Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter 119: Secret Scout

Facing Chen Chang'an’s blunt questioning, Tao Yuan’s expression twitched slightly. He paused, then shook his head with a bewildered look. "Chang'an, what nonsense are you spouting? Have you been so frightened by the city-wide manhunt that you’ve lost your mind?"

"Don't worry, our colleagues in the Wuyi Guard, including the two Deputy Commanders, don't believe you’re involved with the Dragon-Slaying Society. We will surely clear your name."

"Sigh!" Chen Chang'an gave a dry laugh. "Captain Tao, since I’ve come to see you, I have ten-tenths certainty. Why keep up the charade?"

"You..." Tao Yuan stared at Chen Chang'an, deep in thought for a long time, before finally asking, "Can you tell me how you became suspicious of me?"

"Certainly!" Chen Chang'an walked to the table, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and began to speak calmly. "Let's start with Ganquan Village. Deputy Commanders Cao and Cheng both agreed that a mysterious expert first ambushed the reinforcements you led and then occupied the salt mine. Naturally, I would have encountered him."

"But in reality, aside from the Blue-Armored Men and Liu Jianzhang, no such expert appeared at the salt mine."

"I have fought the Blue-Armored Men; their strength is commendable, but they are far from being able to knock out a sixth-grade Harmony Realm expert like you, Captain Tao, before you could even react."

"Therefore, we can assume the mysterious expert left after disabling the reinforcements and left the rest to the Blue-Armored Men, or perhaps the mysterious expert is an insider who struck when everyone was off-guard."

Taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, Chen Chang'an continued, "At the horse ranch, although you were very careful, deep down you were certain I would die. You used your Taian saber directly, not even bothering to switch weapons."

"The Taian saber has different designs for each rank. The one you used to wound me bore engravings on its surface—only those of the Heaven and Mysterious ranks are qualified to wear such blades."

Tao Yuan asked, bewildered, "Leaving aside those two ranks, there are four people in the Wuyi Guard of the Mysterious rank alone. Why must it be me?"

"Good question!" Chen Chang'an snapped his fingers. "Actually, at first, I suspected Captain Tan Shutong, but you and I made a foolish move that completely cleared him of my suspicion."

"What was that?" Tao Yuan straightened his neck.

Chen Chang'an chuckled. "After I was saved by Imperial Preceptor Dong and woke up, I was certain the attacker was of the Heaven or Mysterious rank within the Wuyi Guard. Since his saber was still left in the armory, whoever didn't have their saber on them was the prime suspect!"

"You were smart, knowing I would use this as a clue. So, while there was chaos outside, you stole Tan Shutong’s saber and wore it at your waist. This move actually backfired."

Tao Yuan’s brow furrowed tightly. "How could you know that?"

Chen Chang'an offered his final explanation. "Tan Shutong spent the entire battle with his wine gourd, so his saber remained sheathed and clean, without a drop of blood. But you were different; I personally saw you outside wielding your blade against enemies."

"When I woke up, I saw the saber at your waist was spotless, yet Tan Shutong’s blade was missing. That proved you stole his saber during the chaos to frame him, trying to cover your tracks."

"Good... very good!" Tao Yuan’s face twitched as he clapped. "Today I’ve learned that 'clever' is an insult. The Society Leader and the others were right—you truly are hard to deal with."

"Not hard to deal with, just exceptionally clever," Chen Chang'an said with a humble brag.

"Hmph!" The next moment, Tao Yuan drew his gleaming Taian saber, a wave of murderous intent swelling around him. He spoke coldly, "So, since you know I am one of the Blue-Armored Men, you still dare to come here and throw your life away?"

Chen Chang'an shrugged nonchalantly, calm and composed. "Why wouldn't I? Doesn't it surprise you, Captain Tao, that I know your secret yet haven't gone to tell Deputy Commander Cao? After all, she trusts me implicitly, no matter what."

Tao Yuan fell silent. Chen Chang'an’s words were no idle threat. From the moment Cao Wu and Cheng Mulong unleashed their seventh-grade Life-and-Death Realm manifestations at Ganquan Village to try and save him, it was clear that this newcomer named Chen held a vital place in the hearts of the two Deputy Commanders.

After a long while, he asked, "Why didn't you?"

Chen Chang'an stood up, leaned forward, and brought his face close to Tao Yuan’s. "Because I want to cooperate with you. Take me to see the true master of the Dragon-Slaying Society. How about it?"

"What?" Tao Yuan’s voice sharpened. "On what grounds? Chen Chang'an, you may not realize what kind of existence you are within the Dragon-Slaying Society!"

"What kind?" Chen Chang'an asked with a wink.

Tao Yuan gritted his teeth. "You have repeatedly disrupted our plans, including stealing the important documents this time. Everyone wants you dead."

