The Plot, Tang Courtyard, Chen Wenyuan's Temptation [1 Update]

Chapter 69 The Scheme, Tang Courtyard, Chen Wenyuan's Temptation [First Update]

The garrison of the Ruifeng Battalion.

The camp gate was brightly lit with torches, and Wang Tiezhu had already led his men back to wait. Seeing Su Yang and his six riders return, he quickly went to greet them, and upon noticing the wound on Su Yang's arm, his expression changed: "Battalion Commander! You're injured?"

"It's a minor injury, nothing serious."

Su Yang dismounted, deliberately slowing his movements to appear strained, and asked, "How is things on Li Zhong's side?"

Wang Tiezhu lowered his voice, unable to hide his excitement: "It's done! Li Zhong publicly shouted that the northern aristocracy had infiltrated!" Deputy Commander Ma's face turned pale. He's already sent people to re-investigate, and the news has spread throughout the camp!

He took out a brocade pouch: "General Fang sent someone with a reward of one hundred and fifty taels of silver, saying that your loyalty and bravery are commendable!"

Su Yang took the brocade bag and tossed it to Wang Tiezhu: "Distribute it among the brothers who will fight tonight, one tael each, and the rest for an extra meal tomorrow."

"The battalion commander is mighty!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers all showed joy and their respect for Su Yang grew even stronger.

Back at the barracks, Sun Wang brought over hot water and bandages. Su Yang unwrapped the bandages, revealing a fake, rolled-up wound—caused by him cutting himself with the tip of a knife to force out the bruised blood.

When Sun Wang touched the wound, Su Yang took a timely breath, his voice slightly hoarse, and secretly activated the Bright Moon Heart Technique to make his arm turn blue: "The silver-robed man's true energy is cold and yin, invading through the wound, making my circulation sluggish."

Sun Wang became even more cautious: "This—how are you going to report for duty tomorrow?"

"I must go and report for duty." Su Yang said firmly, "We need to get the military medical officer to diagnose and prescribe a medicine, both to pave the way for future supplementation and to confirm the extent of the injury."

Sun Wang nodded quickly: "I understand! With a physician on board, no one can say anything about the follow-up care!"

Su Yang pressed his wrist; the lingering chill of the Ice Profound Force from their daytime fight still made his blood and qi surge.

He instructed Sun Wang: "Tomorrow morning, take my personal guard token to the camp gate to register, and under the pretext of 'post-war replenishment,' go to the Jishui Pharmacy in the west of the city to purchase medicinal herbs."

Seeing Sun Wang's slight surprise, Su Yang added, "The medicinal herbs in the military camp are relatively new and the application process is cumbersome. The herbs from Jishui Pharmacy are of good quality. They are sold to the military at market price, and you can simply take the receipt back to the medical officer for registration."

"Yes! I've got it!"

Sun Wang suddenly realized that Su Yang's face was pale and bluish, which made him even more certain that he needed to be transferred urgently. He then withdrew.

At the end of the Yin hour, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The shouts and cheers at the Ruifeng Battalion's drill ground were deafening.

Five hundred soldiers lined up for drills, more fierce than ever before. The news that the battalion commander had been rewarded with a tael of silver last night and that he had pursued the enemy while wounded had completely ignited the morale of the troops.

Su Yang, dressed in light armor with a new strip of cloth wrapped around his left arm, walked steadily through the ranks despite his pale face. Occasionally, he would stop to correct his movements, and the way he would frown and inhale made the soldiers stand up straighter and their eyes brighter.

"Cheer up, all of you! The battalion commander is supervising the training despite his injury. If you don't train well, who will you be letting down?" Wang Tiezhu roared before the words were even finished.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The shouts reverberated throughout the entire stadium.

"Last night we proved we weren't cowards, but is that enough to repel the enemy? No! From today onward, add half an hour to your morning drills, practice formations in the afternoon, and street fighting at night! I will get you more meat, medicine, and weapons, but remember, if you eat my food and use my weapons, you must become a knife plunged into the enemy's heart on the battlefield! Can you do that?"

Su Yang raised his hand to suppress the shouts, his voice low but clear and powerful.

"able!!!"

The thunderous response echoed across the training ground.

Su Yang nodded and turned around, his back straight, but his steps were slightly slow.

