Steward He is interrogating him. Steward Li is also there. The two stewards sent me here to report this to Young Master and request his instructions. Will Young Master go there himself or

Outside the courtyard of Ling Zhangs dwelling, Xia Feng was standing at the gateway. After hearing the servants words, he replied with a cold look on his face, Im informed about this matter. Young Master is too busy to be distracted by this. Go back and tell the two stewards to keep the man alive for the moment. Young Master might want to go there and interrogate him himself when he finds the time.

Yes.

Did you inform Second Master and Second Mistress of this? Xia Feng recalled something and asked.

Not yet. I came here to report to Young Master first, responded the servant.

Xia Feng cast a meaningful glance at him and told him, Thats very thoughtful of you, but the next time this kind of occurrence arises, inform Young Master and Second Master at the same time. Do not report to any of them sooner than the other. Understand?

Yes. Uncertain about whether this was a compliment or a criticism, the man was somewhat alarmed and didnt dare raise his head to look at Xia Feng.

Now go and tell Second Master and Second Mistress, ordered Xia Feng.

Yes, the man responded and hurriedly left.

Xia Feng returned to the courtyard and entered Ling Zhangs room. He looked around, unsure as to whether he should go inside and report this to Ling Zhang right away.

At this point, Ling Zhang was taking a medicated bath with Yuwen Tong behind him trying to unblock his meridians with his internal energy. Compared with the previous two baths which had been agonizing and torturous, the third bath was much more bearable. Though he still felt miserable, the pains were much less intolerable and he could also spare part of his concentration for something else.

After unblocking his meridians twice, he found that his hearing had become much more acute than before. At night when all was still, he could even hear sounds from the gateway of the courtyard. This time, though he hadnt distinguished the contents of the conversation between Xia Feng and that servant, he was well aware that someone had come to talk with Xia Feng, that Xia Feng was now pacing the floor outside the bathroom.

Xia Feng, whats going on?

Ling Zhang abruptly called Xia Fengs name, which took Xia Feng aback. Then he realized that his pacing up and down outside had come to the knowledge of the man inside, so he stopped dithering and replied immediately, Young Master, Steward He just caught a greedy servant who intended to provide an outsider with inside information about Ling family in exchange for money. The name of the servant is Wu Erniu. Hes an odd-job man in the kitchen. It is said that someone delivered a note to him via a firewood seller offering to buy intelligence about the identity of the kung fu expert hiding in Ling family.

The kung fu expert hiding in Ling family? Ling Zhangs heart lurched.

It seems that someone has noticed something, said Yuwen Tong. Then he raised his voice and asked Xia Feng, What else did he say?

Xia Feng was not surprised to hear Yuwen Tongs voice. Having heard no further questions from Ling Zhang, he realized that this was also what his young master wanted to know, so he answered, The one who made an offer to buy intelligence also intended to find out how many kung fu experts there are in Ling family as well as whether it was the day Young Master went to the herb farm that they entered Ling family.

Who was the one that offered to buy intelligence?

Well Even Wu Erniu himself didnt know the identity of the buyer. He said that he ignored the note at first, that it was after he saw the offer of a hundred taels of silver that he was swayed. Tonight he made contact with a person outside the wall to confirm the time and place for their meeting. Wu Erniu has a one-day leave after two days, and he planned to meet the buyer on that day. Just now, it was a man sent here by Steward He that I was talking to. He asked whether Young Master wanted to go there and interrogate Wu Erniu. I made an excuse and told him that Young Master was busy. I also bade him to tell Steward He to keep Wu Erniu alive and wait for Young Masters further instructions.

Well, you did a good job. What about my uncle? Did you send someone to inform him of this?

That servant is on it. I think Second Master probably has already been informed by now.

I see. You may take your leave.

Yes.

After Xia Feng left, Ling Zhang said, Your existence has already attracted the attention of either Jia family or Zhang Chong or somebody else.

The buyer specially asked about the day when my people entered the city. It seems that some opponent of ours noticed.

If the buyer works for Zhang Chong, will he have misgivings because of this? If by any chance our plan is compromised

I dont think Zhang Chong is the one behind this, but if the buyer is from the Jia family, Zhang Chong will be informed very soon. However, it doesnt matter whether Zhang Chong knows about it or not. They have no clue whatsoever who that kung fu expert is. Zhang Chong is now a local despot nobody dares to defy in Tangyang. Hes not necessarily going to be alarmed by this matter. Yuwen Tong appeared totally unworried.

Anyway, it will never occur to him that it was me who had been crossing him in Tanyang. As regards other people, whom do you think he possibly fears?

Ling Zhang didnt know how to respond.

He had to admit that Yuwen Tongs words made sense.

A man like Zhang Chong who had always been acting domineeringly like a tyrant in Tanyang would never be worried by an issue of this kind.

If it bothers you, Ill have Yao Yi go and do some interrogating. That Wu Erniu will take a day off in two days. We can just send someone disguised as him to meet the buyer.

Ill handle it. Currently, this matter is the focus of all peoples attention in Ling family. I must do something to send them a message, to remind them that there are some things they should do but there are also some they must not do, that no matter how much money they are promised, they need to consider whether they would be able to live long enough to spend it before saying yes.

Yuwen Tong gave a smile. All right.

