Chapter 76: Schemes, Plots, and Sneak Attacks

With nothing better to do, Gu Changhuai casually handed each of them a fishing rod.

The three of them sat neatly by the pool’s edge, each holding a fishing rod, quietly watching the silver fish swim in the pool water.

Gu Changhuai asked Hua Mei, “Didn’t you have things to handle in the Capital? Why did you come back?”

Hua Mei replied boredly, “Qing Lian Immortal Lord went over there himself and cleaned up those demons and ghosts. There was no place for me to shine, so the Immortal Lord told me to come back and keep you company.”

His own tasks had conveniently been wrapped up as well.

From the side, Xue Lao Er scoffed, “I think he’s got a guilty conscience, that’s why the Immortal Lord chased him away.”

Hua Mei cursed, “Shut your nonsense!”

Xue Lao Er rolled his eyes dramatically.

Gu Changhuai interjected, “Enough. Let’s drop it. The Demon Venerable wants me to stab the Immortal Lord within a month—what do you think I should do?”

Hua Mei said, “I think you’d be faster hanging yourself.”

Xue Lao Er agreed, “Exactly. If you want to die, no need for all those twists and turns.”

“…” Gu Changhuai was speechless. After a pause, he asked, “What I mean is, why is the Demon Venerable in such a hurry? Why insist I stab Rong Ye within a month?”

Xue Lao Er replied, “It’s not really urgent. Think about how long you’ve been sent to the Cultivation World. The Demon Venerable’s goal has always been for you to assassinate Qing Lian Immortal Lord.”

“…”

As his words fell, the three of them fell silent for a moment. Gu Changhuai said darkly, “If I remember correctly, this mission was originally yours.”

Xue Lao Er: “…The capable should shoulder more. I’ve always believed in your strength.”

Hua Mei tsked, “Cowardly and afraid of death.”

Xue Lao Er: “You talk too much!” After cursing Hua Mei, he shifted gears thoughtfully, “But this order from the Demon Venerable is basically sending someone to die. It makes no sense.”

If they really wanted to kill Qing Lian Immortal Lord, why send just one assassin with such a childish method? It felt more like a provocation, a test, meant to enrage Qing Lian Immortal Lord.

Gu Changhuai propped his chin, watching the silver fish leap and send ripples across the pool, and remarked, “The Demon Venerable’s got issues.”

Of course, there were more reasonable explanations.

It was well-known that the Demon Clan revered the strong, and the strongest were naturally those with Demon Bones.

But Demon Bones hadn’t appeared for thousands of years; the last one belonged to the Demon God, now just a legend in the Demon Clan.

The Demon Venerable had no Demon Bone, and upon learning of an Immortal Bone in the Cultivation World, jealousy and a desire to obtain it made sense.

But Immortal Bones were useless to the Demon Venerable—even if extracted, it would be a weapon against the Demon Clan.

As he pondered, Gu Changhuai touched his back. If the Demon Venerable knew he had a Demon Bone, would he want to extract it?

Gu Changhuai shivered and suddenly grew serious. He said to Xue Lao Er, “What do we do? I want to usurp the throne.”

Xue Lao Er: “…?”

Xue Lao Er: “Are you talking to me? You want me to be a traitor?”

Gu Changhuai: “Hey, what’s with ‘traitor’? That’s so harsh! This is called abandoning the dark for the light.”

Han Ya couldn’t speak, but it flapped its wings enthusiastically, flying back and forth in strong agreement.

“…” Xue Lao Er was about to say something when Gu Changhuai added, “Want to fight again?”

Xue Lao Er paused, then said, “What I mean is, when do you plan to rebel?”

Thinking about such things was exhausting. Gu Changhuai rested for a good while before drawling, “Storming in openly sounds like too much trouble.”

Hua Mei caught up, “You could find an excuse to meet the Demon Venerable and then sneak attack him.”

Gu Changhuai said, “Go stab Rong Ye? No way, he’d kill me. Better to just cut his hair.”

Hua Mei reminded him, “I think you tried that trick last time.”

Gu Changhuai waved it off, “If it works, it works.”

In this casual chatter, they finalized their scheme and plot. Xue Lao Er couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Once they finished discussing, he finally asked, “So what do I need to prepare?”

That one sentence drew their gazes. Gu Changhuai said, “I might need to make a trip to the Blood Pool. Meet me there.”

Xue Lao Er didn’t ask why and simply nodded to show he understood.

The air fell quiet once more.

Hua Mei smacked his lips thoughtfully, “Earlier you said you wanted to kiss Qing Lian Immortal Lord and strip his clothes—when did you start having those thoughts?”

“I don’t know.” Gu Changhuai was bewildered himself, but after thinking it over, he still felt tempted. He licked his lips and said, “I just want to get close to him. There’s this urge to turn him into my puppet.”

Hua Mei: “…So it’s not lust, it’s murderous intent?”

Gu Changhuai was utterly honest, “No, it’s lust. But I want him at my mercy.”

Xue Lao Er snapped impatiently, “His intentions are impure—perverted!”

Gu Changhuai didn’t like hearing that and smacked him with his fishing rod, “Nonsense! This is appreciation!”

…

Meanwhile.

Rong Ye sat in a wide chair, one hand resting on the table, holding a jade token that he gently twirled. The conversation inside transmitted clearly into his ears via divine sense.

The corners of his mouth curved slightly, and he let out a soft chuckle.

The lord of Red Feather Manor wiped cold sweat from his brow. The intense pressure made it impossible for him to lift his head, and that light laugh felt like a death knell with hidden meaning, drenching him in sweat.

Finally, the Immortal Lord spared him a glance and said coolly, “This matter involves far-reaching consequences, the lives of tens of thousands of beings, and is deeply tied to Red Feather Manor. Please consider it carefully, Manor Lord, and make your decision within seven days.”

“Please rest assured, Immortal Lord. Red Feather Manor will make amends for this grave error. That wayward son…” The Manor Lord paused briefly, then gritted his teeth, “I will personally capture that disobedient son, announce it to all the immortal sects, and execute him publicly before the world! To give everyone an explanation!”