Yu Qiuqiao’s Gambit

Ning Wanzhuang was, after all, a bit better than that old fool from Clear Stream Valley, providing Gu Bei with some conveniences for his tasks.

Gu Bei was currently toying with a jade pendant in his hand.

The jade pendant was exquisite and elegant, appearing to be quite valuable. It couldn’t be classified as a magical artifact or as a personal item of Ning Wanzhuang, nor could it be used to prove trustworthiness. It merely served as evidence that Gu Bei was currently working for Ning Wanzhuang.

However, Ning Wanzhuang didn’t have much of a foundation in the Sanchuan region. Despite Ning Wanzhuang’s fame, her sect wasn’t located there, and the local factions gave her at most ninety-nine points out of a hundred in respect, but they wouldn’t truly offer much support.

Thus, Gu Bei, holding this jade pendant, could only borrow limited power.

On the other hand, Ning Wanzhuang remained on the Potential Dragons List at the Nascent Soul stage, despite her young age, having just passed a mere sixty years. Neither the Drifting Clouds nor the Immortal Alliance doubted that Ning Wanzhuang would enter the Earth Rank Top 40 within a century.

In summary, this jade pendant was useful, but only to a limited extent.

Gu Bei understood that Ning Wanzhuang wanted to offer more support, but given his current cultivation at the Qi Condensation stage, without even reaching Foundation Establishment, he couldn’t use any magical artifacts, and could only utilize low-tier talismans, which were less effective than a refined steel crossbow.

Gu Bei hadn’t asked for more.

Gu Bei’s personality was that of a chosen laborer, making do with limited conditions and finding his own way to complete tasks, just as he had with his younger siblings and master at Minor Sword Sect.

His master was fine, being a transcendent figure already detached from worldly affairs, but Gu Bei had personally raised his younger siblings, who hadn’t complained over the years. Instead, they had diligently worked towards fulfilling their master’s wishes.

Minor Sword Sect had been a Ninth-Rank sect even before Yun Qingyi joined, needing only a slight increase in disciple cultivation to reach Eighth-Rank. When Minor Sword Sect entered the Ninth-Rank, it still lacked in disciple cultivation, but Gu Bei’s travels had earned him some favor, making it easier to recommend them for entry, especially since the sect leader was a legitimate Nascent Soul Immortal.

As for the sect gates…

Gu Bei suddenly wondered if, upon his departure, his younger siblings would become intimate with each other, as he had observed their closeness.

However, despite their intimacy, it seemed Nan Jiumu only felt protective and caring towards Wenren Qingluan, while Wenren Qingluan only felt filial piety towards Nan Jiumu.

It was a headache.

What if his younger sister was seduced by some rogue, or his younger brother by some demonic beauty? He would then be left as a lonely old man.

“Investigate, investigate… it’s easier said than done,” Gu Bei chuckled, putting the jade pendant away.

Don’t think about such things; let’s focus on the task at hand. First, let’s check out the situation at the Hundred Hunters Sect.

“Good day, do you have an appointment?”

“I’m here to see your sect leader. Please hurry it up.” Gu Bei flashed the jade pendant given by Ning Wanzhuang.

“You’re from the Immortal Alliance?” The gatekeeper’s expression darkened.

“Announce my arrival. You know about the relationship between Ning Wanzhuang and the other party, so don’t meddle.” Gu Bei replied calmly.

“Hmph… a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, from who knows where, daring to claim a relationship with that person. This jade pendant… it’s hard to tell if it’s genuine.” The gatekeeper’s voice grew colder, and before Gu Bei could react, he lunged to snatch the pendant.

“Was this part of your plan?” Yun Qingyi emerged slowly from the side, her arms crossed.

Her gold core cultivation was evident as Gu Bei couldn’t discern her actions, yet the gatekeeper froze in place, as if time had stopped, though his eyes could still move.

“You should have let him take it.” Gu Bei sighed.

“Then you should have told me your intentions.” Yun Qingyi’s tone was displeased.

“I realized it just now and didn’t mean to blame you. Sorry.”

“…” Gu Bei’s quick apology left Yun Qingyi unsure of how to respond. “It won’t happen again.”

“Good.” Gu Bei nodded.

Yun Qingyi didn’t specify what she meant, perhaps just providing an exit for both of them.

The now-motionless gatekeeper realized he had offended someone he shouldn’t have. Drifting Clouds wasn’t like the Immortal Alliance, which had a generally upright atmosphere. In Drifting Clouds, offending the wrong person could mean death.

As for who not to offend…

Like the cultivator before him, accompanied by a guardian, casually showing a jade pendant from Gu Bei’s master.

Even the gatekeeper hesitated to call Gu Bei a cultivator anymore.

But now, the gatekeeper no longer doubted the authenticity of the jade pendant in Gu Bei’s hands.

“So, why shouldn’t I have intervened?” Yun Qingyi asked, her arms crossed, looking at Gu Bei.

“With everything so lively in the Three Rivers, if Ning Wanzhuang is here, then the other elder must be here too.” Gu Bei spoke in a way Yun Qingyi couldn’t comprehend.

“Another elder?” Yun Qingyi frowned, “I don’t like your way of speaking.”

“Oh, right, you haven’t seen them. The other elder is—”

“It’s me.” A voice, both calm and twistedly seductive, echoed before the person appeared.

Her robes fluttered, and her hairpins and ornaments chimed delicately.

Unlike Mu Qingsi’s ethereal elegance or Ning Wanzhuang’s noble grace, this figure wore a deep red gown, her eyes a blood-red color, descending gracefully.

