Chapter 398: Exposed

"Steward Zhuo, please stop!"

An anxious shout came as Zhuo Fan's bloodthirst grew and grew. Zhuge Changfeng rushed over with some men.

"They're the Quanrong delegation. No matter what they are accused of, charging them isn't so simple!"

Zhuo Fan eyed him, "Prime Minister Zhuge, by the looks of things, you know what they're up to. Then you must also realize that they came here to kill me..."

"Steward Zhuo, please listen. They have come to solve their private matters. It has nothing to do with politics. You know what will happen if you kill them. That is not something you'd want."

Zhuge Changfeng knew from a mile away that Zhuo Fan was no saint, willing to forgive and forget. So instead of appealing to his non-existing humanity, Zhuge Changfeng baited him with cold hard benefits, "If you let them go, I promise they will be of use to Steward Zhuo one day. You are an intelligent man. I needn't say more."

Zhuo Fan was pondering.

Zhuge Changfeng pointed out that the delegation were all in close relation with Commander Tuoba Tieshan at the border. If they died in Tianyu, the old man would march his army down south.

That would mean two things.

First, the doer would be the culprit. With Zhuo Fan killing them, his head would be the only thing that could appease him. But would Zhuo Fan just hand it over like that? No way in hell, and the Quanrong would take advantage of the chaos in Tianyu and invade.

The emperor definitely didn't want that so he'd choose the second option. One that would let the emperor sleep with peace of mind.

[If Quanrong invaded, the whole of Tianyu shall resist it, the eight houses and the Four Pillars included. As for you, Zhuo Fan, the culprit behind it all, I'll let this go, but go out there and fight. Fight till your last breath and bleed out on the battlefield!]

The emperor would not only have all the other factions weakened in the name of Tianyu's safety, he'd also showcase Tianyu's power and give the Quanrong a lesson they will not soon forget.

It would end up with everyone being the loser except the emperor.

Now that right there was a classic case of the fisherman!

Zhuo Fan clenched his fists, then relaxed his killing intent. Zhuge Changfeng eased a breath, knowing Zhuo Fan still cared about the big picture.

[It's so nice to talk to smart people.]

Before he finished though, Zhuo Fan's snicker had something to say, "Right, Prime Minister, sir, this time you owe me. I'll be sure to collect it in due time!"

Zhuge Changfeng let out a strained laughter.

[The kid sure knows how to take advantage. He knows letting them live is in his best interest yet he is saying that he only did it for me.]

Then again, with how close he was to the Quanrong, Zhuo Fan's words weren't that far off, "Alright, I owe you one. I will do my all when you need me!"

Zhuo Fan nodded, his eyes flashing.

Zhuo Fan dumped his hostages in Zhuge Changfeng's care, walking away like the average bystander.

The Four Scheming Demons had heard the commotion and scampered over on the double. But seeing that the party was a bust they slumped into depression.

[Ah, we were late for the fun!]

Zhuo Fan glanced over at them and thought, [Perfect timing.] Dumping the trio of babes in their hands, he went to take care of his own matters.

With the Lantern Festival ruined - buildings in shambles, people running scared - and nothing else to see here, the girls went home.

Zhuo Fan watched Zhuge Changfeng's Quanrong with a twisted smile. His right eye flashed golden and he was gone.

Whoosh~

Two shadows popped up the next second in Zhuo Fan's place, looking all over, "God damn it! The rotten brat moves around without logic with his twisted skill. Just how are we supposed to follow?"

"Let's just report back to the captain. We've just been given the damn slip." The other shadow was gone.

The first one left just as quickly.

In this desolate area, even though no one was in sight, the earth squirmed from time to time...

Two hours later, in the garrison, Zhuge Changfeng sported a dark look facing Tuoba Liufeng and Han Tiemo. Next to him were the ashamed Touba Lian'er and Zha Lahan with a broken arm.

Something black as night rested on the bed. It was only when Lian'er said that that thing was Sky-piercing Wolf Zhe Bie did they actually believe it.

Being let in on the whole story, the two were left speechless.

