Chapter 95: To Follow the Procedure
Was there a clue? Fang Mofei watched as Yun Yang's face grew dim and glum after he asked this question..
"Yes, there is a clue!"
Yun Yang gritted his teeth and inhaled deeply, answering as he pondered, "When I was attacked from the back, I immediately charged forward to get away from the blade then turned around in midair to catch a glimpse of my attacker."
"Even if I were to die for from the stab, I had to see who was it that I would have lost my life to!"
"It is terribly humiliating to die from being struck in the back! It is only right that a man of men should face death head on!" Yun Yang said lightly.
"But my glance did not let me see this person's face, only his back." Yun Yang continued, "Although this person melted into the night, the back was very familiar to me."
"Very familiar?" Fang Mofei frowned.
"Very familiar..." Yun Yang thought with a frown. "I must have met this person and offended him before."
"But when was it... and who was it?" The cogs in Yun Yang's mind spun in an effort to recollect his memories.
He rummaged through the list of everyone whom he had met within this month in his mind like a revolving lantern.
He had not made any friends but had offended everyone.
Even with Dong Tianleng, Yun Yang was only using him now.
Besides, he had no intention to make new friends.
"I don't want to have new friends." A stubborn thought was rooted in Yun Yang. "I don't want anyone to replace the place all of you have in my heart."
His mind turned to deep thoughts as he ran through all that happened in this period of time more than once, comparing everyone to the silhouette of the back he had seen.
Who was it?
Suddenly, Yun Yang trembled. His pallor had turned to ash.
Fang Mofei had been watching his expression. Suddenly, he perked up and asked, "Young master, have you figured it out?"
Yun Yang breathed in deeply and replied, "This person is a little strange... I can't be sure..."
Fang Mofei's eyes radiated curiosity. "Who is it?"
Yun Yang hesitated for a good while before he finally shook his head and said, "I'll tell you when I'm sure."
Fang Mofei was stupefied. Looking at Yun Yang's expression, he had obviously found the person but why was he unwilling to speak of him?
It was true that Yun Yang knew who it was that the back belonged to but it was also exactly because he knew and confirmed it that he felt outraged!
How could it be him?
...
A slap, followed by a loud crash!
A defenseless body flying to the ground, some seven or eight teeth spluttering out of the mouth, even half of the gums were coming out.
Then he charged forward and exploded into a flurry of attacks.
The one in charge of purchasing in the inner palace... the one he met previously at the jade farm...
Eunuch Wu!
The Eunuch Wu who liked men!
The Eunuch Wu who was already dead from his slap!
Yun Yang felt like his world had turned upside down. Was there even a possibility that such a mighty expert could be beaten to pulp with a single slap?
Then why did he not retaliate at all even when humiliated publicly?
He had forgotten about him when he walked out of the jade farm. What was the use of remembering such a foolish and defenseless eunuch?
However, the disappearing back amidst the night actually resembled the back who had been beaten up by him!
Yun Yang reexamined his assumption cautiously, comparing the silhouette of the back from every angle. Finally, Yun Yang sighed against the sky, "I've indeed underestimated a mighty man of the world!"
"I have indeed underestimated how one could sacrifice himself in order to complete a task!"
"I have indeed been careless!"
Fang Mofei asked cluelessly, "Young master, whatever do you mean?"
A gentle smile hung on Yun Yang's face. "I mean that this injury of mine was my own doing! Even if I really died this time, it is fitting that I should die from this person's strike too! There is nothing humiliating about it!"
"Underestimating the enemy is sure way to death!"
Yun Yang exhaled leisurely and murmured, "From today onwards, I shall not underestimate anyone in this world!"
"Anyone!"
These three words were repeated and enunciated word by word with a sombre tone.
Fang Mofei was bewildered. Why did young master say this?
Since he had followed Yun Yang, he had been around the latter but he still felt that Yun Yang was a cloud of mystery! He could not see past him and could not approach him.
Moreover, Yun Yang possessed massive influence in his hands but it was concealed all along!
Yun Yang would never underestimate any enemy as well!
He had been cautious and had a strong sense of foresight; sometimes, he could even be described as'scheming and cunning like an old fox'!
These words of self-reflection from Yun Yang today had shocked Fang Mofei.
It was true. With Yun Yang's current maturity, caution, and single-handed tactics - someone he had thought to be extremely cautious still needed to reflect upon himself!
Fang Mofei had suddenly felt that the fact that he was able to stay alive after roaming the martial arts world for so many years with his temper was because he was f*cking blessed by the god and possessed massive amounts of luck.
Yun Yang sat in his home for the entire day and did not venture out. He used all sorts of healing medicine, even Emmie's continuous supply of air of vitality.
He had finally recovered half of his injuries when night came. Then he immediately laid down.
"Whoever's come, say that there was an assassination attempt and I am resting on the bed, unable to meet any guest."
Yun Yang's order bewildered both Fang Mofei and Lao Mei.
