Eleven thousand eleven

Lu Xiaofeng took a deep breath. "Do you mind if I take a look at the letter your senior sister sent?"

Sometimes, he truly wished he were like his other friend Hua Manlou—a blind man—and that Sikong Zhaixing was blind too. That way...

The latter wouldn't have to get entangled in trouble because of a peerlessly beautiful woman, and he wouldn't have to see Sikong Zhaixing handing him that urgent letter with a dazed smile on his face.

It was as if he were poisoned.

At a glance, the seemingly casual words "Unintentional but affectionate" leapt into his eyes.

But what really caught Lu Xiaofeng’s attention was not this phrase, but the other contents of this "employment letter."

He swiftly scanned through the letter and finally breathed out softly.

From his perspective as an outsider, Shi Qingruo certainly intended to use Sikong Zhaixing.

Although she was married to the Seven Holy Lords of the Mysterious Heaven Alliance, she had not truly taken the second-in-command position within the alliance. The number of people she could command was limited, and her subordinates, each with their own agendas, were not necessarily more reliable than Sikong Zhaixing.

Since both parties were willing participants, there was no harm in putting this assistance to practical use.

Fortunately, she had no real intention of sending Sikong Zhaixing down a dead end.

The letter was brief but packed with information.

All the news Huang Rong had informed Shi Qingruo about was supplemented with details and included clearly in the letter, explicitly explaining the grudges between the intruders and the guest officials at the Shentong Marquis Mansion tonight.

The affiliations and martial foundations of these people were laid bare, making it easy to guess how much of a commotion could be caused tonight.

As for Sikong Zhaixing’s task, it was to sneak into a particular place while the Shentong Marquis Mansion’s defenses were lax.

To pilfer there without alerting the mansion’s guards, one would need someone with exceptional lightness skills like Sikong Zhaixing.

Because the matter was crucial, she couldn’t yet trust the people of the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion to help out just because of a cooperative relationship.

In Lu Xiaofeng’s view, Shi Qingruo need not have written phrases like “highly significant” and “rare opportunity.”

Turning to look at Sikong Zhaixing, he saw caution written all over his friend’s face, even through the disguise.

“…She said to go to Young Marquis Fang Yingkan’s ‘Unyielding Study’ and bring back something from the rare beasts garden in the backyard, but she didn’t say what it was. Aren’t you afraid of taking the wrong thing?”

Sikong Zhaixing replied confidently, “Senior sister said that when I stand before the thing, I will know that I must bring it back. Why should I worry?”

Lu Xiaofeng had no words to retort but suddenly straightened his expression. “Alright! No matter how many people she said would support you or whether they arrive on time, I’ll risk my life to accompany you to the Shentong Marquis Mansion!”

Having come this far, he was determined to leave Bianjing safe and sound with his friend.

…

Calling the Shentong Marquis Mansion a den of dragons and tigers was no exaggeration.

Fang Yingkan had been granted the title of Shentong Marquis through his foster father Fang Geyin. Also because of Fang Geyin, he garnered protection and support from many skilled martial artists in the martial world.

Some heroes preferred to travel alone to seek justice freely, but others, due to various opportunities, became leaders of multiple factions in the martial world.

Fang Geyin was one of the latter.

Thus, although the Shentong Marquis Mansion in the capital was relatively low-key compared to the Six and a Half Hall and the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion, it was by no means a place where one could come and go at will.

To Sikong Zhaixing, who had cautiously crossed the sentry posts since childhood, the dim corners of the mansion at night seemed to conceal countless gaping jaws, ready to devour those they selected.

Even with Lu Xiaofeng by his side, he had to be extremely careful.

Fortunately, the moon was dim that night, covered by clouds, making it easier to hide in the shadows than usual.

Curiously, in such a vast mansion, there were only two places truly brightly lit.

One was the front courtyard, where voices gathered.

When Sikong Zhaixing and Lu Xiaofeng passed by earlier, they saw many guests of the mansion engaged in martial contests, apparently newcomers trying to earn favor according to martial world customs.

The other was Fang Yingkan’s Unyielding Study.

…

Amid the glow of many bright lamps, Young Marquis Fang looked as if bathed in the midday sun, his handsome face as striking as a jade star.

Though not born into a noble family, to Mi Gonggong, who served the imperial court, Fang’s casual attire belied a delicate beauty in his features, enough to rival royal offspring in bearing.

More admirable to Mi Gonggong was another point.

Unlike his foster father, who despite great power sought only to stay away from court affairs, Fang Yingkan harbored ambition—a hunger for power unmatched by many.

