When Yuan Conglai came to from his stupor, he found that he was no longer inside the train carriage, but lying flat on the tunnel floor.
Tinnitus buzzed loudly in his ears. Involuntarily pressing a hand to his head, he gave it a hard shake and looked around. His aide and the squad of outriders who had been in different carriages earlier were now all sprawled haphazardly across the ground around him.
It felt as if they had all been tossed right out of the carriages.
Directly in front of him, a pale cyan-blue radiance emanated through the dark, gloom-shrouded tunnel.
He could vaguely make out what seemed to be a silhouette standing within that light. After a moment, once his eyes had adjusted somewhat to the brightness, he realized it was an elderly Xuanist.
The man was scrutinizing him with an unfriendly gaze, his eyes brimming with palpable disgust and hatred.
A cold shudder ran through Yuan Conglai.
Seeing his reaction, the elderly Xuanist gave a cold sneer.
Right at that moment, an origami crane suddenly fluttered in from deeper down the tunnel. The rustle of its flapping wings and its nimble, lifelike grace almost made one wonder whether it was a real, living crane.
The old Xuanist reached out, caught it, and turned around. Moments later, a flood of brighter light spilled out from further up the tunnel, stinging Yuan Conglai's eyes so sharply that tears welled up, and he hastily raised an arm to shield his face.
After a short while, the heavy tread of several pairs of combat boots echoed closer, stopping only once they reached the vicinity. Then, he heard the elderly Xuanist speak:
"Xuanji, this person ought to be Emperor Wenguang's eldest son, born of Empress Cao. Though he falls far outside Emperor Wenguang's favor, he is privy to many secrets within the palace. Emperor Wenguang almost certainly sent him here this time to scout the route."
Then he heard a young yet powerful voice reply: "Just as the High Master predicted."
Peering through the gap between his fingers, Yuan Conglai could not help but be startled. The individuals who had arrived were all wearing Great Shun military uniforms. Piecing that together with what had just been said, his heart sank, realizing that he had likely been captured.
Yet at this juncture, he felt neither panic nor fury. Instead, he accepted it all with quiet composure; perhaps he had already braced himself for this very outcome the moment he set out.
Taking a deep breath, Yuan Conglai lowered his hand and climbed up from the ground. He looked calmly toward the figures standing in the light, whose facial features remained obscured in the glare.
Even though the other party had not directed any intimidating field pressure toward him, his body still trembled uncontrollably. He himself was not afraid, but the mutated tissue within his body was gripped by terror and spasms.
Just then, his aide faintly stirred awake. Taking in their surroundings, a look of shock flickered across his face before he quickly regained his composure, murmuring softly, "Your Highness."
Seeing him revive, Yuan Conglai breathed a sigh of relief. "Zikang, I am glad you are unharmed..."
The aide scrambled up from the ground as well. Dusting himself off, he clasped his hands in salute. "Your Highness, this official is unhurt."
Mingchengzi gave a cold sneer and presented a map seized from the train to Chen Chuan. "Xuanji, this is what they were carrying."
Chen Chuan took it and glanced over it. Marked upon the map was precisely this rail line, complete with detailed notations of the major waypoints along the route.
After examining it, he folded the map and looked up at Yuan Conglai. "Are you Prince Qiong, Yuan Conglai?"
Yuan Conglai remained silent. The aide stepped forward, cupping his hands. "Indeed. This is His Highness, Prince Qiong."
Chen Chuan asked, "Did Emperor Wenguang arrange for you to scout the route here?"
Yuan Conglai still said nothing. The aide continued to answer on his behalf: "Without an imperial decree, how could he leave the city? And how could he have imperial guards to escort him?"
Mingchengzi scoffed and said to Chen Chuan, "Xuanji, this Emperor Wenguang is no different from the emperors of past dynasties. Seeing the fall of his state at hand, he scrambles to seek a way out. But sending the eldest son whom he has always disliked—his intent is quite sinister."
Chen Chuan asked, "What does the High Master propose we do?"
Mingchengzi replied, "That is simple enough. I shall cast a secret technique to make them forget everything that just occurred. Once they return and report that this route is clear, Emperor Wenguang will naturally pass through here. Then we need only strike to seize him."
Chen Chuan said, "Since the High Master is confident, I leave it in your hands."
Hearing them discuss this so openly without the slightest care for their presence, Yuan Conglai trembled all over. He drew a small blade from his sleeve, intending to slit his own throat.
The aide was horrified. Lunging forward, he grabbed Yuan Conglai's sleeve and reached to wrest away the blade, crying out in alarm, "Your Highness, you must not!"
Yuan Conglai struggled, shouting, "Let go of me! I would rather die than have Imperial Father fall into the enemy's trap because of me!"
Watching the two struggle, Mingchengzi sneered derisively. Did they truly think death was such an easy out?
Setting aside the fact that Yuan Conglai could not possibly die in his presence, even if the cut were actually made, someone of the direct imperial lineage possessed naturally hyperactive mutated tissue that would swiftly heal the wound.
However, not wishing to make an unsightly scene before Chen Chuan, an uncanny light flickered in his eyes. Yuan Conglai instantly went blank and dazed, and the small knife slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground.
