Chapter 49 – Planting the Heart (2)

Chapter 49 – Planting the Heart (2)

General Jang Yang's expression shifted continuously.

Having read the entire letter, he leaned back in his chair and slowly closed his eyes. The atmosphere in the office grew heavy, and a suffocating silence filled the room.

So-mu waited in silence.

Only after a quarter of an hour had passed did Jang Yang slowly open his eyes.

"It seems to be bad news," So-mu observed.

"My senior martial brother, Yue Fei, is in deep trouble. It seems they are determined to frame him for treason and execute him."

Jang Yang's voice was devoid of strength.

To imprison a loyal general who had dedicated his life to the empire was bad enough, but they were now bent on his execution. It was an absolute outrage.

"Is there no way to rescue him?"

"Since the imperial court has already made up its mind, escaping won't be easy. Still, we must at least prevent his execution…"

Pondering for a moment, Jang Yang picked up a brush and urgently began drafting a petition. Even as his hand flew across the paper, he spoke.

"We have no time. Summon a messenger. We must hurry if we want the dispatch to arrive before it is too late."

The Emperor, who had been fleeing from place to place to escape the Hui Dynasty, had settled in Lin'an of Zhejiang Province, declaring it the temporary capital. Unfortunately, it was one of the farthest cities from Hanzhong. A messenger would have to cross the Yangtze River by boat and change horses dozens of times. It would take well over a month for the dispatch to arrive.

So-mu thought for a moment.

'A single petition will not change the outcome. I had to visit that city at least once anyway.'

Having made his decision, he spoke.

"By the time a messenger arrives, it will be too late. It will be much faster if I travel there using my lightness technique. I will go and assess the situation myself."

Two days. That was all the time he would need to cover the distance if he ran with all his might without rest. Though it would leave him utterly exhausted.

"How can you cover such a vast distance on foot? Even for someone of your caliber, it would take at least ten days."

"Do not worry, General. I am not that weak."

Jang Yang sighed, slowly shaking his head.

"Sigh… no. How can I issue such an unreasonable command for a personal matter?"

"How can saving a loyal general of the empire be considered a personal matter? Please hand me the petition."

After a moment of hesitation, Jang Yang nodded, his resolve hardening.

"With someone like you under my command, why should I envy Liu Bei's fortune? I must shamelessly ask this favor of you."

"You only need to command, General. By the way, who sent the letter?"

"It was Ha Ju, the Vice Censor-in-Chief who was originally in charge of the case. He was stripped of his rank after advising Prime Minister Qin Hui that General Yue Fei was innocent. The case has now been handed over to the Censorate."

So-mu tucked the petition securely into his robes.

"There is one more thing."

"Speak."

"I would like to recommend someone to act as your bodyguard."

"Why would I need a bodyguard?"

"You are the pillar of Hanzhong, General. If the pillar collapses, Hanzhong falls with it."

Jang Yang seemed to reconsider and nodded.

"You speak the truth. My life is no longer mine alone. Who is this person?"

"A martial artist who approached me. He harbors a deep grudge against the Hui Dynasty, as they destroyed his sect. His strength is immense; few in the world can match him."

It was an intriguing offer.

For a military commander, there was no greater pleasure than recruiting a powerful warrior. He had no reason to refuse.

"A man of talent is always welcome. Where can I find him?"

"He will likely come to seek you out himself, General."

"I see. If he has the recommendation of the Wolf Fang Squad's captain, I have no doubts."

So-mu offered a brief bow and said his final words.

"I will depart immediately. Every second counts, so I must hurry."

* * *

Leaving the office, So-mu headed straight to the Wolf Fang Squad's barracks to change clothes and prepare for his journey.

This time, So-so did not insist on following him. Surrounded by her squad uncles, she did not seem lonely.

The entire squad gathered outside to see him off.

"Safe travels, Captain."

"Leave this place to us, Captain. Do not worry."

"I will trust you all," So-mu replied.

He knelt down and patted So-so's shoulder.

"I won't be long. Be good and play with your uncles while I'm away."

She didn't answer.

So-so stood there, her large eyes blinking, looking as if she wanted to say something. The words that finally came out of her mouth were exactly what he had expected.

"You're going to bring me a present, right, Father?"

Amused by her cuteness, So-mu chuckled.

"Of course I will."

"And for Ahae and Cheong-ah too?"

Coming from impoverished families, those children had likely never received gifts in their lives.

To think she was considering her friends as well was truly heartwarming. So-mu patted his daughter's head.

"Yes. I'll bring gifts for Ahae and Cheong-ah too."

"Hehe! Really?"

So-so reached out with her short arms, wrapping them tightly around So-mu's neck and rubbing her cheek against his. It was her way of saying a proper farewell, knowing she wouldn't see him for some time.

So-mu gave his men a nod and turned away. He could delay no longer.

He had never traveled such a distance in a single journey before.

Once he cleared the military camp, he accelerated, unleashing his full speed. A miniature tempest of wind whipped up behind him.

Since he was traveling alone, there was no need to stick to the roads. When a building stood in his path, he leaped onto the roof; when an obstacle appeared, he cleared it in a single bound. Moving faster than an arrow, his passage startled flocks of birds, sending them scattering into the sky.

