Torches illuminated where Wang Yu sat astride his mount, flanked by several cavalrymen. Beside him were two riderless steeds—none other than Snow-Treading Wuzhui and Golden Biao.
After leaving the horse ranch at noon, they had immediately diverted northward to rendezvous with the hundred cavalrymen led by Zhao Shan. Then, with gagged mouths and muffled hooves, men and horses had slipped quietly behind a low hillock near the ranch's eastern gate, waiting for nightfall.
Sure enough, their wait was rewarded with the arrival of the horse caravan and Li Xiu, who had slipped outside to conduct the illicit trade.
Seeing Yang Chengwu duck behind Li Xiu and offer to trade intelligence from beyond the frontier for his life, Wang Yu did not answer. He merely glanced back at Zhao Yingjie.
"Feima Fortress," Zhao Yingjie explained. "Established only within the last decade. They send annual tributes to the manor and have always been quite tactful."
Zhao Yingjie was thoroughly familiar with the martial factions within the three prefectures; after all, he had previously served as the manor steward responsible for receiving guests and handling external relations.
"Their fortress lord, Yang Chengwu, hails from Qing'an Prefecture. When he was young, his family was butchered by horse bandits. He alone escaped, spent twenty years abroad studying martial arts, and returned to wipe out that band of bandits before founding Feima Fortress. Their business is horse trading and escorting caravans."
"Then how would he know intelligence from beyond the frontier?"
"Anyone trafficking horses in the northern lands has ties of one sort or another to the grasslands or the Northwest," Zhao Yingjie explained. "Beyond Qing'an Prefecture lie mainly the tribes of the White Qiang. The White Qiang have maintained good relations with the Central Plains for years, so it's hardly surprising that Feima Fortress would have dealings with them."
Wang Yu nodded. Zhao Yingjie urged his horse forward two paces and called out in a loud voice, "What news is it? Out with it, and let us see whether it's enough to offset the crime of trafficking stolen horses from the Zhenxi Horse Ranch!"
Yang Chengwu replied, "Only if the Prince of Zhenxi promises to spare our lives will I dare speak. Furthermore, this intelligence involves both the Black and White Qiang tribes. I must report it to His Highness in person!"
Wang Yu arched a brow. Beside him, Duan Wei drew closer. "Beware of trickery."
When Duan Wei and his companions encountered Zhao Shan's cavalry on the road and learned of the planned night ambush, they had volunteered to lend a hand. As Duan Wei had put it:
"Anyone daring to target the Zhenxi Horse Ranch must have some tricks up their sleeve. The cavalry of the Ding'an Army is meant to fight the Qiang in the northern desert; it would be a shameful waste for them to suffer casualties in a dispute among martial artists."
The Duan family was a renowned martial clan of the Northwest as well. Since they offered to help, Wang Yu was more than glad to accept.
The Jianghu was not merely about fighting and killing; it was about human relationships and mutual favors. You help me, I help you, and wasn't that how connections were forged?
Gongsun Yi stepped forward as well. "Yang Chengwu's lightness skill is formidable, and his mind runs deep. Moreover, look at that hulking brute with the spiked club—to wield a weapon weighing dozens of jin with such effortless ease, he must possess innate, monstrous strength."
At this point, Gongsun Yi frowned slightly. "An ordinary petty faction shouldn't have experts of this caliber, nor should they risk offending the Prince's Manor to traffic stolen horses for such petty profit."
Wang Yu pondered briefly, then dismounted.
Zhao Yingjie, Zhao Shan, Zhao He, Duan Wei, and Gongsun Yi flanked him on all sides, surrounding him with an overwhelming sense of security.
It was just slightly lacking the atmosphere of a lone wanderer braving the Jianghu.
Seeing Wang Yu approach, Yang Chengwu also took two steps forward while propping Li Xiu up. The hulking brute beside him guarded his flank, warily eyeing Duan Wei, who carried a seven-foot sabre.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Now that the distance had closed and the threat of a volley of arrows was gone, Yang Chengwu helped Li Xiu aside and put away his tiger-head hooks to show good faith. "This lowly one had a moment of foolishness. I am willing to compensate the Prince's Manor for all losses, begging only that Your Highness spare our lives. Henceforth, all of Feima Fortress will follow only the Prince of Zhenxi's lead!"
Wang Yu looked at Yang Chengwu, sneered, and remained silent.
