Kou Zhong was greatly excited, "Now that's different,” he said, "We might as well go all out, turn the city of Xingyang upside down. Do you still remember those dozen or so jars of kerosene in Shen Luoyan's house?”
Xu Ziling's eyes immediately lit up.
The stable in Xu Shiji's official residence was the first to catch fire. More than forty horses stampeded out of the opened-wide back door and bolted wildly off into the street.
Next several spots of fire appeared in the main building. The melting ice and snow actually intensified the fire.
Most of manpower in the mansion had been deployed to join the search operation for the three people; in the confusion that ensued the maids and servants fled for their lives. The fire spread out rapidly, fortunately because of the high walls all around the premise, plus due toe the heavy snow, it did not spread to neighboring buildings.
By the time the people involved in hunt and arrest operation rushed over in panic, on the other side of town Shen Luoyan's manor burst into flames, making the Wagang Army tired of constantly running for their lives.
This moment Shen Luoyan's beautiful body was standing on the roof of a building. Standing next to her, other than the ‘Old Man of the Field' Mo Cheng, there was also a team of handpicked martial art experts from the Wagang Army.
Like the heavy snow falling into the earth, intelligence reports unceasingly brought up by the troops to her, but Shen Luoyan simply fixed her cold gaze on the two fires rising in the distance, but the fire was apparently under control.
Mo Cheng took a step forward behind Shen Luoyan, he respectfully said, "It appears that this is all those two guys' doing. I really don't understand why after being stabbed by Yang Xuyan, not only Xu Ziling did not die, he is even able to raise such a big wind and a big rain?”
A faint bitter smile escaped from the corner of Shen Luoyan's mouth; she said nonchalantly, "I did not underestimate them at all, but I still miscalculated. Now that I calmly think about it, I ought to know that since they are continuously making progress, not only their martial art skill are getting stronger with each passing day, their ability and wisdom should also grow along with their experience, so that they become very difficult to deal with.”
Mo Cheng snorted and said, "It doesn't matter what they have become, tonight they are going to lose their lives. Zheng Zong has just arrived here, now he is with Xu Ye [master Xu] setting up the net to intercept them; guaranteed that they won't be able to escape for too long.”
Shen Luoyan coldly snapped, "Uncle Cheng! You are angry.”
Mo Cheng was stunned.
Shen Luoyan calmly said, "The number of people who want to seek the Duke Yang Treasure Trove from them is too many to be counted. But the fact is that until today, nobody is able to do anything to deal with them. If we still underestimate the enemy like before, we might fail and might be wiped over the floor. The missing roster is of grave importance, if they really take it with them, I would have no choice but to atone for my crime with death.”
This moment someone was coming to report that they have stopped the herd of horses running away from the Xu Mansion, but they failed to see the three people's vestige.
Mo Cheng sighed and said, "Xingyang City is so big, they only need to find a place to hide, we will have to waste so much effort to find them.”
Shen Luoyan shook her head, "No!” she said, "I understand their character very well, especially that guy Kou Zhong; he is not that patient. Tonight they will go all-out in creating disturbance to take advantage of the situation to escape.”
After a short pause, she continued, "What surprised me most is why did they seem to know about our hunt and arrest operation so that they come and go freely in the city? It is as if they personally listen to Xu Shiji and me planning it.”
Right this moment, Xu Ziling's voice was heard from behind them, "Shen Luoyan! Do you have time to chat with us?”
Shen Luoyan and her men's countenance changed immediately; they turned around to look.
Under the heavy snow swirling in the air, Xu Ziling stood upright and unafraid on the roof ridge of a nearby house, he was speaking calmly, composed, elegant and stylish.
An indescribable feeling welled up in Shen Luoyan's heart. She felt it deep in her heart that Xu Ziling had grown up, not at all like the naughty, big kid, who still loved to play, impression she previously had. And she was not referring to his tall and straight figure, the most significant change was that the repeated crises and hardships have nurtured in him his current bearing and gallantry, which made up the distinctive style of Xu Ziling's intimidating charm.
Without waiting for her to respond, her men had already flown over and surrounded Xu Ziling, in a ‘swords-drawn, bows-bent' like situation.
Shen Luoyan gathered her thought and flew over; in the blink of an eye she already stood face to face with Xu Ziling on the rood ridge.
The two people's eyes were locked toward each other; both were having a hundred and one thoughts swirling in their minds.
Xu Ziling nodded slightly, he calmly said, "From laughing, giggling and playing together, we have turned into archenemies who are fighting life and death battle against each other. Each time I am thinking about this I really feel downhearted.”
The affection in Shen Luoyan's heart was even harder to describe.
