Chapter 163 (2/2)
The next day, the news that the Demonic Sect had changed its name to Xiaoyao Sect had spread across the whole jianghu. The people of the jianghu were all discussing about it animatedly. Only Sect Leader Xiao of Qing Cheng Sect, as well as the few other sect leaders who Governor Tian had met, knew that this was the stratagem Situ and the others had come up with to prevent getting into a fight with the Demonic Sect.
Nevertheless, even if they were aware of that, they could not inform the people about this matter. Otherwise, it would imply that they were intentionally making things difficult for the Demonic Sect. In that way, they would be implicated in the case of the murder of the fifteen officials.
The commoners had heard that the Demonic Sect was an unconventional and independent sect and they seemed to have done some bad things. They were well-known but had no relations with the prestigious and upright sects. However, they had also never done anything that caused harm to the commoners.
However, the Xiaoyao Sect was different. The jianghu people knew that the Xiaoyao Sect was the Demonic sect but the commoners did not care about this. They only knew that the Xiaoyao Sect had a branch in Ding Tao and they specially carried out good deeds. They would usually help the commoners' households that were facing problems. Occasionally, when there were small disasters, the Xiaoyao Sect would also fork out money and contribute in terms of manpower. These made many acting county magistrates feel deeply grateful.
Therefore, in Dingtao, the Xiaoyao Sect's reputation was getting increasingly better. Compared to the few sects, Qing Cheng, Kun Lun and E Mei that dwelled in Ding Tao who were always causing trouble, their brawls disturbing the peace of the people, the commoners liked and supported this Xiaoyao Sect much more.
Lu Buping sauntered one round and came back with the corners of his mouth twitching as he touched his forehead and sighed helplessly. He had never thought that the Demonic Sect's reputation would become this sublime after changing its name. He was really not used to it and he reckoned that the disciples in the sect were surely not used to it too.
The supremo should also certainly be not used to it. With her arrogant personality, she should still find it very annoying. This was what Lu Buping thought but when he slipped into the yamen from the side door, he saw Xue Yiqi instructing a few of the covert guards. Their beloved and esteemed Supremo Shangguan Yan was beside him teasing him in multifarious ways. Her whole body language expressed that she was ecstatic.
Lu Buping felt a terrible headache. He turned around and wanted to leave, but in the end, Shangguan Yan discovered him when she unintentionally glanced over.
”Wow, if it isn't Buping himself! I see that you've done what I told you to do?.”
Lu Buping stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at Shangguan Yan and nodded. I have no choice. If I don't follow what Shangguan Yan says, it would be wishful thinking to marry Qi'er. It just happens that that la.s.s wors.h.i.+ps Shangguan Yan very much.
”Supremo.” Lu Buping walked closer to Shangguan Yan. When he realised that Xue Yiqi did not plan to pay attention to him at all. He helplessly spread out his hands and pulled Shangguan Yan to one side.
”Supremo, it's fine if you're just messing around for a few days. This joke is getting out of hand.”
”Hm?” Shangguan Yan narrowed her eyes shaped like those of a phoenix and her expression became dangerous. ”Who said I was joking? I want to marry Xue Yiqi. Do you have any objections? There's no helping it even if you have any objections.”
Lu Buping was taken aback. So it turned out that their supremo was serious this time. He involuntarily turned to observe Xue Yiqi again.
*In the aspect of resourcefulness, Xue Yiqi can't be compared to the First Prince. In the aspect of power and influence and leading the troops for war, Xue Yiqi can't be compared to Situ Muye. While in the aspect of martial arts, he couldn't even defeat me. His status is still acceptable but he is not tactful as well as an overly honest and loyal man. To put it bluntly, he is straightforward and maybe also very pedantic. Shangguan Yan's words just now already caused his neck to turn red.
It is very hard for such a person to survive in court and he would also be schemed against in the jianghu. Which part of him had their sect leader actually taken a fancy to?*
Shangguan Yan did not care about what Lu Buping thought. Her whole mind was only on Xue Yiqi. As soon as she turned her head, she realised that Xue Yiqi who had finished discussing his matters was quietly leaving and immediately chased after him.
”Yiqi, wait for me.”
”Argh.” Lu Buping heaved a long sigh. He turned to Situ and Feng Luodi who walked out from the main hall. ”Even if we change the name to the Xiaoyao Sect, we still have a lot of friction with the people from the Righteous Path. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of people trying to plot against our sect disciples again. If we don't solve this, the Xiaoyao Sect will ultimately still be the Demonic Sect.” Lu Buping knew that Shangguan Yan did not care about this matter and could only find people who cared about this matter.
Situ nodded. ”The current situation is already much better than expected. All we lack is an opportunity. ”
”What opportunity?” In name, Lu Buping was still a murderer incarcerated in the underground prison. Qi'er better not hear of this.
”The opportunity for them to fight amongst themselves.”
After Situ finished saying his words in a cold tone, Covert Guard Quattor suddenly appeared and lowered his voice. ”General, Governor Tian's favoured concubine was killed. She was also killed with one stab like the fifteen county magistrates from before. Governor Tian was the first person to discover her. He has headed out of his residence, enraged; Six has already followed him.”
”What about the people who want to spread the news?” A glint flashed in Situ's eyes. The opportunity has arrived.
Covert Guard Quattor replied, ”All of them have been restrained. The people outside won't know about this matter at all. In addition, all his family members, handmaidens and attendants have been restrained by us. None of them will speak a word.”
”Very good.” Situ nodded. He gazed into the distance. ”Right now, we just need to wait for them to walk into the trap themselves.”
”Hm?”
Lu Buping did not understand. Feng Luodi who was beside him told him, ”Young Knight-errant Lu, you should continue to stay in the prison now while Supremo Shangguan should look for the First Prince.”
”Why are the two of you talking in riddles?” Lu Buping felt that his brain was insufficient in his attempts to deal with the two before him. He was clearly Xiaoyao Sect's protector, resourceful and greatly venerated by the sect disciples. Yet, in the aspect of using schemes, he was left far behind by these people.
Despite his grumblings, Lu Buping knew that Situ and the others would not harm them and he obediently followed their plan, hoping that the matter could be solved as soon as possible.
After Feng Luodi found Shangguan Yan who had Xue Yiqi backed into a corner, she roughly explained the whole matter. Shangguan Yan could barely be separated from Xue Yiqi and follow Feng Luodi to settle the matters. Before she left, she even tossed a flying kiss at Xue Yiqi.
”Yiqi, I'll come look for you again later.”
Xue Yiqi s.h.i.+vered. The fear on his face had yet to wear off and the trembling corner of his lips revealed his mood. At this moment, from the bottom of his heart, he sincerely hoped that this case could be settled faster. Then, he would be able to return to Chang'an and not have to see this bewitching woman ever again. But before that, I suppose that I will have to endure for a few more days.
1. The word Xiaoyao means ”carefree and unfettered” in Chinese.