Three days later, Chang'an City, Duke Jin's Mansion, Broken Blade Hall.
Broken Blade Hall is where Duke Jin's pharmacist Yao Shi Moke practiced his skills, meaning 'the blade is only sheathed when broken'. Inside, dozens or even hundreds of broken blades are embedded, showing the pharmacist Yao Shi Moke's relentless dedication to blade training in years past. However, he has not set foot in Broken Blade Hall for many years since he began acting as regent, busy with state affairs, until three years ago when Pharmacist's Wish took over the place to form the Brocade Guard, and once again the sound of the winds could be heard within.
The Brocade Guard is not a formal institution of the Great Zhou Kingdom, and few in Chang'an City even know of it, not even Yao Shi Moke who gave it much attention, merely allowing Pharmacist's Wish to use it for secretly nurturing Death Warriors.
But Pharmacist's Wish, using her father's money and resources, quickly turned the Brocade Guard into an entity of mighty influence. The Great Zhou isn't short of talent, only lacking visionaries; all Pharmacist's Wish required was to provide a path for climbing the social hierarchy, and countless individuals would scramble to ascend. As of today, the Brocade Guard consists of two hundred and twenty at the lowest 'Iron Embroidery' level, sixteen at the 'Copper Embroidery' first rank, and three at the 'Silver Embroidery' second rank, already forming quite the presence around Chang'an.
Now, three Silver Embroidery members kneel in Broken Blade Hall, their faces filled with shame, unable to face the one who lifted them to prominence.
"Three days ago, you promised that within three days you would uncover the traitor in An Guo Temple," Pharmacist's Wish said calmly. "Now three days have passed, and you don't even have a single clue?"
"Commander," said the Silver Embroidery, "we reviewed the registry of monks at An Guo Temple over the past year, apart from a forty-year-old master transferred from the county three months ago, and three masters passing away this year, An Guo Temple shows no other changes, nor any suspicious new arrivals."
"And what about any suspicious activities?"
The Silver Embroidery exchanged glances, then replied, "There is one matter, but I don't know if it's relevant..."
"Tell me!"
"We found that periodically, several nobles visit An Guo Temple overnight until leaving the next day. Duke Qin visits most frequently, followed by Thousand Gold Duke, County Marquis Huai Ren, among others."
"Do you have a list?"
The Silver Embroidery quickly presented a list, Pharmacist's Wish glanced at it, seeing names and the frequency of their nocturnal visits to An Guo Temple. Duke Qin Yao Shizhi was listed the most, visiting An Guo Temple ten times in the past six months.
Pharmacist's Wish knows Yao Shizhi, greedy and shameless, fickle and vicious, though fortunate in birth as the current Emperor's maternal younger brother. If Yao Shizhi's example isn't weighty enough, others such as Yuwen xuan, Li Bao, Helan Ken further bolster the implication; none of them are reputable, each notorious for their bravado and recklessness, gathering surely for unsavory intentions.
However, at the end of the list, there was one name most familiar to her—
"Duke Jin, once."
Right then, Pharmacist's Wish recalled a conversation from a year ago. The Brocade Guard had heard rumors of human trafficking through An Guo Temple, and Pharmacist's Wish thought it a chance to strike against Buddhism, eagerly seeking counsel with her father, only to be sternly warned against pursuing any inquiry into An Guo Temple, lest he withdraw his support for the Brocade Guard.
After a brief silence, Pharmacist's Wish placed the list on a lit Everlasting Candle, watching as the list burned to ashes before she calmly said, "You may leave."
The Silver Embroidery members felt as if granted immense relief, hurriedly departing the space.
Pharmacist's Wish turned her head, looking at the battle blade located at the highest point in Broken Blade Hall.
This is the only unbroken blade in Broken Blade Hall, being Yao Shi Moke's weapon in his first battle, its body rusted and scarred, the blade itself marked with many nicks, a testament to Yao Shi Moke's fierce inaugural combat.
