Now, tell me everything about how you first met Li Yan—and about your most recent encounters with him. Spare no detail, hide nothing. Do you understand?" Marshal Hong fixed his steely gaze on Liu Chengyong.
Liu Chengyong's heart skipped a beat. "Could it be that Brother Li's misadventures have somehow ruffled the Marshal's feathers? I'd better praise him a little bit…" Thinking so, he dared not hide anything. Instead, he began to recount—step by step—everything Li Yan had said and done the first time he entered the city, along with every subsequent interaction. Intermixed with his strictly truthful account were some of his own personal interpretations—remarks such as "he's young" or "he hasn't gotten too deeply involved yet"—but every detail was genuine and unadulterated.
Marshal Hong listened intently—sometimes frowning, sometimes lost in thought—and interjected with a few probing questions here and there. This detailed line of inquiry only heightened Liu Chengyong's anxiety; he was convinced that such thorough questioning meant Li Yan must have inadvertently committed some sort of misstep.
Once Liu Chengyong had finished speaking, Marshal Hong paused for a moment and observed, "So, it appears you and Li Yan have struck up quite a rapport."
"Indeed, there is some affinity between us."
Marshal Hong continued, "In your several meetings, have you ever discussed any particulars about him? For instance, how he is faring at the Military Strategist's Residence or even the progress of his martial cultivation?"
"Not exactly. We haven't delved into those subjects. However, on these occasions I did notice that Lord Li seemed a bit downcast—and I've even heard that his mood hasn't been very buoyant lately. I wonder if this has anything to do with his training or simply feeling unaccustomed to his new lifestyle."
"Is that so? Please, elaborate," the Marshal said, sitting up straighter with interest.
Liu Chengyong replied, "I gathered this from what Chen An mentioned. During our drinking session today, both he and I remarked that Lord Li's temperament within his quarters has been rather unstable of late. I've been extra careful with my words, fearful of inadvertently upsetting him. Still, all in all, from my two recent encounters with him, I must say that he's come off as quite affable—nothing seems amiss."
"Unstable temperament, huh? That does seem to correspond with the rumors of his erratic nature," murmured Marshal Hong under his breath.
Standing further back in the hall, Liu Chengyong could only catch these whispered comments but dared not ask what the Marshal was saying to himself.
After a pause, Marshal Hong looked up at him and said, "Very well. Next time he enters the city, you must find him and tell him that his registration record is incomplete—that he needs to come see me. It'd be best to settle this promptly."
Liu Chengyong was utterly confused. Incomplete registration? How was it that they had conferred an official rank upon Lord Li in the first place? Yet he dared not question it. Deep down, he realized that if this were indeed the case, Li Yan himself would have to pay a visit to the Marshal soon. After all, the Deputy General of Guard is by no means a minor official—and his post falls directly under military authority.
Being a seasoned officer himself, Liu Chengyong understood that the Marshal's intention was to handle this matter quietly rather than making it public. The Marshal's desire was for him to approach Li Yan in private (instead of issuing a direct order), though he wondered silently why it was to be done this way. He chose not to inquire further—the more he knew, the more trouble it would invite.
After pondering a few moments, Liu Chengyong cautiously added, "Marshal, the Military Strategist's Residence isn't a place one can simply enter at will—especially considering Lord Li's additional status as a disciple of Master Ji. Master Ji had, in confidence, mentioned within the ranks that no one is to disturb his disciple's training without his express consent. In this case, we'd have to wait until Lord Li voluntarily appears, and I have no control over that timing."
"Is that so? Then you must find a way yourself," the Marshal replied sharply, his piercing eyes narrowing. "This matter should be resolved as soon as possible. And let me make one thing clear: I bear no personal grudge against Li Yan. There are merely issues I need to explain to him. Understood?"
"Understood," Liu Chengyong answered, his face turning as bitter as frostbitten eggplant. Still, deep inside he felt a slight relief on Li Yan's behalf. He knew that if the Marshal ever harbored a grudge, he would settle it without hesitation. As someone who had served Marshal Hong faithfully for over a decade, he wasn't meant to question such orders—he simply had to obey.
