Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 53 Hunting
Occasionally, a breeze blew the dead leaves on the ground, and a rustling sound came from the woods.

Gu Jingnian was getting a little bored waiting, and he didn't understand how the two women could chat for so long when they met.

Perhaps they were discussing the whereabouts of Vixen.

He looked up and saw a few little sparrows on the highest branch, thinking that they might be Feng Niang's spies.

So, when Feng Niang said that they could leave the city together when they had time, could it be that she had anticipated what happened today?

After a while, Shen Lingshu and Princess Yushu finally came over.

"Gu Jingnian?" Wei Chan looked at him with interest.

"Yes, I have met the princess."

"No need to be so polite. Lingshu and I are close friends. We can just call each other friends today."

"Yes."

"Let's go, I'll take you to meet my third brother..."

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly an arrow shot towards the treetop, pierced two sparrows and fell to the ground. The rest of the birds were frightened and immediately flapped their wings and flew away.

Wei Xie, dressed in military uniform and holding a longbow, came on horseback, followed by two rows of heroic guards.

He looked to be in his thirties, tall and strong, full of heroic spirit.

When he got closer, he pointed at Shen Lingshu and said with a smile: "When Liang Caixing heard that you were here, he lost his mind."

"What does it have to do with me?"

Shen Lingshu responded unhappily and glanced at Gu Jingnian's face.

Because Liang Caixing was one of her admirers. His father was a general under Shen Jichi and was transferred to Qiancheng. Liang Caixing was selected into the imperial army at an early age and was considered a young talent. After seeing her several times at palace banquets, he fell in love with her. Even though he knew that she was engaged, he still went to Shen Jichi's house and begged him to cancel the marriage with the illegitimate son of the Gu family and take him as his son-in-law. He even said a famous saying that was laughed at by the nobles in the capital, "I am not the only son in my family, so I am willing to marry into the family."

Shen Lingshu was a little annoyed by this, and felt that Liang Caixing's one-sided thinking had embarrassed her. This matter had been widely circulated, and Gu Jingnian must have known about it.

However, at this moment, there was no reaction on Gu Jingnian's face.

Pretending to be very serious.

Soon, Liang Caixing arrived. He had changed his clothes and tied his hair up with a crown, looking quite handsome.

"I am late, please forgive me, Your Highness."

While bowing and apologizing to Wei Xie, Liang Caixing glanced at Shen Lingshu, and a look of joy unconsciously rose at the corners of his mouth.

Seeing this, Wei Yu smiled and said, "Who blames you? But today is a hunting day, why are you dressed like this?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm good at archery."

"Okay, you're amazing."

Wei Yu smiled, turned his gaze to Gu Jingnian, and said, "Who is this..."

"Gu Jingnian, greetings to His Majesty the Third Prince."

"It's you?" Wei Yu laughed heartily, "I've heard of you a long time ago. You're the brother-in-law of my brother Yan Ning. We're one family, haha. But you refused to see me last time. Why are you willing to come today?"

Shen Lingshu only then realized that there was such a thing, and she understood Gu Jingnian's intention to come for her, so she said, "I invited him here."

Liang Caixing became anxious when she heard this, and said to Gu Jingnian: "Since the engagement is annulled, why are you still pestering Miss Shen?"

Gu Jingnian said to Wei Xie, "I was frightened last time and was unable to meet you. This time I heard that the Third Prince was here, so I came to apologize."

"I told you, we are one family, no need to be polite. General Gu's arrows are so powerful that they are known all over the world. Now that you are here, you should show us your skills."

"I am ashamed that I have not inherited the family tradition."

"You are too modest." Wei Xie smiled meaningfully.

Through this smile, Gu Jingnian could clearly feel that Wei Xie was alluding to the fact that he shot Liu Jikun.

The fact that he knew this proved that he was no simple person. It was not unreasonable for the caged man to suspect that Wei He had taken the snake heart, but Gu Jingnian knew that Wei He did not take it.

