Chapter 1439: Left Patriarch Zong

Chapter 1424: Left Zongzhang

“The city is sealed off?”

“It is!”

The white-robed merchant said mysteriously, “It was right before our King’s birthday celebration. Do you know how many nobles and wealthy merchants were passing through Mangzhou at that time? But the authorities couldn’t care less; they sealed the city directly and only reopened it two days later!”

“Was the killer caught?” the yellow-robed merchant asked casually, then waved his hand, “Go on, go on, I don’t want to hear it. Three out of ten of your rumors are false! Even if Mangzhou was sealed, it wouldn’t be because General Xue and Patriarch Qi were… murdered. They are such powerful figures; how could they possibly be assassinated within the country?”

“Believe it or not, this is true; I can swear on my mother!” The white-robed merchant waved his tongs. “The upper echelons of officials and nobles already know. Today, I passed by the Xue family’s mansion in Tianshui City and saw the entrance completely blocked. Carriages and horses of visitors coming to offer condolences were lined up one after another.”

The yellow-robed merchant exclaimed, “How do you know they were coming to offer condolences and not just making a regular visit? Given General Xue and old man Qi’s power, how many people in Tianshui City rely on their influence? Besides, if there was a funeral in their household, why isn’t there any mourning cloth displayed?”

“Are you confused? The King’s birthday celebration is approaching; who would dare to hold a funeral at a time like this and bring bad luck?” The white-robed merchant chuckled, “Mangzhou isn’t that far from here. In five days at most—no, two or three days—this news will spread throughout Tianshui City!”

Such significant, unchecked news was already known by the powerful and influential; the common people would soon follow.

“Assuming, just assuming, what you’re saying is true.” The yellow-robed merchant still couldn’t suppress his curiosity, “What about the killer? Were they caught?”

“The killer is still at large. Do you know who it is?” The white-robed merchant tossed a piece of meat onto the grill with a sizzle, “The Great Emperor of the Nine Hells!”

“The Great Emperor of the Nine Hells, the one with black clothes, black pants, and a black face?” The yellow-robed merchant burst out laughing, “Alright, I’ve heard enough. You’re getting more and more ridiculous.”

“Black pants and a black face?” Dong Rui was very surprised and couldn’t help but interject, “How is that image different from what I heard?”

The two merchants were startled. The courtyard wasn’t particularly large, but the sizzling of roasted meat and the din of the crowd were constant. They had to half-shout to hear each other. The people at the next table had very sharp ears.

The yellow-robed merchant immediately said, “We didn’t say anything!”

But the white-robed merchant waved his hand, “What’s there to be afraid of? Everything I’m saying is true. Everyone will know about such a big event in a few days.”

Just then, a voice suddenly interjected from nearby: “That’s right, Xue Zongwu is dead.”

The two merchants were startled again and turned to look. It was three burly men at the table diagonally opposite them. All three men were tall and sturdy, dressed in brocade. However, their garments were pieced together from two colors, as if a piece of rich embroidery had been stitched onto the chest. The man who spoke had curly hair and wore an outfit pieced together from black and red. He also had three unadorned large golden earrings in his right ear.

There were ears at the next table, and quite a few of them.

The yellow-robed merchant said helplessly, “Can we please not talk about this anymore?”

The leading man chuckled, “What’s there to be afraid of? Your companion is speaking the truth. Tianshui City is under strict martial law, with inns being searched every few days—they’re practically trying to turn our underwear inside out! It’s all because Xue Zongwu and his father-in-law were assassinated, making your Royal Court extremely anxious.”

No wonder Tianshui City’s security was ridiculously strict, and not just because the King of Jiao’s birthday celebration was approaching. Mangzhou, where Xue Zongwu died, was only a few days’ journey from Tianshui City. What if the killer committed the crime there and then came to Tianshui City to cause further trouble or disrupt the King of Jiao’s birthday celebration? They couldn’t be too careful.

The two merchants also noticed his use of “you people” and asked, “Where are you gentlemen from?”

“Luodian.” The burly man looked at He Lingchuan and the other, “And you two?”

These two didn’t quite look like merchants, especially He Lingchuan, who had an extraordinary demeanor; he was probably a noble young master from somewhere.

Dong Rui introduced himself, “We are from the Yangshan Archipelago.”

The burly man made an “oh” sound, his expression practically saying “never heard of it,” but his two subordinates at the same table reminded him, “Zongzhang, those are islands in the West Sea, where the allied forces get their logistical supplies and grain.” The burly man let out a long “oh” again, probably having some recollection this time.

He Lingchuan, however, examined the saber resting on the man’s table. The blade was sheathed, so he only knew it was slightly longer and more curved than Fusheng. The hilt was somewhat old, with a red jade knot on the tassel, from which hung five grayish-white round beads, each smaller than a fingernail. The beads were all smooth, clearly polished, but varied in color intensity.

The burly man noticed He Lingchuan’s gaze and looked at his own saber, “What is it?”

He Lingchuan nodded his chin towards the long saber, “Those are bone beads, aren’t they?”

The burly man took a swig of wine, “You know?”

“I’ve heard that after Luodian people kill a powerful opponent, they always keep a souvenir to show their merits.”

The burly man laughed heartily and casually picked up one of the beads, “This is my father’s killer; I successfully avenged him when I was seventeen!” He picked up a second bead, its color grayish with a hint of blue: “Fifteen years ago, a great demon from the Northern Sea.” The third bead: “A veteran general from the Jiao Kingdom, Xu Ye!”

Those who heard were moved. This person actually killed a Jiao Kingdom general? And after killing a general of that kingdom, he can still sit here so openly? That’s what’s truly unbelievable. The burly man smiled, waiting specifically to see the four people’s surprised expressions.

The white-robed merchant’s expression indeed became serious: “How may I address you, sir?”

“Qu Ruhai.”

He Lingchuan’s heart stirred upon hearing this. Tianshui City was indeed a gathering point for people from all directions at this time. He could casually find a restaurant courtyard for a meal and encounter the Left Zongzhang of Luodian Kingdom! He had been in the Golden Flash Plain for several months and understood the various powers, large and small, across the plain. This burly man called himself Qu Ruhai, was from Luodian Kingdom, had slain a Jiao Kingdom general, and his two subordinates called him “Zongzhang.” If they weren’t lying, this burly man should be Qu Ruhai, the Luodian King’s cousin and the Left Zongzhang! Luodian warriors were known for their ferocity, and Qu Ruhai was a fierce general.

He Lingchuan knew that Luodian Kingdom and Jiao Kingdom had some territorial disputes and had been involved in several conflicts, during which Jiao officials and generals had been killed, such as the veteran Jiao general Xu Ye mentioned by Qu Ruhai. To this day, their bilateral relationship was not good. Xue Zongwu had been ordered to guard the northern border for years, specifically to defend against these “barbarians” from Luodian Kingdom.

Had people from Luodian Kingdom also come for the King’s birthday celebration? These thoughts flashed through He Lingchuan’s mind. He then cupped his hands and said, “So it’s Zongzhang Qu! My apologies for not recognizing you sooner! We’ve just arrived and aren’t yet clear on what happened in Mangzhou.”

“You’re lucky,” Qu Ruhai chuckled, “If you had taken the route through Mangzhou, you wouldn’t have been able to get here by now. Mangzhou is still under city-wide search and investigation, and many groups are still stranded there.” Qu Ruhai laughed, “We were in Mangzhou two days ago, and the authorities got nervous the moment they saw us, thinking we were the killers!” As a Luodian general, after Xue Zongwu’s death, Mangzhou would naturally consider him a prime suspect.