Gu Qing Shan pushed the piece of silk back.
The atmosphere suddenly became a bit tenser.
The girl opened her pair of emerald eyes wide open, slowly evaluating Gu Qing Shan.
“Do you not trust Xiao Die, or do you simply don’t trust me?” she asked.
Gu Qing Shan leaned back on his chair, casually took out a bottle of liquor, and poured himself a shot.
He raised his glass to the girl and signaled to her: “The fact that you were willing to tell me so many secrets is due to your trust in Xiao Die and your recognition of me”
The girl didn’t say anything and silently watched him.
Gu Qing Shan continued: “But I don’t trust the organizations within Void City. I believe that if something is known to too many people, there would definitely be issues”
The girl replied: “You worry too much. We’ve always kept a close eye on the wraiths——– every wraith that enters Void City is constantly under extreme scrutiny and monitoring from numerous organizations, there is no way for them to buy off anybody in authority under our monitoring”
Gu Qing Shan shook his head: “You’ve been in contact with the wraiths for a very long time, but there’s one thing you still don’t understand”
“What would that be?” the girl asked.
“When the wraiths contact you, they’ve always used a cooperative method of mutual benefit. For countless years, the wraiths as you know them have always been how they want you to know them, not their true selves” Gu Qing Shan replied.
“Are you saying the wraiths you’ve seen are completely different from the ones we have?” the girl said.
Gu Qing Shan responded: “Before, I was nothing but an insect that they could erase any time they wish, of course, their attitude towards me would be different”
He raised his glass, gulped it down, then placed it back on the table as he leaned forward, asking in a low voice: “Have you ever seen how a wild animal hunts?”
“Gu Qing Shan, what are you trying to say?” the girl asked.
Gu Qing Shan explained: “For an insignificant one like myself, the wraiths simply sent someone to recruit me as a slave—– if I refuse, I would simply be killed”
“But when dealing with you, the wraiths applied the art of hunting”
“The wraiths would first observe you, probe you, pretend to pass by, purposely get on your good side, explore your depths, then look for a proper chance. They would not act until they can guarantee a critical strike that would ensure you would be unable to resist them in any way, shape, or form”
The girl pondered his words, then said: “It seems you don’t trust our plan”
Gu Qing Shan replied: “I understand how they work——- because I would do the exact same when dealing with especially powerful foes——- the art of the hunt is nothing but these few simple but effective tricks”
The girl fell silent.
Xiao Die simply focused on eating and gave no input.
The girl thought for a bit more, then asked: “If you were me, what would you do?”
Gu Qing Shan replied: “If I were you, I’d first send people into the Wraith realm for pre-marital preparations and connections, then use that chance for probing the wraiths’ depths and eliminate them”
“Meaning I would remain at the backline?” the girl asked.
“Correct” Gu Qing Shan confirmed.
“You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs” the girl shook her head.
“Make sure what you’re breaking are the eggs, not your bowl” Gu Qing Shan refuted.
“The only way to ensure something is done well is to do it yourself” the girl snapped back.
“The first thing to be gone when fishing is the live worm bait” Gu Qing Shan dismissed her.
The girl slammed the table and glared straight at him: “Are you saying I’m just a worm?”
Gu Qing Shan avoided that subject and patiently explained: “The wraiths’ target is you, so if you actually went on this trip, there’s no telling what they would resort to; but if you don’t, they wouldn’t be able to achieve their goal, having no choice but to wait for another chance without revealing their true colors”
The girl stared closely at him, then said: “I know that the wielder of the twin swords Heaven and Earth was a sword cultivator”
“I am a sword cultivator” Gu Qing Shan admitted.
“A sword cultivator should be one who isn’t afraid of death, always willing to lead in a battle and clash with the enemies, so why do you value your life so much?” the girl asked.
Gu Qing Shan’s expression turned a bit grim as if recalling something.
After a moment of silence, he answered with a hoarse voice: “Everyone only gets one life, when it’s not necessary, there is no need to risk it”
The girl stood up and paced around the room.
After a while, she suddenly stopped and resolutely affirmed to him: “We of Void City had been scheming and preparing for so many years, waiting for this exact moment. The arrow has already been knocked, there’s no longer an option to not fire, in short, it’s impossible to change the plan simply because of your words”
Gu Qing Shan replied: “I agree, but I hope that you can give me a different identity—— one that no one except you would know about”
The girl shook her head: “Those who travel with me to the Wraith realm are the guards and servants of my personal entourage as well as bigshots of Void City, each of them individually named and selected, how could there be an identity like the one you mentioned!”
