Chapter 51: Yun Zelin

Let us turn to Wang Hai's side.

This journey was meant for covert investigation; bringing along someone lacking in martial prowess would only be a burden. Wang Hai, supported by his internal energy, traveled alone, changing horses along the way, and arrived at his destination in less than a day and a half.

The man had spoken, but knew little. He claimed that someone had handed him the secret manual, saying it was under the orders of the Right Envoy, and instructed him merely to keep it without asking further questions. After losing the manual, he reported the incident, but received no response. From then on, he severed ties with the sect.

Unable to withstand Xiaosi's torture, he racked his brains and said, "Ever since the manual was lost, I've had a few occasions when I left the city for errands, and it seemed I was being followed. The methods looked like someone from the sect. My outings were sudden, yet the person could follow immediately, so they must live nearby. I dared not investigate, so I don't know which household it is."

Wang Hai had come here to investigate, hoping to find the observer from the Ming Sect and perhaps glean the intentions of the Ming Sect's Right Envoy.

This was a small village under the jurisdiction of Northern Zhili, sparsely populated and close to the mountains and forests.

Such places see few travelers; to avoid drawing attention, Wang Hai dismounted early, tethering his horse in the roadside woods. He then retrieved some clothing and disguise tools from his luggage, spending the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to transform himself. In no time, he changed from a heroic young officer into a weather-beaten, travel-worn merchant.

Wang Hai wandered through the town, roughly mapping out the layout of the surrounding buildings. He took the opportunity to chat with several idle men, narrowing down a few suspicious households.

He then left the village, found his horse and luggage, changed into night attire, donned hooked-blade gloves, and sat on a large stone to rest and regulate his breathing, waiting for nightfall.

The sun set, and midnight soon arrived.

After half a day of rest, Wang Hai had dispelled all fatigue accumulated from his journey. He stood, stretched his limbs, and employed lightness skill, heading toward the suspicious households he had identified during the day.

According to information gleaned from the idle men, three households near the interrogated man had moved in recently and had no kinship ties with local families.

Wang Hai silently vaulted the wall and entered the first household's courtyard.

He slipped quietly into the bedroom, tapped the owner’s neck to render him unconscious, then searched the room and beneath the bed, knocking on floor tiles and wall panels—finding no secret doors or chambers.

Finally, he checked the man's pulse to probe for traces of internal energy, and felt the bones to see if there were signs of martial training.

Having essentially eliminated this suspect, Wang Hai scaled the wall and repeated his investigation at the second house, but again found nothing.

By this time, Wang Hai had lost much hope.

Given the Ming Sect's methods, this trail was likely cold. Were it not for the involvement of the Ming Sect's Right Envoy and the Five Mountains Sword Sect’s affairs being connected to the Ming Sect, and the faint links between this series of events, Wang Hai would not have come so urgently to investigate in person.

Wang Hai placed a hand on the wall, preparing to vault into the third household's courtyard.

As he peeked over the wall—

In that instant, a cold flash shot toward him!

Wang Hai was secretly delighted: "Got you!"

He braced his left hand on the wall, snatched the incoming dart from the air with his right hand. The iron plates embedded in his gloves shielded his skin from any poison.

As Wang Hai landed, he saw a shadow vault onto the roof, fleeing outward.

Wang Hai sneered, and flung the dart back as it was.

Whoosh—thud!

"Ah!"

The person cried out, blood spurting from his knee, losing balance and collapsing on the rooftop.

Wang Hai vaulted onto the roof, wasted no words, grabbed the man's jaw and dislocated it with a crack. He seized both hands—two crisp snaps—breaking them, and did likewise with the legs.

In just a few breaths, the man was left completely incapacitated, writhing like a worm on the rooftop, emitting guttural cries of pain.

Wang Hai dragged him down, tossed him in a corner inside the house, and began searching meticulously.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he found under the bed a secret compartment containing a scripture, several banknotes, and a waist token.

Wang Hai examined the token closely; Persian script was inscribed upon it.

The Embroidered Guards had hunted Ming Sect disciples for years, and were well-versed in several key Persian phrases.

"Earth Banner," Wang Hai read aloud.

The Ming Sect hierarchy was as follows: Sect Leader, Left and Right Envoys, four Guardians, and five Banner Chiefs. Disciples were under the command of the five Banner Chiefs: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth Banners.

Fifteen years ago, the Ming Sect suffered devastating losses; the main altar was destroyed, and Sect Leader Ji Tianrui perished.

Below the leader, one Right Envoy, two Guardians, and three Banner Chiefs died.

One Right Envoy was later replaced, but little is known about them—even their gender remains a mystery. One Guardian was replaced.

The Banner Chiefs, however, have only two: Earth and Water. The other positions remain vacant.

The reason is simple: each of the five Banners has its own function. In that great battle, the disciples of Gold, Wood, and Fire Banners—who faced the enemy head-on—were wiped out. Only the Water Banner, which managed regional branches, and the Earth Banner, responsible for covert intelligence and infiltration, survived.

With no disciples, there was no need for Banner Chiefs.

In recent years, the Embroidered Guards mostly dealt with members of the Earth Banner.

This man, possessing an Earth Banner token, held some status within the sect—likely a mid-tier member.

The Ming Sect had gone underground for over a decade; those who remained were fiercely loyal and would not easily speak. Wang Hai, accustomed to dealing with them, wasted no words, dragging the man over and beginning interrogation with torture.

The man was tough, enduring two hours before, barely alive, he croaked, "Stop… I'll talk…"

Wang Hai paused, wiped blood from his hands onto the man's clothes, and asked, "Name and surname? What is your connection to the Ming Sect's Right Envoy?"

"I…my name is—"

He had barely begun to speak.

A sudden flash shot from the courtyard, piercing his neck!

Blood sprayed; the man slumped, lifeless.

Wang Hai's pupils contracted; he turned toward the courtyard, internal energy surging, fully alert.

Having served under Li Miao for years, handling hundreds of cases, how could he not anticipate a Ming Sect ambush?

Yet he had heard not a single sound, and the projectile's speed was uncanny—he had no chance to intercept!

Wang Hai focused on the courtyard, and saw two figures appear, one young, one old.

The youth had a delicate, androgynous face, and leisurely remarked to the elder, "Banner Chief Zhou, how long did your subordinate last?"

The elder, expressionless, replied coldly, "Two hours."

"Ah, so you win then."

The youth laughed: "But Banner Chief Zhou, isn't this cheating?"

"I even bet you on how much he would reveal, yet you killed him before he could speak?"

The elder said nothing, only gazing coldly at Wang Hai.

The youth turned and smiled at Wang Hai. "Hello, young man.

"After your people took him away, I've been waiting here for you.

"You're with the Embroidered Guards, aren't you? Do you know someone—should be in his thirties now, heroic face, martial skills at the pinnacle or higher? His name is…Li Miao?

"My name is Yun Zelin. I met him once fifteen years ago, and I've been searching for him ever since.

"If you know him, please be sure to tell me."