Lu Xiaofeng took a deep breath. "Mind letting me see that letter from your Miss Shi?"
There were times he truly wished he were blind like his friend Hua Manlou—better yet, if Sikong Zhaixing were blind too. That way…
The latter wouldn’t have gotten tangled up with a peerless beauty, and Lu Xiaofeng wouldn’t have to watch Sikong Zhaixing wear that dazed smile as he handed over the urgent letter.
It was like watching a man poisoned.
At a glance, the casually written phrase "unintentional calculations, yet full of affection" leaped out at him.
Of course, what concerned Lu Xiaofeng more at the moment wasn’t that line, but the rest of the contents in this "letter of employment."
He skimmed through the letter quickly and finally let out a small sigh of relief.
From his perspective as an outsider, Shi Qingruo undoubtedly intended to use Sikong Zhaixing.
Though she had married the Seventh Saint of the Mi Tian Alliance, she hadn’t secured the alliance’s second-in-command position, leaving her with limited manpower to command. These scheming subordinates might not even be as reliable as Sikong Zhaixing.
Since one was willing to hit and the other willing to be hit, why not make the most of this assistance?
Fortunately, she didn’t actually plan to send Sikong Zhaixing to his death.
The letter was brief, but it contained no shortage of information.
The news Huang Rong had passed to Shi Qingruo was detailed in the letter, clearly outlining the grudges between those who would storm the Divine Marquis Manor tonight and the manor’s retainers.
With the origins and martial foundations of these people laid bare, it wasn’t hard to guess just how much chaos would erupt there tonight.
As for Sikong Zhaixing’s task, it was to take advantage of the manor’s distracted defenses and retrieve something from a specific location.
To steal from this place without alerting the guards like the others tonight, only someone with Sikong Zhaixing’s peerless lightness skills could manage it.
And because the matter was of grave importance, she couldn’t yet trust the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower to handle it, despite their cooperative relationship.
In Lu Xiaofeng’s opinion, Shi Qingruo really didn’t need to spell out phrases like "grave importance" or "rare opportunity."
When he turned to look at Sikong Zhaixing again, the man’s face was already etched with the cautious determination of a man about to act.
Even through the disguise, it was unmistakable.
"...She told you to go to Young Marquis Fang’s Unrepentant Study and retrieve something from the rare beasts’ garden in the backyard, but she didn’t say what. Aren’t you afraid you’ll grab the wrong thing?"
Sikong Zhaixing answered with certainty, "Miss Shi said that when I stand before it, I’ll know it’s the thing I must bring back. Why should I worry?"
Lu Xiaofeng had no retort, but his expression suddenly turned serious. "Fine! Regardless of how many people she’s arranged for backup, or whether they’ll arrive in time, I’ll risk my life to accompany you on this trip to the Divine Marquis Manor!"
Since he was already here, he’d make sure his friend left Bianjing unscathed.
...
Calling the Divine Marquis Manor a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair might not be an exaggeration.
Thanks to his adoptive father Fang Geyin, Fang Yingkan had been granted the title of Divine Marquis—and likewise, because of Fang Geyin, he enjoyed the protection and aid of numerous martial heroes.
Some heroes in this world preferred to travel alone, settling grudges with a free spirit, while others, through various twists of fate, became leaders of major factions.
Fang Geyin was the latter.
Thus, though Fang Yingkan’s Divine Marquis Manor maintained a low profile in the capital, far less conspicuous than the Six and a Half Halls or the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower, it was by no means a place one could come and go from freely.
To Sikong Zhaixing, who had carefully slipped past the sentries, the dim corners of the manor in the night seemed to hide gaping maws ready to devour anyone who drew near.
Even with Lu Xiaofeng by his side, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
Fortunately, the moon was dim tonight, shrouded by clouds, making it easier than usual to hide in the shadows.
Yet it was strange—despite the manor’s vast size, only two places were truly well-lit.
One was the front courtyard, where voices could be heard.
When the two passed by earlier, they’d seen many of the manor’s retainers there, sparring and comparing skills, as if some newcomers were being welcomed according to martial customs.
The other was Fang Yingkan’s Unrepentant Study.
...
Bathed in the glow of countless lanterns, the young marquis might as well have been standing in broad daylight, his jade-like features illuminated to perfection.
Though he wasn’t born into nobility, to Eunuch Mi, who stood beside him, Fang Yingkan’s refined beauty and effortless grace made him every bit as dignified as a royal scion.
But what Eunuch Mi admired most was something else.
Unlike his adoptive father, who wielded immense influence yet shunned the imperial court, Fang Yingkan had ambition—a hunger for power that rivaled anyone’s.
Of course, ambition wasn’t rare in the martial world, but someone with Fang Yingkan’s background, ability, and cunning? That was a rarity.
Tonight, however, he seemed troubled, pressing the end of his brush to his brow as if to smooth away a frown.
"Still thinking about the Mi Tian Alliance?" Eunuch Mi asked. "That matter shouldn’t trouble you for long."
Truthfully, no one would blame the young marquis for the failed assassination attempt.
In terms of manpower, Fang Yingkan hadn’t contributed the most.