Right now Xu Ziling's face still showed paleness due to the loss of blood, but it did not compromise his scholarly, refined appearance; on the contrary, it added some kind of profound depth and a sense of maturity to his demeanor that only sufferings could bring.
In all her life, a few men did indeed move her heart, but because helping Li Mi to gain the world has become her objective, love and family affairs have to be shoved to the side. So much so that she tried to make herself cold-hearted, that she would consider anything from the point of view whether this matter would be useful to their cause or not.
After encountering Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, every time she had to deal with these two boys, she had to go through a struggle in her heart. But at that time she only thought her heart was torn because she was fond of their talents.
However, she was acutely aware that she was actually happy to see them, that butting heads with them actually left a rich aftertaste in her mouth. Still, she never thought that there was any love between man and woman in her heart toward them.
When she found out that Xu Ziling was injured by Yang Xuyan, at the time where his life or death was still unknown, it suddenly dawned on her that ‘Xu Ziling's death' may actually deal an unbearable blow to her.
It was as if she was losing the most precious thing in the world.
Now that she was standing face-to-face as enemies with this young martial art master, who was three or four years younger than she, the complicated contradiction in her heart was not hard to understand.
After taking a very deep breath, in the most calm voice she could muster Shen Luoyan said, "Are you at the end of your rope?”
Xu Ziling's eyes flashed with spirited rays; calmly he swept the enemies all around him with his gaze. As if nothing happened, he said, "Order them to stand back a little first, otherwise I will attack immediately.”
With a cold laugh Shen Luoyan said, "Don't overly overestimate yourself, I can order them to withdraw, but it's not because I am afraid of your threat.”
Xu Ziling said indifferently, "My threat includes a book, which you will never get back. But in case you don't believe me, this time I intentionally came to return the book to you, so that you won't bear the criminal charges. However, you are accustomed to repay kindness with evil; therefore, no matter what you think, I will not think it strange.”
Shen Luoyan was silent for half a day; finally she waved her hand to order her men to retreat, and then she sighed and said, "At a time where everybody, by hook or by crook, fighting over the world [tian xia], any gratitude and grudges is just a waste of time. How's this: if you hand over the book, I will guarantee your safe passage out of the city.”
Xu Ziling shook his head, "How can that be enough?” he said, "I also want your personal guarantee that no matter what happen in the future, as long as it's not us who stir it up, you must not come looking for us to give us trouble.”
Shen Luoyan dismissed him by saying, "The decision maker in the Wagang Army is Duke Mi and not me, Shen Luoyan. Even if I guarantee it, it will be useless.”
Xu Ziling helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said with a bitter laugh, "Do you want me to wait for Duke Mi's return? Right here, right now, you are the decision maker, hence the reason we have no choice but to look for you. If later on Duke Mi overthrow your commitment, I certainly can't blame you.”
Shen Luoyan's tender heart shook; she suddenly came to realization why between Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, her favorable impression lay with Xu Ziling. It was simply because he always projected some kind of upright and true personality, unlike Kou Zhong who was frivolous and full of slick-cynicism.
She herself was a cunning, smart person who was used to handling any matter unscrupulously, yet she was obviously moved by Xu Ziling, someone with special quality that she lacked, someone that was totally different from her.
Xu Ziling was constantly on alert of any movement around him. Right now he caught a glimpse of the arrival of Xu Shiji and a group of competent-looking subordinate, who then stationed themselves on the roof ridge of a big residential building about a dozen zhang away to his left. But of course he was unclear whether the ‘Flying Feather' Zheng Zong was among these men.
Shen Luoyan signaled Xu Shiji that everything was under control. She affectionately fixed her gaze on Xu Ziling for half a day before speaking softly, "Very well! I agree to this condition. Where is the book?”
Xu Ziling suppressed the ecstasy in his heart; lowering his voice, he said, "Withdraw your men from the eastern city gate immediately, open the east city gate, let Kou Zhong leave first, and then you alone accompany me going out of the city, I will return the book to you then.”
Shen Luoyan sighed and said, "Xiao Ling, you still don't have enough experience. By saying that, it is obvious that the book is in your hands, because Kou Zhong must get Susu to a safe location as soon as possible …”
"You are thinking of going back on your words?” Xu Ziling cut her off.
Shen Luoyan knew that Xu Ziling had seen through her attempt to sound him out; she smiled and said, "Of course not! Please take a good care of yourself, my little sweetheart.”
While Xu Ziling was baffled because she had called him her ‘little sweetheart' for no reason, Shen Luoyan already flew away and landed by Xu Shiji's side, and then they were whispering into each other's ear.
It was only then did Xu Ziling discover that his entire body was drenched in cold sweats.
After going through numerous twists and turns, they were finally able to leave the city.