Chapter 455: The Wind Rises
Song Ci’s paranoia was flaring up, always thinking he would encounter a wave of assassins. So, was that really the case?
On the mountain not far from the palace, two sneaky figures were hiding in the shadows, watching the quiet palace below.
"Damn it, that’s the dog Emperor’s villa and palace. In this cold winter, the Emperor’s damned old mother is enjoying herself in that fancy house, with rich clothes and lavish food, while we have to suffer the cold and eat the harsh northwest wind. Damn it." A rather small man bit on a piece of bark in his mouth and spit it out.
Beside him, a taller man said darkly, "Keep your voice down, don’t let the wind carry it away."
The small man said, "We’re really out of luck, coming down the mountain to rob, only to have those damned soldiers wiped out our hideout, and we lost our place. They’re providing disaster relief, sure, but why go for our old nest!"
The whole village, only the two of them were left.
The tall man said nothing.
"Old Gao, since it’s come to this, let’s go down and make it big, make the old Emperor mourn," said the shorter man.
The tall man slapped his head, sneering: "Think you’re invisible? Haven’t you seen the people moving around in that palace? We would get shot full of holes before getting close."
The shorter man grinned awkwardly.
The tall man said: "Let’s go, we can’t take on that palace, but aren’t there plenty of estates nearby? I saw quite a few houses arrive during the day."
Just robbing one would be enough to eat and drink.
Though the short one felt it was a pity, he also knew how to assess the situation, so he pulled down his mask, stood up, and started walking down the mountain, complaining all the while, "I actually think the palace is the best target, just stealthily grabbing something would make us rich. Oh come on, no need to spit at me if you don’t agree."
The shorter man felt a heat on his head, some liquid fell on it, and he reached up to touch it, turning his head.
As he turned, he widened his eyes, seeing in the shadows the taller man clutching his neck, mouthing: Run.
The short man was about to cry out when he felt a pain in his chest, a dark figure emerged from behind the tall man, holding a long sword, and the sword’s tip was driven into his chest.
Thud.
The short man knelt to the ground, then fell, staring at the glaring cold light reflected off the endless white snow, thinking, you really can’t come to the capital, once here, you can’t leave!
The dark figure bent slightly, wiped the long sword clean on the short man, and took out a small bottle from his bosom, scattering it over the two corpses at his feet.
He took a step forward and stood still. Behind him, a sizzling noise sounded, but the shadow was unmoved, just clutching the sword and looking at the noble palace down the mountain, a pair of deep-set eyes visible outside the mask.
"Master."
Several other figures silently appeared behind the shadow.
"Speak."
"There’s a thousand guards in plain sight, over a hundred Hidden Guards as well, and Prime Minister Song, that treacherous dog, is still at his estate," the figure said hoarsely.
The shadow snorted, "The dog Emperor does guard that old traitor tightly, doesn’t he."
"Master, what should we do?"
The shadow said nothing, watching the palace still ablaze with lights, his expression increasingly indescribable, and behind him, no one dared to make a sound.
After a long time, the shadow spoke, "Let them live in peace for the new year. Enter the city first to lie low. Without my orders, do not act rashly. Wait till Mr. Quan arrives."
"Understood."
The shadow waved a hand, and the group departed. He took a long look at the palace before disappearing with them.
The north wind howled by, leaving only a faint smell of blood.