This slight struggle only fueled the soldiers' fighting spirit.

At this moment, Sun Wang had already quietly left the camp with his token and headed to the Jishui Pharmacy in the west of the city.

Deep within the study of the Huang family mansion in Jingling, the wafting sandalwood incense could not mask the somber atmosphere.

Huang Shiyun, dressed in a brocade robe, sat upright behind his desk, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the surface. His gaze was fixed on his trusted confidant, Huang Chengzong, and his voice was filled with shock: "Yuwen Wudi has been defeated? Defeated by Su Yang, the commander of the Ruifeng Camp?"

"It's true, sir."

Huang Chengzong's face turned pale, and he bowed as he replied, "The informant personally witnessed him fighting Su Yang at Cuiyu Manor. After a few exchanges, his breathing became disordered, and he hastily retreated from Jingling."

"Clang!"

Huang Shiyun slammed the teacup down, shattering it into pieces. He abruptly stood up, his body swaying slightly from the shock, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Yuwen Wudi is a top expert among the younger generation of the Yuwen Clan. His Ice Profound Force is highly skilled. He only cooperated with him because he relied on the martial power of the Yuwen Clan. How could he have expected that the other party would be defeated by someone he had previously looked down upon?

"How could a servant who once swept the floors in my mansion possess such strength? And his cultivation technique is able to counter the Ice Profound Force?"

Huang Shiyun was filled with shock and doubt when suddenly a thunderbolt struck his mind... The tragic death of Fei Jianhua and the disappearance of the Blood Lotus resurfaced in his mind.

Su Yang was once harassed by Fei Jianhua, but now he has suddenly become stronger. Could it be that he killed Fei Jianhua and that the Blood Lotus is also in his hands?

Huang Shiyun's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he said in a deep voice, "This boy is extremely cunning and ruthless. Now that he has gained Fang Zetao's favor, we cannot act rashly. Send a message to the young master, telling him to think carefully about how to utilize this Su Yingzheng. With the Jianghuai army pressing in, those crucial and dangerous defensive positions urgently need such a fierce general to guard them."

"yes!"

Huang Chengzong understood immediately, bowed in agreement, and hurriedly left.

At 7:45 AM, Su Yang arrived at the city defense office on time for roll call.

His appearance—with bandages wrapped around his arm and a pale face—immediately drew attention.

The old clerk asked with concern if he was injured, to which Su Yang replied casually, "I was just careless while chasing a few petty thieves."

A battalion commander under Huang Zhenggang interjected sarcastically, "Commander Su, you're already so brave since you took office. Be careful not to lose your edge; the remnants of the northern aristocratic families are no mere bandits."

Su Yang glanced at him, ignored him, and asked Old Wen to file a report, and then asked to see Doctor Liu for his injuries.

In the medical officer's room.

After examining Su Yang's pulse and injuries, Physician Liu's expression turned grave: "This is no ordinary flesh wound. Your pulse is deep, tight, and hesitant, and your skin is cold and damp. You have been struck by an extremely cold internal martial arts palm strike, which has already caused cold poisoning! If it is not removed soon, at best, your martial arts will be difficult to improve and you will suffer from excruciating pain; at worst, the cold will invade your internal organs and shorten your lifespan."

He immediately prescribed a formula, using old ginseng and astragalus as the main ingredients, and specifically highlighted ginseng that was thirty years old as the best. He instructed the patient to take the formula for half a month and to avoid anger, overwork, and exposure to wind and cold.

Su Yang took the prescription and asked if it could be used as proof of medical treatment in the army. Physician Liu took the lead in agreeing.

Just as he stepped out of the physician's quarters, the eccentric battalion commander was still lingering. Seeing him emerge, he gave a forced smile and bowed slightly: "General Fang has ordered you to see him immediately after your roll call. I suppose he intends to reward your loyalty and bravery. Take care of yourself; don't disappoint the general."

Su Yang's expression remained unchanged, and he simply said, "Thank you for informing me."

After saying that, he walked straight toward Fang Zetao's general's mansion, his steps steady and slow, but his back exuding a calm strength.

In the main hall of the General's Mansion, Fang Zetao, dressed in a dark blue casual suit, sat in the main seat, twirling a jade pendant between his fingers. His gaze first swept over Su Yang's blood-soaked arm and then fell on his face.

