diversion. That's why he repeatedly urged Yuan'er to contact you as soon as possible, because most likely this is Changzhu's first muddleheaded action under Li Tianfan's instigation.”
"Princess Ning,” Dou Wei said, "No matter what, we must immediately strengthen our defense.”
"He who comes is surely ill-intentioned, no-one well-meaning will come,” Li Xiuning replied indifferently, "If this matter is really driven by Xun Jie [elder sister], she knows our strength like the back of her hand; we can't guard against her even if we want to.”
Hearing her voice, there were both love and hatred in Kou Zhong's heart. The beauty was able to display such cool-headedness under these circumstances, no wonder the Li Clan entrusted the heavy responsibility of negotiating with Shang Xiuxun to her.
Li Xiuning went on, "Is it possible for Yuan Jie to notify Da Zongguan [big chief manager] to have a confidential discussion with us?”
Kou Zhong cheered inwardly; if Li Xiuning saw Shang Zhen, Yuan'er cheap trick would be exposed immediately.
To his surprise, however, Yuan'er readily agreed; she also said, "Yuan'er will immediately dispatch a messenger to notify Laoye. He is currently in charge of the eastern gorge defense; unless there is a military emergency, there shouldn't be any problem.”
And then Yuan'er took her leave, Li Xiuning, three people personally sent her off.
Kou Zhong has more or less understood Yuan'er's plot. He pondered over whether he should seize this opportunity to hide inside Li Xiuning's personal chamber, waiting for her return, and then he could … hey! Thinking to this point, his heart was burning; forgetting everything else, he flashed in.
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Xu Ziling stood on top of a peak above the steep cliff, overlooking the plain extending into the distance outside the mouth of the western gorge.
Under this hazy moonlight and star-filled night sky, the winding mountains and rivers appeared to unfold from under his feet.
Suddenly Xu Ziling understood Kou Zhong's desire for supremacy over the world.
It was the feeling of sovereignty over the world, the feeling of dominion over the mother earth.
Someone Kou Zhong's character would never take second place to anybody.
He, Xu Ziling, would not be willing to accept inferior status either, but what he was after was free and easy, unfettered way of life.
No one can tie him down.
Including Kou Zhong.
After helping Kou Zhong getting the ‘Duke Yang's Treasure', he would have accomplished his responsibility as a good brother. The meritorious deed completed, he could retire.
At the end of his eyesight, he saw a small hill about three li southwest of the city gate tower at the mouth of the gorge, where human figures were moving about; by his estimate there were at least several hundred people going down the slope of the hill, pouring into the vast prairie between the small hill and the mouth of the gorge. It appeared that these people were pushing toward the Ranch.
About five li to the northwest, there was a winding river with nine bends and ten turns traversing the prairie toward the back of that small hill, with dense forest on both sides, from where came the neighs of the horses hidden over there.
Between these two places, there was a small village built by the river, but he did not see the least bit of lights, neither did he hear any sound of dogs or chicken; obviously all the villagers have fled early on.
On this side of the mouth of the gorge, the Flying Horse Ranch's warriors also marched out of the city gate tower, with the imposing manner of soldiers ready for war. Just by looking at the two sides' movements, he knew that hard battle was inevitable.
Xu Ziling's blood was boiling. Like a big bird he soared into the air and jumped down the cliff.
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Kou Zhong flitted up toward the roof, and immediately crouched down motionless.
Dou Wei's voice was heard again, "Does Princess think that that Yuan'er is trustworthy?”
Li Xiuning sighed and said, "How could Shang Xiuxun be that kind of despicable scumbag? But we definitely must be on guard; we'll decide what to do after we talk with Shang Zhen. Oh! Is there a way for us to examine Yuan'er's background?”
Li Gang said, "For the time being, we have no way …” He suddenly stopped speaking.
While Kou Zhong was pondering why, a clear and bright male voice came from the eaves of the opposite building, "Friend, you broke into the Green Ring Courtyard at night; may I ask what brings you here?”
Kou Zhong jumped in fright. Granted that his attention was focused at eavesdropping Li Xiuning's party discussion, but the other side was able to come this close him so quietly; evidently he was a martial art master.
And the voice sounded a bit familiar.
When he looked up to see, to his astonishment, it was Li Xiuning's lover, Chai Shao.