Chapter 245: Chapter 242: An Uncanny Meeting of Minds

"Alright, I’ve provided the information you asked for. Our transaction is complete. You’re welcome back anytime!" Seeing that the time was right, Zhu Fan curtly dismissed him.

Nangong An had gotten what he wanted, so he didn’t waste any more words and left, his mind filled with sinister plots.

The moment Nangong An left, Zhu Fan immediately contacted Qian Duoduo and told him everything.

"That old bastard Nangong An again! Damn it, has life been too comfortable for him? Does he have to stir up trouble?! This time, I’m going to have to rough him up and make sure he learns his lesson!"

On the other end of the line, Qian Duoduo, covered in injuries, cursed under his breath.

Besides Liu Hui and Nangong Yan, the person who hated Nangong An the most was, without a doubt, Qian Duoduo.

Qian Juduo had tied him up and forced him to beg for Li Shimu’s forgiveness, giving him a severe whipping that left his skin split and his flesh raw.

Although they were only superficial wounds, the searing pain from the whip had been excruciatingly real.

What’s more, Qian Juduo forbade him from taking any Healing Elixirs, leaving him to lie in bed and wait for his wounds to heal naturally.

Naturally, he blamed Nangong An for all of it.

"Zhu Fan, you really get it. Nice work. I owe you one for this."

Zhu Fan rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Favor, my ass! I didn’t tell you this so you could go off half-cocked. I want you to get the message to Mo Qi through Liu Hui and Jin Sanpang. He’s more reliable than you are."

Zhu Fan was intentionally directing Nangong An’s attention toward Mo Qi.

He believed that with Mo Qi’s skills and his current status as a Blessed One, he could easily handle Nangong An, even if it was just with a clone.

As for the grudge between Liu Hui and the Nangong Family, that was none of his business.

Qian Duoduo chuckled. "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything rash. My bro will have to call the shots on this one. I’ll just provide support."

"By the way, what about that thing I asked you to look into last time?"

Zhu Fan shook his head. "My clearance level isn’t high enough yet. I can’t access the core of the family’s intelligence network, so what I could find was very limited." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Eleven years ago, both the Nangong and the Zhuge families had extensive dealings with the Hall of Envoys. It seems they’re both hiding some secrets, but I don’t know the specifics. Then again, neither of them seems to have a reason to make a move on you, right?"

There was a moment of silence on Qian Duoduo’s end. "In any case, thanks."

"Well now, since when did you learn to be so polite? Did your old man finally whip some sense into you?"

"Screw you! If I could get out of this bed, I’d be over there to duel you in a heartbeat!"

"Hahaha, just focus on healing up. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out for you. I’ll let you know the second I hear anything."

After ending the call, Zhu Fan stroked his chin. ’A lot of things happened eleven years ago,’ he thought. ’The Hall of Envoys, the Nangong Family, the Zhuge Family, Qian Duoduo, Nangong Yan, Liu Hui... What’s the secret connecting all of them?’

...

Nangong An would never have dreamed that the intelligence he’d spent five hundred thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones to buy from the Zhu Family was an abridged version.

Not only that, but it had been specially "doctored" by Zhu Fan himself.

Because of the incident with Nangong Yan, he’d had a falling out with Nangong Yi and had thus failed to learn the significance of the name "Qin Daye" within the Empire.

He truly believed "Qin Daye" was just some ordinary young man from the Void Sect and began plotting how to use him to eliminate Liu Hui.

The crudest, yet simplest and most effective method was, of course, to kidnap Qin Daye to use as a hostage and lure Liu Hui into an inescapable trap.

After careful consideration, Nangong An decided to go with that plan.

"Ah Jie, come see me." He took out a Sound Transmission Talisman and sent the message.

Nangong Jie was the most talented of the younger generation in his branch of the family. He had a strong chance of contending for a position in the Direct Lineage and was also Nangong An’s favorite descendant.

At the same time, an imperial edict was issued from the Imperial Palace. A piece of news that would drive countless people into a frenzy spread like wildfire throughout the Mountain and Sea Empire.

The top-ranked and long-renowned Grandmaster Array Master, Liu Hong, was publicly seeking a husband for his granddaughter!

Any young man under the age of twenty-six—regardless of status, standing, appearance, or character—who could meet a single condition would have the chance to marry Master Liu’s granddaughter, Liu Ruyan, and instantly become one of the most honored individuals in the Empire!

The condition was simple: defeat the Imperial Academy’s new disciple, Qin Daye.

Instantly, every ambitious young man who heard the news, regardless of their Cultivation, began heading for the Imperial City.

Leaving aside Liu Ruyan’s beauty and figure, the allure of becoming Liu Hong’s grandson-in-law alone was a temptation that almost no one could resist.

"Great-grandfather, you were looking for me?"

Nangong Jie was one of those many ambitious young men. Even if Nangong An hadn’t summoned him, he would have returned from the Imperial Academy soon anyway to discuss the matter of Liu Hong’s public search for a husband.

Seeing Nangong Jie, Nangong An broke into a satisfied smile.

Twenty-three years old, with an Early-stage Vajra Realm Cultivation. In terms of talent, you could count on one hand the number of people in the entire Empire who were stronger than him.

"Ah Jie, I’ve called you here today because I need you to do something for me."

"Please, Great-grandfather, just give the order."

"I want you to find someone at the Imperial Academy named ’Qin Daye,’ and then, without anyone knowing, kidnap him and bring him to me."

’Qin Daye?’

Nangong Jie was stunned. ’Isn’t that the unlucky bastard who’s about to be challenged by every young man in the Empire?’

’Did Great-grandfather have the same idea as me?’

’Is this why he called me back?’

’But why kidnap him? The imperial edict only said he needed to be defeated.’

’Could it be that Great-grandfather has an inside track and is hinting that this will increase my chances of being chosen by Master Liu?’

’That must be it!’

’But is it really okay to just kidnap Qin Daye?’

’He’d heard that Qin Daye had close ties to the Wen and Wu Goddesses.’

Thinking of this, Nangong Jie asked, "Great-grandfather, this is a huge deal. Shouldn’t we discuss it with the Patriarch?"

He didn’t yet know that Nangong An and Nangong Yi had fallen out, and his question thoroughly infuriated the old man.

"I told you to kidnap him, so just do it! Cut the crap!"

Seeing Nangong An’s anger, Nangong Jie swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He had been about to mention Qin Daye’s "heroic deeds" in the Fighting Cultivation Room.

’Looks like Great-grandfather already knows,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, he wouldn’t be getting mad at me for running my mouth.’

"Rest assured, Great-grandfather. Ah Jie won’t disappoint you!"

"Excellent. Go, and don’t hold back!"

The old man and the young man, their thoughts worlds apart, yet each mistakenly believed they were in perfect agreement.

...

「In another place」

An old man and a young woman were likewise in a standoff.

"You stubborn old man! Hurry up and get Emperor Li to retract that ridiculous marriage edict! Do you want to be banned from eating Brother Mo’s Medicinal Cuisine forever?"

"Ruyan, don’t be difficult. I’m doing this for that boy Mo Qi’s own good."

"You’re lying! Brother Mo is about to become public enemy number one in the Empire, and you call this helping him?"

"Sigh... Silly girl, there are things you don’t understand. If I don’t do this, that boy Mo Qi won’t live to see another month!"