Chapter 129: 121 Hope, Part 1

Tan Yang’s Quiet Pavilion Music Tower.

Soft musical notes, the sound of a pipa, emanated from behind the curtains.

Zhao Tianming’s face was anxious, beads of sweat visible on his forehead as he stood with head bowed.

His robe was damp in several places, his hands tightly clenched, daring not to move an inch.

Inside the room, a beautiful woman with fair white shoulders exposed was skillfully playing the pipa softly.

The woman was dressed in a blue one-piece short dress, a black veil covering her face, her long hair styled high, with a striking tattoo on her neck.

Under the light, the tattoo seemed to ambiguously resemble a cherry.

Despite her white legs being mostly exposed from under the skirt, the material somewhat sheer and revealing at the chest.

Yet Zhao Tianming did not dare to even entertain a fleeting glance.

The music lingered for more than ten minutes before gradually calming.

The pipa was gently set aside.

The woman silently sighed, seemingly resigned and weary.

“Where is the clue you mentioned? I haven’t received it yet?”

She raised her gaze towards Zhao Tianming.

“I… I have obtained firsthand information. The scroll was taken by Bai Ying from the Golden Wing Pavilion!” Zhao Tianming murmured fearfully.

“I don’t want empty words. The Golden Wing Pavilion hides deeply; you’re the only one to attest to this. How am I to trust you?” The woman arched an eyebrow.

“Bai Ying definitely has a transcript in his possession. If we can acquire that transcript in advance, it can surely be used!” Zhao Tianming quickly responded.

“Not to mention whether this transcript exists, even if it does, can you guarantee it’s flawless? Only the original can be trusted,” the woman sighed.

“Zhao Yiming, how many years have you been with me? How come you can’t handle this matter now? How am I supposed to grant you the antidote for these past two years?” She said helplessly.

“Emissary… Emissary! Please give me a few more days! I have a plan!” Zhao Tianming gritted his teeth.

He hadn’t anticipated that the information he attempted to report would lead to the emissary’s actual arrival.

“What do you intend to do?” The woman asked with interest, glancing at him.

“All clues point to Bai Ying; I watched him submit the scroll firsthand. We just need to apprehend Bai Ying first, interrogate the scroll, and then we can test the transcript.” Zhao Tianming gritted his teeth.

“If it doesn’t work, then notify the officials in the prefecture city to act together!”

“The Golden Wing Pavilion… this organization is quite mysterious. You’ve been infiltrating for so long, yet haven’t grasped the masters within the organization. Very well… let’s test the waters with this trip.”

The woman considered for a moment, nodding in agreement.

Anyway, Zhao Tianming’s life was in her hands, and she wasn’t afraid of him playing tricks.

“If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just have to take the final step. But if it succeeds, then we can achieve great merits here.”

“Thank you, emissary, for your understanding!” Zhao Tianming replied hastily.

“Very well, then, what do you plan to do?” The woman crossed her leg, lazily reclining on the wooden couch.

Zhao Tianming collected his thoughts, speaking seriously.

“Right now, within the Golden Wing Pavilion, suspicion about me is at most mild, still in a completely latent phase with no exchange of information.

Even relying solely on the Little Red Bird, the exchanged information is limited. Previously, that Qingsu might have harbored some suspicions about me.

Therefore, I was thinking, seize the opportunity now, using myself as bait to lure Bai Ying and Qingsu into the trap. Then the emissary can take action and apprehend them!”

Zhao Tianming apparently had a plan in mind early on.

“That’s feasible.” The woman briefly reviewed, confirming that the plan had no obvious flaws, Zhao Tianming’s life was under her control, guaranteeing no deceit.

Cutting through decisively was preferable. Otherwise, dealing with a possibly ninth-grade Bai Ying might become troublesome.

*

*

*

The Little Red Bird fluttered and landed, stopping in front of Zhang Rongfang’s window, hopping forward a few steps, its sparkling eyes blinking at him.

