Chapter 203: Unmasking

Chapter 203: Unmasking

The cold wind whipped fiercely atop the city wall, fluttering Huo Lang's robe. He looked down at Wei Tuan and his men, then slowly raised his dark bow, notching an arrow and drawing it to its fullest extent—

*Swish!*

The arrow, whistling through the air, shot straight toward Wei Tuan. As the guards cried out and rushed forward to intercept it, a scream echoed. The arrow narrowly missed Wei Tuan, instead piercing through Geng Guozhong's throat, bursting into a cloud of blood mid-air.

Geng Guozhong’s eyes widened in shock; he clearly hadn’t anticipated that Huo Lang would silence him. His massive body fell to the ground with a dull thud, still carrying a look of bewilderment even in death.

Facing the wary gazes of the Wei family members, Huo Lang calmly put away his bow and arrow. His task was simply to ensure their safe departure from Qilin Pass. Beyond Qilin Pass lay Yuewang Pass, guarded by former Wei family loyalists, so there should be no further danger.

Of course, if there were any issues, they wouldn't concern him anymore.

Feeling he had completed Lu Yan’s assignment, Huo Lang prepared to leave with his men. However, Wei Tuan suddenly pushed aside his guards and called out, "Your Highness, please wait!"

Huo Lang and Wei Tuan had no real friendship. Hearing this, he glanced up, only to see Wei Tuan approaching from the nearby staircase, quickly walking up to him. After a moment of silence, Wei Tuan whispered:

"Was it he who sent you?"

His voice was so soft it nearly got lost in the wind.

Huo Lang’s lips curled slightly. "Could it not have been my own decision?"

He wasn’t known for his kindness or meddling, which Wei Tuan knew well. Sighing, he said, "Whether it was you or him, I owe both of you. Since we’ve met coincidentally, I have something I’d like you to deliver."

Huo Lang’s eyebrows raised slightly. "What is it?"

Hopefully, it wasn’t some love letter; he’d tear it to shreds on the way.

Wei Tuan pulled out a small bundle wrapped in red cloth, about the size of a palm, but clearly precious enough to carry close to his body. "I intended to give it to him, but meeting isn’t easy, and I feared it might fall into the wrong hands. Since I’ve encountered you today, please help me deliver it."

Huo Lang took the object, feeling its weight. Running his fingers over the soft fabric, he quickly recognized it as the other half of the tiger token used to command the Fuyuan Army. His pupils contracted, and his expression subtly changed.

How could this be?!

Didn’t Wei Tuan submit the tiger token along with his retirement papers? How else could he have left the capital so easily? How did the other party still have one?

Huo Lang quickly realized something and looked up sharply. "The one you gave him before was fake?!"

Wei Tuan closed his eyes, tacitly confirming. "This is the foundation of our Wei family’s survival. How could we hand it over to the emperor so easily?"

Huo Lang sneered. "Then why are you willing to give it to him now?"

Wei Tuan opened his eyes and looked at him, saying something Huo Lang didn’t understand. "This isn’t for the emperor but for a dear friend. The Wei family may be gone, but the Fuyuan Army remains. I hope that when the capital changes hands, this will aid you."

Huo Lang frowned, wondering what nonsense Wei Tuan was spouting. Before he could ask, Wei Tuan stepped back two paces and bowed deeply.

"Your Highness, the Wei family will retreat to the mountains and no longer interfere in court affairs. The journey to Longchuan is long, and I don’t know if we’ll meet again in this life. May you both remain safe and healthy, achieving your desires!"

Life is fleeting, like stars never meeting.

In this tumultuous world where communication is difficult, a single journey could mean years of separation. By the time one grows old, travel becomes too arduous, turning partings into farewells.

The Wei family proved that loyalty under an unworthy ruler is a double-edged sword. Now, severely weakened, they had no choice but to withdraw from court.

Huo Lang clenched the token, looking at Wei Tuan with a sense of loneliness. "Are you really not returning to court?"

A century-old dynasty, a millennium-old family—no one wants their lineage to fade. The Wei family’s withdrawal might mean they disappear from history forever.

