Volume One: The Emperor’s Sword Chapter 78: Add a Little More

The only clue to the whereabouts of the Chiba Sword was Yi Hongwen.

Yun Que ordered everything the Mu family had moved out to be sent back to the temporary Marquis' residence—nothing was left behind, not even the ornamental rocks and boulders; everything was packed and taken away.

Because of Yun Que’s intervention, half of what Misty Pavilion confiscated in their raid vanished, leaving Haitang and Eunuch Nan gnashing their teeth in frustration.

Watching as the procession departed in grand style, Haitang’s gaze grew cold.

“What a bold Marquis of Coldwater, daring to meddle right under the Emperor’s nose. You certainly have nerve and cunning, but unfortunately, you’re doomed to a short life,” she murmured to herself, a cold smile curling at her lips.

She stretched out the hand that had just patted Yun Que’s shoulder; in her palm, a faint, eerie green glow flickered.

In the imperial city, all the high officials and nobles understood one truth: those who offended Misty Pavilion seldom lived long.

Yun Que took Mu Qingyao first to the Prime Minister’s residence, where they found Zhou Yuanliang.

Zhou Yuanliang was hosting a banquet for Luo Xiaoyu at the time, treating her like an honored ancestor, eagerly helping her with the dishes.

Upon hearing Yun Que’s request, Zhou Yuanliang immediately assured him, “Rest easy, Marquis Yun. When I return, I’ll help you investigate Yi Hongwen’s movements. Nothing escapes my eye!”

Yun Que sought Zhou Yuanliang’s help because both he and Mu Qingyao were connected to the Mu family and couldn’t intervene directly. If outsiders learned of their involvement, it might draw unnecessary attention.

Zhou Yuanliang, having no ties to the Mu family and a broad network within Sword Palace, was the safest choice to inquire about Yi Hongwen.

“We return now,” Yun Que said, pulling Zhou Yuanliang along.

“Is it really that urgent? Luo Junior Sister hasn’t finished eating!” Zhou Yuanliang protested, but had no choice but to follow them back to Sword Palace.

When everyone left, Luo Xiaoyu, embarrassed to eat alone, grabbed two chicken drumsticks and hurried after them.

Yun Que wasn’t in a rush because he was worried, but because he doubted Yi Hongwen’s intelligence. If that fellow learned the artifact’s location, he’d likely go after it right away.

Sure enough, after Zhou Yuanliang discreetly questioned several acquaintances from the West Wing, he discovered that Yi Hongwen had left Sword Palace early that morning and hadn’t returned since.

Mu Qingyao became anxious.

Yi Hongwen had probably learned the artifact’s whereabouts, but his destination was unknown; they could only wait for his return to make further plans.

Mu Qingyao had no good solution, but Yun Que refused to simply wait.

After all, the rabbit was too foolish—before it could run into the tree stump, it might already fall prey to the wolf.

“Are you familiar enough with the prison to find out where today’s visitors went?” Yun Que asked.

“That’s easy! Just ask the prison guards who came by. As for their destinations, the guards wouldn’t know—they never leave the prison,” Zhou Yuanliang replied.

Thinking for a moment, Zhou Yuanliang snapped his fingers. “But there’s someone who might know where Yi Hongwen went!”

Seeing Yun Que and the others turn to him, Zhou Yuanliang smugly revealed a name: “Feng Yaojin!”

Half an hour later.

Outside the prison, Feng Yaojin, the Imperial City Guard Commander, sat beneath his makeshift tea shelter, sipping tea and fingering five promissory notes of ten thousand taels each, casting a disdainful glance at Yun Que and Zhou Yuanliang.

“I am the Guard Commander of the Imperial City! I oversee the prison and protect the city’s safety. Do you think you can bribe me with this paltry sum?”

Just when Yun Que and Zhou Yuanliang thought they’d hit a wall, Feng Yaojin continued without a hint of embarrassment, “Add a little more.”