He could easily claim that, as a newcomer to the capital, he’d needed Prime Minister Fu’s support and had merely cooperated with Lei Sun of the Six and a Half Halls at the minister’s behest.
A pity the collaboration hadn’t succeeded.
Fang Yingkan set down his vermilion brush and smiled. "It was a prime opportunity to eliminate the Mi Tian Alliance. A shame indeed. With unrest brewing in the north these past years, the emperor’s domain must remain stable—so the number of factions calling the shots must be reduced. The court’s esteemed officials want Bianjing to have only one dominant faction left. Naturally, I ought to help them achieve that."
His words dripped with calculation, yet his handsome face made it seem like casual conversation.
Had Eunuch Mi not known the man’s true nature, he might have been startled by the lightness of those words.
Help them? Once the Mi Tian Alliance was gone, the Six and a Half Halls and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Tower would tear each other apart.
But none of them would expect the young marquis lying in wait, having already absorbed many of the alliance’s former members. When those two tigers mauled each other, he would be the one to reap the rewards.
But what was even more unexpected was that this major incident, which should have been set off by the assassination attempt at the wedding banquet, would be interrupted in such a manner, forcing Fang Yingkan to postpone his plans and seek another opportunity.
"I’ve already thought of a name for our new faction," he said, his thin lips curling into an increasingly unrestrained smile. "Let’s call it the Youqiao Group."
"Youqiao…" Eunuch Mi was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. "Excellent! The Youqiao Group is a fine name."
This wasn’t about the literal meaning of "having a bridge."
Before entering the palace to serve the imperial family, his name had been Mi Cangqiong. Favored by the late emperor, he was granted the name Mi Youqiao.
However, a martial arts master serving in the imperial court wasn’t supposed to form factions in the capital. Yet, unwilling to remain obscure, he had "collaborated" with Fang Yingkan, who harbored similar ambitions.
Seeing Fang Yingkan take control of the men sent by his adoptive father, recruit new followers, and even bring the Fifth and Sixth Saints of the Mighty Heaven Alliance under his wing, Eunuch Mi felt as if he had regained his youth, poised to become a figure who could stir the winds and clouds.
This future faction might not officially bear the name "Youqiao Group" to avoid suspicion, but Fang Yingkan’s gesture of honoring him was more than enough!
Fang Yingkan met Mi Youqiao’s approving gaze and said, "Our foundation is weaker than Lei Sun’s. If we emerge victorious from the struggle between those two factions, we’ll surely gain Prime Minister Fu’s trust. Once we’ve absorbed the Mighty Heaven Alliance’s underground network and the orthodox forces from both sides, we won’t have to rely on loan-sharking for wealth anymore. With such immense benefits at stake, I can afford to wait."
He had the patience for it.
After all, his adoptive father was still wandering the land, completely unaware of his schemes in the capital.
By the time he had climbed high enough and expanded his influence, it would be too late for his adoptive father to stop him.
As for the setback with the Mighty Heaven Alliance, it wasn’t a fatal blow.
As Mi Youqiao had said, none of them saw him as a real threat. How could they know he was a venomous serpent lying in wait? Learning from this defeat now was better than suffering a greater loss later.
As for the newly emerged Saintess Consort of the Mighty Heaven Alliance, they could afford to wait for their inside informant’s report.
"What troubles me are a few other matters," Fang Yingkan said, rising and pacing the room twice.
"Go on," Mi Youqiao urged.
"First, there’s Prime Minister Fu," Fang Yingkan replied, a hint of displeasure in his tone. "As a regent entrusted with the late emperor’s will, no one in court currently outranks him. We have no choice but to maintain good relations, even if it means sending him more gifts in the future. But surely you’ve noticed, Eunuch Mi, that Prime Minister Fu has been making quite a few blunders lately."
"The case against Lianyun Village and the City of Broken Vows was handled poorly. Not only did he lose Gu Xichao, the spy planted in Lianyun Village, but also a master like the Nine Nether God. On top of that, he severed his own arm by getting Wen Zhang killed."
"And if what you said is true, Eunuch Mi, his current wife was taken from someone else, resulting in an unjust case back then. Yet he failed to eliminate the roots of the problem—instead, he registered the woman’s child under his own name, giving it the Fu surname and raising it as his own. Sooner or later, that’s going to cause trouble."
"We should keep our distance. If disaster strikes, we can cut ties immediately."
Mi Youqiao nodded. "You’re right. Relying on others is never as dependable as relying on oneself. What else?"
Fang Yingkan’s voice darkened. "My adoptive father still refuses to teach me his secret techniques. With only the Blood River Divine Sword—and the Dark Sun Divine Spear secretly gifted by that northern figure—I’m no match for masters like Lei Sun or Guan Qi."
Mi Youqiao remained noncommittal, asking calmly, "So what do you propose?"
Fang Yingkan replied, "During the assassination attempt, I noticed a new follower under Prime Minister Fu. His martial lineage intrigued me—there’s a technique I’d like to acquire. If things in the capital remain stagnant for now, perhaps we can find an opportunity to approach him..."
"What was that noise outside?!"
Fang Yingkan abruptly cut off, his voice sharp as he turned toward the door.
