Chapter 137: Secret Deep inside the Mountain (80.3)
Translator: asassin
The deeper inside they went, the darker the passage became. But at least it looked dry. When they finally couldn’t see anything by daylight, the Sick Scholar took out a folder and lighted it up. Ye Li frowned. She didn’t think it was a good idea to burn something in a passage where there was little air but there wasn’t a better solution either.

Han Ming Xi followed. Seeing Secret Guard No.3 on the left and Ye Li on the right, both walking with their back close to the walls, he laughed below his breath with arched brows: “Jun Wei, are you a bit over nervous?”

Ye Li rolled her eyes at him. “How can I not be compared to Mr. Han who has the best flying skills in the world?”

The Sick Scholar looked back at them and kept going, holding his burning folder high. Apparently, the builder didn’t choose this location for mystery so there wasn’t any crossings or labyrinths. The passage went all the way down, when Ye Li estimated they were at the foot of the mountain, they finally heard something from the front. The Sick Scholar put out his burning folder. Looking inside at the turn, he saw two men in Nan Zhao clothes standing in front of a gate, inside of which came the noise they had just heard.

Apparently, the two guards didn’t expect anyone to come so they were chatting and laughing in a small voice. In order to reach the gate, Ye Li and her companions had to cover a 100-meter-long straight narrow passage. None of them was able to knock the two guards down without making a sound in such a distance. If the two guards let out any sound, people behind the gate were bound to notice.

The Sick Scholar took out a delicate small box and aimed at them. With two “whoosh” sounds, the two guards went stiff. The four of them sneaked over and the Sick Scholar was the first to get behind the gate. Ye Li stopped for a second when she was about to pass the gate. Turning aside, she saw dark blood drooping down the mouths of the guards who were clearly dead. Light left her eyes. She went inside quietly.

Behind the gate, everything was very different. Outside, it was dark and cold, inside, it was hot and bright. Not far away, there was a busy flow of people. The security level inside was up a notch. Since all of them were above average level in terms of martial arts, it wasn’t a problem for them to get around without being noticed.

Crouching behind a large stone, Han Ming Xi leaned out and had a look curiously. “What are they doing?”

The Sick Scholar answered calmly: “They are making weapons.” He pointed at a place where there lay quite some weapons that were close to be finished.

Secret Guard No.3 gestured at Ye Li who nodded knowingly. Those people weren’t making weapons for the green woods, rather, they were making weapons that were normally seen on a battlefield. Clearly, with so many of them here, they were producing weapons for an army.

“It’s none of our business. Let’s go.” The Sick Scholar wasn’t interested in those weapons at all. His mind was occupied by Green Void Flower.

“Do you know where Liang is?” Han Ming Xi asked.

The Sick Scholar sneered coldly: “He won’t get away.”

Nodding, Han Ming Xi said: “I remember now. You’ve poisoned him. Where’s your little moth?”

The Sick Scholar gave him a cold stare. Standing up, he walked towards another direction. Han Ming Xi shrugged as he smiled at Ye Li and followed the Sick Scholar.

Secret Guard No.3 said below his breath: “My Lord, these weapons are forged for a Great Chu army.”

Ye Li arched her brows. “How do you know?”

He pointed at a row of blades not far away and said: “Nan Zhao is good with short blades, Xi Ling, thick blades, and Bei Rong, with the most powerful cavalry, prefers long weapons or large blades. This kind of blade is normally used by armies of Great Chu.”

Ye Li nodded. She stood up and kept up with Han Ming Xi and the Sick Scholar.

The Sick Scholar was right. They were in a fairly large underground weapon factory with two large caves full of people busy forging weapons, most of whom were from Great Chu, part of whom were from Nan Zhao. The two of them followed the Sick Scholar all the way down and left the caves where the weapons were forged for another one. Compared to the cave they had been before, this one looked like a decorated underground palace, with carved marble as the floor and beautiful carpet.

“Are those four dead or not?” As soon as they were near this cave, they heard a sharp tone from inside. Ye Li frowned. It was that merchant, Mr. Liang. At the moment, he didn’t sound as smug and with disdain as he did in the past, instead, he was a bit worried with an intent to kill.