Tweedtweed~~

Zhang Rongfang set down the Daoist scroll in his hand, gently extending a hand to stroke the Little Red Bird’s head.

This little bird was entirely crimson, with a tuft of white on its head, distinct from other Little Red Birds.

Every time there was intelligence, it was almost always the one to deliver it to him.

Zhang Rongfang was already very familiar with it.

He stood up, went back inside to grab some millet, scattered it for the Little Red Bird, and then removed the bamboo tube, carefully opened it, and emptied a roll of paper.

’Master, the person who stole your box at night, I suspect it’s Zhao Tianming. Is there a meeting tonight? Capture him for questioning. —Qingsu’

Zhang Rongfang squinted, stored the paper roll away, and tossed it into the fire basin.

He carefully recalled Zhao Tianming, and indeed suspected the possibility.

’Alright, to prevent complications, let’s apprehend him tonight.’

As soon as Zhao Tianming showed up, apprehending him immediately was the plan.

Though his right hand was injured now, handling a mere fourth or fifth-grade individual was still easy.

Then, he swiftly wrote a mobilization order on a paper roll, packaged it, placed it in the bamboo tube, and sent it back via the Little Red Bird.

Then he quietly waited at Mingjing Palace.

Practicing martial arts, eating, cleaning, weapons maintenance.

As dusk fell.

Cold winds blew, signaling the arrival of winter.

Trees outside the courtyard wall shed their yellowed leaves.

Outside the wall, voices of Daoists within the dao palace constantly floated in, though addressing trivial matters.

Like purchasing less oil, fighting over hall usage time, or someone ignoring greetings.

Yet this vitality slowly calmed Zhang Rongfang’s originally restless heart.

Approaching midnight.

Sitting upright practicing Void Observation Skill, he suddenly opened his eyes.

Changed clothes, took an inconspicuous short sword, quietly leaving the courtyard.

Leaving Mingjing Palace, Zhang Rongfang’s figure blended into the shadow beneath the eaves, swiftly heading outside the city.

Exiting silently through a small city gate, he didn’t head to Pingya Temple.

Instead, he headed towards a different mountainous location.

In the current situation, if Zhao Tianming truly is the traitor, then Pingya Temple must be insecure.

Thus, Zhang Rongfang naturally took this into account.

He single-handedly changed the meeting location, away from the temple where many dossiers stored were Golden Wing Pavilion’s intelligence material, which must not be compromised.

Additionally, he didn’t notify many people, only Qingsu and Zhao Tianming.

In fact, when it comes down to it, the only person he truly trusts in the entire Golden Wing Pavilion is Qingsu.

At night, the moon resembles a short scythe.

Zhang Rongfang sped towards the agreed location.

The forest was enveloped in darkness, with only wisps of faint moonlight filtering through the gaps, providing the sole illumination.

Using that bit of light, Zhang Rongfang gradually adjusted to the dark surroundings.

Soon, he quietly arrived at the agreed meeting point—Deep Water Valley.

This was a small valley near Tan Yang City, known to some and frequently visited as a sightseeing spot.

But now that the weather had turned cold, people rarely visited.

Especially in the depth of night like now.

Soon, from afar, Zhang Rongfang saw Zhao Tianming quietly standing by the stream in the valley, seemingly waiting for them.

He stopped silently and hid behind the trunk of a tree.

He didn’t move forward or make a sound; he simply watched the other quietly.

Being a Ninth Grade with keen senses, he clearly felt something was amiss around him.

Under normal circumstances, the deep forest at night would be filled with various insect noises.

But around Deep Water Valley, there wasn’t a single sound at that moment, only the faintest hint of animal cries coming from afar.

This wasn’t normal.

Most crucial of all.

Zhang Rongfang squinted his eyes.

’I set the meeting time for four in the morning. It’s only two o’clock now, and Zhao Tianming, who never arrives early, is here so soon today…’

What is he doing arriving so early?