Once Liu Chengyong withdrew, silence fell over the hall for a moment until a resonant, deep voice echoed, "Senior Brother, aren't we being a bit hasty here? Won't this alert Ji Wenhe?"
"Perhaps we are hasty—but do we have any better alternative at present? I've considered this over the past few days: no matter when we eventually come into contact with that whelp, Ji Wenhe will surely take notice sooner or later. And given your current rapport with him, perhaps this is an opportunity worth trying."
"Senior Brother, our original plan was to wait two or three years—until Ji Wenhe's health possibly fails—before taking any action."
Hearing this, Marshal Hong paused, then exhaled deeply. "Alas, we've seen that his physical condition has indeed deteriorated year by year. Yet even after all these years, he remains alive and his martial skill shows no hint of decline—in fact, it has grown considerably. This seems to run counter to the poison theory. Have you ever heard of a martial artist who, after being poisoned, not only maintained but actually increased in power? I have pondered this for a long time. But if in two or three years he remains alive, and his power grows as it has in recent years, then we'll have no chance at all."
Ever since his return from the Marshal's Residence, Liu Chengyong had ruminated over these matters repeatedly. Yet he dared not defy Master Ji's instructions in the military, nor did he dare to enter the Strategist's Residence to seek out Li Yan. Whether he was on duty at the North Gate, anxiously watching for the appearance of those three horses, or waiting in the camp for word of Li Yan's entry into the city, he was desperate to meet him.
To ensure he was promptly informed when Li Yan entered the city, Liu Chengyong had even asked his brothers on duty at the North Gate to notify him immediately—with the promise of a reward. What he did not know was that other squads already regarded his actions as an attempt to curry favor—to climb the ladder. Men like Captain Zeng were even planning to joke about it later, purposely divulging this information to him to provoke his anger. If Liu Chengyong were to learn of such schemes, he'd undoubtedly fly into a rage and denounce those unfeeling comrades.
Thus, over the next ten days or so the matter lingered unresolved. Fortunately, Marshal Hong did not press him, but he knew that fulfilling a superior's order as quickly as possible was essential—any delay would only give the higher-ups the impression of incompetence.
Today, off duty and mulling over the predicament in his quarters, Liu Chengyong contemplated whether to entrust a letter to Chen An—asking him to deliver it to Li Yan and urging Li Yan to make a spare trip into the city to see him. He had been racking his brain for several days over what reason to use in the letter. After all, he wasn't a greenhorn—the intrigues of officialdom are filled with subtleties, and he couldn't afford to botch this matter through poor judgment.
Just as he was growing frantic, unsure of how to meet Li Yan as soon as possible, a soldier arrived reporting that a certain Lord Li had come to find him. For a split second he was stunned—and then his heart leapt with joy. He strode toward the camp gate, leaving the soldier delivering the message behind. The messenger could only mutter to himself, "Back when your father visited, I never saw you so animated!"
Liu Chengyong hurried to the gate and from a distance spotted Li Yan accompanied by two others. Picking up his pace, he greeted, "Lord Li, how are you these days, ha ha…" His robust laughter attracted the attention of the soldiers on duty, who exchanged curious glances, wondering why Liu Chengyong looked so radiant today.
"Ah, thanks to Captain Liu, everything has been very well lately, haha!" Li Yan said as he emerged from the camp. Folding his arms, he offered a slight smile in Liu Chengyong's direction.
"Tell me, what has blown Lord Li here today? Do you have some business to attend to?" Liu Chengyong asked, his tone courteous though his heart was brimming with anticipation to bring up the pressing matter. Yet he maintained a veneer of politeness.
"Nothing of major consequence; I've simply grown a bit bored staying at the Military Strategist's Residence lately. I hardly know anyone here in the city, so I thought I'd come see Captain Liu and catch up with old acquaintances. I hope I'm not intruding?"
"Not at all—not at all. I have nothing on my agenda today, ha ha…" replied Liu Chengyong.
"Then, where do you suggest we go?" he hesitated, seeking an appropriate setting to discuss the issue, for here was hardly the right place.
"Oh, how about we venture into the camp to take a look around? Although I, too, am a military man, I haven't really spent much time inside the camp. Would that be acceptable?" Li Yan mused for a moment.
