What an Audacious and Sly Servant! - Chapter 62

CHAPTER 62 – THE LITTLE ABBESS

What Chu Xun said, he would do it. Early in the morning the next day, a battalion of guards in charge of Anxi Prefecture had already waited below the inn. Chu Xun picked the most imposing clothes and wore it properly. Then, he asked his own shadow guard who was the girl Mo Biao to borrow a sword and equipped himself by holding with his hand. He fearlessly and energetically went down to lead the troops.

The commoners in the small town came out to watch the excitement. They heard the soldiers shouted, “Wishing a thousand years to Crown Prince.” In an instant, they scampered in bustle. The rumoured His Highness Crown Prince was like a heavenly immortal descending to the mortal realm as he appeared at this small town. From today onward, they could become a tourist attraction spot——as the place where Crown Prince had visited before. That inn owner laughed until he almost ran out of breath. In the future, he could put a signboard——the place where the Crown Prince stayed before. He must seal off that first class room number one, it would only be available for others to visit!

Those who didn’t know the truth were still immersed in the shock of the Crown Prince’s sudden appearance. It was up until Chu Xun raided the county magistrate house by having those men and horses surrounded it that everyone regained their senses. For His Highness Crown Prince to suddenly arrive here, it was not to play but to do actual work……

Chu Xun dispatched his soldiers and horses to catch several officials from the Zhou Border Town throughout the night. Although all of them were only minor officials, a stone could destroy a thousand layers of wave. Chu Xun had put them through an interrogation once. The proof were long in his hands. His luck was quite good since he even managed to find information he wasn’t aware of.

“How did you all transport those smuggled salt?” Chu Xun asked on the spot.

One person cried when answering, “Replying to Your Highness, the dock has a special warehouse. The people above transport the smuggled salt into there. We only need to let them pass when they sail off from the dock. Your Highness please investigate clearly, this lowly one really didn’t involve in that business. It’s just our higher ups could crush us to death so we didn’t dare to disobey!”

“Then, as for who transport them, you should know at least right?”

That person rubbed his snot away, “This lowly one really doesn’t know. Every time they will have filled up the whole warehouse in a night. There is no sign of anyone entering nor exiting it so this lowly one feels it is quite weird. Your Highness, this lowly one doesn’t dare to hide the truth from Your Highness. Your Highness, please spare this lowly one’s life!”

Chu Xun got an idea after hearing him. He pulled Mei Qian Deng immediately and went to that fixed warehouse at the port. After checking around, Chu Xun lowered his head and stomped the wooden floor. While stomping, he ridiculed, “Who will stupidly put wooden floor inside the warehouse? The port nears the water, with lots of moisture. The wood will rot easily. This wooden floor on the other hand has a very good quality.”

Mei Qian Deng understood Chu Xun’s meaning. She guessed this place could possibly have a hidden route which connected to other place. After careful checking the floor, she pointed at a plank at the centre, “Let’s try this one.” Chu Xun ran haste to Mei Qian Deng’s side. Squatting, he compared. He knocked and hit repeatedly. In the end, he signalled Mei Qian Deng to go forward.

“Can’t you cut it into half with a punch?”

“En.” Mei Qian Deng punched forward once. It actually broke and revealed a dark crevice.

Chu Xun glanced a few more times at Mei Qian Deng’s hands. Her hands seemed to have delicate skin and fair complexion yet they actually had a monstrous might. He then thought back of the various times it was this pair of monstrous strength hands helped him to carry tea and deliver water. They had even cut apples and snatched away his chicken thighs. The Crown Prince silently thanked female warrior Mei for showing mercy.

The ground was sealed off by nails. Chu Xun summoned his subordinates to pull out around four or five wooden planks together, revealing a dim entrance. Its’ width could accommodate a person at most. The depth was about half a person’s height and there was no stairs. It was much more like a chimney growing from the underground and further below it was a spacious secret room.

This discovery was in time. Just as Mei Qian Deng about to jump down and check it out, she got pulled back in time by Chu Xun. Chu Xun called several shadow guards with excellent martial arts to go down and check first. After a long time, they finally came out and reported. Under there was an underground room about the same size with the warehouse. However, the tunnel from the underground room led to another place. The tunnel was very long. It was a downhill path. There were many forks and stone rooms. The construction was completely exquisite and particular. It was actually an empty, gigantic underground palace.

