Cui Buqu looked at the Jade of Heaven's Lake.
Yet Fan Yun was looking at him.
"Buqu, for someone with natural talents such as yourself, if you only lived for a few short decades and met an early death, wouldn't that be a pity? Your ambitions and ideals are a lot more than this. From the perspective of the people of this world, the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau is already a hard-earned prestigious position; however, I know that to you, this is not even worth mentioning. You are similar to me, viewing life as a board of chess, toying with the ways of the world and the hearts of human beings like a game. You care nothing for fame and status, but without your life, what can be done?" Fan Yun spoke continuously in a pleasant tone, just like that year when he used to guide Cui Buqu.
He said many things only once, and Cui Buqu could draw inferences from single sentences. So, this time, he also believed that the other could make a quick and intelligent choice.
Cui Buqu remained silent. Fan Yun has the utmost patience, waiting patiently and quietly.
Abandoning his former faction and joining the enemy's ranks, plotting for a rise of rebellion; a great event such as this cannot be decided just by a single slap on the head. Normal people would have been terrified half-dead just by listening to it; although Cui Buqu was not like normal people, if he had agreed without hesitation, then Fan Yun and Yuan Sansi would have instead grown suspicious.
After a long time, Fan Yun heard Cui Buqu saying, "I want to see Feng Xiao."
Fan Yun was not surprised at this request, he only smiled, "Did you not already guess? Are you placing too much trust in Feng Xiao's loyalty, or are you in denial of your own deductions?"
Cui Buqu's expression was void, "Words cannot serve as evidence; I trust in my eyes more."
Fan Yun laughed, "As things have progressed, do you still not understand? He has joined the forces of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. Or perhaps, you refuse to give up hope until you reach the tether's end. I have never seen you being so concerned over the status and goals of someone else. Whether he betrayed Yang Jian and joined the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai or not, is it that important to you?"
Cui Buqu, "Very important."
Fan Yu nodded his head, "Alright then."
He turned to Yuan Sansi and said, "To trouble Brother Yuan, please call for the Deputy Pavilion Lord."
Yuan Sansi turned around and left.
Cui Buqu, "Deputy Pavilion Lord?"
Fan Yun, "I know the Zuoyue Bureau has investigated the Thirteen Pavillions of Yunhai for a very long time now. However, I fear you do not know that the Pavilion Lord of the Thirteen Pavilions which is also the great Master, could have two Deputy Pavilion Lords by his side. The power of the Deputy Pavilion Lord is immense, for he could mobilize all twelve other Pavilions other than the first. Be it manpower or financial resources, to the northern or southern regions of the great river, a word of command and none would dare to disobey."
"Be it manpower or financial resources, to the northern or southern regions of the great river," Cui Buqu repeated those words and gave a look that spoke volumes, "That is to say, I definitely hadn't been wrong. Lin Wei of the Yandang Estate as well as the Jinhuan Group Leader Ning Shewo; they were all people of the Thirteen Pavilions!"
Fan Yun gave a silent smile, owning up to everything.
Cui Buqu, "Before Duan Qigu's death, you people have already laid a scheme. That letter on his corpse was no clue of the gathering of the Thirteen Pavilions, it was merely a clue you people left behind on purpose as bait. After I read the letter, of course, I will decrypt it and after the answer is obtained, even if I hadn't gone myself I would have sent Qiao Xian and the others to investigate. Someone must remain behind to serve as the mainstay in the capital for the Zuoyue Bureau, at the same time sending a portion of people out to investigate the case. When I seek out Yuan Sansi, I would definitely work together with Feng Xiao. However, Feng Xiao was already one of you, so this time, this scheme to pay a man back with his own coin was definitely secured. Even if I grew a pair of wings, I would still be unable to escape the schemes of the Thirteen Pavilions. Brilliant, teacher, even as a veteran, you're far more abler than recruits!"
