"Damn, you scared me," Ren Ye breathed out, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Er Leng's tense expression softened. He slid Moon Inviter back into its custom sheath with a quiet shnick and sat down heavily. "Your Highness, what plan have you devised?"
Ren Ye licked his dry, cracked lips, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, calculated light. "Someone tried to kill me with that Gu, and they had inside help. That means we don't just sit here. We turn the tables. We go from the prey to the hunter."
Er Leng looked lost for a moment, then leaned forward. "I understood the last part, but Your Highness's words are too profound."
Ren Ye ignored him, thinking aloud. "Let's lay it out. The Gu was planted after I went to the Consort's chambers. Timing-wise, besides my personal eunuchs and maids, it would have been very difficult for anyone else to manage it. So, two possibilities: First, a traitor helped an outsider. Second… there is no outsider. The Gu master is one of my own."
Er Leng nodded slowly, the logic settling in. "Your reasoning is sound, Your Highness."
"Based on what you told me, raising Gu worms is a complex, time-consuming process," Ren Ye continued, frowning. "My maids and eunuchs all live together in close quarters. If someone was breeding Gu worms here for a long time, it's almost impossible they wouldn't have been discovered. So, I'm betting the real Gu master isn't among them. It's far more likely a traitor is working with someone outside."
"Your Highness is exceedingly wise, it truly makes—"
"Don't. Don't lick the boot," Ren Ye cut him off, waving a hand. "Not the time. Hold that thought."
"?" Er Leng just stared, feeling like the Prince had been speaking in riddles lately.
"Er Leng," Ren Ye leaned in, his voice dropping. "We need to leak some false information. Something our opponent will think is critically important."
Er Leng's face lit up with excitement as he pieced it together. "Your meaning is… we use this false news to lure the Gu master into making another move, so we can catch him red-handed?"
"You're getting sharper…" Ren Ye's eyes sparkled with approval.
"Heh, spending so much time in Your Highness's presence naturally polishes one's wits." Er Leng's boot-licking skills were as proficient as his swordsmanship, applied relentlessly and without regard for context.
"Heh, but you guessed wrong," Ren Ye said with a infuriatingly smug shake of his head.
Er Leng's face fell instantly, the feeling of being played with washing over him.
"The Gu failed. We're spooked, but so is our enemy," Ren Ye explained decisively. "If they have half a brain, they won't act again so easily."
"?" Er Leng was completely lost. "Then what is Your Highness's meaning?"
"I just need to use the traitor. I need to make the traitor believe the information is vital," Ren Ye rubbed his hands together, a plan crystallizing. "At first light tomorrow, you will distribute the gold and silver we inventoried from the secret chamber to the staff. And then… we put on a show."
Er Leng listened to Ren Ye's detailed instructions with a look of intense concentration, nodding at intervals.
Half an hour later, after the plan was laid out, Ren Ye emphasized again: "Crucially, this information can't be spread too obviously or clumsily. They have to feel they've overheard it or pieced it together because they're trusted…"
"This subordinate understands." Er Leng flashed a bright white grin. The two shared a look of perfect, conspiratorial understanding.
The long night dragged on. After finalizing the scheme with Er Leng, sleep was impossible. Ren Ye just lay there, staring at the pitch-black ceiling.
Even now, it felt like a bizarre dream. Just a day ago, he'd been in a perpetually lit prison, observing all manner of criminals. And today… he was fighting for his life in an unknown world.
There was fear, excitement, a burning curiosity about this Star Gate's legacy… but no sleepiness. He was exhausted, yet mentally wired.
Forget it. No sleep. Lying on the bed, Ren Ye began meticulously replaying the plan in his mind, searching for flaws and plugging holes.
He'd been in this Star Gate for a full day now. He was slowly adapting to the environment, starting to feel that this "large-scale role-playing" Gate favored intellectual warfare above all. Special items and mystical abilities seemed like mere accessories…
…
The next day, as the sun rose, rejuvenating the world.
After washing up, Ren Ye sat in his sun-drenched study, reading a diary alone.
Huang Wei had given him this diary. It didn't violate the Star Gate's rules, so he could bring it in.
He'd skimmed it before but never carefully. Now, waiting for the results of tonight's "fishing trip," it was a good way to kill time.
The first page contained a long introduction.
"'Door Spirits' is the collective term for all high-intelligence lifeforms within a Star Gate. This includes the people you see, animals, even ghosts, spirits, etc.
Door Spirits are divided into two types: The first are the Awakened, also known as Star-Source Clan. They are born within the world of the Star Gate itself, their origins untraceable. They possess intelligence not inferior to humans, often surpassing it.
