On the other side.
Yan Li followed Flowing Tree Bingjian through the streets and alleys. They arrived at a very unremarkable alley. Flowing Tree Bingjian walked in front of a wooden door with the word "fortune" stuck to it and knocked on the door a few times. It was as if there was a "messenger" waiting inside. Hearing the knocking sound, the door immediately opened.
"Tower Master." A docile manservant in green called out in a low voice.
"Let's go." Liumu Bingjian only said one word.
Yan Li saw an inconspicuous mark on the manservant's chest and immediately confirmed the information he heard from Liang Junshan: Liumu Bingjian was indeed one of the Tower Masters of the Heavenly Strategies Tower.
"I feel a little panicked." He said.
"It's too late to regret now." Liumu Bingjian said.
"Why?" Yan Li asked.
Liumu Bingjian turned back and smiled at him. "Because you know my secret. If you don't board this pirate ship, I'll have to kill you."
Yan Li couldn't help but laugh. "It seems that I have no choice. Fortunately, it's with such a considerate beauty. If it were someone else, I wouldn't be able to bear it. "
"I'm talking about you." Gu Caiwei rolled her eyes at him coquettishly.
Behind the door was an ancestral hall. Beside the ancestral hall was a small door. The manservant in green opened the small door and made way for them.
Liumu Bingjian walked in and Yan Li followed. Suddenly, the view before them became clear. It was as if they had entered a paradise from a dangerous mountain. What appeared in front of them were gardens, pavilions, bridges, and lakes. Although small, it seemed to be ingenious.
Along the stone path, there were all kinds of flowers on both sides. Some were in full bloom, attracting many bees and butterflies.
After crossing the bridge, Liumu Bingjian said softly, "The Soaring Roc Convention is around the corner. All kinds of people are mixed together. This quiet environment is perfect for talking."
"What is the Soaring Roc Convention?" Yan Li asked.
"This is Shangguan Jinhong's way of 'giving back' to the world." Liumu Bingjian laughed. "Every year at this time, he would send out invitations."
"What's the point?" Yan Li asked.
Gu Caiwei laughed tenderly and said, "On the surface, it is to thank the people of the world for riding on their Cao Clan's ship, but in reality, it is to buy people's hearts and recruit experts."
Liumu Bingjian nodded and said, "That's about it. On the day of the meeting, the Cao Clan will give every invited person a number. Then, during the banquet, they will take out a treasure that has been prepared beforehand and draw lots on the spot. The person who draws the number will be able to obtain that treasure. "
"No additional conditions?" Yan Li asked.
At this moment, they entered the attic and took their respective seats. Liumu Bingjian instructed a maid to serve tea before saying, "Of course, there are conditions."
"As expected." Yan Li sneered. "Let me guess. The conditions should be to join the Cao Gang, or to become a non-staff member."
Liumu Bingjian smiled brightly and said, "You guessed half right. The person who obtains the treasure must join the Cao Gang, or unconditionally agree to a request of the Cao Gang. If neither of these two are willing, then they can give up or buy it on the spot. "
Yan Li said pensively, "So this is actually an auction meeting."
"That's not entirely true." Gu Caiwei said with a smile that wasn't a smile, "Elemental Illumination Stones have appeared in the Soaring Peng Conclave. Elemental Illumination Stones are equivalent to half a magic artifact, something that can only be discovered and not sought. Joining the Cao Gang or agreeing to a request is extremely worthwhile. "
Yan Li's expression was calm and composed as he said, "What if this' request 'isn't something you can do? For instance, if you were asked to exterminate a Confucian orthodoxy, who could do it? "
Gu Caiwei tenderly said, "How could you be so stupid! If it was a request that couldn't be done, why would the Cao Gang take out an Elemental Illumination Stone? "
Yan Li said, "So the so-called drawing of lots is actually a secret operation. The owner of each treasure has already been decided long before the meeting began."
"You've hit the nail on the head." Liumu Bingjian said with a smile, "This isn't any secret. The reason why the Soaring Peng Conclave can still be held smoothly is because they always investigate the needs of their targets and hit their weak spots, making it impossible for them to refuse. More than half of the experts in the Cao Gang are recruited using this method. "
"Although this method isn't pretty, it's very effective." Yan Li sighed in admiration. "This gang master of the Cao Gang is truly a talent. No wonder he could sit on the throne of the world's number one gang master."
Gu Caiwei said, "It might not be his own merit."
Liumu Bingjian laughed and said, "That's all that needs to be said. We'll talk about the specifics later. Right now, let's talk about the plan this time."
"What plan?" Gu Caiwei said in a daze.
Liumu Bingjian sighed and said helplessly, "You really only want to cause a ruckus."
Gu Caiwei didn't feel ashamed at all. He said in a sweet voice as if it was a matter of course, "Don't I have big sister here?"
Liumu Bingjian turned to Yan Li and said, "The mission this time is for you to infiltrate the Soaring Peng Fort and find the blueprints for the Voidbreaker Ship, which is the core of the Cao Gang's ships, before the conclave."
Yan Li's expression changed slightly. "You think too highly of me!"
Liumu Bingjian smiled and said, "Don't worry, Young Master Yan. I've investigated through the channels of the Heavenly Policy Tower. The blueprints are most likely to be in the hands of four people."
"Which four?" Yan Li asked.
Liumu Bingjian said, "Shangguan Jinhong's four sons. These four are in charge of four important places in the Soaring Peng Fort: the dock, the shipyard, the Blood Hand Pavilion, and the Assassination Hall. The shipyard is the secret of secrets, and is in charge of manufacturing and research. The Blood Hand Pavilion and the Assassination Hall are in charge of opposing forces, hunting them down, and fighting them. The most important thing is the shipyard, which is used to store ships for purchasing goods. "
"Logically speaking, Shangguan Feipeng is the most likely to be in charge of the shipyard, and Shangguan Feihong is the least likely to be in charge of the shipyard." She continued, "But we can't rule out the possibility that they're trying to deceive others."
"So I have to infiltrate and investigate these four people?" Yan Li asked.
Liumu Bingjian smiled and said, "I've formulated a plan based on the characteristics of your Thousand Thread Mask."
"Tell me about it." Yan Li was interested.
Liumu Bingjian said, "I want you to disguise yourself as Shangguan Feihong."
Yan Li asked, "Why Shangguan Feihong?"
Liumu Bingjian said, "Because Shangguan Feihong visits the Full Spring Courtyard every three days without exception. The whereabouts of the other three are hard to track, and it's hard to carry out the plan."
"You want to take advantage of the fact that he's not in the Soaring Peng Fort to replace him?" Yan Li asked.
Liumu Bingjian nodded, then took out a stack of papers and handed them over, saying, "There are only a few days left until the Grand Assembly. You have to lock onto your target before the Grand Assembly."
"What's this?" Yan Li asked.
Liumu Bingjian said, "This is Shangguan Feihong's intelligence, including his lifestyle, eating habits, catchphrases, personality traits, as well as his subordinates, his relatives, and friends …"
Yan Li was shocked. "This is all investigated by the Heavenly Policy Tower?"
Liumu Bingjian smiled and said, "Young Master Yan, please memorize it within two days."
Yan Li casually flipped through the papers, then suddenly widened his eyes and said, "This … I'm afraid I'm not up to the task!"
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