Chapter 576.1: The True Death Match

This place also didnt require cleaning up. In any case, this area also dont need to worry about a plague appearing and whatnot. Besides, once the matter was over with, there will eventually be people coming to take care of it. Even if Li Hong Yuan was extremely unlucky, in the end having his life thrown in, the people of Zhang would certainly still come to clean up the mess. After all, if their activity in Qi Yuan is too obvious, and if they dont clean up after themselves, angering Qi Yuan, then for them, it will just be a calamity.

But, it was obvious, if Li Hong Yuan were to this easily get thrown in, then he wont be Li Hong Yuan.

As for whether or not there were more hunting hounds, this was just very hard to say, but even if there is, it was also nothing to be scared of.

The people that came from Zhang were just that many. Previously, outside the mountain cavity, at least half have been eliminated. In this way, the manpower that can be divided out to send into the mountains to search for them was just very limited. Fifty to sixty have already been thrown in here, so how many can there be left? Thats why, Li Hong Yuan had thought very thoroughly. As long as they were careful, then the final outcome, aside from him winning, there wont be a second option, merely a matter of time.

If Jing Wan wasnt by his side, then her perhaps wouldve already reversed the roles, directly going to look for the other party.

He must first ensure Jing Wans absolute safety. Thats why, there was the current plan of retreat.

However, all the way until an hour later, they all didnt discover anyone appearing, so there probably wont be anymore people coming.

Li Hong Yuan slightly narrowed his eyes, looking towards the bottom of the mountain. Under normal circ.u.mstances, even if no ones goes back to report, it was still several dozen people. To have suddenly disappeared, as the person in charge, it was impossible to be indifferent, and at the same time, shouldve realized that it was very likely that they ran into Qi Yuans Jin Qinw.a.n.g.

Li Hong Yuan rough position right now was practically just blatantly written there, so there was no reason to ignore.

Could it be that because of knowing its impossible to accomplish, thus already gave up? Jing Wan guessed.

The possibility is very low. After coming out of that mountain cavity, as long as a single one of my men escape, then it will just mean that the Kingdom of Zhangs matter has already gotten exposed. Even if a shadow guards ident.i.ty is sensitive, temporarily not going to the local garrison, they sooner or later will still look for those that are loyal to me in the imperial court. If they want to give up, then they shouldve just given up in the first moment. Besides, the one that actually wants me dead is Southern Qi. Zhang at most is just a lackey. With the matter getting exposed, and Zhang not being able to complete the mission, when time comes, without waiting for Qi Yuan to do anything, Southern Qi will have already sorted Zhang out first. On the contrary, if Zhang completes the mission, then even if encountering Qi Yuans retaliation, they at least can still turn to Southern Qi for help. Thats why, killing me, Zhang will still have a chance of survival. If they dont kill, then it really will just be waiting to get crushed.

For someone as dangerous as Li Hong Yuan, if unable to be used by Southern Qi, then it was just thinking of every way possible to destroy. In any case, Southern Qis national power isnt worse than Qi Yuans. Even if they kill a qinw.a.n.g of Qi Yuan, they will still be completely fearless, and eliminating a Li Hong Yuan will instead reduce a threat. Thats why, one can actually imagine Southern Qis threat towards the Kingdom of Zhang.

So, they not only wont give up, at times like this, they would just be even more frantic.

However, when the actual circ.u.mstances completely didnt match the expectations, one had no choice but to guess whether or not there was something fishy going on.

Something uncontrollable was what one hated the most.

Li Hong Yuan sent someone out to investigate the specific situation. Although they will temporarily bide their time, they wont just stay waiting in the same place.

That shadow guard went out for almost four hours, much longer than expected.

TN: All

However, what was brought back was nevertheless good news.

Turns out, that person in charge for Zhang knew that the matter most likely was impossible to complete, but he didnt want to die. Thus, on one side, arranged for the people below to continue searching for Li Hong Yuans whereabouts, while on the other hand, secretly slipped away, preparing to soundlessly sneak back to Zhang, and taking advantage of the fact that the news of failure still havent pa.s.sed back, have his family taken away, leaving Zhang. There will eventually be a place for their family to settle down in. Thats why, previously, Li Hong Yuan had calculated everything, yet still overlooked the human heart. He probably never thought that the person meticulously selected by Zhang to carry out the mission, when encountering a situation, was a useless one, completely not having any patriotism.

Just, this persons luck wasnt too good. Because he was in a rush to return to Zhang, he didnt go back along the originally planned path that theyd used to sneak over, instead directly taking the official road. One must bear in mind that places along the border have stationed troops. And just that unluckily, for some unknown reason, he just attracted suspicion. After slightly interrogating, he just exposed himself. As such, how could he still go back.

The garrisons numbers although werent many, but after learning that Jin Qinw.a.n.g nearly met with danger in their vicinity, how could they still ignore. Thus, they immediately dispatched people to purge the people of Zhang.

That person in charge for Zhang had just ran away on his own. Those that were left behind werent aware in the slightest. As a result, while completely unaware of the situation, they all got captured.

Things actually just turned around like this. Truthfully speaking, having an idiot opponent appearing, probably no matter who, all will very much like.

Even Li Hong Yuans expression all slightly relaxed. He looked to Jing Wan. It didnt matter for him, mainly still because of Jing Wan. The earlier this matter ended, the earlier Jing Wan can relax. This kind of environment ultimately was detrimental towards her.