Then, he needs to find a time to tell Wei Yu that he firmly believes that it was the Great Pharmacist who took the Viper Heart, so as to achieve the goal of sharing the same hatred and the same enemy. What is worrying is that if Wei Yu has already contacted the Great Pharmacist and confirmed that neither of them took the Viper Heart, then they will suspect him.

Everyone went to the main tent to rest and talk, with men and women sitting separately.

Gu Jingnian paid attention to Wei Xie chatting with others, so he didn't pay much attention to Shen Lingshu and Wei Chan's whispers.

Ah Yuan suddenly poked his back with her finger and reminded him in a voice as soft as a mosquito's: "The princess is asking you a question."

Gu Jingnian then looked at Wei Chan and said, "Excuse me."

"What are you thinking?" Wei Chan asked, "I heard that you joined the Kaiping Division? You are under the command of Pei Nian, the detective?"

"Yes."

"After all, she is a ninth-rank official, but she planned this for you?"

"No."

"Oh? Who is that?"

Gu Jingnian noticed that Wei Yu's eyes had also turned to him. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "It is the case of Wanchun Palace. There are still some details that need to be investigated. I am an insider, so I was summoned to Kaiping Division."

Wei Yu said, "Since the case has been closed, what else is there to investigate?"

"Don't be offended, Your Highness. This is a secret."

The two looked at each other and nodded in tacit understanding.

At this moment, a rather unpleasant voice was heard.

"The Kaiping official's job is to protect the people. I know that the case may not be successful, so you must have martial arts skills. I see that you are not very strong, can you keep the area safe?"

Liang Caixing stood up while speaking.

He was ready. As long as Gu Jingnian responded, he would propose a competition with him to let Shen Lingshu know that he was much stronger than this illegitimate child.

However, Gu Jingnian replied: "I was ordered by Secretary Xu to recruit you. General Liang can ask Secretary Xu."

Liang Caixing said angrily: "How can you be so irresponsible!"

"Yes."

Feeling like a punch in vain, Liang Caixing was very unhappy, and still said as prepared: "Do you dare to compete with me?!"

"Don't dare."

"Ha, luckily the Marquis' Mansion cancelled the engagement with a coward like you."

Seeing that Shen Lingshu was unhappy, Wei Chan slammed the table and scolded her: "Liang Caixing, if you can't speak, then don't speak!" Turning around, she whispered to Shen Lingshu again.

"I am indeed a bit cowardly and unworthy of you."

"Don't think he's like this usually, but when something happens, he dares to use his life to protect me."

"He's not the only one who's willing to die for you."

"But he really did it, and I can't let him down."

As he was speaking, a soldier came forward to report something to Wei Xie.

"Third Prince, I'm afraid it's not suitable to hunt today."

"What's the matter?"

"Someone from the Kaiping Division is cleaning up the leeches at the hunting grounds. They say it's dangerous there, so please avoid it, Your Highness."

Wei Yu became interested when he heard this. He stood up and said, "It's boring to hunt wild animals. I encountered a monster. I should get rid of it for the people."

After that, he looked towards Wei Chan and said, "You guys wait in the camp, I'll get rid of the leeches and come back."

"I'll go too." Wei Chan said, "Ling Shu has seen that monster, but I haven't."

"I told you, it's dangerous over there."

"With the protection of Brother Three's elite soldiers, what is there to be afraid of?"

Gu Jingnian listened to the conversation and did not think it was a coincidence.

He knew that Pei Nian had been leading people to clear out the vipers and leeches outside the city recently, and Huang Hu was also there. So Wei Xie came here specifically to hunt, and he must have come for this purpose.

"What about you?" Liang Caixing looked at Gu Jingnian with a provocative look: "Weak scholar, do you dare to go?"

"Then go ahead."

Liang Caixing was stunned and sneered: "It's difficult, don't be scared to tears when the time comes."

Gu Jingnian was still not angry and said, "Thank you for the reminder."

