246: Dark chess moves

The night in Hanyue Valley always carried an icy chill like shards of ice. Jun Xiaoyao sat on the Star Observation Platform at the top level of the underground palace, his fingertips twisting a jade pendant with star patterns.

The jade pendant reflected the starry sky, making his side profile appear even colder. Below the platform, Zhao Gao was reporting the latest movements of The Net in a low voice, his tone softer than the sound of the wind.

Young Lord, as you commanded, the five new Disciples recruited into The Net from the Xuantian Holy Land have passed the trials. Among them, Li Yan took the top spot in the 'Stealth Kill Assessment'.

He used poison-quenched silver needles to eliminate the target within three breaths. His ruthlessness is quite good.

Zhao Gao handed over a parchment scroll. 'These are their detailed dossiers, including their birth dates and sect origins.'

Jun Xiaoyao did not take it, only gazing at the Ziwei star in the northwest: 'Let them handle the job for the Black Wind Stockade. I heard the Black Wind Stockade Master has been selling Blood Bodhi on the black market recently, affecting the interests of the Hundred Herbs Hall. The other party is willing to pay three thousand taels of gold for his life.'

Understood. Zhao Gao replied, then added, News came from the Marshal of the Unruly; The Unruly have already infiltrated the Qingzhou Military Prefecture. They will be able to obtain the Qingzhou defense map within three days.

Jun Xiaoyao then turned his head, took the dossier, and flipped it open. His gaze lingered on the name 'Li Yan'—the embarrassment of the young man being swatted away by Yang Guo's sword during the day was still fresh in his mind, yet by night, he had already become a sharp blade for The Net. He was indeed a piece of material worth molding.

1. Anomalies in the summoning array

The summoning array on the bottom floor of the underground palace suddenly lit up with a faint glow, not the scorching intensity of the past, but a soft halo like moonlight. Jun Xiaoyao got up to go downstairs, with Zhao Gao following closely behind. Light and shadow swirled in the array, gradually condensing into a figure: dressed in white as snow, holding a long sword, his brows carrying a sense of aloofness. It was Linghu Chong from 'the smiling, proud wanderer'.

[Summon Successful] [Character: Linghu Chong] [From: Jin Yong Wuxia World] [Realm: Mid-stage Grandmaster] [Martial Skill/Cultivation Technique: 1. Nine Swords of Dugu (Perfection) — Break all martial arts in the world, no move triumphs over having moves. 2. Star Absorbing Great Technique (Major Achievement) — Can absorb others' Internal Energy for one's own use. 3. Muscle Tendon Changing Classic (Minor Achievement) — Harmonize Internal Energy, dissolve foreign True Qi.] [Loyalty: 85%]

Linghu Chong greets the Young Lord. Linghu Chong cupped his hands in salute. Although he was in the underground palace, the wine gourd at his waist never left his hand, and his speech carried a sense of free-spirited unrestraint.

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: Hero Linghu, you have come at the right time. There is a defense map in the Qingzhou Military Prefecture. Although The Unruly have infiltrated, they lack an expert capable of retrieving items amidst an army of ten thousand.

Linghu Chong took a swig of wine and laughed: Retrieving a map, that is not difficult. It's just... He glanced at the murderous Luowang Assassins around him, The atmosphere here is much more oppressive than the Huashan Sect.

Once the task is done, I will gift you a jar of Drunken Immortal Brew. Jun Xiaoyao cast the bait, knowing full well the weakness of this sword immortal.

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up: Deal!

2. The Destruction of Black Wind Stockade

Black Wind Stockade was located on Duanyun Peak to the west of Qingzhou. The Stockade Master, 'Black Fiend', was said to have practiced a body-tempering technique that made him impervious to blades and spears, and his three hundred minions were all fierce and evil. Li Yan led four newly recruited Luowang Assassins to lurk in the dense forest outside the stockade. Moonlight shone through the leaves onto their poison-quenched weapons, casting a ghostly blue light.

Follow the plan. Li Yan whispered, his fingertips gripping three silver needles. His body flickered, actually turning into an afterimage—this was the 'Ghost Shadow Steps' he had been secretly practicing. Although not as exquisite as the Thief Marshal's footwork, it was enough to conceal his figure in the dark night.

The stockade gate guards were yawning when suddenly their throats felt cold. They clutched their necks and collapsed without even a groan. Li Yan infiltrated first, heading straight for Black Fiend's bedroom. Inside, Black Fiend was drinking with a concubine. Seeing a slit torn in the window paper, he was about to berate, when three silver needles shot out like meteors, aiming for his throat, heart, and Dantian.

Despicable! Black Fiend roared, using his body-tempering technique to block. Two silver needles were deflected, but only one pierced his shoulder. Just as he was about to rise, he felt half his body go numb, and his Internal Energy circulation was obstructed—the muscle-softening powder on the silver needles had started to take effect.

Black Wind Stockade Master, friends from the Hundred Herbs Hall asked me to send you on your way. Li Yan emerged from the shadows, a short blade gleaming with cold light in his hand.

Black Fiend was both shocked and angry. He gathered his last strength to strike out a palm, but Li Yan nimbly dodged it. The other four assassins swarmed up, and amidst the flash of blades and swords, in less than ten breaths, the once arrogant Black Fiend lay in a pool of blood. Li Yan cut off his head, wrapped it in cloth, and said to his subordinates: Search the stockade. The Blood Bodhi is ours. Give thirty percent of the remaining wealth to the Hundred Herbs Hall. Don't forget to leave some 'evidence' so the government thinks it was a Gang feud.

