Chapter 216: Sloppy Old Man

Feng Chi asked him what was happening. He explained that he needed to confirm some details with their powerful insider first; otherwise, too many complexities couldn't be clearly communicated using the talismans. He could only fully explain once those details were confirmed.

Feng Chi quickly made the necessary arrangements. About half an hour later, a reply came instructing him to retrieve an item from under a stone table in a specific pavilion on Mount Wukang. Half of a talisman was affixed there.

Shi Chun immediately dispatched Wu Jinliang to retrieve it.

Aware that he was exposed and treading on thin ice, Wu Jinliang exercised caution. He brought two Mount Wukang disciples along, and while casually strolling and chatting near the designated spot, he quietly retrieved the item.

As soon as the talisman was back in Shi Chun's hands, he immediately contacted the other party, first sending a secret code to confirm their identity.

He understood that this method of communication wasn't entirely secure. Should the Bian clan make a move and apprehend Xia Fuli, there was no guarantee Xia Fuli wouldn't be coerced into revealing information.

However, it had come to this, and there was nothing left to worry about. If the Bian clan truly made their move, even if Xia Fuli remained silent, he would still struggle to escape. His only option now was to gamble on the Demon Sect's strategic control and the five-day timeframe they had promised.

After confirming their identity, he sent a message to Xia Fuli: "If necessary, can you extract Bian Weikang from the prison and get him off Mount Wukang without alerting anyone?"

Xia Fuli replied, "What do you intend to do?"

Shi Chun: "I'm simply asking if you are capable of doing it."

Xia Fuli: "Most likely."

Shi Chun: "Not 'most likely.' I need a definite answer."

Xia Fuli, recognizing the sender, nearly tore out his beard. "What insolence, speaking to me in such a manner!" However, given the strange situation with the Demon Sect's announced and then suspended withdrawal, he was under immense pressure. He replied, "I cannot give a definitive answer. It's highly probable I've already been exposed. If the Bian clan is covertly observing me, how could I possibly act? It would be impossible to take the person out."

Shi Chun confidently retorted: "The Bian clan is profoundly cunning. The closer they are to making a decisive strike, the less likely they are to reveal any tell-tale signs, and the less likely they are to let us discover them. They shouldn't be overtly watching you at the moment."

Xia Fuli considered this, finding it logical, and replied with a spell: "If that's truly the case, I can get him out."

Shi Chun responded with two words: "Understood."

He then retrieved the talisman he used to contact Feng Chi and sent a message: "Send me two more pairs of talismans."

These artifacts weren't cheap.

This time, Feng Chi didn't even ask what he intended to do, rendering his prepared explanations unnecessary. She simply told him to wait a moment, then specified a particular spot on Mount Wukang for him to retrieve them.

With one incident after another, Shi Chun gradually and distinctly sensed that Feng Chi was being overly cooperative. This deviation from the norm made him secretly wary.

He had Wu Jinliang run another errand to pick up the talismans. Shi Chun knew that for such a minor task, Wu Jinliang's abilities would ensure no suspicious signs were given off.

Once he had the two pairs of talismans, Shi Chun smiled subtly. He could guess whose handiwork it was; on Mount Wukang, apart from Xia Fuli, no one else would likely be able to casually provide such an item.

He shared one pair with Wu Jinliang, then descended the mountain alone, without Wu Jinliang accompanying him.

Upon entering the city, he visited a tailor shop, purchased some clothes, and changed out of his Mount Wukang uniform.

He wandered from the shop, through the streets and alleys, until he reached a crossroads just inside the city gates. Beneath a nearby eave, he spotted a pile of dry straw, but the disheveled beggar was nowhere in sight.

The condition of the straw indicated it was still being used and inhabited; otherwise, the vendors would have cleared it away long ago.

He entered a tavern and asked about the beggar who usually stayed outside.

The merchant chuckled upon hearing this. "Oh, him? He's clearly no ordinary person, so we don't dare disturb his spot. He comes to sleep there occasionally, but his exact timings are unpredictable."

