Chapter 172: Under House Arrest
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“What did Feng Xiao tell you?”
Mei Changge looked at Xu Chu and asked expressionlessly.
With Xu Chu’s personality, he probably wouldn’t pay attention to such things. There was only one possibility.
Guo Jia must have said something to Xu Chu. Otherwise, such a sentence would not have appeared on the scroll.
Song Yubai, standing nearby, wore a curious expression. He was unaware of the matter involving Guo Jia.
“My lord, it was Mr. Guo who said it, but I think Mr. Guo is right!”
Xu Chu chuckled and expressed his agreement.
“I’ll deal with Guo Jia later.”
Mei Changge displayed a sense of resignation. He had assumed that after Guo
Jia had selected 36 maids for him, such thoughts would no longer cross Guo Jia’s mind. He hadn’t anticipated that Guo Jia would instruct Xu Chu to keep an eye on attractive women.
The scroll was not about anything else. Instead, it was about Old Heretic Huang having a daughter and other beautiful women.
Mei Changge suspected that if the Golden Crow Guards were given some time, they would probably even create a ranking.
However, he did not expect Old Heretic Huang’s daughter, Huang Rong, to also exist. She did not interact with Guo Jing and there was a huge age gap.
Mei Changge did not have any thoughts about this. His main goal now was to develop his territory. As for women, they were not his concern at all.
“Yubai, you said there are three big families and a general ot the Great Song in Lin’an City. Is that general Han Shizhong?”
Mei Changge stopped looking at the records of women on the scroll. Instead, he looked at Song Yubai.
“That’s right. However, the Han army is considered the garrisons of Lin’an City and doesn’t participate in other matters within the city.”
Song Yubai nodded.
While they conversed, even though their voices weren’t soft, the restaurant was a hub of intricate information. They couldn’t rule out the possibility of someone eavesdropping, so Mei Changge had already employed his spiritual energy to create a barrier of privacy around them.
“Have you heard? The Wang family is going to display the dragon-shaped white jade!”
“I’ve heard that the dragon-shaped white jade seeks its rightful owner and bestows its acknowledgment. The one it recognizes will become the new emperor!”
At that moment, in the restaurant, some martial artists were chatting with interest on their faces. They did not seem to care who would be the new emperor.
After all, they were martial artists. The new emperor could not control them.
“It’s rumored that the Wang family possesses numerous valuable items, including some that grant immortality. However, there have been reports of individuals intruding into the Wang family, and it’s said that they never returned.”
“It’s not only the Wang family; the Bai family and the Xie family are in a similar situation. I’ve heard that these three families have enlisted a significant number of martial artists for protection. I’m not sure what they are up to.”
After Mei Changge and the others stopped talking, the barrier formed by spiritual energy dissipated. They also heard the conversations in the restaurant.
“My lord, it seems the three families have already joined forces!”
Xu Chu smiled at Mei Changge when he heard the voices around him.
The information gathered by the Golden Crow Guards appeared to be accurate. It was rumored that the three families had formed an alliance, but there would undoubtedly be a leader, and it was the Bai family leading the way.
It was possible that to divert the attention of certain martial artists, they attributed ownership of the dragon-shaped white jade statue to the Wang family.
“Zhong Kang, Yubai, have our soldiers continue gathering information. The Bai family must have contingency plans in place. Additionally, the unit known as the Green-robed Soldiers is likely affiliated with the Bai family.”
Mei Changge remarked thoughtfully. He was aware of the potential danger associated with the dragon-shaped white jade statue, and yet, the family was determined to unveil it. It was clear that they harbored a hidden agenda.
Their intentions might involve plotting against certain individuals, but with Mei Change’s interference, martial artists started to appear in Lin’an City as well. This indicated that the Bai family likely had a contingency plan in place.
“Yes, my lord!”
The two of them nodded in agreement. Shortly thereafter, they fell silent and began eavesdropping on the conversations of martial artists in the restaurant, listening to various topics being discussed.
On the other side, Guo Jing arrived at the Han Residence and quickly saw Yue Fei and Han Shizhong.
“Brother Yue, Brother Han!”
Guo Jing cupped his hands with a smile on his face.
“Guo Jing of Xiangyang City?”
Han Shizhong’s physique resembled that of Yue Fei’s. He was robust and exuded an iron-willed presence. Despite not being in armor, he carried the air of a seasoned general with extensive battlefield experience.
“Yes, I am.”
Guo Jing nodded with a smile on his face. “Guo Jing, has the lord arrived in Lin’an City?”
Yue Fei asked when he saw Guo Jing.
“The lord?”
When Han Shizhong heard Yue Fei’s words, he frowned slightly.
“That’s right, Brother Yue. The lord has arrived in Lin’an City with General Xu and the others!”
Guo Jing nodded, not paying attention to Han Shizhong’s expression.
Han Shizhong asked Yue Fei with a displeased expression.
He had always believed that Yue Fei was deeply loyal to the Great Song, but now, seeing Yue Fei pledging allegiance to someone else deeply disturbed him.
Although the Great Song’s royal family had perished, this was not a reason for Yue Fei to acknowledge someone else as his lord.
“Old Han, can’t you see the Great Song’s current state?”
Yue Fei wore a look of helplessness on his face. To Han Shizhong, the Great Song held immense significance, much like it had for Yue Fei in the past.