Wei Tuan turned and walked down the steps, waving back at Huo Lang. His voice carried faintly. "Wait until the heavens clear and the waters calm; that will be the Wei family’s time to reemerge!"

Such words bordered on treason, leaving much unsaid.

Qilin Pass couldn’t be lingered upon. Wei Tuan ordered his guards to pack and continue their journey, gradually disappearing from sight. Beside Huo Lang stood a black-clad archer, who removed his mask, revealing a scarred face—it was Wei Hong.

Huo Lang watched the Wei family’s retreating figures and asked, "Are you really not going with them?"

Wei Hong’s gaze was complex as he exhaled slowly. "Everyone thinks I’m dead, and my mother likely believes the same. The pain has passed. Someone must settle the blood debt of Guiyan Pass and avenge the Wei family. I can bear it alone; there’s no need to involve them."

Huo Lang laughed abruptly. "Are you planning to kill the emperor?"

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the dagger at his waist, barely concealing his murderous intent, ready to strike if Wei Hong said “yes.”

Wei Hong looked at him intently. "Huo Lang, are you truly ignorant or pretending? I don’t believe you haven’t noticed anything. My brother made it clear enough. Don’t you understand?"

Wei Tuan’s earlier words revealed much.

He said the tiger token wasn’t for the emperor but for a dear friend.

The emperor ordered Geng Guozhong to assassinate the Wei family.

The emperor also sent Huo Lang to save them.

But how could such absurdity exist? Either the emperor was mad, or...

The one who killed and the one who saved were different people!

In that instant, Huo Lang felt the veil lifted by Wei Hong, cold winds rushing in. He struggled to believe such absurdity, yet the clues connected, forcing him to accept a fact—

There were indeed two emperors in Beishu!

"Don’t look at me like you want to kill me. Pretend I said nothing."

Wei Hong put on his beast-patterned mask again, muttering, "No wonder..."

No wonder Lu Yan saved him during the assassination attempt. The person was the same, never changing, just bound by circumstances, becoming a puppet.

Fortunately, the assassination failed; otherwise, he would have been irredeemable.

On the way back to the capital, Huo Lang’s face was frighteningly grim. During the reign of the late emperor, he had heard that the Crown Prince was often ill, causing unrest throughout the court and the country. Later, after seeking out renowned doctors for treatment, he had recovered and was frequently seen walking within the palace. Now, thinking back, it was clear that this was just a trick by the late emperor, using an exact lookalike to deceive everyone in the court!

No wonder he sometimes found the emperor's timid behavior strange; it must have been Zhao Kang, that sickly man. But what about the other fake emperor...

Why didn't he tell him the truth and willingly become a puppet?

As Huo Lang thought about this, his expression darkened even more. He lashed his horse fiercely, the crack of the whip cutting through the air sharply. He only wanted to return to the capital as quickly as possible to get some answers. The group galloped through the muddy fields, scattering the few winter birds in all directions.

"Hey, hey, hey, soldiers, please help! Please help!"

Suddenly, a young man crawled out from the side of the field, waving excitedly at the group. On his back was a long-haired woman wearing a red robe, her head hanging low as if she were unconscious. In the desolate wilderness, she stood out starkly, even somewhat eerely.

This sudden appearance startled the group, especially since he had blocked their path. Huo Lang pulled the reins tightly in time to avoid trampling him. His voice was cold and sharp, his gaze piercing like two icy swords:

"Who dares to block our way!"

The man seemed oblivious to danger, even appearing quite calm: "Reporting to the soldier, my name is Gongsun Mo, from Luzhou. On my way to the capital, I lost my money, so I can only walk. It's still eight days away, and I can't afford any delays. Please lend me a hand."

A guard shouted: "Where did this madman come from? Get out of here, or I'll take your life!"

But Huo Lang stopped the guard. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man named Gongsun Mo, his tone dangerous: "How do you know we are soldiers?"

They were all dressed in civilian clothes, and this man's sudden appearance was suspicious.