Yang Chengwu took a step forward; the five men behind Wang Yu stepped forward in unison.
Yang Chengwu smiled awkwardly, then lowered his voice. "Last month, when I traveled beyond the frontier to trade horses, I received word that the Black Qiang King sent betrothal gifts to the White Qiang King, seeking the hand of his most beloved youngest daughter, Ardai. It is said the White Qiang King has already agreed.
"If the Black and White Qiang join forces and Lingwu Pass is caught unprepared, the Qiang might very well breach the pass and endanger the Central Plains," Yang Chengwu said grimly.
Zhao Shan's and Zhao He's eyes twitched; Duan Wei and Gongsun Yi were visibly startled as well.
For years, the White Qiang had maintained amicable ties with the Central Plains, conducting honest trade and never collaborating with the Black Qiang to assault the passes. Consequently, the defensive pressure on the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor had remained relatively light.
If the Black and White Qiang united, their strength would instantly double. Whether through secret surprise raids or combined frontal assaults, it would spell disaster for the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor.
If the pass were breached, the entire Northwest would be engulfed in the flames of war.
"This matter must be reported to General Feng," Zhao Yingjie murmured. "He needs to send men to the White Qiang tribes to investigate."
Yang Chengwu chimed in, "This matter is a closely guarded secret even within the White Qiang. I only learned of it because I happen to know a household whose cousin works inside the White Qiang royal court."
Wang Yu gave a cold snort. "If it's such a secret, how is it that not only does a servant know about it, but even the servant's relatives know?"
Yang Chengwu froze, seemingly caught off guard by Wang Yu's question, and hastily replied, "That man's cousin only overheard it by chance and quietly passed the word to him; it hasn't spread widely at all. If General Feng sends men to investigate and the operation isn't airtight, getting discovered would put the White Qiang on alert. If the White Qiang lash out in a sudden offensive, the Ding'an Army will inevitably suffer losses."
Zhao Yingjie said indignantly, "And what, you have a better idea?"
Yang Chengwu nodded. "Investigating the White Qiang risks startling the snake in the grass, but what about the Black Qiang? If the Black Qiang King has begun making preparations for the marriage alliance with the White Qiang, wouldn't that serve as proof?"
Although the Black Qiang had always been hostile toward the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor, business was still business. Aside from prohibiting stops at the Black Qiang royal court and at Jinfeng Pass, neither side ever barred cross-border trade.
As a result, both sides had spies and undercover agents operating under the guise of traveling merchants in each other's territory. Major developments could never stay hidden for long.
Zhao Yingjie was taken aback, realizing Yang Chengwu's words actually seemed to make sense.
Yang Chengwu's eyes shifted as he pressed on. "This lowly one hails from a family of horse breeders and has some modest knowledge of the craft. I am willing to bear the rod and beg for punishment, working as a humble horse groom for the Zhenxi Horse Ranch. Furthermore, having done business beyond the frontier in recent years, Feima Fortress has gained some understanding of the White Qiang tribes. In recent years, the White Qiang have migrated their royal court further and further south, and it is now merely two to three hundred li from Lingwu Pass. If Your Highness verifies the alliance between the Black and White Qiang through the Black Qiang and decides to deploy troops, this lowly one is willing to act as a guide, serving as your vanguard to lead the Zhenxi Army on a lightning strike against the White Qiang!"
Zhao Yingjie and the others looked at one another, finding that everything Yang Chengwu said sounded quite reasonable.
It felt as if sparing him would benefit everyone. Had Zhao Yingjie not known that Wang Yu was rational and had a mind of his own, he would have stepped forward to plead on Yang Chengwu's behalf.
Every eye turned to Wang Yu, awaiting his answer.
Yang Chengwu's face displayed a seamless blend of humility, determination, loyalty, and fearlessness—as if he were the most loyal lapdog and the fiercest hawk in service to the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor.
Then Wang Yu smiled. "If my eyes don't deceive me, that tiger-head hook of yours isn't a single hook, but a pair."
Yang Chengwu's heart skipped a beat. Forcing a smile, he said, "Your Highness has a discerning eye. This was originally my trump card; I never expected Your Highness would see through it at a single glance."
Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. "So my eye is quite good, then?"
Yang Chengwu nodded fervently. "Without question."
Wang Yu smiled. "In that case, I have a few questions for you."
