Chapter 142: Secret mission

At this moment, the doors of the side hall opened.  A messenger walked in and respectfully said, "Sirs, his highness has asked Sir Qu Chu, Feng Ji Xing, Qin Lei, Chu Huai Sheng, and Lin Mu Yu to enter the main hall together!"

"Oh?"  Qu Chu revealed a faint smile.

Everyone followed along, but they did not know why the emperor called them in.

Lin Mu Yu felt that this was a little strange.  Qin Jin did not want to see him earlier, but now he was calling him into the main hall with Qu Chu, Feng Ji Xing, and the others.

Several servants quickly put away the emperor's writings and Qin Jin was sitting on the throne.  He lowered his head and his eyes looked gloomy, but he did not say anything.

They stood in two lines on both sides with Qu Chu and Qin Lei standing in front, Feng Ji Xing in the middle, and Lin Mu Yu and Chu Huai Sheng at the end, standing in an orderly fas.h.i.+on.  Qu Chu walked forward and said with cupped fists, "Your majesty, may I ask what orders you have for us?"

Qin Jin slowly looked up and said, "Swordsman Hall….."

Qu Chu was stunned.

Qin Jin continued to say, "The Firebird Division has been investigating the Swordsman Hall with the Ministry of Justice, but they kept coming up with the same result.  Even with sir Qu Chu personally investigating, the secrets of Swordsman Hall are very well hidden…..If we can't find any results, we will have to ban Swordsman Hall from our nation!"

Feng Qi Xing quickly cupped his hands and said, "Your highness, you mustn't do that!  The Swordsman Hall has a large holding in the martial world, so if you really ban Swordsman Hall, then the army will lose many people."

"What's not good about it?"

Qin Jin knits his brows, "If the country abandons martial arts and works on academics, can't we just do that instead?"

Feng Ji Xing said, "The nomadic people of the south always invade southwards and the southern regions are not harmonious.  If the empire truly bans Swordsman Hall, then many people will not study martial arts and they won't enter the army which would be a large problem to the royal army."

Qin Jin's hand suddenly slapped down on the table, making the doc.u.ments fly into the air.  With a face filled with anger, he said, "Swordsman Hall spent people to harm Xiao Yin and Xiao Xi, are we supposed to let this matter go?"

Feng Ji Xing was stunned.  He had never seen the emperor this angry in all the years he had served him.

Qu Chu quickly cupped his fists and said, "Your highness, this minister is incompetent, not being able to find the secrets of Swordsman Hall.  It is because the followers of Swordsman Hall are constantly moving and the deacons are elected by their fellow members, so it is really hard to track."

"Then you have to investigate more thoroughly!"

Qin Jin's face turned pale and he said, "Otherwise, I don't know when I'll be a.s.sa.s.sinated by Swordsman Hall.  Do you want to see that day come?"

"Of course this minister does not!"  Qu Chu, Feng Ji Xing, and the others all cupped their hands.

"Think of a suggestion then….."  Qin Jin let out a sigh.  Then in a tired manner, he slowly fell onto the throne.

At this moment, Chu Huai Sheng cupped his hands and said, "Your highness, this subordinate thinks that we should send someone smart and strong to infiltrate the capital city branch of Swordsman Hall.  Only by being entering Swordsman Hall can one find the people behind it.  This servant is willing to enter into Swordsman Hall."

Qin Jin's lips curled and he said, "Commander Chu Huai Sheng is volunteering?  But…..I've heard that commander Chu is romantically involved with the G.o.d Marquis Zeng Yi Fan's daughter.  If this is true, then commander Chu is not suitable for this mission."

Chu Huai Sheng's body trembled hearing this and quickly kneeled down on one knee and said, "Your highness, although Chu Huai Sheng is in love with Zeng Xiang, my heart is still unwavering.  The world can testify to this and the sun and moon can acts as my witness!"

"I know."

Qin Jin raised his hand and said, "Stand up.  I know your thoughts, that's why I called you in, however commander Chu is really not suited for this mission.  You are one of the leaders of the Dragon Guard and tasked with the mission of guarding me and her highness Yin, so you cannot be absent without authorization.  We can just give this matter to the experts of the Firebird Department or the Ministry of Justice to handle!"

Chu Huai Sheng's expression turned ugly.  Lin Mu Yu saw this and he knew the importance of this matter.  If he lost the emperor's trust, Chu Huai Sheng might even be released from the Imperial Guards.

"Your highness."

Lin Mu Yu came out and respectfully cupped his hands as he said, "I am one of the Falcon Guard leaders and it is the Falcon Guards' duty to gather military intelligence.  Chu Huai Sheng is my sworn brother, so I am willing to replace him for this mission."

Qin Jin looked over at him and suddenly revealed a smile.  Then he said, "The Swordsman Hall is filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons, you will be in danger once you are discovered.  Lin Mu Yu, are you really willing to accept this mission?"

"Yes."

"Good, then we'll hand this matter to you.  Qin Lei, you will be responsible for this."

Qin Lei cupped his fists, "Yes, your highness!"

"I am tired, you can go now."

"Yes!"

Everyone withdrew.  When they left the hall, Qu Chu immediately frowned and said, "Ah Yu, you really aren't afraid of anything.  You don't know what kind of place Swordsman Hall is, so if you rashly charge in, you will really lose your life."

