Before long, everything was in place. The sacrifice slowly began with the ringing of the ritual bells by the grand officials in the Divination Hall. On the golden sacrificial altar, Chief Minister Shen Yu, dressed in his ritual robes, started chanting incantations and scriptures, praying for a year of good weather, peace, and prosperity in Lixia.
Shen Qingfeng reached into his sleeve and felt the porcelain bottle. His heart sank. Suddenly, he bent down and groaned. The movement was not very large, but those nearby could hear it. Qi Siyu, standing beside him, was startled and quickly asked, "Young Master Shen, what's wrong?"
"I suddenly... have a sharp pain in my abdomen," Shen Qingfeng said, looking at Qi Siyu with sweat pouring down his face. "It's an old ailment... Young Master Qi, I'd like to go to the medical clinic. I hope you can convey this to the eunuchs for me."
Qi Siyu quickly nodded and said, "Sure. Do you want me to accompany you?"
Shen Qingfeng shook his head and said, "It's okay. I can still walk." With that, he hunched over and slipped out from behind the crowd. He didn't notice that among the noble families, someone silently turned to watch him, with a cryptic look in their eyes.
Since Shen Qingfeng was standing on the outermost side of the noble families, it was very easy for him to sneak away. He bent over and deceived the guards on the outer side, then mingled with the common people and made his way out of Lovesickness Lake after several twists and turns.
He tightly grasped the porcelain bottle in his hand and didn't dare to stop for a moment. He could be seen hurrying to the small hillside on the other side of Lovesickness Lake and then walking through the snow to the top of the hill.
A Man had been waiting on the hilltop for a long time. Seeing Shen Qingfeng coming, he quickly waved and said, "Young Master! Over here."
Shen Qingfeng gasped for breath as he walked to A Man's side and asked, "Are all the things ready?"
A Man nodded and said, "The carriage has been arranged. But why can't we tell others about this? Who are we waiting for?"
Shen Qingfeng pursed his lips and said, "We're not waiting for anyone. I'm going to save someone."
As the sun was setting in the west, the sound of the sacrifice from Lovesickness Lake in the distance grew louder. This sacrifice was on a grand scale and also aimed to celebrate Lu Yan's victory. It was likely to last until late at night.
In his previous life, he and Xia Chuli had sneaked out because they felt uncomfortable. By chance, they had come here and met Yu Shuang, who was on the verge of death. At that time, Shen Qingfeng had kept watch while Xia Chuli had fed Yu Shuang the Jade Cicada Dew, saving his life. After that, Yu Shuang had whole - heartedly followed Xia Chuli. Even after becoming the chief commander in the Listening Wind Pavilion established by Shen Qingfeng, he had, following Xia Chuli's order, ignored the years of life - and - death friendship with Shen Qingfeng and led people to kill the entire Shen family right in front of Shen Qingfeng.
This Yu Shuang was from the most famous assassin organization "Wuchen" in the Southern Xiang Kingdom. A few years ago, due to the civil war in the Southern Xiang Kingdom, "Wuchen" had been involved in internal strife caused by power struggles within the Southern Xiang government. Finally, the Southern Xiang Kingdom had perished, and the Southwest King Chen Luo had taken the opportunity to annex it. "Wuchen" had thus disappeared and its members had scattered.
It was said that "Wuchen" got its name because its members were highly skilled, ruthless killers who only recognized money. However, such a powerful organization had suddenly collapsed. Those with ambition had naturally tried every means to recruit its members. Those who could be brought under their command were recruited, and those who couldn't were exterminated. Yu Shuang was one of the latter.
According to the information Shen Qingfeng had, most of the remaining members of "Wuchen" had been recruited by the Ten Directions Studio. These people did it for no other reason than that Liu Mei was rich. They would get high rewards for killing or spying on information for the Ten Directions Studio, and the studio could obtain more accurate information from them and thus earn more money by selling the information. It was a symbiotic relationship, which was why the Ten Directions Studio had grown bigger over the years.
But Yu Shuang seemed to have been targeted by a certain force. Since he was unwilling to work for them, he had been attacked. As for which force it was, Shen Qingfeng in his previous life had never known until his death.
Shen Qingfeng led A Man along the ridge. Soon, at the mountain depression in his memory, they saw Yu Shuang, covered in blood and mostly buried in the snow.
The two quickly found a way down to the depression. A Man let out a scream in horror at the sight of the blood all over the ground. Shen Qingfeng, on the other hand, quickly dug Yu Shuang out of the snow, wrapped him in his arms, and felt for his breath.
Thankfully, he was still alive!
Shen Qingfeng's eyes lit up. He quickly took out the bottle of Jade Cicada Dew from his sleeve and tried to feed it to Yu Shuang. Since Yu Shuang had lost consciousness and couldn't swallow, Shen Qingfeng had to feed him bit by bit. After feeding a little, he would tilt Yu Shuang's head back and then feed a little more.
By the time the snow had covered Shen Qingfeng's shoulders, the small bottle of Jade Cicada Dew had finally all gone into Yu Shuang's stomach. Shen Qingfeng looked at Yu Shuang's face. As expected of the life - saving medicine for the royal family, his face was gradually regaining color.
Shen Qingfeng carried Yu Shuang on his back and said, "A Man, lead the way."
A Man nodded and quickly walked in front. While walking, he couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, who is this person? Why are we saving him?"
Shen Qingfeng gasped and said, "A very powerful person."
"How powerful?" A Man blinked his eyes.
"You'll know when the time comes," Shen Qingfeng replied.
When they reached the carriage that had been prepared earlier, Shen Qingfeng stuffed Yu Shuang into the carriage and then got in himself. A Man sat in front and whipped the horse. In the twilight, the carriage galloped through the wind and snow straight towards the Shen Mansion.
Uncle Zhong had been drinking tea and watching the snow in the courtyard. Unexpectedly, the main gate of the Shen Mansion suddenly opened wide. Shen Qingfeng carried a blood - covered man and slipped in. Then A Man rushed in and closed the main gate with a bang.
Uncle Zhong was startled and quickly stood up, saying, "Oh! What's going on? Who is this?"
Shen Qingfeng was already weak, and now carrying an adult, he could hardly speak clearly. He only said, "Don't... make a sound. Call a doctor."
Uncle Zhong answered with an "Okay" and, seeing the man covered in blood, didn't dare to delay. He quickly went to find a doctor.
Shen Qingfeng settled the man in a side room. He said to the doctor who had rushed over, "He's seriously injured. You'll stay in the Shen Mansion for the next few days and treat him well. Don't leave until he wakes up. You'll be well - paid, but if you dare to talk about this, you know the consequences."
The doctor bowed and wiped the sweat off his face, saying, "I understand. Don't worry, Young Master Shen."
Shen Qingfeng nodded in satisfaction and said to A Man, "A Man, you guard here." With that, he rushed out of the door. He needed to get back to Lovesickness Lake before the sacrificial ceremony was over.
After instructing Uncle Zhong to strengthen the security, Shen Qingfeng pushed open the main gate. Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out of the Shen Mansion, a masked man in black silently appeared behind him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
Shen Qingfeng trembled violently all over. His pupils constricted sharply, and cold sweat broke out. Before he could say a word, he heard the cold voice of the man in black behind him: "Young Master Shen, our shopkeeper wants to see you. Come with me."