Chapter 966: Missing One Person
Editor: Henyee Translations
Chu Qingzhi refused, “I have important matters at hand right now, I cannot accept any commission.”
Li Hongyu offered a significant amount, “Ten thousand taels.”
Chu Tang sized up Li Hongyu, his gaze becoming stern, “Are you embezzling funds, or extorting the common people?”
Li Hongyu swore, “My money is all from legitimate sources, I’ve never engaged in any wrongdoing, please don’t misunderstand.”
Chu Tang thought for a moment and said, “Deliver a hundred loads of grain to Tang Camp, and I’ll help you investigate.”
Tang Camp referred to Tang Jinghong’s military camp.
Li Hongyu readily agreed, “It’s a deal!” He seemed to see Chu Tang as a straightforward and patriotic person, now believing that Chu Tang was genuinely undercover.
Li Hongyu asked, “When will you go?”
Chu Tang replied, “Wait a moment, I need to make some arrangements first.”
Li Hongyu glanced around, “Then I’ll wait for you in that forest over there, come find me once you’re ready.”
Chu Tang nodded and entered the headquarters.
“You’re finally back.” Hong Feiyun had been waiting for Chu Tang, and hurried over when she saw him return, “The Left Emissary is going crazy looking for you.”
Chu Tang was perplexed, “What’s wrong with him?”
Hong Feiyun pointed to Tao Qingshan’s room, “Tao Qingshan’s leg pain has worsened, he’s been asking for you, but you weren’t around, so he’s been anxious.”
“I’ll go right now.” Chu Tang flew straight there.
The Left Emissary, upon seeing Chu Tang, began scolding immediately, “Where have you been? I sent people everywhere looking for you.”
Chu Tang ignored the Left Emissary and went straight into the room, shutting the door behind him, “What’s the matter?”
Tao Qingshan was lying on the bed, pale as death, his forehead slick with cold sweat, “Am I going to die?” He looked at the medicine bowl on the table, “I felt like this after taking the medicine.”
Chu Tang took Tao Qingshan’s pulse, sending a streak of spiritual light into his body to investigate the cause, and after a moment, “You’ve been poisoned.”
Tao Qingshan looked intently at Chu Tang, his sweat beading, “Who poisoned me?”
Chu Tang said, “Don’t worry, let me first see what poison it is.”
Tao Qingshan calmed down, looking emptily at the ceiling, wondering who would want to harm him just when he was starting to get better. Was everything going to be undone now?
Chu Tang’s voice sounded, “The poison isn’t lethal, don’t worry, but the effects of the acupuncture I gave you before are gone.”
Tao Qingshan said weakly, “What now?”
Chu Tang responded, “I’ll write you a prescription first to cleanse the toxins from your body. After a while, I’ll administer acupuncture again from the beginning.”
Tao Qingshan murmured his thanks.
Chu Tang pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, then went to write the prescription. He left the room, handing the prescription to the Left Emissary, “Give him this medicine first. There’s one crucial ingredient missing, I’ll go out and find it.”
The Left Emissary was skeptical of Chu Tang, “What ingredient? I’ll send people to find it.”
Chu Tang said, “Zifu.”
Unfamiliar with it, the Left Emissary’s brow furrowed, “You go find it, I’ll also send people to look, it will increase our chances of finding it.”
Chu Tang said nothing, returned to his room to pack his belongings, using this as an opportunity to round off his trip to the border to investigate the arrows.
Hong Feiyun entered the room, “Do you need me to come with you?”
Chu Tang packed the medicinal herbs, “You stay here, I rely on you to gather intelligence from the Yun Organization. If you leave, I won’t know what happens here.”
“Alright then, when will you be back?” Hong Feiyun’s heart was tearing up inside, she’d have to face Mu Xiao alone.
“I don’t know, but it shouldn’t be too long,” Chu Tang said softly. “Keep a close eye on the Left Emissary.”
“I know, don’t worry,” Hong Feiyun muttered to herself, hoping that by the time Chu Tang returned, she could be freed from her duties.
Chu Tang finished packing his belongings and left the headquarters.
In the forest, once Li Hongyu was sure they were alone, he caught up with Chu Tang, “Why did it take you so long? I almost thought you weren’t going to come out.”
Chu Tang saw right through Li Hongyu’s implication, “You want to know if I was planning to ditch you, right?”
Li Hongyu offered a conciliatory smile, “I figured you wouldn’t, otherwise you wouldn’t have bothered talking to me earlier.”
Chu Tang glanced at Li Hongyu, “Let’s go.”
…
Chu Tang delivered the medicinal herbs and his prepared medicines to Tang Camp, then he and Li Hongyu hurried to the riverside.
At the riverside, the boat had already been salvaged, surrounded by guards who all wore expressions of deep sorrow and anger.
The bodies had been collected and were now kept in the mortuary in Shang City, waiting for the investigation to clear up before they could be properly buried.