Yang Chengwu replied, "This lowly one will tell you everything I know!"
Wang Yu asked abruptly, "Did the Black Qiang King propose marriage to the White Qiang King, only to be rejected?"
Yang Chengwu froze. "What?"
Wang Yu asked again, "What is your relationship with the Black Qiang King that he would stage the illusion of a successful marriage alliance for you?"
Yang Chengwu's heart jolted violently. Forcing his lips into a strained smile, he stammered, "What are you saying, Your Highness? This lowly one doesn't understand."
Wang Yu nodded and asked his final question: "Which of Shi Mo's disciples are you?"
Yang Chengwu's pupils contracted sharply. Every shred of wishful thinking vanished from his heart. The tiger-head hook in his hand suddenly split in two, turning into two streaks of flowing light. Flying up and down like a pair of fierce tigers descending the mountain, they pounced straight at Wang Yu.
Duan Wei bellowed, his horse-chopping sabre clearing its scabbard in a flash, cleaving straight toward the center of the twin hooks.
The hulking brute reacted just as swiftly, wildly swinging his spiked club to intercept the sabre.
Zhao Shan flicked his wrist, hurling throwing daggers, but Yang Chengwu ducked beneath them. The silver gleam of the twin hooks flashed once more: one clawing toward Wang Yu's shoulder and neck, the other hooking toward his ribs.
Zhao He and Gongsun Yi flanked Wang Yu left and right, barring the way. Zhao He's bare palms darted between the twin hooks, seizing straight for Yang Chengwu's wrists, while a chained spear appeared in Gongsun Yi's hand, shooting like a ribbon of silver straight at Yang Chengwu's throat.
Yang Chengwu deflected the chained spear with one hook, while parrying and sweeping with the other to intercept Zhao He's palms. Slithering out from between the two men, he stared at Wang Yu, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"Splendid skill!"
Gongsun Yi let out a soft cry, his chained spear coiling along the momentum to entangle the newly freed tiger-head hook. On the other side, Zhao He twisted his body into a grappling stance, a tiger-claw grip clawing straight for Yang Chengwu's kidney.
Zhao He was the foremost expert among the Prince's Manor's shadow guards, and Gongsun Yi was an adept from the Central Plains; neither would let Yang Chengwu slip away so easily.
Yet Yang Chengwu's reaction exceeded their expectations. He simply let Gongsun Yi entangle the left-hand hook, releasing it while sweeping his arm out in the same motion, tangling up the approaching Zhao He and stalling him for an instant.
Though it was only for a split second, Yang Chengwu had indeed shaken off Gongsun Yi and Zhao He, facing Wang Yu directly once again.
*Whoosh—*
Yet Zhao Shan's throwing daggers arrived once more, accompanied by Zhao Yingjie's sabre, whistling with fierce, biting wind.
Left with no choice, Yang Chengwu halted in his tracks, batting aside the daggers and blocking Zhao Yingjie's blade, only for Zhao He and Gongsun Yi to whip around and encircle him once more.
And even then, he was still five feet away from Wang Yu.
Seeing the clear mockery in Wang Yu's eyes, Yang Chengwu's fury flared to the heavens. "Zhao Yu! What kind of skill is relying on numbers? If you have the guts, fight me one-on-one!"
Wang Yu looked at him with utter disdain. "This isn't a Jianghu feud; this is warfare between two states. We have no need for martial etiquette. Besides, you're the one who broke the rules first by attempting an ambush. What right do you have to lecture me?
"Furthermore, what is your status, and what is mine? You want to fight me one-on-one? Have you asked my fifty-thousand-strong army, my three thousand heavy cavalry, my manor guards, and my Jianghu friends?"
Seeing Yang Chengwu struck speechless, Wang Yu waved a hand as if bored. "He's of no use anymore. No need to keep him alive."
Shock, rage, and fear gripped Yang Chengwu. Then a bloodcurdling scream rang out behind him. He looked back only to find that Duan Wei had already cleaved the hulking brute to death with a single strike and was turning back toward him.
Then he heard Wang Yu's teasing voice: "How about this? Lest people say I'm overbearing and won't give you a chance, let's forget about the fifty thousand troops and the three thousand heavy cavalry. So long as you can defeat the five of them together, I'll duel you one-on-one."
Wang Yu looked at Yang Chengwu and grinned. "I am a kind person."
Chapter 40