Shi Chun smiled faintly, ordered food and wine at a window table overlooking the street, and slowly ate and drank. Just outside the window was the beggar's usual spot…

The arrangements for establishing the Xun Gate had been finalized, and the distinguished guests from the regional government had finally departed. Bian Jixiong immediately went to the forbidden area to report the matter to Bian Que.

Since it concerned higher-level affairs, he had to inform his father of every detail, regardless of its significance.

After delivering his report, he quietly asked, "Father, has the Royal Court decided when they will make their move?"

Bian Que, clad in white robes, calmly stated, "Soon. Some personnel are already in position, secretly stationed in the vicinity, and have established direct contact with me; I can deploy them at any moment. The Royal Court's stance is that if a move is made, it must be decisive and fully prepared for a major conflict with the Demon Sect, to avoid losing face by acting impulsively. To prevent any leaks, reliable personnel must be covertly mobilized, which requires a few more days of preparation."

Hearing that Royal Court forces were already assisting, Bian Jixiong nodded in relief, yet he still hesitated. "Father, the Xun Gate was secured by Shi Chun and his group, and its construction is imminent. Will a sudden revelation that Shi Chun and his group are members of the Demon Sect impact the gate's establishment?"

The interests involved here were considerable. As the sect leader of Mount Wukang, he couldn't possibly ignore this.

Bian Que: "The Royal Court says you're overthinking it. Exterminating demons is a meritorious deed and will be rewarded."

"Understood." Bian Jixiong nodded, smiling; this time, he was genuinely relieved.

Just then, a faint, crisp chirping sound of birds suddenly drifted from outside. Bian Que, who had been sitting cross-legged, talking with downcast eyes, abruptly looked up. A surge of magical energy emanated from him, sweeping past his son and directly pulling open the heavy, sealed stone door.

A small, grey-feathered bird flapped its wings, flew in, and landed on his shoulder, chirping with its tail perked as if begging for food.

Bian Que tilted his head to look at the bird, a slight thoughtful expression on his face…

Shi Chun, who was eating and drinking by the window, took out his talisman. On it, he saw a message from Feng Chi: "The items have been given. Where's the plan? This isn't my question."

Indeed, it wasn't her question. She was currently standing beside the gaunt man in green robes, under the eaves of a small courtyard; it was he who was asking.

The question was posed at that moment because they had discovered Shi Chun's whereabouts.

They weren't intentionally targeting Shi Chun. Rather, after Feng Chi was injured by the disheveled old man when they left Zhaotian City, she became wary of him. Later, upon learning that the old man had also arrived in Linkang City and knowing his animosity towards the Demon Sect, they naturally had to be cautious.

Knowing the old man frequently stayed under a particular merchant's eaves, they had secretly dispatched scouts to observe him.

This time, however, they discovered Shi Chun.

Upon seeing the message, Shi Chun's brows twitched slightly. He glanced across the street at the shop opposite his window, found nothing unusual, but then swept his gaze around the tavern's interior. He then casually replied, "I have some ideas. Allow me to have a small drink and sort them out."

Feng Chi showed the contents of the talisman to the man in green robes. After reading it, he slowly said, "I hope this is just a coincidence."

Feng Chi asked, "That disheveled old man shouldn't be an unknown figure. Have you still not managed to uncover his background?"

The man in green robes replied, "We've cross-referenced his behavior and appearance in various ways, but we've found nothing. Since he has settled here, it's ill-advised to probe him directly, as it might cause a disturbance and jeopardize our plans. If he doesn't provoke us, we won't provoke him."

As they conversed, a disheveled figure appeared at the window where Shi Chun was dining. A hand reached in, tapping the tabletop. It was indeed the same red-nosed, unkempt old man.

Shi Chun turned his head, and upon seeing him, a knowing smile first touched his lips, before he stood up in feigned surprise, exclaiming, "Senior!"

