Thinking of his conversation with Maid Lotus several days ago, Shangguan Fei worried that he might get into big trouble. He knew that he could not leak a word of their intercourse to the Dragon King.
As for women, Shangguan Fei admired but despised them. He admired their good looks and being spoiled by them. But he despised that they were always affected by romantic love. Even an indifferent, cold-hearted killer like Maid Lotus couldn’t escape this fate.
“The original chapter 8 and 9 of the Wayless Book are still in the princess’ hands, specifically speaking, in her mind. The Dragon King knows, but he asked the princess to keep it a secret.” Shangguan Fei had shaken Maid Lotus’ mind with these words.
Upon hearing these words, Maid Lotus had remained calm as if it were in her expectation. But soon she said in a different tone, “You are lying. The Dragon King would…”
Shangguan Fei followed immediately, “The Dragon King should have told you about this but he did not. Obviously, he has other concerns. Perhaps he still doubted the Wayless Qigong that the Princess rearranged. Or he thought you had mastered too many secret manuscripts to consume another one…”
“Maid Lotus doubted my words before and she tried to get more information from me. But now her shock is real,” Shangguan Fei thought. He was good at assessing people’s emotions.
“So did he get the original chapter 8 and 9?”
“No, not yet. He asked the princess to keep it a secret, but he did not ask her to tell him original chapters. I guess that he doesn’t want to feel guilty when he sees you.”
Shangguan Fei appreciated Maid Lotus for she had never betrayed her real thoughts on her face. “If she tried harder and got rid of her love, she could be a person like my mother,” he thought to himself. That was Shangguan Fei’s highest compliment for women.
“But how do you know this?”
“As for this, please allow me to keep it a secret.”
When he saw Maid Lotus show her fingernails, Shangguan Fei continued immediately, “I will not tell you even if you kill me. The real secret manuscript is in the princess’ mind. If you can make her tell you, you can keep it for yourself or give it to the Supreme King. No matter what you choose, it will only do you good.”
Maid Lotus snorted.
“I have a suggestion. You can keep one copy for yourself, and then give another to the Supreme King. With the Golden Roc Fort’s assistance, you can completely establish your own career. At that time, the New Moon Hall, the Dragon King or even the Supreme King would not be able to command you. You do not need to serve anyone but yourself.”
To capture the tiny changes on her face, Shangguan Fei slowed down. “At that time, you will need my assistance. I can introduce you to the Lord and ask my mother to join hands with you. We are… You are women, so you are supposed to help each other.”
“If you know everything, why didn’t you get the information from the princess?” Maid Lotus asked doubtfully.
“I have been looking for a chance. The princess serves the Dragon King, so she will not tell this to me easily. But you have ways to make her talk. Don’t you have occult sciences? You will find a way to make her talk.”
“When did Shangguan Yun tell you this?” Maid Lotus asked.
Unlike Maid Lotus, Shangguan Fei did not excel in hiding emotions. He asked in surprise, “How did you know?”
“Last time Shangguan Yun paid a visit to his sister. So I assume he must have met with you.”
“Well, now I have no secrets. The third Brother is great, and he knows everything. But he did not want to alert the enemy, so he asked me to find an opportunity to redeem what I have done. He told me if I finished this task, he would beg the Lord to keep me alive. With my mother’s help, I could become the Ninth Young Master again.”
When he mentioned his dream, Shangguan Fei became thrilled.
Maid Lotus was not interested in his matter. She only knew that the Dragon King had hidden something from her. There was no agreement between them, but regarding certain topics, they discussed everything, and the Wayless Book was one of them.
Gu Shenwei had found all kinds of lame excuses not to keep chapter 8 and 9 of the Wayless Book. But all of a sudden, Maid Lotus had discovered his real reason and she could not accept it.
Maid Lotus had not pushed him to practice that day, but she left earlier than usual. In the following days, she had gone there on time. But she had just made her appearance and then left without a word. Her expression was still profound and composed.
Shangguan Fei had spent five comfortable days, putting three-in-one qigong aside. He was waiting patiently for the result of Maid Lotus’ investigation.
Although Maid Lotus had never agreed to cooperate with him, Shangguan Fei did not feel anxious. He knew the Dragon King and Maid Lotus would not kill him for he was useful to them. “Once I can do something for Stone Castle, I will be really safe,” he mused.
He was not expecting the Dragon King’s uninvited arrival. Moreover, he had not thought that the Dragon King would notice that he had stopped practicing.
“Well, Maid Lotus said… that I haven’t been performing well lately and she was afraid that excessive practice would have side effects. So she asked me to take a break for a few days.”
The Dragon King doubted this, but he did not pursue it further. He said, “I need you to do something for me.”
In the past, he would have been rejoiced to hear these words because he could escape from the torture that practice brought him. But now things had changed. He still pretended to be glad and said, “I’ve been waiting for this day. Please give me your command. What do you want me to do for you? As for how to defeat the Golden Roc Army, I’ve come up with several ideas.”
Gu Shenwei was interested in his ideas, so before telling him his task he asked, “Oh? What are your ideas?”
