Chapter 193
Chapter 193: The Woman
Hearing this, Wu Shang and his companion halted their steps. Hu Rui An and the others also turned their puzzled gazes toward Li Mu Sheng.
They all knew this Eighth Highness had never liked managing affairs. Now, seeing him suddenly eager to “take action” caught everyone off guard, leaving them momentarily speechless.
Li Mu Sheng sighed softly and said: “Your progress is truly too slow. At this rate, when will we ever reach Fallen God Peak?”
As he spoke, he lifted his eyes toward a distant corner of Prefecture City, where flames had sprung up unnoticed, lighting the dark night in shades of fiery crimson.
Li Mu Sheng raised an eyebrow and remarked: “It seems tonight Prefecture City is destined to be sleepless. Since I’ve already stepped in to help, I might as well resolve this Sheng Province affair quickly, so we can hurry on to destroy Fallen God Peak.”
After all, with such slow progress, if anyone in his past life had dared to write such a dragging story, the poor author would undoubtedly be scolded terribly by readers.
As this thought crossed his mind, Li Mu Sheng lowered his gaze toward the big black cat lying on the ground and called out: “Meow Meow, don’t you agree?”
Hearing this, the big black cat raised its head lazily from the ground, staring with a pair of dazed green eyes.
At this moment, after hearing Li Mu Sheng’s words, Wu Shang and the others showed delighted expressions.
Hu Rui An steadied his thoughts and glanced down briefly at the big black cat. Apart from its unusual size and possible connection to the old crone, he hadn’t found anything else particularly suspicious.
Hu Rui An considered for a moment, decided not to dwell further on the cat, and turned to Li Mu Sheng: “Your Highness, if we want to swiftly resolve matters in Sheng Province, the biggest obstacle is the Mei Family. Perhaps… we should pay the Mei Family a visit next?”
Hearing this, Li Mu Sheng withdrew his gaze from the black cat and casually waved his hand: “Then let’s do as you say. Whatever is fastest.”
After speaking, he turned around without another word, walking out of the dungeon. The big black cat at his feet let out a quick meow, hurriedly rising and strutting grandly behind him.
Hu Rui An and the others exchanged quick glances and hurriedly followed.
Inside the narrow passageway, Shen An Ran lagged slightly behind the big black cat, having to carefully match her pace behind it. Her brows furrowed slightly: “This cat is huge. It’s blocking the path right behind His Highness.”
…
Soon, they emerged from the dungeon and quickly left the unattended Heavenly Brocade Guard residence. They boarded a carriage and headed toward the Mei Residence.
Hu Rui An carried the scroll bearing the blood-stained list of names. If what the old crone said was true, then the Mei Family and those from Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard undoubtedly deserved punishment without mercy.
“Why is this cat on the carriage as well?” Inside the carriage, Hu Rui An stared doubtfully at the big black cat curled beside Li Mu Sheng.
Shen An Ran, sitting beside Li Mu Sheng, shifted slightly and tilted her head. She gazed curiously at the large cat occupying Murong Xiao Ya’s former spot, her beautiful brows creasing in puzzlement: “Could it be this black cat is also coming with us all the way to Fallen God Peak?”
Li Mu Sheng glanced at the two of them, then reached out to gently rub the cat’s head, replying: “This cat seems extraordinary. If it wishes to follow, let it. At most, it’ll just eat a little more, and it shouldn’t cost much silver.”
The big black cat, comfortably sprawled on the soft rug, purred contentedly and stretched its paws. Still, its emerald-green eyes glanced sidelong at Hu Rui An and Shen An Ran, as if silently blaming them for interfering too much.
Hu Rui An exchanged another puzzled glance with Shen An Ran, neither daring to say anything more after Li Mu Sheng’s remarks.
Thus, the carriage wheels rolled swiftly along the silent streets beneath the veil of night, gradually leaving the Heavenly Brocade Guard residence far behind.
…
In a modest house tucked away in a remote corner of Prefecture City, a plump woman dressed in rough, homespun clothing suddenly opened her eyes and sat up on the quilt-covered bed.
Sensing her awakening, two men and a young woman seated at the central table turned in unison, fixing their eyes upon the woman on the bed.
“Elder Sister, how did it go?” asked the young woman hurriedly, rising from her seat. She was around twenty, dressed in a simple skirt of coarse fabric.
The plump woman waved her hand, got off the bed, and slowly walked to the table, taking a seat. Her eyes swept gently across the others as she said calmly: “I’ve clearly explained things to that person.”
The elderly man seated at the table wore plain brown clothing. His hair was gray-white, and deep wrinkles lined his forehead like carvings. Holding a crooked wooden cane, he nodded slightly: “It’s good that you cleared it up. After all, it was merely a misunderstanding. A martial dao master of such caliber—it’s best for us to avoid making enemies where possible.”
At this moment, the thin, shabby-looking scholar sitting across the table asked softly: “When is Mo Mo returning?”
The scholar wore a short hemp garment, his sun-darkened face plain, sporting two patches of dried-grass fake moustache stuck above his lip, giving him a dull, ordinary appearance. A worn cloth bag tied with straw rope hung at his waist, bulging mysteriously with its unknown contents.
The young woman in the rough skirt returned to her seat, lightly brushing back her silky black hair with fingers white as jade. She sighed softly and looked toward the plump woman: “Little sister does love to wander about. If we don’t keep a close eye on her, we might never know where she’s gone.”
The plump woman rubbed her forehead gently, showing a helpless expression: “Little sister seems rather fond of that man and is probably following him around right now. But don’t worry—her identity hasn’t been exposed, and he shouldn’t know who she truly is.”
As she spoke, she suddenly lifted her head: “Also, this time, I learned an extremely important piece of information from them.”
Hearing this, the other three people around the table immediately turned their full attention toward her. Narrowing his eyes, the elderly man asked: “Is it related to the transfer orders of Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard?”
The plump woman nodded slightly: “Yes. Although I don’t understand where the Great Li Empire gets its confidence, they seem determined this time to act against Fallen God Peak. Even one of Great Li’s princes is personally involved.”
“Which prince from Great Li has come?” asked the shabby scholar with furrowed brows.
The plump woman shook her head slowly: “Actually, that man’s true identity is a prince of Great Li, though I’m not certain exactly which one.”
“Are you certain?” The old man’s brow furrowed deeply, puzzled: “I’ve never heard of any prince from Great Li having such immense strength. A martial dao cultivation so astonishing at such a young age would surely have made waves throughout the martial world. If he truly is a prince, why has no one heard even a whisper about it?”