Chu Xun felt very complicated upon hearing it. He sent his subordinates again to search around one more time down there for a whole day. In the end, a piece of map was given to him.

“This subordinate has drawn places that can be walked under there and checked the corresponding location above them. Asking Your Highness to check it. Some of the paths’ end had been blocked by stone door and we have yet to find the unlock mechanism. We also draw them on the map.”

Senior Official Song approached them and looked, “With such large scale, Prince Chen will surely unable to create it in these few years. Laofu believes this must have long existed. Later, it was found by them. This world really have no lack of strange things. Laofu really want to know exactly which nouveau riche that has nothing to do to dig this underground.” Then, he took the map and conjectured a location. He pointed at a dead path, “This point is the nearest to Ru Nunnery.”

“We will use the hidden path while you go to the Ru Nunnery. We will act in coordination from both sides.”

“Now?”

“Yes, to surprise attack her.”

Senior Official Song jumped, “It’s already blocked. You all can’t walk pass it then what about laofu?!”

“Previously, in the plan there is no such hidden path so just ignore it. Taking the advantage that it has just been found, though we’re not familiar with the situation underground, they too will surely haven’t destroy the evidence. Let’s bet on this.”

Senior Official Song saw Chu Xun was unyielding. This time he really wanted to fight to the end with Prince Chen’s faction. He could only bit his teeth and replied, “If laofu got played to death by that woman, you have to remember to collect laofu’s body.”

“When that abbess was young, she had already said you will live up to a hundred years. If she kill you, won’t it be slapping her own mouth? Senior Official, you can go without worry.” Chu Xun consoled Senior Official Song while pushing this old man forward. Senior Official Song was dumbfounded for a moment. It was his first time thinking that that demonic woman’s curse was not that horrifying.

Senior Official Song went up to the Ru Nunnery alone. Somehow he was standing outside the abbess’ living quarter. He hesitated for a moment before knocking the tightly closed door. Quickly, the door was opened. The one opening it was a nun in green gown. In broad daylight inside the room she was still wrapped in cloak with her whole face vaguely hidden inside.

The abbess smiled slightly, “You still dare to come here.” She then moved aside, giving way to him.

When Senior Official Song heard her, his heart thumped once while he said to himself this was bad. He actually had been found by this woman last time but she didn’t force him to appear. Now, Senior Official Song felt even much unsure in his heart. This woman was extremely smart, he couldn’t bluff his way out. Plus, a matter shouldn’t be attempted more than three times. Many years ago, he didn’t manage to trick her, yesterday he didn’t manage to hide from her, today……

“Since you have long noticed, you should be able to guess why I’m here again.” Senior Official Song hardened himself as he started to intimidate her. He thought to himself, since he had lived to this age, he had no regret if he died now. He gnashed his teeth as he walked into the abbess’ room.

After the door was closed, the abbess removed the cloak, revealing a delicate face.

Age didn’t leave any mark on her face. Other than the paleness from not in contact with sunlight for many years, this woman in front of him appeared to be just a young lady.

No wonder Senior Official Song felt unwell when he returned yesterday. How could anyone live forever and never grow old?

If she wasn’t ghosts or gods, what sort of monster was she?

The young abbess faintly smiled, revealing some mischievous aura. Senior Official Song got a bit absent-minded when seeing this.

“Then, let me guess. You come here to fry me, making me handing out the proof Prince Chen’s colluding with the enemies.”

“……” Senior Official Song at this exact moment really wanted to open the door and kowtow three times towards the east. Emperor, Crown Prince, laofu really is not this woman’s opponent. Today if laofu dies, let’s meet again in next life. Then, he would kill himself with a slap.

The little abbess’ smile became even happier. “Look at yourself, living up to this age yet doesn’t have any improvement.”

Senior Official Song still had some temper left, “I’m the Monkey while you’re Rulai[1]. No matter how much I improve, I won’t be able to flip out of your Five Fingers Mountain[2].”

Little Monkey was how she used to call him. Now that Senior Official Song was old he was Little Old Man. When he was young, he didn’t grow tall. With only that much of martial arts, he roamed the jianghu. Handsome Little Song, frankly interpreted that one surnamed Song. Although he had a handsome face, he had a small figure.