Seeing the prince freeze, the aide finally relaxed, yet grew anxious over his current stupor. He turned and bowed to Chen Chuan and Mingchengzi. "His Highness Prince Qiong was born frail and plagued with ailments. Whatever you gentlemen intend, I implore you to take pity on his frailty and show some leniency."
Mingchengzi replied coldly, "You and this Prince Qiong still have some use. Not only will I spare your lives, but I will also see to it that you return in one piece."
Chen Chuan said calmly, "I have a few questions for you."
The aide hastily bowed low. "I dare not conceal anything. Please, milord, ask as you wish."
Chen Chuan first inquired about his background, then about Prince Qiong's residence, the route they had taken to get here, the places they had passed along the way, and various matters within the imperial palace.
The aide concealed nothing, answering each question truthfully.
At last, after a moment of hesitation, the aide gritted his teeth and looked up. "Milord, there ought to be another secret path within the imperial court that leads straight from Youdu to this place without having to travel overland."
Chen Chuan looked at him. "How do you know this?"
The aide stated with absolute certainty, "Without such a route, the northern escape path would have long been blocked outside the city walls. It would be impossible to flee here!"
Chen Chuan nodded, then turned to Mingchengzi. "High Master, I have finished my questioning."
Mingchengzi said gladly, "Xuanji, leave what follows to me."
A gleam shifted in his eyes, and the aide suddenly became dazed and blank just like Yuan Conglai. Meanwhile, all the outriders on the ground rose to their feet and walked expressionlessly back into the train.
Before long, the train started up once more and rolled forward along the tracks.
Mingchengzi remarked, "Xuanji, that man is quite shrewd; he managed to figure out a few things. It is just that Emperor Wenguang's mind is far too deep; he is even using his own son right now."
He sneered derisively. "There is indeed a northward path in the palace, but there is no need to travel along the ground to get here. One need only open a fissure to travel beyond the world, circling behind us from outside the realm. I expect Emperor Wenguang's actions this time were meant deliberately to expose the first section of the route. Once we assume he will no longer flee this way, or once we lay an ambush here, he will open the fissure and head straight beyond the domain from the rear section!"
Chen Chuan hummed in acknowledgement. This matter of a fissure was also visible on the map Song Haiying had provided earlier. However, that map dated back to the former dynasty, so whether the fissure still existed and whether it still led to that destination was something he could not be certain of; he had merely posted men there to guard it just in case.
Yet according to Mingchengzi, the Yuan imperial house was currently capable of using this fissure to cross over.
If so, then Emperor Wenguang very well might have planned it this way.
Mingchengzi offered another suggestion: "Xuanji, why don't we beat him at his own game this time? We can use Prince Qiong to let Emperor Wenguang know that we have laid an ambush here, thereby putting him at ease to make his clandestine crossing."
Chen Chuan nodded slightly. This strategy was viable.
Of course, all of this was predicated on Emperor Wenguang not knowing that they were aware of the fissure.
In truth, clashes between opposing sides often did not hinge on extraordinarily intricate stratagems, but rather on information asymmetry.
Whoever possessed more complete and accurate intelligence could suppress their adversary. The same held true here.
Seeing his agreement, Mingchengzi felt invigorated. If Great Shun adopted this plan and Emperor Wenguang indeed chose this path, he would certainly be captured right here, and Mingchengzi's great vengeance would be achieved!
Recalling something, he bowed to Chen Chuan and said with earnest gravity, "Xuanji, please forgive me for withholding something earlier. Outside the city of Youdu, buried in four directions, lies an inner demon in each quarter. Your side must take extreme caution before advancing."
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. The "inner demons" he spoke of were actually anomalies.
He could understand why Mingchengzi had not mentioned this earlier; after all, trust had not yet been established between them.
Without this cooperation, Mingchengzi likely would not have brought it up of his own accord, waiting instead until they ran into trouble before approaching them.
He asked, "How much does the High Master know about these inner demons?"
Mingchengzi said, "These four inner demons were also captured and suppressed outside Youdu by my Fulong Faction. They draw in the deathly and baleful auras around Youdu; should the imperial house release them, I fear grave harm will ensue. However, I did not participate in the demon-subduing rites back then. I have only an esoteric ritual layout diagram here, which may be of assistance to your side."
Chen Chuan accepted it immediately and examined it carefully.
He took anomalies very seriously; such things were often impossible to guard against and defied all reason.
Once an anomaly fully grew, it became exceptionally difficult to handle. One needed only to look at the "Diner"—once certain conditions were met, even Dongxuan View martial artists could fall victim to it, and even great powers found suppressing such things to be far from simple.
For instance, the only reason troop reinforcements could be redeployed from the southern front this time was that massive anomalies had emerged in both the north and south of the Chiluojiaduo Confederation.
Unlike Great Shun, Chiluojiaduo was exceedingly lax regarding anomalies. Far from taking any preventive measures, they even fostered them with sacrifices. Now, as the Great Impact drew near and anomalies fluctuated violently, severe problems had indeed erupted.
Dealing with these things required utmost caution. After reviewing the ritual layout, he looked up and said, "Thank you for informing me of this, High Master."
Seeing that Chen Chuan took no offense at his prior omission, Mingchengzi relaxed slightly. He offered a formal Xuan Sect bow and said with solemnity, "Xuanji speaks too kindly. Should your side require my assistance in dealing with these inner demons, I shall certainly not demur."
Chapter 1418