You're not laying down when you should, moving around and walking here and there... Now that you have recovered partially, you lie down right away... What logic is this??
On the same night, Yun Yang held onto Nine Heavens Dictum, sending an order soundlessly.
...
Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan felt increasingly embarrassed these days. To have such incidents happening in his own home was utterly humiliating! Even when the old marshal was drinking tea, he could feel his face burning.
His residence actually produced such outrageous incidents... Forcefully matchmaking for the widow of the nation's heroes, the Nine Supremes? How could this happen?
The old marshal sighed.
He was even more troubled since the Nine Heavens Dictum did not send any news over these past few days. Are they angry? Have they utterly lost their hope in me?
For days, the old marshal had lost sleep over this matter. Putting himself in their shoes, if it were him, he would probably not forgive the culprit too either. It was this night that Qiu Jianhan paced around under the pavilion, his heart weighed down.
Suddenly, there was movement at the peripheral of his vision.
"Nobody panic."
Qiu Jianhan was absolutely delighted. Looking at the familiar package that was dropped in front of him, the old marshal almost felt like bursting out in happy tears.
The package was different this time... a lively cloud was drawn on it.
The cloud shook the old marshal - "Soul of the Nine Supremes, Dictum of Supreme Cloud!"
The entire world knew that while the Nine Supremes' eldest was Supreme Earth, the one who could summon the Nine Supremes to move together and make significant decisions was the youngest of the Nine Supremes, Supreme Cloud!
It was Supreme Cloud's package that was lying in front of Old Marshal Qiu now. This meant that the contents had been sent by Supreme Cloud's men.
It could also be said that it had been sent by Supreme Cloud himself!
Old Marshal Qiu grabbed the package and charged into his study room.
"Nobody is to disturb me!"
...
"The previous incident at the Cirrus House was the enemy's scheme..." Supreme Cloud's package explained everything and pointed out, "The most suspicious ones now are Shui Yuehan from the crown prince's residence, Fu Guansan from Plethora Gem Tower..."
"These two people were involved in a homicide case recently in Cirrus House..."
The old marshal's eyes shone when he read this part of the missive.
"It is inappropriate for the Board of War to make a move now but feasible for the Board of Justice to do so. Seize them and place them in the interrogation room of the Board of Justice accompanied by a thorough interrogation... the procedures still need to be followed."
The letter ended there but the old marshal understood tacitly.
I was still wondering how our residence could stir something like this... It's indeed being plotted, it's indeed a scheme...
Nine Heavens Dictum was right about these suspects. It was easier if the Board of War took matters into their own hands but if Board of Justice made a move, they were righteously investigating the homicide case in Cirrus House under normal and standard procedures.
However, what the old marshal anticipated more was... What would come next after they were captured?
The next morning saw the officials from the Empire of Yutang's Board of Justice doing their work.
They first went to Cirrus House and looked for Yun Zuiyue to understand the situation and ordered her to not go out, not to go missing, and to wait for the Board of Justice's summons!
The words used were harsh indeed.
Then these people went to the tavern and took Dong Tianleng, Chun Wanfeng, and Xia Bingchuan to the Board of Justice with extreme politeness to cooperate in the investigation.
They then sent people over to summon Plethora Gem Tower's Fu Guansan to head over to the Board of Justice for interrogation.
Finally, they sent people with a letter to the crown prince's residence in search for His Highness the crown prince and told him about Board of Justice's case in needing Shui Yuehan to head over to the board.
Everything was the most ordinary of procedures.
Cirrus House was indeed the place of a homicide case. Although both sides had made peace and no one pursued the matter further, the loss of three lives was not a small matter as this was a place under the emperor's watch.
It was compulsory for the Board of Justice to assume some responsibility and make a report of the case.
Therefore, Shui Yuehan went over without feeling any pressure.
Upon arriving at the Board of Justice, after the few obligatory questions, Shui Yuehan answered as agreed upon, "Those people had too much a drink and fell to their deaths..."
This rotten excuse was a uniform explanation from the young masters of the three noble families, the keeper of Plethora Gem Tower and the aide of the crown prince's residence.
After all, this was their discussed countermeasure.
All three parties then gathered and went through the case together. Dong Tianleng, Chun Wanfeng, Xia Bingchuan, Shui Yuehan, and Fu Guansan all reiterated the case.
This relieved everyone even more.
What else could there be if they could gather all of us together? This was just by procedure.
Therefore, everyone cooperated well.
After the reiteration, the official from Board of Justice spoke abashedly, "I am sorry, I can't release all of you yet. After all, there's still one more checking procedure to be done. All of you have to stay the night at the Board of Justice..."
The crowd was prepared for this anyway, so they obeyed the order.
"Everyone can return home first thing the next morning." The official's tone was subservient, knowing well that he could not afford offending any of these people. "Sorry for the inconvenience. The Board of Justice doesn't have extra rooms so all of you can only pass the night in the prison cell."
All of them were alright with it but they still showed an upset front and entered their cell without a sound.
It was no issue at all, they could just take it as a vacation!