Chapter 1116: Truly Ruthless

Hearing this, Shao Pingbo remained grave for a long time. Then he suddenly looked upward and sighed. "That is precisely what makes Niu Youdao formidable. His first report said Xuan Yao intended to use public office to avenge a private grudge. Something submitted to the Nine Saints cannot be baseless, which means there really was some grievance between Xuan Yao and Niu Youdao. He struck first and checked the threat against him. His second report sent Long Fanhai to his death, drawing the Nine Saints' attention while also demonstrating the difficulties he faced as an inspector. By the time his third report raised certain requests, everything followed naturally, and he smoothly obtained exactly what he wanted."

He continued, "There was a great deal of calculation in the way he submitted those three reports one after another. He understood what the Nine Saints wanted and catered to them in order to achieve his own objective. He obtained a large flying mount and the convenience of moving freely throughout the Sacred Realm."

"Everything he does must have a purpose. Freedom of movement inside the Sacred Realm should only be one of his needs. There is no chance he's doing all this merely to work himself to death for the Nine Saints. Why did he need that freedom? I know him too well. He must be plotting something."

"I later heard that inspectors from all the different factions suddenly became much more diligent. The Hong Yunfa matter erupted only afterward."

"Sir, I can almost say with certainty that if I put myself in Niu Youdao's position, and I wanted to plot something while gaining greater freedom and convenience to act, I would encourage the other sects to fulfill their inspection duties more aggressively, forcing Misty Pavilion to divide its attention and making it easier for me to operate in secret."

"Sir, if my guess is correct, after those three reports Niu Youdao himself quieted down, while the people from the other sects began making trouble instead."

When someone from Misty Pavilion had first made secret contact with Shao Pingbo, the man had shown him a little information about Niu Youdao's situation in Misty Pavilion to prove his identity. What Shao Pingbo had seen was precisely the record of Niu Youdao's three consecutive reports.

The visitor fell silent. After thinking it over, he seemed slightly startled. "It does sound as though you've hit on it. That seems to be exactly what happened."

Shao Pingbo asked in return, "He's running all over the Sacred Realm. Don't you want to know what he's plotting?"

The deductions had confirmed certain things, finally making the visitor take the matter seriously. Hesitantly, he said, "But it really is difficult to learn the details of his movements."

"Geese leave cries as they pass; water leaves traces as it flows. If he has done something, then he must have left clues behind. Think carefully, sir. I can help you analyze it. In helping you, I'll also be helping myself."

The visitor slowly said in thought, "What could he possibly do inside the Sacred Realm?"

"Don't underestimate him. There are plenty of things he could do. For example, Niu Youdao reported that there was a grievance between him and Xuan Yao. Why was there a grievance between them? What happened between the two of them? Do you know?"

The visitor pressed his lips together. "When I go back, I'll carefully collect whatever information is relevant. But that fellow runs around too much and is difficult to follow. I'm afraid it will be hard to obtain anything very detailed."

Shao Pingbo leaned slightly forward across the table. "Make it as detailed as possible. I want a detailed map of the Sacred Realm. I want to know what Niu Youdao has done since entering it, whom he has contacted, where he has gone, what incidents connected to him have occurred, and anything else of that kind. In short, the more detail the better. As long as we can sort everything out from beginning to end, then even if there are gaps where the trail breaks, laying it all out may still reveal something."

The visitor stood and picked up his shoulder bag, preparing to leave.

Shao Pingbo rose with him. "Since you've come all this way, don't you have anything you want me to do regarding this war?"

At that, the visitor sighed. "There's no need anymore. My earlier contact with you turned out to be entirely unnecessary. The Nine Saints have shown no reaction at all to this war. It has had no effect on them. Apart from affecting the inspectors from the various sects somewhat, it did nothing to interfere with the investigation into Hong Yunfa. Fight however you like. It has nothing to do with me now."

Shao Pingbo understood why he sighed. Instigating a war had achieved nothing, while instead leaving the man vulnerable to leverage. That was probably something he had never imagined beforehand.

"Can you truly not tell me your identity or name?" Shao Pingbo asked.

"There is no need."

The visitor had come for only one purpose: to keep Shao Pingbo steady and buy time to discover where he had hidden his failsafe. Once that failsafe was neutralized, he could dispose of Shao Pingbo.

Shao Pingbo said, "Then we can discuss it once you feel at ease. It is an honor to know you, sir. If there is ever any use you can make of me, simply give the order."

This was not empty flattery. He had always wanted to establish a connection with Misty Pavilion but had never found a path in. He had never expected someone to come to him of his own accord. How could Shao Pingbo let such an opportunity slip away easily?

"I hope you prove useful enough to be worth using." With that, the visitor turned to leave.

"Please wait." Shao Pingbo stopped him and cupped his hands. "Before you go, there is one more matter in which I'd like to ask your help."

The visitor looked at him coldly. "I advise you not to keep pushing your luck."

"It's only something that follows naturally from the circumstances. It won't cause you any trouble."

"What is it?"

"The Qi emperor has sent his son to marry into Xuan Wei's household, helping Wei stabilize people's hearts. I don't want things to go too smoothly for them. I assume you have people in Wei?"

"My people probably can't help you with anything that large."

"Among the Wei imperial palace, Lingxu Mansion, Shouzheng Pavilion, and Dale Mountain, all I need is for you to have one person in any one of them."

