Tumor Sword Immortal

Chapter 172 Strange Tricks and Arts
He Chen initially frowned, trying hard to recall something.

He began to recall fragmented images.

Yes, he took his younger siblings and left Aocheng with his clansman He Liang, following Hei Shi's orders to go to Zhu County to investigate the disappearance of Cheng Zhatu, the Northern Barbarian warrior who carried deer, and his group.

They traveled from Bo County to Chang County under the stars and moon, but were unable to leave due to the war blockade.

He only met with the person as agreed after the ban was lifted.

Is it...is it here?

I am here... A sharp pain shot through my mind, and He Chen swayed, grabbing onto a warehouse pillar beside him.

It was here that I met the shopkeeper. He gave me information about Cheng Zhatu's group's final movements. With this information, I continued westward, preparing to delve deeper into Zhu County to investigate. On the way, when we found an open space to rest, a stranger approached on horseback.

That person...that person seems to have ill intentions.

He was wearing a red turban and had a large hooked nose... Wait, isn't that Uncle Liang?

How could Uncle Liang do that? What happened next?
Just as He Chen was about to recall what happened next, Ye Lu walked up behind him.

Ye Lu raised his hand and pressed on He Chen's shoulder, interrupting his recollection, and then took off the veil covering his face: "So, Young Master He went to Zhu County to look for our whereabouts."

Upon seeing Ye Lu's face, the shopkeeper was taken aback at first, then a look of joy appeared on his face: "Little Ye!"

Ye Lu is exceptionally talented. He has been lying low in Beishi City for many years and has made great contributions. He is quite famous in Heishi.

As a spy, he hadn't met many people. This time, Cheng Zhatu had led his team to meet the shopkeeper before heading to Zhu County, and that's how they got to know each other.

"Oh dear, where have you been for the past month? Not only Heishi, but the entire Royal Court and Golden Tent are going crazy looking for you. Princess Qilan even said that if we can't find you, she'll commit suicide for you!"

Upon hearing Princess Qilan's name, Ye Lu's face darkened, and he waved his hand, saying, "I will report back to the royal court regarding the details. I have two matters to discuss with you today."

As he spoke, he took out a box containing Cheng Zhatu's ashes and solemnly handed it to the shopkeeper: "These are the ashes of Cheng Zhatu, the warrior who carried the deer in Heishi. Unfortunately, I only found Brother Cheng's body. Please make sure to send him back to the royal court properly. He was a true warrior who never gave up the fight until his last moment."

Cheng Zhatu is dead!
The shopkeeper looked surprised, but his years of experience as a covert agent allowed him to force himself to remain calm.

He steadily accepted the ashes and solemnly said, "Don't worry, I will arrange the fastest horse and the most reliable person."

Ye Lu nodded, then glanced at He Chen, who was still somewhat bewildered beside him, leaned close to the shopkeeper's ear, and whispered, "Also, you need to prepare another route and arrange to send me back to Hanzhou as soon as possible."

The shopkeeper stared at him with wide eyes.

He understood perfectly what the alternative route meant. Having been a spy for so many years, he was as clear-headed as a mirror. He immediately realized that there was probably something else going on behind Cheng Zhatu's incident.

He nodded emphatically and replied in a low voice, "Going through Black Shore's smuggling route will take at least five days."

Ye Lu nodded.

The so-called private line is only responsible to the Heishi headquarters of the Hanzhou royal court. It requires sending people from the north first and then returning by the same route, thus completely avoiding the eyes and ears of the local administration.

After finishing his business, Ye Lu turned to look at He Chen, who was still in a daze, and smiled: "Young Master He, it turns out you're one of us. Your hospitality has helped me a lot. When I have the chance to go to Aocheng, I'll definitely come to catch up with you."

As soon as Ye Lu finished speaking, He Chen grabbed his arm tightly.

The leader of the second generation of the He family, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse, uttered, "He Liang, He Liang is not He Liang! He's bluffing!"

In that brief moment, He Chen's memories were triggered.

He remembered some of the events that happened in that woodland, including the hook-nosed man with the red turban who used strange shadow magic to subdue all five members of the He family and, right in front of He Chen, beheaded his uncle He Liang!
He Chen forced himself to stop reminiscing.

He remembered that his sister He Yuan had mentioned the two birth charts to him last night. Last night, when they were trying to recall the events, their consciousness was suddenly interrupted, and this morning it seemed that part of their memory had been cut off.

He Chen keenly realized that this was likely one of the spells used by the hook-nosed sorcerer. Their memories of him had been erased, and even their understanding of their uncle He Liang had become blurred. This kind of spell could only be broken when a flaw appeared in the facts.

For example, last night before going to bed, He Yuan discovered that she had lost the two-life-plate ritual implement.

And today, I met with Manager Hei Shi and learned that I had been here before.

"I...I can't think about it, I can't keep thinking..."

He Chen pounded his head twice, grabbed Ye Lu's hand, and nervously recounted what he could say: "That man with the red turban, he's not He Liang, he's a sorcerer. He killed my uncle and used some kind of magic to control us!"

He Chen's sudden warning surprised even Ye Lu, a well-trained spy.

But soon Ye Lu's expression turned serious: "I understand, I understand."

He understood He Chen's meaning almost instantly.

If the fake He Liang had ulterior motives for infiltrating the He family's group, he should have tried to hide it as much as possible. However, he took the initiative to bring Pei Xia and the others along on the journey, and after arriving in the county town, he helped them book rooms under the pretext of being generous and hospitable.

He must have some ulterior motive towards Pei Xia and the others!

Ye Lu took a deep breath and immediately turned around. He Chen followed closely behind, his hand also on his sword, his eyes bloodshot.

……

It was almost noon, time for lunch.

Lunch is not included in the hotel rooms in the county town. Guests have to go downstairs to order what they want to eat, and the hotel will only deliver it to their door.

He Liang was a cousin, and apart from He Chen, the others were all children, so it was only natural that he would be the one to call the food.

As soon as I finished ordering my food downstairs, I saw Pei Xia coming down the stairs as well.

Thinking that Pei Xia must also be here to order food, He Liang paused for a moment, then grinned and said, "I've already ordered food and drinks for you. The restaurant will deliver them in a bit."

Pei Xia was flattered: "This...this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter."

After all, Pei Xia and the others had been sleeping in villagers' courtyards, so they probably didn't have much money.

Ah, that's true. When we left the lakeside village, the village chief packed a bag of steamed buns for each of them.

Perhaps fearing that Pei Xia would be too polite, He Liang immediately went upstairs after speaking.

Walking alone through the corridor between the guest rooms, He Liang remained expressionless, but his fingers pressed against the burning jade beneath his waistband.

Hey, don't rush, don't rush. We only exerted our strength once last night, so it's not safe yet. Let's exert our strength again tonight, and we can act with confidence tomorrow...

Thinking this, he pushed open the door to his guest room and was about to step inside when a chilling gust of air suddenly wafted in, leaving his foot dangling in mid-air.

Looking down, the grass ash inside the threshold formed lines, subtly conveying a certain rhythmic beauty and majesty.

His pupils contracted, somewhat uncertain... This is, an array?

However, that brief moment of hesitation was enough for some people to get the answer.

Pei Xia's voice slowly came from behind him: "It really is you."

(End of this chapter)