The assassination of Mu Ya, the crown prince's concubine, did not cause any real commotion in the city. After investigating each inn, it was quickly discovered that two out-of-town men who arrived at nightfall yesterday were missing and were designated as suspects, but their identities were unknown. It is known that nothing was left behind except the abandoned horses.
The stuffed doll with Su Liang's name written on it, covered with needles, and stained with blood, was found not far from Mu Ya's body and was secretly sent to the Yan Kingdom Palace.
After Emperor Yan saw it, he asked, "Are you sure Su Liang and Gu Ling are not in Kasyapa City?"
After receiving a positive answer, Emperor Yan issued a secret order to pay close attention to a man, a woman, or two men who appeared in Xiangyue City and nearby cities, and to report any clues suspected of Su Liang and Gu Ling immediately.
The Yan Kingdom had previously suffered a defeat in the war, losing one of its generals and losing all face. The morale of the military was hit hard. The Emperor of Yan Kingdom was about to send people to Qian Kingdom to negotiate peace. At this time, he discovered that Gu Ling and Su Liang were suspected of coming to Xiangyue City. Naturally, one thought was to catch them, but also to guard against their assassination.
But Su Liang didn't know that her current safety was mainly due to Gu Ling's absence. She was alone and not the target of the investigation.
After entering the city again, Su Liang disguised himself as a middle-aged man. He walked alone in the city for a long time, selected a house with a sign for sale, and bought it.
The house is not far from the central street, it is quiet in the bustle, has everything, and the price is not low, but this is not a problem for her.
The name she used to go through the formalities was Su Liang's current pseudonym, Xiang Gu, which is homophonic to "missing Gu" because she was thinking about Gu Ling at the time.
After closing the door, Su Liang chose a yard, put her luggage in the room, opened the window, and sat down facing the pine trees in the yard.
She is surprisingly calm now, not sad, because she knows that Gu Ling is definitely not dead. What she wants to do is not to be decadent and sad and shed tears, but to find a way to find him.
When the incident happened last night, Su Liang was thinking, how could there be such a powerful master around Mu Ya? If there was, he should have been sent to kill her long ago! Instead of arranging Qiu Ming to do it carefully and spend a lot of time to poison her. And why did that man show up after Mu Ya's death? If he was really avenging Mu Ya, why didn't he kill Gu Ling on the spot? Why did he let Su Liang live?
The more he thought about it, the more Su Liang felt that there were too many unreasonable things about what happened last night.
And the fact that Gu Ling was not dead at that time meant that that person was going to be captured alive.
That man claimed to be Mu Ya's adoptive father, but he probably didn't even look at Mu Ya from beginning to end. He was always staring at Gu Ling.
If he was lying and misleading Su Liang to think about Mu Ya, and Mu Ya was dead, he would be in a dead end.
Su Liang now believes that what happened last night was not a coincidence at all due to too many coincidences. That person just waited until Mu Ya died before taking action. In this way, he claimed that it was for Mu Ya, and Su Liang could no longer ask Mu Ya for confirmation.
Everything was done to confuse Su Liang, and that person should know the identities of Su Liang and Gu Ling very well and had targeted them early! Otherwise, why would he be so sure that by seizing Su Liang as a hostage, he could make Gu Ling compromise? You know, Su Liang was disguised as a man at that time. But that man was powerful, but he chose to let Gu Ling take poison to control him. He seemed to be very aware of Gu Ling's strength. People who don't know their identities would never act like that!
Su Liang looked at the magpie landing on the ancient pine with cold eyes.
Today was a good day chosen by Gu Ling. They were originally scheduled to consummate their marriage tonight.
"Nangong Lin..." Su Liang read the name in a cold voice.
She and Gu Ling went from Kasyapa City to Hefeng City without any trouble. It was impossible for someone to follow them for so long without taking action. As soon as they left Hefeng City, they were targeted and Gu Ling was captured.
Deliberately confusing Su Liang's sight.