“It’s good that you know.” The little abbess kept her hair long. It was lustrous black. Obviously, she was quite happy hearing Senior Official Song’s words. She twirled around some strands of her hair. Her sharp gaze was fixed around Senior Official Song’s body. “Today my mood is good so I will tell you.”

En?

What did she just say?

For the first time Senior Official Song felt he must be old since his ears were no longer excellent. He seemed to have hear an imaginary sound.

He opened wide his eyes which were surrounded with creases, expressing that this was completely strange to him. The little abbess approached him from the front. Both her hands grabbed his cheeks and playfully pulled. “Look at how old you are, so ugly.”

“……”

“That year, the Emperor believed the slanderous talk and wanted to kill Prince Chen. Prince Chen managed to escape from this ordeal but both his wife and son were dead. This matter, you know too.” The little abbess got enough of pulling. She turned her body around and flew upward. In a blink, she had sat on the table while continuing to play with her hair.

“At that time, Prince Chen hated your Emperor to the very bone. Hence, he came seeking for Sect Master. Ai, our current Sect Master is not actually Sect Master. In front of him, you must never call him Sect Master. He hates this title the most. Prince Chen wants revenge so Sect Master agrees to help him.”

Senior Official Song was used to her doing whatever she want temperance. He wanted to help her get the main point, “Then, why are you here?”

“Oh, I’m at here…… Have you not already guess it? Why do you still need to say it again? Are you senile?”

“Continue, please continue.” If Senior Official Song said anything more, all of them would be tears.

The little abbess was thirsty a bit. She put her legs into the ankle-knee cross position and pointed at Senior Official Song, “First, pour me a cup of water.”

Senior Official Song was already this old yet he eagerly poured the water properly for a little woman and presented it with both his hands. The little abbess accepted it and took a sip. She frowned. It was possible she was unhappy it was a bit hot for she threw it flying to the tea table beside her. Not even a drop of the water leaked.

“Ai, this matter is too long to talk. It’s better for you to ask me.”

“I just want to ask you if you can give me the proof Prince Chen transported the military weapons and dynamites to those northern tribes.”

The little abbess rolled her eyes. She grinned until both her dimples were visible, “How can I just give it to you? Why are you still this innocent?”

Senior Official Song wanted to silently squat at a corner and cry alone. This woman was not only mysterious, she was even a nutjob. In any case, he really couldn’t win against her.

Seeing Little Old Man’s reaction, the little abbess called for his attention by waving her hands and said, “Don’t just put that wanting to die face, it’s ugly to death. Surely your wooden fish head has yet to think many things. Why don’t I tell you while you listen?”

“Please speak.” He didn’t even have the right to say “not listening”.

“Nuo, now think about it first. The Emperor let the Crown Prince go out of the palace to investigate what matter?”

“The matter at here.”

“If they manage to find it, what will happen to Prince Chen?”

“The Emperor will not kill him. At most, he will be confined forever.”

The little abbess changed her sitting posture, “If you’re Prince Chen, when the Crown Prince suddenly goes out of the palace for who know what matter it is, will you be unaware of it even a bit?”

Senior Official Song shook his head. Those were nobles who slept at the edge of the sword, with foxy brain and rabbit body.

“The Crown Prince is not in the palace while the Emperor’s body is unwell. At this time, if something bad happens to the dragon body, will the Crown Prince able to return in time?”

Senior Official Song was shocked. He wanted to lower his body and slap his thigh. This is bad! However, he got pointed by the forefinger of the little abbess. With a stern face, she reprimanded, “What are you doing? Now that you’re old, you no longer care of your appearance. It’s very ugly you know!”

/(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

“Furthermore, the underground palace is our territory. The Crown Prince has the life to go down but has no life to go up, do you believe it or not?”

Believe!

If the Emperor and the Crown Prince were gone, he had no more reason to remain living.

The little abbess however clapped Senior Official Song’s shoulders, “Don’t cry. Your Emperor is far smarter than you.”

“What, what do you mean?”

“I’m tired. Go back now. In the future, don’t come seeking me again. Else, I will kill you.” The little abbess really could change at a pin drop. With a wave of her sleeve, the door opened by itself. She jumped from the table and went towards the sleeping couch. Obviously, she had no intention to lead Senior Official Song out.