Quanrong's brave warriors, Eight Wolf Wardens' second and third team members, did a joint attack and were flicked back with practiced ease. And the opponent even strolled away like nothing happened.

If not for Zhuge Changfeng's timely arrival, they'd be dead by now.

Tuoba Liufeng didn't set out to cast blame on the trio, but instead was overwhelmed by the cruel affair.

Zhuo Fan was an abomination.

Zhuge Changfeng sighed, "I warned you not to step on his toes. And yet you..."

"Forgive us, Prime Minister Zhuge, I failed in teaching my sister. I will make sure this never happens again!" Tuoba Liufeng bowed, glaring at Lian'er and Zha Lahan until their faces were red from shame.

As for Zhe Bie, he was just laying there, in his blackness.

Hum~

The earth squirmed and Hu Lianchai came out. He gave his salute and said, "Prime Minister sir, Zhuo Fan had a tail like you predicted. But he is truly remarkable. I don't know how he did it but he even left me behind, not just those two. The two tails left to report instead of following you here!"

"Ha-ha-ha, they're His Majesty's men alright. But that kid sure is cunning and sly like a fox. There may very well be no one in Tianyu capable of following him. Those two guys were merely trying their luck."

Zhuge Changfeng mocked and praised, "Obscure Wolf, you are quite smart yourself to come to me first for help. Good, very good!"

"Prime Minister sir, that Zhuo Fan was too much of a monster. I was afraid of being wiped out and thought only sir could help."

"Without Prime Minister Zhuge's help, my sister and my men would've been slaughtered at the hands of that twisted maniac. As a brother and young commander, I express my deepest gratitude!" Tuoba Liufeng gave a ninety degrees down angle bow.

Zhuge Changfeng shook his head, "Young master, there's no need. Even without my interference, Zhuo Fan wouldn't have killed them."

"Eh?" Tuoba Liufeng was lost, "But sister said his killing intent was actually visible!"

Zhuge Changfeng shook his head, "He is not feared for his brawn, but for his insidious and twisted mind. His savage routine was all to draw me out. The one who comes out to save you first is bound to be the one closest to you. I presume that even His Majesty knows about our connection now."

"What?"

Tuoba Liufeng cried, "What do we do now?"

Zhuge Changfeng said, "It's fine. The difference between overt and covert schemes is that the latter will never see the light of day. While the former does not have such limitations. It won't change a thing even if they do know. The events will continue to play out like normal. I can no longer stop them."

"But wouldn't it have been better if we weren't exposed?" Tuoba Liufeng sighed, "Prime Minister sir, why did you come out knowing Zhuo Fan's intent?"

Zhuge Changfeng's brow trembled and he spoke in a dark tone, "Because I couldn't gamble whether Zhuo Fan'd act or not and chose to play it safe. I have read many people in my life, but only two have failed to open to me like a book. He is one of them!"

"Eh?" Everyone was stunned.

Zhuge Changfeng was known as the best mind in Tianyu, yet he couldn't see through a brash kid?

Zhuge Changfeng smiled in reply to their thoughts, "I caught a glimpse of him before the Esoteric Debate, but ever since after the event, he is closed to me. Or it may be that I don't even want to see. Because in that battle, he had done terrible and unimaginable things!"

"What?" Touba Lian'er lit up.

Zhuge Changfeng sighed, "He lost his mind over a girl. It was my first time seeing him like this. In his madness, he had executed some of the most savage ploys. Ending with the death of Regent Estate's eldest young master and plunging the Luo clan into the twisted world of politics before its time.

"All of these were rash and ill-advised choices. He was sure of it as well, but made them anyway. From that moment, Unwonted Contriver could no longer read him and I do not dare fathom his train of thoughts. No one can grasp when he's going to snap or play it cool."

Zhuge Changfeng took a deep breath, "You now know why I exposed myself and why I had to save you. It is impossible for me to tell if his actions are driven by lunacy or insidious lull."

Han Tiemo and the rest sighed. Scared by a man who was too unbalanced, or unreadable, to guess what his next action would be.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Fan went to a teahouse to meet with a black robe.