The first floor of the tavern was the main hall, while the second floor consisted of rows of private rooms.
At this moment, inside a private room named Moonlight.
A man who appeared calm and composed sat upright in a chair, his eyes closed, looking utterly weary and helpless.
Beside him was an elder dressed in gray robes. He gazed through the private room's window at the man and woman flirting openly in the main hall below. After watching for a while, perhaps finding the scene too indecent, the elder felt quite uncomfortable. His old face couldn't help but grow warm. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but hesitated, ultimately sighing with a heavy heart.
"Miss Liu is just too...
Too much...
How could she...
Do such things in public...
She is one of the Empress's Seven-Colored Envoys!
This is simply too improper."
Wei Qing replied weakly, "She's testing Gu Qingfeng."
"Testing?"
Elder Hui frowned, curling his lip as he said, "This old servant knows Miss Liu is skilled in bewitching arts, but does she really need to test Gu Qingfeng so brazenly in public?"
"Her testing is real, and testing for others to see is also real."
"Testing for others?"
Elder Hui shook his head, seemingly puzzled.
Wei Qing pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Liu Piaopiao is testing while also putting on a show for others. Right now, no one knows who holds the Empress's seven Soul Pearls. It could be the Buddhist Edict bearer, or it could be the Heaven-Decreed One. Her purpose in doing this is twofold: first, to test Gu Qingfeng—if she succeeds, good; if not, it doesn't matter. Most importantly, she wants others to know of Gu Qingfeng's existence."
"This old servant is dull-witted and doesn't quite understand what Young Master means."
"The Empress said that variables would appear regarding the seven Soul Pearls. If the Buddhist Edict or Heaven-Decreed One appears, the Empress will be in danger."
"Young Master means... Gu Qingfeng is the variable?"
"Whether Gu Qingfeng is the variable, I don't know. I only know Liu Piaopiao's purpose is to make Gu Qingfeng appear as the variable, to make him seem like the variable in the eyes of the Buddhist Edict and Heaven-Decreed Ones. Even if she can't fool them completely, she wants them to be wary."
Hearing Wei Qing's explanation, Elder Hui seemed to understand somewhat. He said, "Young Master means, whether Gu Qingfeng is the variable isn't important. What's important is making the Buddhist Edict and Heaven-Decreed Ones think he is. That way, they'll be cautious, at least not daring to act recklessly..." Wei Qing nodded and said, "Even we can't see through Gu Qingfeng. Back in the cave dwelling, Monk Bu'er also seemed wary of him. He's a Buddhist Edict bearer. If even he is wary, then the Heaven-Decreed One will surely be cautious too."
"So that's how it is."
Elder Hui stroked the beard on his chin and praised, "Miss Liu is truly resourceful and wise...
This old servant admires her greatly."
"Admire?"
Wei Qing shook his head with a bitter smile, his expression extremely helpless, as if he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It was the first time Elder Hui had seen such an expression on his Young Master's face. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Young Master, you..."
"What is there to admire?
What's so admirable about it? Liu Piaopiao is playing with fire...
The terrifying thing is, she doesn't even realize she's playing with fire. If Gu Qingfeng isn't the variable, fine. But if he really is, do you know what he intends to do?"
Wei Qing sighed, continuing to pinch his brow. "I'd rather face the Buddhist Edict and Heaven-Decreed Ones than confront someone as mysterious and unknown as Gu Qingfeng. Whether it's the Buddhist Edict or the Heavenly Edict, at least we know who they are and what their goals are. But Gu Qingfeng? Do you know who he is? Do you know what he wants to do?"
"No. We know nothing. We don't know who he is, nor do we know what he truly wants. We only know this person is terrifying..." Wei Qing shook his head slightly, his expression somewhat haggard, his voice growing even weaker. "And...
what's even more terrifying is...
This woman Liu Piaopiao, so full of herself, testing Gu Qingfeng while also putting on a show for others. Even I can see through her little game. Do you think Gu Qingfeng can't see it?"
Elder Hui furrowed his brows and asked, "If Gu Qingfeng knows...
then why would he allow Miss Liu to..."
"That's an excellent question...
Why indeed."
Wei Qing opened his eyes, muttering 'why' to himself. "The Spirit-Capital Sect, the Bingxuan Sect, the Murong Clan, and everyone in this tavern, including Wu Han from Crimson-Letter Manor, are all eyeing the Taiyin spirit seed on him. He knows this perfectly well, yet he still came."
"Liu Piaopiao is testing him. He knows, yet he allows it."
"Liu Piaopiao wants to drag him out to confuse the Buddhist Edict and Heaven-Decreed Ones. He knows this too, yet he doesn't refuse..."
"I know about the Buddhist Edict and Heavenly Edict. He absolutely knows as well."
"He knows. He knows everything. But he keeps pretending he doesn't."
Closing his eyes, Wei Qing recalled the events during the heir appointment at Yunxia Sect, then the happenings inside the cave dwelling. In his mind, he carefully went over everything related to Gu Qingfeng from beginning to end.
"He's a lazy man."
"He's also a man with little patience."
"Judging by his methods of killing, his understanding of life has long transcended the ordinary. Humans are life in his eyes; ants are also life. There's no essential difference between humans and ants in his view. He simply doesn't care whether these people live or die."
"A lazy man. A lazy man with little patience. A lazy man who doesn't care whether these people live or die."
"If he's interested in this matter, if he wants to get to the bottom of it..."
At this thought, Wei Qing's eyes snapped open. He shot up from his chair, his haggard expression instantly turning to one of horror.
"Young Master, what's wrong?"
Wei Qing didn't answer him. He originally wanted to secretly transmit a message to Liu Piaopiao but feared being detected. He bit his finger, smeared a drop of blood on his brow, and formed hand seals. Spiritual incantations condensed as the blood gradually seeped into his forehead. This was the secret art 'Blood Spirit Message'.
"Liu Piaopiao!
Get away from him immediately!"
Immediately, Liu Piaopiao's blood spirit intent came through: "Little brother Wei Qing, can't you see your big sister is busy right now?"
"If you don't want to die, get away from him now! He's going to kill people soon! Don't you know that!"
"Kill people? Why would he kill people? Oh? You mean those ignorant youngsters who keep looking for trouble with him? Hah, if he wants to kill them, let him. What does that have to do with me?"
"You don't understand! He doesn't care at all whether these people live or die. If they have self-awareness, they can live. If they don't, he'll wipe them out without hesitation! But that's not the important part. He won't care about that either."
Wei Qing poured his intent into the blood spirit message, almost roaring, "What he really intends to do is thoroughly investigate this matter concerning the Empress!"
"Let him investigate then. Big sister was just thinking of dragging him out to confuse the Heaven-Decreed One anyway. This suits my plans perfectly."
"Thoroughly! I said thoroughly investigate! Do you understand! For a lazy man with no patience, if he wants to get to the bottom of something, he'll use the most direct and effective method. He'll use force to blast out everyone related to this matter!"
"Blast them out? Wouldn't that be perfect?"
"You! You foolish woman! Do you know who he is? Do you know what he intends to do? When he blasts everyone out and then wipes them all out, we'll be finished!"
"Him? Isn't he just my beloved?"
*Thump.*
Hearing this, Wei Qing's heart lurched. His face changed dramatically, as if all the strength had been drained from him. He slumped back into his chair, utterly listless.
"It's over. Liu Piaopiao has been bewitched..."