The current situation is complicated; Zhang Rongfang pondered for a moment but still didn’t show himself, choosing instead to wait quietly.

After careful observation for quite a while, he finally spotted a clue.

On the ground beside Zhao Tianming, among the pebbles, there was an extremely fine, transparent web laid out.

The net was studded with small blades the same color as the pebbles.

Threads extended from both ends, connecting to the dense woods on both sides.

In the dim forest light, no one could see it clearly.

If he hadn’t observed it for a long time, he might not have noticed it either.

This kind of ambush, just by approaching within ten meters of Zhao Tianming, he would likely be injured by the web.

If the blades on the web were also poisoned…

A chill ran through Zhang Rongfang’s heart.

This arrangement was certainly not the style of Golden Wing Pavilion.

Zhao Tianming alone couldn’t possibly have the guts or means to set up such a deadly device…

There must be a master behind him!

Zhang Rongfang understood clearly.

But now, since he had discovered it….

Zhang Rongfang didn’t act rashly; instead, he quietly retreated.

An hour remained until the agreed time.

He had to intercept Qingsu to prevent her from being deceived.

Furthermore, the location at Pingya Temple could not be used anymore; they had to relocate immediately.

Because Qingsu knew these places, and Zhao Tianming knew them as well.

He quietly retreated and disappeared into the darkness.

“Why haven’t they come yet?” Zhao Tianming waited in place for a long time.

The appointed time was approaching, yet there was still no sign of those two.

Even the other members from the pavilion were nowhere to be seen.

He was beginning to feel unsettled.

But because of the poisonous net beside him, as long as Bai Ying and Qingsu came within ten meters, they would surely be trapped by the net.

By then, they’d be the grasshoppers on a string, controlled by the cult with poison. None would escape.

Time ticked by.

But still, nobody came.

Soon, as the appointed time passed, Zhao Tianming sensed something was wrong.

Yet he unwillingly continued to wait.

Time slipped away slowly, extending an hour past the agreed time.

Still, no one showed.

He finally realized he had possibly been played by Bai Ying and Qingsu!

“Where are they?!” A voice of the envoy drifted out from the woods on one side.

“I… I don’t know…” Zhao Tianming’s face turned pale, and he hurriedly lowered his head.

“I clearly received notification to meet here… but I don’t know why….!?”

“Fool!” The envoy snorted coldly, “It’s obvious you’ve been discovered! Bai Ying does have some skills. Looks like you’ve slipped up somewhere.”

“Lord Envoy, please save me!” Zhao Tianming was struck with panic, kneeling to the ground with a thud.

“If Bai Ying and Qingsu find out my true information, my entire family—my parents, wife, and children—will all be doomed! I beg you, Lord Envoy, to stand up for me!” Zhao Tianming’s voice was imbued with grief and trembled with earnest pleading, making it hard to discern true intent.

“We’ll go directly to the stronghold and take your Golden Wing Pavilion’s intelligence files!” The envoy said impatiently. “Let’s see if there’s still a chance.”

“Di Qiu, you go yourself. We’ll head back first.”

In the dark shadows, two other figures in gray robes slowly emerged.

“Alright, I didn’t expect to waste so much time, this Bai Ying is interesting.” The female envoy snorted coldly.

They were a Ninth Grade and two Eighth Grade, teamed up for an ambush, only to be fooled.

After the two left.

The envoy looked at Zhao Tianming again, eyes contemplative.

“By the way, you said that Zhang Ying is likely closely associated with your Bai Ying?”

“Exactly! We could easily capture Zhang Ying directly!” Zhao Tianming nodded immediately.

“Very well, let’s go capture him directly then. Where is he now?”

“He is currently residing at Mingjing Palace of the Great Dao Teaching, only transferred there recently,” Zhao Tianming replied.

“Let’s go take a look.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep