Ysabel, HPC, Jaya, Sky, DongBin, you are welcome. Ari, welcome back! How's baby? Almost one, I reckoned? Akolaw, thanks for sharing. Xu Xiong, Xiaohu ... I was just wondering because it is unusual; don't you think so?

Under the sunny sky, people and vehicles were coming and going on the Tianjian Bridge, boats and vessels were traveling back and forth on the Luo River flowing under the Bridge. It was a bustling scene of the water and land transport hub of a metropolis.

This moment, someone was stepping out of the restaurant. When Xu Ziling was stepping aside to let him through, the man suddenly stuffed a ball of paper into his hand. Xu Ziling recognized the man was Xu Xingzhi; his anxiety vanished, he quickly put the crumpled piece of paper into his sleeve pocket.

Xu Xingzhi walked up the Tianjin Bridge, and disappeared into the stream of people.

Xu Ziling was about to return to tell the waiter not to bother finding him a table when a carriage halted right in front of him.

The curtain lifted, revealing Shen Luoyan's flowery jade countenance.

This pretty military strategist, whose intelligence and planning and scheming skill was well-known throughout the world, laughed sweetly and said, "Ziling! Would you get in the carriage to chat with me for a while?”

A feeling of disgust welled up in Xu Ziling's heart; he coldly replied, "We are treading different paths, we are not scheming against each other, what is there to talk about?”

Shen Luoyan did not pay him the slightest bit of attention; she said, "Xu Gongzi is obviously unaware. Currently rumors are flying around the Eastern Capital like crazy, they all said that the Jade Annulus of He Clan has fallen into one of you and your two friends' hands. This moment n.o.body do not rub their fists and wipe their palms in eagerness, vowing to wrest the treasure out of your hands. Don't you want to know a bit more news?”

Inwardly Xu Ziling was s.h.i.+vering in fear.

Jing Nian Chanyuan lost the treasure just happened the previous night. If the Monastery people did not deliberately leak the news, how could ‘the streets know and the alleys hear'? But when Shen Luoyan spoke, it has always been difficult to tell the truth from the lies; perhaps she was exaggerating on purpose.

Xu Ziling nonchalantly laughed and said, "No need to chat and laugh! Although I know one possible location where the treasure might be stored, but upon self-examination, I know I do not have the qualification to steal it. And I don't believe someone really stole the ruler' seal from there; you don't have to sound me out.”

Shen Luoyan stared at him for half a day, as if she was trying to tell whether he was telling the truth or was just lying to her. Finally she sighed grimly and said, "If you are telling the truth, then you are in a really big trouble. Ci Hang Jing Zhai occupies paramount position in Jianghu; n.o.body dares to mess with them!”

Xu Ziling pretended to be surprised, "What are you talking about?” he asked, "You talk like the Jade Annulus of He Clan is really lost. Where did you hear it from?”

Shen Luoyan swept her gaze around, the pa.s.serby's eyes were on them, sizing them up. Slightly angry, she said, "Just get in the cart and talk, all right? The big street and big alley, where people are coming and going, is not the place to talk about confidential matter.”

Xu Ziling smiled slightly and said, "We have nothing to talk about, they want to think that I stole it, then let them think that I stole it!”

No longer paying attention to her, he turned left toward the Tianjin Bridge.

He had only walked for a dozen paces when Shen Luoyan got off hear carriage and ran after him. Very angrily she said, "What is your head made of? Such a stubborn and obstinate man. You were at the Jing Nian Chanyuan just before the treasure was lost; if I don't look for you, who should I look for? Although you put on a mask, but someone recognized your build.”

Xu Ziling groaned inwardly; fortunately the opposite side still had no conclusive evidence. It's just that all he could do currently was to keep denying insistently.

Shen Luoyan was wearing light yellow tight warrior outfit, her beauty was comparable to the glorious splendor of Luoyang City under the brilliant sun, which Xu Ziling was not in the mood to enjoy.

Sighing, Xu Ziling said, "Where exactly did you hear that from?”

