PGC 676+

Chap 687

Chapter 687

Chapter 687: Public displays of affectionOriginal and most updated translations are from volare. If read elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.

Only Long Feiye can go? And they even want his treasured sword, Profound Frost? Exceeding the deadline would make going useless at all? Shoulder the consequences?

The short ransom note had stated four key points. Even Ning Cheng hadn’t been so brash when he was ransoming Gu Beiyue with them. Nor did he have so many requirements.

What kind of deity was this, to be so bold?

“They want you to trade in your sword for the hostage? Is it Cang Qiuzi?” Han Yunxi was puzzled.

“Unlikely. He doesn’t need to resort to such tricks just for Profound Frost,” Long Feiye said lightly. Master was the one who gave him his sword, the sect’s number one weapon. Master had said that the weapon matched his aura. He was the only one who could control its chill, a principle that Cang Qiuzi should understand as well.

“If it’s not Cang Qiuzi, then someone must have hired one of those mercenary cities to kidnap the hostage, then seek you out for a trade,” Han Yunxi continued.

Long Feiye accepted this theory. After a pause, he declared, “This whole thing is suspicious!” Kidnapping someone, then pressuring them--why choose Grand Concubine Yi of all people? The world had long forgotten about her existence! Even Ning Cheng knew that to truly threaten them, targeting kidnap targets like Gu Beiyue or other members of Pill Fiend Pharmacy was the better choice.

“If they were hired to kidnap the hostage, then only Lady Leng Yue or Qi Zonglin remain as suspects,” Long Feiye said. “But silver alone wouldn’t move those two to act.”

“Looks like we’ll only know the truth after meeting them in person,” Han Yunxi grew serious. “Three days. Let’s make preparations and have Chu Xifeng hurry back.”

If the other side had a trap lying in wait, or employed more killers to target Long Feiye at Lost Void Lake, they had to be prepared. Suppose their true assassination target was actually Long Feiye himself? It was a perilous situation!

Han Yunxi was completely serious, but Long Feiye only arched a brow at her. “What if your lordship brings you instead of the Profound Frost Sword? Do you dare to come along?”

Han Yunxi smiled helplessly. Despite her worrying, she understood Long Feiye’s personality. How could anyone simply threaten him on a whim?

“Approved!” she laughed. What dangers hadn’t they faced? They even survived the trials of the Medicine Requesting Cave, didn’t they?

Three days remained. Over the next few days, Long Feiye didn’t do any preparations beyond following his original plans. His time was tight to begin with. On the first day, he brought Han Yunxi to visit South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s estate. Right now, Baili Yuanlong was in charge of its seat. He’d set up Six Ministries as well to form a miniature royal court with jurisdiction over the southlands. Despite holding most of the raw power, the Six Ministries was more than just the Board of War. The other five departments had the support of the old established families, who determined which people were elected to the relevant posts and as high officials. Combined, they still had enough strength to keep Long Feiye in check.

In families with such hereditary emoluments, generation after generation of its members inherited the position at court while elevating their families’ prestige and nobility. Much of these same families had long stopped getting involved in government affairs and simply enjoyed their livelihoods from the issued salary. They were so haughty that they looked down on the officials and members of the royal family, but still pushed for members of their own to assume the posts of high officials. Such was their wild ambitions.