Previously, upon seeing this blade, Pharmacist's Wish felt deep respect, as it symbolized her father's valor; but now, gazing upon it, she sees only its wear, decay, and downfall.
"Father, I will not allow the Yao Race to be disgraced."
She declared, word by word, "Absolutely not."
Returning to her quarters, Pharmacist's Wish summoned two maids to assist in her dressing and binding. Once prepared, her appearance greatly differed from before, her form obscured by layers of inner armor, now looking like a dustbowl-ridden young man.
For a theft operation, appearing is inevitable, so long as one's identity remains hidden, maintaining an excellent gap in information. If the true identities of the other three are determined, then the Thief's House would be hers for the taking!
First the Thief's House, then Chang'an, Great Zhou, until the entire realm… held in her palm!
And the first step was to inherit Zhou Taizu's saber, Bingzi Pepper Forest!
With a silent thought of 'Thief's House', Pharmacist's Wish vanished from her room.
...
…
Nocturnal Heaven City.
Ying Rushi sat aboard a carriage heading toward the Imperial Palace, but hadn't traveled far before being halted, the driver said, "County Duke, there's a carriage blocking the way ahead."
"Go around it."
"I've tried, but it follows when I maneuver around it, continuously staying ahead."
Ying Rushi lifted the curtain, coincidentally at the same time the occupant of the front carriage lifted theirs to look back, the two meeting gaze from a distance, with the person revealing a feigned smile, "Marquis of Lecheng County, what a coincidence, are you also going to meet His Majesty? Would you need a commoner to clear your path?"
"Indeed, Yu Family," Ying Rushi replied calmly, "If Yu Family needs to attend urgent matters, feel free to proceed."
Blocking her, this royal County Duke, was a performer named Yu Sun. Yet, regardless whether it be their carriage or grand attire, Yu Sun appeared far more distinguished, even daring to block her path, while Ying Rushi could say little.
This all stemmed from the fact that Yu Sun typically accompanies the Emperor, singing as His Majesty plucks the pipa. His favor is so strong that not even ordinary royalty like Ying Rushi, let alone the current Chancellor or influential Princes, dare offend Yu Sun.
It just so happens that Yu Sun's nephew was wildly acting arrogantly in Ping City, kidnapping women when seen by Ying Rushi and killed by her, from which Yu Sun held a grudge, several times speaking ill of Ying Rushi to the Emperor, thereby leaving Ying Rushi merely a County Duke.
Ying Rushi could only ceaselessly avoid Yu Sun, even as Yu Sun humiliates her now, she remained devoid of rage, willingly yielding.
However, Yu Sun could only vent minutely, he scolded the driver to swiftly proceed, as he was rushing to the Palace City awaiting His Majesty's summon.
As this transpired, the ground of Nocturnal Heaven City slightly shook, resonating hoofbeats rang through the official road, swirling dust advancing toward Ying Rushi and Yu Sun.
A war chariot charged unabashedly along the official road, followed by dozens of heavily armored Evil Ghost Knights, even their horses donned in Ring Armor, just this cavalry moved as a storm, shaking the earth.
At the forefront of the chariot sat a woman with disheveled hair, hanging wildly in the wind, her hair tips caught in flame, resembling countless fiery serpents flying through the air.
The chariot, seeing a carriage on the road, didn't stop at all, crashing directly into it. Ying Rushi managed to dodge in time from behind, but Yu Sun's carriage was shattered, sending both Yu Sun and the driver flying, though unharmed—within the main city, one is almost completely immune to such physical damage—before Yu Sun could get up, a pair of slender, long hands cradled his head.
Yet Yu Sun screamed in agony.
Because his face was making a 'sizzling' sound, like raw meat thrown onto a scorching iron plate to roast. But he dared not break free, only continuously shouting, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am Yu Sun, Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The person driving the chariot through the Nocturnal Capital was surprisingly the Sovereign of Qi Kingdom, Ying Le.
