Heaven's Formula

Not to mention notifying Li and others to evacuate Wanjing Building in advance.

Calculated in terms of profit and loss, these "contacts" have obviously become negative assets, so there is no need to take them into consideration.But Xia Fan knew that he was never a person who decided to act purely based on interests, and he couldn't treat the other party as some kind of equivalent.

——From the beginning to the end, he walked like this.

For some reason, Xia Fan suddenly remembered the scene when Li was running on the roof with him in Gaoshan County.

Li also asked him similar questions at that time.

And his answer was "I don't understand my thoughts, which hinders my practice." Although he was exposed by the other party bluntly, his thoughts have not changed.

Xia Fan knew that if he chose to leave at this moment, others might not criticize him, but he would definitely have regrets in his heart.

If he pursued safety in everything, why did he embark on the path of seeking alchemy?

After a while, Xia Fan said slowly, "I don't want to force everyone, if you think my answer is too—"

Before he finished a sentence, his voice stopped halfway.

Whether it's Li or Luo Qingqing, the affirmative eyes of the two have already expressed their attitude - no matter what situation they have to face, they will never quit.

Fang Yanni clasped her hands tightly, with a look of resentment, as if she was afraid that he would say that she would abandon Yan Qing.

Qianzhi can be described as eager to try, it seems that thinking is not necessary for her, she just needs to do it according to her heart.

Qian Yan was much calmer, but judging from the slightly raised corners of her mouth, the living dead didn't hate doing it.

The only thing that needs to be discussed is Fang Xiandao.

However, after seeing the attitudes of his companions around him, he wisely gave up resistance.

The answer is self-evident.

"The key is time, place and information." Luo said softly.

"The sooner the time, the better." Xia Fan thought clearly, "The enthronement ceremony is our best cover-the Privy Council has been planning for this for a long time, and all energy will inevitably be concentrated on the transition of imperial power. In a few days at night, they will be able to draw out their hands to deal with various accidents."

"Let's find the place of detention." Li picked up the cat spirit and put it on the table. "The prison of the Privy Council is not a hidden place. It should be difficult for a wandering wild cat to attract the attention of the guards."

"As for the information..."

"Although Shangyuan City has expanded a lot, the layout of the city is not much different from that of a hundred years ago." Qian Yan took the initiative to take up the conversation, "At the same time, I also participated in the founding ceremony of the Taizu of the Ning family. If the etiquette system is passed down from generation to generation, I guess the process won't change much either."

"Wow, do you even know this?" Qianzhi said with emotion.

Qian Yan glanced at her with complicated eyes, "Actually, you also..." But in the end she sighed softly, "That's all, it's nothing."

Xia Fan turned back Qianzhi's curious head, and said loudly, "In this case, let's stay in Shangyuan City for another day, and treat this surprise as a gift to the Privy Council!"

……

At Sishi the next day, Li once again boarded the pagoda on Tianfu Street.

The process of returning to Shangyuan City did not encounter any obstacles. Even in order to show the demeanor of the royal capital and speed up the efficiency of people entering and leaving the city, the inspections at the major city gates have been simplified a lot.

The wanted portraits of Xia Fan and others were posted on the bulletin board at the entrance of the street, but these portraits themselves were drawn based on soft leather masks. After taking off the masks, everyone immediately turned into another person.As an exception, Xia Fan only needs to wear a mask to complete the disguise.It is almost impossible for the gate guards to see through this disguise.

Compared with the last time to climb the tower, the seven-star black card is no longer suitable for use this time, so Li, who is a fox demon, is obviously the best candidate to climb the tower from the outside.

And her task is to set up a radio station at the top of the pagoda and monitor the movements of the entire Privy Council.

Soon, Li connected the antenna and installed the audio device.

"Hi, I'm Li. Xia Fan, can you get it?"

Accompanied by a burst of noise, a familiar voice sounded from the microphone, "I heard it very clearly. It seems that there is no problem with using a few less antennas at this distance. How is the situation on your side?"

"Everything is normal." Li looked down from the pagoda, and there were clusters of tourists on the street, only a lot more than during the Lantern Festival.You can see performances such as lion dance and stilts at the intersection of streets.The closer you get to the palace, the more guards are patrolling the streets, and the walls of the palace courtyard are full of crossbowmen.

Of the four main roads in Shangyuan City, three are open to the public, and only the Baihu Avenue in Ximen is under martial law.Obviously, the etiquette system followed in the grand ceremony is still the same as when the country was founded—the envoys and distinguished guests from other countries will gather at the west gate to enter the city. peoples.

However, what can be seen most clearly from the pagoda is the Gyeonggi Privy Council two streets away.

Although Olina Okan once made a scene in the house, there are not many traces of it now.The wall pierced by the magic spell and the main hall of the command department have basically been repaired completely, and a dark crowd gathered in the square.Judging from their attire, these people should be the guards formed by the Privy Council itself, with a number between seven and eight hundred to one thousand. They are estimated to be on standby in the palace as a reserve force.