So that was it—he simply thought it too little.

After another fifty thousand taels were handed over, Feng Yaojin nodded in satisfaction, stuffed the promissory notes into his robe, and said, “The man you’re looking for entered the prison at dawn, left by the west gate of the city at mid-morning.”

With that, he resumed his leisurely tea drinking.

With this information, Yun Que didn’t linger and left the prison with Zhou Yuanliang.

It was a great gain—they now knew Yi Hongwen’s approximate route after leaving the prison.

As Guard Commander, Feng Yaojin didn’t just watch over the prison—he was responsible for the whole city. There were informants at every gate. Whoever entered or left, he would know, even if he was napping at home.

“Ten thousand taels for a single word—what an easy way to make money! He’s just a Foundation Stage general; one day my father will charge him with corruption!” Zhou Yuanliang grumbled.

Complaining was all he dared to do—not in front of the man himself.

Even Zhou Yuanliang knew that once a general reached the Foundation Stage, not only would bribery go unpunished, but even murder in broad daylight might merit little more than a reprimand or pay cut from the Emperor.

After all, they needed someone to protect the city. How could he be punished?

Such was the privilege of cultivators.

Yun Que didn’t care about the hundred thousand taels at all—the Mu family had money to spare.

“Does the Mu family have any estates west of the city?” Yun Que asked.

Mu Qingyao pondered, frowning. “Many. I remember there’s an estate, an inn, a horse ranch, several businesses, and a shipyard.”

Zhou Yuanliang was astonished. “The land west of the city is mostly barren, and your family has so many businesses there! If you had as many in the other directions, it’d be even more. Truly the wealthiest family in Yan State—I thought you only had copper and iron mines!”

Mu Qingyao added, “Our main income is from mining, but there are many other businesses I don’t know about. Oh, and there’s a mine west of the city, managed by my third granduncle’s branch.”

“How far is the mine?” Yun Que mused.

“About a day by carriage, or an hour by flying sword,” Mu Qingyao replied.

“We’ll head to the mine first,” Yun Que decided.

“How can you tell Yi Hongwen went to the mine?” Mu Qingyao asked, puzzled.

“The older a person is, the more they like to bury things. First their treasures, then themselves,” Yun Que shrugged. “I’m guessing your third granduncle probably hid the item in his own mine—that’s where he’d feel safest.”

Mu Qingyao could only acquiesce, unable to refute Yun Que’s twisted logic. “Let’s depart now. With my cultivation, I can manage an hour’s flight easily.”

“Hold on, I need to borrow something from the North Wing.”

Yun Que returned alone to the North Wing, emerging with a little dog—Wangcai, Wu Dachuan’s pet.

In Yun Que’s hands, Wangcai was extremely docile—he walked when Yun Que walked, stopped when Yun Que stopped, not daring to make a single unnecessary move.

“Tracking with a dog is a good idea, but we don’t have any of Yi Hongwen’s belongings. How will the dog catch his scent?” Mu Qingyao worried.

Her concerns vanished when Yun Que produced the IOU.

Yi Hongwen’s fingerprint was on it.

Though more than half a month had passed, the IOU had been kept in a storage pouch, so the scent had faded slowly—enough for Wangcai to track.

Yun Que jumped onto Mu Qingyao’s flying sword, ready to head for the Mu family mine.

Just as they took off, wind rushed up behind them.

Turning, Yun Que saw Zhou Yuanliang rising on his sword as well, carrying Luo Xiaoyu.

“We’re free anyway, so we’ll help out. Rest assured, Marquis Yun, I won’t slow you down,” Zhou Yuanliang said with a cheeky grin. “If there’s any danger, I’ll be the first to run!”

Yun Que shook his head in resignation.

Let them tag along if they wished; with Mu Qingyao’s cultivation, Zhou Yuanliang would likely be left behind before they reached their destination.

Two swords soared into the sky, leaving the imperial city and heading straight west.