Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Indeed, Shangguan Fei could be predictable sometimes, when even Gu Shenwei failed to see through him.
For example, this time, Shangguan Hong was supposed to be a witness. However, when he returned, he had been crippled. The two of them had followed the Dragon King for a long period of time, and Shangguan Fei had chosen to seek his revenge at this point in time.
Shangguan Fei had his own reasons. Unlike his half-brother, he considered it a good thing that he had been used by others, it meant he was still valuable. Before he ceased to be that way, he would request a few rewards within a reasonable range.
Crippled Shangguan Hong was one of the rewards.
The latter started to realize where the pain was coming from. He bolted upright and screamed in terror and anger.
Shangguan Fei gently laid him down. “Stay still, the wound is still fresh. Be careful or you’ll bleed.”
However, Gu Shenwei had to admit it was good timing. He was testing the “three-in-one qigong” and acting as a middleman between himself and Shangguan Yun. In that case, Shangguan Hong was of no use to them for the time being.
“Wh-why?” Shangguan Hong was more puzzled than angry.
“This is for your daydream,” Shangguan Fei whispered. His smiling face was more ferocious than that of an angry man. “My machete skills are not so good, but the doctor is professional. You’ll be fine.”
Shangguan Hong was red in the face. Never had he expected to get into such trouble over a daydream. “How did he know? He didn’t ask, and I didn’t say anything about it. Well, this is not important. What’s important is my thing is gone. I’ll be more useless than a cripple for the rest of my life.”
The smile on Shangguan Fei’s face was gone; he looked down at the brother who had led to his wretched life in Jianghu. “From now on, you can’t.”
Shangguan Hong felt a rush of blood and nearly passed out.
Gu Shenwei did not know how to mediate and decided to stand by. “So, you’ve met with someone from the Golden Roc Fort?”
Shangguan Fei turned around respectfully. “Shangguan Yun came by himself; I told him what you wanted. Shangguan Hong will testify it, and I can guarantee that he’ll never cover up for me.”
Something dawned on Shangguan Hong. He could never seek his revenge on Shangguan Fei on his own. He had to rely on someone stronger. “Don’t believe him, Your Majesty. He… Shangguan Yun is plotting, they’re colluding…”
Shangguan Fei advised without turning his head. “Tell the truth, Shangguan Hong. His Majesty is not someone you can fool. The first thing a eunuch must learn is that you don’t lie to your master.”
Shangguan Hong’s eyes widened. He blamed himself for this. It had been unexpected, and he had been angry from the very beginning. He did not have the quick wit to make up a feasible scheme. The stories were just floating around him, and he could catch none of them.
“Shangguan Hong, I need you to tell the truth.”
The Dragon King spoke, without any sympathy. “He wants to use me one more time.” Shangguan Hong was blaming the Dragon King as well. Thus, he just breathed heavily and decided to keep his mouth shut.
Shangguan Fei smiled at the Dragon King, to signal that he would handle it. He turned around at the bedside, put Shangguan Hong’s hand in his, and affectionately persuaded his half-brother. “You have to think for yourself. You’re now worse than a beggar. You can hate me, but you must serve His Majesty well, otherwise, how are you supposed to live the rest of your life? Do you want to rot in the gutter, bathed in dirty bugs…?”
“Shut up!” Shangguan Hong’s voice cracked and he pulled his hands back from Shangguan Fei’s. He was now both afraid and angry. However, deep down in his heart, he knew that his enemy was right.
“They… they…” Shangguan Hong repeated their conversation with teeth gritted. The session was short, thus he remembered it clearly.
Shangguan Fei rose up. “That’s how it went. I hope Your Majesty is satisfied. My brother Shangguan Hong really wants to serve the Dragon King.”
“He’ll only be someone, if he uses his wits on important matters.” Gu Shenweid nodded. He was ready to leave, to leave the siblings to their game.
“Your Majesty, can I ask one more question?” Shangguan Fei was talkative today. He must have been extremely pleased to have Shangguan Hong crippled. He finally had his revenge.
“Yes, you can.”
“How did you know… that Shangguan Yun would help?” Shangguan Fei considered himself smart, but he failed to understand this, and his Third Brother had not hinted either.
Gu Shenwei had not planned to tell him, but after a short while, he pointed out the obvious truth. “Shangguan Yun doesn’t want me to lose, especially to Shangguan Jianyi anytime soon.”
Shangguan Fei realized in fact, his Third Brother had hinted at it; he just failed to catch it. He respected the discerning Dragon King more.
“I don’t have much to do in the camp.” What Shangguan Yun had said casually was actually him complaining about Shangguan Jianyi’s power.
“The Shangguan family is good at turning against each other.” Shangguan Fei turned to look at Shangguan Hong in bed. “From now on, I’ll be more convinced that the Dragon King will win the war.”
