Chapter 87
Book 9 Chapter 1: Ambush on the Narrow Gorge
Xiang Shaolong and Lord Longyang rode out together out of the city, protected front and back by high skilled bodyguards.
After receiving the news that Xiang Shaolong was about to arrive in Handan, the atmosphere in the city had been very tense, like a tightly drawn bowstring, forcing everyone not to be able to take a breather.
Even though everyone was itching for a fight, seemingly very confident, but everyone was afraid that they will be one of the unlucky ones.
From this it could be seen that he had built a G.o.d-like reputation, no one dared to underestimate him.
Lord Longyang brought his horse nearer to him and said, "Why haven’t I seen Long Shan?"
Xiang Shaolong secretly commended Lord Longyang for being observant.
During this dangerous warring period, everyone was always vigilant. If it was any other influential officials, if they had someone as powerful as Teng Yi, they would want him close by to protect them twelve hours of the day. So when Xiang Shaolong went out without him close by was really something out of the ordinary.
He smiled, "This is my first time to a big city. So with all the excitement to go shopping, I wouldn’t feel right without someone to accompany me."
Lord Longyang was only asking out of curiosity and not because of some suspicions, changing his topics, "Li Yuan sees Brother Dong as number one rival in love. He has misunderstood your intentions. It’s truly outrageous."
Xiang Shaolong was confused, "My Lord, why do you say this?"
Lord Longyang smiled, "The person that Ji Yanran is in love with is Xiang Shaolong. Oh! Maybe, Yanran, herself, hasn’t realised. The expression on her eyes when she’s looking at Shaolong compared to when she’s looking at others is totally different. Maybe at that time, she hadn’t realised yet that she had fallen in love with Xiang Shaolong, but I had known for sure."
Xiang Shaolong’s heart trembled in fear. This Lord Longyang is definitely someone with sharp observation skill. If he’s not careful, he might accidentally reveal his ident.i.ty from the slight tip of his eyebrow. He must be constantly alert around him. Lord Longyang grunted, "I don’t believe that Ji Yanran and Xiang Shaolong didn’t already have a secret agreement. As long as we observed Ji Yanran closely, we can surely lure Xiang Shaolong out."
Xiang Shaolong frowned, "Didn’t you also want to take care of Learned Lady Ji?"
Lord Longyang sighed, "I have always viewed her as an irreplaceable friend. She fell in love with Xiang Shaolong is a natural thing. Mister Dong hasn’t yet seen Xiang Shaolong, he is someone with out of this world talents. Regardless of his style of conversation, insight, heart or spirit, they are all distinctive amongst us. I, myself, would like to be his friend, if we weren’t already standing on the opposite grounds as enemies. But now, I have to find any way to a.s.sa.s.sinate him regardless of how unscrupulous it might be."
Xiang Shaolong intentionally probed him out, "Even though I know that I don’t have an ounce of hope of attaining Learned Lady Ji, but I felt that she has high regard of me. Hey! According to your observation, how does it compare when she looks at me compared to looking at Xiang Shaolong?"
Lord Longyang nodded, "She truly regards you highly. That’s for sure. The problem is she is a once and one type of person, unlike that promiscuous Lady Ya. Xiang Shaolong had the advantage of entering her heart first, you and Li Yuan would be better off to forget about her."
Xiang Shaolong laughed, "The situation doesn’t seem hopeless yet. We have someone as powerful as you here, My Lord, to take care of Xiang Shaolong. We can already count down the days that he stayed alive. At that time, wouldn’t Learned Lady Ji need to start searching for another person?"
Lord Longyang smiled bitterly, "The fact has proven that everyone who underestimates Xiang Shaolong will end up on the losing ground. No matter how the Zhaos tried to arrange everything, I still believe that Xiang Shaolong would have ingenious plan to sneak into Handan. With the craftiness of both Lu Buwei and Xiang Shaolong, how could they have leaked their whereabouts to the other hostile party in Qin, there must be some trap in there."
Xiang Shaolong trembled in fear.
He started to realise that this Lord Longyang isn’t a simple person. No wonder he could become Lord Xinling’s formidable adversary.
Amongst all of the countries’ influential politicians here in Handan, beside the heavyweight cla.s.s Tian Dan, Lord Longyang also needed to be counted in.
But his weakness is: Hey! It seems like he has fallen in love with himself, so he has confided in himself, hoping to win Xiang Shaolong’s good favour. Oh my G.o.d! This is such a complete mess. Such complicated situation!
At that time, they had left the Handan city far away, riding along the government road towards the Hidden Army Valley, surrounded from both sides with tall mountains in the open countries in the autumn weather, with withered and fallen leaves.
Lord Longyang’s underlings were all seemingly like they have reached the countryside relaxing and stretching their muscles. Lord Longyang saw Xiang Shaolong was quiet without a word, knew that he was pondering his words previously, joyfully continued, "Xiang Shaolong has three important enemies: King Xiaocheng, Zhao Mu and Guo Zhong. As long as Xiang Shaolong is alive, I am afraid that these three people wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully."
Xiang Shaolong was suddenly filled with uneasy feelings. This was called a soldier’s alertness. It didn’t need a factual proof for a reason.
This time, they were about to enter one of the small narrow gorge towards the Hidden Army Valley. Both sides were surrounded with dense thick forest. If there was an ambush, this would be the idealist place for it.
Xiang Shaolong swiftly stopped his horse.
Lord Longyang continued for another ten or more steps before noticing it and looked back, filled with confusion, "Is there a problem, Mister?"
When the rest noticed that Lord Longyang had stopped his horse, they all followed his lead.
Xiang Shaolong continued gazing towards the entrance of the narrow gorge, frowned, "Have you and Xiang Shaolong ever celebrate a festival before?"
Lord Longyang was slightly surprised, turned his horse’s head to follow his gaze towards the narrow gorge, ordered his underlings, "Go open the road for me!" More than ten riders rode out from amongst the crowd towards the narrow gorge.
Those persons’ s.h.i.+elds were all hanging on the side of their horses. Apparently, they didn’t believe that there would be someone waiting to ambush them.
Xiang Shaolong was also extremely puzzled, who would want to take care of Lord Longyang? Could it that he’s being overly cautious, raising a false alarm?
Lord Longyang relaxed a little as he saw his underlings entered the gorge, smiled, "If Xiang Shaolong came to take care of me, then there must be some kind of misunderstanding. Otherwise, how would he know that I will go to the Hidden Army Valley today?" Xiang Shaolong’s uneasiness was growing by the minute.
After exercising the meditation method according to the Mohist Addendum, his sixth sense had become sharper. It had repeatedly saved him from dangerous situations, otherwise he might still be nursing his grievances back in Xianyang.
Even though the autumn sun was still hanging low in the sky, but he could feel the chill in the air.
Lord Longyang shouted, "Have you clearly thought about what I told you before, Mister Dong?"
Xiang Shaolong felt a headache coming, changed a topic, "How come your underlings haven’t come back yet?" Even before the words finished spoken, crying sounds could be heard. One of his famous swordsman underling appeared from the gorge, waved from far away indicating that everything’s alright.
Xiang Shaolong was embarra.s.sed for being overly suspicious.
On the contrary, Lord Longyang consoled him, "It’s never wrong to be more careful! I admired Mister Dong alertness!"
Everyone continued riding towards the gorge.
Lord Longyang spoke in his soft and sweet tone, "Mister, have you ever ponder over our current war and what you would do to establish a long-lasting career for yourself?"
Xiang Shaolong was amazed at his craftiness. This