“You can rest assured that they won’t get away alive.” Another voice rose. It was Le Jiang, the lord of Luoyi Clan.

“Why don’t you send someone and kill them already!” Mr. Liang said angrily. “That sickly-looking scholar is a nightmare. If you don’t kill him now, he’ll be a trouble in the future. If it wasn’t him following me all this way, I would have been here a long time ago. I couldn’t get rid of him no matter what. Besides, that man Han clearly knew him too. We can’t let them live, no matter what it takes!”

“No matter what it takes?” Le Jiang sneered coldly: “Who’ll be paying for it, then? Do you think I have no idea that they are trouble? Even the snakes couldn’t do anything to them. Each one of our men is beyond valuable. If we fight recklessly, many will sacrifice. Do you think we have as many people as you do in Great Chu?”

“Remember this…” Mr. Liang shouted angrily.

Le Jiang said loudly: “Don’t worry. I know my duty. But don’t order me around with things beyond it.”

Those inside the cave were quiet for some time. After a good while, Mr. Liang said: “But… if they run away, do you think they’ll let us off? I don’t know about the other three but I believe you’ve heard about that sick man, the third master of the Hall of Darkness of Xi Ling.”

“What are you doing with someone of the Hall of Darkness?” Le Jiang flared up and shouted angrily.

“How would I know? He found me a few days after I set out. I didn’t dare to ask him to leave. He is famous for seeking revenge just for an angry look. I had no choice.”

“That is not a good reason for you to bring him here though!” Clenching his teeth, Le Jiang snorted after a good while: “I see. I’ll make sure to take care of them. Don’t worry. The way out has already been blocked. Now, that mountain is full of poisonous snakes and insects. I don’t think the Sick Scholar could kill all of those!”

“Be careful. Make sure you see his body. We won’t be worrying about it now if you have killed him in the beginning.”

Le Jiang sneered: “He was so close to you. Do you think I was able to kill him before he kills you? I’ll send my men after it. Stay here. Don’t forget what you owe me. If my master doesn’t have it, you know how everything will end up!”

Mr. Liang stopped breathing for a split second then said: “I know. I have the other half of keepsake with me. Give me the half you have.”

Le Jiang snorted coldly: “It belongs to Nan Zhao to begin with.”

However, when it came to this, Mr. Liang was stubborn too. “I have it. Only I know how to get it.”

“The late emperor of Nan Zhao trusted your family to keep it safe doesn’t mean it’s yours.” Le Jiang said in a deep tone.

“Huh, so what? You do know something that belongs to the imperial family of Nan Zhao doesn’t make it yours, don’t you?” Laughed Mr. Liang. “I’m already doing you a favor not giving it to the imperial family of Nan Zhao.”

“We’ve offered you a higher price, haven’t we? You’ll have nothing except a few words of gratitude if you give it back to the emperor of Nan Zhao.” Le Jiang sneered coldly.

Mr. Liang said: “You want the treasure and I want money. We all take what we need. So, hurry up and give me the other half of the keepsake. Save your tricks. You’ve searched most of this mountain and haven’t got what you are looking for. You won’t unless with my help. Besides, don’t think you can kill me since I’ve got…”

Obviously, Mr. Liang’s smugness put Le Jiang off. However, Le Jiang didn’t have another choice, so he said coldly: “I see. I’ll bring it here. Don’t play any tricks with me. My master wants it in half a month. Otherwise… no matter who you’ve got behind you, it will be useless!”

Mr. Liang’s smug laugh suddenly stopped. He said after a good while: “I see. Don’t worry. I know what’s between His Highness and your master. I know what to do and what not to do. As long as you give me the other half of the keepsake, I promise I’ll take it to you after we are in the capital of Nan Zhao.”

“That’ll be the best!” Said Le Jiang. As he left, the room returned to silence. The only sound in the room was Mr. Liang’s heavy breath.

What do we do now?Standing in a secret corner, Han Ming Xi eyed the Sick Scholar.

The Sick Scholar looked down as a wicked smile appeared on his originally gloomy face.

Han Ming Xi shuddered and glanced in pity at Mr. Liang who was walking around anxiously. What torture is waiting for this old man?