allonlinenovel Chapter 1307 There’s news
Chapter 1307 There’s news
Hu Yidao was taken aback at first: "Iron Man, is this what Night Owl mentioned in his letter before...?"
Xiao Ce could tell from Hu Yidao's expression that he already knew, so he didn't explain...
He nodded, then said, "Not bad..."
"hiss...!"
Hu Yidao gasped, feeling a wave of intense fear wash over him.
Could it be... that the terrifying threat from beyond the heavens that the prince spoke of has silently infiltrated India? And even threatens the safety of the governor and the young prince?
Did the Grand Commander realize something that forced him to secretly flee with the children?
This thought was like ice water poured over his head, sending a chill down even the battle-hardened general Hu Yidao's spine.
Without the slightest hesitation, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice trembling slightly under immense pressure, yet filled with unwavering resolve:
"Your Highness, rest assured! Even if you turn the whole of India upside down, I will find the Commander and the young prince! If any 'Iron Man' dares to come... this old man of mine will make sure he never returns!"
In truth, Hu Yidao wasn't very confident... after all, if those "Iron Men" were really that powerful, as Ye Mao had said, many of them would be practically throwing their lives away...
However, no matter what, he will still give it his all...
Before he finished speaking, Hu Yidao, like a drawn blade, charged into the boundless night outside the palace with a murderous aura.
Watching Hu Yidao leave, Yin Pan'er gently took Xiao Ce's hand.
Before Yin Pan'er could speak, Xiao Ce joined her in comforting her: "It's alright... they must have sensed some danger beforehand... and hid..."
Yin Pan'er noticed that Xiao Ce seemed somewhat hesitant earlier, but now he appeared more relaxed.
Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Ce with some surprise, "Your Highness, you were nervous just now, but why are you less nervous after hearing that they might be in danger?"
Xiao Ce gave Yin Pan'er a wry smile, then said, "Before, we were facing the unknown, but the unknown is the most terrifying thing... Now that we know our target, I believe Hu Yidao has the ability to unravel the mystery and find out... Moreover, at least they deliberately hid..."
Yin Pan'er nodded... "Do we... need to do anything? Should we just wait here?"
Xiao Ce's gaze slowly shifted from the window to Yin Pan'er's face. His sharp eyes softened slightly, but the gravity remained undiminished. He slowly shook his head, his voice low and steady, carrying an undeniable resolve:
"For now, do nothing."
Yin Pan'er was slightly taken aback, her eyes filled with questioning.
After taking a sip of his tea, Xiao Ce explained, “Firstly, we are newcomers and are far less familiar with the undercurrents and the intricate network of various forces in India than Hu Yidao is. Blindly intervening would only alert the enemy and even interfere with his planned tracking. He has been in charge of Indian military law for many years and his subordinates have their own methods. Letting him do it freely is the most efficient approach.”
He paused, his gaze deepening as he said, "Secondly, Eva's choice to leave in such a secretive manner, even going so far as to conceal it from Hu Yidao, must have had a deeper meaning and compelling reasons. Her identity and abilities are far from those of an ordinary, weak woman. The fact that she took her most trusted bodyguard with her indicates that she was not powerless to resist, but rather chose to evade capture. If we were to conduct a large-scale search, the commotion would be too great, and if there were any ill-intentioned Iron Man or other forces secretly watching, it would only put her and Yuanwang in an even more dangerous situation. Exposing one's whereabouts is sometimes more deadly than concealment."
Xiao Ce's gaze returned to the thick darkness outside the window, and he slowly said, "I trust Eva's judgment. Her leaving the message about 'for Yuanwang's safety' clearly indicates that she sensed some direct and unavoidable threat, forcing her to resort to this tactic. What we need to do now is do nothing..."
As Yin Pan'er listened to Xiao Ce's calm analysis, her anxiety did not completely dissipate, but her sense of helplessness lessened considerably.
She understood that Xiao Ce's considerations were correct.
