Chapter 983: Each Making Their Own Plans

Yu Zecheng also allowed himself a faint smile. "He Xiao, please go about your business; don't trouble yourself with me." The tension that had been building in the air immediately dissipated.

He Lingchuan, accompanied by his large retinue, escorted Yu Zecheng and his group back to their lodgings, observing all proper courtesies and showing full respect, before returning to his office.

Back in his room, Yu Zecheng drained the entire bowl of tea in one gulp. He raised his hand, intending to smash the teacup, but restrained himself. In the end, he merely tossed the teacup back onto the table and let out a long, heavy sigh.

A guard behind him asked, "My lord, is this 'He' fellow playing a double act with the spider demon?" Yu Zecheng replied coldly, "What do you think?" The guard immediately fell silent.

He Xiao had treated them with considerable politeness, but that politeness distinctly lacked any hint of deference. Yu Zecheng mused aloud, "Why is this young man so utterly fearless?" He claimed the spider demon had done him a favor, but even if it were true, in the face of life and death, what's a favor that can't be cast aside?

The guard suggested, "Perhaps he's relying on his close relationship with Crown Prince Yue of Chiyan?" "He should be well aware that Crown Prince Yue holds no sway over us," Yu Zecheng stated, his tone level but laced with undisguised arrogance. "The Black Tiger Army has no need to cater to Chiyan's wishes."

However, the mission to track down Zhu Erniang couldn't simply be abandoned; otherwise, National Preceptor Frostleaf would surely hold him accountable. "Since He Xiao refuses to hand over Zhu Erniang, the conflict now centers on him — he simply won't see reason until it's too late," Yu Zecheng remarked, casually setting up a barrier. "Only by subduing him and making him confront reality can we then deal with Zhu Erniang." As it stood, he spoke only of "subduing" him, not of killing him.

Yu Zecheng did, in fact, have his own concerns. The Elixir of Immortality case implicated many high-ranking individuals in Lingxu City. He Xiao, having once served as Chiyan's special envoy, managed to navigate the complexities of Lingxu City and emerge unscathed. Did this imply he also had connections and roots within Beijia? Given the situation in Lingxu City at the time, if He Xiao hadn't possessed a powerful patron — one even stronger than Crown Prince Yue of Chiyan — National Preceptor Qingyang could have crushed him with a mere flick of a finger. If he were to kill He Xiao now, would he risk offending some powerful figure in Lingxu City?

He pressed his forehead, sighed, and refocused his attention on the archipelago before him. The environment of the Yangshan Archipelago was highly advantageous for burrowing spiders. Based on his knowledge of Zhu Erniang, he knew that the moment this formidable demon arrived on an island, she would immediately set up camp and transform her cave into an impenetrable fortress. They had also dispatched scouts who reported that the island, riddled with countless holes and crevices, appeared to be perfectly designed for burrowing spiders. The most intricate parts of the terrain were likely hidden underground and underwater, making it impossible to ascertain its true layout from the surface alone. It was both a labyrinth and a fortress. Since they couldn't even determine which cave Zhu Erniang inhabited, how could they possibly launch a surprise attack?

While a direct assault wasn't out of the question – they had, after all, made extensive preparations to counter both the burrowing spiders and Zhu Erniang – the ultimate chances of success remained unpredictable. However, if the island master were to side with them, the advantage would immediately shift in their favor. Such is the power of a home advantage. The current key to dealing with Zhu Erniang lay entirely in He Xiao's stance. To alter his attitude, mere persuasion would be futile.

The guard quietly interjected, "My lord, this He Xiao is likely no simple individual, and he holds the advantage of local familiarity here." "Do you think He Xiao is easier to deal with, or Zhu Erniang?" The guard promptly replied, "He Xiao." Aside from the sheer number of burrowing spiders, if cornered, Zhu Erniang could regain her ancient demon immortal powers. And the burrowing spiders' nest... that would be an absolute nightmare. This was precisely why Yu Zecheng had opted for a 'wolf pack' tactic rather than directly confronting this prehistoric behemoth. Solely in terms of martial prowess and combat experience, He Xiao was, without a doubt, the easier opponent. When faced with two undesirable options, one chooses the lesser of two evils. Even if He Xiao proved to be formidable, Yu Zecheng would still choose to deal with him. Besides, was He Xiao really that formidable?