Gongsun Mo adjusted the woman on his back, smiling: "Everyone here is wearing lion-man swords and using octagonal golden qilin bows. Clearly, you're from the Beishu Army, perhaps even from the Qianji Camp under the Regent Wang. I've heard that every archer under him is skilled. Looking at all of you, you certainly seem impressive."

His flattery made everyone feel good, even the previously fierce guard softened his gaze: "You have keen eyes, kid. Here's a piece of silver; go hire a carriage. The military doesn't tolerate such recklessness!"

He was about to take out the silver when Gongsun Mo said: "Please, kind sir, give me a ride. Someone is chasing me. If I travel alone, I might end up as a ghost in these fields tomorrow."

"Who is chasing you?"

A deep male voice asked—it was Huo Lang.

Gongsun Mo revealed a shocking piece of information: "Reporting to the soldier, it's the household slaves of Prince Zhao Tai of Linan."

Prince of Linan? Isn't he the current emperor's cousin?

Huo Lang's interest was piqued: "Oh? Why are they chasing you?"

Gongsun Mo grinned, pointing to the woman on his shoulder: "Perhaps because his concubine is on me."

Everyone was shocked again, finally focusing on the woman on Gongsun Mo's back. Her long black hair cascaded down, and she wore a blood-red robe, which was extremely eerie. A strong smell of blood and decay could be detected.

This woman was actually a corpse that had been dead for some time!

The guard drew his sword in horror: "Kid! Did you kill Prince Linan's favorite concubine?!"

Gongsun Mo took a step back: "Hey, how can you say I killed her? He killed her himself. Prince Linan chopped her into seven or eight pieces. I spent several days stitching her back together in the suburbs. Don't blame an innocent person."

He spoke with a smile, yet inexplicably sent a chill down one's spine. The guard rubbed his neck and swallowed hard with difficulty: "Your Highness, in broad daylight, could we have encountered a ghost?"

Unlike the others, who were filled with fear and unease, Huo Lang remained unshaken. Lin'an County King? He was just looking for an opportunity to deal with that despicable emperor, and now the leverage had been handed to him. He gave the order: "Give him two horses and bring him back to the capital together!"

Before the guard could say a word, Gongsun Mo beamed with joy and said, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

This individual successfully infiltrated the military ranks, riding a horse while leading another by the reins, intended to carry the body of his concubine. His tongue never ceased its flow, always in motion:

"Unbeknownst to you all, the Duke of Lin'an is the cousin of the current emperor, a position of unparalleled nobility. Alas, his father, the Duke of Lin'an, passed away early, and he himself is not up to the mark, unable to establish his own household, and thus had no choice but to marry the notorious tigress of the capital, Huo Yan—do you know Huo Yan? She is the cousin of the current regent! She is a person of decisive character, after marriage, she does not allow him to take concubines or to have any secondary wives, the rules are very strict!"

"I know, I understand."

Everyone mumbled hesitantly, casting furtive glances at the Regent, seeing that he was not angry, they continued to listen intently to the gossip, not even minding the stench of death emanating from Gongsun Mo, and urged in secret: "Then what? Hurry up and tell us."

Gongsun Mo held a folding fan in his hand, and with a flourish, he spread it open, regardless of the fact that it was the dead of winter, and fanned himself vigorously: "But Lady Huo had no offspring for many years after marriage, and the Prince of Lin'an was really out of options, so he kept a concubine outside. Within less than two years, the concubine became pregnant, which delighted him so much that he even gave away the family heirloom, the Biliu Pearl, but who would have known..."

His speaking was so hurried it could drive one mad, and others quickly pressed, "What's wrong, what's wrong?"

Gongsun Mo closed his fan and then leisurely said, "But who would have known that one day, Lady Huo, quite by chance, invited a doctor to take her pulse and found out that the Prince of Lin'an was born with a weak constitution, making it difficult for him to have an heir. The reason for the lack of offspring for so many years was not on the woman's side, but on the man's. In other words, the child in that concubine's belly might not even be his!"

