Chapter 873: Wronged Agent
Proofreader: Papatonks
“Prime Minister, lords, that guy is a Shangguan clan spy, no doubt about it!”
In a lavish and grand hall, three figures sat in front. On the left, Prime Minister Baili Jingwei, in center, Shangguan Feiyun, and on the right, Dragon Cleaving Sword King, Danqing Shen.
The three looked calm, their eyes lowered at the b.l.o.o.d.y ma.s.s below.
The man wore a victimized look, his hand constantly wiping his b.l.o.o.d.y nose as he recounted, “Sirs, you must believe me. He is most definitely a spy Shangguan clan sent into Flying Cloud manor.”
Glancing at him, Baili Jingwei had a faint smile, “Is the Shangguan clan ever brutal? Are they that c.o.c.ky to think they can get away with doing something so conspicuous?”
“Yeah, I, for one, would keep my nose down in another’s home. Avoid trouble like the plague and not go around beating people.”
Danqing Shen covered his teacup with the most mocking smile.
Baili Jingwei smiled, turning a deep gaze on the victim. His tone was anything but kind, “Try to repeat that. Just tell me again that he’s related to the Shangguan clan.”
“Uhm, well…” His eyes darted all over as he spluttered.
Bam!
Baili Jingwei slammed the table, “I had you sent out there to scout for information, to be the first outpost. It’s to gather information not to let it go to your head and get revenge!”
“Yeah, an undercover agent is to blend in just like a spy would.”
Sighing, Danqing Shen mocked, “But I guess with how the guards are always conceited, they have a hard time staying unknown, ha-ha-ha…”
The victim looked hurt by that remark and hurriedly explained, “Sirs, Prime Minister, I have been keeping a low profile.”
“Then why are you here like this, a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp?” Shangguan Feiyun barked, pointing at his nose.
The man’s mouth quivered.
[Why was I beaten black and blue anyway? I was only talking to him.]
Baili Jingwei shook his head and muttered, “There are no true coincidences in the world. Everything has a reason. Why is it that of all the quiet alchemists at our gates, only you stand out? And the other left you breathing as well. This shows he didn’t find you out as being an agent. Being exposed would definitely have gotten you killed by the Shangguan clan.
“Yet this didn’t happen, only suffering some bruising. Now you’re coming here and tell us he’s from the Shangguan clan? Ha-ha-ha, you take us for fools? You think Flying Cloud manor is your backyard to do as you please?”
“No no no. I’d never, never!” The man panicked and s.h.i.+vered in fear.
Baili Jingwei mocked, “Then I’ll ask you again. Is that man really from the Shangguan clan?”
“Uhm, well…” His heart fell, his body shook, and words came hard.
Having it all figured out, Baili Jingwei ignored him and turned an angry stare at Shangguan Feiyun, “Sword King Feiyun, he’s your man. I was only borrowing him for something but now he even refused to take responsibility for his own mess. I just don’t know how to deal with him. Though one might ask, if sir’s agents are all so outrageous and abuse their status, I can only wonder, are your ears capable of hearing the truth? Can a Sword King who doesn’t know his own domain safeguard…”
“Ha-ha-ha, I won’t say it. I’m just an outsider, while here is Sword King Feiyun’s world. I shouldn’t meddle. Oh, the Pill King Convention is about to start. I’ll play the host in sir’s place, ha-ha-ha…”
Baili Jingwei waved his hand and left with his guards, leaving an indifferent Danqing Shen, a s.h.i.+vering and b.l.o.o.d.y agent, and a furious Shangguan Feiyun.
Knuckles cracked as Shangguan Feiyun clenched his fist, staring at the writhing mess below, “Answer the question. Is he part of the Shangguan clan? Or are you just trying to get back at him for the beating?”
“L-lord, h-he’s suspicious.”
Bam!
The agent cowered, blabbering, and Shangguan Feiyun flicked his hand. The b.l.o.o.d.y mess now turned into a b.l.o.o.d.y mist, with the soul destroyed as well.
