Chapter 263
Book 23 Chapter 10 - No More Hiding
When Xiang Shaolong returned to Tingsong Villa, Chi Zichun who is bearing a malicious agenda welcomed him in front of the main courtyard: "Your servant has something to report to Manager."
Feeling doubtful, Xiang Shaolong checked: "What is it?"
Peering to his left and right, Chi Zichun whispered: "Why don’t we proceed to the garden before we speak further? At the garden, it is less likely to be spotted by the others."
Xiang Shaolong frowned: "It is so late; who would spot us?"
Behaving as if he has something serious to reveal, Chi Zichun disclosed: "Actually, I wanted to bring Manager to the garden to witness a rendezvous between two shameless individuals."
Xiang Shaolong was momentarily stunned and wondered if Dong Shuzen was lying earlier despite swearing that she is loyal only to himself. Suppressing his voice, he quizzed: "Is it Second Mistress?"
Chi Zichun nodded his head: "And Sa Li too. It is all due to me paying extra attention to the movement of Gu Ming and company, discovering that they have smuggled Sa Li into the Villa."
His anger rising, Xiang Shaolong icily hissed: "Lead the way!"
A surge of delight flashed past Chi Zichun’s face and was gone the next instance. He led Xiang Shaolong to a wide detour around the buildings, following a small path towards the rear garden.
Stepping into the garden, it was all quiet and serene. The moon is s.h.i.+ning brightly high up in the sky and there were no signs of human activity.
Growing suspicious, Xiang Shaolong interrogated: "Where are they?"
Pointing to a storage hut located far away in the corner of the rear courtyard, Chi Zichun warned: "Right there where we store our firewood. We must take precautions for Gu Ming or someone else could be stationed nearby to act as a lookout. Manager, please follow me!"
Without waiting for Xiang Shaolong’s acknowledgement, Chi Zichun went around a bush of flowers that was planted on the left side of a pavilion within the rear garden. He is apparently trying to take a small path along the rear wall.
Xiang Shaolong can smell a rat. While it is not surprising if Dong Shuzen and Sa Li are still in cahoots but given the present circ.u.mstances, coupled with him voicing his misgivings about Sa Li and herself earlier today, it would be illogical for them to rendezvous under these constraints. As he thought further, an image of Chi Zichun’s earlier delight surfaced in his brain. It is as if he cannot hide his exhilaration at successfully luring Xiang Shaolong into a trap.
Ten odd steps later, Chi Zichun noticed Xiang Shaolong still standing at the same spot and shooed: "Manager, come quickly!"
Xiang Shaolong gestured for him to come back and brought him to the back of a clump of small trees, explaining: "There is something I do not understand."
Chi Zichun asked: "What is it?"
Pointing to something behind him, Xiang Shaolong questioned: "Who is that?"
As Chi Zichun turned around in astonishment, Xiang Shaolong grabbed him from behind and whisked out his dagger, pointing it at Chi Zichun’s throat. He bellowed in a chilling voice: "Why are you lying to me? I saw Second Mistress in her bedroom with my own eyes."
Chi Zichun begged in a quivering voice: "Master Shen, please spare my life. Your servant is not aware that Second Mistress has returned to her room."
From these words, Xiang Shaolong knows that Chi Zichun is in a state of panic and could not tell that Xiang Shaolong is simply fabricating a lie.
Using a merciless tone, Xiang Shaolong frostily interrogated: "Who is laying an ambush for me? If you dare to say you have no idea, I will instantly cut a section of your throat and let you slowly bleed till death."
Chi Zichun is much more timid than what Xiang Shaolong expected. His entire body trembling, he stammered: "Master Shen, please spare my life. It is Sa Li who forced me to do this."
Recalling that Zongsun Xuanhua is extremely familiar with the Troupe affairs, he had a brainwave and demanded: "How many men did Zongsun Long send to a.s.sist Sa Li?"
By now, Chi Zichun is a broken man. He quavered: "So Master Shen knows about everything. Your servant recognizes his mistakes."
Finally discovering the perpetuator behind Sa Li, Xiang Shaolong can feel his body loosening up. Without someone backing him up, Zhu Xiuzhen and Dong Shuzen would not give a [email protected]/* */ about Sa Li. In the same context, those bootlickers Gu Ming, Fu Yan, etc, would not obey his instructions.
If not for his injury, he would teach Sa Li and the other swordsmen a lesson they would never forget. But if he does not use this opportunity to punish them, it would be letting these despicable cads off too easily.
Pulling out Chi Zichun’s belt, Xiang Shaolong used it to tie him up securely. Tearing a portion off Chi Zichun’s s.h.i.+rt, he made it into a ball of cloth and stuffed his big mouth with it. He then snuck out and headed towards the firewood hut in a different direction.
Moving without detection and camouflaging his tracks is a daily routine he practices as a member of the Special Forces. He managed to arrive at the vicinity of the firewood hut and the enemies are none the wiser.
Surveying his surrounding, Xiang Shaolong observed that the two door panels facing the garden are slightly ajar. There were another two men laying in ambush on the roof and were armed with bows and arrows. If he had trotted down the path Chi Zichun had recommended, it would be a miracle if he did not end up with countless arrows sticking from his body. After more scrutiny, he discovered that there were men hiding in the trees as well. It is an accurate depiction of: Danger lurking at every corner.
Xiang Shaolong was amused and darted towards the back of the firewood hut. Using a dagger, he stealthily pried open a window at the back. Pus.h.i.+ng the window marginally open, he stared into the hut.
In a short period of time, his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness within the firewood hut. Borrowing some light from the moon, he could barely make out two men hiding in ambush behind every window, ready and waiting in antic.i.p.ation.
Sa Li’s voice happened to sound out: "What is that dog slave Chi Zichun doing? Why is he hiding there with that [email protected]/* */?"
Another man replied in a deep voice: "Something is not right."
Xiang Shaolong is not interested in the rest of the conversation. Concealing himself at a side, he lighted his fire stick and very quickly dashed to the side of the window, throwing the fire stick towards a pile of dry gra.s.s and whatnots.
Cries of help can be heard from within the hut and it was a state of mayhem.
The wooden doors are thrown open as several strongmen pathetically staggered out and began running towards the rear courtyard exit.
Xiang Shaolong leapt out from behind the hut and fiercely roared: "Where do you think you are going!"
Identifying Sa Li, his dagger left his hand.
Letting out a tragic howl, Sa Li crumbled to the ground with an