Chapter 035
Chapter 35: The Clue
The grand hall was now in ruins. Its former luxury had become little more than a heap of broken debris.
Yu Jin, Gong Li Shan, and the four chief eunuchs lay severely wounded. Many guards and eunuchs were also badly injured, while those still standing had descended into chaos.
The gray-robed elder glanced around cautiously, ultimately deciding against chasing the armored guard who had fled. He wasn’t sure if that guard had accomplices. Given the current state of Aurora Pavilion, if he left now and the enemy returned, no one here could withstand another attack.
Yet unnoticed by anyone, Li Mu Sheng had also vanished from the hall at the same moment the armored guard made his escape.
…
After escaping Aurora Pavilion, the young armored guard quickly darted through the secluded alleys. He used Qi to stop the bleeding from his severed arm while constantly glancing behind to ensure no one pursued him.
When he saw that the gray-robed elder hadn’t followed, the young guard visibly relaxed. He swiftly jumped into a nearby courtyard, shedding his clothes and preparing to disguise himself using the garments hanging out to dry.
However, the commotion alerted the home’s owner, and a woman immediately rushed out to see what was happening. She shrieked in terror upon seeing the one-armed guard stealing clothes.
The young guard’s eyes turned ruthless, preparing to silence her permanently. Just as he raised his fist, another youthful figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
“It’s you!” the young guard exclaimed, eyes widening in recognition.
“You’re fleeing for your life. Why distract yourself with something as trivial as changing clothes?” Li Mu Sheng shook his head, seemingly disappointed by the guard’s choice.
The armored guard instinctively stepped back, watching Li Mu Sheng warily.
“Who exactly are you? When did you catch up to me?”
Li Mu Sheng’s eyes flickered, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he replied, “If I told you we’re actually on the same side and I followed to save you, would you believe me?”
The armored guard narrowed his eyes suspiciously, then abruptly punched forward, sneering, “I’d have to be crazy to trust you!”
“Sigh…”
A gentle sigh echoed beside the guard’s ear. Suddenly, the startled woman disappeared from view, and the scenery blurred around him. Only then did he realize Li Mu Sheng had grabbed him by the collar and was carrying him away at unimaginable speed.
The guard was terrified and struggled to resist, but quickly realized he couldn’t move at all.
Soon, Li Mu Sheng landed gently in a deserted alley and dropped the guard to the ground.
“Who exactly are you?” the young guard asked again, his voice trembling.
Li Mu Sheng thought for a moment, then bluntly said, “Do you have a key to the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury?”
He had followed this man precisely because he was a remnant of Great Qi. No one knew the secret treasury better than those loyal to Great Qi. Such individuals always dreamed of restoring their fallen dynasty, and perhaps this guard possessed one of the hidden keys.
“So that’s what you’re after.”
The armored guard stared at Li Mu Sheng for a moment, suddenly gaining confidence. “First, release my pressure points. Then I’ll decide whether to tell you.”
Li Mu Sheng frowned and nodded slowly. “So, you don’t have it? Well, I might as well toss you back to Aurora Pavilion.”
With that, he reached out again to grab the guard’s collar.
“Wait! If you hand me over, you’ll never get the key!” the guard cried hastily.
Li Mu Sheng shook his head, clearly impatient. “My time is limited. You have only one chance: speak now or lose your chance.”
The guard fell silent.
Seeing this, Li Mu Sheng swiftly picked him up and headed back towards Aurora Pavilion, coldly remarking, “Time’s up. You’ve missed your one chance to stay alive.”
The guard hesitated, assuming Li Mu Sheng was bluffing. But as Aurora Pavilion drew closer and closer, panic set in. He finally blurted, “I don’t have the key!”
Yet Li Mu Sheng didn’t react, and when they were merely a street away from Aurora Pavilion, the guard became desperate. Still, he quickly fell silent again, realizing that the more he revealed, the less valuable—and the closer to death—he became.
“Stubborn fellow.”
Li Mu Sheng moved swiftly, bringing the armored guard to the rooftop of Aurora Pavilion’s five-story building. From here, they saw more Heavenly Brocade Guards arriving to reinforce security. Soon, the entire place would be sealed tight.
But to Li Mu Sheng, even the strictest defenses were as effortless to pass through as an empty field.
“Indeed, interrogations aren’t really my strong point.”
Li Mu Sheng shook his head again, casually carrying the armored guard into Room Seventeen, where he tossed him beneath the bed.
The guard watched in astonishment as Li Mu Sheng vanished instantly, leaving only the door slowly closing on its own.
[What kind of frightening speed is that?]
He tried to open his mouth again, only to find himself unable to speak once more.
…
Inside Aurora Pavilion’s hall, the chaos continued. Younger guards and eunuchs rushed about, tending to those who had been injured. Yu Jin, Gong Li Shan, and the other experts quietly sat aside, focusing on healing their wounds.
Li Yuan Ling anxiously searched everywhere for Li Mu Sheng but couldn’t find any sign of him. At first, she had assumed he was hiding somewhere within Aurora Pavilion after the panic. Now, unable to locate him, she felt deeply worried.
Just as she turned around, Li Mu Sheng appeared silently in front of her again.
“Brother Li! Are you alright? Where were you just now?”
Li Yuan Ling immediately examined him carefully, sighing in relief upon seeing him unharmed.
“It was chaotic just now. I went for a little stroll to clear my mind,” Li Mu Sheng replied, somewhat absent-mindedly.
That armored guard likely knew something about the keys to the Heavenly Revelation Secret Treasury. Li Mu Sheng certainly couldn’t leave him to the Heavenly Brocade Guard. It seemed he’d need to seek Cang Yin Yue’s help. With her Shadow Spy Division background, she could pry open even the most stubborn mouths.
[But I can’t always rely on her. When there’s time, perhaps I’ll devise something similar to the “Life Death Talisman,” and everything will become much simpler.]
Thinking this, Li Mu Sheng glanced around the hall briefly, then turned to Li Yuan Ling.
“Miss Li, too many ears here. Perhaps we should speak somewhere private.”