Had it not been for witnessing the foreign race known as the Ghouls and witnessing the gradual fractures in the sky, he would not have relinquished his allegiance to the Great Song so readily.
However, the Great Song was no longer the Great Song of the past. The entire Great Song had been targeted by ambitious figures. Instead of relying on them, it was better to follow Mei Changge to see the outside world.
Yue Fei had refrained from discussing this matter since his arrival, precisely because he was aware of Han Shizhong’s sentiments. However, Guo Jing’s arrival had directly broached this topic.
“Old Han, you must have heard about the news from Lin’an City, correct?”
Yue Fei looked at the unhappy Han Shizhong and asked him.
“Yes, I heard there’s an auction.”
Han Shizhong nodded. Even though he had been overseeing other affairs in Lin’an City, he was aware of the existence of the dragon-shaped white jade statue.
“I don’t think you’ve seen it before.”
With that said, Yue Fei took out a scroll from his pocket. It was the list of treasures that the Golden Crow Guards had obtained outside.
“Take a look for yourself.”
Yue Fei threw the scroll at Han Shizhong and quietly waited for him to finish reading.
“Isn’t it just an auction? What’s so special about it?”
At first, Han Shizhong didn’t think much of it. When he saw the last line, his face revealed anger.
‘”The Great Song is dead, and a new emperor will be enthroned!’ It must be the doings of the three families!”
With a bang, Han Shizhong slammed the scroll on the table, his face filled with rage.
“What do you think they’re trying to do?”
Yue Fei looked at the furious Han Shizhong and asked calmly. “They’re trying to clear all obstacles and claim the highest position!” Although Han Shizhong was angry, he did not lose his mind.
“Indeed, the internal affairs of the Great Song are already in disarray. And, are you aware that the individuals I encountered in Xiangyang City are the Jin people we’ve defeated on numerous occasions?”
Yue Fei said again. Then, he waved his hand and a corpse appeared in the room.
Guo Jing flipped the corpse over, revealing the lower back.
“This
Han Shizhong’s pupils contracted. The flesh on the back of the corpse appeared lifelike. Even though the body had lost its vitality, that section of flesh still seemed to be in motion as if it were struggling.
“This is one of the Ghouls I met in Xiangyang City—the so-called foreign race.”
“If it weren’t for my lord, you likely wouldn’t have met me and Guo Jing now. In fact, Xiangyang City might have been overrun by these Ghouls.” Yue Fei sighed.
“Old Yue, do you think your lord can fight against the three families?”
Han Shizhong’s eyes glinted as he looked at the corpse.
“If there’s anyone who can restore peace to the Great Song, it’s undoubtedly my lord.”
Yue Fei said with certainty. He recalled the scene of the Golden Crow Guards summoning the mysterious bird.
Han Shizhong’s expression underwent a series of fluctuations. He had battled the Jin people alongside Yue Fei, a friend he had known for a long time. They had experienced life and death together, to say the least.
He believed that Yue Fei would not lie to him, so he was hesitating. “Brother Han, do you know that this world is about to shatter?”
Guo Jing said. He could tell that Han Shizhong was hesitating.
“Brother Yue and I saw it at the same time. If you don’t believe me, ask Brother Yue.”
Before Han Shizhong could answer, Guo Jing continued. Yue Fei nodded in agreement.
“Fine, but I want to meet your lord. I want to see if he’s worthy of me and Old
Yue following him.”
Han Shizhong finally sighed and said to the two of them.
At that moment, Han Shizhong believed the two of them. But when he thought of himself, he could not help but sigh again.
“Let’s go. I’ll bring you to my lord!”
Yue Fei revealed a look of joy. He wanted to bring Han Shizhong to meet Mei Changge.
“No, I can’t leave the residence.” Han Shizhong suddenly shook his head.
“Why?”
Guo Jing was puzzled. Why couldn’t he leave the residence?
“You may not be aware of this, but the Han army under my command is being manipulated by someone else. If I were to leave, I fear that the Han army would…”
A bitter smile appeared on Han Shizhong’s face. It was not that he did not want to go, but once he left the Han Residence, his soldiers would be beheaded.
Han Shizhong revealed a helpless expression. “Manipulated by who?”
Yue Fei and Guo Jing’s expressions were grave.
“Bai Shixiong from the Bai family!”
“The Bai family, one of the three big families in Lin’an City?”
Yue Fei wore a grave expression. He had not anticipated finding Han Shizhong confined to house arrest in this place.
“Yes. Bai Shixiong doesn’t permit me to leave the residence and hasn’t taken any other actions against me. It appears that he simply desires me to relinquish command of the Lin’an City garrison.”
“Bai Shixiong has changed compared to the past. All of his men are formidable. Our Han army wouldn’t stand a chance against them.”
Han Shizhong had a helpless expression.
“Is that true?!”
Yue Fei’s expression was solemn. He didn’t expect the Bai family to have controlled the garrison of Lin’an City.
Yue Fei had arrived in Lin’an earlier than Guo Jing, but as he reflected on it, he realized he had indeed spent the last two days within the confines of the Han Residence.
“Guo Jing, return to tell the lord. I’ll apologize to him personally later!” Yue Fei cast a glance at Guo Jing. Since Guo Jing had only recently arrived, he shouldn’t be targeted by Bai Shixiong yet..
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