Apart from Nangong Lin, Su Liang couldn't think of any other suspicious person. The old man last night was not Nangong Lin, but he must have something to do with him! Only he knew that Su Liang and Gu Ling were in Yan country, and he knew that the biggest person around Gu Ling was also
The only weakness is Su Liang! Otherwise, even if Nangong Lin takes action personally, it will be difficult to do anything to Gu Ling!
Why... Su Liang was thinking. If it was Nangong Lin, why did he kidnap Gu Ling? Why did he let her go? What grudges were there between their master and apprentice? And why did he do it at this time instead of in the Mid-Levels Courtyard?
Just take action?
Closing her eyes, Su Liang remembered the purpose of her trip to the Yan Kingdom, Nangong Qian. She thought of Nangong Qian's obsession when she first met Gu Ling, and made a bold guess in her mind: Nangong Qian fell in love with Gu Ling, and Nangong Lin wanted to
Help your daughter!
After all, Su Liang is certain of one thing. Nangong Lin loved Gu Ling's mother Situ Ning when he was young, but couldn't get her. Would he think that Gu Ling being with his daughter was to make up for his past regrets? Otherwise, he would not take the initiative
He asked Gu Ling to teach him martial arts. He hadn't bothered Gu Ling for so many years. His sudden change after this meeting must have been caused by something that happened recently.
Although it was outrageous, Su Liang knew that there was nothing that she could not think of and that some people could not do.
"It's too perfect, a bit fake." This is how Gu Ling, who has known Nangong Lin since childhood, commented on his master.
Su Liang didn't take it seriously at that time, and Gu Ling just said it casually, because they didn't find any flaws in Nangong Lin's words and deeds.
Including last night, when he captured Gu Ling and made Su Liang think that he was related to Mu Ya. Nangong Lin was so good at disguising that it had become his instinct.
Su Liang took a deep breath, turned around and opened the baggage on the table, and saw the wedding gift that Nangong Lin gave to her and Gu Ling, which was extremely ironic.
And after she cleared her mind, she finally understood why Gu Ling said "I'm sorry" to her before he was taken away. It was not because of his departure, but because everything happened because of his master!
Since the other party deliberately pretended to confuse Su Liang, if Gu Ling had pointed it out at that time, I am afraid that the old man would not have let Su Liang go so easily.
After simply packing up, she hid her luggage and left her home in Xiangyue City.
…
Su Liang dressed very low-key and disappeared into the crowd. She walked from the street to the end of the street and back again, and finally found what she was looking for, the sign of Yanyun Tower.
Yanyun Tower is a business, so it naturally has to provide channels through which "guests" can contact them. Although most people don't know about it, as long as they spend money and have connections, they can find it.
The last time I saw Yan Shiqi was last year. After Su Liang rescued her from Yan Shiqi again, she lost track of her when she left, saying that she was going back to rectify Yanyun Tower.
At this time, Su Liang stopped in front of an unattended stall. The stall owner was an old man in tattered clothes. He was sitting under a tree and taking a nap. When he saw someone coming, he raised his eyelids without making a sound.
Su Liang leaned over and picked up a clay doll on the stall. It was crudely made and ugly, but the ghost-like pattern on the doll's shoulder was the symbol of Yanyun Tower.
When the old man saw the item Su Liang had selected, his eyes flashed slightly, and then he slowly stood up and moved over, asking for ninety-nine taels.
"Okay, I bought it." Su Liang quickly paid and left with the clay doll.
Arriving in a deserted alley, Su Liang smashed the clay doll, took out a piece of paper and wrote an address on it.
After she left, the old man took out an identical clay doll and placed it in its original position, then went back to take a nap.
…
At dusk, Su Liang walked into the woods on the outskirts of the city, found a charred dead tree, and stopped.
After waiting for a moment, a black shadow flashed past, and a tree not far away shook slightly.
"Who are you? Who do you want to kill? Don't make lies." A man's voice came from the tree.
Su Liang looked calm, "I'm looking for Yan Jiujiu."
