Chapter 137
The deeper inside they went, the darker the passage became . But at least it looked dry . When they finally couldn't see anything by daylight, the Sick Scholar took out a folder and lighted it up . Ye Li frowned . She didn’t think it was a good idea to burn something in a passage where there was little air but there wasn’t a better solution either .
Han Ming Xi followed . Seeing Secret Guard No . 3 on the left and Ye Li on the right, both walking with their back close to the walls, he laughed below his breath with arched brows: “Jun Wei, are you a bit over nervous?”
Ye Li rolled her eyes at him . “How can I not be compared to Mr . Han who has the best flying skills in the world?”
The Sick Scholar looked back at them and kept going, holding his burning folder high . Apparently, the builder didn't choose this location for mystery so there wasn’t any crossings or labyrinths . The passage went all the way down, when Ye Li estimated they were at the foot of the mountain, they finally heard something from the front . The Sick Scholar put out his burning folder . Looking inside at the turn, he saw two men in Nan Zhao clothes standing in front of a gate, inside of which came the noise they had just heard .
Apparently, the two guards didn't expect anyone to come so they were chatting and laughing in a small voice . In order to reach the gate, Ye Li and her companions had to cover a 100-meter-long straight narrow passage . None of them was able to knock the two guards down without making a sound in such a distance . If the two guards let out any sound, people behind the gate were bound to notice .
The Sick Scholar took out a delicate small box and aimed at them . With two “whoosh” sounds, the two guards went stiff . The four of them sneaked over and the Sick Scholar was the first to get behind the gate . Ye Li stopped for a second when she was about to pass the gate . Turning aside, she saw dark blood drooping down the mouths of the guards who were clearly dead . Light left her eyes . She went inside quietly .
Behind the gate, everything was very different . Outside, it was dark and cold, inside, it was hot and bright . Not far away, there was a busy flow of people . The security level inside was up a notch . Since all of them were above average level in terms of martial arts, it wasn’t a problem for them to get around without being noticed .
Crouching behind a large stone, Han Ming Xi leaned out and had a look curiously . “What are they doing?”
The Sick Scholar answered calmly: “They are making weapons . ” He pointed at a place where there lay quite some weapons that were close to be finished .
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Secret Guard No . 3 gestured at Ye Li who nodded knowingly . Those people weren’t making weapons for the green woods, rather, they were making weapons that were normally seen on a battlefield . Clearly, with so many of them here, they were producing weapons for an army .
“It’s none of our business . Let’s go . ” The Sick Scholar wasn’t interested in those weapons at all . His mind was occupied by Green Void Flower .
“Do you know where Liang is?” Han Ming Xi asked .
The Sick Scholar sneered coldly: “He won't get away . ”
Nodding, Han Ming Xi said: “I remember now . You’ve poisoned him . Where’s your little moth?”
The Sick Scholar gave him a cold stare . Standing up, he walked towards another direction . Han Ming Xi shrugged as he smiled at Ye Li and followed the Sick Scholar .
Secret Guard No . 3 said below his breath: “My Lord, these weapons are forged for a Great Chu army . ”
Ye Li arched her brows . “How do you know?”
He pointed at a row of blades not far away and said: “Nan Zhao is good with short blades, Xi Ling, thick blades, and Bei Rong, with the most powerful cavalry, prefers long weapons or large blades . This kind of blade is normally used by armies of Great Chu . ”
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Ye Li nodded . She stood up and kept up with Han Ming Xi and the Sick Scholar .
The Sick Scholar was right . They were in a fairly large underground weapon factory with two large caves full of people busy forging weapons, most of whom were from Great Chu, part of whom were from Nan Zhao . The two of them followed the Sick Scholar all the way down and left the caves where the weapons were forged for another one . Compared to the cave they had been before, this one looked like a decorated underground palace, with carved marble as the floor and beautiful carpet .
“Are those four dead or not?” As soon as they were near this cave, they heard a sharp tone from inside . Ye Li frowned . It was that merchant, Mr . Liang . At the moment, he didn't sound as smug and with disdain as he did in the past, instead, he was a bit worried with an intent to kill .