The Prince of Lin'an was immediately infuriated, rushing to the concubine's residence in a fit of rage, not only to reclaim the family heirloom but also to demand that she hang herself with a white silk rope. The concubine also broke with him, threatening to take the Biliu Pearl as evidence to make a scene in front of the Huo family's daughter. In the end, she was cut into several pieces by the servants of the Prince of Lin'an with a great sword, and met her demise.

Gongsun Mo waved his folding fan and said, "Alas, by a strange coincidence, the place where he abandoned the body happened to be within my family's territory. This young lady, pregnant and deceased, has a restless spirit that disturbs the peace of the neighbors. I was left with no other choice but to bring her case to the capital to seek justice from the emperor."

He spoke lightly, unaware that everyone in broad daylight had listened with a chill running down their spines, secretly urging their horses to move further and further away from the female corpse: "Is what you're saying true or false? Without any kinship, are you willing to carry a corpse for thousands of miles to the capital to file a complaint against the officials, suing a royal relative? This is a crime punishable by beheading!"

Gongsun Mo chuckled and said, "Who said I was a commoner? I too hold a modest official position."

With a gentle flick of his hand, he revealed a folding fan, on the edge of which were boldly engraved three characters—"Sunken Grievance Fan." Below it, there was a jade seal, astonishingly, a royal gift!

Huolang's eyes flashed with a gleam of insight as if he had thought of something: "Are you from the Gongsun family of Luzhou?!"

The art of adjudicating cases has its own merits in every school, yet the peculiar methods of autopsy from the Gongsun family of Luzhou are renowned throughout the North. Their ancestors traveled across various states, resolving countless injustices, and were bestowed the "Fan of Sorrow" by the royal family. Even without passing the imperial examinations, as long as there was a case to be overturned, officials from all regions would respectfully invite them in. However, the family had withdrawn from public life more than a decade ago and had long since vanished from the limelight. It was unexpected that today, a descendant has emerged.

Gongsun Mo, like a proud peacock, preened himself with a smug bow: "No problem, no problem. I've been in Luzhou for too long, and today I've come out to see the excitement..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his hand suddenly felt empty as Huo Lang snatched away the folding fan. With a flourish, the fan unfolded to reveal a poem inscribed on it. Huo Lang read it carefully, a cold smile curling at the corners of his lips:

"Curiosity? I suspect your intentions are not as simple as merely watching the spectacle."

Gongsun Mo smoothly retrieved his fan without a trace and offered Huo Lang a sycophantic smile, saying, "My father's casual scribbles, I fear they have amused the general."

The fan had seen many years, yet it was preserved exceptionally well. With a gentle sway, one could still discern the spirited ink characters on it:

Not a lord, not a king,

Fish and dragons take turns to sit in the hall of honor.

Fish leap over the Dragon's Gate, turning rivers into seas.

The dragon trapped in shallow waters has become a worm.

Only the mandarin ducks are heard to pair up,

But where do we see the golden crow sharing the sky?

Deceiving the heavens and swapping the sun, both eyes are blinded,

How can one discern the division of the world?

Huolang rode his horse slowly with an expressionless face. It was unclear whether it was just an illusion, but the stench of blood and rotting corpses in the air had grown stronger. He closed his eyes faintly, his emotions unreadable as he asked, "Did your father write this poem?"

Gongsun Mo: "It was a matter close to his heart. My father lived to be fifty-two years old and overturned four hundred and seventy-six wrongful convictions in his lifetime. However, there was one case that involved too many people; to protect the clan, he dared not act rashly. He died with regret and shame. As his son, I naturally must settle this matter for him."

Huolang's voice was deep and somber. "What case is it?"

Gongsun Mo shook his head and said, "Just an old case from over a decade ago."

Huolang's grip on the reins tightened imperceptibly. "Which family?"

Gongsun Mo slowly uttered, "Ruzhou’s Qingfeng County, Zhiwei Villa, the Lu family of divine physicians."

"Whoosh—!"

Suddenly, a flock of birds took flight from the desolate dense forest, as if startled by something, scattering in all directions and soaring into the sky, dimming even the bright sun.