Chapter 208: He Must Be the One Who Framed Me!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"There aren't any signs! This old man has prided himself on being perceptive, acting only after thinking things through, yet I don’t even know who my opponent is. I've really landed myself in a sticky situation this time."
Han Sanhe felt like he was walking in a thick fog, not knowing what was in front and frustratingly, not knowing what was behind either; it was just a dense fog of mystery that surrounded him.
As for He Hanqing, he had severely underestimated him; he had thought that he was only a scholar. Looking at the pickle he was in now, the man was obviously a tough one to handle. Was it possible that he had offended some sort of martial master?
The waves of havoc were endless; the assassins who came had cultivation bases that were at least of the fifth peak.
The four-thousand-man troop was relentlessly attacked, being massacred at every turn. They kept losing members, each attack taking more men than the preceding one.
The youth in black wore a grim expression and said, "Marshal, I’ve already sent a signal for help the day before yesterday. I believe our relief troop will be here soon but… this is really bizarre…"
"The most significant issue now is He Hanqing’s identity. We must figure out who this person really is."
The youth’s voice was very low. "There aren’t many who could do this in the martial arts world. We must know who our opponent is in order to tackle this issue accordingly."
"Let us list the forces in the martial arts world that could do this." Han Sanhe spoke quietly.
Gugu, the youth, chuckled humorlessly. "Marshal, the Tianxuan Continent is vast and wide, filled with plenty of capable people. Powerful schools or clans that possess an exceptional background and tremendous abilities aren’t all that few. Although they don’t expose themselves much, rarely ever seen, there is still a dozen of them. The abilities they carry exceeds the limits of a nation’s defense, so there isn’t much use listing them out. As for the forces that can send so many people for assassinations like He Hanqing, while there aren’t many of them, there aren't that few either. There will at least be forty to fifty organizations with such power… perhaps more."
Han Sanhe replied, "Are there so many hidden forces in this world? Why do I not know of them?"
The youth shook his head and replied, "Marshal is a militant after all. Being with the military troop all year long, these bits and pieces of information regarding extraordinary human prowess wouldn't have been made avail to you. Besides, these forces rarely chip into the unrest of empires; it is even less likely for them to go against the militants head to head. Both sides will barely meet, so…"
The muscle on Han Sanhe’s face twitched before he said, "If the higher-ranked officials of the Empire of Yutang have always had such tremendous force, why…"
This was the underlying reason he had underestimated He Hanqing.
While He Hanqing had shown that he was no minor character – possessing guards who were experts that could survive the forthright attacks of Bai Yixue, a top swordsman, why were his capabilities never utilized when Dongxuan and Yutang had been battling for so many years?
Even when Yutang was almost doomed, He Hanqing had never shown up. Other than being a sage, he was also an extremely experienced official of three imperial generations. There were too many times that could have put his influence to good use but he had never made a single move!
That either meant he was unable to or incapable of doing so – it was for this reason that Han Sanhe sank deeper into his thoughts and worry.
As the chilling realization began to dawn on him, he realized how worrying the truth could be. No one would have thought that the reason this old official of three generations, a sage of literature, and an acknowledged loyal minister, had stayed aside was actually that he was never personally provoked – his life had never been threatened!
Now that Han Sanhe had done exactly that, He Hanqing’s real demeanor had been revealed to him.
Thinking about it now, it no longer seemed to be just worrying – it was utterly terrifying!
"I guess you can't underestimate anyone. I’ve never thought that I, Han Sanhe, would ever have to face this day." Han Sanhe sighed dejectedly.
He suddenly thought of something. If He Hanqing was just a trivial character with no special influence, why would the lurking mastermind spend so much effort to frame him?
The mastermind had conjured up so many plots and even used the sixth swordsman of the world, Bai Yixue, in his machinations.
While he was the target of this setup, he was still a secondary prize – He Hanqing was the one whom the mastermind really wanted!
Judging from this, the hidden mastermind must not be an ordinary person and had to be a tremendously mighty character.
Han Sanhe could only blame himself for understanding too little too late. If he had seen past everything earlier and told He Hanqing about it, things would not have transpired to this stage.
Should he be blaming He Hanqing for concealing himself well or for not even being bothered in the first place?
He could only blame it on his own carelessness!
"Marshal doesn’t have to be overly worried." Gugu comforted him, "He Hanqing’s actions doesn' t indicate that he seeks the marshal’s life. He is mostly testing the waters, trying to lure the third party out. He never thought that we’re also the third party’s pawn. Therefore, while the dangers along our way are plenty, there isn't much threat to our continued survival."
Han Sanhe’s frown was locked into place while his gaze deep. He doesn't seek my life, but he takes those of my men at every turn.
"I guess He Hanqing just wants to kill everyone around the marshal here. Only then will he let marshal return to Dongxuan. The assassinations will only end then…" Gugu sighed.