The disheveled old man pointed at him, "You rascal, how dare you eat alone right under my nose, completely forgetting I saved your life!"

Shi Chun repeatedly cupped his hands and gestured invitingly, "Not at all, Senior, please come in quickly."

The disheveled old man then swaggered through the main entrance, made his way to Shi Chun's table, and sat down, rambling, "Long time no see. I thought you'd left. I've even forgotten your name, what was it again?"

"This junior is Shi Chun."

"Oh, yes, I remember now, Little Chun."

Shi Chun turned to call a waiter for bowls and chopsticks and to add a few more dishes, then poured wine for the old man.

After some polite exchanges and a bit of food and drink, the disheveled old man asked, "You're eating and drinking right under my nose; surely you didn't deliberately come looking for me?"

Shi Chun whispered, "Didn't you say, Senior, that if I encountered trouble, I could come to you for help? I wonder if that still holds true?"

The disheveled old man chuckled, "I believe I did say that. But it depends on your sincerity."

Shi Chun refilled his cup: "Plenty of good wine and fine dishes."

The disheveled old man raised his cup, drained it, and then smacked his lips, saying, "What kind of trouble could you possibly have, kid?"

"It's a simple favor. Just help this junior meet someone later. No pressure, only if you're free then." Shi Chun said, glancing around. When no one was looking, he pulled half of a talisman from his sleeve and slid it towards him, then subtly picked up the wine pot to pour wine, concealing his action.

The disheveled old man picked up the talisman and toyed with it in his hand. "Receive whom? When and where?"

Shi Chun: "To be honest, I don't know the specifics yet. I'm merely helping a friend. If you feel it's inappropriate, then forget it." As he spoke, he extended his hand, hinting that he expected the talisman back.

*Smack*. The disheveled old man lightly tapped his hand with his chopsticks, then confiscated the talisman, saying, "You'll have to treat me to a few more meals."

"Hehe, naturally," Shi Chun replied, quickly raising his cup in a toast.

Afterward, they chatted freely, and Shi Chun, paying out of his own pocket, ensured a steady flow of good food and fine wine.

After eating and drinking their fill, one went to doze on the straw pile outside the window, while the other, smelling of alcohol, left the city to return to the mountain.

On his way, Shi Chun took out his talisman and sent a message to Feng Chi, asking: "Have you found out anything about the disheveled old man we met when we left Zhaotian City?"

Feng Chi quickly replied: "His background is unclear and still unknown. Why do you ask?"

Shi Chun: "He's surprisingly still in Linkang City; I just ran into him. Be careful."

Feng Chi: "I will. Only five days remain; we're waiting for your plan here."

This time, Shi Chun didn't procrastinate. He immediately revealed his plan, which was quite simple, consisting of just over twenty characters: "The capable insider extracts Bian Weikang from prison, luring the Bian clan into pursuit, and an expert outside eliminates him."

Feng Chi was momentarily stunned after reading it. She finally understood why Shi Chun had needed to confirm details with the insider on the mountain before making his decision.

Before the writing faded, she quickly took it to the man in green robes, who was staring blankly at the tree branches under a tree in the courtyard.

The man in green robes frowned in thought after reading it. He then took out his own talisman, walked a short distance away from Feng Chi, and began communicating with an unknown party.

A moment later, the man in green robes put away his talisman and returned, saying, "First, we need to confirm whether Bian Weikang can be brought out. Once he is extracted, how many people will be alerted? All these details must be confirmed."

Feng Chi hesitated, saying, "The number of people alerted to search isn't important, is it? As long as we eliminate the Bian family. With your power, once Bian Que is taken care of, could Bian Jixiong and the others still stand a chance against you? Mount Wukang wouldn't possibly send out all its forces, and anyone who witnesses your actions can simply be silenced."

The man in green robes: "The higher-ups forbid indiscriminate killing; they require a detailed plan."

"What?" Feng Chi's face was a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.