With the matter settled, they wont need to hide anymore, and can openly descend the mountain.

During this time, they learned from the shadow guards mouth that because the border troops had purged the people of Zhang, the people under Li Hong Yuan that had separated, a portion of them have gathered together. Also included among them were Hei Mei and Fu Rong. The two of them had both gotten injured, Fu Rongs injuries being a bit heavier, because that night during the break out, shed pretended to be Jing Wan. In reality, the plan of attracting the enemy was also her idea.

Fortunately, their injuries werent fatal, and also didnt miss an arm or leg. If they slowly recuperate, they will eventually be able to recover fully.

Jing Wan inwardly sighed. Fu Rong actually was a hard to come by honorable type. If shed grown up in a normal environment, then she wouldve also been a woman of peerless talent.

Qi Yuans army was already within sight. At least three hundred people had came. However, this number would just make one feel at ease.

What is the garrison general called? Li Hong Yuan randomly asked.

Although the number of troops stationed here were just in the thousands, but the highest commanding officer was still of the general rank, a high fourth rank official.

That shadow guard said a name.

But, it was precisely this name that made Li Hong Yuan halt in his step, his expression slightly congealing.

And once he stopped, the others just stopped as well.

Whats wrong, could it be that theres something wrong with this person? The person was already close in front. If there really is a problem.Jing Wans nerves just instantly tensed up again.

Li Hong Yuan grasped her hand, momentarily falling silent. He rather wanted to brush over it, but for some things, it was better to be mentally prepared in advance. Moreover, perhaps it was just him thinking too much.

Did you see Sun Yi Lin previously? Li Hong Yuan asked.

Replying to master, saw him. He was also injured, his entire person not too conscious.

Mentioning Sun Yi Lin, Jing Wan suddenly understood why her husband asked this, because this garrison generals surname was also Sun. That character in his name seemingly was the same as the current Ding Duke

[1]

. Although its not that there werent coincidences, but it was extremely likely for him to be someone of the Sun clan, and the Sun clan was headed by the Ding Duke Manor. This standing was just too profound. Moreover, Sun Yi Lin had also wanted Li Hong Yuan dead as well. Ah Yuan, towards the Sun clan, you shouldve long looked into, especially those in the imperial court. This General Sun, he may have temporarily forgotten about, but the shadow guards by his side shouldnt have forgotten.

Ive indeed looked into before, but this person doesnt exist.

Jing Wan exhaled a breath. Thank goodness, should just be a coincidence. However, seeing Li Hong Yuans expression, half of that breath just got swallowed back down. Whats wrong?

The Head Minister of Rites even has the Su surname. Based on the underlying meaning, Li Hong Yuan actually has already produced suspicions inside.

Like having a fish bone stuck in the throat, Sun Yi Lin, shouldve directly killed him, shouldve directly killed.. Jing Wan really regretted very much, and also very much blamed herself. She shouldnt have produced compa.s.sion just because hed seemingly been completely reduced to a prisoner, unable to cause trouble anymore, unable to become a threat to her husband, and also because of Sun Yi Jia, thus just thought that no matter how hes punished, at least spare his life.

Li Hong Yuan was the one that hated Sun Yi Lin the most, but seeing Jing Wan like this right now, Sun Yi Lin and whatnot, completely got tossed aside, especially upon seeing Jing Wans lips faintly having a trace of blood, not knowing where shed bit herself.

Li Hong Yuans thumb wiped across her lips, Wan Wan, everything is all just a guess.

But if this guess is true..They already dont have an escape route. The various matters previously, at this time, actually were all just mere trifles. The several hundred people that originally made one at ease, this while, became their cage instead, making them be unable to fly away.

Wan Wan, you dont need to blame yourself. Li Hong Yuan softly spoke, instantly just organizing all the threads clearly.

As someone of the Sun clan, the one they supported certainly would just be Kang Qinw.a.n.g. As long as theyre aware of Li Hong Yuans threat, then when given the opportunity, they will just think of a way to eliminate him. This thought was even more intense than that of Southern Qis. Sun Yi Lin, in fact, dont even need to do anything, or expose his own ident.i.ty. As long as he lets this garrison general know about just the tip of Li Hong Yuans iceberg, then it was enough. In fact, he doesnt even need to provide any evidence. The people of Zhang wanting to kill him was just the best evidence.

Li Hong Yuan carefully explained, Thats why, whether or not Sun Yi Lin is still alive now isnt important at all. Speaking to here, he suddenly chuckled. Previously, hed even felt that hed seemingly overestimated Sun Yi Lin. In this matter, he really didnt have any effect, perhaps merely just advising Southern Qi slightly in the beginning. Yet turns out, his true killing move simply wasnt with Southern Qi. Rather than say that hed turned to Southern Qi, it was better to say that hed used Southern Qi. This setup was actually very simple. Regardless what the process was like, coming to this step all wasnt anything difficult. Everything perhaps was all within Sun Yi Lins calculations. As long as I leave the capital and come here, whether or not he partic.i.p.ates all isnt important. Even if he dies, the plan similarly can carry out.

[1] Majority of large clans all have naming conventions to show which generation a person belonged to, such as how Sun Yi Jia and Sun Yi Lin both have Yi in their name, so this person may be in the same generation as the current Ding Duke, meaning he is from the same clan.