Chapter 1204: Chapter 1040: Discussing Retreat

"As long as one is human, there will be times of fear and misgivings. Though we can’t find a flaw in this person, I’ve heard he is deeply sentimental. If we were to seize his family..."

Bu Ke’s sinister voice sounded by Map Master’s ear; he felt this was not a bad idea.

"Don’t forget there are Hidden Guards protecting his kin. If we act rashly, we’ll just be delivering ourselves to their door."

As for Bu Ke, Map Master actually felt some disdain in his heart. Back in Da Xing, others would always compare this man to him as equals. Yet Map Master believed this man’s scheming was far inferior to his own.

"They’re just a few juniors with mediocre martial arts. With your skills and mine, do we still need to fear them?"

Bu Ke was somewhat contemptuous of the men Gu Chengyu had arranged. Though Gu Chengyu’s martial arts were extraordinary, even if the two of them joined forces, they might not be his match.

But Gu Chengyu could not possibly stay by his family’s side at all times. Once Gu Chengyu was away, they would abduct them, and Gu Chengyu would have no time to stop it.

Map Master hastily shook his head. "No! Who knows what hidden methods they still carry on them? If Gu Chengyu gives chase, whether we can leave Dayan safely becomes a question."

Map Master did not think this was any good plan; on the contrary, he felt it was foolishness.

"Moreover, the Master instructed that the Young Master should do his utmost to persuade Gu Chengyu to serve us. Before the Young Master has yet taken action, we must not act rashly."

Upon hearing this, Bu Ke inevitably felt stifled. Had this Gu Chengyu become a porcelain doll that could not be touched?

"Are we then to let him keep investigating like this? You often say this man’s stratagems are remarkable. If he senses something amiss and feels out our planted stakes in Dayan, that would be greatly unfavorable to us."

"But this is the Master’s order. If the Young Master can persuade Gu Chengyu, that would naturally be the best." Map Master was somewhat unwilling to clash head-on with Gu Chengyu; if they could pull Gu Chengyu over to their camp, the Master would surely be like a tiger with wings.

"The Young Master to persuade him? If he refuses and even becomes a threat to the Young Master, what then? The Master has clearly ordered that the Young Master must return without a single hair harmed. If he loses even one, the blame lies with us."

Map Master could not help but feel a headache as well. "After all, the Young Master has been acquainted with Gu Chengyu for many years. Gu Chengyu should not be so ruthless. I, for one, feel Gu Chengyu is not such a pedantic sort; perhaps he might agree. For a man like him, what difference does it make who sits the throne? He only desires power."

At the mention of power, Map Master could not help but give a shudder. Since he desired power, might Gu Chengyu be planning to be that final oriole behind the scenes?

Speaking solely of power, whose could surpass that of the sovereign above all?

"He is, after all, a man of Dayan. Would he really help us? Besides, from what I see, he is not a soft-hearted man. Even if he values affection and loyalty, he may not show mercy to the Young Master. It is still unwise to have the Young Master go persuade him directly. Better to think of another way first, and probe him through someone else."

Since Gu Chengyu could not be killed for now, Bu Ke no longer racked his brains for assassination methods. At present, the most important thing was that he and Map Master could withdraw intact; with just the two of them, it should not be hard to escape.

Besides, wasn’t there still the Young Master? The Young Master was to help Gu Chengyu manage his businesses; if he wished to travel afar, that would be nothing unusual.

"Very well! There are still some troubles on the Master’s side yet unresolved. This time, it is still unsuitable for the Young Master to return with us. In truth, even if the Young Master’s identity is exposed by Gu Chengyu, that’s nothing. By then the Young Master will have taken on a new identity; at worst, he leaves and is done with it. Could that Gu Chengyu really chase him all the way to Da Xing?"

"My lord! This lowly one has something to report."

The two were just discussing how to retreat when, unexpectedly, someone knocked at the door outside.

"What is it?" Bu Ke’s hoarse voice sounded again, and the man outside hurried into the room.

"My lord! That Xia Qing has been released from the Heavenly Prison!"

"What? Released?" Map Master was even more shocked than Bu Ke. They too knew Xia Qing had left himself a backhand, a way to clear his own suspicion.

But this time they had not acted in advance in accordance with Xia Qing’s arrangement; by their estimation, Xia Qing must already be greatly displeased.

"Yes! It’s said the Crown Prince Dayan personally gave the order to release him from the Heavenly Prison. Only, he was ordered to remain at his residence to recuperate for the time being and to refrain from participating in state affairs; he has not been reinstated to his former office."

Map Master furrowed his brows. What exactly did Zhao Dun mean by this? Though Xia Qing argued he had been misled by his disciples, the Emperor’s death could by no means be entirely divorced from Xia Qing.

How could this Crown Prince release Xia Qing? It was truly beyond comprehension.

Bu Ke waved the subordinate away, then said, "Xia Qing cannot be left alive. He still holds quite a few handles on us in his hands."

Map Master felt rather irritable. "Of course I understand. But this man is no fool; he has plenty of backhands stored away! If we push him too far and he throws all caution to the wind, we won’t gain any advantage either. He didn’t implicate us while in prison precisely because he had something to rely on, didn’t he? If Zhao Dun hadn’t released him, in no more than two days he would have sent us a message."

Map Master had in fact forgotten about this man. If they really were to simply flee, and Zhao Dun was unwilling to spare Xia Qing’s life, then the final outcome would surely be mutual destruction.

Xia Qing’s nature was sinister, vicious, and ruthless; if he was not to have a good end, he would see to it that no one else could wash their hands of the matter.

"What should we do then? Are we to contact him again? Zhao Dun’s intentions are unknown at present. If he has men secretly watching Xia Qing, approaching him would be no different from walking into a trap. Yet if we leave him alone, he is bound to lash out in desperation."

Bu Ke held Xia Qing in deep contempt; colluding with foreign countries was not something just anyone could bring himself to do.

"We wait a bit longer. Xia Qing is not presently in danger of losing his life, and he is no simpleton; he naturally knows this is an extraordinary time and will not attempt to contact us. If we wish to placate this man, we can only wait for another opportunity."

Map Master exhaled a long, deep sigh. He had a premonition that their return this time would not be smooth.

...

"My lord! Though we have already captured those assassins, we still don’t know where the one in charge is hiding. At this point we have no leads at all."

Peng Fang had not slept the entire night either. Last night, they had already searched the areas around the Imperial City, yet still had not found the assassins’ leader.

Gu Chengyu pondered for a moment. Last night, Prince Jing had already informed him that Map Master was likely the one in charge of this assassination plan. As for the other man, he had never seen him, but Map Master himself he had seen in the flesh.

If they sketched this man’s likeness, it would be easier for Peng Fang and the others to search for him.

Only, none of these assassins had confessed. If he claimed the mastermind behind them was Map Master, the source of that information would inevitably seem dubious.

Looking at Peng Fang’s exhausted face, Gu Chengyu lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers, and suddenly a plan came to mind.

Previously, they had also captured an assassin who had been in contact with Map Master. He might as well foist this matter onto that assassin’s testimony.

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