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墨書 Inktalez
As Li Jiancheng achieved a resounding victory against the Turkic forces at Heishuiguan, in the southern region of Jiangnan, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji found themselves entangled in a complex predicament.
Since receiving orders from Li Yuan, the two had disguised themselves as ordinary citizens, adopting aliases to infiltrate Jiangnan Tanzhou in an attempt to investigate the situation surrounding Hao Tian Men. They proceeded cautiously, careful not to reveal their identities; however, upon entering Tanzhou, they quickly realized that matters were far more complicated than they had anticipated.
Hao Tian Men was a martial arts sect with considerable influence in the area. On the surface, it appeared dedicated to teaching martial skills and upholding justice, but beneath that facade, it seemed to have intricate ties with various anti-Tang factions. As soon as Li Shimin and Li Yuanji made contact, they sensed the suspicion and wariness prevalent within the sect.
"Second Brother, this Hao Tian Men seems quite deep; we must tread carefully," Li Yuanji whispered to Li Shimin beside him. They were currently situated in an outer hall of Hao Tian Men, surrounded by disciples whose vigilant and scrutinizing gazes added to the pressure on both brothers.
"Hmph, no matter how deep the water is, we must wade through it. Since Father has sent us here, we cannot return empty-handed," Li Shimin replied firmly, furrowing his brow as he contemplated how to delve deeper into the sect and uncover their true intentions.
To gain Hao Tian Men’s trust, the two actively participated in various sect activities, striving to showcase their martial prowess and loyalty. Li Shimin's exceptional skills stood out during an internal sparring session, catching the attention of some higher-ups.
"This brother possesses remarkable skills! May I ask who your master is?" an elder from Hao Tian Men approached them with curiosity and scrutiny in his eyes.
"Honored Elder, my brother and I have been fond of martial arts since childhood and have visited many masters; our learning is rather eclectic," Li Shimin replied respectfully while remaining cautious not to divulge too much personal information.
However, their actions raised suspicions among some members of the sect. A disciple named Liu Ba was particularly cunning and harbored doubts about Li Shimin and Li Yuanji's true identities.
"These two arrived under suspicious circumstances; I can't shake the feeling that they are not ordinary wanderers. Recently, there have been whispers in the martial world; they might be spies sent by the court," Liu Ba whispered to several other disciples during a private gathering.
This information quickly reached Zhou Xiong, the sect leader. A shrewd individual, Zhou Xiong decided to test Li Shimin and Li Yuanji further.
One day, Zhou Xiong summoned all members of the sect and announced a secret mission to eliminate a nearby group of Mountain Bandits. These bandits had been terrorizing local villagers for too long; however, Zhou Xiong intended to use this opportunity to gauge Li Shimin and Li Yuanji's true capabilities.
"Brothers, this mission is of great importance; do you have the courage to join us?" Zhou Xiong asked intently as he looked at Li Shimin and Li Yuanji.
"Rest assured, Sect Leader; my brother and I are willing to serve!" Li Shimin replied without hesitation while Li Yuanji nodded in agreement.
The group packed their belongings and set off toward the Mountain Bandits' lair. Along the way, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji observed their surroundings carefully. They noticed that these Mountain Bandits seemed to share an unusual synergy with Hao Tian Men's members during their movements.
Upon arriving at the Mountain Bandits' hideout, a fierce battle erupted instantly. The bandits appeared disorganized but were actually well-trained with high-quality weapons that suggested they were not typical bandits. Alarmed by this realization, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji understood they might be walking into a trap.
"Second Brother, something feels off; this is likely a setup by Hao Tian Men!" Li Yuanji shouted as he swung his sword defensively against the bandits' attacks.
"Stay calm; we must act according to circumstances!" Li Shimin responded coolly as his spear danced like a dragon or snake, repelling each approaching bandit one by one.
However, more bandits kept pouring in as they gradually found themselves cornered. At that moment, several disciples from Hao Tian Men suddenly turned against them and joined forces with the Mountain Bandits. It turned out that this was all part of Zhou Xiong's scheme; he had long suspected them of being court spies and sought this opportunity to eliminate them.
"You two are indeed sent by the court! You won't leave here alive today!" Zhou Xiong laughed triumphantly from a distance.
