Chapter 49

The silver moon hung high, the starry river on the dark blue sky like a ribbon. Three people were drinking on the city tower, eating lamb at night. Cheng Wu sweated profusely, pulled his collar, and laughed, “What a pleasure!”

Beside him, Zhang Zhi grinned and shouted, “What a pleasure!”

Mo Yin sat silently between them, drinking quietly.

There was no banquet planned in Yongcheng today. Mo Yin suddenly returned to the city, stirring up excitement throughout the city. Yongcheng was relatively prosperous among the cities, and with the grain from the desert, this year’s harvest in Yongcheng was very good. The old clan leader personally led people to quickly clean up the mansion and held a grand feast. They drank and feasted, reveling until midnight, everyone happy, drunk, and fallen.

Mo Yin drank a lot of alcohol, more than he had ever drunk before. Even with the boost of his psychic power, he felt a bit tipsy.

The breeze on the city tower was cool and refreshing on his face. Mo Yin took a sip of wine, lightly swaying his feet, feeling as light as a swallow.

Strange. It was clearly a very peaceful moment, with no hint of destruction, yet why did he feel somewhat relaxed and happy?

Mo Yin pressed his chest, his heart not beating fast.

Usually, in those moments of collapse and explosion, his heart would race to the limit, his whole body would heat up with blood, but now, the blood in his body was just flowing warmly.

Mo Yin rarely thought. He was a hedonist, but strangely, his pleasures were so few, it was hard to satisfy the tastes of a natural person.

They evolved to be so advanced, yet they lost the ability to make themselves happy.

Mo Yin had never seen other natural people, nor had he been curious about so-called peers. They didn’t need companionship because they were perfect on their own.

He didn’t know why, but he suddenly had so many thoughts in this small world.

Mo Yin frowned and took a sip of wine. No wonder they evolved to get rid of these complex things. What could be achieved by daydreaming all the time?

“How is life in the camp?” Cheng Wu smiled, “I heard you trained a troop of Firefly soldiers and routed the barbarian tribes.”

Zhang Zhi chimed in, “Routed them!”

Mo Yin said lightly, “That was just the beginning.”

Cheng Wu took a big gulp of wine, waved his hand in the air a couple of times, then jumped down, carrying the wine jug, humming a song and dancing. Zhang Zhi followed suit, jumping down to shake his shoulders opposite Cheng Wu. The two laughed and drank, stumbling with pure joy.

Mo Yin tilted his head back and drank a big mouthful of wine.

His green shirt slipped slightly, and he quietly drank, amidst the noise and bustle, even his lips curved slightly.

Cheng Wu and Zhang Zhi, one tall and one short, one fat and one thin, hugged together and danced wildly. Zhang Zhi was agile like a gecko, while Cheng Wu was a bit drunk and couldn’t catch him, laughing heartily as he sat on the ground, “You monkey.”

Zhang Zhi climbed up a pillar on the city tower, covering his eyebrows with his hand, making faces, causing Cheng Wu to laugh until his stomach hurt.

Zhang Zhi wasn’t actually drunk. He chuckled and said, “I made Sir laugh.”

Mo Yin turned his head slightly, his icy face softened slightly in the moonlight. Zhang Zhi climbed down from the pillar and sat on the ground with Cheng Wu, drinking and leaning on each other. “Sir looks so good when he laughs.”

“It’s true,” Cheng Wu also smiled, “like a young lady.”

“When I saved him, I didn’t expect him to be so handsome, that thin face of his…” Cheng Wu pointed at Zhang Zhi, “even thinner than yours!” Zhang Zhi grinned, and the two burst into laughter again.

Mo Yin just drank quietly, until the bottle was empty, then he jumped down.

There was only a gentle breeze in his ears, and the people following him didn’t dare to get too close, just guarding under the city tower, probably having seen enough of Mo Yin grabbing one of them, he hugged them and quickly retreated to the edge of the wall. “Are you really drunk?”

His tone was very calm, cutting through the lively atmosphere like a blade.

Zhang Zhi immediately reacted, quickly turning to look at Mo Yin. Cheng Wu reacted a beat slower, turning his head somewhat dull, Mo Yin’s profile was sharp, his eyes narrowed slightly, “There is a big event today. Are you willing to help?”

*

A short figure rode a horse out of the city, swaying as if idly playing. Shortly after leaving the city, he immediately whipped the reins fiercely. The horse, in pain, neighed and galloped wildly.

The man rode hard for half a day, almost without stopping, until he reached the relay station. Dismounting, his thin, monkey-like face smiled as he tied up his horse, then ran into the station to ask for water and food.