Shangguan Feiyun’s brow shook, his teeth clenched, “These d.a.m.n arrogant fools lord around the streets daily, but the least they can do is not shame me in front of Baili Jingwei!”
“Brother Feiyun, easy. Baili Jingwei is the Prime Minister, and it won’t be easy to fool him.” Danqing Shen patted his shoulder.
Annoyed, Shangguan Feiyun flicked his hand and spat, “Who the h.e.l.l is fooling who here? It’s all these morons’ fault for not playing their part…”
“Hey, that can be taken different ways!”
Shangguan Feiyun reacted, glowering at Danqing Shen, “You mean to tell me these men fooled me till now, only getting exposed now Baili Jingwei came?”
Danqing Shen beamed and waved his hand, “This definitely isn’t from just yesterday. Since today they used your name for revenge, it goes to show you handle them poorly. In fact, Baili Jingwei knocking you down a peg came at the right time for…”
“Whatever, it’s none of my business anyway. Ha-ha-ha, by the way, I hear you have quite the wine collection in the cellar. Hope you won’t mind, ha-ha-ha… “
Danqing Shen waved his hand at Shangguan Feiyun’s dark look, slipping away while leaving those snide remarks to pierce the host’s ears.
Shangguan Feiyun gnashed his teeth, “For G.o.d’s sake, these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds made a fool of me. Even Danqing Shen dares to mock me now. Humph, I’ll be sure to cleanup the manor once this is all over with…”
Shangguan Feiyun’s eyes flashed.
Yet all were clueless that this agent was a wronged agent. He really did find the Shangguan clan’s spy, though by chance, by becoming the other’s punching bag.
Yet his suffering did not go rewarded. Then again, he was doing it for his own selfish reasons too.
At the end of it all, the fact remained, heaven gave him a shortcut to success, though brutal, his bosses were too smart for their own good, not believing a word. Man proposes, G.o.d disposes. A saying held true now more than ever.
Luck was not to be neglected…
Meanwhile, in the garden behind Flying Cloud manor, the crowd gathered around a stone stage. A rough glance saw close to a thousand heads.
Being brought here yet told nothing on the way, the people formed little groups, talking to each other and picking on the other’s faults.
“Hey, look there, it’s Xue clan’s elder, Xue Dingxian. I heard the rare 9th grade alchemist is on the cusp of reaching 10th grade.”
“That’s him? He had placed in the top twenty of the last Pill King Compet.i.tion held at the imperial capital. Coming here, he’s sure to come out on top.”
“No no, not if you consider him!”
Someone recognized with shock the candidate of another compet.i.tion while another shook his head in disdain, pointing at an old man in white, “That right there is Divine Pill Meng Feitian, in the top ten of the last Pill King Compet.i.tion!”
“I thought the top ten would be given a post in the imperial capital. What’s he doing here, stealing our bread?”
“Heh, who knows. These old coots are all weirdos. Who knows what craziness is going on in that head of theirs? They got their fame last time and now they came here for some more.” The man looked puzzled as well.
The others felt their hearts sink.
Having no clue how many spots were for the imperial capital, they were afraid that with such tight compet.i.tion, they wouldn’t make the cut.
All they could do was mock others and make themselves feel good.
The two seeded candidates finally b.u.mped heads and were looking at each other with fire in their eyes.
“Old Xue, you’re here as well?”
“Humph, Sword King Feiyun controls these parts. My Xue clan is the best in alchemy for thousands of miles. If I didn’t show up, calling it the Pill King Convention would be an overstatement.”
“Ha-ha-ha, what a mouth on you. In the last compet.i.tion at the imperial capital, you placed five spots behind me, yet now you show off in my face? Xue Dingxian you have no shame. Ha-ha-ha…” Meng Feitian looked smug.
Xue Dingxian’s lips twitched in anger, “Meng Feitian, time changes everything. Especially when the last compet.i.tion was a decade ago. We’ll just see whose skills are the best soon enough!”
“Ha-ha-ha, then I can only oblige you and have you taste the bitter flavor of defeat once more.” Meng Feitian laughed…