On the surface, Li Guanqi smiled cheerfully, but inside, he was already grumbling. These sly old foxes... Whatever. Let’s take it slow from here.

With that thought, his gaze drifted casually to Yuan Hongyi and lingered there for two full breaths.

The strange scene set off quiet speculation among the onlookers.

“Why is Li Guanqi staring at Yuan Hongyi like that... does he not like him?”

“That stare is lingering a bit long... could it be because Yuan Hongyi was noncommittal from the start, and Li Guanqi disapproves?”

“Or could it be that the Yellow Tower Master is actually the one most supportive of Li Guanqi?”

“Those two are acting a little... ambiguous, huh...”

Jiang Yi, still standing behind Li Guanqi, furrowed his brows, completely unsure what Li Guanqi was up to.

Li Guanqi winked at Yuan Hongyi, the corner of his mouth curling into a mischievous smile.

Something’s wrong! It’s one thing if he’s just looking at me, but what does winking mean? Why the hell is he staring at me?! Even I don’t know what’s going on!

Yuan Hongyi kept the smile on his face, but inside, he was fuming. Ever since Li Guanqi first looked at him, his mind had been racing with thoughts and calculations.

As the Yellow Tower Master, Yuan Hongyi controlled immeasurable riches throughout the Six Territories and had encountered all kinds of people. But when it came to cunning and scheming, even Jiang Yi might not surpass Li Guanqi.

Li Guanqi’s gaze lingered for two breaths, neither brief nor long. Two breaths didn’t read as aggression; it didn’t even register as displeasure. But two breaths were long enough to suggest Li Guanqi had thoughts of his own about Jiang Yi.

The wink only deepened Yuan Hongyi’s confusion. He couldn’t read the gaze, and the added gesture made it worse. Probably only Ji Yuchuan, who had shared drinks with Li Guanqi, understood what the wink meant. He didn’t bother explaining it to anyone, quietly amused by the whole affair.

Others might think Li Guanqi was a reckless brute, a powerful man acting without logic. But from the moment everyone stepped into the council hall, they had been watching one carefully orchestrated performance after another.

Only Ji Yuchuan realized that from the moment Li Guanqi sat down next to him, everything had been under Li Guanqi’s control, and everyone else was merely dancing to his tune. He’s a man of deep, inscrutable depths!

Li Guanqi withdrew his gaze and laughed. “Now everyone knows me a little better. Let’s call it a day. As for the tower masters, send me copies of your current reports when you return.”

With that, Li Guanqi rose and headed toward the hall’s exit.

Creak! Creak! Clang!

Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone else stood up.

They bowed deeply toward the departing figure. “Farewell, Pavilion Master!”

The four Tower Masters bowed as well, a gesture of respect for the divine jade pendant that none would dare omit.

Song Yunshu, thrilled, rushed to catch up with Li Guanqi. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright.

Li Guanqi noticed and asked, “Why are you staring at me like that? Where is Old Gu’s residence?”

Song Yunshu took a few deep breaths, her voice earnest. “You’re incredible. Even in front of so many important figures, you handled everything with ease, without a hint of hesitation.”

Li Guanqi smirked. “Do you know why?”

She shook her head. “Why? Isn’t it because of your words and actions just now?”

Li Guanqi smiled faintly. She was still too inexperienced. He glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, he transmitted his explanation in a low voice. “I can act as if I’m crazy, but I can’t truly be insane. That’s why I can do all these things without them daring to overstep. They know that if I get angry, I’m willing to act, and I have the strength to back it up. If not for that assassin’s skill at concealing his aura, killing him would have been effortless.”

Song Yunshu finally understood.

Li Guanqi had earned the Yanluo Sword title for a reason.

Li Guanqi turned to Song Yunshu and said softly, “If the one sitting in that seat today had been you... chances are the council hall would’ve been empty.”

Song Yunshu pressed her lips together, but she couldn’t deny it.

Soon, the two arrived at a detached courtyard suspended midway up the mountainside. The courtyard’s barrier opened automatically upon sensing Li Guanqi’s divine jade pendant.

The courtyard opened directly into a large study. Its walls were lined with bookshelves, and the heavy, elegant furniture made Li Guanqi feel at home. A subtle fragrance lingered in the air. Just breathing it sharpened his mind.

Li Guanqi noticed a jade slip on the desk. He approached and picked it up, and Gu Yong’s voice drifted out.

“Young friend, by the time you hear this, I’ll already be in seclusion. Thank you for your help. Yunshu is young and inexperienced—if she faced this group of wily old foxes alone, she’d be completely overwhelmed.

“This attempt will determine whether I live or die. If I don’t survive, I entrust the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion to you. You need only ensure my granddaughter’s safety and comfort. Within the pavilion master’s jade pendant, there is a force called the Dark Pavilion Guards that you may freely command. There are seven of them.

“All affairs of the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion are yours to control. Kill if you must. Please take good care of the pavilion.”

Li Guanqi set down the jade slip, and a beam of spirit light shot into his mind.

Great Wilderness Dragon Technique.

“This is... an ancient sprint technique?”

Li Guanqi’s lips curved in a bitter smile. Gu Yong clearly didn’t trust him to act without a bribe. The technique was no small gift, and Li Guanqi had no choice but to shoulder the responsibility.

The jade slip alone showed how much Gu Yong trusted him, or perhaps it was meant as instructions for after he passed away. Gu Yong’s breakthrough would clearly be extremely dangerous, and he hadn’t told anyone his location, unwilling to let anyone track him down.

Li Guanqi settled into the old man’s chair and looked out at the lush scenery beyond the door. He raised two fingers as though holding a chess piece, then gently set a white piece into the corner of the board.

He smiled faintly and murmured, “Let the game begin.”

Buzz!

Li Guanqi’s gaze sharpened, and his shadow twisted. A figure shrouded entirely in darkness rose from it.

The figure was slender, and their muffled voice made it impossible to tell their gender. “I’m Ge San from the Dark Pavilion Guard. Greetings, Pavilion Master.”

Li Guanqi said softly, “Go monitor the tower masters for me. All except the Red Tower Master, Tu Yongsi.”

The shadow responded, “Understood. I’ll transmit a report to you every half-hour. If I’m late, consider me expendable.”

Li Guanqi’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected the seven Dark Pavilion Guards to be suicide operatives.