“You can rest assured that they won't get away alive . ” Another voice rose . It was Le Jiang, the lord of Luoyi Clan .
“Why don't you send someone and kill them already!” Mr . Liang said angrily . “That sickly-looking scholar is a nightmare . If you don’t kill him now, he’ll be a trouble in the future . If it wasn’t him following me all this way, I would have been here a long time ago . I couldn't get rid of him no matter what . Besides, that man Han clearly knew him too . We can’t let them live, no matter what it takes!”
“No matter what it takes?” Le Jiang sneered coldly: “Who’ll be paying for it, then? Do you think I have no idea that they are trouble? Even the snakes couldn’t do anything to them . Each one of our men is beyond valuable . If we fight recklessly, many will sacrifice . Do you think we have as many people as you do in Great Chu?”
“Remember this . . . ” Mr . Liang shouted angrily .
Le Jiang said loudly: “Don't worry . I know my duty . But don't order me around with things beyond it . ”
Those inside the cave were quiet for some time . After a good while, Mr . Liang said: “But . . . if they run away, do you think they’ll let us off? I don’t know about the other three but I believe you’ve heard about that sick man, the third master of the Hall of Darkness of Xi Ling . ”
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“What are you doing with someone of the Hall of Darkness?” Le Jiang flared up and shouted angrily .
“How would I know? He found me a few days after I set out . I didn’t dare to ask him to leave . He is famous for seeking revenge just for an angry look . I had no choice . ”
“That is not a good reason for you to bring him here though!” Clenching his teeth, Le Jiang snorted after a good while: “I see . I’ll make sure to take care of them . Don’t worry . The way out has already been blocked . Now, that mountain is full of poisonous snakes and insects . I don't think the Sick Scholar could kill all of those!”
“Be careful . Make sure you see his body . We won’t be worrying about it now if you have killed him in the beginning . ”
Le Jiang sneered: “He was so close to you . Do you think I was able to kill him before he kills you? I’ll send my men after it . Stay here . Don’t forget what you owe me . If my master doesn't have it, you know how everything will end up!”
Mr . Liang stopped breathing for a split second then said: “I know . I have the other half of keepsake with me . Give me the half you have . ”
Le Jiang snorted coldly: “It belongs to Nan Zhao to begin with . ”
However, when it came to this, Mr . Liang was stubborn too . “I have it . Only I know how to get it . ”
“The late emperor of Nan Zhao trusted your family to keep it safe doesn't mean it’s yours . ” Le Jiang said in a deep tone .
“Huh, so what? You do know something that belongs to the imperial family of Nan Zhao doesn’t make it yours, don't you?” Laughed Mr . Liang . “I’m already doing you a favor not giving it to the imperial family of Nan Zhao . ”
“We’ve offered you a higher price, haven’t we? You’ll have nothing except a few words of gratitude if you give it back to the emperor of Nan Zhao . ” Le Jiang sneered coldly .
Mr . Liang said: “You want the treasure and I want money . We all take what we need . So, hurry up and give me the other half of the keepsake . Save your tricks . You’ve searched most of this mountain and haven’t got what you are looking for . You won’t unless with my help . Besides, don’t think you can kill me since I’ve got . . . ”
Obviously, Mr . Liang’s smugness put Le Jiang off . However, Le Jiang didn’t have another choice, so he said coldly: “I see . I’ll bring it here . Don’t play any tricks with me . My master wants it in half a month . Otherwise . . . no matter who you’ve got behind you, it will be useless!”
Mr . Liang’s smug laugh suddenly stopped . He said after a good while: “I see . Don’t worry . I know what’s between His Highness and your master . I know what to do and what not to do . As long as you give me the other half of the keepsake, I promise I’ll take it to you after we are in the capital of Nan Zhao . ”
“That’ll be the best!” Said Le Jiang . As he left, the room returned to silence . The only sound in the room was Mr . Liang’s heavy breath .
What do we do now?Standing in a secret corner, Han Ming Xi eyed the Sick Scholar .
The Sick Scholar looked down as a wicked smile appeared on his originally gloomy face .
Han Ming Xi shuddered and glanced in pity at Mr . Liang who was walking around anxiously . What torture is waiting for this old man?