A Delicate Dance of Schemes and Courtesy

The team, under Gu Bei’s bewildered gaze, turned back towards the outskirts of Sanchuan Commandery City.

Yu Qiuqiao, smiling, waved her hand, and everyone, with the exception of the guardian named Liu, disbanded on the spot.

Gu Bei’s bewilderment deepened.

Still, he found himself indifferent to his ultimate destination.

With the matter seemingly drawing to a close, he reasoned that if Yu Qiuqiao was truly determined to have him participate in the arena challenge, he might as well give it a try.

After all, if he were to prostrate himself in surrender, the greatest humiliation wouldn’t fall upon him.

Perhaps he would face a reckoning after descending from the arena; at worst, he could simply run to beg Ning Wanzhuang for protection.

There was profound terror in the space between life and death, and when it came to his own survival, he cared nothing for reputation or pride.

Furthermore, as for this particular matter…

Gu Bei surmised that Ning Wanzhuang was aware of his status as a double agent, and even if he were to win by some stroke of luck, she likely wouldn’t hold too much of a grudge against him.

Perhaps?

Crossing his arms, Gu Bei stared blankly into the sky, lost in thought.

“What are you staring for? Let’s go.”

Yu Qiuqiao patted his arm.

“Oh,” Gu Bei replied, snapping back to attention and nodding.

Though he remained unaware of their destination, he simply decided to follow along.

In certain situations, Yu Qiuqiao proved quite reassuring; at the very least, her status and position meant she wouldn’t be in want of someone to sacrifice.

Even if she intended his death, she would ensure this ‘Gu fellow’  met his end with clarity.

Yu Qiuqiao was then seen giving a subtle nod to Elder Liu.

Gu Bei watched on, bewildered, when suddenly Yu Qiuqiao seized his arm.

His vision blurred instantaneously.

Upon opening his eyes once more, a vastly different scene greeted him.

Gu Bei instinctively glanced around.

Pavilions, waterside structures, and winding corridors stretched out before him.

It appeared to be the interior of a grand estate.

While Gu Bei couldn’t discern the exact monetary value of these structures, he instinctively knew they were exceedingly precious.

Perhaps a connoisseur, or a more romantically inclined scholar, would gaze upon this scene with either awe or a sudden surge of poetic inspiration.

However, Gu Bei was a pragmatist, a man who toiled daily for the livelihood of the Minor Sword Sect; he could only associate the scene before him with its quantifiable worth.

It was precisely during this encompassing glance that he suddenly realized Elder Liu had vanished without a trace.

He had been there moments ago…

“If it weren’t for the lack of other suitable collaborators…” a captivating voice, like a secluded orchid in a valley, drifted from the end of the winding corridor. “I’ve wanted to kill you more times than I can count, Yu Zhuoshui (TL Note: An alternative name or courtesy name for Yu Qiuqiao).”

“For Ning Wanzhuang to utter my courtesy name  in front of Young Master Gu—it’s quite shameful for me,” Yu Qiuqiao remarked with a bright smile, looking towards the newcomer.

Upon hearing the newcomer’s voice, Gu Bei’s eyes snapped wide open.

“Just look at how terrified our Young Master Gu is; he’s been rendered speechless,” Yu Qiuqiao said, covering her mouth with a light chuckle, as she cast a sidelong glance at Gu Bei, who was bowing his head to conceal his shock, and perhaps even terror.

“Young Master Gu...” Ning Wanzhuang slowly emerged. “You have certainly exceeded Wanzhuang’s expectations.”

Gu Bei, smiling amiably, then raised his clasped hands in greeting. “Ning Wanzhuang, you jest,” he began, “it was merely a few clumsy arrangements.”

“The clumsiness of the process matters not; so long as the outcome is as desired, all is well,” Ning Wanzhuang stated, her steps graceful and unhurried as she approached Gu Bei. “However, I’ve heard that Young Master Gu has revealed his relationship with Wanzhuang  to others?”

“In urgent matters, one must act expediently; I only hope Ning Wanzhuang can understand.” This ‘Gu fellow’  had a clear conscience regarding the matter, yet his personal conviction held little sway; it was Ning Wanzhuang’s approval that truly mattered.

Thus, a hint of trepidation colored his words.

“Understand, of course understand. Changxi has always been magnanimous; how could she possibly mind such a minor detail?” Yu Qiuqiao interjected with a cheerful laugh.

Ning Wanzhuang frowned, casting a sharp glance at Yu Qiuqiao. “Whether I am magnanimous or not is my affair; who are you to be generous on another’s behalf?”

“Indeed, Ning Wanzhuang speaks truly, yet becoming so easily angered is quite unlike your character, Ning Changxi,” Yu Qiuqiao continued, her eyes narrowed in a mischievous smile. “Could it be that my mention of Ning Wanzhuang’s boudoir courtesy name  in front of Young Master Gu has caused Wanzhuang some embarrassment?”

This ‘Gu fellow’ had, once again, become a mere prop in the verbal sparring between these two influential young women.

Yet, he hadn’t gained absolutely nothing from the exchange.

At the very least, he now knew their courtesy names.

In truth, the concept of ‘boudoir‘ held less significance in the cultivation world; ordinary secular women rarely possessed courtesy names, and even revealing one’s own given name before marriage was often considered a disgraceful act.

