While thinking about it, Happy suddenly remembered the face of the unfamiliar player who had never said anything standing behind Xu Zhiling.
'Something's wrong!' he thought and scowled.
Chapter 694 - Xu Zhiling’s Request
If Kuo Zhong went to Eunuch Yang's Warehouse, there was no reason for the players to be excluded from the main plot of the story.
Happy's hand paused for a moment in the motion of bringing the wine cup to his lips. He cast another glance at the unfamiliar player before he calmly downed his wine. He knew that he had already found one of the most crucial keys to clearing the quest, and many scenarios as well as possibilities flashed in his mind. Then, he slowly categorized them before he formed a general plan in his heart.
At that moment, a commotion suddenly began in the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat. Happy could vaguely hear that the people seemed to have noticed where Kuo Zhong was, along with words of a well and Eunuch Yang, as well as other word fragments.
Happy was stunned.
Then, he saw the evil cultists, along with Empress Yin, stand up without hesitation and quickly leave the hall.
It instantly became much emptier, but the people from the righteous path, imperial court members, and some others did not move. They did not care about Eunuch Yang's Warehouse at all!
Xu Zhiling's expression changed slightly.
Shi Feixuan and Li Shimin stood up together. The generals on the tables beside them got up like springs to stand behind Li Shimin.
"Brother Happy, are you interested in witnessing the legendary Eunuch Yang's Warehouse?"
"Eunuch Yang's Warehouse?"
Happy was slightly stunned. He then cast a glance at the smiling Li Shimin and the quiet Xu Zhiling. He also smiled and shook his head. "My goal this time was to meet Artisan Shi so that I can see her performance at a close distance. I'm already very satisfied with this situation. I'm not really interested in things like Eunuch Yang's Warehouse."
"If that's the case, I will not force you. If we have the chance in the future, please come to Heaven's Scheme Mansion. I will be waiting for you."
A hint of regret and disappointment shone in Li Shimin's eyes. But soon, he recovered, wrapped his fist in his palm, and bid farewell to Happy.
"I won't be sending you off." Happy quickly got up.
Li Shimin led his people out. At that moment, Shi Feixuan's beautiful face, which was like an orchid in the valley, was reflected in Happy's eyes. Her pleasant voice traveled into his ears calmly.
"There are too many parties involved in Eunuch Yang's Warehouse, and I cannot stand by and watch. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you, Young Master Happy."
Another group of people walked away from the hall.
The space beside Happy instantly became empty. Only Xu Zhiling was left.
The two people had different thoughts in their minds, and they did not speak to each other.
The atmosphere was rather awkward.
Happy decidedly ignored everything else and calmed down to listen to Artisan Shi's performance while she stayed behind the curtain.
For a period of time, he was at ease and relaxed, which gave him a unique charm.
He sat like that for half an hour.
The people in the front hall were all immersed in the performance.
Happy also seemed to have completely forgotten about Eunuch Yang's Warehouse. Then, Shi Qingxuan's cold voice could be heard. "It is late now. Let us end here today. My dear audience, please go back. I will now rest."
"Sorry to bother you."
The people in the hall got up and left their seats.
At that moment, Xu Zhiling asked Happy to stay back. "Brother Happy, please stay... I have a request."
"Hmm?"
Happy was originally a little disappointed. He thought that he had an opportunity with the quest, but nothing happened, so he did not expect that Xu Zhiling would speak up at the very end. He immediately stopped and turned around in surprise.
"Please, speak."
Xu Zhiling did not immediately speak. Instead, he turned around and stared at the entrance of the hall in deep contemplation.
Happy did not urge him to speak.
The duo waited until everyone had left, and Xu Zhiling spoke to the player behind him. "Help me keep a lookout at the entrance."
That person might not have been Xu Zhiling's disciple, but he had received guidance from Xu Zhiling. He cast a glance at Happy, but did not dare to hesitate. He quickly went outside.
Happy also noticed that Shi Qingxuan did not say anything from behind the curtain and did not ask them to leave. Her relationship with Xu Zhiling seemed to be closer than in the original story.
"What is it that you need to be so mysterious?" Happy asked in a semi-joking tone.
A hint of solemnity rose to Xu Zhiling's face. He looked straight at Happy, and his tone was serious.
"Brother Happy, even though this is the first time we met, you are a chivalrous person who does not care about fame and benefits. So I have an unreasonable request I would like to ask of you."
'He sure is straightforward.' Happy was stunned for a while.
"Zhiling, you think of me too highly, I cannot live up to your expectations. If this is just a small matter, I can help you, but if it's something great, I will have to think about it."
Happy did not reject him too thoroughly.
There were quite a number of Myth Realm monsters in Yangzhou City, and if he provoked any one of them, he would be in great trouble!
"I want you to protect this p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat."
Xu Zhiling's words baffled Happy.
The p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat was guarded pretty tightly, and no Myth Realm monster had come over out of the blue to rob it.
But when Happy thought about it in depth, he frowned slightly and put on a solemn expression.
"You're guarding the boat, so would there be any rascal who would target it?"
Naturally, Happy had already guessed that Zhiling would not be able to stay in the boat, but he needed to hear it to be sure.