Shen Lingshu was actually afraid, as she had witnessed the ferocity of the viper. But Wei Chan comforted her, saying that although viper was rare in the capital, it was often seen on the battlefields of the Yong Kingdom. As long as they were accompanied by experienced elite soldiers, it would be almost the same as dealing with ordinary wild beasts.

In addition, the leeches that now roam the suburbs are often only one- or two-headed leeches, living on some skinny civilians. Their combat power is not comparable to that of the three-headed leech.

From afar, the shrill roar was heard again.

There was a fire at the edge of the woods.

Gu Jingnian saw Pei Nian leading his men to besiege more than ten Vipers, and also recognized Huang Hu, Zhao Heng and others. They were all wearing iron armor, not riding horses, running on foot beside the deep trenches, directing their men to set fire.

The fire formed a circle, surrounding the frantically struggling leech. It looked like a fairly successful encirclement and suppression.

Today, the officers and soldiers and the Kaiping Division are quite experienced in dealing with leeches. The only problem is that they reproduce too quickly and will parasitize any flesh and blood they come into contact with.

Upon seeing this, Wei Xie ordered his men to surround the group and shoot arrows to suppress the vipers that were trying to rush out of the fire.

The scene was so tragic that some of the accompanying imperial guards were quite excited.

"It's really a ferocious beast."

"Hunting such ferocious animals is much more exciting than ordinary hunting."

"Be careful, don't get bitten."

The progress was smooth. Soon, the roaring sound in the fire gradually subsided and all the leeches were burned to death.

Pei Nian and his men took off their armor, and the brocade robes underneath were completely soaked with sweat.

"Ji Shi, burn this batch, there should be no more in this area."

"Zhao Heng, come with me to see the Third Prince. Huang Hu, pack up."

"Yes."

Pei Nian wiped his blackened face a little and walked towards the hunting team over there, feeling a little unhappy in his heart.

In order to curb the spread of leeches, she had issued orders prohibiting people in the area from walking around freely. However, these princes and sons of noble families came with a large group of people, which was extremely unfavorable for her to act. Moreover, she had to thank these troublemakers for their help, so she inevitably looked unhappy.

"Kaiping Division's detective Pei Nian greets His Majesty the Third Prince."

"No need to be polite. Since the appearance of the leech in the capital, you have made great contributions to the country. I have seen it all and will report it to my father."

"Thank you, Third Prince. This place is dangerous and we should not stay here for long. Please return to the camp as soon as possible."

Pei Nian looked up and saw Gu Jingnian behind Wei Xie. His eyes fixed on him, somewhat puzzled.

She felt that Gu Jingnian seemed to be reminding her of something.

Perhaps, they had established a deep tacit understanding with each other, and she actually understood his eyes, which told her that Wei Xie was coming for her.

Pei Nian was stunned.

Seeing that she understood, Gu Jingnian nodded slightly.

But neither of them knew what Wei Yu's purpose was...

Over there, Huang Hu threw his armor to the ground, only to feel that the brocade robe soaked with sweat was too tight on his muscles and would tear if he moved.

"I've gotten stronger recently... Hey, the one in front, are you the one brought by the Third Prince? You stepped on my knife."

The soldier standing in front of him had his head down and did not react.

Huang Hu then prepared to go over and give him a push.

"You kid..."

With an extremely sudden roar, a leech suddenly rushed out of the man's stomach and pierced through Huang Hu's lower abdomen.

He looked down, then pulled out the leech with both hands, grabbed the head of the leech that was about to bite madly and threw it to the ground, knocking down the soldier that was parasitized by it, then picked up the knife and chopped him twice in a row.

"Poof, poof."

"Damn it."

Huang Hu was experienced and killed the leech neatly. He spat out a mouthful of blood and spit, then cursed.

But all I could hear was the buzzing sound of bows and arrows being strung everywhere.

Looking up, he saw that the elite soldiers brought by Wei Xie had surrounded him in three layers.

"Cut off his head! Burn him!"

(End of this chapter)