The Awakened have a very small chance of becoming Players, transformed by the Star Gate's legacy and granted mystical abilities.
The second type is called Residual Souls. These Door Spirits have rigid thought patterns and primarily serve various player missions—like specific scenario-based vengeful ghosts, demons, aliens, etc. They function essentially as NPCs.
Residual Souls, through countless repeated missions and perceiving the Star Gate world, have a small probability of becoming Awakened.
In some extremely unique Star Gates, a third type of being exists. They are called Door Eyes. A Door Eye is the embodiment of a Star Gate's laws. They are responsible for overseeing the evolution and development of this world, ensuring it doesn't deviate…"
Sitting in the wooden chair, reading the diary intently, Ren Ye muttered to himself, "If that's the case, then Er Leng must be a Door Spirit… a simple, perhaps foolish, but Awakened one? That makes him worth cultivating. I wonder if I can bring him back to the real world…"
…
In the corridor outside the Hall of Tranquil Heart.
Twenty-four maids and eighteen eunuchs stood in neat rows.
These were all of Zhu Zigui's direct subordinates in the palace—all either weak women or… un-manned men.
Er Leng stood before them, the famed saber at his hip, his back to the side hall. "The palace is in turbulent times. Prince Huai has always treated you well. I hope you all understand… understand…"
He was tongue-tied, hadn't read many sage texts, and halfway through his prepared speech, he forgot the famous loyalist phrase he'd meant to use. He racked his brain but couldn't recall it.
He stood there, "understand…" hanging in the air for an awkwardly long time.
A maid standing next to Lian'er, one who had often "played cards" with Zhu Zigui, rolled her eyes and retorted, "Guard Hong, we all understand the grand principles. His Highness often 'discusses the classics by candlelight' with us weak women. His intimate words have many times moved this servant to… overflowing tears. Naturally, we wouldn't collude with those imperial hounds…!"
"Yes, Guard Hong wasting his breath on this is just…!"
"Does Guard Hong saying this mean he suspects someone among us has sided with the imperial dogs, acting as their eyes and ears?"
"…!"
The eunuchs and maids responded with sharp tongues.
It wasn't directed maliciously at Er Leng; they just thought he was stating the obvious. Combined with the recent undercurrents of fear in the palace, their attitudes were dismissive. Lian'er was the head maid of the Prince's chambers; this group didn't feel the need to overly curry favor with Er Leng.
Seeing the situation slipping out of control, Er Leng realized they had misunderstood.
Forget it. If you're bad with words, stop yapping. Just get to the point!
Er Leng waved his hand with a smile. "Alright, alright. Please, follow me inside."
With that, he turned, pushed open the doors to the side hall, and stepped aside.
In an instant, the glint of gold and silver from inside nearly blinded the maids and eunuchs.
Nearly half the hall was occupied by piles of antiques, scrolls, porcelain collectibles, and—most prominently—heaps of silver ingots and gold bars. These worldly treasures were what Ren Ye and Er Leng had discovered in the secret chamber the day before.
Huh?!
What was the meaning of this?
The crowd was stunned, goosebumps rising on their skin.
"His Highness says that since you are all willing to follow him to the death despite his circumstances, you deserve a reward. All the gold and silver treasures in this hall are to be divided equally among you," Er Leng announced, grinning widely. "Do you understand His Highness's heart now?"
With just that one sentence, over forty people dropped to their knees in unison. The previous laziness, impatience, and dismissiveness vanished from their faces instantly.
"We pledge our lives to Prince Huai!"
"We would dash our brains out on the ground for him, we would die without regret!"
"If His Highness wishes to use the lamp oil tonight, this servant will risk her life to comply!"
"…!"
Words were useless. Only when real gold and silver were laid before them did these servants from poor backgrounds truly feel that Prince Huai "remembered" them. Their tiny grudges and swirling anxieties disappeared in an instant.
Er Leng was very satisfied with the reaction. He and Lian'er began distributing the rewards according to the list.
As things were winding down, Er Leng saw a maid use a three-inch iron rod to pry open the lock on a wooden chest. In that moment, he suddenly remembered the phrase Ren Ye had used before.
One action, one instant, and it all clicked.
"So that's it! His Highness truly is a witty man, his phrasing rivals the great scholars. Heh. Vivid. Interesting!" …
Ren Ye spent the entire day reading most of the diary, learning many of the Star Gate's basic rules.
Night fell. After dusk, he went to the Consort's chambers for his… scheduled appointment.
