12dz Chapter 55 Subduing the Embroidered Uniform Guard: A New Pawn!
Chapter 55 Subduing the Embroidered Uniform Guard: A New Pawn!
"revenge……"
Qin Shuyu's voice was very soft and weak, like a candle flame flickering in the wind, which could be extinguished at any moment.
But the deep-seated, irreconcilable hatred contained in that voice was like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely branding Yang Qian's heart!
Looking at his sister-in-law in his arms, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown due to the memories she shouldn't have to bear, he felt as if his heart was being pierced by a thousand steel needles at the same time, experiencing excruciating pain!
He would rather she remained the simple, kind, and carefree young lady from the Qin family village than see her consumed and tormented by the flames of hatred like she is now!
All of this is the fault of that damned Imperial Guard in front of me!
If it weren't for his loose tongue!
If he hadn't uncovered this cruel truth in order to save his own life!
My sister-in-law wouldn't have to endure all of this!
A chilling killing intent once again emanated from Yang Qian!
He slowly raised his head, his dark eyes devoid of any emotion, filled only with a bottomless, chilling killing intent!
"You deserve to die!"
Yang Qian looked at Shen Lian and said, word by word.
The moment Shen Lian met Yang Qian's eyes, his soul seemed to freeze!
He felt as if he were being stared at by an ancient, ferocious beast from the deepest hell!
That was a pure, unadulterated intent to kill!
He had no doubt that the enraged boy in front of him would twist his head off without hesitation the next second!
"No! Wait!"
Shen Lian was terrified! He roared with all his might, "You can't kill me! Killing me will do you no good! Keep me alive, I'm still useful! I'm of great use!!"
He knew that any threats would be futile, and the only thing he could do was prove his worth!
Prove that you are more useful alive than dead!
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Qian's boiling killing intent subsided slightly.
He slowly stood up, looking down at the Jinyiwei commander who looked like a stray dog.
"Tell me, what use are you to me now?"
Seeing that Yang Qian seemed to be wavering a little, a flame of hope ignited in Shen Lian's heart!
He suppressed the excruciating pain in his chest and the fear in his heart, and his mind raced.
"The...first!"
He gasped for breath and said, "I am a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! A court official personally appointed by the Emperor! If I die, the court will definitely investigate thoroughly! At that time, you and your small town will face annihilation! But if I am still alive, I can help you suppress this matter!"
"I can report to the court that Lord Zhuiming died at the hands of that mysterious blind grandmaster! And that grandmaster, after a bloody battle with Lord Zhuiming, was also seriously injured and escaped without a trace! In this way, the court's attention will be completely diverted! They will only investigate that fictitious blind grandmaster! And will no longer bother you!"
"second!"
Shen Lian glanced at Qin Shuyu, who was still sobbing slightly in Yang Qian's arms, and continued, "I know you want to avenge her! However, the Li Yang Dynasty is full of experts and heavily guarded! Even if you are highly skilled, it's like throwing an egg against a rock!"
"And I am a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! Our influence extends to every country in the world! We have also planted countless spies and informants in the Li Yang Dynasty! As long as you keep me alive, I can use the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intelligence network to provide you with all the information about the Li Yang Dynasty and that coup d'état back then! I can even help you contact those old subordinates who are still loyal to Marshal Qin! With my help, your chances of revenge will increase by at least 50%!"
"Third, and most importantly!"
Shen Lian stared intently at Yang Qian, throwing out his last and most significant bargaining chip!
"I can be your pawn! Your most important pawn planted within the Ming Dynasty court!"
"I can provide you with every move the court makes! I can deliver any false information you want! I can help you cultivate your power base and eliminate dissidents in secret! With me by your side, you'll have the sharpest eyes and the sharpest blade in the Ming Dynasty! A living commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is far more valuable to you than a cold corpse!"
"Young Master Yang, you're a smart man. No matter how you look at it, you won't lose out on this deal!"
After saying these words, Shen Lian seemed completely exhausted, breathing heavily.
He has laid all his value on the table.
Whether they live or die next depends entirely on the other person's decision.
Yang Qian fell silent after hearing Shen Lian's words.
