In the dead of the night, a clan head and clan head had climbed over the walls to find Long Fei Ye. What a fool. If news of this spread, the entire world would probably despise the Nether Clan and Chu Clan.
Of course, if the world knew of Long Feiye's noble status as a member of the imperial clan, this wouldn't be a big deal. After all, even the Seven Noble Families had to pay respects to members of the imperial clan during the Great Qin Dynasty.
Han Yunxi's identity had always been suspected, but no one had ever questioned Long Fei Ye's identity. Even the smartest of them all, Gu Beiyue, had never considered that possibility.
If one day Gu Beiyue found out that Long Fei Ye was an enemy of Western Qin's imperial clan, how would he react?
Currently, Gu Beiyue was still in Western Zhou. Unfortunately, he'd followed Chu Xifeng and Tang Li to Thousand Buddha Cave, so he wasn't in the city.
Since the Nether Clan Head had climbed over the walls, Long Fei Ye naturally received him.
Chu Yunyi had been impulsive all night, but now he was calm and collected. "Your Highness Duke of Qin, I've long heard of you!"
Long Feiye arched a brow from his lofty position and only nodded.
His arrogance made General Chu very unhappy. It was one thing for Long Fei Ye to look down on him, but he was still so frigid even when the head of the Nether Clan was here.
This brat has no manners at all, no manners at all!
Still, Chu Yunyi didn't get angry. He studied Long Fei Ye carefully. This was his first time seeing Long Fei Ye in person. Although he knew that this young man was noble and extraordinary, he didn't expect him to have such a powerful aura. Looking into his cold and deep eyes, the Nether Clan Leader felt a sense of awe that even he couldn't explain.
Of course he knew that Long Fei Ye was from Tianning's imperial clan, but not even Emperor Kang Cheng possessed such a natural sense of superiority. How could a mere Qinwang of Long Fei Ye, who'd never even sat on the throne before, have such a feeling? Strangely enough, he could vaguely sense the hatred hidden in Long Fei Ye's eyes when he looked at him.
After examining Long Fei Ye, Chu Yunyi turned to Han Yunxi. He found the same feeling in Han Yunxi. Long Fei Ye's distinguished status was still acceptable, but Han Yunxi was merely the first daughter of the Han Family. How could she be distinguished and not to be offended?
Could it be that she had been with Long Fei Ye for so long that her temperament had been cultivated?
Chu Yunyi's heart was filled with shock, but he had no time to dwell on the matter. He had to get things settled before daybreak and Long Fei Ye's formal audience with Emperor Kang Cheng.
"Duke of Qin, why don't we get straight to the point?" Chu Yunyi grinned. "How can we help the Nether Clan keep this secret? I'll have to trouble you to name your terms."
Long Fei Ye's refusal to meet General Chu was precisely to force the Nether Clan Head's hand. General Chu couldn't decide on his terms.
"Your lordship wants one thing," Long Fei Ye finally spoke.
"What is it?" Chu Yunyi asked hastily.
"The Wood of Ten-Thousand Poisons," Long Fei Ye said directly.
At this, Chu Yunyi and General Chu realized that Chu Tianyin had leaked the secret. Both of them were surprised! Chu Yunyi was fuming in his heart, while General Chu was worried about unnecessary anger. He understood his son all too well. Heaven knows how much torture he'd suffered to reveal such a secret.
Everyone knew about the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion, so Chu Yunyi didn't bother to explain. He stroked his beard for a long time before replying, "Duke of Qin, you know as well that it's not easy to enter the Thousand Buddha Cave. The thousand-year ginkgo trees are even harder to get close to. How about we exchange … "
Before he could finish, Long Fei Ye cut him off. "Since the Nether Clan can't do it, then please go back."
"You!" General Chu lost his temper. "Duke of Qin, the two of us came here with sincerity. What kind of attitude is this?"