Shangguan Yun was more than good at turning against his family. After running into him in the Hui Kingdom, Gu Shenwei had seen his biggest enemy in this war. However, until the Golden Roc Army Commander Shangguan Jianyi fell from power, the Dragon King and the Third Young Master still had a common enemy.
Gu Shenwei was busy. He ignored Shangguan Fei’s flattery and turned to the door.
Shangguan Fei winked at Shangguan Hong in bed.
Shangguan Hong failed to read the hints at first and stared back. Then, Shangguan Fei pointed to the Dragon King leaving, and he finally realized. Though still angry, he needed to follow the hints. “Dragon King, could you please hold on, I… I have a request.”
Gu Shenwei stopped but did not reply.
“Let me serve you in the palace, I’m…” Although it concerned the rest of his life, he could not continue because of a sudden rush of sadness.
Gu Shenwei lifted the curtain and left.
Tears dripped down his face. He clenched his fists and felt a hot burning pain in his heart, even the physical pain seemed less serious now.
“Well.” Shangguan Fei relished the revenge like an alcoholic drunk on wine. “Don’t worry. Since the Dragon King didn’t say anything, that means he agreed. It’s good to be a eunuch, you don’t have to fight in a battlefield, or worry about being seduced by women. You just serve your master well and save money, aren’t you always in need of money…?”
“I swear, one day I’ll rip you apart, while you’re alive.”
“Haha.” Shangguan Fei could not care less about his threats. “Then you have to fight harder. Keep it up, until you’re the most powerful eunuch in the Western Region.”
After he finished playing, he left the tent, took a few turns and came face to face with the captain of the guards, Long Fanyun. “Please report to His Majesty that I want to meet with him.”
“You just met with him.” Long Fanyun sounded stiff; he had always thought very little of Shangguan Fei.
“Let His Majesty decide that, you just have to report.” Shangguan Fei made light of it. He was in a good mood. He was usually more patient when dealing with physically strong men like Long Fanyun.
As expected, the Dragon King agreed to meet with him.
Shangguan Fei had other things on his mind, things that would have been inconvenient to say out loud in front of Shangguan Hong. “Your Majesty, I think that we’d better let Shangguan Hong serve the Queen.”
“You’ve had a lot of ideas lately.”
“They’re all for the Dragon King’s benefit.” Shangguan Fei paused a little while and added, “And for my benefit as well.”
“Well, go ahead. What’s your idea this time?”
“Shangguan Yun likes to win people over. We’ll give him a chance. Shangguan Hong is the best candidate.”
Shangguan Fei had deliberately put it simple because the Dragon King was not stupid. What he meant was that if Shangguan Yun wanted to rope in the Stone Kingdom royal family, the Queen would be one of his targets, and Shangguan Hong could be the best messenger.
At the moment, Shangguan Hong was very easy to buy. As long as he was promised he could seek his revenge, he would take the risk.
“How about I send more people the next time you meet with Shangguan Yun? It’s easier.”
“That works too, but it would destroy the last bit of trust the Stone Castle has in me. I still want to do great things for the Dragon King in the future.”
“It seems that you really fell apart with the Golden Roc Fort.”
“I’d rather not if I didn’t have to. I hope Your Majesty wins this war, and I’ll lead a peaceful life in the Jade City under Your Majesty’s governance.”
“I’ll consider your suggestion.”
Shangguan Fei bowed to leave, knowing that he had already persuaded the Dragon King.
A clever rabbit had three burrows, but still thought his burrows were not enough. It was the pain of practicing Kung Fu that prompted him to make up his mind: He had to make himself a warm, cozy, and safe home. As for the Western Region, he could not care less who finally took it.
No one was reliable, he had to rely on himself.
Shangguan Fei did not know that this was the motto of every previous Supreme King.
Gu Shenwei stood inside the tent. He needed to revise his plan. Shangguan Fei’s volunteering brought both opportunities and risks.
As if connected through spiritual wiring, Maid Lotus knew it was time for her to show up. “Who does Shangguan Fei work for?”
“Like most people, he works for himself. He’s waiting for the end winner of the war too.”
“Does Kung Fu still matter when we already have troops?”
“If the Supreme King thinks it matters, we have to as well.”
Maid Lotus was restless. She wanted to rip his heart open and see what he was thinking deep down. “Can we really not practice the eighth and ninth chapter of the Wayless Qigong?”
“No, we can’t,” the Dragon King answered simply. After a while, he added, “Until the war is over, and the Princess takes a stand, we’d better not mention this again.”
“Yes.” Maid Lotus suppressed her agitation.
“Get ready. I need you to go to Wushan. The ending of the war likely depends on your visit.”
Maid Lotus accepted again.
Gu Shenwei intended to set up an ambush in Wushan.
