Chapter 110: The Shadow Returns

Those who trade in intelligence are all walking a razor’s edge. Faced with the threats of scoundrels, the shop assistant scoffed dismissively.

As soon as the child left, a shadow appeared inside the room. The shop assistant quickly knelt down. "Master!"

The shadow responded with a grunt, turning its back to the assistant. In a hoarse voice, it said, "The young master commands: within a month, ascertain the military strength of all nations and obtain the defensive layouts of all the cities."

"Is the young master returning?" The shop assistant’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

The shadow gave no answer but coldly said, "That is not for you to ask."

The assistant immediately lowered his head. "Yes, Master."

...

Chu Junhan returned to the military camp like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment, his fury barely contained.

Fang Meng held a cup of tea, sipping it delicately with refined grace. She glanced up at the enraged child and smiled faintly at the corner of her lips.

Chu Junhan turned her gaze to the elegant youth leisurely savoring his tea. Her anger deepened—she had searched through the night, yet found no trace of Tang Chen.

“Master, are you... distressed over not finding Ziyun’s whereabouts?” Fang Meng raised her sleeve and poured a cup of tea for Chu Junhan.

The child sat in the seat of honor, nervously twisting the edge of his garment. After dining twice at the Jiuling Trading Company, a strong curiosity about the establishment had taken root in her heart...

“Master?” Fang Meng waved her hand gently, a smile playing on her lips. “Do not worry. While you were out last night, I have already come up with a plan to rescue him.”

“What plan?” Chu Junhan looked up, her eyes fixed on the youth’s pale face, which seemed to radiate a celestial light. Unless faced with a crisis, his presence alone could dispel some troubles.

Fang Meng smiled serenely. “Have you forgotten what I am capable of?”

The little one answered seriously, “Disguise and voice mimicry? How could I forget? But you shouldn’t pretend to be a woman—it’s far too dangerous!”

Fang Meng did not respond to the child’s words. She took a step forward and cleared her throat. “I was just thinking: since we don’t know where Ziyun is, if they intended to hide him away, even if we storm the entire Liao nation, it would be nearly impossible to find him. Ziyun’s fate might be grim.”

Chu Junhan listened intently and instinctively agreed. “Yes...”

Before she could finish, the child jumped up from the bench. The youth’s voice had turned slightly rough, oddly familiar.

Fang Meng straightened her posture, cleared her throat, and her presence suddenly grew imposing. “I am the King of Liao. You’d best kneel quickly!”

“I forgot you could disguise yourself as a man,” the little boy exclaimed with delight, hands behind his back, circling the youth like a little adult. “Amazing! Junyi, you’d be wasted not working as a spy.”

Fang Meng only smiled faintly. “However, disguising as Old Tamon will only fool the low-ranking soldiers unfamiliar with him. If Kang Dingcheng has a general inside, it won’t be so easy to deceive them.”

“You’re right. If they see through it, you’ll be in grave danger. What would we do then?” The child hovered his chin thoughtfully, suddenly his eyes lit up with a shout: “I’ve got it!”

Fang Meng looked at the child expectantly. In his eyes, Chu Junhan was no ordinary child. Her intellect was extraordinary, her cunning even more meticulous than some adults.

“As long as we don’t enter the city, if we are discovered, we can turn and flee,” the child said, dipping his finger in the tea and gesturing on the table. “We start here, exit through the left fork, and pretend to be Liao troops coming from Changming City.”

“Then, we’ll feign capturing someone and rescue Ziyun. From there, we’ll head straight to our main camp,” Fang Meng added.

The two immediately agreed. Once the soldiers fetched Liao uniforms, the performance could begin.