Much less for women like Yu Qiuqiao and Ning Wanzhuang, who were renowned throughout the world.

Yu Qiuqiao’s words caused Ning Wanzhuang’s chest to heave continuously with anger.

Caught between the two, Gu Bei dared not utter a single sound, striving to make his presence as inconspicuous as possible.

If these two wished to use him as a pawn, he would allow it; after all, they were the ones who would ultimately become enraged, and it was unlikely they would direct their ire at him.

“Alright, alright, Changxi, don’t be angry. Qiuqiao  has come here to apologize this time,” Yu Qiuqiao said softly with a smile. “Sanchuan is, after all, your Immortal Alliance’s home ground; you won’t truly be unable to win. Besides, this prize was merely a whim, and the competition itself is nothing more than a tool to achieve our objectives; it will ultimately amount to nothing.”

“Young Miss Yu, do you still have the gall to bring that up?” Ning Wanzhuang retorted, her voice icy with suppressed fury. “While your Demonic Path’s customs may be open, my Immortal Alliance is not. There are myriad ways to achieve a goal; why must you insist on resorting to such vulgar tactics?”

Gu Bei, listening from the sidelines, barely managed to stifle a laugh.

Truth be told, Ning Wanzhuang had indeed suffered an undeserved calamity this time.

Still, their relationship… what exactly was it?

Gu Bei began to feel a little confused.

Never mind; there was no point dwelling on these irrelevant thoughts, as they had nothing to do with him. The more one pondered, the quicker one met their demise.

“However, Young Master Gu has indeed surprised Wanzhuang somewhat.”

“Indeed, Qiuqiao also didn’t expect Young Master Gu to complete the task in just a few days.”

Seeing himself mentioned, Gu Bei chuckled, looking up and waving his hand dismissively. “Oh, please, not at all. Both of you had already laid out your plans; I merely contributed a small, insignificant effort…”

“However, despite what you say, it still falls a little short,” Yu Qiuqiao added meaningfully.

“Please instruct me, Fairy?” Gu Bei naturally bowed respectfully, listening intently.

The appellation ‘Fairy’ caused Ning Wanzhuang’s pupils to constrict ever so slightly.

Noticing Yu Qiuqiao’s lack of reaction to the address, Ning Wanzhuang’s expression grew even more nuanced.

“Qiuqiao  previously stated that Young Master Gu should either cause everyone in Sanchuan to lose face, or make her, Ning Changxi, unable to get out of bed… Young Master Gu, however, has only accomplished half of the first objective—”

“Yu Qiuqiao!!!” Ning Wanzhuang’s pupils dilated slightly, and with a swift flick of her jade-like hand, she drew a sword directly from the air, lunging it towards Yu Qiuqiao.

She could no longer tolerate it!

Not even for a moment!

Ning Wanzhuang was not Gu Bei; if she couldn’t bear it, there was no need for her to endure.

She wouldn’t, like this ‘Gu fellow’ (TL Note: A humble or self-deprecating way for Gu Bei to refer to himself), endure endlessly even when unable to bear it, effectively becoming a living, breathing ninja.

Yu Qiuqiao retreated with a cheerful grin, her slender hands deftly parrying and blocking Ning Wanzhuang’s sword light as it rained down upon her.

Her seemingly fair and delicate hands, upon colliding with Ning Wanzhuang’s longsword, surprisingly emitted the metallic clang of clashing steel.

Gu Bei clicked his tongue.

He found the scene both amusing and, in a strange way, sorrowful.

While Ning Wanzhuang’s reaction was typical of most normal women, Gu Bei couldn’t shake a familiar sense of exasperation—akin to the frustration he felt in his previous life when, during school, a female classmate would playfully drag her friend’s finger to point at the most socially awkward boy in class and declare, ‘There’s your husband!’

The moment the two began to fight, Elder Liu emerged from the shadows, appearing in the sky above the courtyard, swiftly followed by Ning Wanzhuang’s own guardian.

The two guardians then glanced down at the two young ladies embroiled in combat, before turning their gazes to one another.

In each other’s eyes, they could discern a shared sense of helplessness.

They appeared for but a fleeting moment before simultaneously vanishing once more.

Ultimately, however, neither combatant could truly gain an advantage over the other.

After a brief skirmish, Yu Qiuqiao ceased her attacks with a bright smile, even as Ning Wanzhuang, her face still shadowed with displeasure, also halted.

“Are we done fighting?” Yu Qiuqiao asked with a smile.

“What exactly did you come here for?” Ning Wanzhuang demanded, turning away. The longsword, its rank unknown, slowly transformed into fragmented mirror shards, dissolving into the air the moment it left her grasp.

As Ning Wanzhuang passed Gu Bei, she let out a faint sigh. “I apologize for the spectacle, Young Master Gu. Let us proceed to the hall for our discussion.”

“Oh, please, not at all…” Gu Bei said, waving his hand with an obsequious smile, before following in the wake of Ning Wanzhuang’s magnificent, swaying skirt.

Yu Qiuqiao, however, was left standing alone.

Yet, she showed no annoyance, instead smiling amiably as she followed their path out of the courtyard.

****

Meanwhile, Mu Qingsi, who had traveled by sword, had already arrived in Sanchuan Commandery.