Chapter 0: 38. An Open Scheme
“What?” Qin Gou’s expression was startled.
Gu Caihe, however, showed a hint of a fond smile at the corner of her mouth as she said, “From the first glance I took of you just now, I recognized you.”
“Rong Shan, it’s been a long time!” Little Chair also nodded with a sweet smile.
Upon hearing this, Rong Shan couldn’t help but her eyes lit up with joy, “So many years have passed, yet I can still be remembered by both of you sisters, it is truly Rong Shan’s honor! Back then, I really received a lot of care from you two sisters.”
Although Rong Shan, at first glance, appeared visibly older than Gu Caihe and Yi Chengying, according to the rules of Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, all disciples addressed the Nine Saintesses directly as ‘sister’.
This led to Little Chair, constantly being addressed intimately as ‘Elder Sister Lord’ by so many voluptuous women, would occasionally feel a surge of inferiority.
“By the way, I haven’t introduced you to Lord Qin yet. This Rong Shan is a member of the Nether Drunken Hall under our Mystic Maiden Palace’s Elder Sister Xue Xunzui. Elder Sister Xunzui and the others are primarily responsible for intelligence gathering and dissemination through infiltration.”
Yi Chengying then explained to Qin Gou, “As for why Lord Qin has never seen Elder Sister Xunzui in the Mystic Maiden Palace, it’s because, apart from the Palace Lord, even we don’t know what kind of identity Elder Sister Xunzui is currently playing in the outside world.”
“And Xue Xunzui’s other name, I assume, is Little Drop?”
“How did Lord Qin know?” Yi Chengying’s small mouth parted slightly, greatly surprised.
“I’m gradually getting used to Ye Qishuang’s peculiar way of thinking,” Qin Gou said with a dry laugh.
“And this is our Mystic Maiden Palace’s current Second Palace Lord, Qin Yue,” Gu Caihe also introduced Rong Shan at this moment.
“So you are Palace Lord Qin!” Rong Shan immediately cupped her fists, “I haven’t returned for many years, that’s why I didn’t recognize you. I ask Palace Lord Qin for forgiveness.”
It was not difficult to see that Rong Shan’s attitude towards Qin Gou and Little Chair was significantly different. On one hand, she bowed her head immediately; on the other, she merely cupped her fists in salute. It was clear that her respect for this unfamiliar ‘male Palace Lord’ was still superficial, but it was also understandable.
Of course, Qin Gou himself didn’t mind. He waved his hand, saying, “No harm done… However, I just heard you ask if we are here to apprehend all the cultivators in this place. That’s clearly a misunderstanding.”
“In fact, our Mystic Maiden Palace is genuinely here to openly participate in the Selection Ceremony of the ‘Great Dao Renowned Sect’ this time!”
“Ahaha, Palace Lord Qin, you are such a humorous and witty person? You jest!” For a moment, Rong Shan couldn’t help but force a smile, a hint of apprehension mixed with it, her face showing no sign of belief.
“Jesting?”
Qin Gou’s expression suddenly turned grim, “Are we really going to abandon the identity you, Rong Shan, have painstakingly cultivated for so many years, just to eliminate those insignificant juniors gathered here? How foolish! Since we are going to do it, we will aim for something bigger, something earth-shattering! Think about it, once the news of the Mystic Maiden Palace obtaining the qualification to successfully ascend to the ranks of the Great Dao Renowned Sect spreads, it will surely cause a massive stir, attracting how many beasts who are sworn enemies of our Mystic Maiden Palace to gather forces and investigate this matter? The more they come, the better!”
“When that time comes, it will be the real reveal of our intentions. Both Qishuang and I will personally turn this Pinghe Mountain into a sea of corpses, a living hell!” As he spoke, a fierce light surged in Qin Gou’s eyes, and he let out a cold smile. “This is an open scheme. If those beasts do not come to obstruct us and let our Mystic Maiden Palace succeed, it will be a severe blow to the face of all the Great Dao Renowned Sects in the world. But if they dare to show themselves, they will truly never return, their corpses will litter the ground. How exhilarating!”
“And what you, Rong Shan, need to do is to cooperate well with us in the first step of participating in the Selection Ceremony. Don’t let some meddlesome individuals become an obstruction.”
“So it is! Compared to Palace Lord Qin, I am truly laughably shortsighted!” For a moment, Rong Shan’s eyes trembled as if she had a sudden enlightenment. She bowed respectfully and said, “Rong Shan is loyal with all her heart and is willing to serve Palace Lord Qin!” In her heart, she gradually began to look at this male master of the Mystic Maiden Palace with a mixture of respect and awe, seeing him in a new light.
“Very good.” Qin Gou nodded with satisfaction. Now, he not only gradually adapted to Xiao Shuang’er’s whimsical ideas but also became increasingly skilled in how to communicate with these wicked girls of the Mystic Maiden Palace.
…
A moment later.
“Qin Yue, sometimes I truly feel you are terrifying,” Gu Caihe subconsciously shivered.
“What? Isn’t a person who is complex in their schemes yet still yearns for righteousness and light even more precious?” Qin Gou said with a light chuckle.
“Yes, but your ability to brag is also far beyond ordinary people,” Gu Caihe was amused and immediately retorted with a smile. “However, with only Rong Shan’s efforts, I’m afraid it won’t guarantee that we can proceed smoothly. After all, she is only one of the officials from the Yuan Cang Dynasty among the several dynasties hosting this Selection Ceremony.”
“I know. Otherwise, why would I have asked her just now where the Daojun Dynasty’s camp is located?” Qin Gou smiled calmly.
Gu Caihe was still confused and asked blankly, “But what does the Daojun Dynasty have to do with us?”
Immediately, a cold shout rang out.
“This area is not open to disciples of sects participating in the selection. Everyone, please do not proceed further!”
“Are you all officials from the Daojun Dynasty?” Qin Gou asked gently.
“Indeed.”
“Little Chair.” Qin Gou gestured with his eyes.
“Yes!”
Responding obediently, Yi Chengying unhesitatingly took out a Hidden Dragon Guard token from her Nas, displaying it to the Daojun Dynasty officials.
“You are…”
Almost instantly, the officials’ tone turned extremely humble and respectful, “Greetings, Commandant!”
“I want to see your supervisor,” Little Chair said calmly. The token in her hand was precisely from the Daojun Dynasty’s Fearless Princess Lin Youqing.
“Please!”
Yi Chengying was then respectfully ushered into the camp by everyone. Gu Caihe, who had been standing there in disbelief the entire time, silently watched Little Chair’s receding back.
She felt that her sister, with whom she had lived for so many years, this mere Little Chair… had suddenly become so strange, so unfamiliar.
After the duration of one incense stick burning.
Yi Chengying returned to Qin Gou with a rather strange expression.
“What’s wrong? Did you not get to see the leader in charge from the Daojun Dynasty this time?” Qin Gou asked, puzzled.
“No, Little Chair successfully met that fellow Daoist and conversed with them for a long time, but…”
Yi Chengying scratched her little head and, with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, transmitted her voice to Qin Gou.
“That supervisor from the Daojun Dynasty actually prostrated himself on the spot and repeatedly asked Little Chair… if Cult Master Zhao was satisfied with the intelligence regarding this Selection Ceremony? And if the Lone Shadow Saint Lord had come under the Demon Lord’s secret command?!”