"Your lordship could've asked Emperor Kang Cheng directly. I never had any intentions of negotiating with your Chu Clan! I'm only giving you this chance because the Nether Clan Head came to visit so late at night. If the Nether Clan can't do it, then I won't force you, "Long Fei Ye's tone was cold as ice.
By his side, Han Yunxi subconsciously gathered her robes together. She felt cold and felt that something was off about Long Fei Ye's attitude towards the Nether Clan, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Was she too used to Long Fei Ye's gentleness to get used to his coldness? Or was there another reason? Or perhaps her intuition was wrong.
Han Yunxi was still lost in her thoughts when General Chu's sudden outburst woke her up.
He pointed at Long Fei Ye and cried, "Duke of Qin, you're threatening us!"
He said he'd ask Emperor Kang Cheng for help, but what else could he use besides the Chu Clan's secrets?
Chu Yunyi's expression was ugly as well. What else could he do now that he'd been forced into a corner? Even if he couldn't get his hands on the Wood of Ten-Thousand Poisons, he had to figure out a way to get it!
"Duke of Qin, my Nether Clan agrees. Please give the Nether Clan some time," Chu Yunyi agreed decisively.
"How long?" Long Fei Ye asked.
"Three months. Three months from now is Bodhisattva's birthday. The imperial concubines will all go to Thousand Buddha Cave to pay their respects. That's the only time we have a chance," Chu Yunyi replied honestly.
Long Fei Ye didn't think much of it, but nodded in agreement. "Three months. If you miss the deadline, don't blame your lordship for being impolite."
"Many thanks."
Chu Yunyi was very polite, but Long Fei Ye's face was still cold and lofty.
Chu Yunyi could only accept the fact that he was being held back and had a favor to ask. Now that things were settled, he didn't want to stay and be bullied, so he turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, Long Fei Ye actually asked him to stay. "Nether Clan Head, wait a moment. Your lordship still has something he doesn't understand and would like to ask for guidance."
"Please speak."
Chu Yunyi was natural and unrestrained, but as soon as Long Feiye spoke, he couldn't hold back anymore. His face turned gloomy.
Long Fei Ye said, "I heard you know the whereabouts of the Di Clan?"
General Chu grew even more alarmed. He knew that his son must have suffered a great deal at Long Fei Ye's hands, or else he'd never tell him such a secret.
Chu Yunyi fell silent for a long time, so Long Fei Ye asked next, "Is it still a merchant clan on the border between Western Zhou and Tianning?"
"Old Man only knows this much. With the Duke of Qin's skills, it shouldn't be hard for him to find the Di Clan, "Chu Yunyi replied.
"If we exchange the Di Clan's whereabouts for Chu Tianyin, why don't you consider it, Nether Clan Head?" Long Fei Ye asked.
General Chu immediately recovered his wits, but Chu Yunyi didn't say a word before storming off.
General Chu chased after him and said in a rush, "What do you mean? You're not going to save Tianyin? "
He was still waiting for Chu Yunyi to talk terms with Long Fei Ye to save Tianyin, but he never expected Long Fei Ye to make the offer first. Nor did he expect Chu Yunyi to leave without a second thought.
It would've been better if General Chu hadn't asked, because his question only made Chu Yunyi lose his temper. "What's the use of saving a useless piece of trash who can't do anything right?"
General Chu lost his temper at those words and rushed to block Chu Yunyi's way. "Speak clearly!"
"Old Man gave him so many soldiers and set up such a tight ambush in the Poison Sect's underground palace. What did he give the Old Man in return? Not only did he fail to kill Long Fei Ye, but he also exposed the Nether Clan's secrets. Now he even gave up information about the Wood of Ten-Thousand Poisons and the Di Clan! Heh, you still want the Old Man to save him? "Chu Yunyi raged.
"Witch Aunt was present at the underground palace incident as well. Tianyin has already done his best! Everyone knows how much he's sacrificed for the Chu Clan over the years! If not for him, my Chu Clan would never have made friends with Crown Prince Ye. If not for him, my Chu Clan's power would never have reached Western Liang! Everyone makes mistakes. You can't deny everything about Tianyin just because of a single mistake! "General Chu lost his temper as well.