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Xuan Wei's husband is Hao Cheng. Xuan Wei's lover is Ximen Qingkong. One is the husband and one is the lover. No matter how you look at it, there's something interesting there. At the very least, I don't believe Xuan Wei's husband and Xuan Wei's lover can truly feel no resentment toward one another. Ximen Qingkong may be broad-minded enough, but what about Hao Cheng? Can he really tolerate wearing a cuckold's green hat forever?"

The visitor gave him a sidelong look. "Hao Cheng bears Qi's mission on his shoulders. How could he fail to know that this marriage is merely for show? I'm afraid he has no choice but to swallow the humiliation. If you think you can sow discord with only this, you're imagining too much."

Shao Pingbo waved a hand. "That depends on the circumstances. What if Hao Cheng has nothing to fear? What if someone supports him in acting?"

"Oh?" The visitor looked ready to hear more. "How so?"

Shao Pingbo lowered his voice. "The sovereign of Wei is basically finished. Xuan Wei now holds the real power of the state, which gives me plenty of room to act. Back when Xuan Wei was still merely a minister, Wei's three great sects already disliked Ximen Qingkong somewhat because she held so much authority. Now Xuan Wei formally controls the power of Wei. How can one allow another to snore beside one's own bed? At a moment like this, all it would take is a little provocation for Wei's three great sects to find Ximen Qingkong impossible to tolerate. It is entirely possible they could resolve to kill him."

The visitor sneered. "Wei's three great sects need Xuan Wei right now. They won't offend her at a time like this."

"Exactly. That is why Hao Cheng is such a perfect chess piece. Why did Xuan Wei marry Hao Cheng? For the sake of the greater situation. If Hao Cheng makes a move to kill Ximen Qingkong, then the matter has nothing to do with Wei's three great sects. It becomes a life-and-death struggle between romantic rivals. If the provocation is handled properly, only a little pressure is needed. How could Wei's three great sects fail to be tempted?"

"With a cuckold's green hat on his head, Hao Cheng is bound to feel stifled and humiliated. Once he gains the secret backing of Wei's three great sects, he will naturally feel he has nothing to fear."

"If Hao Cheng succeeds, Ximen Qingkong dies. Once Ximen Qingkong is dead, if Xuan Wei kills Hao Cheng for love, panic will immediately spread among the people and the marriage alliance will become meaningless."

"If Hao Cheng makes his move and fails, only to be killed by Ximen Qingkong instead, the result is the same."

"If Ximen Qingkong kills Hao Cheng and ruins Wei's greater interests, do you think Wei's three great sects will let him go?"

The visitor suddenly looked Shao Pingbo up and down and said word by word, "Your methods truly are ruthless."

"When two states are at war, deception is part of warfare!" Shao Pingbo replied. "Besides, don't you find it ridiculous that Xuan Wei, a woman, is keeping one foot in two boats? It violates womanly virtue. I'll simply play the defender of propriety for once and give her a small punishment."

The visitor asked, "What if Hao Cheng fails to kill Ximen Qingkong, and Ximen Qingkong restrains himself for the sake of the greater situation?"

"Once Wei's three great sects decide to act and support Hao Cheng, they won't leave themselves exposed on both sides. I expect they'll make certain of the outcome before they move. They will not treat this as child's play. If they don't act, fine. But once they do, they will absolutely intend to put Ximen Qingkong to death. And even if the final result doesn't unfold exactly as I want, throwing Xuan Wei—the person governing Wei—into confusion or making her life miserable is still something Jin would be happy to see. It's safe, costs us almost nothing, and can be done in passing. Why wouldn't we?"

The visitor chuckled coldly. "Ximen Qingkong bears you no grudge at all. For him, this truly is calamity dropping from the sky! It seems I really did find myself a rather good partner. Xuan Wei failed to recruit you into Wei back then and let you escape to Jin. That may well be the greatest mistake of her life. Enough. I shouldn't stay long. Someone will contact you later."

Shao Pingbo immediately cupped his hands in farewell. "It isn't convenient for me to show myself and see you out. Forgive the discourtesy. Safe travels, sir."

After the visitor left, Shao Sansheng, who had escorted him out, quickly returned upstairs. He went to Shao Pingbo, who stood by the window with his hands behind his back in thought, and ventured, "Someone from Misty Pavilion?"

Shao Pingbo did not deny it.

Knowing his guess was correct, Shao Sansheng could not help worrying. "Eldest Young Master, shouldn't we activate the failsafe as soon as possible? If we don't give him reason to fear the consequences, he may very well kill us to silence us."

"No." Shao Pingbo's voice was calm. "I can afford the gamble. He cannot. The moment he came to see me, he had already lost. His coming here proves he cannot afford to gamble. He came to keep me steady. He has certainly already sent people to watch me in secret, hoping to find where I've hidden my failsafe. Misty Pavilion's reach is too strange and pervasive. No matter where I hide the failsafe, there is a chance he will find it."

"Once he finds it, that is when I die."

"The only safe course is not to move and leave him no trail to follow. If I move, I am seeking death. If I remain still, I am safe instead. Right now, not only does he not dare let me die, he has to think of every possible way to protect me. Old Shao, life and death are separated by a single thread. We are completely on the weaker side. We cannot move rashly. There is no room for carelessness."

Shao Sansheng's heart pounded as he listened. No wonder the Eldest Young Master had delayed taking any action. Those threats had been nothing more than words after all. He suddenly felt that Shao Pingbo was truly a little mad. The Eldest Young Master was gambling his life against the other man's.

[End of Chapter 1116]