Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“He Lao, are you saying that Mistress Liu betrayed us two months ago? This doesn’t make sense. We had yet to kill Yun Lu at that time. If Mistress Liu sent the news to the Witch Empress, how could we have the chance to kill Yun Lu?”

“Young Master Yi, you probably don’t know that Mistress Liu was not qualified to know about the mission to kill Yun Lu. If we did not come here, I’m afraid Mistress Liu wouldn’t be aware of this till this moment. Our Zhan Clan has a very rigorous intelligence system.”

“Then why did you say that the Witch Empress plotted to lure the Zhan Clansmen to here to die this time?”

“The Witch Empress is probably just suspicious and very doubtful. So after she made up her mind to kill Yun Fei and Yun Xian, perhaps she passed the message to the Zhan Clan via Mistress Liu in order to see the Zhan Clan’s reactions? If the martial experts of the Zhan Clan go to rescue Yun Fei and Yun Xian, it will prove that we have killed Yun Lu. The Witch Empress is really vicious. If she is certain that the Zhan Clansmen killed Yun Lu, I’m afraid she’ll try her best to exterminate the Zhan Clan.”

“So that’s how it is!”

Everything suddenly became clear. Jiang Yi contemplated for a while and asked, “Did you kill Mistress Liu?”

“Not yet! For I used our Zhan Clan’s Soul-Searching Secret Art, she becomes my puppet now. But the other subdeacon was executed.”

He Lao thought for a while and said urgently, “Young Master Yi, if Mistress Liu does not reply to the Witch Empress in two or three hours, the Witch Empress will definitely sense something is wrong. We are still able to leave now, but when the Grandma Silver Flower comes, things will get troublesome.”

“Fool!”

Jiang Yi scolded him and snorted. “You’re worrying too much to act sensibly. The Witch Empress clearly dares not to let the King know about this! Otherwise, we would be surrounded and killed by the army. That Grandma Silver Flower would have come to us a long time ago, and the Witch Empress would never have sent Mistress Liu to bewitch me. Her youngest son is only nine years old. If she does not kill Yun Xian, her son won’t have a chance to come to power. She’ll surely follow her plans, but she’ll make other arrangements if she knows Mistress Liu does not kill me. Maybe she will also frame us for the death of Yun Fei and Yun Xian.”

“The problem is that she is in the dark whereas we’re exposed in the light!”

He Lao shook his head. “The Witch Empress has so many schemes, so many men to take advantage of, and so many magical sorcery arts to yield. If she’s unaware that we have come here, we might still have a chance in the dark. Now, it’s so easy to kill us. For example… she can murder Princess Yun Fei and Prince Yun Xian secretly before we arrive. As soon as we come, she’ll frame us for the murder. At the same time, her people will alert the King and Grandma Silver Flower immediately. We’ll walk right into her trap and never vindicate ourselves.”

“So…”

Jiang Yi’s eyes showed a hint of firmness. He sneered. “It looks like we’re going to break into the royal palace tonight and meet this Witch Empress whose beauty has amazed the world.”

“What?”

He Lao shivered in horror. “Breaking into the royal palace? The palace is full of martial experts. Though Grandma Silver Flower doesn’t live in the royal palace, she is in a nearby mansion. Once there is a slight commotion in the royal palace, Grandma Silver Flower will be alerted immediately. Things will become really complicated by then.”

“What’s the matter? Are you afraid of death?” Jiang Yi smiled faintly and looked at He Lao.

“My young master!”

He Lao did not know whether to cry or to laugh. He sighed repeatedly. “It doesn’t matter if I die at this old age. Even if all the Zhan Clansmen in the Heaven Mystics Kingdom lose their lives, it’s really not a big deal. However, you have an esteemed status. If something happens to you, I will be the sinner of the Zhan Clan.”

“You’re worrying too much!”

With a faint smile, Jiang Yi said confidently, “Even if we have to confront Grandma Silver Flower, I’m eighty-percent certain that I will retreat safely. On the other hand, He Lao, you will probably not be able to make it this time. Of course… I’ll try my best to protect you! We’re not going to the royal palace to kill someone, just to improvise on the circumstance. Don’t you have Mistress Liu under your control? I can pretend to be bewitched by the noxious maggot. You’ll manipulate Mistress Liu to take me to the royal palace. The Witch Empress will definitely meet Mistress Liu in person. Her men will even take the initiative to make the way for us so that we can enter the royal palace easily. As long as I can meet the Witch Empress, I will take her down easily. Mission accomplished!”