Just as he expected, Xu Zhiling looked at him with a troubled expression. "I won't hide it from you. I simply can't sit still and do nothing while so many people go after Kuo Zhong.
"I will not be able to stay on the boat, but trouble has been brewing in Yangzhou City lately, and there are plenty of powerful people here. I am worried about Qingxuan staying alone in the boat without an elite guarding her. I don't want her to be in danger, so I'm hoping that you can stay here and take care of her."
Happy did not answer right away.
Who ever said that Xu Zhiling was not a calculative person? At that moment, Happy could sense the scheme behind his quest.
If Happy agreed to it, he could leave the boat. Then, Xu Zhiling would take the player who was serving as a guard at the entrance and leave for their quest.
Xu Zhiling would then think of another way to carry out his quest in a manner that no one would notice. After all, Happy's appearance and choice could not stop the progress of the main plot.
'It's an amazing plan!'
"I have always admired Artisan Shi's skills. If someone bothers the boat, I will be the first to disagree with it. I can accept your request, but how will you leave?"
"You don't have to worry about that. I have prepared a wetsuit that will allow me to leave underwater in a manner that no one will notice." When Xu Zhiling heard Happy agree, joy bloomed on his face, and he brought out a human skin mask. "But I will have to trouble you. If someone tries to get on the boat, please appear in my image to fight against those enemies and make them retreat."
When Happy heard Xu Zhiling's subsequent request, he finally released a breath of relief. At the very least, Xu Zhiling did not intend to completely exclude him from the main plot.
With Xu Zhiling's human skin mask, he could position himself firmly in the quest.
A thought bloomed in Happy's mind. He rubbed the human skin mask in his hand and pondered for a
moment before raising a question. "I can wear the mask, but our martial arts are different. If I attack, I will definitely expose myself… What should we do about it?"
Chapter 695 - True Nine Words Seals
Xu Zhiling practiced a lot of martial arts and used a wide variety of them. This was something that was rather similar to Happy, but the ultimate techniques Happy required to take action were different from Xu Zhiling's rather unique martials arts.
The first one was Immortality Art, but he also practiced Fu Junchuo's Nine Great Abyss Arts, which was a qi cultivation technique. Later on, he obtained Evil Emperor Obtains Wealth. With the ability he acquired from Gobi Desert, he created a strange and unique Three-in-one Origins Qigong. It was something that no one in the world could replicate or practice.
Even his successor might not be able to inherit that technique.
Happy explained that if he wanted to deceive the world, he had to practice at least one of Xu Zhiling's martial arts, and his Nine Yang Divine Skill could coincidentally help him do just that. Once he saw something once, he would not forget and could also quickly copy it.
But there were plenty of things he could not copy, and Three-in-one Origins Qigong was one of them. Boomerang Art and Clear Sword was also something he had understood on his own. The Undying Seals Evil King Shi Zhixuan had taught him held unparalleled meaning to him, and because of it, Xu Zhiling decided to teach Happy the True Nine Words Seals.
This martial art could also be considered an ultimate technique. Its effects were very great, and it could compare to Ten True Dragon Styles.
Xu Zhiling only needed to show it once for Happy to obtain the entire True Nine Words Seals, which was what he wanted. The only thing that displeased him slightly was that since he was currently in Moksha Realm, he could only bring out 80% of its power.
But when he thought about it, it was already good enough.
Even though the skill was just a copy, Happy felt that he had already gained a lot from the quest.
He put on the clothes Xu Zhiling handed to him and changed into them without hesitation. Then, he put on the human skin mask Xu Zhiling had created based on his own image.
Speaking of which, Xu Zhiling and Happy's height as well as temperament were incredibly similar.
Xu Zhiling was very gentle, calm, and quiet. He had a tolerant heart to everything in the world.
As for Happy, he had long since formed his own charm and temperament. When he did not say anything, he sank into a state of quietness that was similar to Xu Zhiling's but that other people would find hard to imitate. Happy turned around with Xu Zhiling's face, and the latter could not help but look at him with shock.
"Now, even I have to wonder whether I am looking at a mirror."
The fake Xu Zhiling said nothing. He smiled in a slightly embarrassed manner and managed to imitate Xu Zhiling's bashful side to its most authentic state.
"Brother Happy, I will have to trouble you to look after this place."
Xu Zhiling did not waste his breath more, and his expression became stern.
Happy nodded and accepted the quest. He had to ensure Shi Qingxuan's safety for at least two hours and think of a way to beat the people who tried to get on the boat.
Happy said nothing. As long as no insanely powerful people like Myth Realm martial artists came, he could ensure the safety of the boat with his strength.
Xu Zhiling gave him a few more reminders before he left with the player whose name Happy he did not know.
Without another word, he sat down near the window and spread out the spiritual sense of Nine Yang Divine Skill. It covered the entire p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat. While drinking, Happy took up the duty of a sentry.
Splash.
The faint sound of something dropping into water could be heard. Two black figures entered the water from the bottom of the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat and quietly left the area of Happy's spiritual senses.