The medicated bath was over and Ling Zhang didnt pass out this time. He still felt exhausted, but after moments rest, he regained enough strength to get dressed by himself.

Yuwen Tong appeared faintly regretful. Beneath Ling Zhangs gaze, he left the bathroom, face full of regret.

Of course Ling saw this distinctly, the color of his face alternating between red and normal. As he recalled that it was Yuwen Tong who had helped him change on the previous two occasions when he fell unconscious after bath, his cheeks burned with embarrassment. Then the regretful look Yuwen Tong had on his face a moment ago re-appeared in his mind, and he couldnt help clenching his teeth. Asshole, he thought.

Marshal, why did you come back so soon today? Yao Yi couldnt help but ask when seeing that Yuwen Tong returned sooner than he did the previous two times.

Clothes in hands, upper body naked, Yuwen Tong walked straight into his room. This time he didnt faint.

Yao Yi uttered Oh and understood. This time the marshal failed to take advantage of Childe Ling.

Hows it going in Zhang Chongs encampment? Any unusual movements of his troops?

Yesterday Zhang Chong received a letter from the capital city and was informed that his memorial to the throne had been intercepted. He got furious, but after reading another letter, the writer of which stays unknown, his fury dissolved considerably. The last batch of ore he purchased from the mine of Jia family is about to be used up, which means that hes probably going to set about hiding this batch of armament in a couple of days. Ive already bidden our men to keep their eyes peeled for all their activities.

After getting changed, Yuwen Tong walked outside and said, The writer of that letter is probably Zhou Mingshen. It was merely an attempt to appease Zhang Chong. We must find out where Zhang Chong has been hiding those armaments in the next few days, because it wont be long before word about me being in Tangyang spreads here from the capital city.

Yes!

Hows Little Liu doing in the brothel?

Lady Jingwu really knows her stuff. That mine director of Jia family decided to spend the night in the Pear Blossom Garden again. Little Liu has already set about forging the account book.

Yuwen Tong nodded before saying, Go and check whether there are any rumors about our entering the city on that day. If there are, find out the contents.

Yes, Marshal.

The next morning, Ling Zhang summoned Steward He.

Hows Wu Erniu?

He received ten staff blows yesterday and is now lying in bed. Hes okay for the moment, answered Steward He respectfully.

Are you sure he doesnt know who the buyer is?

Wu Erniu indeed has no idea who that person is, but they have already agreed on the date and place for their meeting. As long as we follow up this lead, we will find out the identity of the buyer, replied Steward He. Wu Erniu and the buyer agreed to meet in a noddle stand in the eastern part of the city at early Chen Hour (07:00-08:59 a.m.).

Send for a physician to treat Wu Erniu. Make sure that he gains his mobility in two days.

On hearing this, Steward He had a general idea what Ling Zhang intended to do. He hurriedly responded, Yes. Ill send for a physician the moment I return.

On top of that, tell all servants who know about this matter not to disclose anything about it to anybody. Otherwise theyll be convicted of the same crime as that of Wu Erniu.

Yes.

Did my uncle give any instructions?

Second Master bade me to ask you for your opinion first, Young Master. He said that if you dont have the time to deal with the matter of Wu Erniu, you could inform him.

Touched by his uncles thoughtfulness, Ling Zhang said, I see. Ill talk with my uncle. Now go and send for a physician.

Yes.

While Ling Zhaowen was still at home, Ling Zhang hurried to his dwelling and told him his plans.

All right. Do it your way. If you need any help, let me know.

I will. For the moment, everythings within my grasp.

Ling Zhaowen nodded. He was more and more impressed with Ling Zhangs competence.

By the way, word has it that youve officially started to teach those guards how to perform the Trap-and-Kill Formation of Twelve. Hows it going?

They are still familiarizing themselves with the first array. Im going to ask Yuwen Tong to do me a favor and have someone enter the formation to test it out.

Ling Zhaowen let out a laugh. Youre trying to deal a blow to the confidence of our guards by asking the marshals man to test the formation.

I prefer to think itll be a motivation for them.

Fine. Just be moderate and dont go too hard on them. You dont want them to think that theyre hopeless, do you?

I understand.

But, just now you mentioned the first array, so theres a second one? Is this Trap-and-Kill Formation of Twelve really so complicated?

This formation consists of twelve arrays. I plan to have our guards learn three of them first.

Ling Zhaowen was startled. He had never expected that this formation consisted of as many as twelve arrays. Since it was so complex, he was very worried that those guards might not be able to live up to Ling Zhangs expectations.

Maybe you should go and watch them training a couple of days later, uncle. Youll find out about their exact proficiency in the formation.

Ling Zhaowen smiled gently and began to discuss the effects of the guards training with his nephew in high spirit.

After Ling Zhang left, a thought struck Ling Zhaowen. He abruptly looked in the direction of Ling Zhangs receding figure.

Deducing from what Zhanger just said, Marshal Yuwen has already known that our guards have been practicing the formation? thought Ling Zhaowen. After thinking for a while, Ling Zhaowen felt that he should have realized this earlier. All subordinates of Yuwen Tong were masters of kung fu. He probably knew almost everything happened in Ling family.

Never mind. If Zhanger and Yuwen Tong actually get married, Yuwen Tong will know about these things sooner or later anyway. But exactly what is Zhanger thinking about? Is he willing to marry Yuwen Tong or not? Ling Zhaowen wondered.