Senior Official Song really dreaded this beautiful woman. He didn’t dare to stay. Before leaving, his emotion suddenly stirred up. He turned around and said to the little abbess who had already laid down, “Take care,” before walking out of the room.

He had yet to take three steps when the back of his head got hit by the cup he previously poured. He could hear the little abbess’ lecture in his ears, “Did your ancestor never teach you to close the door in the passing?!”

Moving on to the other side, Chu Xun and Mei Qian Deng had went down the underground palace.

Mei Qian Deng held a torch. There were shadow guards protecting them both at the front and at the back. They went for the most possibly heading for the Ru Nunnery path. They didn’t even aware that Senior Official Song still lost to the abbess. Currently they were focused in arriving as soon as possible with Senior Official Song for a collaborated attack.

“Search around this stone door, see if there is any mechanism.” Chu Xun crawled above that stone door. He hated unable to go through it.

On the bare stone wall, three shadow guards were like geckos sticking on it while the fourth one was like a dog crawling on the ground. All of them knocked and slapped around.

Mei Qian Deng used the torch to illuminate the stone door. For a moment, she saw it was completely of smooth and level stones. She passed the torch to Chu Xun. She personally put both her hands on the stone door and pushed nonstop. She pushed until her small face reddened.

Chu Xun, “This is a stone, not a wood. Don’t try to show off.”

“This wall seems like it can move.”

“……”

When the several shadow guards heard her, they came over in succession to help. With the teamwork of everyone, there was really some movement. Chu Xun was surprised. He quickly pulled back his sleeves and went to the middle to help them.

“One, two, three, hey——”

“One, two, three, en——”

Chu Xun’s face was flushing. That stone door was very weird. Sometimes it would move a little. Sometimes it wouldn’t move even a bit. It made people wonder if its’ mechanism was malfunctioning.

“One, two, three……”

“Pu.” Someone used too much force until farting instead.

A moment of awkward silence. It was so awkward that a certain person wanted to die and come back to life again.

Everyone actually wanted to pretend as if they knew nothing but the certain person clumsily acted in denial, “Just now, is it the sound of the mechanism moving? Come, come, come, let’s do it again!”

“One, two, three, ah——!” The stone door moved as far as a fist length. Chu Xun was about to say something when lots of dust fell from above them. In the next second, all the stones on the stone wall started to shake with “clack, clack” sound.

Mei Qian Deng’s face turned grim, “We seem to have activate the mechanism……”

Chu Xun was greatly alarmed. He pulled her hand and ran back, “Then, stop it immediately!”

Both of them crazily ran a distance. At a turning corner, they came across tens of black masked people. Mei Qian Deng quickly pulled Chu Xun to retreat. Those masked people immediately chased after them. Inside the narrow tunnel, both sides started a desperate fight. Two shadow guards protected Chu Xun and Mei Qian Deng as they sent the two of them to escape to another path.

Before they went down, Chu Xun had already deployed people all over the underground palace. Half the soldiers had been transferred to inside. One of the shadow guards blew a whistle. Someone probably would soon come to support them.

“Weird.” Chu Xun suddenly felt it was not right. “This path previously doesn’t have a branch path. It should be a stone room instead.”

“……”

Seeing those black clothes people were approaching, Mei Qian Deng passed Chu Xun to the other shadow guard. “Earlier when we touched the mechanism, the paths have changed. Bring Crown Prince to evacuate. I will block this side first.”

Naturally Chu Xun was unwilling, “Stay with me.”

“Mo Biao.” Mei Qian Deng made eye signal at the shadow guard beside Chu Xun.

Sister Mo Biao who wore a mask which revealed only a pair of eyes grabbed Chu Xun and retreated backward, “Your Highness, excuse me.”

Chu Xun became frantic. He desperately turned around and screamed, “Mei Qian Deng! Mei Qian Deng! Mei Qian Deng……”

The last thing he saw, which could never be removed from his mind was Mei Qian Deng’s agile back.

[1] Tathagata. Literally, ‘one who has thus arrived.’ It’s one of the titles of Buddha.

[2] For those who don’t know, this is based on the Journey to the West where Sun Wukong (the Monkey) got sealed under the Five Fingers Mountain by Buddha before he was released by Tang Sanzang.