Chapter 1223 - 317: Storms Rise Before Piaomiao Peak, Schemes Awaken Within Gusu City

The cold wind howled past, whipping his robes so they snapped and fluttered, yet it could not blow away the resolve in his eyes.

After observing for a while, he leaped down from the high wall. "Xiang Kun, Lu Wen Tripod, you two will head at once to Wudang and Emei. Blood Rakshasa, Ling Lanzhi, you master and disciple go to Heng Mountain and have a talk with Nun Chixia."

Shi Feiyang took out several secret letters. "Deliver these two letters separately to the Sect Leaders. The letters describe in detail the Imperial Court’s conspiracy. Tell them: when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold. If the Heroic Sakura Association is wiped out, the Imperial Court’s next target will be the various great sects. Invite them to jointly resist the Imperial Court. Once it is done, the Heroic Sakura Association is willing to offer half its assets as reward." Xiang Kun gently stroked his jade flute, his expression grave: "Grand Squad Leader, rest assured, this lowly subordinate will not fail the trust you place in me."

Lu Wen Tripod gripped his sword hilt tightly and said in a deep voice, "Wudang and Emei share breath and branches with us; they will surely not sit idly by."

The two accepted the secret letters and turned to leave.

"Xie Wen, you will lead the Flying Eagle Guard to infiltrate the Capital City." Shi Feiyang lowered his voice. "Keep a close watch on the every move of Lu Bing, Guo Dunyi and the others, and pay particular attention to their dealings with the Illusionists from the Western Regions and the Tusi of Miaojiang. Once you discover anything unusual, send word back immediately. If an opportunity presents itself, sow discord between them and the ministers at court, so that the Imperial Court’s rear erupts in flames."

Xie Wen unfolded the secret report in his hand, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s: "Grand Squad Leader, be at ease; the Flying Eagle Guard will surely ferret out their secrets!"

After everyone left, Shi Feiyang stood alone in the hall, gazing at the great banner of the Heroic Sakura Association hanging on the wall, and muttered, "Imperial Court, this game of chess—we’ll see how it plays out." As night deepened, the people within the Shi Mansion bustled ceaselessly about, while Shi Feiyang, at his leisure in his vast bedchamber, lay in a tub of warm water, bathing in complete comfort.

Utterly calm; perhaps calmness had already become a vital part of his life.

Perhaps, many years ago, in Liaodong, on the grasslands, when he was incorporating the Naiman Tribe, he had already foreseen today’s events.

Three days later, Liao Pei and Lie Quan hurried back, bringing news: "Grand Squad Leader, those Jinyi Guard really have been secretly watching Wu Zhong and the others. When they caught sight of us, their expressions clearly turned flustered; they’ve already sent men rushing a message back to the Capital City!"

Shi Feiyang’s lips curled into a cold smile. "All the better. Let the Imperial Court know we are by no means unprepared." Under the shroud of night, Gusu City lay still; cold crows swept over the city walls, shaking a few scraps of leftover snow down onto the blue tiles.

Shi Feiyang stood with his hands behind his back on the arrow tower of the Shi Mansion, gazing thoughtfully toward the west of the city. The faint glow exuded by his skin when the Bright Jade Technique circulated made him, in the night, seem like cold jade haloed with light.

Suddenly he heard the soft clink of tiles, and a lean, gangly figure ghosted down onto the eaves—it was the "Bamboo Pole," Jiang Huotian.

"Grand Squad Leader!" Jiang Huotian shook the droplets of water from his hair, still carrying the dampness of Taihu Lake on him. "Those turtle-spawn of the Sea Sand Gang finally loosened their mouths! Ten million taels of silver, loaded on five grain-transport barges, are right now hidden inside a Taihu Painting Boat!"

As he spoke, his long, narrow fingers gestured excitedly, the moonlight making even the grime in his nail creases stand out clearly.

Cold light flashed in Shi Feiyang’s eyes, and the deerskin pouch at his waist stirred of its own accord without wind. "All the better. This silver is both our life-saving fund and our confidence."

Before his words had fallen, True Qi suddenly condensed around him, and he executed the "A Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" Lightweight Technique. With only a light tap of his toes on the eaves, he swept across the streets like a night owl; wherever he passed, he left behind only a faint white mist. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the vast night.

By the shores of Taihu Lake, the cold moon hung high, and the lanterns on the painting boat swayed in the wind, dyeing the surface of the lake a blood-red hue.

When Shi Feiyang landed on the prow, the hull did not so much as give the slightest wobble.

He looked at the mountain-like piles of silver chests in the cabin, a cold smile curling his lips, icy blue True Qi surging in his palm.

The seemingly ordinary deerskin pouch suddenly radiated an eerie glow; its opening widened like a vortex, and the ten million taels of silver turned into streaks of light, pouring ceaselessly into the pouch. In a short moment, the five grain barges were emptied out; only the water stains on the cabin floors remained, glinting coldly in the moonlight.

"A fine trick, Grand Squad Leader!" Jiang Huotian had somehow followed up without him noticing and clicked his tongue at the now-empty cabins. "This subordinate has lived more than half a lifetime and has never seen such a wondrous treasure!"

Shi Feiyang put away the deerskin pouch, his expression stern. "Go at once to find Jin Liufu and Lu Dechu, and have them sail out of the river overnight, follow the Yangtze River north to Liaodong Bay. Inspect the various branch squads and order all disciples to relocate immediately to the Naiman Tribe. Remember, act with utmost secrecy. If there are any Imperial Court spies—kill them without mercy!"

He paused, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. "Liaodong is a place all military strategists must contend for. The Imperial Court has likely long been on guard. You must be extremely cautious on this journey."

Jiang Huotian dropped to one knee, his lanky frame drawn taut as a bowstring. "Grand Squad Leader, rest easy! This subordinate will see it done! Should there be the slightest mishap, I’ll willingly break both my own legs!" With that, he shot away like an arrow loosed from the string, disappearing into the reeds along the shore.

The next morning, a light mist veiled Piaomiao Peak.

Liao Pei, leaning on his iron crutch, watched the busy disciples before him, his brows knotted tightly. "Grand Squad Leader, are we really going to build a fake burial ground here? Isn’t this cursing our own brothers?"

Beside him, Lie Quan jabbed the Heaven and Earth Saber into the ground, sending shards of stone flying. "Brother Liao, the Grand Squad Leader has his own designs. If you ask me, we’ll let those dog bastards of the Imperial Court come and get a taste of our prowess!"

Shi Feiyang stood at the edge of the sheer cliff, his robes snapping in the mountain wind. "Elder Liao, Elder Lie, you should know that Wu Zhong and the others, having thrown in with the Imperial Court, will surely lead men here to encircle and suppress us. This fake burial ground is the first step in misleading them."

He turned to the two of them, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s. "When the government troops come, you will lead your men in feigning defeat and lure the enemy deeper in. But before you withdraw, you must lay three layers of traps along the mountain paths, in the bamboo groves, and in the caves. Rolling boulders, poisonous smoke, hidden crossbows—use everything we’ve got!"