She stared at Yu Sun and asked, "Do you know where you went wrong?"
"Wha-what?"
"Do you know where you went wrong?"
"I, this humble one deserves to die, I shouldn't have accepted Gao Yang King's bribe to speak on his behalf!"
"What else?"
"I, this humble one should not have requested Chancellor Yang to promote my son to an official! Ah, Your Majesty—"
Yu Sun's cheeks were almost about to be charred to carbon by the high temperature, yet Ying Le still held his face, expressionless, and asked, "What else?"
"I don't know, I shouldn't have killed people, shouldn't have committed adultery with my sister-in-law, shouldn't have... ah ah!"
With a scream, Yu Sun fell, the flesh on his cheek had melted into meat juice, revealing grimacing teeth, with more exhalation than inhalation. In Ying Le's hand was a bloody tongue, she had earlier inserted her fingers into Yu Sun's mouth, like a blazing iron pincer instantly making Yu Sun's tongue go through the process of "cooked→carbonized→fractured," looking as if she had cut his tongue off with great force.
The nearby residents had long hidden inside their houses, those who hadn't run away kneeled on the ground trembling, even in the god-protected main city of the Nocturnal Heaven, in front of the Emperor of Qi, they felt no sense of security.
"What a good tongue." Ying Le kissed the tongue, sighed, "A pity it grew in a criminal's mouth, I'll miss your voice."
"Marquis of Lecheng County."
She didn't look at Ying Rushi, still observing the tongue in her hand, casually asked, "Do you know where he went wrong?"
Although Ying Le's tone was light as if casually chatting with a niece, Ying Rushi didn't dare lift her head, an overwhelming malice surged forth, as if trying to invade her body through every pore. Ying Rushi left the carriage and knelt on the ground, saying without hesitation, "Non-officials are not allowed to ride in a carriage!"
"Yes, that is indeed the law set by the late emperor, although I liked him very much, a law is a law, he isn't an official, thus he cannot ride a carriage."
Ying Le casually stuffed the tongue into her clothes, pulled the reins with force, and the black-headed horse, two people tall, roared, dragging the steel chariot out of the city.
As she passed by Ying Rushi, Ying Le smiled kindly.
"Little Ruishi, I look forward to Bingzi Pepper Forest."
Ying Rushi remained kneeling on the ground, until Ying Le's convoy had gone far. She looked at the corpse of Yu Sun not far away, though someone she held a grudge against lay dead before her, Ying Rushi did not feel happy at all.
All she could think about now was rushing to the Thief's House, even if it was full of strangers, it was more breathable than the Nocturnal Heaven.
"Return to the mansion."
...
…
Jiangnan City.
"Brother, do I look good?"
Shang Qia raised his head and his eyes lit up upon seeing his sister. She was not dressed in the fashionable attire of court ladies, but more akin to a female Martial Arts Messenger, with a short skirt over a long skirt for ease of movement paired with a youthful charm; the outfit completed with shoulder and wrist guards, and a tightly fitted light chest plate for a clean, neat, yet aesthetic look; on her back were two rings, her favored weapons, the Mandarin Duck Rings.
"You look great!" Shang Qia didn't hold back his praise.
"Then I'm heading out!"
"Be careful!"
Shang Qia casually reminded her, only realizing several seconds later, "Wait, you're fully geared up, where are you going!?"
When Shang Qia ran out, of course, he couldn't find a trace of his sister Shang Xinlei.
...
…
Thief's House.
Yan Qing watched as the Spiritual Jade in his hand turned to dust, then he grasped the White Iron Straight Saber, took a deep breath, and swung the blade at the practice dummy in the room.
Clang!
A moon-shaped arc swept through, carving deep cracks in the practice dummy which restored back to normal the next second.
Yan Qing exhaled deeply, though this small measure of power was not much help to his current predicament,
"I've finally become a messenger."
Just before the start of the theft mission, Yan Qing had finally broken through the human limitations, becoming a messenger capable of wielding extraordinary tokens!