"I understand." Yin Pan'er nodded gently, moving slightly closer to Xiao Ce, conveying silent support. "Then we'll stay here and wait for General Hu's news."
Time crawled slowly in the agonizing wait. The Brahma City outside the palace gradually fell silent, with only the orderly footsteps of the patrolling guards and the monotonous sound of the night watchman's clapper echoing in the empty streets. Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered, casting long shadows of the two figures on the wall, like two silent mountains.
Only when a faint, pale light appeared on the eastern horizon, dispelling the deepest darkness, did heavy, somewhat dragging footsteps sound again outside the palace.
Hu Yidao is back.
His tall figure appeared at the doorway, as if he had aged several years overnight.
On that rugged face covered with a thick beard, heavy dark circles under his eyes were like smudged ink, deeply etched beneath his eye sockets.
His once sharp, hawk-like eyes were now bloodshot, and his gaze was filled with exhaustion...
His deputy commander's uniform was covered in morning dew and dust, and his boots were muddy, clearly indicating that he had been out all night without a moment's rest.
The distinctive scar on his face looked even more menacing against his weary expression. He strode in, not even bothering to bow, his voice hoarse...
"Your Highness! Your Highness! We've made progress!"
Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er stood up at the same time, looking intently at him.
"Say!"
Xiao Ce's voice was deep and commanding.
Hu Yidao vigorously wiped his face, trying to clear his head, and said rapidly, "This humble general investigated every palace guard, eunuch, and maid, even using spies buried deep in the streets, and finally managed to pry open a crack in the water from an old gardener responsible for sweeping the rear garden! That old fellow is timid and cowardly; he was terrified by the warning given to him by Commander Eva when she left, and dared not speak. Later, this humble general used some methods..."
He skipped the details and cut straight to the point: "He said that just yesterday afternoon, while he was trimming the banana leaves at the corner of the West Garden wall, he saw a monk in a kasaya being led by a guard responsible for delivering messages in the inner court, hurrying through the corridor of the rear hall towards the general's sleeping quarters! The timing coincides with shortly before the flower-delivering servant overheard the argument!"
"A monk?" Yin Pan'er frowned. "Is he one of Master Sangjie's men?"
Hu Yidao categorically denied it: "No, I know all of Master Sangjie's disciples who are qualified to enter the inner court to meet the commander-in-chief! I have never seen the person the old gardener described in the inner court! I also asked Master Sangjie immediately, and he knew nothing about it. He immediately summoned all his personal disciples to take a headcount, and not a single one was missing!"
Xiao Ce's eyes suddenly sharpened: "What about the guards? And what did that monk look like?"
"This humble general has found the guard who was responsible for leading the way! His name is Amir, a third-class imperial guard, who usually handles less important errands and messages. He's waiting outside; this humble general will call him in to give his report!"
"Bring him in!" Xiao Ce's voice brooked no argument.
Soon, a young guard dressed in the uniform of an Indian palace guard, of medium build, pale-faced, and clearly fearful and uneasy, was brought in.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw Xiao Ce's unfathomable gaze and Hu Yidao's ashen face!
He collapsed to his knees with a thud, his body trembling violently.
"Your Highness... Your Highness... Deputy Commander... I... I am Amir..."
He was so frightened that he could barely speak.
Hu Yidao shouted sternly, his voice trembling with the rage of someone who hadn't slept all night: "Raise your head! Tell me everything that happened yesterday afternoon, how you led that monk to see the Grand Commander, word for word! If you conceal anything, you know the consequences!"
Amir shuddered in fright, quickly looking up, his voice trembling with tears: "Yes...yes! I dare not conceal anything! Yesterday...yesterday afternoon, around noon, I was on duty at the west palace gate...suddenly, a monk wearing an old dark red robe walked over...he...he was holding a staff that looked...very heavy, neither gold nor wood, dark black, with what seemed to be...a crescent-shaped metal band at the top..."
Amir struggled to recall, his face showing fear and confusion.
