Chapter 210: Yun Yang’s Weakness
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shui Wuyin gave his thorough analysis in an unhurried manner.
"According to what young master has described, Mi Kongqun’s ability should be above the eighth peak, just short of reaching the ninth peak. If he has gone to ninth peak, he’d have fully recovered by now, and he wouldn't have been injured from the simultaneous attacks of the four noble young masters’ experts. If he’s any lower than the eighth peak, he would have fallen in his previous battles long ago. This subordinate guesses that this person’s real ability should be somewhere between eighth peak intermediate and ace. The slight deviation won’t be significant."
Yun Yang nodded.
As he listened to Shui Wuyin’s analysis with full concentration, he had the intention to find out the difference between his and Shui Wuyin’s trains of thoughts.
His plan would only grow more solid if he patiently listened to constructive opinions which could offset his weaknesses. Besides, Shui Wuyin was no fool. Although his intricate web of thoughts could not compare to Yun Yang’s spontaneous reflexes to the ever-changing warfare, his penetrating insights and thoroughness still trumped that of Yun Yang!
"Also, Mi Kongqun was deeply wounded by Ling Xiaozui. His injury was severe, I heard that he was still healing from it up until now. According to my experience, a normal eighth peak ace expert could recover within a month despite an extremely serious internal injury given their personal healing speed in addition to treasured gems, resources, and medicines. Mi Kongqun’s injury, however, came from Ling Xiaozui. It was intentional too. This subordinate thinks that it must be very limiting for Mi Kongqun even if he had already stumbled across them.."
"I even suspect that even Mi Kongqun probably could entirely squash Ling Xiaozui’s sword air!"
"Therefore, his best state right now will only be at the seventh peak ace’s level. It would be Impossible to be any higher. If Ling Xiaozui’s sword air remains, it can even inhibit him even more. An unintentional strike can worsen his injuries and crush his combat ability."
"Speaking of which, if young master strikes at the right time by shapeshifting to kill him, the percentage to end him when he doesn’t notice is as high as ninety-percent!!"
Shui Wuyin continued, "This target no longer needs our worry with the assured ninety percent of winning chances. It’s only a matter of time and a little patience before he’s entirely gone."
Yun Yang nodded softly.
Shui Wuyin’s decision and his expectation were almost entirely similar regarding Mi Kongqun’s case. The only difference was that Shui Wuyin analyzed from each direction and concluded after sifting through them, showing a more meticulous side to him.
"The second target is the aide of the crown prince’s residence, Han Wufei. He’s a confirmed target but this subordinate still thinks that assassinating him would be overkill. Han Wufei can only be considered a tiny pawn; there’s nothing beneficial to the bigger picture by killing him but instead, it might alert our real target. After all, our main aim is He Hanqing and as for him… we can't-do anything to him as of now. It’s best to save him for last."
"As for the third target young master mentioned, influential generals of the military. The range is blurry for this. If a thorough confirmation is needed, young master will have to grant me the authority to get in touch with all the powerful generals who fit the described physique and temper… The possibility of confirmation can only come after searching for their doubtful points. There isn’t any concrete analysis now so it’s difficult to identify them. We can only tackle it at a later stage."
"The two targets in the military… According to young master’s suspicions, you’ve ruled out the eastern troop – Tie Zheng’s troop. This subordinate thinks that his troop should not be excluded!"
Shui Wuyin’s voice was raspy but each word of his was enunciated with much confidence and stability.
Yun Yang’s gaze gleamed.
"We can't say for sure there aren't any spies in the internal ranks of the eastern troop. The war the other day saw Tie Zheng being attacked from both front and back, pushed to a corner. If young master didn’t rush to assist and salvage the situation with your might, there might not even be an eastern troop today. Yet the decisive moment of victory and defeat that day was Han Sanhe’s cavalry troop outflanking them from the rear that formed attacking wedges from both sides. This was so bizarre that it’s illogical. Even when the Residence of East Defense Protector took the blame afterward, I can't believe that the East Defense Protector was the only one who perpetuated this."
Shui Wuyin looked at Yun Yang and said slowly, "It’s only logical and reasonable, with the addition of a general who’s familiar with the assignment and division of the military situation exposing the whereabouts and defensive loopholes of our troop…"
With a jerk, Yun Yang’s head raised slowly to stare at Shui Wuyin. His eyes were filled with wonder.
"Also, even if there were spies in the eastern troop and we’re sure of who they are… we can’t be sure that the rest of the army , including the Board of War, no longer has the infiltration of the Four Seasons Tower."
"All these need to be checked carefully. We might need a thorough restart of the investigation," Shui Wuyin said.
Yun Yang only nodded his head silently.
"Furthermore…" Shui Wuyin continued, "Young master, it’s not impossible that the Four Seasons Tower would still have people planted among the commonfolk in Tiantang City or the civil officials in the imperial court."