"Then tell the Old Man, what's up with the Wood of Ten-Thousand Poisons? What's up with the Di Clan? Don't tell the Old Man that he wasn't the one who exposed these two things? "Chu Yunyi asked.
"They must have used capital punishment! Otherwise, with Tianyin's temper, he'd never expose any secrets! Moreover, he doesn't even know everything about the Di Clan, so how much can he tell us? "
Leaving aside Chu Tianyin, even Gu Beiyue didn't know much about the Di Clan. Only Chu Yunyi and General Chu of the Nether Clan knew.
This was the chess piece they'd buried deep in their hearts.
General Chu was very certain, but Chu Yunyi only laughed out loud. "According to your logic, it'll be pardonable if he reveals everything about the Nether Clan one day?"
"He won't! I know my son best. He has his own bottom line! Even if he loses his life, he'd never betray the Nether Clan! "General Chu grew agitated.
"If these two things don't count as a bottom line, then tell the Old Man what it means to have a bottom line! Speak! "Chu Yunyi raged.
"At least … at least he didn't say anything about the Shadow Clan," General Chu defended himself.
Chu Yunyi shook his head. "The Duke of Qin just didn't bring it up. How do you know he didn't? Heheh, Gu Beiyue's right, it's better to abandon him than save him. "
Hearing this, General Chu couldn't help but say, "What does Gu Beiyue count for? What right does he have to butt in on the Nether Clan's affairs? There's something else I forgot to tell you. The Duke of Qin said himself today that someone told him about the Driving Arrow Arts. Gu Beiyue's helped Han Yunxi time and time again, and even set up shop at Pill Fiend Pharmacy, all for the sake of the Perplexing Butterfly Illusion? It's fine if he doesn't save Tianyin, but what does he mean by not helping Qingge? It's obvious that he's siding with Long Fei Ye and the rest! "
Although Chu Yunyi was angry for Chu Tianyin's sake, he was still rational enough to ask, "Someone told him about the Driving Arrow Arts?"
"Exactly! Besides Gu Beiyue, who else would know about our Nether Clan's secret arts? " General Chu mocked. "Fortunately, Long Fei Ye found out before Tianyin was imprisoned. Otherwise, Tianyin would've been the scapegoat for sure."
General Chu had only harbored suspicions in his heart, but wasn't certain. Still, in his anger, he'd completely rejected Gu Beiyue's claims.
Meanwhile, Chu Yunyi had been rejected twice by Gu Beiyue, so he was more or less suspicious of Gu Beiyue. Hearing General Chu's words only made him more suspicious. In a low voice, he muttered, "Gu Beiyue …"
"Over the years, he's disdained our Nether Clan's struggles for power in Western Zhou. Judging from his temper, I'm afraid he's long disloyal, "General Chu added fuel to the fire.
Chu Yunyi's eyes flickered as he remained silent.
"As I see it, Long Fei Ye won't let it go so easily once he finds out about the Di Clan. Rather than trade him the Di Clan, why not give him the Shadow Clan's secrets instead?! There's only Gu Beiyue in the Shadow Clan, so how long can his sickly body last? Only the Di Clan has the right to work with our Nether Clan to rule the world! "General Chu seized the chance to suggest.
Chu Yunyi looked at him before muttering, "The Nether and Shadow Clans used to protect each other and have been as close as a family for the past few years. That child Beiyue …"
"Big bro," General Chu cut him off. "Big bro, those who want to achieve great things can't be softhearted! Especially at a time like this, we can't let Long Fei Ye find out about the Di Clan. Whether it's for Tianyin's sake or for our grand scheme, we have to use the Shadow Clan to distract him! "
Chu Yunyi remained silent.
"Big bro, only you and I know about the Di Clan. Give us a clear explanation!" General Chu pressed.
Finally, Chu Yunyi spoke up …
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