Lin Mu Yu revealed a smile, "It's fine, I will act accordingly."

"Un."

Qu Chu continued to say, "Once you enter Swordsman Hall, you must change your surname.  You can't freely use your gourd martial spirit and freely reveal it because you're the only person to have come back from the Heaven Connecting Tower.  The entire capital knows that in the Imperial Guard, the only one with excellent swordsmans.h.i.+p and a tenth grade gourd martial spirit is Lin Mu Yu.  You can't use your gourd spirit and swords art, do you understand?"

"I understand Old Qu……"

Qu Chu stopped moving and then said, "That's right, you want to know how to enter Swordsman Hall, right?  You must know that Swordsman Hall is not a normal place and it is more of a mercenary group.  With your strength it is easy for you to enter, but it's better if you have an introduction."

"Introduction?"  Lin Mu Yu was surprised, "Out of us, who is close with Swordsman Hall?"

Feng Ji Xing could not help smiling, "Ah Yu, we are all Imperial Guards who serve the Qin Family and the Swordsman Hall are a group of free people, you think we would be close to them?"

Chu Huai Sheng knit his brows and said after a bit of hesitation, "You do know a person that could help you enter Swordsman Hall."

"Oh, what person?"

"It's a person you're very close to."

"Who?"

"Jin Xiao Tang!"  Chu Huai Sheng revealed a faint smile, "Jin Xiao Tang is one of the heads of the Imperial Capital Store.  Being able to become one of the heads, that girl must have taken all kind of black and white merchandise.  I heard that Jin Xiao Tang has bought quite a bit of "merchandise" from the Swordsman Hall mercenaries, making things very clear."

"Alright, I understand."

Lin Mu Yu cupped his fists and then prepared his horse.  He took off all his armour and wore normal clothes.  After bidding farewell to Qu Chu, Feng Ji Xing, and the others, he headed off to the Imperial Capital Store.

This matter was related to Qin Yin, Tang Xiao Xi, Chu Huai Sheng, and everyone else's safety, so he had to complete this mission.

Moreover, Lin Mu Yu could feel that there was a large scheme behind Swordsman Hall, one that could decide the life and death of the empire.

Inside the Imperial Capital Store, Jin Xiao Tang was calculating the profit they made today.  Smiling at Jin San Pang beside her, she said, "Father, in a single day, our entire Imperial Capital Store has made a total of over one million gold coins.  Hee, hee, this is great.  Now we'll see how the other companies fight for the t.i.tle of best company in the capital with us, humph!"

Jin San Pang smoked his pipe and looked up at his daughter to say, "It really is lucky that we have Lin Mu Yu.  That brat has quite a few secrets hidden on him……"

"That's right."

Jin Xian Tang winked and said with a smile, "Anyway, it's all good since big brother Ah Yu is selling his merchandise in our store.  We don't need to find out the things that he doesn't want to tell us."

At this moment, an outside manager came in and said, "Young miss Xiao Tang, Lin Mu Yu is here to see you."

"He's here to find you?"  Jin San Pang was stunned, "Does he have any business with you?"

Jin Xiao Tang narrowed her beautiful eyes and said, "No, it must be something else.  I will go and see what it is, father, you can continue to drink your tea."

"Alright."

In the back hall, Lin Mu Yu was already there when Jin Xiao Tang appeared.  She immediately revealed a happy smile and said, "Big brother Ah Yu, what matters do you have with Xiao Tang this time?"

Lin Mu Yu looked to the left and right and then said, "I want to talk with you in private."

Jin Xiao Tang was very bright and immediately sent everyone away.  With a smile, she said, "Now can you say it?"

Lin Mu Yu hesitated for a second and then said, "Xiao Tang, are you close with the people of Swordsman Hall?"

"This matter….."  Jin Xiao Tang was somewhat hesitant as she asked, "Why is big brother Ah Yu asking this?"

"I just wanted to ask.  I need an introduction to Swordsman Hall to accomplish a very important mission."  He did not want to conceal anything from Jin Xiao Tang, so he came clean to her.

Jin Xiao Tang giggled, "Thank you for big brother Ah Yu's trust in Xiao Tang.  Since it's like this…..I can help with this matter.  Our Imperial Capital Store has always done business with the Xiao Lin branch in the Dragon Seeking Forest, so Xiao Tang has some face there.  How about I write an introduction for you?  How should I address you, temple's Lin Mu Yu, or……Imperial Guard Lin Mu Yu?"

"Neither.  I want you to give me a new ident.i.ty."

"Oh……"  Jin Xiao Tang narrowed her beautiful eyes.  With a smile she said, "Then I'll give you a completely new ident.i.ty.  How about a wandering mercenary?"

"That's fine."

"What name should you have?"

"I'll be called……Lin Yan?"  Lin Mu Yu thought about it before speaking.  This was the name of his big brother.  Using his big brother's name fondly here, it wasn't bad.

"Alright."

Jin Xiao Tang immediately raised the pen to write the introduction, finis.h.i.+ng in a few minutes.  After waiting for the ink to dry, she smiled and said, "Alright, the Xiao Lin Branch is the largest branch in the Orchid Goose City.  There are over five hundred members in the branch all year round.  Big brother Ah Yu, you have to be careful because that place is filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons."

"Un, I understand!"