While ambition was common among martial heroes, few combined background, ability, ambition, and intelligence as Fang did.

Today, however, he seemed troubled, frowning as he tapped his brow with the end of his brush, trying to smooth the crease.

“Still thinking about the Mysterious Heaven Alliance?” Mi Gonggong asked. “That shouldn’t trouble you for long.”

In fact, no one blamed the Young Marquis for the assassination attempt.

If counting manpower, Fang Yingkan’s share was minor.

He could easily claim that, having just arrived in the capital and still dependent on the Prime Minister, it was through the latter’s arrangement that he cooperated with Lei Sun of the Six and a Half Hall.

Unfortunately, it was not a successful cooperation.

Fang put down his red brush and smiled. “It was a golden opportunity to wipe out the Mysterious Heaven Alliance, truly a pity. The north has been restless these past years; the emperor’s capital must be stable, so those in power should be reduced. The old lords in court only want to see one faction left in Bianjing, and I must help them.”

His words were full of calculation, but his handsome face made it sound like lighthearted conversation.

If Mi Gonggong hadn’t known him well, he might have been startled.

Help them? Once the Mysterious Heaven Alliance was gone, the Six and a Half Hall and Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion would surely fight to the death.

But none suspected that Fang Yingkan had been quietly preparing, even absorbing many of the alliance’s subordinates. If those two factions clashed disastrously, he would be the one to reap the benefits.

More surprising was that this major incident, meant to ignite at a wedding assassination, was interrupted unexpectedly, forcing Fang to postpone his plans.

“I even had a name ready for our new faction,” he said with a mischievous smile. “Call it the Youqiao Group.”

“Youqiao…” Mi Gonggong paused, then suddenly laughed. “Good! Youqiao Group it is.”

This was no ordinary “bridge.” Before serving the royal family, Mi Gonggong was named Mi Cangqiong, and after gaining favor from the previous emperor, was given the name Mi Youqiao.

But as a palace guard expert, he could not form factions in the capital. Refusing to fade away, he allied with Fang Yingkan, who had similar ambitions.

Seeing Fang control the forces sent by his foster father and recruit many guests, even absorbing two Holy Lords of the Mysterious Heaven Alliance, Mi Gonggong felt young again, about to stir up the winds and waves.

Though the future faction might not officially bear the name Youqiao Group to avoid suspicion, the intent was enough.

Fang met Mi Youqiao’s approving gaze. “We have shallower roots than Lei Sun. If we can emerge victorious from their struggle, we’ll surely gain the Prime Minister’s trust. After absorbing the alliance’s underground network and those white-clad factions, we won’t need to rely on loans to amass wealth. With such great gains ahead, we can afford to wait.”

He had patience.

His foster father was still traveling, unaware of his schemes in the capital.

By the time he grew strong on many branches, it would be too late for his foster father to intervene.

Losing out to the Mysterious Heaven Alliance was not fatal.

As Mi Youqiao said, those people didn’t view him as a true rival. They didn’t know he was a venomous snake lurking nearby. Learning from this setback was better than being crushed later.

As for the alliance’s new Holy Lord’s wife, it was best to wait for news from inside.

“I’m worried about a few other matters,” Fang said, pacing the room.

“Tell me.”

“First, the Prime Minister. Because he’s a trusted minister, no one in court can surpass him. We must keep good relations with him, even send gifts. But Mi Gonggong, you must have seen that Minister Fu has been messing up lately.”

“The case against Lianyun Village and Huinuo City was handled poorly. We lost the undercover Gu Xichao in Lianyun, lost an expert like Jiuyou Shanjun, Fu lost an arm, and Wen Zhang died.”

“His wife, as you said, was snatched from others and caused a miscarriage. Yet he didn’t root out the problem; he even registered the woman’s child under his own name, Fu, as if it were his own... I foresee trouble.”

“We’d do well to keep our distance. If things go wrong, we can cut ties quickly.”

Mi Youqiao nodded. “You’re right. It’s better to rely on ourselves than others. What else?”

Fang’s tone grew serious. “My foster father won’t teach me his unique skills. With only the Blood River Divine Sword and the Wuri Divine Spear secretly sent from the north, I’m still outmatched against experts like Lei Sun and Guan Qi.”

Mi Gonggong said nothing, only calmly asked, “So you mean—”

“That day’s assassination attempt involved a new disciple under the Prime Minister. I looked at his background and found a new martial art. Since we must wait in the capital, I’ll try to find a chance to connect with him…”

“Wait! What’s that noise?”