Even though Xu Zhiling said that he was worried about Kuo Zhong's safety, Happy knew that the duo would go to search for the real Eunuch Yang's Warehouse.
If his guess was correct, the Kuo Zhong who stayed in Yangzhou City was just a decoy to attract everyone's attention. His role was to create a chance for Xu Zhiling to enter Eunuch Yang's Warehouse.
Of course, the Kuo Zhong everyone saw might be the same as Happy right now. He might be an imposter wearing a human-skin mask.
The real Kuo Zhong might have already gone to Eunuch Yang's Warehouse a long time ago, and Xu Zhiling was bringing his people to meet up with him.
The people who realized that they were tricked would immediately think of Xu Zhiling as well as the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat floating on the river, and then… Happy would be very busy.
*****
Within Yangzhou City was an uninhabited huge mansion that Kuo Zhong had bought. At that moment, it was surrounded by a mass of people, and not even a drop of water could escape through the encirclement.
The courtyard had already been searched, and everyone blocked a dried-up well in the backyard.
The sounds of robes fluttering could be heard nonstop. A group of people descended from the sky. The person in their lead was Sect Master Extreme Yin.
"It's here?"
His ghastly voice made it clear that he was not someone pleasant.
The few evil cult disciples beside him nodded repeatedly. "That's right! A few of our brothers went down just now, but none of them came back. We're worried that there's an ambush down there, which is why we sent the signal."
"Very good." Sect Master Extreme Yin cackled nonstop. "If this is the entrance to Eunuch Yang's Warehouse, none of the people inside can think of escaping."
Once he said those words, his tone changed. "Come with me, the lot of you."
He picked a few evil cult elders, and they surrounded the dried-up well before they jumped down one after another.
Approximately half an hour passed, and everyone jumped out of the dried-up well with dark expressions. Sect Master Extreme Yin and another evil cult elder was in the lead. They each held a corpse in their hands, and their expressions were pale as well as sour.
"Eunuch Yang's Warehouse, my foot. That's just a hideous bewitching matrix!"
Empress Yin, Li Shimin, and the others who had heard the news and rushed over saw the corpses they threw on the ground, and their expressions changed.
"What a diversion! That bastard used a substitute and tricked all of us!"
"Who else is on the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat?" Li Shimin turned his head around.
"Artisan Shi's performance should have ended, so she will not have anyone on her boat."
The people from the Song Family spoke up in the crowd. "If that's the case, Xu Zhiling might have disappeared as well."
"Hmph!" Empress Yin's expression grew dark, and she gave a few orders coldly. "Search the city immediately and look for Xu Zhiling, Kuo Zhong, and all members of Twin Dragons Sect!
"The few of you return to the boat and investigate the matter. Check and see whether Xu Zhiling is still on the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat.
"Go with them as well."
Aside from the Twin Demons from the evil cult being sent to the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat, Li Shimin, the Song Family, the Yuwen Family, and Du Fuwei's subordinates were also sent to the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat.
The people from Towering Palace and Class One Hall took the initiative to head to the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat as well.
A large group of people surged to the river of Yangzhou City with a mighty momentum.
The fleet of boats on the wide river approached the riverbank. Only Shi Qingxuan's large boat remained on the river, and light shone inside it.
"Boatman, set sail!"
When the people on the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boats saw the numerous martial artists forcing their way onto the boats, they panicked.
But some people acted in an even more straightforward manner. The evil cultists held their breaths and stepped on the water to jump toward the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e boat on the river.
"Artisan Shi is tired and has already gone to rest. Everyone, please go back."
Before they could get close, a cold and sonorous voice spoke toward the riverbank. "I have some matters I want to discuss with Xu Zhiling today, and I do not want anyone to disturb us."
The martial artists who were surging to the boats by the riverbank froze.
The people from Towering Palace and Class One Hall were the first to stop.
Chapter 696 - Goryeo, Bright Sword Sect Members
"I have some matters I want to discuss with Xu Zhiling today, and I do not want anyone to disturb us."
It was a voice that allowed no disagreements, and it reached the ears of the people at the riverbank in an incredible stable and loud manner from the river.
Quite a few players were angered by the arrogance in the speaker's voice, and cold expressions appeared on their faces.
'Talk with Xu Zhiling? Doesn't that mean it's related to Eunuch Yang's Warehouse?'
Most of the people ignored the speaker, but there were two rather eye-catching groups who froze. Shock shone in their eyes while they stared at the river. Even though they had already boarded their boats, they did not ask the boatman to start rowing.
"It's him!"
Musical Note and Clear Music would never forget that voice. It was indifferent and clear, and its owner had nearly destroyed all that Towering Palace had built over a year with just a simple decision while he was in Yangzhou City.
If Clear Music had not taken the initiative to abdicate and give up the resource points from ten cities as well a batch of resources to gain a cease fire between the two forces of power, Towering Palace might have already lost the title of a top-class sect.
If someone was to name a sect that was the most cautious about Mu Clan and did not want to enter into any conflict with them, it would definitely be Towering Palace.
Hence, when Musical Note heard Happy's voice, she raised her hand without another word, and all her people immediately stopped moving.
Sword Among Us c1-1268 Page 345
