Chapter Thirty-Four: The Grand Ceremony of the Alliance of the Five Kingdoms (Part Fourteen)

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the staff of Glazed Cloud Pavilion were already busy with their morning tasks. From time to time, the sound of two men playing chess drifted from a private room on the second floor.

“I’ve lost,” Qi Guan said, shaking his head, his expression weary—after all, he hadn’t slept all night.

“Your chess skills have improved, but your vision remains fixed on a single side. Lacking a sense of the whole board, it’s difficult to win,” replied the other man in black as he tidied up the black and white pieces.

“Yes, I understand,” Qi Guan answered, bowing respectfully.

“Send Yu’e to the Pavilion of Boundless Emptiness. That place is well suited for her to nurse her pregnancy,” the man in black said suddenly.

“The Pavilion of Boundless Emptiness is truly a paradise on earth. After Brother Su took us from the Xiao Residence, we had the good fortune to visit it once, and that single visit was enough to leave an indelible memory,” Qi Guan replied, the ethereal beauty of the place rising vividly in his mind.

Back then, when Su Qingfeng arrived at the Xiao Residence and deemed Qi Guan useful—and having promised to take them away—he brought both of them to the Pavilion of Boundless Emptiness to let the Masked Man decide their fate.

Qi Guan thought to himself, “If Yu’e can go there to nurse her pregnancy, nothing would be safer. But how can I trouble them further?”

“Thank you for your kindness, Master, but…” He hesitated, leaving his words unfinished.

The man in black, understanding his concern, spoke solemnly: “You’ve devoted much effort to managing Glazed Cloud Pavilion for me, and Qingfeng regards you as a brother. My reasons are twofold: to thank you both, and because what is to come at Glazed Cloud Pavilion is not suitable for a woman with child.”

After a moment’s thought, Qi Guan nodded. “Very well, then I shall obey. Whatever Yu’e and I have achieved is thanks to you and Brother Su. This kindness, we shall remember all our lives.” As he spoke, he moved to kneel in gratitude, but the man quickly stopped him.

“It’s shameful, really,” the man in black said. “You two only wished for a simple life, to work at sunrise and rest at sunset in peace. Yet I’ve dragged you into a bloody storm.”

Qi Guan shook his head. “No, no, Yu’e and I serve you of our own will. You shouldn’t bear this guilt…”

Over the past months, Su Qingfeng had come to trust them, and with the man’s permission, had revealed everything to them. Only then did they learn the masked man’s true identity.

The masked man gave a bitter smile. “There’s no time to lose. Tomorrow, you’ll personally escort her there. I’ll arrange for someone to care for her.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Prepare a set of clothes for me, black ones. And bring a basin of water for washing.”

Qi Guan dared not delay; he rose and left the room, instructing the staff to fetch water and prepare fresh clothes. He added, “Once these are placed inside, leave immediately—there’s no need to serve. Close the door behind you and stand guard outside. No one is to enter.”

—

When the man had finished, Qi Guan too had washed and now waited outside the door.

The man opened the door and said to Qi Guan, “Pavilion Master, please.”

“After you.” Qi Guan gestured for him to proceed, then led the way upstairs.

“Greetings, Pavilion Master.” The men guarding Zhao Xu’s door immediately saluted when they saw Qi Guan.

Qi Guan replied with a neutral “Mm.” The voices outside woke Zhao Xu, who was still half asleep. Hearing Qi Guan’s voice, he rolled over and pretended to sleep.

Once Qi Guan was seated, the man in black stood behind him.

“Will you get up yourself, or do you need my help?” Qi Guan called toward the bed in a cool tone.

Zhao Xu had no desire for a beating. Disheveled, he shuffled over, yawning sleepily. “It’s early morning—disturbing someone’s rest is a sin bound for hell,” he grumbled.

“Oh? What happened to your foot? One night and you’ve become a cripple—do you need a doctor?” Qi Guan mocked, noticing him dragging his right leg.

“Spare me your crocodile tears. Just tell me—who are you, who is he, and what do you want?” Zhao Xu asked impatiently, pointing at them both.