3. The Infiltration of The Unruly

The Qingzhou Military Prefecture was brightly lit. The Marshal of the Unruly disguised himself as a vegetable delivery worker, pushing a cart of fresh vegetables through the side door. Hidden at his waist was the 'Stealth Talisman' given by Linghu Chong, capable of concealing his aura so that even military dogs could not smell anything unusual. During the gap between guard rotations, he had already reached outside the study and saw the defense map hanging on the wall through a crack in the window.

Thank you for your hard work. Linghu Chong's voice suddenly rang in his ear. The Marshal of the Unruly was about to turn his head when he saw a white shadow flash past the rafters, sneaking into the study like a breeze. As the footsteps of the changing guards drew near, the Marshal of the Unruly deliberately overturned the vegetable basket to attract attention: Oops! The vegetables spilled!

The guards scolded and surrounded him. Just at this moment, Linghu Chong had already rolled up the defense map and leaped from the rafters. As he brushed past the Marshal of the Unruly, he whispered: Got it. Then his figure flashed, disappearing into the night.

The Marshal of the Unruly was pushed and reprimanded by the guards, wearing a fawning smile on his face, but sneering in his heart—this Linghu Chong's light footwork was indeed worthy of his reputation.

4. The Secret Expansion of Beyond Heaven

Deep in the underground palace, Jun Xiaoyao unfolded the Qingzhou defense map. Zhao Gao was marking the deployments of each military camp on the side: Young Lord, according to the map, the provisions camp of the Qingzhou army is in the granary west of the city, guarded by 'Iron Arm General' Zhou Kui. This person is a confidant of the Prince of Zhenbei.

Prince of Zhenbei... Jun Xiaoyao pointed his fingertip at the name 'Zhou Kui', The Net just accepted a job. The Prince of Zhennan wants Zhou Kui to have an 'accidental death'. The price is five thousand taels of gold.

Linghu Chong drank the Drunken Immortal Brew and raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: Killing again? Your Beyond Heaven has quite a lot of business.

Not all of it is killing. Jun Xiaoyao said, For example, helping the Hundred Herbs Hall deal with Black Fiend is to monopolize the medicinal market in Qingzhou; obtaining the defense map is to do a favor for friends in the 'Naval Camp'—they want to borrow the Qingzhou port to train troops and need a detailed defense map.

Linghu Chong clicked his tongue: You guys are not an assassination organization; you are clearly laying out the map of power in Qingzhou in secret.

Jun Xiaoyao smiled without answering. He looked at Zhao Gao: Let Li Yan lead a team of Luowang Assassins to cooperate with the people from the Naval Camp to stage a show, saying that Zhou Kui colluded with pirates and was killed on the spot. Remember to do it cleanly and leave no handle.

Understood. Zhao Gao replied, then handed over a secret report, In addition, the manager of the Hundred Herbs Hall sent an invitation, wanting to hold a banquet at Drunken Immortal Tower at noon tomorrow to thank us for our help, and also said there is a big business to discuss.

Jun Xiaoyao put away the defense map and said to Linghu Chong: Hero Linghu, would you like to go to the banquet at Drunken Immortal Tower tomorrow? The 'Jade Dew Nectar' of the Hundred Herbs Hall is said to be even more mellow than Drunken Immortal Brew.

Linghu Chong's eyes lit up, and he tucked his wine gourd into his chest: Let's go!

5. The Value of Dark Chess

When Li Yan returned to report with Black Fiend's head, Jun Xiaoyao was flipping through his trial dossier. Seeing a knife wound on Li Yan's shoulder, he asked: What happened?

Black Fiend counterattacked before he died, leaving a cut. It's nothing. Li Yan lowered his head, Subordinate has followed orders and disguised the scene as a Gang feud. The government officials have just gone to see it and have no suspicions.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at his appearance of having no fear despite being injured, remembering his cowardice when he was injured by Yang Guo during the day, and suddenly laughed: Do you know why I let you go to Black Wind Stockade?

Li Yan was stunned: Subordinate does not know.

Because you are ruthless enough, and smart enough. Jun Xiaoyao threw a volume of poison scripture to him, The Net does not want a Puppet that only knows how to obey; it wants a sharp blade that can assess the situation. Learn well, don't let me down.

Li Yan took the poison scripture, ecstasy flashing in his eyes, and knelt to kowtow: Subordinate will definitely not fail the Young Lord's expectations!

After Li Yan retreated, Zhao Gao whispered: Young Lord, this Li Yan is deep in scheming; I am afraid he is not easy to tame.

It is only good if he is not easy to tame. Jun Xiaoyao looked at the faint light at the top of the underground palace, A blade with ambition is sharper.

The night grew deeper, and the wind of Hanyue Valley passed through the cracks of the underground palace, carrying the shouts of The Unruly training in the distance.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that the game of chess in Qingzhou had just begun, and what he had to do was to make every piece play its maximum value—whether it was a Jianghu veteran like Linghu Chong or a rising star like Li Yan, they would eventually become the cornerstone of Beyond Heaven's expansion.