Chapter 359: A Man from the Office of Investigation

After all that commotion, no one was going to have an easy night.

The next day, Shopkeeper Gao found Yuan Gang in the rear courtyard. Having stayed up all night, he wore a tired expression as he gave a wry smile.

"Proprietor, Third Young Master has been found. Everyone can stop worrying."

He had not opened the Tofu House on time that morning. Instead, he had remained at the Huyan residence waiting for news. After all, the money Huyan Wei had used to flee had come from Yuan Gang.

Yuan Gang asked, "Where did they find him?"

Shopkeeper Gao sighed. "He didn't get very far. They caught him about two hundred li away. They say the pursuit drove him into hiding inside a haystack at a ranch, and they searched him out. He was escorted back early this morning. Aiya, what a miserable sight he was, covered all over in bits of grass. Why put himself through it?"

Yuan Gang was speechless. He did not know what to say about Huyan Wei. The man was far too useless. He had barely run before being caught and dragged back. If he did not have the ability to escape, why flee in the first place?

What Yuan Gang did not know was that the Huyan clan genuinely had not known where Huyan Wei had gone at first. But the matter had alarmed the emperor. How could Hao Yuntu possibly allow Huyan Wei to escape? He immediately ordered the Office of Investigation to find him at all costs.

It did not take long for them to pick up Huyan Wei's trail when he stopped at a ranch along the way to change horses. The Office of Investigation did not arrest him directly.

Hao Yuntu had his dignity to preserve. How could he forcibly seize a man who did not want to marry his daughter and drag him back to marry her? Instead, people quietly kept sending information to the Huyan clan, leaving the family to decide what to do.

The Huyan clan immediately issued military orders, mobilizing nearby Valiant Cavalry units in the direction Huyan Wei had fled to conduct the pursuit.

Several thousand iron riders swept across the area for the sake of capturing one Huyan Wei. They knew his precise location, and cultivators cooperated in the search. Where could Huyan Wei, a solitary fugitive with nowhere to turn, possibly run? That was how they caught him and brought him back. Shopkeeper Gao took out three gold drafts, each worth one thousand gold coins.

"Proprietor, this is the money Third Young Master borrowed from you. The Supreme General ordered it repaid so Third Young Master's debt could be settled."

Yuan Gang took the drafts. The IOU was still on him, so he casually pulled it out and handed it to Shopkeeper Gao.

Then he asked, "What happened after they brought him back?"

Shopkeeper Gao sighed again.

"It was miserable. The moment he came back, the Supreme General gave the order and they punished him under family law. Third Young Master screamed like a ghost and howled like a wolf while they beat him, swearing he would never do it again. I doubt he'll be getting off his couch and walking around anytime soon, never mind trying to run away. Proprietor, if there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."

Yuan Gang silently nodded...

Not long afterward, a piece of news spread through the capital and caused a sensation throughout the city. It was said that during morning court, Supreme General Huyan Wuhen had suddenly asked the emperor for a marriage before all the assembled officials, seeking Grand Princess Hao Qingqing as a wife for his son Huyan Wei. The emperor had agreed on the spot before the entire court. An emperor's word was golden. A sovereign did not speak in jest. The matter was settled.

As for the two people involved, neither the man nor the woman had any right to refuse. For some people, however, that was not what mattered.

At Among the White Clouds, Su Zhao and Qin Mian stood before a map. Qin Mian traced a route eastward with one finger.

"From the route, they're clearly trying to leave the State of Qi and return to the State of Yan!"

They had received word that someone on the road had accidentally spotted Niu Youdao in disguise traveling with Tianyu Sect disciples. After obtaining the information, their side immediately had people in that region investigate. Sure enough, they discovered disguised Tianyu Sect disciples.

"I knew that thief was cunning!" Su Zhao ground out.

She did not dare mention that she had already suspected something like this. Now the result had confirmed her judgment.

She said decisively, "Contact the higher-ups immediately and request cooperation from the other branches. They must intercept him at any cost! Once he escapes back to Qingshan Commandery and reaches his own territory, the organization will have to pay a considerable price to move against him. We absolutely cannot let him get back!"

She had wanted Niu Youdao dead for a long time. Now that the higher-ups had finally authorized action, she naturally intended to do everything possible.

"Yes!"

Qin Mian acknowledged the order and hurried away. But she had not been gone long before she came rushing back.

"That Niu bastard is treacherous. The movement eastward is still meant to mislead us. He himself went west."

She produced a secret message.

"The higher-ups say Niu Youdao has already traveled far beyond the territory under our branch's responsibility. Even if we send our people now, they won't arrive in time. They've ordered us not to make any further reckless moves, lest we expose ourselves!"

"He went west?" Su Zhao was startled. "Has that been confirmed?"

Qin Mian said, "If the higher-ups can issue a direct order like this, they must have reliable intelligence. Otherwise they wouldn't simply tell us to terminate the operation."

Su Zhao looked back at the map.

"He went west. Where is he now?"

"The higher-ups didn't tell us the exact location. They only explained the reason for stopping our operation. But if they can say he's already far beyond our jurisdiction, and that our people can't reach him in time, then the Niu bastard should be close to the sea by now. Once he escapes onto the water, there will be hiding places everywhere. Finding him again will basically become hopeless."

Qin Mian pointed toward the State of Qi's coastal waters. The instant she heard that Niu Youdao had gone toward the sea, Su Zhao's heart jumped. She worried that he might be planning to move against that shipment of warhorses. But after another thought, she decided she was worrying unnecessarily. The horses bound for Beizhou had gone to sea long ago. What use would it be for Niu Youdao to run to the coast now?

