Chapter 936: Outdoing

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With the entire string of events clinically presented to him, it dawned on Shangguan Feiyun what it all represented. Though, like in anything, doubts still remained, “Prime Minister, you knew this was going to happen so why didn’t you stop us from falling into his trap?”

“Sword King Feiyun, you’re underestimating Gu Yifan.”

Baili Jingwei smiled, “Ever since my previous interaction with him, it should be obvious just how meticulous he is. If we were to set up a counter for him, he’d see it at a glance, making the endeavor pointless. I want not just the sword, but his life as well. Now that such a cunning devil finally walked into our domain, I would shame his kind intentions and heaven’s gift letting this chance slip, now won’t I? Humph…”

Shangguan Feiyun nodded after a pause, “Prime Minister is right. You can’t bring a small hook to catch such a big fish. He’s unlike that simple minded Shangguan Feixiong. But does this mean Prime Minister knows where he’s going after saving the brat?”

“Brother Feiyun, don’t you find the question redundant? Just look at Prime Minister brimming with confidence, ha-ha-ha…”

Danqing Shen smiled and turned to Baili Jingwei, “I dare venture a guess that Prime Minister Baili already has everything under his control.”

Baili Jingwei couldn’t stop himself from laughing, “Dragon Cleaving Sword King is truly a close friend. Yes, I have everything ready.”

“Then where is he?” Shangguan Feiyun asked eagerly.

Baili Jingwei waved his hand, his eyes shining as he spoke, “Humph, the punk’s key to his joint tactics was speed. From the moment Shangguan Yulin detonated to Shangguan Yulin’s strike, they all happened at perfect timing and speed. It was enough for just one aspect to be off-beat by one step and it would’ve ended in disaster.

“Speed also dictates the rushed actions he took, resorting to haste and leaving many oversights unattended. This joint tactics demanded that of him, to not be as cautious. Now all he’s doing is being on the run as far away as possible, with little attention to anything else. Therein lies our success in beating him and outdoing him, with even more speed.”

Baili Jingwei had a prideful smirk on his face as he took out a vial. Opening it, he shook it and something green landed in his palm, finger-sized and wiggling.

“1st level spiritual beast, Lovesick Larva?”

Shangguan Feiyun gasped and eagerly awaited Baili Jingwei’s answer.

The prime minister nodded with a smile, “Lovesick Larva, yes. ‘The red bean trees in the south grow/ By spring they yield in heaps above./ I hope you pluck in plenty soon,/ Because it is the gift of love. It yearns for those beans and it’s lack of spiritual energy only classify it as a simple insect, but there’s one thing it excels at that dwarfs other spiritual beast. It’s what earns its place among them.”

(Lovesickness by Wang Wei, tang Dynasty)

“The pair of larvae, even leagues apart, all they’d yearned for is to be together again, to show his lovesickness.” Danqing Shen sighed.

Between the heaven and earth nodded, “That’s exactly right, Dragon Cleaving Sword King. The Lovesick Larva come in pairs, intertwined always until the very moment of death and ever loyal in love. Even if worlds apart, the two insects will eventually find each other again. That’s why happy couples and sweethearts give each other one to proclaim their undying love.”

“Humph, the larvae are inseparable but their owner, always saying goodbye in love and hate, so how many are there that their love lasts until the end? Aren’t men worse then bugs? Ha-ha-ha…” Shangguan Feiyun mocked.

Baili Jingwei nodded, “People are far more complex than this simple pair of insects. Most often than not, these larvae aren’t used to proclaim undying love, or chase skirts, but in a much more practical way.”

“Seperate the two, with the male placed on oneself while the female crushed to be refined into the Thousand Leagues Scent. Though named scent, it is odorless and colorless. Not even Genesis Stage expert can find it. Only this male larva always crawls towards her direction undeterred. That’s what makes it the best tracking method!”

“Does that mean Prime Minister smeared the Thousand Leagues Scent on the brat? When?” Shangguan Feiyun lit up at the promising idea.

Baili Jingwei smiled, “Of course, right when I was checking his pulse. Gu Yifan must have no idea I’ve long since planted the perfect bait for him. Though it won’t change even if he does realize. His plan is based on speed and has no time to check for details. That is unless he threw the brat away, but then it would mean all his work would go to waste. So he’ll bet that I did not take precautions. But you can see that he clearly lost, ha-ha-ha…”

Baili Jingwei laughed and Shangguan Feiyun joined him. Danqing Shen just watched them with a shake of his head, his saddened eyes landing on the Lovesick Larva.

The world had such devoted and lovestruck beings, only to end up being a tool for humans and their twisted plans. 

[The heavens are so cruel, following with pain after every success.] 

[Will the upright and righteous path of the world ever prevail in winning over the demons plaguing our hearts?]

“Sword King Feiyun, we now have his direction. We’ll give chase and grab the divine sword from his stiff cold hands!”

In minutes, the Lovesick Larva found the sent of his better half, struggling to reach her. Nothing could dissuade it from reaching her, not the impossible journey nor the slow crawl.

Its efforts brought a smile to Baili Jingwei’s face, his eyes shining with cruelty as he signaled for Sword King Feiyun to go on a hunt.

Danqing Shen took a deep breath, following them close…

As the demonic sword took Gu Santong out of the manor, Zhuo Fan fled as well. He held Gu Santong close and ran like the wind, with the demonic sword slipping back in his body.

Per Baili Jingwei’s speculation, Zhuo Fan was focused on speed and wanted to put as much distance as he could between them before taking young Sanzi somewhere safe to heal.

Holding a Gu Santong that never once got a scratch, now hanging by a thread, plagued Zhuo Fan’s mind.

Whoosh!

Zhuo Fan rushed through the air, not stopping for anything. This hour of flight had taken him a thousand miles off Flying Cloud City.

With Shangguan Yulin’s detonation and Shangguan Feixiong’s sudden attack, the chaos at the manor drew all the experts in Flying Cloud City over. This gave Zhuo Fan a clear path to get out with ease.

Zhuo Fan’s lure was not only for Shangguan Feiyun and Baili Jingwei, but for all the guards in the city and manor.

It thus made his extraction easier, just like he expected and as Baili Jingwei foresaw. 

Zhuo Fan’s eyes flash, feeling in control…

With the wind whipping around his face, Gu Santong awoke now and then to find himself in a warm and strong embrace and in safety.

Looking at the familiar face, Gu Santong winced and felt forlorn for some reason, having never had to rely on his godfather, until now, and tears flowed without stop, “Dad, you came back for me…” 

“Of course I did. Who else would come save my son if not I?” Zhuo Fan looked stern but smiled in comfort at seeing his missing godson these past days.

Gu Santong’s lips quivered as he apologized, “Dad, I’m sorry…” 

“Why would you be? You did nothing wrong.”

“I’ve been so stubborn and father’s perfect plan… It’s all on me. I rushed in and got dad worried and endangered you to come save me…”

Gu Santong sobbed, unable to finish his thoughts. As his cheeks were streaked with tears, his heart was wrecked by regret.

Zhuo Fan looked at him in silence, flying farther and farther away….

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