"This humble general, Su Yang, commander of the Sharp Vanguard Battalion, pays his respects to the General!"

Fang Zetao hesitated for a moment before letting him stand up, and then asked, "The incident at Cuiyu Manor last night caused quite a stir. Rumors are circulating in the camp that you single-handedly repelled the Yuwen Clan's experts and were even poisoned by the cold poison. How much of that is true?"

"Seven parts true."

Su Yang replied in a deep voice: "This humble general was ordered by Deputy Commander Ma to capture spies from the Jianghuai Army. Inside the manor, I encountered several masters. The leader's palm strikes were cold and sinister, and his style resembled the martial arts of the Yuwen Clan. Seeing that things were hopeless, they abandoned the manor and fled. This humble general pursued them to the dye shop in the east of the city and managed to injure one of them, but I myself was also poisoned by the cold poison."

"On Ma Qun's orders? To arrest a spy?"

Fang Zetao muttered to himself, his tone calm yet imposing, and raised an eyebrow as he pressed, "The Yuwen Clan's Ice Profound Strength is renowned throughout the world. How could you possibly manage to defeat such a master?"

"That man seems to have underestimated his opponent and was also wary, not relying on his speed to defeat the slow and dangerous, seeking victory through risk." Su Yang responded frankly, presenting the prescription: "Physician Liu diagnosed it as a cold attack invading the meridians, requiring the warming and nourishing effects of old ginseng. He should avoid overexertion and anger. This is the prescription, please take a look, General."

Fang Zetao glanced at the prescription, pausing briefly on the instructions for "thirty-year-old ginseng" and "avoid overexertion," then lightly tapped the table with his knuckles: "You're quite astute. Is this order from Vice Commander Ma a misjudgment of the enemy situation, or is there some other hidden meaning?"

"This humble general only knows to follow orders and dares not presume to guess the emperor's intentions."

Su Yang lowered his head: "There may be a hidden secret in Cuiyu Villa."

"That's Huang Shiyun's villa, which he's run for twenty years. He's Huang Zhenggang's biological father," Fang Zetao said slowly. "Ma Qun is colluding with Huang Zhenggang. Last night, whether you live or die, you've already gotten yourself into this mess."

Su Yang's back tensed, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

Fang Zetao changed the subject: "The water's already on us, further words are pointless. Now that Jingling is in dire straits, is your Sharp Vanguard Battalion any use?"

"The elite vanguard is willing to die for their cause! This humble general is willing to defend the most dangerous place!"

"Alright." Fang Zetao nodded. "Starting today, the Sharp Edge Battalion will relocate from Iron Spear Alley to Waguanfang in the North City. The alleys here are complex, making it easy to infiltrate but difficult to defend. You have five days to make this area an impregnable fortress. Can you do that?"

The area from Tieqiang Lane to Waguanfang in the north of the city is close to the dock, a place where all sorts of people gather, making it a breeding ground for filth and making it easier for him to move around freely and cultivate his cold energy.

Su Yang immediately accepted the order: "Within five days, I will make half of the eyes and ears hiding in the north city deaf and half blind, and all those who show their faces will be chopped off and hung at the alley entrance. The rest are at the general's disposal."

A glint flashed in Fang Zetao's eyes. He abruptly stood up and walked to Su Yang, his aura sharp and imposing: "That's exactly what I wanted to hear! With a formidable enemy at hand, we need to act swiftly and decisively. You've chosen the right path!"

He stated bluntly that any means, such as offering amnesty, arson, or poisoning, could be used at will, as long as the news from the northern part of the city was cut off within five days, and the necessary items were hung at the entrance of the alley.

"At that time, I will allow you to recruit your own scouts in the North City, with separate pay for each position. The fate of the three hundred Huang family guards is entirely up to you." Fang Zetao's tone suddenly turned cold: "If you boast, then we won't wait for the Huang family to make a move. Understand?"

"Understood, sir!"

Su Yang's eyes burned with fierce determination. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and declared loudly, "General, you have given me the sword; I will cut through all obstacles for you! Five days from now, we'll see who's the best!"

After saying that, he turned and strode away, his back view fierce and resolute.