“Oh, I nearly forgot to introduce myself. I’m Qi Guan, the owner of Glazed Cloud Pavilion. As for him, you needn’t know,” Qi Guan replied with a smile.

Zhao Xu sneered coldly. “Heh!”

“So, why am I here?” Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Qi Guan laughed at the question. What did he mean, “brought here”? “What a thing to say! You came with me of your own accord. To call it ‘luring’ you is turning the truth upside down.”

Zhao Xu snorted angrily. “Qi Guan, you played a fine trick, catching me like a turtle in a jar.”

“Is that so? Since you insist on calling yourself a turtle, tell me: how did I catch you?” Qi Guan crossed his arms, unconcerned, curious what Zhao Xu would say.

“I’ve been to that teahouse to listen to music more than once. A few days ago, there were hardly any guests, but yesterday it was packed. Don’t you find that odd?” Zhao Xu said sullenly.

Qi Guan raised an eyebrow. “It is odd. Go on.”

“You approached me, claiming there were no seats, trying to get close. I tested you, and you pretended not to know martial arts, to put me at ease. Then you made sure I saw your money when you gave your purse to the waiter. After luring me to Glazed Cloud Pavilion, you let me approach the ice blocks, knowing well I shouldn’t, but did nothing to stop me. Then you brought me to the third floor, where guards posted outside made it clear I couldn’t escape through the window.”

His tone shifted. “You know me well. If only I’d cut off your head when I had the chance, you wouldn’t be strutting around now.”

“Tsk. So you’re not as clueless as you look. That’s right—I know you well. I know your greed, your lack of conscience, your fear of death,” Qi Guan emphasized each word, staring intently at him.

“We’ve only just met. Why go to such lengths to keep me here?” Zhao Xu demanded, genuinely curious about Qi Guan’s motives.

“How many innocent souls have you sent to their deaths? Surely you know better than anyone. Don’t you want to atone? Is a life on the run truly so pleasant, Zhao Chen!” Qi Guan’s voice rang out sharply.

At the mention of those last two words, Zhao Xu—now revealed as Zhao Chen—lost his sneer. His face turned pale, then flushed. In the sixty-third year of the Zhao Yue reign, after slaughtering the small town, he had destroyed his own appearance, thinking he could live out his days in anonymity, never expecting someone would recognize him.

Seeing Zhao Chen silent, Qi Guan continued, “I hear the Second Prince of Northern Xiao is searching for you. If I hand you over, the reward will be substantial.”

Fear drained the color from Zhao Chen’s face. It was common knowledge that since Shen Xiruo’s death, Shen Xinan had become ruthless and merciless. Falling into his hands would mean utter destruction.

Panic—true, overwhelming panic—took hold of him.

“What do you want?” he asked Qi Guan, nearly hysterical.

“I want you dead. But before that, you still have your uses—we must make the best of what we have,” Qi Guan said earnestly.

“Shameless!” Zhao Chen slammed the table, rattling the dishes left from the night before.

“Shameless? You aided tyrants, cared nothing for human life, murdered loyal officials, slaughtered an entire town, played the victim for sympathy… After all these atrocities, you dare call someone else shameless?” Qi Guan could barely restrain the urge to run him through on the spot.

“Even a criminal about to be executed deserves one last meal and a good night’s sleep. You understand what I mean, don’t you?” Qi Guan added, forcing himself to remain calm.

Only now did Zhao Chen understand why they hadn’t acted yesterday. He wanted to draw his sword and fight to the death, but crippled as he was, he knew resistance meant certain death.

“Guards!” Qi Guan called, unwilling to waste any more words.

“Pavilion Master.” Four swordsmen entered.

“Take him away and bind him.”

At his command, they seized Zhao Chen, who was now completely helpless, at their mercy.

Once Zhao Chen had been led away, Qi Guan turned to the man in black and asked respectfully, “Master, what are your orders now?”

The man flicked his sleeve casually. “Send him to the Pavilion of Boundless Emptiness tomorrow as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

Meanwhile, the competitions at the parade ground had begun once more.