Shangguan Fei replied excitedly, “Do you have much inflammable black oil in stock? I think we can make the Golden Roc Army cross Xiaoyao Lake to fight with them on the land. Before they come, we bury the black oil in the soil. When they run towards us, they will catch on fire. Then we can easily kill all of them.”
“This plan is not only simple but naive. The Golden Roc Fort has countless spies. It’s impossible to bury black oil in a large area without being noticed. Besides, generals are not foolish enough to send all of their troops to join the vanguard. Even if we managed to bury the black oil without being noticed, it could at most kill a small number of cavalry,” Gu Shenwei thought in disdain.
“Your idea— ”
“Isn’t it great?” Shangguan Fei asked with a smirk.
“You want me to make way for the Golden Roc Army, don’t you?”
Shangguan Fei shook his hands and explained, “No, absolutely not. You misunderstood me. It is just my suggestion, but it’s your call to accept it or not.”
“Well, go on. What else did you think of?”
Shangguan Fei swallowed and replied, “Even if we don’t let them cross the lake, they will come sooner or later. A fight with them cannot be avoided.”
“Go on.”
“I think… I suggest we send an elite army to bypass and hide in the mountains. When the battle starts, they attack from the flank and force the Golden Roc Army into Xiaoyao Lake.”
Gu Shenwei frowned, “You have been to Wushan. Do you think your suggestion is feasible?”
Shangguan Fei thought, laughing, “Wushan has an exceedingly tough terrain. Most of the paths are sinuous and narrow. There is only a barely feasible road. If you want to enter Wushan, you have to go through Gulping Wind Gorge. It is difficult to find another way.”
“So, what about…?”
Shangguan Fei wanted to provide more ideas, but Gu Shenwei was impatient to hear more. He interrupted Shangguan Fei, “Mine is better.”
“You have a good idea? That’s better. Compared with mine, yours must…” Shangguan Fei shut his mouth instantly for he knew that he must be a part of the Dragon King’s plan.
“You will meet with Shangguan Yun and try to make him send warships out of the gulf to fight with our naval forces.”
Dragon King said it in a casual as if this task was simple and Shangguan Fei could complete it with ease.
“What!?” Shangguan Fei asked. He tried to hide his shock and fear. “Did Maid Lotus lie to me and tell the Dragon King everything? Otherwise, why would the Dragon King mention the Third Brother?”
At this moment, Maid Lotus appeared, interrupting their conversation.
“Hello, Maid Lotus,” Shangguan Fei greeted her, “The Dragon King came here to check my practice, and I told…”
“He showed a sign of being attacked by Qigong Deviation, so I allowed him to take a break for two days,” Maid Lotus said calmly.
Shangguan Fei admired Maid Lotus more and more. “Without even discussing it in advance, her answer matched what I said. Besides, she said it with so much composure that even the most paranoid person would believe her,” he mused.
Gu Shenwei’s doubt completely disappeared. He said, “Then he doesn’t need to practice. I want him to meet with Shangguan Yun.”
Maid Lotus did her duty as a guard. She never expressed her opinions on the Dragon King’s plans in the presence of others. She nodded slightly and left.
Shangguan Fei knew how to answer the Dragon King, “Well, it’s easy to meet with the Third Brother for he still regards me as his brother. But how can I persuade him to send warships?”
The Dragon King had cold stern eyes at that moment. Shangguan Fei found that the Dragon King and Maid Lotus were very much alike in some respects. Thinking of this, he felt more uneasy. He had had enough confidence to convince Maid Lotus to join hands with the Golden Roc Fort, but now he was less sure about it.
“It’s simple. Just tell him the truth. Tell him that the Dragon army has a new weapon and they will want to see its power. As the Commander of the Golden Roc Army, he should have a look too.”
“Actually Shangguan Jianyi is the Commander.”
“I know.” Gu Shenwei did not want to argue with him on who the real Commander was.
“The one thing I fear most is that I will get caught before meeting him. The Dragon King knows that in other people’s eyes I am still the son of the Golden Roc Fort Supreme King who betrayed his father…”
“Ask him to meet with you.”
“Well.” Shangguan Fei’s uneasiness increased. “The Dragon King seems to know many things.” He continued, “Third Brother… How will it be possible for Shangguan Yun to come and meet with me?”
“I heard that in recent months a woman who looked like the disciple of New Moon Hall sometimes snuck out of the military camp. I’m guessing that girl was you. Am I right?”
Shangguan Fei did not know if he should be fearful or relax. It was good news that Maid Lotus had not told the Dragon King. But the Dragon King had already known that he’d met with the spy from Stone Castle in the disguise of a woman. He was startled by his silence.
“The Dragon King has…” Shangguan Fei had intended to let it go with a smile, but then he realized that it would not work. He kneeled down and said in a trembling voice, “Dragon King, I swear that I met with Shangguan Yun but I did nothing for him… I, I just want to gain his trust and find a chance to distinguish myself in front of you. I should not… should not have concealed it. I want to give you a surprise…”
“I believe you.”
“Really?” Shangguan Fei dared not believe the Dragon King.
“But I do not want your surprise. Now it is your time to distinguish yourself.”
“Distinguish myself again?” he thought, “Being useful is hard.”