What needs more vigilance than the guards are the alchemists wearing black high-collared robes—now that all the alchemists sent abroad have returned, and the number of qi sensers in Shangyuan City has undoubtedly reached its peak. Once the operation starts, these alchemists will definitely become Their toughest opponent.

After describing what he saw, Li asked about Xia Fan's situation, "How about you? Is everything going well?"

"Honestly speaking... I have encountered a little trouble." Xia Fan opened the curtain with a slight headache, and looked towards the prison of the Privy Council across the street - just a quarter of an hour ago, a black and gold double-wheeled carriage stopped. Prison gate.Although the Privy Council doesn't pay much attention to the level of rank, but at the special moment of the enthronement ceremony, there must be some etiquette.A double-wheeled carriage like this is usually only prepared for high-ranking officials above the third rank, and the black and gold color matching means that the riders have a high status, and nine out of ten are core members of the Privy Council.

In other words, if they want to break into the prison, they will most likely have to confront the guard...or even Yuyi.

Chapter 3 and seven

"The core alchemists of the Privy Council?" Li was a little surprised, "Shouldn't they attend the enthronement ceremony?"

"It's really a bit strange." Xia Fan pondered, "For this historic moment from behind the scenes to the front of the stage, all the core members should be present."

The ideal situation is for the other party to walk around and leave instead of staying in the prison.The most unfavorable situation is that the second prince temporarily strengthened the defense of the prison, so head-to-head confrontation would be inevitable.

This prison is located in the Dongcheng District, and it is on the same site as the official prison. Regardless of its structure or layout, it is much more formal than the dungeon converted from a basement in Jinxia City.To enter it, the first thing to break through is the gate of the courtyard wall.There are two watchtowers at the entrance, which can send out the alarm at the first time, and then there are four stone bungalows, the southernmost one is the prison for the Privy Council, usually three to four alchemists are stationed.However, considering that this is a hard job, the alchemists assigned here will basically not be high-level, and it is not bad to have the level of the fifth-rank test.

There is also a small barracks on the north side of the prison for the garrison soldiers. Judging by the size, it is full of about one or two hundred people.All in all, these manpower are definitely more than enough to deal with escape or suppress prisoners, and there is no need for the Privy Council to waste precious manpower here.After all, Shangyuan City is the capital of Qi State, and few enemies can break through the hinterland to threaten it. This imaginary "blind spot" is exactly what Xia Fan can take advantage of.

But if there is one more high-grade alchemist, it will undoubtedly add a lot of variables to the action.

"The plan...is it going to be discontinued?" Li asked hesitantly.

"No change for the time being." Xia Fan shook his head slowly, "The enthronement ceremony is our best chance. If we don't act today, the risk will only be greater in the future."

Da da.

Luo lightly and suddenly knocked on the window sill, "There is something new."

"I'll contact you later." Xia Fan ended the communication and looked in the direction of the prison again.I saw another double-wheeled carriage driving along the street, and slowly stopped beside the main entrance of the prison.

The color scheme of this carriage is much more gorgeous, the top is golden, the carriage is purple, and light blue clouds and dragons are embroidered around it.Those who can use this kind of carriage are basically related to the royal family.

"What's the matter, even someone from the palace came to visit the prison?" Xia Fan frowned, "What kind of wind is blowing today?"

After the horses stopped, the servant immediately brought a low stool and placed it in front of the carriage.

The door opened, and a man in a brocade robe stepped out of the carriage leisurely.

"Who is this person?"

"I guess... maybe some royal heir?" Fang Yanni whispered, "This kind of scarlet auspicious cloud brocade robe can only be worn by those princes and daughters."

"It's neither the prince nor the second prince, but it's a man..." Xia Fan wondered, "Could it be the fourth prince Ning Chunan?"

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt a wave of energy rolling towards him like a sea wave.

Fang Yanni even shuddered and retracted her body - her insight into qi was not as sharp as Xia Fan's, but she still felt a chill.

Although Luo Weiqing's expression remained unchanged, the turbulent aura around her had already indicated her mood at the moment.

"What does he look like?"

"Thin, with a pale complexion, thin eyebrows and narrow eyes, and a jade pendant around his ear."

"It's probably him." Luo turned his head slightly, "Xia Fan..."

The latter gave an affirmative look, "If it's really the Fourth Prince, you can do whatever you want."

……

The prison in the Privy Council was damp and cold, and the torches burning on the walls could not dispel the chill in the air.The flames swayed back and forth in the darkness, casting long shadows behind the chains and cages.

Compared with the hustle and bustle outside, this place seems to be another world. Occasionally, the only sound that can be heard is the crisp sound of the whip falling on the body, as well as the low-pitched screams.

Yu Linglong didn't like this kind of place.

Even if the shadow is always with her.

After passing through iron gates, she came to the cell where Yan Qing was being held.

"Open the door." Yu Linglong said to the jailer, "Then go out."

"My, my lord... I'm afraid this is a bit out of order..."

"That's right, this is not in compliance with the rules at all," the shadow emerged from the ground, and said in a deep voice through Yu Linglong's mouth, "but it's better than you falling silently in the gutter one day."

