Deng Che, racking his brain, muttered to himself, “Exceptional lightness skills, a mysterious weapon—who could this person possibly be?”
Suddenly, Shao Ji Zu’s expression changed dramatically.
His head lifted, and he walked into the rain, allowing the fine, pearl-like drizzle to soak him completely.
– Could it be that he already knows what kind of weapon this is?
His gaze fixed on the distance. Through the misty rain, it seemed as though he could already see someone.
– Could it be that he now knows who this other person is?
Deng Che stared at his commander’s solitary yet unyielding figure, feeling a slight shiver run through his body. A foreboding sense of dread swept over him, sending a chill down his spine and rendering him speechless.
Silence hung in the air.
In that silence, the faint but heavy breaths of the Imperial Guards behind them were audible, even though they were trying to suppress them.
This time, it was Shao Ji Zu who broke the silence.
Without turning around, he slowly asked, “In Mo Zhen Ren’s carrier pigeon message, did it mention where Zhan Zhao is now?”
Deng Che replied softly, “Mo Zhen Ren’s letter stated that part of the Jinshitang forces and Jun Shan’s Iron Blood Guards, acting under the Prince’s urgent orders, switched horses but not men from the West Bridge ferry onward. By now, they are most likely escorting him on the road to Xiang Yang.”
Shao Ji Zu’s voice carried a trace of melancholy. The misty rain seemed insufficient to wash away the anger that had been simmering in his chest for so long.
“We missed our chance after all. Even someone as prideful as Zhong Xiong can’t help but praise him. Judging by his actions over the past few days, he has shown remarkable intelligence. If he hadn’t already clashed with the Han Shui faction, it wouldn’t have been so easy to capture him with the trap we set at the West Bridge ferry. In all my life, he may well be the best opponent I’ve ever faced. It’s a shame that I’ve missed him twice, and now I will never have the chance to cross swords with him again.”
Deng Che said, “No wonder the Commander feels so disappointed. At this point, whether or not he even regains consciousness is uncertain. But even if he were to recover fully, I am certain that in a duel, he would still fall short of the Commander.”
Shao Ji Zu asked, “Oh? And why do you say that?”
Deng Che replied, “Because the Commander has already understood Zhan Zhao’s greatest weakness. He is someone who cares too much—”
He didn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t need to. The man before him already understood.
Shao Ji Zu still didn’t turn around, but he chuckled and said, “Who would’ve thought you’d have such insight hidden beneath your rough demeanor.”
His laughter, for some reason, sounded dry and hollow.
Deng Che chuckled twice in response before adding, “What your subordinate doesn’t understand, however, is the Prince’s intent. Even if Zhan Zhao survives, he’s likely to lose all his martial arts abilities and become a cripple. Why would the Prince still value him so highly?”
Shao Ji Zu replied indifferently, “The reasons behind this are not for outsiders to know. Perhaps the Prince has his own plans. Who’s to say?”
Deng Che suddenly chuckled and said, “Could it be that the Prince spared his life to extract the whereabouts of the alliance document from him? It’s strange—Zhan Zhao was granted the title of ‘Imperial Cat’ by the Emperor. Could it be that he truly has nine lives? Despite his repeated injuries and exerting himself to perform Crane Ascends to the Heavens [a high-level martial arts move], anyone else would have collapsed long ago. Yet he managed to keep fighting and endured this long.”
Shao Ji Zu felt a dull pain in his chest and murmured, “If not for the Linglong Honey from Linglong Manor, how could he have such stamina?” However, he did not continue this thought aloud.
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