Published: March 8, 2025
Diwu Qingrou's face showed no signs of triumph, but instead bore a heavy expression.
"Currently, my strength is still far behind Chu Yang's nine calamity brothers." Diwu Qingrou paced slowly in the tent with his hands behind his back, pondering inwardly: "I still need to exert more pressure... Although Lan Mofeng has temporarily sided with me, it is after all a matter of circumstance and self-preservation. Strictly speaking, it cannot be considered my own strength..."
"However, while it is easy to divide, intimidate, or subdue the remaining people, it is nearly impossible to completely recruit them." Diwu Qingrou muttered as he walked.
A mist-like aura enveloped the air, and a shadow suddenly appeared in the tent, quietly standing behind Diwu Qingrou.
Diwu Qingrou's expression remained unchanged, seemingly unaware, as he continued to pace but asked softly, "May I ask why you are helping me?"
His tone indicated that he had already sensed the shadow's arrival, and he got straight to the point, offering no idle chatter such as 'You have arrived?'
The shadow flickered with strange light in its eyes and replied in a deep voice, "You can sense my arrival?"
Diwu Qingrou did not speak, merely shook his head lightly. From this single sentence, he deduced that the intelligence of this person was not very high.
Because the question he should have asked was: 'How can you perceive my arrival?' instead of 'Can you sense my arrival?'
One is a simple inquiry, while the other is a purpose-driven question.
The two sentences sound similar, but in essence, they are vastly different.
"The air has changed!" Diwu Qingrou said lightly.
"You are still hiding your strength, aren't you?" the man in black said indifferently. "Given your age and experience, it is impossible for you to have such a high cultivation level... How did you achieve it?"
Diwu Qingrou shook his head and asked, "May I ask who sent you to help me?"
Upon saying these two sentences, Diwu Qingrou knew that this man in black was not the one in charge.
If the leader had such intelligence, then Diwu Qingrou would rather give up his vested interests than cooperate with him.
Enemies like wolves are easier to deal with; allies who are like pigs, however, are truly deadly.
When the man in black approached Diwu Qingrou a few days ago with the assassination plan, Diwu Qingrou had already harbored doubts. Today, after the assassination plan had taken effect, he finally voiced his lingering questions.
"Helping you must have a reason!" the man in black said calmly. "A mere Lan Mofeng, combined with the remnants of the Lan Family, is still too weak."
Diwu Qingrou nodded.
"Someone asked me to inquire who you are waiting for?" the man in black asked.
Diwu Qingrou replied lightly, "Since this person instructed you to ask who I am waiting for, then he already knows who I am waiting for."
The man in black felt an urge to scratch his head, but he reined it in and asked the crucial question: "Do you know their identities?"
Diwu Qingrou smiled mockingly: "If I knew... would I be like this?"
The man in black couldn't help but nod. Yes, if he truly knew their identities, then peace would have already descended upon the world.
"We are here for your fifth family! You don’t need to harbor suspicions towards us." The man in black said this as instructed.
Diwu Qingrou replied lightly, "I have never doubted my allies, as long as they are not too mysterious."
The man in black fell silent, a simmering anger brewing within him.
But he ultimately did not act on it: "Tomorrow, intercept those two from the Xiao Clan and the Stone Family! I will inform you."
Diwu Qingrou nodded, saying without surprise, "Just don't kill them!"
"Of course." The man in black chuckled, turned, and vanished without a trace.
Diwu Qingrou maintained his posture, standing quietly.
After a long while, he shook his head.
His mind was filled with countless questions, but he did not voice a single one.
Yet he maintained the bare minimum of distrust.
Because the other party was too mysterious, and for someone like Diwu Qingrou, mystery equated to danger. Diwu Qingrou would never fully divulge his plans to someone whose background he did not understand.