Shen Luoyan replied indifferently, "Do you know that w.a.n.g Bo and Liao Kong have close to fifty years of friends.h.i.+p? This morning he issued Wulin notice to men and horses of all sides, announcing the circ.u.mstances surrounding the theft of the Jade Annulus of He Clan. Furthermore, he said clearly that if by zi hour [11pm-1am] tonight you have not returned the treasure, he will stop at nothing to have the three of you killed. You still think this is a joke?”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, "If I really the one who stole the treasure, I would have flown far away last night; how could I stay here, waiting for others to give me bad luck? I don't care what would happen, if they have the ability, let them come to me!”

By this time the two have reached the Tianjian Bridge. The man was like deep and clear wine, elegant like an immortal amongst the mortals; the woman beautiful and alluring, lucid and elegant, just like a fairy descended to the world. Naturally they attracted the pa.s.ser-bye's glances and envious and admiring gaze.

Who would have thought that they had the appearance of unity, but divided at heart? To talk further, there was this kind of intense murderous air in the radiance of spring between them.

Shen Luoyan roused her spirit to walk with him for a short time; lightly stomping her tiny foot, she said, "Since when did you become arrogant and wild like Kou Zhong? Do you know that after the zi hour tonight you will be Wulin world's public enemy? s.h.i.+ Feixuan and Ning Daoqi will be among those who will look for you. Top martial art masters from the most powerful schools and sects, both orthodox and heretical, will be your enemy.”

Smiling ruefully, Xu Ziling said, "What can I do? I have no choice but to resist the incoming troops, to build earth embankment when the flood comes.”

Lowering her voice, Shen Luoyan said, "If that thing is really in your hands, we can make a deal.”

Sneering, Xu Ziling said, "Even if it were in my hands, I would never make any deal with anybody related to Li Mi. Shen Juns.h.i.+, do you understand?”

Shen Luoyan hung her head in silence. She quietly came closer and spoke in tender voice, "If I had nothing with Li Mi anymore, then what?”

Stunned, Xu Ziling cast her a quick glance; shaking his head in disbelief, he said, "I can only think that you must be joking.”

Shen Luoyan heaved a deep sigh; she nodded and said, "I know you won't believe me, but this time it is really for your own good. Perhaps the biggest problem is that practically there is not a single man who can ascertain who the big treasure thief is? The only possibility is one of you three in disguise, since the body type matches yours. A real man dares to do dares to admit; why should he be afraid of admitting what he had done? Won't he be afraid to be the laughingstock of all men under the heavens?”

Her speech was very formidable, even Xu Ziling was nearly unable to withstand. Smiling bitterly, he said, "That being the case, we have to take advantage before the zi hour to escape from Luoyang, because no matter how we plead our innocence, n.o.body is going to believe us.”

Shen Luoyan pulled him into a side lane; turning to the left and winding to the right, they finally arrived at a quiet place. Lowering her voice, she said, "This is precisely the deal I wanted to make with you, and it was Mi Gong [Duke Mi] himself who gave me instructions. As long as you admit that the Jade Annulus of He Clan is in your hands, not only we do not want you to hand it over to us, all old debts will be struck in one stroke. Furthermore, we will utilize all manpower and physical resources to bring you out of Luoyang. What do you think?”

Listening to this, even Xu Ziling had his heart slightly moved. Frowning, he said, "Stop lying to me. Is Juns.h.i.+ saying that your boss does not wish to take the Jade Annulus of He Clan for his own?”

Shen Luoyan crossly said, "Both you and Kou Zhong can be called smart, but can be also called stupid. Who didn't know that n.o.body does not want to have the Jade Annulus of He Clan? But definitely n.o.body is stupid enough to make his move to steal that thing. Itself, although the Jade Annulus of He Clan is the most famous precious jade since times immemorial, its true worth is actually on its historic significance and what it stands for. Moreover, originally this jade was held in safekeeping of the world's most revered Ning Daoqi, and then from him, it was handed over to the representative of the White Way Wulin, s.h.i.+ Feixuan. Only madman who does not wish to live would try to steal it. Do you really get it? Only when s.h.i.+ Feixuan personally hands it over to you would this Jade Annulus of He Clan be able to play its intended role.”

Xu Ziling was puzzled, "So your Mi Gong is already positive that s.h.i.+ Feixuan won't pick him as the Jade Annulus of He Clan's true owner, and thus he would rather have the Jade Annulus of He Clan disappear forever?” he asked.

