In The Name of Fate[BL]

Chapter 13: Dispelling Poison

Four-faced Shadow, walked steadily to where Muyun pan was seated, her face cold as steel. Muyun Pan cushioned on an exclusive dais in his private parlor, cleaning with a clean wiper a menacing dagger that seemed to whisper secrets of bloodshed. The cold glow of the dagger highlighted his ghastly silhouette, creating quite a frightening sight.

Four-faced Shadow halted before the dignitary, cupping her fists in salute.

"My Lord, as per our investigation, Xu Cong's chances of being alive are slim. It's most likely that he was killed in the skirmish. A grave bearing his name was spotted in his ancestral hometown," she reported, her voice potently zealous.

Muyun Pan suspended his action. The news did not please him. His face grew eerily cold, lifeless, like a wraith risen from the depths of hell.

According to Old Five's confession, after receiving the letter for reinforcements from Guangxi County, he was instructed by Xu Cong, Yu outpost's commander, to standby. Xu Cong's role in the massacre was undeniable. He certainly knew more than Old Five, perhaps much more.

From the look of it, Xu Cong might have faked his death while receiving protection from a formidable authority.

Muyun Pan clutched tightly the dagger in his gloved hand. Four-faced Shadow noticed his gruesome body language and offered placation.

"My Lord, we can keep on investigating. There have to be a loophole somewhere."

Muyun Pan shook his head and said coldly, "that bastard is well protected. Further probing will yield nothing. Instead, it will only cause a stir and attract unsolicited attention."

"Roger. My Lord, shall we kill the herald or still keep him alive?"

Muyun Pan considered. "Speaking of which, Old Five was, a mere herald, lives while the Xu Cong supposedly died in the battle at the northern hills? Fishy if you think of it. Old Five was a pawn in the conspiracy, likely spared so he could spread the rumour of Xu Cong's "death". Whether we keep him alive or not makes no difference. Let's consider him as a variable," Muyun Pan said.

"Roger."

Muyun Pan stared at his cold-glinting dagger and said with a hint of thrill, "it seems we can't get to the bottom of this until we know a thing about Four-winds society."

Having met a dead end, he hoped for Young Master Xiao to do his part.

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Feng Xiao narrowed his eyes at a youthful man standing cross-armed in the corner of a pavilion. A length of black silk blindfold was wound around his eyes, and his appearance alone spoke of smartness and agility.

Earlier, a servant had informed him he had a visitor. He had a hunch about it, and seeing the disabled man set in an undercurrent of extra curiosity. He carried his feet towards the pavilion without second thoughts.

The man stood stock still like a mountain, his features boundlessly cold.

"You're here," he said curtly.

Feng Xiao stared him out without uttering a word.

"Stop staring at me like that," the man demanded.

Feng Xiao's eyes twinkled. "Can you see me?"

"No."

"Then how did you...."

"Sit down."

Feng Xiao gulped and sat down on the slab. The man imitated, then served them both tea from the whistling kettle.

"Young Master, have a cup of tea."

Feng Xiao sneered in his mind. "Oh, So you still recognize me as the Young Master." He drank his tea and asked,