Chapter 1161 - 958: Dirty Work (Part 2)

Shi Chun glanced at him again, estimating that when he used this spiritual insect back in the day, it probably wasn't as simple as a mere chance encounter.

Everyone, upon hearing this, began to take out their invitations one after another, sniffing them and subtly trying to memorize and internalize this rare experience.

Once the invitation returned to Shi Chun's hands, he doused both invitations with strong liquor to destroy them before tossing one to Wu Jinliang.

Upon opening it, Wu Jinliang discovered that this one was actually addressed to him, and couldn't help but chuckle, "The Gong family actually holds me, a mere nobody, in such high regard, even giving me an invitation. Is this an attempt to capture me too?"

His gaze shifted to see Shi Chun securing the other invitation, and he remarked, surprised, "Chun Tian, why are you keeping this trap for us?"

He was actually considering burning it at that moment.

Shi Chun's expression turned sour, "The Gong family has honored us, how could we not reciprocate? If there's a chance, we'll repay them with a grand gift!"

Their eyes met, and everyone had to face a grim reality: Duke of Nanshan Right Minister was actually involved with the Demon Path...

At the Right Minister's Mansion in Nanshan, Gong Youxiang rushed into the study as soon as he returned from the Royal Palace, immediately using a transmittal voice to question the head steward who came in behind him, "How were things handled?"

Liu Guang transmitted back, "The relevant clues have been promptly severed; the Stargazing Pavilion shouldn't be able to trace it back to us."

Gong Youxiang's face turned darker, "It was that rascal Shi Chun who blew the whistle to the Stargazing Pavilion, meaning that the four operatives are already in his grasp. He immediately anticipated our next move—truly an extraordinary opponent. We are indeed paying dearly for this mistake; if it weren't for the Holy Master's timely warning, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Liu Guang was startled, "He actually went directly to the Stargazing Pavilion? Might he hand over those four men along with Third Young Master to them?"

Gong Youxiang paced within the room, "Not yet; he probably wouldn't dare to hand him over. If he does, he would have to repay the Nanshan Royal Court's funds, which would be his death knell. Handing him over leaves him with no retreat, which is why, even though Third Young Master is in his hands, we dare to act against him. Taking the matter straight to the Stargazing Pavilion is a move to intimidate us, a warning, and also retaliation..."

He paused, then turned to face him, "Indeed, it's a counterattack. Having failed once, with his audacity, he likely won't let it rest. You've done well to bring the younger members back home in time, now ensure there are no vulnerabilities to reinforce, and be cautious in the near term. We cannot give him another opportunity."

"Yes, the entire household will be comprehensively protected, and Bai Sheng won't have another chance to act," Liu Guang acknowledged with a bow and then reminded, "Prime Minister, we've already startled the snake, and finding him again will be tough. Dealing with Bai Sheng isn't easy either. To retrieve Third Young Master, we'll need the Holy Lady to try again."

For them, as long as there's no evidence against Gong Yuanzhi, given the status of the Gong family, no one can convict them of colluding with the Demon Path based on mere words.

If such were the case, wouldn't everyone within the entire line be on edge?

Even if Gong Yuanzhi were handed over, the Gong family could claim ignorance, but the consequences would be severe, causing widespread distrust in allowing the Gong family to remain in power, heralding a series of declines.

Retrieving Gong Yuanzhi is thus essential.

The problem is that Shi Chun's side has already been alerted, making it inconvenient to trace Gong Yuanzhi's whereabouts through Bai Sheng, who wisely hides in Butterfly Valley.

Butterfly Valley, the Illusion Demon King's official residence, parallels Shi Chun's Dingnan Prefecture residence, but is of a higher status, not a place anyone can rashly move against.

The current predicament is.

The Gong family, under threat, dares not openly overturn the table.

Shi Chun, owing a tremendous amount of life-threatening debt, also dares not expose the trump card of Gong Yuanzhi to risk overturning the table.

However, this mutual restraint is time-bound; if the repayment deadline arrives and the Gong family still can't help Shi Chun settle his accounts, he'll be driven to a dead end, and by then, overturning the table becomes likely.