Fang abruptly cut off, glaring toward the door.

Trained personally by Fang Geyin and naturally gifted, he could catch faint sounds on the wind.

If he was not mistaken, the noise came from the front courtyard.

He recently gained several talents, including Ouyang Ke, the young master of White Camel Mountain. He planned to let them spar to sharpen their skills and instill some urgency.

Ouyang’s uncle, the notorious “Western Venom,” was skilled in breeding poisonous insects, so Ouyang might be able to act covertly, increasing Fang’s anticipation.

Yet the noise from the front courtyard did not sound like a simple sparring—it seemed a disturbance!

Fang’s face darkened as he stepped out, where a servant hurriedly reported.

“Your Lordship, while Master Cai Lingding and Young Master Ouyang were sparring, a strange young man suddenly barged in, accompanied by a girl dressed in white with golden rings. The immortal old man said the strange youth drank his snake blood and demanded compensation. The girl tried to stop them, but they clashed.”

“Why not kill them to settle it?”

The servant stammered, “That was the plan, but the girl is beautiful. Young Master Ouyang felt pity and wanted to have a cultured contest with her. During the match, the female demon brought by Master Fu suddenly sided with the girl, claiming she was her master’s daughter. It turned into chaos!”

“...” Fang cursed inwardly at the mess.

Still, he said, “I’ll go to the front courtyard myself!”

He wanted to lie low and build his reputation, but—

He wouldn’t tolerate any riffraff causing trouble on his turf!

…

Unbeknownst to him, two nimble figures who had been motionless in a courtyard to avoid detection by Mi Youqiao slipped away as Fang left for the front courtyard and Mi Youqiao took his leave.

Exchanging glances, they saw excitement in each other’s eyes.

The opportunity had arrived.

As the light surrounded the Young Marquis’s departing figure, the two moved like black smoke into the backyard of the Unyielding Study.

This was Fang Yingkan’s treasure trove, with its garden named the Rare Beasts Garden.

Though Fang had left the front courtyard, two experts still guarded this place.

If it weren’t for Sikong Zhaixing and Lu Xiaofeng, these two intruders would be easily detected.

Sikong Zhaixing held his breath and landed cautiously inside the garden, carefully observing.

The Rare Beasts Garden was aptly named. Auspicious beasts rarely seen by ordinary people were caged here like common poultry. Who knew how many connections Young Marquis Fang had?

Fortunately, their footsteps were light, not waking the sleeping beasts, thus avoiding the guards’ attention.

Still, they needed to leave quickly to avoid triggering any traps or noises that would alert Fang and his men from the front courtyard.

Lu Xiaofeng circled once, then quietly asked Sikong Zhaixing, “Have you seen the thing senior sister told you to find?”

He glanced to the left.

The white fox, though rare, was inconspicuous in the garden.

He glanced to the right.

The strange four-hoofed beast, surrounded by mountain mist, might be an omen, but Lu had a feeling it wasn’t what Shi Qingruo sought.

He wondered why Shi Qingruo deliberately obfuscated the letter, not stating clearly, seemingly unconcerned about them taking the wrong thing.

Then there was...

Lu Xiaofeng suddenly stopped, narrowly avoiding kicking an iron cage ahead.

Lost in thought, he almost walked into it.

Luckily, the cage held something pitch-black and silent, seeming smaller than a fierce beast, lacking sharp senses; otherwise, he might have caused trouble.

Calming his racing heart, he carefully examined the cage, wary of missing something.

Fortunately, the cloud-covered moon briefly broke through, shining on the garden, allowing him to see the contents faintly without lighting a torch.

To confirm, he leaned closer.

But something felt off.

The scent entering his nose was not the usual musk of a beast but a faint hint of blood.

That dark tangled mass didn’t look like fur but...

“Ah!”

Lu Xiaofeng’s eyes widened in shock. He barely stopped himself from shouting, instinctively covering his mouth to stifle any sound.

He saw them.

Sparse moonlight filtered through the “thicket,” illuminating a pair of lifeless eyes.

Below them was a mouth painfully forced open, but no sound escaped.

The dim light only faintly revealed a once-beautiful face, now grotesquely twisted by suffering.

Lu Xiaofeng stepped back in horror and then noticed something else.

Two dark shapes in front of the “thicket” were not beastly claws but human hands moving faintly.

But… those hands could hardly be called hands anymore—every finger had been severed.

In the Rare Beasts Garden of the Unyielding Study, there was a blind, mute woman, missing all ten fingers!