Fury surged within Li Shimin and Li Yuanji; however, they had no time for anger now—they could only focus on dealing with the immediate crisis. Back-to-back, they coordinated closely while unleashing their extraordinary martial skills. Each thrust of Li Shimin's spear was lethal; countless bandits and traitorous disciples fell before him. Meanwhile, Li Yuanji's swordplay was equally impressive—his agile movements and unpredictable strikes left enemies unable to defend themselves.
Yet enemies continued to swarm them relentlessly as their stamina began to wane. Multiple wounds marred Li Shimin’s body, blood staining his clothes while Li Yuanji gasped for breath as his movements slowed.
"Second Brother, we can't keep this up! We need a way out!" Li Yuanji urged anxiously.
"Don't rush, I noticed a small path over there. Let's charge in that direction!" Li Shimin shouted, pointing towards a direction.
The two gritted their teeth and fought their way towards the path. They battled fiercely, finally breaking through the enemy's encirclement and sprinting down the narrow trail. The Mountain Bandits and disciples of Hao Tian Men pursued them relentlessly, their shouts echoing through the forest.
"Don't let them escape! Capture them for a heavy reward!" Zhou Xiong yelled from behind.
Li Shimin and Li Yuanji ran without knowing how long they had been fleeing until they finally shook off their pursuers. They hid in an abandoned dilapidated temple, collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion.
"Brother, that was truly perilous. I didn't expect Hao Tian Men to be so deeply colluding with the anti-Tang forces," Li Yuanji panted, still shaken.
"Hmph, they think they can eliminate us this way? How naive. However, this incident has revealed their true colors. We must quickly report the situation back to Chang'an so that Father can prepare," Li Shimin said, struggling to rise as he searched for herbs to tend to his wounds.
Before they could act, they heard footsteps outside. Li Yuanji tightened his grip on his sword, watching the entrance warily.
"Who goes there?" Li Shimin whispered sharply.
A woman dressed in black slowly entered the dilapidated temple. Her expression was cold, and her eyes held a mysterious aura.
"You don't need to be alarmed; I mean no harm," she said softly.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Li Shimin asked suspiciously, still gripping his spear tightly.
"My name is Lin Wan'er. I'm a wanderer in the martial world. I've been secretly investigating Hao Tian Men and discovered their collusion with anti-Tang forces that endangers the common people. I saw you being chased just now and followed you here," Lin Wan'er explained.
Li Shimin and Li Yuanji exchanged glances, uncertain about the woman's words.
"You say you're investigating Hao Tian Men; what evidence do you have?" Li Yuanji asked.
Lin Wan'er pulled out a ledger from her robe and handed it to Li Shimin. "This is what I've painstakingly obtained. It contains records of correspondence and personnel lists between Hao Tian Men and the anti-Tang forces. I intended to submit it to the court but never had the chance. Now it seems you might help me fulfill this wish."
Li Shimin took the ledger and flipped through it carefully, his heart sinking as he realized its contents were detailed enough to prove Hao Tian Men's treasonous intentions.
"Thank you, miss! This ledger is crucial for us," Li Shimin said gratefully.
"No need for thanks; I just don't want to see the common people suffer or have the martial world disturbed by these evil forces. However, your situation is very dangerous now; Hao Tian Men will not let this go easily. They will surely search for your whereabouts," Lin Wan'er warned.
"What should we do?" Li Yuanji asked.
"I know a place where you can hide for now. Once things settle down, we can figure out how to leave Jiangnan," Lin Wan'er suggested.
After some contemplation, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji decided to trust Lin Wan'er. Under her guidance, they arrived at a secluded valley. The valley contained only a few dilapidated huts, but its terrain was treacherous and easy to defend.
"This place is very hidden; ordinary people won't find it. You should rest here while I keep an eye on the situation outside," Lin Wan'er said.
Li Shimin and Li Yuanji settled in the valley while Lin Wan'er ventured out daily to find food and herbs for them. During their recovery days, Li Shimin and Li Yuanji meticulously studied the ledger, pondering how to safely return this evidence to Chang'an.
However, what they did not know was that Hao Tian Men had already laid a net across the entire Jiangnan region, searching for their whereabouts. Zhou Xiong swore that he would find Li Shimin and Li Yuanji, eliminating them completely to prevent future troubles. Meanwhile, in Chang'an, Li Jiancheng had just gained significant prestige after repelling the Turkic forces. He was closely monitoring the situation in Jiangnan, waiting for news of Li Shimin and Li Yuanji. A greater storm was quietly brewing...
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