The jailer swallowed, and quickly took out the key.

"My lord, I will stay at the entrance of the passage. If you have any requirements, you can call me at any time."

After the opponent retreated, Yu Linglong stepped into the cell.

Yan Qing raised his head when he heard the noise.

At this moment, she opened her arms and was tied to a wooden frame.The chains that served as weapons were removed and replaced by strong shackles.

Through the prison clothes, one could see the bloodstains on her body.At the same time, her fingers were also swollen, and the joints showed a jet-black color; more than half of the nails were missing on the bare feet, and the blood dripped along the fingers, seeping into the cold stone slab little by little.

Evidently she had been sentenced.

"So it's you." Yan Qing glanced at Yu Linglong, then closed her eyes again, "If you're not going to the ceremony, what are you doing here?"

"The enthronement ceremony does not require everyone to be present, it is the result, not the process." Yu Linglong took a step forward, "It's you, why did you hide it from His Royal Highness the Second Prince?"

Yan Qing remained silent.

"I know that you secretly sent messages to Xia Fan, and even helped him escape from Shangyuan. It's nothing... At most, it will just drive you out of the inner circle. But why are you so stubborn? Xia Fan and the others have already gone far away. , even if you confess everything, their lives will not be endangered, and if you persist like this...His Royal Highness Ning will not give up easily."

"Be careful what you say." Shadow approached, "Although I know you are a traitor, others don't. If your persuasion is heard by interested people, it will obviously leave hidden dangers."

"If someone hears it, don't you just shoot him?"

"To put it simply, this is a prison!" Shadow protested, "Besides, people are mortal, so why should you label yourself? Now that the aristocratic family has completely disintegrated, and the world's clerics are all in the hands of the Privy Council, in the future, no matter whether it is a genius. As a partner, or as a partner in combat, there must be no shortage of them, I suggest that you just treat her as if she doesn't exist."

"Noisy, I don't listen."

"Hey, that's a bitter word, traitor!"

Yan Qing couldn't hear these conversations, she smiled indifferently, "I've made up my mind, you don't need to persuade me. This little injury is nothing to me."

"It's nothing now, but what's next?" Yu Linglong clenched her fists, "You know what the Privy Council does - there is no bottom line for such torture!"

Ning Qianshi is obviously also giving Yan Qing a chance to repent, but this chance will not last forever, and the torture methods will gradually increase, just like what was done to Olina.When the ordinary interrogation methods are exhausted and magic techniques are added, the pain is definitely not something ordinary people can bear.

Yu Linglong didn't doubt Yan Qing's will at all.

As Qing Jian, a veteran of the Privy Council, her character is undeniably strong, and it is conceivable even if she does not let go in the end.But doing that didn't change anything, the more she persisted, the more torture she suffered, even if the pain couldn't destroy her will, it was enough to destroy her body.

She will eventually die in a cage.

Chapter 3 opens

Seeing Yan Qing's unmoved appearance, Yu Linglong angrily punched the iron railing, "I don't understand! You obviously don't need to go to this point! They all left, and they went to a place that the second prince can't touch , what's the point of your insistence?"

Yan Qing sighed incredulously, "I didn't understand it before. I can only say that some things can only be understood after you have experienced them."

"..." Yu Linglong was silent for a long time, "I will come to see you again."

"It's best not to come, I can't guarantee that I can talk to you in the future." Yan Qing pretended to be relaxed, "That will only increase your troubles."

"I..." Just as she was about to say something, footsteps sounded in the prison.

Yu Linglong immediately raised her voice, "Didn't I tell you to stay outside!"

But she soon realized that the footsteps were chaotic and numerous, and there was more than one person entering the prison.

"who is it?"

Shadow has raised the longbow in his hand.

Under the dim light of the fire, the figures of the visitors gradually appeared—there were four people on the other side, three of whom wore knives and were dressed like guards, and the leader was wearing a red brocade robe and a jade crown, just like a nobleman.

"Ning Chunan?" Yu Linglong raised her eyebrows slightly.

"The correct name is His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince." Shadow muttered, "He is an annoying guy. But what is he doing here?"

"Who are you? Report your name." Ning Chunan stopped, he did not expect to run into an alchemist from the Privy Council in the prison.

"My... subordinate Yu Linglong," she cupped her hands casually, "the third-rank guard of the Privy Council is currently inspecting the prison. I wonder what your highness is doing here?"

"I don't need to report my whereabouts to you, right?" Ning Chunan walked past her, wanting to go deeper into the prison. "Just do your job well."

However, the fourth prince didn't take a few steps, a cold light suddenly shot out from the dark passage, almost sticking to his feet and inserting into the ground!

It was an arrow that was completely black.

"What, who is it!" Ning Chunan was so frightened that he took several steps back.The guards also drew their swords and surrounded the fourth prince.

"There is no one there, I am the one who shoots the arrow." Yu Linglong shrugged, "Of course, I didn't mean to hurt His Highness, but I just want to remind you that there are important prisoners of the Privy Council being imprisoned there. dangerous."

"Bold, what tone are you talking about!"