After the atmosphere was silent for a moment, the man's voice came again, extremely respectful, "Don't know where to go to meet this distinguished guest?"
"I'll be waiting here." Su Liang breathed a sigh of relief.
The tree swayed again and soon became calm.
Yan Shiba once said that Su Liang was the only "distinguished guest" in Yan Yun Tower. No matter where she was, as long as she could find someone from Yan Yun Tower and say the secret phrase "I'm looking for Yan Jiujiu", she would be the one to be contacted by the local boss.
People go to see her and listen to her orders.
Although Su Liang never used the "privilege" given by Yan Shiba, she never forgot it either.
But now, she needs help, and this is what Yan Shiba owes her.
It was dusk, and in the dense forest there were only the chirping of insects, birds, and the rustling of reptiles, which was quite breathtaking.
Su Liang sat on the burnt dead wood and waited quietly. After suffering a loss once, Su Liang felt that Yan Shiba would not let Yan Shiqi take advantage of him again. The performance of the man just now made her basically certain.
, the person in power now is Yan Shiba.
The waiting time was longer than Su Liang expected.
It was completely dark, and the moonlight was shining through the gaps in the leaves.
She felt something was wrong, but she didn't want to leave just yet. This was the capital of the Yan Kingdom. Her relatives, friends and master were thousands of miles away, but the enemy was not far away. The opponent was extremely powerful, and she must not act rashly.
It was too slow to bring reinforcements home, so I could only try to find helpers from Yanyun Tower.
Although she was a little tired, Su Liang decided to wait after hesitation. If no one showed up by dawn, she would leave Xiangyue City and go to Hefeng City to find a solution.
Su Liang thought about recent events and suspected that Nangong Lin had kidnapped Gu Ling for his daughter Nangong Qian. But at the same time, she knew Nangong Qian's physical condition best. Even with her medicine and acupuncture, she would at least be able to take care of herself.
It will take three months. Nangong Lin should not force Gu Ling to do anything with her regardless of Nangong Qian's health.
But even so, Su Liang didn't want Gu Ling to be imprisoned by those people, not even for one more day or one more second.
Su Liang placed her dagger on the dead wood, shining with a cold silver light, and then climbed up the nearest tree to avoid being harassed by snakes, insects, rats, and ants.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, she looked up and saw that the moon was already in the sky. She was about to close her eyes and take a nap when she heard some movement.
Su Liang held the long sword in his hand and listened carefully. Someone was coming, more than one.
"Where are the people?"
A familiar female voice came into his ears, and Su Liang was stunned. It was Yan Shiba! She was actually in Xiangyue City?!
Then came the surprise. Su Liang jumped down from the tree and said, "I'm here."
"Sister Liang?!!!" Yan Shiba took off the ghost mask on his face, rushed over and hugged Su Liang, "It's really you, haha! I still think of you as your lover!"
Su Liang looked around and determined that there were others, but they were all at a safe distance and did not get close.
Yan Shiba let go of Su Liang and frowned when he saw her disguise, "You're so ugly! Why do you look like this? If I hadn't heard your voice, I definitely wouldn't have recognized you!"
"I came here secretly." Su Liang said.
Yan Shiba nodded, "I know! When I heard the rumors, I thought you were in Kasyapa City and was about to go find you! But before I got to Hefeng City, I was called back again and said that the distinguished guest was in Xiangyue City. I almost missed it.
I missed it! Fortunately, I told you earlier that if you show up, it will be the most important thing for Yanyun Tower!"
Although he never regarded Yan Shiba as a serious friend because he could not agree with her behavior sometimes, Su Liang was still a little moved when he heard such words at this moment, "I have something to ask you for help."
"What's wrong? Who bullied you?" Yan Shiba saw that Su Liang was in a bad mood and snorted coldly, "Who do you want to kill?! My sister is absolutely fine! By the way, where is your man? Why isn't he with you?
By your side? Did he betray you? I have said before that men are simply unreliable!"