The station master paid him no mind, only giving a few glances once he saw the coins, as few people came to the station. He was lazy and after greeting, he slouched back to doze off.

As the weather grew colder, with strong winds and sand outside, the man stayed at the inn for seven days. The station master only took the money and didn’t serve him, but he didn’t mind. He arranged his own food and drink, quite at ease. He became acquainted with the station master, calling him “Brother Tiger” and asked if there were any tasks for him to do. The station master coldly replied that he didn’t even want to stay in this place himself, so why would he want any tasks?

On the eighth day, in the evening, finally, another person arrived at the station. Like before, he came in asking for water and food. The station master, bone-lazy, barely moved. The newcomer frowned, looking annoyed, but still smiled as he went to fetch water. “Sir, let me serve you on behalf of Brother Tiger.”

“What nonsense.”

Turning around, the newcomer slammed a document on the table, only to have it picked up with a surprised “Oh!” “So it’s His Excellency Wuxi. My apologies, Your Excellency. Let me serve you hot wine and hot dishes.”

The newcomer grunted, “Faster.”

“Yes, yes.”

The food and wine arrived promptly, good quality indeed. The newcomer added, “Feed my horse some fodder.”

“Alright.”

After eating and drinking his fill, just as the man was about to continue his journey, he saw the short man with a distressed look. “Sir, your horse, it…”

“What’s wrong?!”

The man hurried over and, upon seeing it, covered his nose and paled. The horse had diarrhea, its hooves weak. He cursed, “What’s going on?! Didn’t I tell you to feed it?!”

“I hadn’t fed it yet. As soon as I came over, your horse started.”

Feeling helpless, the thin man said, “How about this, sir? I’ll lend you my horse.”

Seeing his horse, thin and small, the man wrinkled his brow, covering his nose as he stepped back. The thin man continued, “Your horse probably inhaled too much sand and caught a cold. Why don’t you rest at the inn tonight? I’ll add some medicine to the fodder, and it should be fine by tomorrow.”

With the sky darkening, the stench in the stable unbearable, the man waved his hand, fanning his nose as he stepped back, his brow furrowed, “Give it some medicine.”

“Alright, you go rest.”

It was really a trial. In just a month, he had run back and forth who knows how many times. He was exhausted. Having been accustomed to the easy life in Wuxi, he didn’t want to endure any hardships now. Seeing a relay station, he couldn’t help but want to take a rest.

As darkness fell, a figure pushed open the door outside the room, footsteps light and silent, getting what they wanted before swiftly leaving. The man darted out, quietly closing the door behind him, and made his way to the stable. He took his own thin horse, which was incredibly obedient, its eyes beneath its lashes gentle as water. Zhang Zhi patted its neck and whispered softly, “Fei Shu, let’s return to the city.”

*

The door of the hut under the city tower was knocked, Cheng Wu jolted awake and quickly opened it. Zhang Zhi’s slender figure was silhouetted against the night. “Wu, got what we needed.”

Cheng Wu looked around and decisively said, “Let’s go.”

A few days ago, Mo Yin had caught them on the city tower, saying there was something big to do. They were mostly sobered up, listening intently to Mo Yin’s instructions.

“During these days, a yamen runner will come to the relay station from Wuxi. This runner will carry a sealed letter,” Mo Yin looked at Zhang Zhi, “I heard from Cheng Wu that you’re skilled at theft.”

Zhang Zhi nodded lightly, immediately understanding. “You want me to steal that letter!”

“Exactly. When the time comes, after switching what’s inside, I’ll have you return it.”

“Alright!”

Zhang Zhi didn’t hesitate, not even asking for reasons.

Mo Yin’s heart suddenly stirred. “If things go wrong…”

Zhang Zhi immediately raised his finger. “Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If I betray you, may I die a terrible death.”

Mo Yin gazed at him for a moment, then turned to Cheng Wu. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll sleep on the city tower. Return home at irregular times each day. When Zhang Zhi brings back the letter, you’ll return with him. Zhang Zhi, there’s someone lurking in Yongcheng, but he’s only lurking around me. He won’t pay attention to you. When the time comes, you’ll pretend to come and drink and play with Cheng Wu, understood?”

“Understood.”

Cheng Wu also said, “Understood.”

Mo Yin glanced back and forth between the two unlovable faces after drinking, and said lightly, “Everyone is responsible for their own actions. If, by any chance, things happen to go wrong, I’ll take the blame.”

“It won’t go wrong,” Zhang Zhi said confidently, patting his chest. He then extended his left hand and smiled at Mo Yin, “Sir, take a look at this.”

Before Mo Yin could recognize it, Cheng Wu exclaimed in shock, “Damn, you’ve even stolen my belt!”