Yun Qingyi didn’t recognize the newcomer, having never seen her before. This beauty, known as Yu Qiuqiao, was one of the most notorious geniuses in Drifting Clouds.

Yu Qiuqiao and Yun Qingyi weren’t on the same level. Gu Bei had met Yu Qiuqiao a few times due to his master.

Sometimes, Gu Bei wondered how his master, though powerful, managed to attract both black and white path geniuses.

Yu Qiuqiao wasn’t as approachable as Ning Wanzhuang, who was more forgiving of Gu Bei’s master’s advances.

Gu Bei remembered the first time he had to apologize to Yu Qiuqiao for something Mu Qingsi had done. Yu Qiuqiao had been plotting Minor Sword Sect’s destruction at the time.

This was something Yu Qiuqiao had told Gu Bei personally, after he was led to her by a servant.

Honestly, that meeting left a deep impression on Gu Bei. Yu Qiuqiao’s smile was calm, her tone gentle and enchanting, but Gu Bei felt suffocated, as if a cold-blooded reptile was slowly constricting and crushing him.

Even in his daze, he felt a wet, cold tongue licking his face.

Yu Qiuqiao, with her distinctive seductive voice, said, ‘Your master values you highly, and you coming to apologize shows you value her too… Since you both mean so much to each other, why don’t I help you out? Drifting Clouds has a powder that, when dissolved in water, becomes odorless and tasteless. Its effect? It can make even Core Formation cultivators lose control like beasts in heat… How about it? Do you like it?’

Gu Bei’s hair stood on end. He had no doubt Yu Qiuqiao could do it, and he wasn’t about to gamble.

So, he gave Yu Qiuqiao what she wanted to see: a terrified, sobbing, pleading version of himself, begging for mercy for himself and his master.

As for the second apology…

“I’ve been thinking about what you mentioned last time. How’s it going?” Yu Qiuqiao landed beside Gu Bei, leaning in closely, her words whispered in his ear.

“Thank you for your kindness, but I have no plans to betray my sect at the moment.” Gu Bei forced a smile, his body rigid.

He didn’t dare move even an inch.

“Oh…” Yu Qiuqiao nodded understandingly, then drifted away slightly, “Then, tell me, what has your master been up to?”

“…” Gu Bei sweated profusely.

“Hmm~” Yu Qiuqiao covered her mouth, laughing softly. Her actions and expressions were gentle, but her cold, twisted eyes made it seem like her laughter and her true self were separate entities.

Like… oil on water.

“Ning Wanzhuang must have told you,” Yu Qiuqiao’s smile danced, matching her red gown, her eyes dead and eerie, “I’m not as generous as Ning Wanzhuang. I hold grudges.”

“If your master upsets me, I’ll want to destroy her and everything she cherishes. And if you upset me…”

“Then how can I please you, Lady Yu?” Gu Bei’s forehead beaded with sweat, his smile growing more forced.

Gu Bei feared Yu Qiuqiao not because she might kill him on a whim, or because she had no limits, but because her actions were driven by whims, without logic or benefit, only extreme personal factors.

And this cunning woman was incredibly malicious, impossible to predict.

Physically dangerous.

“Are you working for Ning Wanzhuang now?” Yu Qiuqiao asked with a smile.

“Yes.”

“Ah… so Ning Wanzhuang is more popular, huh? I’ve asked so many times, and you still won’t come with me. What did Ning Wanzhuang promise you to make you her willing servant?” Yu Qiuqiao’s smile became more vivid.

Gu Bei wanted to pass out right then. It was truly terrifying.

Gu Bei knew Yu Qiuqiao’s words weren’t true or false, neither sarcastic nor playful. She was just finding a reason to kill him.

That was why Gu Bei had initially told Yun Qingyi, ‘You shouldn’t have intervened.’

This cunning woman would find a legitimate reason to kill him, even something worse than death.

Manipulation, slander, scheming, traps… If he had been humiliated by the gatekeeper, Yu Qiuqiao would have killed the gatekeeper first, then apologized to Gu Bei. After his forgiveness, she would continue to torment him.

“You’re joking, right?” Gu Bei forced a smile, “It’s just that Ning Wanzhuang asked me to work for her. If you commanded me, I wouldn’t dare refuse.”

“Oh?” Yu Qiuqiao seemed to catch something in his words, “Then… take this vial and sprinkle it in tea for your master to drink.”

“You know I won’t agree to that.”

“Ah, rejected again…” Yu Qiuqiao smiled sweetly, “Since this request troubles you, let me change it—feed it to the lady beside you.”

Only then did Gu Bei realize he hadn’t noticed Yun Qingyi’s condition.

He looked at Yun Qingyi with shock and anger, but she only pressed her lips together, unable to speak. Her usually sharp eyes conveyed a message: ‘I’m okay.’

Gu Bei finally relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief.

“I… can’t comply.”

“So, this is the second time, huh?” Yu Qiuqiao’s smile was genuine, with a twisted anticipation in her eyes.

“Change your request one more time, and it will be the third.”

“Go ahead.”

“What task did Ning Wanzhuang give you?”

“… Please ask her yourself.”

“Third time.” Yu Qiuqiao’s smile vanished instantly.

Her deep red eyes stared intently at Gu Bei.

“But my request isn’t about that,” she smiled again, “Weren’t you scared, Gu Bei?”

Gu Bei shook his head with a smile, “No.”

Beneath the smile, he gritted his teeth. Damn crazy woman! I almost saw my life flash before my eyes!

“No matter what Ning Wanzhuang gave you, I want you to solve the problem in an interesting way.”

“How interesting?”

“I want to see rivers of blood.”

“… Alright.”