After two hours of running, the Han River, the upper tributary of the Yangtze, came into view. Vessels lay anchored at the riverbanks.

Normally, one would have to take a ferry to cross. But So-mu had no time for a leisurely crossing.

*Thud!*

His body launched off the ground. He glided nearly ten zhang through the air, landing lightly on the surface of the river.

Without sinking, his feet pushed off the water, sprinting across the river as if it were solid ground. It was the legendary technique of walking on water, a feat of lightness that ordinary martial artists could never hope to replicate. Even for those who could, their range was known to be strictly limited.

Yet So-mu galloped across the endless water without the slightest hesitation.

* * *

Lin'an, Zhejiang Province.

The newly declared capital of the Song Dynasty was a massive construction site, with laborers working tirelessly to expand the imperial palace. The Emperor had issued a strict command to make the palace as grand and majestic as possible.

To accommodate the expansion, the homes of the local citizens had been demolished. This had created thousands of refugees, many of whom were forced into hard labor to assist with the construction.

While the city's residents grumbled in discontent, the interior of the palace was a scene of constant celebration. With Hanzhong and Xiangyang holding the borders, the court felt safe enough to relax. Even under the moonlight, drinking and music echoed throughout the palace grounds.

However, in one corner of the palace, a furious roar erupted. It came from the offices of the Censorate.

*Bam!*

A hand slammed hard against a desk.

"You still haven't extracted a confession?!"

It was Investigating Censor Man Sa-seol, the official tasked with handling Yue Fei's case.

The interrogator bowed his head low before him.

"No matter the torture, he refuses to speak. We have tried every method."

"Then arrest his son and squeeze him instead!"

"We tortured his son, Yue Yun, until he lost consciousness today, but the boy is as stubborn as his father."

Man Sa-seol massaged his temples, letting out a weary sigh.

"The Prime Minister has only given us two days. We must execute him before General Han Shizhong arrives. If we fail to secure a confession by then, I will be stripped of my rank just like Ha Ju. And you won't survive either."

"Forgive me, Censor."

"I will conduct the interrogation myself. Prepare the chamber."

Man Sa-seol was desperate enough to interrogate the prisoner late into the night.

About ten zhang behind them, a shadow followed silently. It was So-mu, who had already arrived in Lin'an.

He trailed Man Sa-seol toward the dungeon. In a secluded corner of the palace, an entrance led underground, guarded by two sentries. Man Sa-seol brushed past them, ignoring their salutes.

The narrow corridors of the dungeon meant So-mu had to tread carefully. He could not follow them inside without being detected. Perhaps only the Shadow King could have slipped past the guards in such tight quarters.

So-mu waited quietly for the official to emerge.

An hour later, Man Sa-seol stepped out of the dungeon.

His hands were stained with blood, and he cursed under his breath.

"Stubborn bastards."

As they reached a quieter area, the interrogator asked from behind, "If they can endure this much, isn't it obvious they are innocent?"

Man Sa-seol turned on him, his brow furrowing as he hissed, "Do you think I don't know that?! We have to make them guilty!"

"My apologies, Censor. But if they refuse to speak no matter what we do, what can we do?"

"We must find another way. Investigate if there are any of Yue Fei's former subordinates left in Lin'an."

"Yes, Censor. I will report my findings at dawn."

Listening to their exchange, So-mu turned his gaze back to the dungeon entrance.

The two sentries guarding the door were clearly martial artists based on their posture, but their skills were mediocre.

Flicking his finger, So-mu sent a pebble flying between them, striking the ceiling of the entrance.

*Clack!*

Startled by the sudden noise, the sentries turned their heads toward the source.

In that split second, So-mu's figure shot forward like a bolt of lightning. Closing the distance instantly, he tapped their acupoints.

*Thud! Thud!*

He propped the unconscious sentries against the wall. He did not know when the next patrol would arrive, so he had to move quickly.

Perhaps because it was reserved for high-profile political prisoners, the dungeon did not have many cells. Five guards stood in the underground corridor, but fortunately, none of them were looking in his direction.

Taking a deep breath, So-mu ran along the wall at blinding speed. He moved through their blind spots, a lightning-fast blur.

Before the guards could even register his presence, So-mu slipped among them and sealed their acupoints.

*Thud!*

Leaving the unconscious guards behind, So-mu scanned the cells.

Most were empty, but he detected three weak lifeforces. One of them carried a presence that was unmistakably the man he sought. So-mu strode toward the cell without hesitation.

Yue Fei, his arms bound by heavy chains, sat with his head bowed.

So-mu's eyes swept over his body. His flesh was torn, and he was covered in blood. His fingernails and toenails had been ripped out, and blood still dripped from his pinky finger, which had been severed moments ago.

So-mu winced at the sight.

'To reduce a master of the Flower Realm to such a state… they are indeed thorough.'

He couldn't afford to waste time. So-mu made a slight sound to announce his presence and spoke.

"If you wish, I can take you out of here."

Slowly, Yue Fei raised his head. His face was so caked in blood that he was unrecognizable.

Yet the eyes that peered through the crimson mask shone with a clear, undying spirit.