Jiang Yi paused and continued. “In addition—even if things are revealed, we are not without benefits. At least the King of Heaven Mystics Kingdom will know that the Witch Empress is plotting to kill Yun Fei and Yun Xian. So the King will protect them afterward, and Yun Xian may become the Crown Prince!”

“This…”

He Lao hesitated. He remained silent for a quarter of an hour before he raised his head and said, “Young Master Yi, please wait for a moment. I’ll perform the Soul-Searching Art one more time to find out more.”

After a while, Mistress Liu was brought into the room. He Lao had asked someone to put some clothes on her. There was still some residual blood at the corner of the mouth. Her eyes were empty; she looked like a retarded child.

He Lao came in and said somberly, “Young Master Yi, I performed the Soul-Searching Art again. The order from the Witch Empress for Mistress Liu is to take you to the royal palace if she can control you, or kill you otherwise. Your plan is feasible. But… I’m afraid that you will be exposed before you can go near the Witch Empress, her sorcery arts have reached a very advanced level.”

“Ke-Ke!”

Jiang Yi let out a prideful laugh. “As long as I can successfully enter the royal palace, I’ll have the chance to control the Witch Empress easily. If not, I’ll just kill her. This woman is so malicious. Sparing her life will only cause more problems to your Zhan Clan and to me. After all, I was the one who killed both Yun He and Yun Lu. Alright, cut the crap. Exactly how will you sneak into the royal palace without creating suspicion?”

“It’s simple!”

He Lao smiled coldly and said, “I’ve killed the subdeacon. I’ll cut off his skin and pretend to be him. So it won’t raise any questions.”

Jiang Yi waved and said, “Go on then and hurry up. Otherwise, the Witch Empress will start getting suspicious.”

“Alright!”

Seeing that Jiang Yi had made up his mind, He Lao had no choice but to make further arrangements. Mistress Liu was still standing at the same place with a dull expression. Her eyes were empty, without a trace of liveliness.

One hour later, He Lao settled everything. Jiang Yi got on a carriage, and so did Mistress Liu. He Lao drove the carriage out of the inn and stormed toward the Mystic Heaven City.

It was almost winter now. Though the Heaven Mystics Kingdom was located in the south, the temperature at night was very low. There were few people on the street. Everywhere was desolate and bleak.

Yinma Town was quite close to the Mystic Heaven City. It only took one hour to reach the east gate. The gate was not closed, but there were Imperial Guards patrolling and checking everything scrupulously.

He Lao wore a human skin mask and turned into another person. His hair was dyed black. After he retrieved a command token from his robe, the Imperial Guards genuflected immediately and let them pass. The carriage went straight to the royal palace with dust rolling behind it.

Using the Soul-Searching Secret Art, He Lao knew all of Mistress Liu’s memories. Mistress Liu had met the Witch Empress in the royal palace before. He Lao rode straight to the west gate of the royal palace and took out a special command token. The guards just let them come in without further questions.

Swish!

Shortly after entering the palace, a man in black appeared out of a sudden and stopped the carriage. He asked with a solemn voice, “Mistress Liu, how are the things going?”

Jiang Yi had long been pretending to sleep, following He Lao’s instructions. His breathing was weak. At that moment, he was very nervous and did not dare to move.

He Lao dared not to reply as well. He pretended to open the carriage curtain and asked Mistress Liu for her instructions. As a flash of light flickered in his eyes, Mistress Liu actually spoke in a low voice, “Lord Cao, it’s done. Bring me to the Empress immediately.”

“Alright!”

The man in black recognized Mistress Liu’s voice, he was overjoyed at the sight of a man sleeping at the back of the carriage and did not suspect a thing. After all, the Mistress Liu was bewitched by the Witch Empress’s noxious maggots and had become her puppet. She would never disobey the Witch Empress. It was no different from having her Soul Seal confiscated.

Right now, he leaped onto the carriage and sat side by side with He Lao. Waving his large hands, he said, “Go!”

He Lao rode on the carriage and moved forward quickly. The royal palace was heavily guarded. They ran into patrols and secret guards from time to time. Because of Lord Cao, they were unimpeded.

Heavens bless that everything will go smoothly!

He Lao was praying in silence on the way. He would not regret giving up his life, but he was afraid that Jiang Yi would die here as well.