Thus, their battle's time frame lies within this interval

Either the Gong family successfully destroys the evidence, forcing Shi Chun to bear the brunt, or Shi Chun coerces them into settling the debt in exchange for evidence.

As they failed to act and alert has been raised, Shi Chun is bound to prepare thoroughly, making further attempts exponentially difficult, necessitating alternative strategies.

Easily conceding is out of the question, for they still have time and opportunity for contention.

In the study, Gong Youxiang paced again, introspectively murmuring, "How could there be a misstep? This covert capture shouldn't have had such a high failure rate; where exactly did it go wrong?"

Suddenly, Shi Chun's party emerged from the Netherworld into the bright sunshine, surrounded by magnificent landscapes.

Aside from Shi Chun, the others surveyed the surroundings.

Chu Jingtang and Lao Changtai didn't come; they remained guarding the Netherworld, where the Demon Path's people also needed supervision.

Curious, Wu Jinliang asked, "Chun Tian, where is this? This isn't the Heavenly Domain, for the greenery here is mature, unlike the nascent plants of the Heavenly Domain."

Yu Xuanbing suddenly spoke, "Yuezhou?"

As he spoke, he watched Shi Chun's reaction.

Wu Jinliang and Huang Yingying also turned their gaze towards Shi Chun upon hearing this.

Shi Chun slightly nodded, indicating he was correct.

Wu Jinliang questioned, "Why come here?"

Shi Chun took out the invitation given as a gesture of respect by the Gong family, unfolding it publicly and letting out an inexplicable snort, "Yue Qianxing, Gong Shaoci's fiancée, hails from the Yue Family Long Pavilion, which is in Yuezhou, right?"

Arriving directly here wasn't mere coincidence; when setting up retreat routes earlier, he happened to ensure none were left unchecked around Yuezhou.

Huang Yingying and Yu Xuanbing still pondered its meaning, but Wu Jinliang directly hit the crux, "Could it be we're to abduct Gong Shaoci's fiancée?"

Shi Chun replied, "It's only polite to reciprocate. If we remain passive, merely waiting for the Gong family to change their minds, we could be mistaken as pushovers. Since they don't know what's good for them, don't blame us for being impolite. It's only by hurting the Gong family that they'll bow."

The group looked at each other, Wu Jinliang hesitantly remarked, "A fiancée yet to be married, rumored not to be pretty, even a bit ugly; what's the purpose of abducting her? Doing so might even earn us Gong Shaoci's gratitude. The Gong family could simply annul the engagement, while we further offend the Yue Family Long Pavilion, which doesn't seem necessary."

Huang Yingying nodded, agreeing deeply, "The Yue Family Long Pavilion, a major power, isn't easy to provoke either."

Shi Chun sneered, "Annul the engagement? I'd like to see the Gong family try. If they dared annul, I'd send Yue Qianxing back pregnant. An engagement not annulled might still imply a pregnancy by another; if annulled, Yue Qianxing returns home pregnant with Gong Yuanhao's child, publicly so!"

At this, Yu Xuanbing and Huang Yingying froze, their expressions quickly turning pale, each overwhelmed with a shiver of disgust.

Wu Jinliang, upon realizing, brightened and applauded, "Brilliant! The reason for annulling the engagement will surely enlighten the public—turns out, the father-in-law and the daughter-in-law got involved!"

Yu Xuanbing and Huang Yingying exchanged knowing glances, recognizing they'd encountered deviousness but never such underhanded shamelessness. The Gong family truly met a match this time.

Shi Chun continued, "Having just got entangled, the Gong family likely wouldn't anticipate us targeting the Yue Clan yet, so acting swiftly and timely is crucial."

He turned towards Yu Xuanbing with a hand gesture, "The Yue Family is no ordinary entity; we need your Divine Skills to aid us, Elder."

Yu Xuanbing was speechless; should he partake in something so despicable?

He'd slain many, but truly never engaged in such a loathsome act.

Yet, he couldn't overlook his wife and daughter's future.

Without a word, Shi Chun took his silence as consent, then turned to Huang Yingying, "Old Huang, assist Elder Yu, and ensure success!"

"Uh, I have no objections; I'll look to Elder Yu," Huang Yingying responded ambiguously, feeling even he might dirty his hands in the process.