The guard interjected again, "But... but our personnel are all equipped to deal with spider demons..." They had been pursuing Zhu Erniang for half a year, and the personnel and resources mobilized from the front lines were specifically purposed for that task. Yu Zecheng gave a knowing, almost mocking, smile. "You think a setup designed for Zhu Erniang can't handle He Xiao?" The guard lowered his head, silent.

"At the beginning of this year, I made a trip back to Lingxu City. When I met with the National Preceptor, he spoke about the Elixir of Immortality case and had high praise for this 'He' individual," Yu Zecheng recounted slowly. "However, by the time Envoy Bai brought the Elixir of Immortality case into Lingxu City for investigation, He Xiao was no longer a central figure. The various factions were not focused on him, and he also benefited from Crown Prince Yue of Chiyan's protection. His ability to withdraw unscathed wasn't particularly difficult; it was largely due to his own caution and the mutual checks and balances among the different parties." He was both analyzing the situation and reassuring himself. "Perhaps his true brilliance was displayed in his dealings with Cen Boqing within Chiyan territory?" Yu Zecheng left one thought unsaid: Beijia never lacked individuals of exceptional talent, yet National Preceptor Frostleaf rarely offered praise. Yet now, He Xiao was obstructing Beijia's pursuit of a fugitive, demonstrating that he didn't truly understand the gravity of the situation. From National Preceptor Frostleaf's vantage point, his high estimation of He Xiao was, in fact, an unwarranted favor.

He mused, "He Xiao is likely very wary of us, and he has a few elite guards with him. It will be difficult for us to make a move on the island." The guard suggested, "Then perhaps we wait until he comes ashore at Blade's Edge Port?"

No sooner had he spoken than a white bird flew in through the window and landed on the table. "Any new reports from the port?" Yu Zecheng had stationed two men at Blade's Edge Port.

"Recently, several cargo ships were sunk by the Shadow Vipers. It's been widely discussed that those ships actually belonged to Director Wu of Blade's Edge Port's Maritime Affairs Office." Yu Zecheng raised an eyebrow. "Is it unusual for Shadow Vipers to sink cargo ships?" "When those ships were lost, they weren't even in the Yangshan waters. Typically, Shadow Vipers operate deep within the archipelago and certainly don't leave the Yangshan waters to attack people." "But this time they ventured out and only targeted Director Wu's ships?" "Precisely. For several days running, they attacked only Director Wu's vessels, ignoring all other ships that passed them by," the white bird reported. "This incident has caused quite a stir in Blade's Edge Port, especially since there were already rumors that the new master of the Yangshan Archipelago had tamed the Shadow Vipers. Everyone is speculating that this is a sign of discord between the two parties, with the Yangshan Archipelago sending Director Wu a clear message."

Yu Zecheng tapped his finger on the table. "Since he's the director responsible for Blade's Edge Port, could he perhaps have been engaging in illicit practices?" As seasoned bureaucrats, none of them were naive or overly virtuous. "Ye Qing also discovered something," the white bird continued (Ye Qing was one of the guards stationed at Blade's Edge Port to gather intelligence). "In the past few days, Director Wu's ships have resumed sailing as usual, and the Shadow Vipers haven't intercepted them again." "It appears he's reached an agreement with He Xiao," Yu Zecheng concluded. "Otherwise, why would he dare send his ships out?" "There's more," the white bird added. "Sailors on Director Wu's ships claim that if they use a specific, fixed route to enter and exit Blade's Edge Port, they are guaranteed not to be attacked. Now, all vessels using the port are following suit and adopting that route." Seafarers are superstitious, and they would certainly avoid anything that might be seen as breaking a taboo.

