Chapter 886: The whereabouts of Perplexing Butterfly Illusion (1/2)

Long Feiye and Han Yunxi were still making time on the road when Gu Qishao and Ning Cheng started investigating the situation at Blacktower. According to Bai Yuqiao, Blacktower was Bai Yanqing’s stomping grounds near the Three-Way Battlefield. Su Xiaoyu had been moved here afterwards. Because it was concealed from sight, there weren’t many guards around besides a few poison experts. Bai Yuqiao said that she was enough to take care of them. She would also help them lure out Bai Yanqing. However, Ning Cheng and Gu Qishao refused to believe her so easily.

The two of them looked around further and realized that Bai Yuqiao hadn’t lied. Blacktower really did have very few guards. They then returned to the black markets and had Bai Yuqiao brought to them.

“Why did your master kidnap Su Xiaoyu?” Ning Cheng asked coldly.

Bai Yuqiao’s gaze turned complicated. “Master heard that Han Yunxi treated her subordinates extremely well, especially Su Xiaoyu, whom she treated like a little sister. I’m guessing master’s using her to threaten Han Yunxi?”

Ning Cheng and Gu Qishao both laughed out loud at that as if they’d heard a massive joke. But it didn’t last long before they both stopped at the same time. It made them feel awkward as they avoided each other’s gazes. Bai Yuqiao could feel her organs trembling from the laughs. It was scary enough to see Gu Qishao laugh, to say nothing of laughing with Ning Cheng. Silence greeted them afterwards as they each waited for the other to speak, afraid to do something at the same time again.

Go to hell! Gu Qishao cursed internally.

Ning Cheng’s face was like ice. After waiting a bit, he coughed a few times when it was obvious Gu Qishao wasn’t talking. Hearing this, Gu Qishao remained silent, knowing he wanted to speak.

Wasn’t this another form of tacit understanding? For some reason, Gu Qishao suddenly thought of Long Feiye. Being with Ning Cheng felt a lot like being with him. But compared to Ning Cheng, Gu Qishao preferred working with Long Feiye. He was much more challenging.

“Bai Yuqiao, do you treat me as a fool? Or are you treating your master as an idiot? Su Xiaoyu is only a servant girl, not Gu Beiyue! What can Bai Yanqing threaten Han Yunxi with? Speak!” Ning Cheng said coldly.

Han Yunxi treated her subordinates well, but she couldn’t affect the big picture by bowing to Bai Yanqing for the sake of a single servant girl. There had to be a deeper reason Bai Yanqing had taken Su Xiaoyu.

Gu Qishao scratched his chin with a serious look. “Bai Yuqiao, do you think you’re master’s the idiot, or Ning Cheng?”

Ning Cheng’s face blackened at the comment. Before he could retory, Gu Qishao had already walked to Bai Yuqiao’s side and lifted her chin in amusement. He chuckled and said, “Or are you saying my Poison lass is the fool?”

Bai Yuqiao’s face had already been ruined once, so she knew full well how terrifyingly cruel Gu Qishao’s smile could be. If Ning Cheng was the one interrogating her, she had a chance to poison him and escape. But the man wasn’t stupid and always took Gu Qishao with him for their questioning sessions. Despite her years of poison training under her master, it was all useless before Gu Qishao.

“It’s because of the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion!” Bai Yuqiao instantly compromised. She wanted to leave this final chip against the men, but now that was impossible.

At her words, both Ning Cheng and Gu Qishao blanched before looking simultaneously at each other. Whoever owns the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion owns the world. Ning Cheng had heard of the legend before. Meanwhile, Gu Qishao had been searching for ways to break through its secrets for the past two years!

Before Ning Cheng could speak, Gu Qishao beat him to it. “Why does your master know that Su Xiaoyu knows the whereabouts of the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion?”

Ning Cheng found himself speechless after that. Is the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion really in Han Yunxi’s hands? But she’s never mentioned it to me before. If she’s with Long Feiye now, will the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion end up in his hands instead?

“Master said that Su Xiaoyu and Baili Mingxiang are the same, both Han Yunxi’s servant girls. The both learned poison arts from her, so it’s possible Su Xiaoyu could know,” Bai Yuqiao answered quickly.

A crafty gleam shone in Gu Qishao’s eyes. “The same as Baili Mingxiang? Could it be that he suspects Baili Mingxiang as well?” He drew in very, very close until Bai Yuqiao was too scared to hide it.

“Y...yes…”

“Heheh.” Gu Qishao chuckled. “Who are you trying to fool? Just judging by their poison skills? Baili Mingxiang is on Long Feiye’s side, not Han Yunxi’s. This young gentleman’s been with Han Yunxi for so long, but why haven’t I heard of her having any Perplexing Butterfly Illusion? I’m telling you now, if you don’t tell the truth, I won’t just stop at ruining your face.”

Bai Yuqiao was scared to death as she hastened to explain. “Actually--actually, it’s not that master suspects Han Yunxi, but that he suspects Long Feiye. Because Baili Mingxiang’s blood is really weird, so she could probably break through the mysteries of the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion.”

Gu Qishao internally gloated. These were the words he wanted from Bai Yuqiao!

“So you mean to say that the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion is in Long Feiye’s hands, not Han Yunxi’s?” Gu Qishao said. This line was for Ning Cheng’s benefit. Of course he knew the details about the poison inside out. Baili Mingxiang had Beauty’s Blood, which really could be used to clear up the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion. Despite knowing everything, he was using Bai Yuqiao’s mouth to tell Ning Cheng the details. Only then would the man believe that Long Feiye had the poison instead of finding trouble for Han Yunxi.

Finally, the silent Ning Cheng spoke up. “Su Xiaoyu and Baili Mingxiang were both studying poisons from Han Yunxi. Your master suspects Han Yunxi of helping Long Feiye break through the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion? Both Su Xiaoyu and Baili Mingxiang were involved?”

Gu Qishao silently chuckled to himself. Ning Cheng was a smart guy.

“Yes, yes!” Bai Yuqiao nodded furiously.

Gu Qishao pretended to look hurt. “Hehe, so much for this young gentleman treating Poison lass so well. She didn’t tell me a secret as big as the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion! Otherwise, I would have helped trick it into her hands!”

Gu Qishao was doing his best to act so Ning Cheng could pin the blame on Long Feiye, but Ning Cheng wasn’t listening. His thoughts had long drifted away. A bitter smile graced his heart. Han Yunxi’s probably helping Long Feiye break through the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion at this very minute!