Fan Yun gave a restrained laugh, "I knew you were a suspicious fellow by nature. Regardless whether it was the letter, Yuan Sansi, or Feng Xiao, you would have grown suspicious if either one appears out of the blue. However, if you encountered them all at once, naturally your attention would be diverted and your deductions would be tossed into disarray. More than that, when you were in Boling, you still needed to exhaust your efforts dealing with the Cui family's matters. Buqu, even if you are inhumanely intelligent, you are not an immortal god, it would be impossible for you to flawlessly have everything within your grasps."
As both of them spoke, footsteps echoed from the outside.
The one walking was someone with incredible martial arts. However, they did not intentionally lighten their steps, so Cui Buqu could naturally hear it.
Two beautiful maidservants carried a wooden tray in.
On the wooden tray, the fragrant scent of wine rippled in a wine cup made of white jade. The maidservant was adorned in white robes, snow-white skin and dark hair, her steps light. She bent her back to place the wine cup down. Through the loose lapels hanging down in a lax way, one can even see those jade-like peaks, accompanied by the fragrant smell seeping into one's heart.
Cui Buqu was not a monk that was completely indifferent to worldly temptations. Ever since he entered this inner chamber, he realized that although this was only one corner of the cave, it was extravagant and luxurious. Leaving the luminous pearls that filled the mosaic layers on the stone walls aside, even the futon he was sitting on was sewn by gold and silver threads and wrapped in satin, inside was filled with cotton and cattail. It was a futon that was softer than most.
In this chamber, there should be at least a few hidden exits leading outside. It could be seen that this place was incredibly well-hidden, it was truly a place meant for gatherings.
The maidservant gave him a tender and affectionate look, yet discovered that Cui Buqu was completely indifferent to it, so she could only put down the wine cup and retreat in silence.
Yet Fan Yun has seen it all. He laughed and said nothing, he only picked up the wine cup and took a quick sip.
Since the beginning of history, people who were made for great things would always have greater self-restraint compared to others. Let alone Cui Buqu, even if these beautiful maidservants took off their clothes and danced, Yuan Sansi and himself would not even blink. If Cui Buqu fell to temptations so easily, he would have instead overestimated this disciple of his.
After the maidservants left, two people entered.
One of them walked in with slow steps and walked directly in front of Cui Buqu before he stopped.
His boots were black in colour, the design no different from those of usual people, however, its texture surpassed that of others. With Feng Xiao's fuzziness, surely even his boots have to be extraordinary, so Cui Buqu recognized him with a single look.
Cui Buqu raised his head.
Feng Xiao's gaze fell on him at the same time.
As both of them met each other's gaze, no one spoke first.
Yuan Sansi laughed instead, "You two were only separated for a little while, yet why does it seem like you haven't seen each other for decades?"
Cui Buqu looked at Feng Xiao, "I hope that Second Commander Feng will be the one to answer me this and not others."
Feng Xiao's expression was very bland—there wasn't a smile, no mockery, and no delight in watching his misfortune. He had lost the initial coquettishness of loving to tease Cui Buqu, and he had also lost his usual enthusiasm of engrossing himself at watching his reflection in the mirror. A near calm and indifferent look surfaced on him as if Cui Buqu was just a passer-by who brushed shoulders with him, one that was not even worthy enough for him to look at.
He finally spoke, yet he only uttered one word, "Yes."
Cui Buqu, "Before Boling, you already were?"
Feng Xiao, "Yes."
Cui Buqu, "That night during the scheme of treason in Qingli Garden, you insisted on getting onto my carriage and coincidentally fought with Yuan Sansi, ending up saving my life, you also already were?"
Feng Xiao, "Yes."
Cui Buqu, "Your trial was me, then how would it benefit you? Something that could make Second Commander Feng willingly join the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, surely, it would not be just any benefits?"
An emotion finally fluctuated in Feng Xiao. Cui Buqu could see it, it resembled pity; a pity towards a failure of having been cheated.
This made Cui Buqu's throat itch. He couldn't stop himself from coughing, his voice was suppressed incredibly low, yet it still echoed in the inner chamber.