No one asked why. They accepted Mo Yin’s instructions and quietly came tonight with what Mo Yin needed.

“Sir, I’ve stolen it. That person is sleeping soundly. There are still three hours until dawn. You need to hurry up and change what’s inside. I need to put it back before that person wakes up.”

A candle was lit in the room, and Mo Yin carefully opened the envelope. A folded portrait fell out.

Mo Yin glanced at the two holding the candle for him, then directly unfolded the portrait.

The portrait was extremely clear, the painter was skilled, and the facial features of the person in the painting were depicted vividly, including his aloof and arrogant temperament, all vividly captured on paper. The portrait also included the person’s name, characteristics, and crimes. A seal was stamped on the right shoulder of the portrait, clearly stating that it was drawn by Liu Cong, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Households.

Cheng Wu and Zhang Zhi were both dumbfounded.

Anyone with eyes could see that the person in the painting was none other than Mo Yin himself!

After realizing this, neither of them spoke.

Mo Yin wordlessly took out another portrait from his sleeve. This was the fake portrait he had prepared for substitution.

Zhang Zhi had snapped out of his daze and said, “Sir, there’s no time. Just put it in directly. It’s sealed, and that person hasn’t seen what’s inside. It won’t be exposed.”

Mo Yin shook his head. “Liu Cong is cautious. He won’t do anything useless. He must have already communicated with the Wuxi Supervisor in advance.”

Zhang Zhi looked anxious. What should they do now?!

Cheng Wu also realized the situation and quickly suggested, “Either go to the relay station and set the thing on fire, or burn it here.”

Mo Yin glanced at the two. The anxiety on their faces didn’t seem fake at all, and it all seemed to come from their hearts.

Mo Yin put down the two portraits.

As the main antagonists, they wouldn’t give up until the very end.

Two portraits were laid out on the table: one was Mo Yin himself, and the other was the fake portrait he had prepared.

With the real one on top and the fake one underneath, Cheng Wu held up the candle, and Zhang Zhi prepared the ink.

Mo Yin’s eyes were cold and murderous, his sleeves rolled up high, each hand holding a brush. One mimicked the handwriting, the other mimicked the seal. With skillful strokes, he meticulously copied the characters and the seal. His snowy white face gradually accumulated fine beads of sweat, his lips tightly pressed together, and the two old scars on his exposed wrists became increasingly red.

Time passed bit by bit, as if it had been a long time, yet it seemed to be only a moment. The characters and seal on the fake portrait emerged like imprints, exactly the same as those on the real one!

Cheng Wu let out a long sigh and directly blew out the candle in his hand.

The room fell into darkness, with only the tense sound of breathing.

Cheng Wu quickly lit the candle again. Mo Yin had already folded the portrait. The room was dry and cold, and the ink dried as soon as it was applied. He put the portrait back into the envelope and sealed it again, handing it to Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi put the envelope into his chest and bowed slightly, his eyes showing a resolute “Sir, rest assured” as he turned and left, swaying as if drunk.

Inside the room, Cheng Wu breathed a sigh of relief and sat down.

Mo Yin’s wrists were red and hot. Cheng Wu noticed and quickly fetched water for him to soak them in.

As his palms soaked in the water, trembling slightly, Mo Yin looked at Cheng Wu, “Aren’t you curious?”

“Curious,” Cheng Wu turned his head, his honest face full of sincerity, “If you don’t say, I won’t ask. You’ve helped us avenge and defend the city. You’re our benefactor. Whatever you ask us to do, we’ll do.”

Mo Yin silently stared at the reddening palms in the water. He had thought about whether to find an opportunity to silence the two afterwards, just to be absolutely safe.

“I’m like you,” Mo Yin said lightly, “I also seek revenge.”

*

“General, urgent letter.”

The envelope was handed over. He Xuan suddenly stood up, and the bodyguard handed him the letter. He Xuan glanced at it for a moment, then decisively took the envelope and opened it to inspect its contents.

As the envelope had stated, the portrait, characters, and seal were all there. The person in the portrait looked like a weak scholar.

He Xuan let out a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t him.

It wasn’t him.

The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve into a relaxed smile, even surprising his bodyguard, who hesitated, “General…”

He casually tossed the envelope back to the bodyguard and said, “Help them search around.”

“Yes, General.”

As the bodyguard was about to leave, he saw the general take down the riding whip hanging on the wall and walk straight past him. He moved so quickly that he even stirred up a bit of wind. The bodyguard hurriedly caught up, “General, where are you going?”

With a powerful swing of his hand backward, his hearty and dignified voice came, “To fetch your strategist!”