CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 46 LU QIFENG

Li Xin circled the twisty alley thrice before he was certain no one was following. He then left the alley and climbed into an abandoned house just outside.

Using a hole in the roof of the house, he slipped inside, thus preventing anyone from the outside from tracking whether someone was inside through the doors.

Inside the house, Qing Yu stopped to adjust his breathing and watched Li Xin approach.

"Did everything go smoothly?"

"Very smoothly. Young Master would never guess Song Ziqi’s true identity," laughed Li Xin.

"Oh," Qing Yu chuckled and scolded, "you rascal, now you’re playing charades with me. Spit it out, we don’t have time for guesses."

Li Xin straightened his face, overwhelmed with the success far beyond his expectations; otherwise, with his rigid disposition, he wouldn’t have joked with his respected Young Master.

"Song Ziqi knows the Zhen Shan Zhang Family’s Absolute Skill, ’Tiger Roar to Settle Mountains and Rivers’. She might possibly be Lord Zhen Shan Zhang Huchen’s daughter, who is hidden from the public eye," said Li Xin earnestly.

"Zhang Huchen’s daughter," Qing Yu stroked his chin, "that’s interesting. Song Ziqi is in her twenties, when did she replace the real Song Ziqi, or perhaps..."

Qing Yu’s eyes widened: "If Zhang Huchen’s daughter has been unknown, could she have been Song Ziqi since she was young? If there was never a real Song Ziqi and it has always been her..."

"You mean to say, the Song Family never had a daughter called Song Ziqi, it was always a sham?" Li Xin, a sharp man, caught on instantly.

"Why would she need to conceal her identity? Isn’t it good to be the daughter of the Zhang Family?" Li Xin asked.

Being the daughter was not comparable between the Song and Zhang Families, like heaven and earth. The Song Family served almost as servants for the Zhang Family, guarding Yang City; the Song’s daughter was but a servant’s child.

"If that’s true, Zhang Huchen has been plotting for twenty years. Launching now, he must be fully confident. This time, the Six Gates is likely to lose."

"Could that be true, Young Master? The Six Gates discovered Song Ziqi’s identity early. Luo Yan also said there are supreme experts above the Innate level watching in secret. Even if Song Ziqi is desperate, taking over Yang City would hardly succeed."

"How could it not be possible?" Qing Yu scoffed coldly, "A common man, after enduring hardships for twenty years, could stir up significant trouble, let alone Lord Zhen Shan. In this scale of conflict, the influence of an individual is minuscule. Moreover, doesn’t the court already suspect Lord Zhen Shan of rebellion?"

Indeed, the court had always suspected Lord Zhen Shan might rebel. Such high-ranking frontier generals must never be underestimated even if there’s only a possibility of rebellion.

On the other hand, Lord Zhen Shan, fully aware that the court was suspicious, still poised to strike, certainly held a winning trump card.

"Compared to the hastily acting court, Lord Zhen Shan who has prepared for twenty years likely has a greater chance of victory."

"This battle will be won by Lord Zhen Shan," declared a scholar in white.

"Master, Song Ziqi’s identity has been exposed, Lord Zhen Shan has lost a great opportunity. Why do you still say he will win?" Luo Yan questioned doubtfully.

Luo Yan’s master, it seemed this scholar in white was one of the Four Great Divine Capturers of the Six Gates, the ’Chasing Wind Divine Constable’ Lu Qifeng. Common folks could hardly imagine such a refined scholar being one of the key strategists of a violent institution like the Six Gates. Nor would the people of Yang City expect that Lu Qifeng had already arrived.

Lu Qifeng explained: "Yan’er, you still don’t see clearly. From the very start, this war was already lost by the court. The Zhen Shan family has controlled Qing Province for three hundred years, turning it into an impregnable fortress. Lord Zhen Shan aims not to infiltrate the Central Plains through Yang City, but to keep the court confined within it. As long as Qing Province secedes from Daqian, no matter the outcome, the court has lost."

"Then why position Song Ziqi in Yang City, if he has no interest in it? Why put her in jeopardy?" Luo Yan couldn’t grasp the logic. The lineage of the Zhen Shan Zhang Family was traditionally passed down through a single heir, and this generation’s Lord Zhen Shan reportedly had no children; Song Ziqi was likely his sole daughter. To sacrifice his only daughter for an unwanted Yang City, Luo Yan couldn’t fathom how cold Lord Zhen Shan’s heart could be.

"That’s why I say, Yan’er, you don’t see clearly." Lu Qifeng shook his head, his disciple might be intelligent, but sometimes his cleverness obscured his vision, "If Lord Zhen Shan could conceal one daughter, how do you know he wouldn’t hide another daughter, or even a son? Moreover..."

With a cold chuckle and an indescribable look of mockery or anger in his eyes, Lu Qifeng said: "Those who aspire to great deeds can even kill their closest kin. Let alone mere manipulation, Song Ziqi is not dead yet."

"Even kin can be killed..." Luo Yan felt a chill surge from his spine to his mind. Normally ruthless, he could not bring himself to harm his own family.

Thinking of that woman close in age to him, who easily repelled him, he greatly admired her despite being an enemy, and still would act when needed. He wondered how devastated she would be if she learned the truth. Involuntarily, Luo Yan felt that the woman was somewhat pitiable.

At the same time, he felt an icy unease hearing such words from his beloved master.

Seeing his beloved disciple’s expression, Lu Qifeng knew he was unsettled. This disciple, orphaned at a young age, was fostered and taught by him, growing up respecting him more than his own kin.

Hearing such ruthless words from the mouth of someone he regarded as a father figure must have frightened him.

With this in mind, Lu Qifeng softened his voice: "I will never give you up as your teacher."

Silently, the master and disciple savored this rare moment of warmth.

"By the way, Master, about my achievements in uncovering Song Ziqi’s identity," Luo Yan suddenly exclaimed.

"Don’t worry, your effort won’t be in vain. The Six Gates promotes the capable and demotes the weak. Your ability to uncover Song Ziqi’s identity proves your merit. If the Six Gates won’t reward you, your teacher will."

"And Li Xin..."

"Agreed. The capable are welcome in the Six Gates."

"Master..."

"Moved?" Lu Qifeng raised an eyebrow.

"When will you stop eavesdropping?"

Lu Qifeng, the Chasing Wind Divine Constable of the Six Gates, not only was his Qinggong supernatural, but he was also most skilled in the Wind Listening Technique, often eavesdropping from around corners, regardless of the news. Being the chief of the Six Gates intelligence, Luo Yan knew his master was aware of everything, including Song Ziqi’s identity, without needing his reports. The whole of Yang City was within his listening range.

Except for a small building on the hillside outside the city.