Yu Zecheng realized, "A fixed route? Does it necessarily pass by Suoding Island?" "Yes." Yu Zecheng slapped the table. "Clever young man! Turning misfortune into opportunity, that's quick thinking." No wonder Suoding Island, despite its simple facilities, hosted so many docked ships. "Director Wu must be fuming, having taken a quiet hit from He Xiao and now being forced to funnel traffic to him," Yu Zecheng said to the white bird. "Have Ye Qing sound him out; ideally, he could become an asset to us. Then, return to Suoding Island and keep a close watch on He Xiao for me."

"Understood!" The white bird flapped its wings and flew off.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the white bird's entire journey, both coming and going, was observed by a spider perched on a large tree outside the dwelling. This was Suoding Island, He Lingchuan's territory; who would pay attention to a few insects on a tree?

Meanwhile, the mirror asked He Lingchuan, "Do you think this 'Yu' fellow will simply let the matter drop?" "How could that be?" He Lingchuan replied calmly. "Today's meeting was merely a formality. Without getting the answer they desire, Beijia won't back down. This 'Yu' fellow must at least make an attempt, or he won't be able to report back to his superiors." After tirelessly pursuing Zhu Erniang and strategizing for half a year, how could they possibly return empty-handed without even trying? That's not how a subordinate operates. When reporting back to his superior, he would at least need to say, "Your subordinate tried his utmost, but it was genuinely impossible." "Given the temperament of these Beijia people, if diplomacy fails, I fear what comes next will be a test of arms." Since he had taken in the spider demon sisters, he would have to accept the troubles that came with them. Evasion, lies, or petty tricks would all be useless. From this point forward, Yu Zecheng's pursuit of Zhu Erniang would transform into a direct conflict between He Lingchuan and Beijia. What must come will come; what must be faced cannot be avoided.

"What do you intend to do?" "Keep a close watch on Yu Zecheng. He's sure to make a move in private." The mirror grumbled, "He wouldn't be foolish enough to act on his own, would he?" "He's only got two people accompanying him," He Lingchuan said, his eyes glinting. "How could he possibly bring just two men to pursue a powerful demon like Zhu Erniang? It's more likely that the rest of Beijia's forces are concealed nearby. Zhu Erniang, after all, was once an ancient demon immortal; Yu Zecheng wouldn't dare pursue her here without some powerful backing. Let's first ascertain how many people he truly brought." He Lingchuan patted the mirror. "Since I won't hand over Zhu Erniang, he's bound to suspect me. From now on, be extra vigilant; any divine abilities or scouts monitoring me will be your responsibility." The waters around Spiderweb Island were completely blockaded by the Shadow Vipers, yet Yu Zecheng had still managed to discover burrowing spiders on the island. This suggested he possessed at least the advantage of aerial reconnaissance. He Lingchuan certainly didn't want his every move to be watched by eyes in the sky.

"Leave it to me," the mirror casually guaranteed, then asked, "Should we just eliminate this 'Yu' fellow?" "Absolutely not, that's completely out of the question! We cannot afford to become enemies with Beijia right now, at least not to the point where they lose face." The dignity of a great nation could not be openly challenged; He Lingchuan understood this perfectly. "Fortunately, he still has a superior. If he encounters any difficulties, he will certainly have to report it up the chain." "National Preceptor Frostleaf?" "Precisely."

Blade's Edge Port, Maritime Affairs Office. Commissioner Zhao had just handed Director Wu a dock repair report when a junior clerk hurried in with an announcement: "A visitor requests an audience. He says he's... from Lingxu City." Director Wu looked up. "Oh? Show him in." Upon hearing of a visitor from Lingxu, he didn't react with the same surprise as other Qing officials might have. Blade's Edge Port was a vast natural harbor with significant trade, accommodating maritime travelers from all directions, including a constant stream of visitors from Mou and Beijia.