Volume One – The Remote Chen Kingdom, The Rebellious Marquis’s Immortal Path Chapter Four: Deceiving Heaven and Crossing the Sea

“The night of dark moon and fierce wind is the time for murder and arson,” Jian Rende spoke, his words dripping with murderous intent.

Hu Wandao’s eyes turned cold; he gestured across his neck, miming a slit throat.

But Jian Rende shook his head and explained, “No matter what, that rebel marquis is a prince. He shouldn’t die here at Black Wind Pass.”

“Then what does Lord Jian mean?” Hu Wandao asked.

“I have already settled their group at the City Lord’s Manor. As long as Lady Wang…” After laying out his plans, Jian Rende solemnly reminded her, “Remember, the others may die, but that rebel marquis must live.”

“Heh… Lord Jian, wait for our good news,” Lady Wang replied with a seductive smile.

…

The City Lord’s Manor lay shrouded in dim night, silent and eerie, the faint candlelight flickering against the ruined halls, lending an uncanny atmosphere.

Suddenly, several shadows pressed themselves against the walls, moving stealthily toward the candlelit rooms. They crouched beneath the windows, each taking a small tube from their robes, two fingers in length. Slipping the tubes into the window cracks, they blew gently, sending wisps of smoke drifting inside.

Soon, the sound of bodies collapsing echoed from within.

The dark figures exchanged smiles, relaxing their vigilance as they peeked through the window and saw everything as expected.

But the moment they climbed inside, everything changed. Before they could react, cold blades were pressed against their throats.

“Spare us, good sirs!” they begged in terror.

“Tsk… Only you few came?” Chen Yu, Jing Zhe, and the third companion stepped out casually.

“Marquis, how should we deal with them?” Xia You asked.

“Kill them,” Chen Yu ordered without hesitation.

The captives, still frozen in fear, did not expect their throats to be cut the next instant.

“Since they’ve made their move, we’ll stick to the plan,” Chen Yu said calmly.

As he spoke, soldiers—now stripped of their black armor—carried corpses into each room, then set the entire City Lord’s Manor ablaze.

“Muddy waters make it easier to fish,” Jing Zhe remarked with a faint smile.

…

“Good, let’s proceed as planned. Xia You, leave a few here and collect some interest first,” Chen Yu instructed coolly.

Not long after Chen Yu and his companions left, Jian Rende, Hu Wanshan, and their followers received the news.

“Damn it, what’s going on?” Jian Rende shouted in fury, panic gnawing at him—he prayed the rebel marquis had not died, or their troubles would multiply.

Arriving at the charred ruins of the City Lord’s Manor, Jian Rende’s face darkened as he questioned Lady Wang, “What happened here?”

Lady Wang was equally enraged; several of her brothers had perished within the manor.

“Enough, what’s done is done. There’s no point in blaming anyone now,” Leng Qian Dao said indifferently.

Jian Rende forced himself to calm down and asked, “Are they all dead?”

One of Lady Wang’s men produced a seal, saying, “Found beside one of the burned bodies.”

Jian Rende’s face grew uglier. “It belonged to that child.”

Lady Wang added, “A few managed to escape.”

Her words sent waves of anxiety crashing through Jian Rende. If all had died inside, he could handle it. But if news leaked out, the entire Black Wind Pass might be doomed.

“Chase them down! We must not let those few escape. Otherwise, none of us will survive,” Jian Rende shouted in fury. “Useless, utterly useless.”

As Jian Rende stalked away in anger, Hu Wanshan and the others scowled.

Hu Wanshan sneered openly, “He really thinks he’s someone important?”

Leng Qian Dao remained calm. “We made a mistake. As Jian Rende said, if word gets out, our days will be numbered.”

“Don’t worry. Those three can never escape the palm of our hand,” Hu Wanshan said, licking his lips with cruelty.

Yet none of them could imagine that the people they feared had already reached a mountain stronghold near Black Wind Pass called Sky Fortress.

Inside Sky Fortress, over a hundred bodies lay sprawled. Chen Yu and his companions were not surprised in the least.

“Heh… This drug is quite potent,” Jing Zhe said with a grin.

“Marquis.” Two figures emerged from the inner hall, kneeling before him.

…

“Good work, Tian Ying, Yi Ming,” Chen Yu praised without reservation.

“We only followed your orders, Marquis. We dare not claim credit,” the two replied. “Sky Fortress’s master Li Ke has been captured and awaits your decision in the hall.”

Led by Tian Ying and Yi Ming, Chen Yu, Jing Zhe, and their companion entered the inner hall. There, a burly man glared at them coldly.

“Tian Ying, who are you people?” Li Ke demanded, his tone full of resentment. “Did Hu Wanshan or Leng Qian Dao send you?”

“This is our master,” Tian Ying replied, introducing Chen Yu, “the Rebel Marquis of the Chen realm.”

Murder flickered in Li Ke’s gaze as he sized up Chen Yu. “A man from the court?”

Chen Yu ignored him, speaking instead, “Li Ke, native of Yutian County, a government constable. After your wife and children were killed by villains, you took vengeance against the authorities, slaughtered eleven officials, wiped out thirty members of the Li household, and became an outlaw, eventually arriving at Black Wind Pass…”

Hearing his life laid out in such detail, Li Ke grew calm.

“What do you want?” he asked, realizing that if they meant to kill him, they would not have gone to such trouble.

Xue Han drew his sword and sliced through Li Ke’s bonds in one swift motion, astonishing Li Ke—he could not even see the blade. Deep down, he was shaken: a true master.

Chen Yu paid no mind to Li Ke’s shock and continued, “You’re a good man, Li Ke. So I’ll spare your life.”

Li Ke furrowed his brow, scrutinizing Chen Yu and his companions for the first time with caution.

“What is it you want?” he pressed, knowing they must have a greater purpose.

“Black Wind Pass has been chaotic for too long. Now that we are here, it’s time for change.”

“Change?”

“Black Wind Pass is my territory. I won’t let others sleep soundly by my bedside.”

“With just you?” Li Ke sneered. Though captured, he did not believe the three strongholds and Jian Rende could be easily dealt with.

Chen Yu and his companions offered no further explanation, only smiling calmly. “You’ll find out soon enough.”