Chapter 58: In Retrospect, the World is My Foe!
Translator: Whatsyourissue Editor: ICheah
“A clean death?” Yun Yang asked. “Yes, a clean death would be pleasant, wouldn’t it? Let me ask you again, where did you obtain the intelligence on the Nine Supremes from?”
“I… I got the intelligence from the nineteenth of the first month… it’s the truth!” Chu Tianlang said trembling, “The nineteenth of the first month has resources in the military…”
Yun Yang nodded and said, “As a reward for your dishonesty, this time… an hour.”
The Devil’s Convulsion appeared once more but this time, it was not only his four limbs but also his spine as well. Yun Yang was heedless of Chu Tianlang’s pleas, and stuffed the rag in his mouth even as he continued to cry, “I’ll tell! I’ll tell!”.
He then turned to leave.
The torment lasted the entire hour.
When Yun Yang returned, Chu Tianlang could only exhale and had difficulty breathing in. His entire being was like a pile of mud, soaked through with water.
His gaze towards Yun Yang was one of mute appeal.
Yun Yang stopped the method on him unhurriedly and said lightly, “Did you really get the intelligence from the nineteenth of the first month? I could let you continue to feel this twenty times a day, leaving four hours in between for you to regain your breath. Don’t worry, ten years is a long time…”
“No, no, no, not the nineteenth of the first month…” Chu Tianlang’s face was ashen as he said anxiously, “It’s another person but I don’t know his identity. But I am certain he’s not from the Four Seasons Tower.”
“Go on,” Yun Yang sat down and said pleasantly, “His appearance, aura, manner, characteristics, weapons, physique. Tell me all about them.”
As Chu Tianlang recalled the details with all his might, tears and snot ran freely down his face.
He had thought that he was all hard bones and could take any kind of punishment and torture but he had overestimated himself. He could not bear the agony any longer. It might be fine if he still had mystical skill within him but it seemed to have dissipated. Of course, the last straw that broke the camel’s back was the fact that he had no more reason or hope to continue living.
His family was gone, his cultivation had been destroyed. What else was he holding on to?
“It was a very muscular man. He was wearing a mask but I could feel the unique temperament of blood and steel that belong only to those in the military. He had a very imposing manner, like one that holds a high position. At the very least, he would fit right in among the generals.”
“He was about eight feet tall, the joints on his hands were wide and big, his voice was full and deep but it seemed put-on, like a disguise.”
“When addressing him, I have only ever called him higher official… I don’t know his real name.”
“His body had a strong scent of blood, a fiendish air that comes about from… wanton murder.”
Chu Tianlang was absolutely serious in his recitation, careful not to miss a single word.
Yun Yang squinted his eyes slightly as he searched for this person in his mind based on Chu Tianlang’s description. He was now completely sure that Chu Tianlang was not lying to him. What he said was all true.
Chu Tianlang’s gaze had already broken down, his pupils were a hazy blur.
This could not be faked.
“High ranking, gone through wars and slaughter; imposing, well-built, muscular, wide joints…” Yun Yang mentally shuffled his connections and acquaintances based on the description.
Of course, he had to consider the possibility that this person had altered his appearance. Anyone Yun Yang had filtered out were only suspects at this stage.
“What else?” Yun Yang asked calmly.
“… No more…” Chu Tianlang thought hard but shook his head blearily.
“B*llshit!” Yun Yang said with a cold edge to his voice, “Whose man was it! You, Chu Tianlang, don’t you dare tell me that you haven’t made your own judgment on this!”
Chu Tianlang shuddered and said, “I would guess that he was a prince's’ man… But I really can’t tell exactly who he was supporting. I had thought he was from the crown prince but I discovered later that it was ambiguous, and may not be at all.”
Yun Yang frowned. This answer was out of his expectation.
He had almost locked his target down to the crown prince but was there now a plot twist here?
“What proof do you have?” Yun Yang asked.
“Young master may have known that His Highness the crown prince and I could be considered as acquaintances. Besides, His Highness the crown prince has specifically paid a visit to the Manor of Sirius to thank my saving grace. A year ago, His Highness the crown prince has come over once more to take his ease. He seemed to have a heavy heart, sighing and grieving over the Nine Supremes’ death. He also loathed the situation in the imperial court too. I watched as His Highness the crown prince expressed his true feelings, he didn’t seem to bother to put up a front.”
