Chapter 890: Flawless
Proofreader: Papatonks
In a quaint little gazebo behind the Flying Cloud Manor, four people were enjoying the good life, laughing and chatting to their full content like old pals.
The totally harmonious mood felt surreal to the la.s.s watching them, “C-cousin…”
Pausing, the four put down their teacups and turned towards the newcomer, Shangguan Qingyan.
Shangguan Qingyan looked complicated at the uncle she never saw before.
“Oh, Grandmaster Gu’s cousin, Miss Gu. Ha-ha-ha, come, please sit!”
Shangguan Feiyun looked at his panicking niece without exposing her, merely pointing at the chair next to him, “We were just having a chat with your cousin. If you don’t mind it, take a seat as well.”
Shangguan Qingyan’s brow shook. As a young miss of the Shangguan clan on her first undercover mission, she had been warned by her father and the elders many times to close her heart. But seeing the betraying uncle, she let her nervousness slip.
Shangguan Feiyun and Baili Jingwei understood at a glance and merely smiled.
[Shangguan Feixiong must be lacking men to send a naive child like her as spy, ha-ha-ha…]
Zhuo Fan grinned inside. The appearance of Shangguan Qingyan and her reaction made her suspicious, but Shangguan Feiyun ignored it having known everything and since Baili Jingwei was fond of Zhuo Fan.
As the four chatted moments before, Baili Jingwei had tested him to ascertain the panicky reaction all newbie spies were endowed with. He did not disappoint. Thus, Baili Jingwei lowered his guard and accomodated to this greenhorn playing spy in the big world. Shangguan Qingyan came here to cover both herself and Zhuo Fan.
Shangguan Feiyun grinned and stared at her, making her tense. He laughed in the end, “Ha-ha-ha, I’m inviting her for a chat but she’s just standing there looking at me in silence. Is she thinking something bad?”
Shangguan Qingyan panicked and sweat trickled down her brow.
Shangguan Feiyun shared a look with Baili Jingwei as the two enjoyed teasing her.
“Yan’er, are you alright? Why the grimace? Is your illness acting up?”
Zhuo Fan walked to her to block her fl.u.s.tered face and signaling her with his eyes.
Shangguan Qingyan used this chance to get away, “Yes, cousin, it has been acting out and I feel weak. Help me back.”
“Oh, sure. Take out Sword King’s token.”
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Zhuo Fan took it and rushed to the three to bow, “Forgive me, the elements in my cousin’s body are unbalanced and can only go on with pills. I’ll be saying my goodbye now.”
Danqing Shen nodded and accepted the token, “Then I won’t hold you any longer, Grandmaster Gu. Go and look after Miss Gu.”
“Thank you.” Zhuo Fan walked away.
Shangguan Feiyun raised an eyebrow, “Grandmaster Gu, since miss Gu is hurting, why not heal her here? We have all the ingredients you need and Grandmaster Gu may use them at his discretion.”
“Uh, it’s fine.”
Zhuo Fan looked guilty and gave a silly smile, “Thank you sir, but making the pill for my cousin is complicated and takes too long to be made on the spot. I still have some at home and I need to return quickly to avoid complications.”
Baili Jingwei squinted, “Then we won’t be delaying you, Grandmaster Gu. But sir needs to get ready. In around five days we’ll be leaving for the imperial capital. Grandmaster Gu has to make sure Miss Gu’s medicine will be accounted for on the journey as well.”
Stunned, Zhuo Fan gave an awkward nod then left with Shangguan Qingyan.
“Grandmaster Gu’s words are full of suspicion.”
Danqing Shen glanced at the other two and said, “If Miss Gu has such a deadly illness, how could he leave the medicine at home? Their reactions are off too…”
“Of course it’s off, since it’s hard for a couple of green spies to stay calm around us. Slipping is a given, ha-ha-ha…”
Shangguan Feiyun waved carelessly.
Danqing Shen started, “You mean they’re…”
“Dragon Cleaving Sword King has just missed a good play and doesn’t know yet.”
Baili Jingwei grinned, his eyes s.h.i.+ning with wisdom, “We have already caught one spy, who gave these two to us. Shangguan clan had sent one overt and one covert to cover all bases. However, they’d never guess regardless of spies, they’ve overreached, ending up playing in our palms, ha-ha-ha…”
Danqing Shen gasped.
[It’s going just like he said. Baili Jingwei knows who he is but doesn’t expose him. Is it out of cheris.h.i.+ng or logic though?]
Danqing Shen asked, “Why then did you let them walk?”
“Well, ha-ha-ha…”
Baili Jingwei grinned, “Grandmaster Gu is a man among men, a rare alchemical talent. It’s such a shame to see him fade away. And the spy already told us Grandmaster Gu is hiding from his pursuit in the central area. That’s how he stumbled upon the Shangguan clan and got wrapped up in this mess. He has no real ties to the clan. This will make it easy for him to be made use of in the service of the empire, as long as his wishes are met.”
Danqing Shen nodded, “True, I’d do anything to make use of such a talent as well. Why not expose it and make him work for us?”
“Won’t that make him one of us for sure?” Shangguan Feiyun mocked.
Danqing Shen frowned, “What does that mean?”
“Ha-ha-ha, Dragon Cleaving Sword King, it’s like this.”
Scratching his nose, Baili Jingwei’s eyes shone, “Getting the spies is easy, but I want one to pa.s.s on my words, to get them to come and destroy them all. That man can never be Grandmaster Gu!”
Shangguan Feiyun nodded, “As a spy, Gu Yifan is as green as it gets. He seemed calm but botched when pressed for details. If we had laid the cards on the table then, we’ll be putting him in a tough spot when asked to give a fake report to the elders of Shangguan clan, giving himself away. It was better to keep him acting as their spy and provide counter-intelligence. He believes we gave him real information when it’s actually fake, but coming from him, the Shangguan clan will definitely buy it. It will make their destruction all the more a.s.sured. At worst, we’ll just get him on our side right at the end. It’s all the same.”
“Amazing!”
Danqing Shen praised.
Baili Jingwei waved casually, “It’s nothing praiseworthy, Dragon Cleaving Sword King. It’s nothing but a little trick, ha-ha-ha…”
Danqing Shen was silent.
[It’s not for you, so why so smug? It’s that brat who’s truly great for seeing through the great prime minister’s plan to the last detail. To the point he made sure to use emotion and logic so you won’t kill him. You’re now just playing in his palm.]
[One more treacherous than the next. But what’s the boy after anyway? Regardless…]
Danqing Shen glanced at Baili Jingwei and shook his head.
[Sir Baili, a Prime Minister of the empire, of your marvelous talent, is going to get it now. The same kid you’re trying to use, is in fact a shrewder monster than you…]
Meanwhile, Zhuo Fan and Shangguan Qingyan left the manor and were rus.h.i.+ng back. They looked tense and jittery.
“Are you nervous?”
“Yes.”
“Me too.”
The two held hands and felt the other’s anxiety. While Zhuo Fan’s was fake, Shangguan Qingyan’s couldn’t be more real…