"The three demonic sects that exist at present: the Hehuan Sect, the Huanyue Sect, and the Fajing Sect which I head as Sect Leader were all from the same sect many years ago. During that time, the grandmaster of the demonic sect was Cui Youwang. He was first the demonic sect-leader and also the first human being." Feng Xiao said.
Cui Buqu's expression at that moment was very calm. He even nodded his head slightly, "I've heard hearsays."
He was met with betrayal and was besieged on all four sides, yet he hadn't lost his sense of direction. At least, he didn't look like he did on the surface.
Fan Yun took all of this into his vision and sighed quietly.
If he could choose, naturally he would not use this sort of method to force Cui Buqu into submission. However, he knew that his opponent's intelligence was unparalleled, and he knew as well that he wasn't the sort to admit defeat easily. If not for being taken by surprise and being oppressed by power so he could witness for himself the massive change that took place and not being able to respond in time, thus ultimately being taken advantage of to be dealt with, it would be impossible to pull Cui Buqu into the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai.
Of course, killing Cui Buqu would have been much easier. But talented people are hard to come by, and getting Cui Buqu was like giving a pair of wings to a tiger. Fan Yun hoped to try his best at gathering more and more talented people for the one he served, and not clearing the way via killing.
Feng Xiao, "Before his death Cui Youwang left behind a technique of the martial arts that could transfer one's soul and blood, reforging one's meridians. It was called 'Forging Jade'. It was only because this technique followed Cui Youwang to his death, that it was not recorded. In the old days, there were three disciples under my teacher. Other than Guang Lingsan and I, there was also another shimei1. A few years ago, shimei was heavily injured due to reasons and among all the remedies in this world, only 'Forging Jade' could save little shimei. The reason I joined the Jiejian Bureau was also because of this."
Yuan Sansi added from the side, "Fortunately, the Pavilion Lord gathered all the ancient books and records that exist under the sky. Among them was the Forging Jade technique that was lost in time. That technique was split into two sections. After Commander Feng obtained the first one and used it on his shimei, it proved effective."
As he listened to this point, Cui Buqu naturally understood everything. He nodded and said, "So in order to obtain the final section, you used betraying me as your trial to join the Thirteen Pavillions of Yunhai. If I was not the pitiful worm of the story, I would have been moved by Commander Feng's deep passion."
Feng Xiao, "Even without me, you cannot free yourself from this scene. They feared that I wasn't sincere enough, so they used you as a trial. If I could sell even you out, then they would naturally be reassured."
Cui Buqu gave a mocking expression, "I could not have guessed that I weigh quite a bit in Commander Feng's heart."
Feng Xiao knelt, levelling his gaze, "You are wrong. It's not because you are important. It's because you represent the Zuoyue Bureau. This identity of yours is important. In all honesty, this time the plan was executed miraculously smoothly, I also felt very surprised. You should have brought more people out, at least Qiao Xian, or Zhangsun, then I wouldn't have reached my goals so easily. However, you only brought two lackey Zuoyue guards and decided that it was safe to come with me. Didn't this just prove that your trust for me has already reached a place where you would readily entrust your life to me?"
Cui Buqu said nothing; he only coughed, the hand supporting himself on the futon turned pale and cold. His back straightened as if it would break once bent.
Coughing to him was something of the norm, but when he has been coughing for too long, even his lungs felt like they were on fire, riffling in scorching pain.
The colder his body was, the more burning hot his inside was. From his chest all the way to every part of his meridians, it was burning like a fire engulfing wilted grass, turning tender green into flying ashes, engulfing all the things on earth in flames, all the warm-hearts in the world.
There was no need for him to answer, Feng Xiao already understood.
Feng Xiao snickered; grabbing Cui Buqu's jaw, he forced his gaze to meet his own.
"Master Fan said you carry a cold and indifferent attitude but a warm and sincere soul; on the outside, a frosty facade yet on the inside, a passionately beating heart. Originally, I refused to believe it. Now, I do."
As he finished speaking, Feng Xiao sneered, "Truly a pity, for this hard-earned trust of the commander was placed on the wrong person."
[1] Shimei: Junior martial sister.