Gu Qing Shan stood up and walked in front of her, whispering: “You cannot underestimate the wraiths for even a little bit when facing them, there is surely a secret behind them, one so great that no one even knows about—— I hope that you would be able to help me create an identity that no one knows about, consider it preparation for your own sake”
“For my own sake…” the girl muttered.
Gu Qing Shan took out a black leather handbook from the void of space and flipped it open.
He took a Card out from the handbook and muttered: “By my Condemnation name, grant this power”
The Card suddenly glowed.
Gu Qing Shan handed her the Card and explained: “I’m not an assistant who will take a passive stance either. Take this Card and use it on your servant entourage, see for yourself how well it works”
The girl took the Card and carefully looked at it.
The Card depicted a group of people wearing tattered clothing and surrounded by withering dry mist, they were all kneeling on their knees, devoutly praying. Above them in the sky, a man with a pair of wings made of light looked at them with pity as he exuded brilliant white light.
The girl was knowledgeable, so she quickly exclaimed in surprise: “This is an Inner Plane Card! I can sense its power… there’s definitely no mistake, this is an extremely powerful purification technique!”
Gu Qing Shan lightly nodded.
After the Card [Divine Word: Cleanse] was promoted to Lilac grade, it became a new Card——
[Divine Word: Thwart]
[By activating this Card, you would be able to eradicate all restraining abilities upon any living beings or Deities, including any substances or other living creatures]
[Note: Can be used against multiple targets, eradicate all restraining powers at once]
After being promoted to [Angel of Condemnation], not only did Gu Qing Shan’s Cards become promoted, but he also gained the ability to grant his ability for others to use.
“Take this Card and use it against everyone in your guard and servant group, you’ll be able to remove everyone who is being controlled” Gu Qing Shan explained.
“What is the incantation?” the girl asked.
Gu Qing Shan said: “All things live and die in the fleeting moment, with my power of Condemnation, all wicked machinations upon you shall be eradicated”
The girl took a careful looked at him, then replied: “Condemnation Cards are Cards of the highest level. If you wield such power, I will think of a way to give you the identity you wanted”
“It’s best if you can follow my advice and not go to the Wraith realm at all, just remain in Void City and take command” Gu Qing Shan suggested again.
The girl shook her head: “That matter has already been decided, it can’t be changed—– I will try this Card out first”
Leaving those words, she disappeared.
Only Gu Qing Shan and Xiao Die remained in the room.
“How hotheaded…”
Gu Qing Shan muttered, then sat back on his chair and poured himself another shot.
Xiao Die immediately took the glass away, telling him sternly: “Don’t drink, this is a very crucial moment”
Gu Qing Shan begrudgingly stopped.
“How many manipulated guards do you think she can catch using that Card of yours?”
Xiao Die asked as she drank the entire shot of liquor at once
“All of them” Gu Qing Shan.
“Pfft——!”
Xiao Die spat out all the liquor in her mouth on Gu Qing Shan’s mouth.
“Ah, I’m sorry”
“It’s fine, it’s nothing”
Gu Qing Shan formed a hand seal and removed all the liquor on his face.
“Are you that pessimistic?” Xiao Die asked.
Gu Qing Shan replied: “This isn’t pessimism, the fight for survival had always been this cruel and malicious, the wraiths would only begin such an operation once they’ve held the absolute advantage”
“Since the wraiths have openly mentioned this Void City Lord’s daughter marriage, they surely must have made all the necessary preparations”
“What if someone lucky manages to pass?” Xiao Die asked.
Gu Qing Shan shrugged: “Luck is a different matter entirely, that’s not part of our discussion”
The two of them paused.
The girl from before reappeared, no longer holding the Card in her hand.
Her complexion was a bit pale.
Xiao Die asked right away: “How was it?”
The girl answered: “As soon as the purification technique was used, every guard chosen to come with me to the Wraith realm dropped dead, all the guards who were not chosen remained alive”
Xiao Die glanced at Gu Qing Shan with a slight smile.
Gu Qing Shan didn’t show anything on his expression and simply said: “That’s why I suggested that you don’t go——- as long as you remain here, the operation would not begin, victory and defeat would remain a mystery”
“I can’t hide what happened just now, the situation would only become even more urgent, Gu Qing Shan, follow me”
The girl caught Gu Qing Shan’s hand and vanished with him.
The room went back to silence.
——only Xiao Die remained.
After sitting still for a while, Xiao Die silently lowered her hand.
Her son suddenly appeared and yawned: “Mama, my concealing technique has been rescinded”
Xiao Die nodded and muttered to herself: “Just like that, he coaxed a girl…”
Her son said: “I want to correct you, the girl who just got coaxed was the strongest girl in the city”
Xiao Die turned to her son.
Her son immediately realized what he said and quickly smiled: “Mama, you’re really strong as well, but you’re a widow, your level is higher”