Smiling wryly, Shen Luoyan replied, "If I denied that, then I would be lying to you. But under the circ.u.mstances, I am sure you would understand if I can't reveal anything more to you.”

After a short pause, she went on, "Never, ever, underestimate s.h.i.+ Feixuan. There is a very strong possibility that she would be Ning Daoqi's successor as the most outstanding grand master of the Wulin world of the Central Plains. Just by looking at the swift and decisive way [orig. ‘sound of thunder technique'] she handled the missing treasure this time, we know that the method she is using is in profound congruence of the swordsmans.h.i.+p. Very soon you will be forced to a dead end!”

Xu Ziling cut her off with a cold snort, "Therefore, if we really run away, it would be tantamount to admitting that we did steal the Jade Annulus of He Clan. Ha! Shen Juns.h.i.+, your scheme this time is really brilliant, no wonder you are willing to write off our former hatred at one stroke! It's because later on, s.h.i.+ Feixuan and Ning Daoqi will look for us to give us bad luck. Am I right?”

As if she was hurt, Shen Luoyan took a step back; her pretty face turned white. With ashen countenance, she furiously said, "You really don't know others' kind intention. That being the case, you will take responsibility of the aftermath yourselves! I have nothing more to say, just do your best.”

Stomping her feet in anger, she turned around and left.

Xu Ziling remained standing still. A long while later, he chuckled and said, "Since friend already honored me with your presence, why don't you show up?”

From both ends of the alley cold snorts were heard simultaneously, followed by the Changbai Twin-Malevolent Fu Zhen and Fu Yan jumped down from the top of the wall.

The former carried a long-handled ax made of pure steel, only he added a sharp-pointy awl on the ax head, making the weapon effective to chop, hack, as well as pierce, like a spear. The latter's weapon was even weirder; it looked like a sword, but was curved, the blade and tip looked like a beak. In just a glance it was obvious that the style he used must be dangerous and odd.

Xu Ziling was very well aware that he had fallen into Shen Luoyan's carefully laid-out trap. This time the opponent must have spared no effort and was doing everything they could to have him either killed or captured alive.

But remaining calm and without any fear he suddenly raised a mouthful of true qi, and took the initiative to charge the enemy.

※ ※ ※

Dong Shuni pulled Kou Zhong asie to evade a platoon of guards; pouting playfully she said, "How messed up are you? Yesterday, for the whole day, I did not even see your shadow. You are just like heartless rat that as soon as your tummy is full, you ran away as far as you could.”

Seeing that the more than a dozen guards in front of Shangshu Mansion's door were staring at them with eyes wide open, Kou Zhong was embarra.s.sed. "Can't you talk with a bit lower voice?” he said.

Dong Shuni broke out in an extremely charming smile; with an air of innocent, she nodded and said, "As long as you are willing to accompany me, nujia will naturally listen to you!”

Today she was wearing a tight-fitting warrior outfit, white skirt with red tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, so that the curves of her beautiful body was shown in full light: what's supposed to be protruding was protruding, what's supposed to be small was small, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with youthful and fiery seductive charm. However, Kou Zhong was not in the mood to enjoy all of these; he said in astonishment, "Didn't you say you don't like to see me anymore? Why this sudden change of heart?”

Pulling his sleeve, Dong Shuni walked alongside Kou Zhong along the main street of the Imperial City toward the South Gate of the Imperial City. With a child-like excitement, she said, "Because, after thinking about it back and forth, I realized that among all these people, you are the best, unlike those people who crowd around me like houseflies swarm around honey. Much less Shangshu Daren basically has no intention of letting me to marry you; he even forbids me to have any relations.h.i.+p with you.”

Kou Zhong cursed in his heart. Indeed w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chong was up to no good.

Perhaps the theft of the Jade Annulus of He Clan was no more than a trap. It's just that he never expected that Kou Zhong would be successful, and now he was trying to s.h.i.+rk from responsibility and push this matter aside and wipe his hands clean.

Putting her lips at his ear, Dong Shuni softly said, "I want you to accompany me in taking part in a dinner party. We'll talk about plans for eloping then.”

"What did you say?” Kou Zhong blurted out.