Chapter Ninety-One: Quiet Schemes

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Ye Dong did not seem surprised at all by Guangqi’s sudden visit. He looked at Officer Li on the video call and said, “The more low-key a person is, the more we need to be on guard. There isn’t a single decent person around that demon priest, and this refined-looking Guangqi is no exception.”

Huian nodded. “Exactly. He doesn’t seem to have the ambition of Lord Wei, nor the lust for money and power that Lecheng and Lixing have. So did he stay by the demon priest’s side just to study spells? Doesn’t he know the wicked things that demon priest has done? Lord Wei and the others have done plenty of evil themselves. It’s truly baffling.”

Ye Dong took over. “If you want to learn spells, you should go to an orthodox sect and take a proper master, not toil away under a demon priest. There seems to be some unspeakable secret in this.”

The two times he had met Guangqi, Ye Dong had seen him studying an ancient, yellowed book, a sight he could not easily forget. After all, his three senior brothers did not look the least bit like men who enjoyed reading; once compared side by side, the difference between the two sides became obvious at once.

“Keep a close eye on his details,” Officer Li said over the video call, a faint unease stirring in his heart. He had no concrete plan aimed specifically at Guangqi, and Jingshen’s unintended interference had also cast a shadow over the operation, which was one of his concerns.

Not long after the call ended, Guangqi came to the door.

“You’re here? Sit down.” Ye Dong raised a hand, and soon a pot of fine Longjing tea was brought over.

“Brother Tian is truly hospitable,” Guangqi said with a flattering smile.

Ye Dong smiled. “I may be hospitable, but it depends on who the guest is. Guangqi, you’re a smart man. I hold you in high regard.”

Guangqi nodded his thanks, then took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Ye Dong. “These are the precautions before entering the tomb, along with the equipment you’ll need to bring. Take a good look and don’t be careless. As for whether Huian can go with us, Master has agreed as well. I suppose it’s because you helped him vent the anger stirred up by Jingshen.”

Ye Dong took the note and curled the corner of his mouth. “Those bald monks had it coming. What I gave them was already mild. If I’d done it myself, I’m afraid their whole monastery would have been finished.”

He pinched the wine cup between two fingers and drank it dry in one gulp.

Guangqi smiled faintly, quietly memorizing Ye Dong’s habit of holding a cup like that.

“So good a Longjing tea, yet Brother Tian prefers wine from a cup?” Guangqi poured Ye Dong a cup of tea. “Don’t you like tea?”

“I do,” Ye Dong said, setting down the teacup with a smile. “I usually drink Anxi Tieguanyin. Longjing, on the other hand, I drink less often.”

“Tieguanyin is good stuff too.” Guangqi held his cup and looked out at the row upon row of luxury cars outside, teasing lightly. “So many cars parked out there. Even if you drove one every day, it would take a full month to get through them all!”

Following Guangqi’s gaze, Ye Dong looked outside, his face full of pride. “Those are all for showing off. See that black Bugatti? I usually like driving that one. It’s powerful enough!”

“A Bugatti Veyron?” Guangqi shook his head. “I’m not very familiar with cars. I only know they’re all very expensive. Forgive my ignorance.”

“Drive them a few times and you’ll get used to it.” Ye Dong pointed at the cars. “Besides the Bugatti, you can take any of the others out for a spin if you like.”

“Oh?” Guangqi froze for a moment, then flattered him again. “With this aura of mine, if I drove it out, people would only think I was the valet. I won’t make a fool of myself and embarrass your cars.”

At that, Ye Dong could not help laughing heartily. “If I said these things to Lixing or Lecheng, I guarantee they’d each drive one away tonight.”

Guangqi gave a wry smile. “My two senior brothers are outgoing by nature, and they often act rather directly.”

“By the way, what sort of work do you do under Master?” Ye Dong asked with interest, smiling as he teased him. “You look so refined—what can you possibly be good at?”

Guangqi gave himself a self-mocking smile. “Just some scholarly tasks. I help Master and my senior brothers organize ancient books they bring back from elsewhere, and sort out the relics and such.”

“Oh? Ancient books?” Ye Dong’s eyes lit up. “Those count as antiques too, don’t they? Ancient books put up for auction on the market are rather rare.”

Guangqi shook his head with a smile. “The ones I keep are all tattered old books. The good ones were taken away by Master long ago.”

Hearing this, Ye Dong muttered inwardly, Tattered books? If they were just tattered books, would you risk your life to protect them? Who are you trying to fool?

He smiled without changing expression. “I didn’t expect Master to be such a book lover. By the way, you’ll be coming into the ancient tomb with us that day too, right?”

“Yes,” Guangqi said with a smile. “Though I’m not particularly skilled, this ancient tomb is unlike ordinary ones. I can’t miss such a rare chance to gain experience!”

“I wonder who else will be going with us?” Ye Dong said with a cold laugh. “Last time I went into that tomb with Lord Wei, he brought a whole crowd of useless men and nearly got Huian injured.”

“Oh?” Guangqi let out a puzzled sound. “There was an accident that time? Accidents in an ancient tomb can be minor or major. Are you and Huian all right?”