Chu Tianlang thought about it as he said, “It was also from that time onwards that I began to have my suspicions.”
Yun Yang’s brows locked into a deep frown like the three vertical lines that formed a Chinese character.
“That year when you’d saved His Highness the crown prince from danger, was it from a collaborated plot? Or did you plot it yourself? Could it somehow have been a coincidence?” Yun Yang asked.
“It was a collaborated plot.” Chu Tianlang was now speaking truthfully without hiding anything.
“Collaborated plot…” Yun Yang continued, “Then how did you know of the whereabouts of His Highness the crown prince?”
Chu Tianlang answered woefully, “We have one of our men by His Highness the crown prince’s side. I don’t know who this person is but he must have a pivotal role amongst the significant figures around His Highness the crown prince.”
Yun Yang nodded. “What else do you know? For example, on the single-way communication as the twenty-first of the first month, do you know who your lower contact is? Who is you upper contact? How many others do you know of?”
Chu Tianlang’s mind was clearly struggling to answer this.
As he lifted his eyes, only Yun Yang’s gentle and kind expression greeted him.
He could not help but shudder as he said, “I know that the nineteenth of the first month is a blacksmith. The twentieth of the first month is a general in the military, his alias is Zhenbei. I’ve contacted him before but he was also wearing a mask at that time. I could see a curly beard under his mask, grayish and white. The twenty-second of the first month is an official in the palace. I don’t know his real name either. I don’t know about the rest as well.”
Yun Yang was surprised.
The infiltration of the Four Seasons Tower was petrifying. Among those Yun Yang was aware of, there was already a Deputy Minister of Board of War, an aide of His Highness the crown prince, an unknown general, an official in the palace, a military general with the alias Zhenbei, a blacksmith, and a master of the Manor of Sirius in the martial arts world.
It was absolutely terrifying.
The Four Seasons Tower had its presence in every profession.
However, this Chu Tianlang had obviously known more than the nineteenth of the first month. It was no wonder Chu Tianlang was unwilling to be subservient as much as Li Changqiu minded about this, Yun Yang thought to himself.
“What you know seems to already have extended past your job scope,” Yun Yang commented coldly.
“I… I’ve been taking notice secretly and wished to move a step up.” Chu Tianlang said, “I had plans of my own. As long as I’ve reached the position of hall master, the Supreme Lord will pass the Occult of Immortality…”
Yun Yang’s soul trembled slightly. “Occult of Immortality?”
“Or so it is…” Chu Tianlang wore a forlorn expression. “I’ve worked on it for so many years and have only gotten this much out. Furthermore, they’re all extremely vague.”
“Anything else? Since you’ve met this General Zhenbei, you must have observed more than this.” Yun Yang’s gaze was chilling as he stared relentlessly at Chu Tianlang.
“He was very tall, about eight feet in height, muscular and well-built. He probably weighed about two hundred catties. He had about him the air of a superior who could determine life and death.” Chu Tianlang tried his best to recall everything he could. “He must have a pretty high position. Oh, right…”
His eyes suddenly shone with remembered details.
“What is it?” Yun Yang’s eyes glinted as well.
“This person is a satyr. He had come to my manor previously on some other matter and I’d arranged a maid to share his bed. According to the maid, his… buttocks had a crescent shaped scar on the left cheek.”
Yun Yang’ attention perked up at that.
Satyr, scar on the left buttock.
This was an important hint. At least, there was something distinct to go on. Although the spot was not exactly decent, it would still be easier to find the person with his personality and mark given.
He glanced askance at Chu Tianlang. This fellow was really something indeed! He had arranged a maid to sleep with him. No wonder he wore a look of embarrassment on his face!
“And then…”
This time, Chu Tianlang thought long and hard before he finally gave, “I really know no more…”
Yun Yang frowned and asked, “Then why did the Four Seasons Tower want to take on the Nine Supremes?”
The struggle within Chu Tianlang was obvious to anyone observing him; the question was testing the limits of his acquiescence.