"He...he was wearing a monk's hat, the brim pulled low...I couldn't see his whole face, but I felt...he seemed a little too pale, expressionless...Oh right! When he looked at people, his eyes were cold, making...making people's hearts tremble, like...like a clay statue in a temple..."
"He said... he said he had an extremely important letter that he had to deliver personally to Consul General Eva immediately. It was a matter of great importance and could not be delayed... He also... he showed her a badge..."
As Amir spoke, his eyes widened with even greater fear: "I...I recognize that token! It's...it's the highest-level 'Brahma's Decree' in India! It's only used for...only for the most urgent and confidential national affairs! I...I dared not stop him, nor ask any questions, so...I immediately led him through the corridor to the outside of the Grand Commander's bedchamber..."
"And then?" Xiao Ce's voice was as cold as ice, making Amir tremble again.
"However...after I reported this, the Grand Commander immediately let the monk in...I...I stood guard outside the palace gate...after...about...about a little over an incense stick's time, the monk came out...he...he was still the same, not saying a word, and walked straight out...I escorted him to the palace gate, and he left on his own...later...not long after, I heard...I heard that the Grand Commander brought the little prince..."
Amir's voice trailed off, trembling with sobs: "I...I really didn't know anything! I was just following the rules...That 'Brahma's Decree' is real, I verified it...I really didn't know it would turn out like this...Please, Your Highness, Deputy Commander, spare my life!"
Hu Yidao looked at Xiao Ce questioningly.
Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er exchanged a glance...
The two of them were filled with shock...
According to the guard, the attire was very similar to that of Mr. Qianlong from the Blood Nether Pavilion.
However, the Blood Nether Pavilion has clearly been destroyed, and its original owner has already been captured by the Creation Base...
Xiao Ce's pupils suddenly contracted, and a chilling killing intent emanated from him as if it were a tangible force, instantly filling the entire side hall.
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees suddenly. Even Amir, kneeling on the ground, felt the biting cold and froze, forgetting even to tremble.
Yin Pan'er also sensed the unprecedented, almost tangible rage and killing intent emanating from Xiao Ce.
"Hidden... Dragon..."
Xiao Ce spat out those two words through gritted teeth, his voice as low and cold as the winds of the deepest hell, filled with a deep-seated hatred and a hint of disbelief: "They really do still exist...and dare...to extend their claws here?! Towards my...child?!"
Xiao Ce spoke with a hint of anger, but also a trace of contemplation...
Each word felt like an icicle hitting the ground, chilling to the bone.
Hu Yidao had heard of Mr. Qianlong.
"Mr. Qianlong? Your Highness, is it the same Mr. Qianlong from back then..." Hu Yidao had followed Xiao Ce back then and knew about Mr. Qianlong.
Xiao Ce said to Hu Yidao, "That's right, but Mr. Qianlong isn't an individual... they're an organization..."
Seeing Hu Yidao's bewildered expression, Xiao Ce didn't explain...
"It's a long story, I'll tell you about it another time..."
Hu Yidao nodded without asking further, but seeing Xiao Ce's intense reaction, he immediately understood that this enemy was definitely no ordinary person!
He immediately pressed Amir, "Where's that letter? The letter the monk gave to the commander-in-chief? What did it say?!"
Amir was terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, stammering, "I...I didn't know! I didn't even see the letter! Someone like me isn't qualified to have any contact with it..."
When the monk went in, he seemed to be holding something... something wrapped in yellow cloth, and when he came out... his hands were empty! I really don't know anything! After the Grand Master finished reading the letter... I only heard something... something fall to the ground... and then... then it became quiet... Not long after, the Grand Master... changed his clothes and took the little prince..."
Seeing Amir's terrified expression, Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "Alright, don't be afraid. We're just asking a normal question... You can leave now..."
The guard looked at Hu Yidao with some nervousness.
Hu Yidao quickly said, "Step back..."
Hu Yidao then nervously explained to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness...he...they don't know your identity..."