He had to admit that Shen Lian was indeed a very intelligent and capable person.
Even in such a desperate situation, he was able to remain calm and analyze all his own value in a clear and logical manner.
Moreover, every point he made precisely hit Yang Qian's weak spot.
Killing Shen Lian was simple; it only took one punch.
But what happens after you kill them?
Just as Shen Lian said, the imperial court will definitely be furious.
When the time comes, it might not be just a commander of a thousand households, but a commander, the director of the Eastern Depot, or the Iron-Blooded Marquis of the Dragon Guard Manor!
There are an endless number of imperial guards!
Even if he's a great fighter, can he defeat a state apparatus?
Moreover, the revenge for his sister-in-law must indeed be taken.
The Li Yang Dynasty was a completely unfamiliar territory for him. If he could have the assistance of the Jinyiwei, an intelligence agency that was spread all over the world, his path to revenge would undoubtedly be much smoother.
As for the third point... how about planting a pawn of one's own within the imperial court?
The temptation was simply too great! So great that even Yang Qian couldn't resist!
He looked at Shen Lian on the ground, who was standing there nervously, waiting for his verdict, and smiled.
"You're very smart," he said calmly. "You've convinced me."
Upon hearing this, Shen Lian's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled down!
He won his bet!
He survived!
"but……"
Yang Qian's tone suddenly shifted, "How can I trust you? How can I guarantee that after you leave here today, you won't immediately return with even more people to arrest me?"
Shen Lian felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this; he knew this was the final test.
Without thinking, he pulled out a very old-fashioned thread-bound book from his pocket.
"This is a unique internal cultivation method practiced by our Embroidered Uniform Guard, called the Xuanming True Qi."
He respectfully handed over the manual, saying, "This cultivation method has a fatal flaw: every forty-nine days, one must take a unique antidote made from seven highly poisonous substances, otherwise one's true energy will reverse, causing countless ants to devour one's heart, leaving one unable to live or die!"
"The formula for this antidote is known only to the successive commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the commanders of the Northern Garrison. I will now offer you this cultivation method. You only need to cultivate this method, and then find a way to obtain the antidote formula from me. At that time, my life will be completely in your hands! Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would never dare to betray you again!"
Shen Lian was truly desperate to survive, even resorting to this almost self-harming method to demonstrate his loyalty.
Yang Qian looked at him, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
He took the book "Mysterious Dark Qi" and flipped through it casually.
[Ding! Detected a high-grade Xuan-rank martial art, "Xuanming True Qi." Would you like to learn it?]
Top grade Xuan level?
It's not bad at all.
However, Yang Qian naturally looked down on him.
All he wanted was a means to control Shen Lian.
"very good."
Yang Qian nodded.
He put the manual back into his pocket, then walked up to Shen Lian and pointed a finger at his brow!
A surge of pure and domineering golden divine and demonic internal energy instantly flooded into Shen Lian's Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness!
"ah--!"
Shen Lian felt as if his head was about to be torn apart!
An indescribable, excruciating pain caused him to let out a piercing scream!
He felt as if a seed had been planted deep within his soul, a seed that could explode at any moment!
"This...this is..." Shen Lian stared at Yang Qian in horror.
"It's nothing."
Yang Qian withdrew his finger and said calmly, "I just left a little something in your mind. You'd better behave yourself from now on, or I can make your soul vanish and never be reincarnated with just a thought."
Yang Qian naturally wouldn't cultivate that bullshit "Mysterious Nether True Qi"; he had better ways to control people.
That was a demonic secret technique he had comprehended from the "Seven Limits of Devouring Heaven and Destroying Earth"—the "Divine Demon Mark"!
Once this mark is planted, it becomes one with the host's soul, and life and death are in the hands of the caster!
More potent and reliable than any poison!
As Shen Lian felt the golden mark deep within his soul, clinging to him like a leech, all color drained from his face, and his eyes were filled with endless despair and fear.
He knew that from this moment on, he had truly become the most loyal dog of the devilish boy in front of him, with no room for resistance whatsoever.
"Your subordinate... Shen Lian..."
He struggled to his feet, then knelt down before Yang Qian and kowtowed deeply.
"Greetings... Master!"