Han Sanhe immediately understood why Gugu was sighing. If Ha Hanqing had indeed wanted to kill everyone until he alone was left, did that not mean Gugu would be sacrificed too?
It was at this time that a sharp cry sounded – another wave of ambushers had plunged into their midst yet again.
"Prepare to fight!" Han Sanhe hollered.
Despite not having a great number of people, seven hundred men in the hands of an exceptional marshal was still a power not to be trifled with.
When they were about a thousand miles away from the capital of Dongxuan, there were only less than a hundred of Han Sanhe’s troop left. Everyone carried injuries and open wounds on them; their nerves so high strung that they were close to breaking down.
It was a journey of death.
Luckily, the relief troop the youth in black had been waiting for was finally here. A sliver of hope had come for the worn-down troop!
A large eagle, with a wingspan that measured a thousand feet, slowly descended from the sky.
"It’s eldest senior brother!" Gugu shouted, his voice sharp with ecstasy.
Anyone would be afraid of death, especially one that came without cause nor explanation. Seeing that his hope for life had come, how could Gugu not be thrilled?
A lanky silhouette hopped off the back of the eagle; the newcomer’s robe fluttered with the wind as he descended like an immortal from the nine heavens.
Han Sanhe breathed a sigh of relief at the sight while Gugu beside himself with joy.
It was not without reason that both of them were so delighted. After this person came, the attackers from He Hanqing melted away, like they had never been there.
Han Sanhe’s group finally returned to the capital safely.
However, the marshal who had just gotten back was filled with anxiety.
The Empire of Dayuan, Tianci, and Ziyou had sent pigeons with harshly-worded messages; the resentment that was contained therein was immense, with no effort at tact or diplomacy.
"Give us the antidote!"
Looking at the order, Han Sanhe and Gugu were both stupefied, unable to fathom the meaning behind the messages.
Used Soul-Sealing Spike on them? Us?
When?
"Gugu, did you…?"
"I certainly did not!" Gugu’s face that he painted dark himself was flushed red.
"Then who was it?"
Han Sanhe paced around, thinking for some time before he finally said, "Gugu, are you sure you’ve only struck once in Tiantang City?"
"Yes, I’ve only targeted a single person. And it’s only one Soul-Sealing Spike! Used on that Yun Yang," Gugu said affirmatively.
"Yun Yang…"
Han Sanhe chuckled bitterly. The young man with good looks that did not seem to belong to this realm seemed to have appeared before his eyes once more; he was so witty, using all sorts of tricks with so much ease – their Tiantang City guide who had resorted to any conceivable means to make fools of them all.
Han Sanhe’s gaze met Gugu’s. The same sliver of possibility could be seen in each other’s eyes.
"If this situation has really taken place, there is only one possibility!" Gugu said a little hesitantly.
"There was only that person who had the chance…" Han Sanhe continued, "But how could he use one Soul-Sealing Spike on so many people?"
Gugu said angrily, "It must be that bastard who framed me!"
Framed you…
Han Sanhe sighed.
If you hadn't used the Soul-Sealing Spike on him, he couldn't have done what he did… Even when we know it’s him now, we can’t explain it to other countries; we have no evidence.
You've been framed just because you said so?
"The Soul-Sealing Spike’s poison is rare, difficult to be found in this world. There is no antidote. So many of them were spiked but none of them have died. This means that the poison has been diluted…"
"By using one spike on so many people at the same time, it has lost its potency." Gugu said with a bite in his tone, "This Yun Yang, he’s a devil indeed! His actions have instigated the conflict between us and the other three empires’ military forces!"
"If there were a chance, I shall mince him into a hundred thousand pieces!" Gugu was so angry that the disguise he put on almost dropped.
"This fellow has a high tolerance. He knew that you’ve harmed him but gave nothing away. Instead, he framed you using your method on the other foreign generals in the dark…"
Han Sanhe smile was devoid of humor. "Now that we’ve each gone back to our homeland, the other empires are all several hundred thousand miles away from us… there isn’t even a chance for us to sit down and explain things… This tactic is impressive indeed."
"There has to be a solution..." Gugu clenched his teeth and turned to look at his eldest senior brother, his voice pleading. "Eldest senior brother…"
The eldest senior brother, who was dressed in a black robe and wore a mustache alongside a beard smiled faintly. "We don’t have the antidote for the Soul-Sealing Spike but there’s still a way to suppress it. Besides, they were not heavily spiked; all the more it isn’t a problem for us who have come from the same school. Since they have misunderstood and this misunderstanding involves our school’s weapon, we will have to make this trip."
Gugu’s eyes shone. "Eldest senior brother is the best!"
The man smiled softly. "However, I can't have my eagle carry an ugly child like yourself. If you were a clean, delicate beauty, the hawk would be more than happy to do so."