"Oh, is that so?" Chen Chang'an chuckled. "The important documents you speak of are the transcripts obtained from Princess Changning, right? I’ve been wondering—the other materials in the ranch were forgeries, so why mix the real transcript among them?"

"Could it be that once this item reaches the palace, you have a way to reveal its contents? Regardless, it is in my hands now. As a bargaining chip to meet the true leader of the Dragon-Slaying Society, is it heavy enough?"

"You..." Tao Yuan was shocked. He couldn't comprehend how Chen Chang'an knew such high-level secrets of the society. Initially determined to kill him, he now hesitated, as the upper echelon had issued a secret order to recover the transcript at all costs. If Chen Chang'an died, the trail would go cold.

He was constrained by the need to protect the prize. Or, to be more precise, not just him, but the entire Dragon-Slaying Society was constrained. Tao Yuan reluctantly sheathed his Taian saber.

Seeing this, Chen Chang'an’s lips curled into a faint smile. He hadn't gambled in vain.

Tao Yuan pondered carefully and asked with caution, "Why do you suddenly want to see our leader? You must provide a reason."

Chen Chang'an had long prepared his performance. His tone shifted from depressed to melodic. "Sigh, I originally took the transcript and the list intending to take full responsibility. In hindsight, it was impulsive, leading to a city-wide manhunt. In this situation, the only way to survive in Chang'an is to cooperate with the anti-imperial Dragon-Slaying Society!"

"Take me to see your leader. As long as you are willing to take me in, the Princess’s transcript is yours."

Tao Yuan stared intently at every minute change in Chen Chang'an’s expression until he finished speaking. "Your request involves confidential matters I cannot decide on immediately. I must report to the higher-ups."

"Fine!" Chen Chang'an snapped his fingers. "How about this? Please communicate with your superiors. Let’s meet at the forest behind the horse ranch at six in the morning tomorrow for your final answer."

"Agreed," Tao Yuan nodded.

Chen Chang'an turned and left without another word. In the watchtower, under the night sky, Tao Yuan’s gaze followed his retreating figure. He sighed, "What a man, this Chen Chang'an. No wonder Cao Wu values him so much!"

*Swish... Swish! Swish!*

Moving at high speed across the rooftops of Chang'an, Chen Chang'an heard the wind whistling past his ears. About two quarters of an hour later, he arrived outside the White Tiger Gate of the Dayang Palace. Hidden by the night in the grass, he waited for the patrols to pass before sneaking into the palace. After much maneuvering, he finally stopped outside the Wutong Garden of the Chuixiu Palace. He knocked on the door seven times—three long, four short.

Soon, the door opened, and a slender figure emerged—it was Zhang Youzhi, who had supposedly died in the commotion earlier that day. He asked with concern, "How is the situation outside?"

Chen Chang'an shook his head with a bitter smile. "More troublesome than I imagined. There’s nowhere to hide."

"Shall I step forward and explain things for you?" Zhang Youzhi suggested.

Chen Chang'an rejected it instantly. "No, Noble Consort Zhang, you must appear only at the critical moment to have the best effect."

"Then why did you come into the palace to see me?"

"I wanted to ask about the Seven-Colored Divine Deer. It feels very strange, but I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong," Chen Chang'an stated his purpose. After all, the appearance of the deer had kept Cao Wu and Cheng Mulong from going to the horse ranch, which felt too much like a diversion.

"Sigh!" Zhang Youzhi sighed. "Ever since the Divine Deer Boy appeared by Her Majesty’s side, she has lost interest in all other male favorites. She sleeps and wakes with him, inseparable, obeying his every word."

"What the..." Chen Chang'an exclaimed.

Zhang Youzhi tilted his head slightly. "What did you say?"

Chen Chang'an waved his hand. "Nothing... nothing. I mean, Her Majesty sleeps with the Divine Deer Boy?"

Zhang Youzhi nodded without further elaboration, clearly unhappy. Chen Chang'an wanted to ask for more information but gave up, bowing in farewell. "I will trouble you to stay a while longer, Noble Consort Zhang. I must go."

Bidding farewell to the "dead" Noble Consort, Chen Chang'an, unfamiliar with the palace layout and needing to avoid guards, slowed down. It took him half an hour to reach the Yangxin Hall.

He poked a small hole in the paper and peered inside. His vision cleared to reveal Bai Wan, attended by young maids, bathing with a boy of about seventeen or eighteen.

This must be the so-called Divine Deer Boy—exquisite, fair-skinned, with a youthful face like an unblemished porcelain doll. He perfectly satisfied every fantasy a young girl might have of a handsome boy. No wonder Bai Wan was obsessed.

"Hmm, wait... what is that?"

Suddenly, Chen Chang'an noticed a