Yun Yang was in no hurry, and spoke in an even tone, “The Four Seasons Tower is a titan, but it has no conflict with the worldly imperial power. It has never wanted to occupy the whole world as its own but operates as a transcendent underground force… In the past, the Four Seasons Tower has never done anything during the rise and fall of nations. Why wipe out the Nine Supremes this time around?”
Chu Tianlang only kept quiet as a reply.
Yun Yang smiled gently and stood up saying, “Since you’re not willing to answer, I won’t force you either. Have a rest first, I’ll heal your injuries. I will come ask you again three days later when you’re just about recovered.”
Chu Tianlang shuddered as he quickly said, “No, no, I’ll tell!”
Continuous torment was a totally different matter compared to giving one enough time to heal then going through the torment all over again. Just thinking about the feeling had Chu Tianlang’s whole body twitching in remembered agony.
Yun Yang stood and smiled faintly. “I won’t force you to.”
“I’m willing to speak.” Chu Tianlang hissed. “I only beg that you let me die after I finish.”
Yun Yang said indifferently, “That is impossible. I will need to verify everything that you’ve said. After that, I will naturally let you have a gratifying death should you deserve it.”
“I know what I’ve said is vague. I made a lot of my own assumptions based on my observations.” Chu Tianlang’s voice was weak. “Regarding the Nine Supremes, the first reason seems to be if they were to continually develop their forces, they would eventually be able to conquer the world. Our Supreme Lord was very bothered by this possibility. This is what I inferred…”
Yun Yang lowered his gaze as he said softly, “Go on.”
“There are a lot of people who wanted the Nine Supremes to vanish from the face of the earth… including people from inside Yutang itself, the military and the imperial court, the royals and the nobles. The sentiment was even stronger in other nations…”
“Moreover, there were a lot of mysterious figures and clans that helped in taking on the Nine Supremes. This is all that I know…” Chu Tianlang diligently recalled. “I remember there were a few lines of prophecy running about in the martial arts world that time but they disappeared rather quickly.”
Yun Yang frowned almost instantly as he spoke nonchalantly, "When the Nine Supremes unite, there will be an upheaval of heaven and earth, of the world and empires alike. The Nine Supremes shall reign unchallenged."
Chu Tianlang lifted his head abruptly. “Correct! Exactly those words!”
Yun Yang inhaled deeply.
Chu Tianlang said, “I remember that the words, ‘supreme monopoly’ had wreaked havoc at that time, as this was uttered by Heaven’s Inquisition!”
“It was a prediction of the future!”
Yun Yang sighed slowly and murmured, “So that’s how it is… The whole world wants the Nine Supremes to die…”A chilling glow flashed across his eyes.
Heaven’s Inquisition.
What were Heaven’s Inquisition’s intentions, to utter such words?
His prophecies, combined with the legend of the Nine Heavens Demesne, was certain to put the Nine Supremes in the public’s crosshairs...the target of the martial arts world and everyone else!
“Last question.” Yun Yang said, “Who is your hall master? Who is the Supreme Lord?”
Chu Tianlang smiled bitterly. “I believe whoever you asked won’t know this either.”
Yun Yang nodded without surprise. “Right.”
…
Yun Yang exited the secret chamber to the courtyard and sat under the flower canopy quietly, feeling the mounting pressure. As the incident’s mystery was being unveiled bit by bit, Yun Yang realized that the enemies he had to face had increased proportionally.
A chilling breeze blew by under the icy moon.
Yun Yang suddenly needed a strong drink.
“There are a lot of people who wanted the Nine Supremes to vanish from the face of the earth… including people from inside Yutang itself, the military and the imperial court, the royals and the nobles. The sentiment was even stronger in other nations… Moreover, there were a lot of mysterious figures and clans that helped in taking on the Nine Supremes”
from inside Yutang itself, the military and the imperial court, the royals and the nobles… mysterious figures and clans.”
Yun Yang mumbled, his handsome face suddenly turned hard and menacing.
“We guard homes and protect the nation, we risk our lives and flirt with death; we braved so many wars and battles, we have no other hidden agendas. All of this… for what?”