More importantly, the fleet had remained in communication with this side. It had already rounded northward, and its current position was far from the State of Qi's coast. Besides, Niu Youdao was unlikely to know about that shipment of warhorses at all. A more likely explanation was that he had already learned Xiaoyue Pavilion intended to deal with him.

Knowing how vast Xiaoyue Pavilion's power was, he understood that no land route would be safe and wanted to escape by sea instead. After thinking it through, Su Zhao relaxed a little, though she still ground her teeth.

"He sold out Linghu Qiu and secretly ran away himself, leaving us unable to understand what was happening. Then he released the rumor that both he and Linghu Qiu had fallen into the court's hands, using that as bait to draw our attention and keep covering his escape. Now another trail appears heading east, while he himself has actually fled west. That bastard truly is treacherous beyond measure!"

Qin Mian sighed.

"Indeed. His chain of traps looks simple, but in truth it's extremely sophisticated. Every stage was arranged with great care, and every part concealed exceptionally well. He led us around for so long without us seeing through him, dragging us back and forth by the nose until everything was wrapped in fog and we couldn't concentrate our strength to hunt him down. If the higher-ups hadn't learned the truth in time, we would've gathered our forces and rushed east. By the time we broke through the deception, he might already have vanished over the sea."

She raised her eyes toward the map as well.

"He should be almost at the coast by now. I only hope the higher-ups can still make it in time. Otherwise, this really will become troublesome!"

Su Zhao sneered.

"Troublesome, perhaps, but not disastrous. At worst, he gets to feel pleased with himself for a while."

Qin Mian remained silent. The matter was simply too consequential. There was no way she could tell Su Zhao that Wei Chu's death had been faked. Why were the higher-ups determined to kill Niu Youdao inside the State of Qi at any cost? The reason was very simple.

Even Linghu Qiu did not know, and naturally Niu Youdao still did not know either, that Wei Chu's death was false. Wei Chu belonged to Prince Jin. As long as Niu Youdao remained inside the State of Qi, he would not dare recklessly spread the matter around.

But once Niu Youdao left the State of Qi and escaped Prince Jin's sphere of influence, who could guarantee he would not mention it to others? If that happened, could Wei Chu ever come back to life? The sunset over the grasslands was a brilliant scene at the ends of the earth. Mounted herdsmen swung long poles, driving cattle, sheep, and horses back into their enclosures. Five riders came galloping from the distance. They headed toward the ranch. It was Niu Youdao's group of five.

Their mounts gradually slowed as they entered among the herds. They asked who owned the ranch, naturally because they wanted to change horses. A young girl pointed toward an old man standing atop a wooden platform beside the fence. That was the ranch owner.

The five had only begun trotting over when a man carrying a long herding pole galloped toward them and swung the pole across their path. The five reined in and looked at him. The man carefully studied all five of them in return. Niu Youdao smiled.

"Friend, why are you stopping us?"

The man's gaze remained fixed on him for a while.

"If I'm not mistaken, you should be Niu Youdao."

At those words, the five remained outwardly calm, but inwardly all were shaken. Niu Youdao stroked the beard covering his cheeks and narrowed his eyes.

"We don't understand what you're talking about."

The man reached inside his clothes and drew out a token, holding it up for them to see. A sinister eagle was carved upon it, its eyes startlingly fierce. The corner of Guan Fangyi's mouth twitched. She glanced at Niu Youdao and realized he apparently did not recognize it.

Urging her horse a little closer, she said quietly, "He's from the Office of Investigation."

"This gentleman beside you must be Hongniang." The man asked the question casually as he slowly put away his token.

Then his tone abruptly became solemn.

"His Majesty has issued an order. The five of you are to rest here for the moment and return to the capital tomorrow. There are important matters to discuss!"

Since the other side had already spoken this plainly, Niu Youdao understood. His movements, which he had believed hidden, had in fact remained within Hao Yuntu's grasp all along.

He slowly asked, "May I ask what important matter His Majesty wishes to discuss?"

"The higher-ups didn't say, and it isn't something I should ask. A place has already been prepared for the five of you to rest. Please!"

The man extended a hand in invitation, wheeled his horse around, and led the way. The four people around Niu Youdao looked toward him. Niu Youdao tapped both heels against his horse and followed the man, observing the surroundings as he went. The other four exchanged glances and had no choice but to follow. When they reached the ranch, tents had indeed been prepared for them. Food and drink were already laid out inside.

Clearly, the other side had done more than merely track their movements. They had even calculated when they would arrive. After checking the food and drink and confirming there was nothing wrong with them, Niu Youdao ate in silence. He had not expected this. They were already on the last stretch. At most another half day would have brought them to their destination.

Just when he had believed they would finally escape cleanly, a man from the Office of Investigation had suddenly appeared and stopped them. A great many thoughts moved through his mind. Guan Fangyi muttered and complained off to one side. Now they had to go back again. All those exhausting days of travel had been for nothing. And so on. Once they had finished eating and drinking, Niu Youdao gave Guan Fangyi a look. She followed him out of the tent.

Together they strolled through the ranch beneath the last glow of sunset. Someone carrying a goatskin water bag was pouring water into troughs for the livestock. Guan Fangyi's eyes immediately lit up.

"I'm filthy to death. I'll go ask them for some water and wash properly."

"Don't."

Niu Youdao stopped her.

"Have Old Six Xu and Uncle Chen feel out the people here. If there are no cultivators, and no other force prepared to stop us, we leave as soon as it gets dark!"

Guan Fangyi, who had already taken two steps, stopped and turned in astonishment.

"You want to defy an imperial decree?"

Niu Youdao said, "Defy a decree? Have you gone stupid from living in the Qi capital?"

[End of Chapter 359]