"Certainly, though I must point out that there are areas in the camp which are off-limits without the Marshal's explicit orders," Liu Chengyong replied, momentarily taken aback and hesitating.
"Not to worry; I merely wish to stroll in and get a sense of what the camp is like," Li Yan replied. In truth, he didn't particularly need to enter the camp for its own sake—he simply wanted to break free from the constant watch of Chen An and Li Yin. Outside, those two always had plenty of reasons to shadow and protect him. But once inside, he wondered, would he need protection at all?
"Then, Lord Li, please come along!" Liu Chengyong called, already eager to find a private moment to speak with him.
At that moment, Chen An and Li Yin moved forward closely as well. This infuriated Li Yan, and with a furrowed brow he shouted, "Must you two insist on accompanying me inside the camp for protection?" His tone carried a trace of irritation.
Chen An, after handing the reins over to Li Yin, stepped forward with a bow and a smile. "Young Master, it's been quite a while since we've been here ourselves. We, too, wish to enter the camp to reconnect with old comrades. We respectfully ask your permission."
Li Yan was momentarily at a loss for words. After all, is it not natural for someone returning to the camp to meet up with old friends? He thought these two were nothing if not overly obsequious.
Thus the four of them entered in single file—with Liu Chengyong and Li Yan at the front, and Chen An and Li Yin holding the horses behind. At the gate, some soldiers, having caught snippets of their conversation earlier, recognized Li Yan's identity and also identified Chen An and Li Yin as veteran soldiers who had been away from the camp for several years. Given Li Yan's status and the fact that Chen An and Li Yin were also military men, no one interfered with their entry. As for the restricted areas inside, those were guarded by other soldiers, so there was nothing for them to worry about.
Once inside the camp, Liu Chengyong led Li Yan toward his own barracks. Meanwhile, Chen An and Li Yin, well acquainted with the layout, headed off to the stables to tie up the three horses. They then went off to reconnect with familiar faces—who, as luck would have it, were in roughly the same direction as Li Yan's destination, leaving ample space for an uninterrupted conversation between Liu Chengyong and Li Yan.
When they reached Liu Chengyong's modest quarters, Li Yan glanced back at the cluster of old soldiers—Chen An and Li Yin chatting idly at a distance—ensuring that they were sufficiently separated, and then stepped into the barracks. The room was one of several rows in the camp. As a squad leader, Liu Chengyong had been allotted a small private room instead of having to cram into a large dormitory.
The quarters were simple and unadorned—a basic cot, a long table, a wardrobe, and a weapon rack displaying a knife, a sword, a spear, and several other weapons.
Liu Chengyong, with a slight look of embarrassment, remarked, "The military camp is rather spartan, so please pardon its simplicity, Lord Li."
Li Yan was unperturbed. "In the military, such things are of little consequence. Captain Liu, there's no need for such grand forms of address. Just call me Brother Li—it feels too formal otherwise, haha."
A flush rose on Liu Chengyong's stern face. "But that isn't proper—one mustn't ignore the distinctions of rank."
With a dismissive gesture, Li Yan replied, "It's nothing. You know that I hold this office only in name courtesy of my master, so I don't really fret about such formalities. When you address me in such lofty terms, it feels excessively ceremonious." As he spoke, he wandered around the room. When he reached the weapon rack, his curiosity was piqued by the array of arms. He drew out an exquisite sword and examined its gleaming blade in the light.
"You have truly acquired a fine sword," he observed—not as a mere compliment. Back in the village, when he used to accompany the elders into the mountains on hunting trips, he had come to appreciate good weaponry.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyong shed his pretense and noted with satisfaction the keen interest in Li Yan's eyes as he held the sword. With a proud smile he said, "Brother Li, you certainly have an eye for quality. These weapons are not our standard-issue—they are prized spoils I captured in battle. If you fancy this sword, feel free to keep it." His tone carried genuine satisfaction, for these items were far superior to what was normally issued in the military.
Li Yan examined the sword closely. Its blade shimmered as it caught the light; it emanated a chilling aura and even bore a faint, bloody scent—as though it had known much strife. Clearly, it was a weapon made for killing. Upon hearing Liu Chengyong's proud declaration, Li Yan's eyes lit up with interest.