"This will need to be verified and filtered meticulously too." Shui Wuyin said, "Here’s also an excessive reminder of mine to young master – He Hanqing, as the Four Seasons Tower’s Supreme Lord Spring Frost, possesses utter respect and influence; he has only one above him and millions under him yet he’s stayed in Tiantang City for so many years, serving three generations of the emperors. Why is that?"
"It completely shows that Tiantang City is Supreme Lord Spring Frost’s base camp! It is the Hall of Spring’s headquarter! Since it’s where the headquarter is… there’s a huge possibility that at least more than half of the Hall of Spring’s powers are situated within the Empire of Yutang while Tiantang City is where it matters the most. If there were eighty Hall of Spring’s people in the Empire of Yutang, there will at least be nothing less than fifty women in Tiantang City."
"That would explain why He Hanqing has stayed put here for so many years!"
"This also indirectly explains why He Hanqing didn’t plan to move away even when he’s been exposed by Ling Xiaozui and is rendered to danger anytime. That’s because he believes that no one can do much to him here!"
"As for the reason He Hanqing can be so confident, this means that he has sufficiently intimidating power that lies in Tiantang City."
"Such intimidating power could only mean a mass of experts. That, or a web of connection that’s intricately woven and exceptionally strong."
"Since He Hanqing is Supreme Lord Spring Frost, an expert who stood off the Four Seasons Tower’s Hall of Spring staying in Tiantang City definitely won’t be a small number. To the very least, it has to be over thirty to forty people. As for young master’s targets, there is only a handful of men. The numbers are hardly tallied."
"In addition, unexpected circumstances will happen anytime if our vision is set too narrowly. Our capability right now can’t afford to let that to happen; once it does, we’ll be rendered into an unprecedented passivity."
"Therefore, I conclude that there are at least thirty people in the Hall of Spring from Four Seasons Tower. Young master has mentioned that the eunuch you’ve killed is from The Hall of Autumn… This also means that while most of Hall of Spring’s men are here, there are also hints of Hall of Autumn’s influence. Combining both sides… the number of Four Seasons Tower’s manpower will have to increase even more."
"In a nutshell, Tiantang City’s battle will be truly tricky. The difficulty is tremendous."
Shui Wuyin came to the conclusion after narrating his thorough analysis; Yun Yang nodded slowly with a grim expression.
"Uh… There are also two mistakes in the direction of young master’s previous decision orientation." Shui Wuyin sucked in a breath, seemingly hesitant but finally saying out loud in courage.
Yun Yang said thoughtfully, "Do speak."
"There seem to be two aspects that young master has never paid attention to!"
Since Shui Wuyin had started to speak, the hesitation earlier was gone.
"One of it is women! As of now, the Four Seasons Tower’s people whom young master has met are all male but that doesn’t mean that Four Seasons Tower doesn’t have any females or one dit
. In spite of it, young master has subconsciously excluded all women in young master’s direction of target choice. Young master’s been in the military all year long so it’s always men where the eyes see, even the enemies are men, so it’s only subconscious that young master rules out women. Although it’s reasonable, it’s a big loophole."
"Four Seasons Tower’s influence is massive. It’s imaginable that the spies or intel they planted won’t ignore the presence of women. There are a lot of circumstances, places, and things that only women can enter or accomplish. After all, women possess some innate advantages that men do not."
"So we should reevaluate information regarding this aspect of the work, recheck and refilter what we have. We have to treat both male and female equally in."
Yun Yang sighed and said, "Correct. I’ve indeed missed this point… Wuyin, if you didn’t remind me, I might go on like this… until I suffer a loss."
"This is my mistake, a grave one at that." Yun Yang acknowledged somberly.
A flash of admiration came through Shui Wuyin’s gaze. It was a precious characteristic that surpassed most ordinary people to be able to acknowledge and correct one’s mistakes immediately.
"What about the second mistake?" Yun Yang asked humbly, his tone tinged with a sense of consultation.
"Young master’s second mistake is…" Shui Wuyin mulled over his words and said, "Young master’s sight is a little too high. It’s always set on the top and never towards the bottom…"
Yun Yang frowned and asked, "Towards the bottom… what do you mean?"
"The people in the palace, in the Residence of Crown Prince, the generals, Supreme Lord Spring Frost, even the mastermind of Four Seasons Tower Mr. Nian…"
"Chu Tianlyn! As well as the blacksmith, Chu Tianlang, and President of Censorate whom the young master killed…"
Shui Wuyin commented, "These people are higher up in an ordinary person’s eyes… They possess the authority to command changes and stir unrest… It’s also why they’ve been noticed by young master. On the other hand, young master has never set sight on the street thugs or even ordinary citizens."
"There are a lot of things that don’t necessarily require the involvement of significant characters."