Meanwhile, a young eunuch who had participated in the distribution that morning made his way to the Spring Fragrance Garden in the outer compound.
This was a recreational area for enjoying scenery, but Zhu Zigui had no taste for such things, so it was usually deserted.
The eunuch stood under a dark, ancient tree, waiting with a fidgety, anxious expression.
Amidst the cries of insects and night birds, a figure clad in a black robe, face obscured by a black scarf, emerged from the darkness. It was Liu Ling'er.
Her features were completely hidden by the scarf, her voice cold and detached. "What is so urgent that you had to see me like this?"
"Reporting to my master," the eunuch immediately bowed, his voice obsequious. "This morning, Guard Hong Jiadi gathered all the servants from the inner chambers and took them to the Hall of Tranquil Heart. He rewarded everyone with much gold and silver to buy their loyalty." He paused for effect. "Afterward, he ordered us to strengthen the night watch around the Prince's chambers, assigning tasks to everyone. They are acting as if facing a great enemy."
Liu Ling'er interrupted impatiently. "We failed with the Gu yesterday. Isn't it normal for them to increase security today?"
"Heh." The eunuch gave a sly, ingratiating chuckle and quickly added, "It's not normal. It's true Prince Huai and that oaf Hong are publicly strengthening the watch on his chambers… but this afternoon, the head maid, Lian'er, secretly went to the Hall of Tranquil Heart. I followed her in the shadows and saw that wretch secretly preparing a vacant room! She was even setting up crossbow traps in the corridors…!"
Liu Ling'er's demeanor changed instantly upon hearing this. "You mean to say… strengthening the chamber's defense is just a diversion by that废物 (waste) of a Prince?"
"Exactly! The failed Gu attempt last night has made the waste-of-a-Prince vigilant. He definitely won't be staying in his chambers tonight. He'll be hiding secretly in the Hall of Tranquil Heart. And besides Hong Jiadi and Lian'er, he won't have told anyone else. Otherwise, this diversion would be pointless." The eunuch bowed again. "So, this subordinate believes this is a heaven-sent opportunity for you, Master. If we act again, that waste will be isolated and unprotected. Success is assured."
Under the moonlight, Liu Ling'er suddenly scanned her surroundings, her expression turning icy. "What excuse did you use to come meet me?"
"This servant is not on duty tonight. I only told the eunuch I share a room with that I was going to relieve myself." The eunuch looked at Liu Ling'er with an expectant, boastful expression, suddenly growing excited. "I ask for no reward for this service… only that Master… reshape my missing member… and lie with me just once…!"
Liu Ling'er ignored his request, her voice cold as she slowly asked, "Did you see anyone else when you left?"
"Not at all, this subordinate—!"
"Why would Lian'er let you see her preparing a room in the Hall of Tranquil Heart?" Liu Ling'er pressed, her voice sharp.
"This subordinate is sworn to loyalty, Master! I naturally observe the Prince's every move. Don't worry, when I followed Lian'er in secret, she noticed nothing," the eunuch explained hurriedly.
Liu Ling'er looked at him, then crooked a finger. "You've performed well. Come here."
The eunuch was overjoyed, stepping closer. "Master, this subordinate truly admires you deeply. If you could just restore my—"
"Do you know, you idiot, you've completely exposed me?!" Liu Ling'er's voice was suddenly venomously cold as he drew near.
The eunuch froze in confusion.
Thwip!
A cold glint of light flashed. The eunuch's neck sprayed blood. He staggered back three steps, eyes wide with shock.
Liu Ling'er's right hand now held a dagger that hadn't been there a moment before. She stepped forward swiftly, grabbed the eunuch's hair, and yanked his head to the side, exposing his neck again.
Thunk!
The blade plunged through the eunuch's neck, impaling it completely.
"Worthless! No brains!" Liu Ling'er spat the words with furious contempt, releasing his hair. His body slumped stiffly to the ground.
Under the moonlight, a look of intense gravity settled on Liu Ling'er's pretty features as she stared into a patch of trees nearby.
Her eyes held no pity, no guilt. Only the heavy focus of someone facing a mortal threat.
Ruthless. Decisive. Reacting with lightning speed.
Whether in the real world or this Star Gate world, she was clearly not a woman prone to mercy. Pushing past society's limits was simply her way of survival…
Swish!
A figure emerged from the tree line.
The man was burly, cradling a sheathed saber in his arms. He stood in the moonlight, his features deceptively simple, his voice ice-cold.
"Drop the knife. Or you die."