Live Up to the Trust

"Junior Preceptor Gu, you are right."

"We indeed have no proof, and we are indeed members of the Humble Faction. We shouldn't have come to you."

Gu Chengyin didn't speak. He didn't even look at Yang Yifei, simply listening quietly.

Yang Yifei's voice continued,

"But Junior Preceptor Gu, if these masked men were just cultivators, even if they were from demonic sects, Valley Master Lu and I wouldn't care this much.

"But what if they truly are of the demon race? What if there is some unknown conspiracy hidden behind all this?"

"Those who are not of our kin surely harbor different motives."

Yang Yifei spoke with utmost sincerity, but Gu Chengyin saw through his intentions at a single glance.

If these masked men were not of the demon race, then it would be fine.

But what if they truly were?

What if interacting with them caused trouble and sparked an even greater disaster?

At a time like this, someone would need to step up and take responsibility.

Whoever supported this matter would have to bear the consequences it brought about.

And Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou were just two small fry in charge of the faction wars.

In the eyes of those in the Divine Capital, they were absolute nobodies.

They couldn't shoulder this responsibility, much less the consequences.

That was why they needed someone who could.

Someone who could step forward to clean up the mess if things went wrong.

Someone who could stabilize the situation when the storm hit.

A truly important figure.

In the eyes of Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou, Gu Chengyin was exactly that kind of figure.

The pavilion fell into silence.

Only the mountain breeze occasionally blew past, sweeping up a few fallen leaves.

Gu Chengyin sat on the stone stool, his gaze as calm as water.

Of course, he knew what Yang Yifei was thinking.

And he knew Yang Yifei's calculations even better.

But Gu Chengyin did not open his mouth, did not reply, and did not show any emotion.

He just waited quietly.

Waited for a certain person to speak.

Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou were not important.

The faction wars, the masked men, the demon race.

None of it mattered.

What mattered was Wang Gangfeng.

What mattered was this Imperial Censor from the Chief Surveillance Bureau.

No matter how much Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou talked, they were still just two small fry.

But Wang Gangfeng was different. He was the Cabinet Envoy sent by Hu and Yuan.

Wang Gangfeng's intentions were the intentions of the Humble Faction.

Which meant they were the intentions of Hu Juzheng and Yuan Zhengqing.

If he spoke, the weight of the words would be completely different.

Gu Chengyin's gaze fell upon Wang Gangfeng.

Wang Gangfeng seemed to sense his gaze and met his eyes.

Their eyes met, clashing in the air.

Then Wang Gangfeng smiled.

He gave Gu Chengyin a slight nod to show his respect before finally speaking,

"Junior Preceptor Gu."

Gu Chengyin nodded slightly, indicating he was listening.

Wang Gangfeng's voice continued,

"This matter concerns the stability of the entire cultivation world, as well as the peace and prosperity of billions of citizens."

These were grand words, so grand they sounded like bureaucratic rhetoric.

But coming from Wang Gangfeng's mouth, they carried a different kind of weight.

"We have no intention of vying for power, but we know the suffering of the common people."

"We hope Junior Preceptor Gu will not fail this trust."

Not fail this trust.

These few words carried immense weight.

Gu Chengyin narrowed his eyes. Looking at Wang Gangfeng's composed face, he slowly asked,

"Lord Wang, are these your words, or..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already perfectly clear.

Were they your intentions, or someone else's?

Wang Gangfeng smiled faintly and replied,

"To answer Junior Preceptor Gu, what I just said was personally dictated by Grand Secretary Hu."

"I am merely conveying it on his behalf, word for word."

Now Gu Chengyin was finally interested. For Hu Juzheng to have Wang Gangfeng convey this on his behalf clearly meant he knew Yang and Lu lacked sufficient weight.

They weren't enough to gain Gu Chengyin's support.

That was why he had personally made the request.

This was a gesture of goodwill, and also a transaction.

As long as Gu Chengyin was willing to intervene and support this matter.

Regardless of what happened in the future, the Humble Faction would owe him a favor.

This benefit could not be considered small.

It was big enough that even Gu Chengyin had to consider it.

A favor from Hu Juzheng was quite valuable.

The leader of the Humble Faction.

The Vice Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

He had personally made the request. Should he give him face or not?

Giving it meant accepting this favor.

The Humble Faction would owe him, and there would always be a chance to collect in the future.

Not giving it meant rejecting the Humble Faction's goodwill.

Although their relationship wouldn't necessarily sour, their attitude towards him definitely wouldn't be good.

But to Gu Chengyin, trading one show of support for a favor...

...was actually a pretty good deal, and he was already interested in the demon race to begin with.

Even if Yang and Lu messed up, with his current status and power, he could easily suppress the fallout.

Gu Chengyin looked outside the pavilion. The blazing sunlight bathed the distant mountains in a golden glow.

After a long while, Gu Chengyin spoke unhurriedly, "Investigate. You may."

"But if they really are demons, report back immediately."

"Do not act on your own, and absolutely do not alert the enemy."

The moment these words came out, Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou raised their heads simultaneously.

Their eyes were filled with pleasant surprise and gratitude.

Yang Yifei hurriedly stood up and gave Gu Chengyin a deep bow.

"Thank you, Junior Preceptor Gu!"

Lu Weilou also stood up and bowed in the same manner.

Gu Chengyin gave a slight nod, accepting their bows.

Then he looked at Wang Gangfeng.

Wang Gangfeng also stood up and cupped his hands at him.

The two looked at each other, their gazes meeting in the air.

Gu Chengyin said, "Lord Wang, send him my regards."

Wang Gangfeng smiled faintly and said,

"I will certainly deliver them."

Gu Chengyin nodded and said no more.

He stood up and walked out, with Lin Qingyan following closely by his side.

Yang Yifei and the other two stood where they were, watching the pair walk further and further away under the sunlight until they finally disappeared deep into the mountain path.

After a long time.

Yang Yifei let out a long breath and plopped down onto the stone stool.

"Junior Preceptor Gu agreed!"

His voice carried a trace of excitement.

Lu Weilou didn't speak, only looking in the direction Gu Chengyin had left, his gaze complex.

Wang Gangfeng stood to the side, his expression calm, but inwardly he sighed with emotion.

This Junior Preceptor Gu truly wouldn't release the falcon until he saw the hare.

Yang Yifei had rambled on for ages, yet Gu Chengyin's expression hadn't changed in the slightest.

In the end, it was only after bringing up Hu Juzheng that he had 'reluctantly' agreed.

From this, it was clear that trying to build a relationship to cooperate with Gu Chengyin was useless.

In the eyes of this Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince, there was only pure profit.

Wang Gangfeng withdrew his gaze and looked at Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou.

"You two, it's up to you from here on out."

Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou nodded simultaneously.

"Rest assured, Lord Wang, we will definitely not disappoint you."

Wang Gangfeng nodded, said no more, and turned to leave the pavilion as well.

Only Yang Yifei and Lu Weilou remained in the pavilion.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes.

This matter had to be handled well, and it had to be done flawlessly.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to answer to Gu Chengyin, nor to Hu Juzheng.

And they certainly wouldn't be able to answer to their own futures.

The mere merit of the faction wars...

...could not possibly compare to the massive merit of discovering the demon race.