“We’re fine,” Ye Dong said with a grin. “With me there, what could happen to her? She just nearly got possessed by a ghost. Her skills are good, but she’s still a woman after all, so it’s inevitable that there are times when she gets a little frightened.”

Seeing Guangqi slowly nod and fall into thought, Ye Dong joked, “What, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to my woman?”

“No, no, no—another man’s wife must not be touched.” Guangqi hurriedly cut him off. “Even if you gave me the courage of a leopard, I still wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Brother Tian’s woman!”

“I was only joking. No need to be nervous.” Ye Dong laughed. “Relax, drink your tea, drink your tea.”

“As for the question you just asked, I’m not too sure either,” Guangqi said after thinking it over. “There should be excavation workers, but as for how many, I don’t know.”

Ye Dong nodded, calculating inwardly. This Guangqi is cautious with every word; he’s truly hard to deal with.

The two chatted a little longer before a familiar female voice came from nearby.

“What are you talking about?” Huian, dressed in a short red pajama set, walked slowly toward the liquor cabinet. Her seductive long legs were faintly visible, and her voluptuous figure trembled lightly as she moved. She was fragrant from head to toe, irresistibly alluring.

“Will you have a drink with me?” Huian’s jade-like lips parted, her soft voice brushing the ear and stirring endless reverie.

“Whisky.” Ye Dong smiled with obvious admiration. “Why did you come down so late? We were just talking about your embarrassing moment in the tomb.”

“讨厌, I nearly got hurt that day all because of you!” Huian complained while pouring the drink. “Brother Guangqi, don’t listen to his nonsense.”

Hearing her coquettish, alluring tone, Guangqi’s cheeks flushed red, and he quickly picked up his teacup as though he had heard nothing.

“Brother Guangqi, do you want some?” Seeing that he did not respond, she took the initiative and asked again.

“I-I don’t really drink much,” Guangqi said awkwardly, setting down his teacup.

“If you don’t usually drink, then have a little today,” Huian said as she stepped closer and handed him half a cup of whisky. “Here.”

Guangqi swallowed hard. He glanced at Ye Dong, and seeing Ye Dong raise his head to signal that he should take the cup, he finally accepted it and thanked her. “Then I’ll have a little. Thanks.”

After Guangqi took the cup, Huian felt secretly delighted. As long as that liquor gets into you, it’ll be much easier to pry things out of you.

She leaned against Ye Dong’s chest and clinked her glass with his. “Can I go into the ancient tomb too?”

“You can,” Ye Dong said with a hearty laugh. “Everything’s been arranged. How are you going to repay me?”

Hearing his teasing words, Huian’s pretty face turned red. She said softly, “Someone’s here.”

Seeing the two of them so tender and affectionate, Guangqi quickly turned his face away. Unease churned in his heart, and a thought instantly sprang up from the depths of it: Could it be that she has really changed?

“Brother Guangqi, why aren’t you drinking?” Huian gently nudged Ye Dong aside and extended her cup toward Guangqi. “Come on, let’s toast!”

“Okay.” Guangqi lightly clinked glasses with Huian, his eyes unable to help drifting toward her charming face.

“It really is her—there’s a small mole on her neck. No mistake.” With whisky in his mouth, questions kept surfacing in Guangqi’s mind. Could her purpose in getting close to He Wentian be to investigate the smuggling case involving cultural relics? Then does this He Wentian in front of me know she’s a police officer!?

Ye Dong was also thinking to himself, This Guangqi speaks so cautiously that I can’t tell which of his words are true and which are false. I’ve talked with him this long and still can’t figure out his thoughts. He’s a troublesome one.

“How long have you been studying under Master?” Ye Dong asked with a smile. “Three years, maybe?”

Guangqi shook his head and smiled. “Only about a year.”

Ye Dong nodded with a smile. “A year is enough to learn quite a few things. And you’re so clever—you must be the type who gets twice the result with half the effort.”

“You flatter me, Brother Tian,” Guangqi said, sounding somewhat embarrassed. “Although Master is highly skilled, I’m far too dull. I never make much progress. Even the ordinary spells Master teaches take me more time than they do others to cultivate.”

Ye Dong sneered inwardly. If you were really this stupid, why would that old fox Huang Wuchang like you so much?

He smiled. “Perhaps your talents lie elsewhere. Master would never accept an ordinary man as a disciple.”

Guangqi gave a bitter laugh and asked, “How long has Brother Tian been back in the country?”

Ye Dong feigned recollection, thinking for a moment before saying, “Less than a year and a half. It was about a year ago. I pulled off a big deal then, and that was when I met Huian.”

He took Huian’s hand tightly and smiled. “Back then she was probably…”

“Oh? So now I can’t hit back?” Huian said coquettishly with a smile. “Back then, I was the one who saved your life!”

Guangqi looked at Ye Dong and Huian. Seeing that they did not seem to be joking, unease rose in his heart. A thought immediately surfaced: A year ago? Wouldn’t that be after that accident? And then they met—could it be that a new plan had already been relaunched back then?

The more he thought, the heavier his mood became, and unconsciously a trace of disappointment showed in his eyes.

“That look in his eyes...” Huian’s gaze on Guangqi faltered. “That look!”