Su Liang interrupted Yan Shiba's divergent thinking, "It's not that he bullied me, it's that something happened to him."
Yan Shiba became even more angry when he heard this, "What kind of man are you looking for? Not only does he not protect you, but he also wants you to save him if something goes wrong?"
"Shut up! Listen to me!" Su Liang stopped Yan Shiba's chatter.
Yan Shiba snorted, "Long time no see, you have a good temper? You actually yelled at me for a stinky man... Okay, okay, tell me, sister, listen! What happened to him?"
"He was taken away." Su Liang said, "I have a suspect and I know where it is, but I'm not sure if I can go alone."
"It's that simple? Sister, go with you! Speaking of which, I promised to give him to you, but I didn't expect that you two bastards actually teamed up to deceive me. They had been secretly together for a long time, causing me to die.
The opportunity fulfills the promise! What's happening now, it's clear that God can't stand your bastard behavior and has given me another chance! Haha!" Yan Shiba said and became happy.
Su Liang: ...hasn’t changed at all, she still wants to be slapped to death when she opens her mouth!
"How many manpower do you have?" Su Liang asked.
Yan Shiba shook his head, "No need. I'll just go with you!"
"No!" Su Liang shook his head, "The opponent has at least two masters who are stronger than your master."
Yan Shiba was stunned for a moment, and then he got serious, "Which old monster came out of the mountain? I hate those old immortal things the most! All of them are seriously ill! Nine times out of ten it's for the bastard children and grandchildren! Not ten out of ten
Be reasonable!"
Although Su Liang felt that what Yan Shiba said was reasonable, he reminded her to talk about business.
Yan Shiba looked around, "I have...eight younger brothers here now! I came to Yan country to deal with the miscellaneous things that hurt me last time. It was not easy, so I spent a lot of effort and never looked for them.
You. Now that everything has been settled, I originally... forget it, you don't like to hear it, so I just miss your man, hum! Tell me, what are you going to do? "
Su Liang looked in the direction of Hefeng City, "I have to think about it carefully and go there first."
"It's all up to you!" Yan Shiba called one of his subordinates and told them to wait in Hefeng City.
Soon, everyone around them left, leaving only the two of them.
"Look how tired you are? Come, sister, carry you away!" Yan Shiba put on his mask, turned his back to Su Liang, and motioned for her to come up.
Su Liang shook his head, "No need."
"Hurry up! Really! It's useless to dislike me anymore, your man is not here!" Yan Shiba couldn't help complaining to Gu Ling's heart.
Su Liang was indeed very tired, her body was tired, and her heart was even more tired. She also knew Yan Shiba's stubborn temper, so he followed her.
"Haha, aren't you afraid that I will take you away and hide you so that you can only be with me in the future?" Yan Shiba carried Su Liang on his back and jumped out of the forest.
"Why are you hiding me?" Su Liang closed her eyes and asked.
Yan Shiba chuckled, "Of course it's because my sister likes you! It will definitely be fun to spend time with you!"
"Oh, I don't like you." Su Liang said rudely.
Yan Shiba hummed, "Ghost girl, when I rescue the man named Gu, I will fight with him. Whoever wins, you go with him! Do you dare?"
"You can't beat him." Su Liang said.
Yan Shiba sneered, "Then you're still begging me to save him now?"
"It's two different things." Su Liang shook his head. What happened to Gu Ling this time was completely calculated. The opponent was strong and had a well-planned plan to catch him by surprise. Yan Shiba dared to forget that Su Liang and Gu Ling saved her several times when she was in trouble, otherwise she would
He has died more than once.
"He is so powerful, why was he arrested? By the way, you haven't told me yet, what did the person who arrested him want to do?" Yan Shiba asked.
Su Liang's tone was faint, "It seems that the mastermind's daughter fell in love with Gu Ling and took him back to be his son-in-law. I guessed that."
When Yan Shiba heard this, he cursed angrily, "What a bitchy father and daughter! They even dare to steal my sister's man! They are looking for death!"