Fang Zetao watched his retreating figure, the jade pendant between his fingers spinning again, and muttered to himself, "A sharp blade is easily broken if it's too rigid. It will be extremely difficult to tear open the edge of Huang Shiyun's lair in five days. But if I succeed, this blade will be worth investing heavily in forging."

at the same time.

Inside a secluded manor fifty miles outside Jingling City.

On the warm jade couch in the quiet room, Yuwen Wudi, dressed in silver robes, had a faint and scattered icy aura around him, which flickered uncertainly as he struggled to breathe.

His face was pale, not from internal injuries, but from a deficiency of true essence and a damaged mind. After exchanging a few blows with Su Yang, most of his painstakingly cultivated Ice Profound Energy was devoured, causing his meridians to become sluggish and his mind to waver.

"Cough—" He opened his eyes, his eyes still filled with shock and humiliation.

Yuwen Shiji, standing by the window, slowly turned around. This cousin's temperament was as gloomy as an icy abyss. The secret report in his hand was covered with frost on the edges of the paper by the cold air. His voice was low and piercing: "The secret report says that you were forced back by Su Yang. Can he neutralize the Ice Profound Force? Tell me yourself."

"It's all true, cousin." Yuwen Wudi's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice hoarse. "When I unleashed seventy percent of my Xuanbing Palm power, it vanished without a trace upon touching his blade! After several strikes, I couldn't harm him; instead, my own true essence rapidly drained away. This boy's technique is unorthodox, a natural counter to my clan's Ice Xuan Force!"

"Specifically designed to counter Ice Profound Force?"

Yuwen Shiji's pupils contracted sharply, and the secret report between his fingers instantly turned into dust. Ice crystals shimmered in the candlelight, and the temperature in the quiet room plummeted.

"An unknown battalion commander, possessing such abilities?" A cold glint flashed in his eyes, yet his tone remained extremely calm. "The Ice Profound Force is extremely cold and condensing, specifically designed to break internal energy, rendering it as nothing and even causing backlash—is it a secret Buddhist or Taoist technique, or a method devised by the Guanzhong region to break my Ice Profound Force?"

He strode up to Yuwen Wudi, his shadow looming over him: "This matter is not about your personal honor or disgrace, but about the emergence of a martial art that can counter the fundamental techniques of my clan—"

Yuwen Wudi felt a chill run down his spine, realizing what his cousin had left unsaid.

"This child must die."

Yuwen Shiji spoke slowly and deliberately, his killing intent palpable, "But the secret he carries must belong to the Yuwen clan. He must be found dead, or he must have rendered meritorious service!"

He looked at Yuwen Wudi, whose breathing was unsteady: "You stay here to recuperate. I'll increase the number of Ice Fiend Guards to keep a close watch on Jingling and Su Yang. He's in the army; he can't escape. Once the matter of the Longevity Formula is settled, we might find an opportunity—"

"Um."

Yuwen Wudi nodded heavily, a flush rising on his pale face, a mixture of humiliation, murderous intent, and greed.

It was late in the Yin hour, and the sky was still dark.

Five miles behind the new barracks of the Ruifeng Battalion on the canal, Su Yang held a porcelain bowl to collect the morning dew.

Chen Wenyuan, dressed in a scholar's robe, hurried over, followed by two men and two women, each carrying a specially made wide-mouthed pottery jar and a soft brush.

"My benefactor, as you instructed, the people have been found, and they are all tight-lipped and reliable."

Chen Wenyuan pointed to the boy beside him and whispered, "This is Xiaodouzi, the one you met last time. This is his older sister, Xiaohe, who is very quick and efficient."

He then pointed to a pair of teenagers: "These two are brothers, Afu and Alu. Their mother is seriously ill and they urgently need money. They have absolutely no criminal record."

Su Yang's gaze swept over the four people: Xiao Douzi had bright, alert eyes; Xiao He was fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate features, calm demeanor, and efficient manners.

The brothers Afu and Alu are honest and kind, yet they possess an uneasy tenacity.

"Let's begin." Su Yang nodded: "Remember the key: only collect the fullest dewdrops from the leaves and tips of the grass, and move lightly, quickly, and evenly."

"yes!"

The four immediately spread out and crouched down.

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