Trained under Fang Geyin’s strict guidance and blessed with extraordinary talent, he could discern unusual disturbances even in the wind outside the window.
If he wasn’t mistaken, the sound had come from the front courtyard.
Recently, he had recruited several talents, the most notable being Ouyang Ke, the young master of White Camel Mountain. He had arranged for Ouyang Ke to spar with his other followers, hoping to instill a sense of urgency in the older retainers and push them to refine their skills.
Ouyang Ke had an uncle known as the Western Poison and was skilled in breeding venomous creatures. Such abilities could prove useful in unsavory dealings, and Fang Yingkan had high expectations for him.
But the commotion in the front courtyard didn’t sound like a friendly match—it sounded like outright chaos!
With a flicker of anger, Fang Yingkan strode out, just as a servant rushed to report.
"My Lord, while Young Master Cai, the Lonely Blade, was sparring with Young Master Ouyang, a strange boy suddenly barged in, accompanied by a girl dressed in white with golden ornaments. The Immortal Serpent Elder claimed the boy had drunk his snake’s blood and demanded repayment, but the girl intervened. Then, the female demon brought by Master Fu inexplicably sided with the girl, declaring her the daughter of her master. Now everything’s in complete disarray!"
"..." Fang Yingkan cursed inwardly. What kind of nonsense was this?
Still, he replied coldly, "I’ll handle this myself."
He was biding his time, building his reputation—but that didn’t mean just anyone could cause trouble on his turf!
...
Yet as he left, he failed to notice two agile figures lying motionless in a nearby courtyard, having avoided detection by the imperial expert Mi Youqiao. Now that Fang Yingkan had gone to the front courtyard and Mi Youqiao had taken his leave, the two exchanged glances, excitement flashing in their eyes.
The opportunity had arrived.
As the young marquis disappeared into the distance, the two figures slipped like wisps of black smoke into the forbidden rear courtyard of the Unrestrained Pavilion—Fang Yingkan’s treasure vault, where even the garden was named the Garden of Rare Beasts.
Though Fang Yingkan was gone, the entrance was still guarded by two experts.
Had the intruders been anyone other than Sikong Zhaixing and Lu Xiaofeng, they would have been discovered instantly.
Holding his breath, Sikong Zhaixing landed softly in the garden, carefully surveying his surroundings.
The name "Garden of Rare and Exotic Beasts" was truly fitting for this place. Creatures considered auspicious and seldom seen by ordinary people were confined here like domesticated poultry, locked in cages. It was hard to fathom just how many connections Young Master Fang Yingkan had.
Fortunately, the sound of their landing and footsteps was so light that it didn’t disturb the slumbering beasts, nor did it draw the attention of the two guards at the entrance.
Still, they ought to leave this place as soon as possible. Lingering any longer risked triggering some hidden mechanism or making a noise that could alert Fang Yingkan and his retainers in the front courtyard.
Lu Xiaofeng scanned the area before whispering to Sikong Zhaixing, "Have you found what Miss Shi Qingruo asked you to look for?"
He glanced to the left.
The white fox, though rare, was practically inconspicuous in this garden.
Then he looked to the right.
The four-legged chimera might have been reported as an auspicious omen if seen amidst mountain mist, but Lu Xiaofeng had a hunch that this wasn’t what Shi Qingruo was after either.
He couldn’t fathom why Shi Qingruo had deliberately obscured her instructions in the letter instead of stating them plainly—did she truly not fear they might retrieve the wrong thing?
And then there was…
Lu Xiaofeng abruptly halted his steps, narrowly avoiding kicking the iron cage before him.
Lost in thought while searching, he had nearly walked straight into it.
Luckily, the dark mass inside the cage was silent and didn’t seem like the size of a ferocious beast, likely lacking sharp senses—otherwise, he would have caused real trouble.
He quickly steadied his racing heart and cautiously examined the cage ahead, careful not to overlook anything.
To his relief, the moon, previously shrouded by dark clouds, broke free for a moment, casting its light over the garden. He didn’t need to light a torch to faintly discern the contents of the cage.
To ensure he wasn’t mistaken, he leaned in closer.
But as he did, an odd scent filled his nostrils—not the usual musky odor of beasts, but something faintly metallic, like blood.
The tangled, pitch-black mass inside didn’t resemble animal fur but rather…
"Ah!"
Lu Xiaofeng’s eyes widened in shock, nearly letting out a cry before instinct made him clamp a hand over his mouth to stifle the sound.
He had seen it.
Scattered moonlight pierced through the "thatch," illuminating a pair of lifeless eyes.
Beneath them was a mouth straining to open, yet no sound emerged.
The dim light barely revealed a face that might once have been beautiful, now twisted into a grotesque shape by suffering.
Horrified, Lu Xiaofeng took a step back—only to notice something else.
The two dark shapes shifting near the "thatch" weren’t the forepaws of an animal but human hands.
Yet… they could hardly be called hands anymore. Every finger had been severed.
Within the Garden of Rare and Exotic Beasts of the Unrestrained Abode, there lay a woman—blinded, mute, and robbed of all ten fingers.
