Chapter 119: A Minor Ambush (Happy New Year)

Two days later, on a snowy night, two figures wearing black conical hats appeared at the blacksmith’s workshop in the East Market. One was the anxious and restless Gongshu Zhan, father to Jixuan and Lingyun, while the other was Qiu Yuanhong, the commander of the Imperial Underworld Agents, known for his twin blades.

Gongshu Zhan had sought help from the Underworld Agents the very night his children went missing. He had met with the Commander of the Underworld Agents, and according to their intelligence, a group of thugs had been seen abducting several children in front of the East Market gate. Investigations revealed that the culprit had headed into the East Market with the captives, meaning his son and daughter were still somewhere within the market, though their exact location remained unknown.

Bringing Qiu Yuanhong back now was a promise kept to his father; he had entrusted the Underworld Agents with the search, hoping the Gongshu family line would not be severed.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, Gongshu Zhan returned to his living quarters. He heard someone inside saying, "I leave it to you," and saw his father speaking to a man who looked like a head constable. They seemed quite cordial; from their conversation, the man appeared to be Head Constable Cao. Upon seeing him return, the constable did not linger, offering a few quick words about conducting a thorough investigation before taking his leave.

Naturally, neither the father nor son noticed the cold, warning exchange of glances between Head Constable Cao and Qiu Yuanhong. They both understood in their hearts that this matter was far from simple; it seemed the Underworld Agents were on the brink of war with the Manichaean sect.

Qiu Yuanhong did not disclose all the intelligence to the blacksmith and his son, cleverly sidestepping the details. He merely claimed they had a lead. After all, they had also entrusted Head Constable Cao with the task, and Head Constable Niu, who had been left with lasting injuries from a grave battle, was still alive and being kept in a secret camp of the Underworld Agents.

This was why Zhang Heng had turned toward the Princess’s estate for support. The current Underworld Agents were no longer the elite force they once were. Their lowly status had become an undeniable reality, no longer just a facade to hide their service to the Imperial Court. Their lower-ranking fighters were pathetically weak and lacked proper weaponry. More importantly, the intelligence from Head Constable Niu had already hinted at a brewing conspiracy.

During this time, Wu Yueling had been drawing a map within her system—or more accurately, a three-dimensional map. Given the vastness of Chang'an, replicating the entire city at once was a daunting task. Beyond this, she was gathering intelligence on the Underworld Agents and the Manichaean sect. Current reports indicated that the two major factions were clashing, with conflicts escalating beyond petty disputes into small-scale, bloody skirmishes. That Zhang Heng had returned to seek her help was within her expectations; she had always intended to make use of the Underworld Agents, and this transaction seemed favorable.

Wu Yueling suddenly realized that whether in her previous world or this one, human relationships were always built upon interests. Thinking of this always dampened her spirits; if only things could be simpler. But that was nothing more than a pipe dream.

She used fire to melt a hole in the ice, placed a canister inside, and covered it with snow for concealment. She had set up over thirty such spots. Because the canal had frozen over, both people and horses could walk across it.

The group ate rice mixed with chili paste while waiting quietly. The biting wind was relentless; Wu Yueling’s thin shoulders were already trembling. She took the sable fur cloak handed down by Chu'er and wrapped it around herself, feeling slightly better.

Surveying the people around her, she saw the Commander of the Underworld Agents and two others. One man stood with a presence as deep and still as water, holding an iron staff. He showed no fear of the cold, though his uncle-like face was flushed red from the frost, clearly circulating his inner energy to keep his blood warm. The other man looked equally haggard, carrying twin blades, his gaze fixed on the distance. He seemed desperate for the Manichaean followers to appear. Behind him, hundreds of skilled Underworld Agents lurked in the cold, clutching their weapons.

Aside from Chu'er, the people she brought included Ma Daha, who was pulling several ropes. The other ends of these ropes were connected to the ceramic canisters buried in the ice.

"Your Highness, if you cannot endure this bitter cold, perhaps you should return first. The scene ahead will be quite bloody, and I worry it might cause you discomfort..." Zhang Heng said, his eyes flickering slightly as he tried to persuade her.

Wu Yueling withdrew her gaze and focused on Zhang Heng’s sincere face. She did not answer immediately, instead asking, "Is the intelligence truly accurate?"

"The Underworld Agents never act without preparation. The intelligence comes from our mole. The orders he received stated that a batch of very important cargo would be transported out tonight!" Zhang Heng considered this for a moment and concluded the intelligence could not be wrong.

Upon hearing his firm reply, Wu Yueling noticed a small head poking out from his robes—it looked like a mouse—which squeaked and shrank back, shy of the crowd. "That is enough. Some things must be confirmed with one's own eyes. Do you think I fear blood?"

"Haha, I should have guessed that Your Highness is a heroine among women. To be able to save the Saint, you surely would not fear blood. It was my presumption!" Zhang Heng remained composed on the surface, but inwardly he struggled. Now was not the time to reveal everything. If his suspicions were correct, he would need to use this young princess to contend with that person in order to ensure the survival of the Underworld Agents.

Despite his words, the reality was that their intelligence here was insufficient. The Manichaean stronghold she had burned down showed no signs of being rebuilt or reused. Currently, they had only scouted three Manichaean strongholds, but these were nothing more than ordinary temples where common foreign merchants or sect followers worshipped their so-called god.

Before long, firelight appeared on the frozen canal. Then, dozens of lights emerged, and blurry figures moved across the ice—about fifty of them, leading horses laden with burlap sacks. That must have been the cargo.

Because of the white snow, the world was cast in a grey haze. Wu Yueling could see the undisguised excitement on Zhang Heng’s face. With a single gesture from him, hundreds of men charged forward. Shouts of battle immediately tore through the cold, silent night. She signaled Chu'er to inspect the so-called cargo and to rescue the Underworld Agent commander. Chu'er had another task: to capture the leader and bring him back for interrogation.

Watching the battle from afar, she found it strange. Logically, if the enemy were escorting a high-ranking commander, they should not collapse at the first touch; they should have at least put up a fight. Could this be a diversion—a false report?

After Chu'er returned with a captive, she signaled Ma Daha to pull the ropes. A violent series of explosions shattered the frozen canal. Fire and heat erupted in mushroom-shaped bursts. The Manichaean followers were plunged into the bone-chilling water, left to face the freezing cold and the capture of the Underworld Agents.

The small explosions shook the Underworld Agent Commander, though this was clearly not the time for shock.

After Chu'er carried the captive away, Wu Yueling brought her men to the edge of the canal. Even in the frigid air, a faint scent of blood hung in the wind. Glancing at the Commander’s disappointed and embarrassed expression, she realized things had not gone as hoped. Looking into the bags, she was shocked to find not only the little junior brother Jingxu, but other children of similar age inside as well.