Chapter 46: The Ultimate Charlatan

Li Changqiu exhaled a deep breath and did not speak a single word, but his eyes gave him away.

Yun Yang began to explain himself, "I was able to apprehend you because I took the time to understand you. I know that death holds no fear for you, but I had to capture you alive and prevent you from taking your own life. I had to give you a reason to live, so I intentionally mentioned the School of Dastardly Poison and the Soul Reaping Smoke. Those were merely excuses for you to forget about falling on your dagger."

"Ironically, despite the fact that I am your most hated enemy, I sincerely believe that no one else in this world understands you better than I do. Sadly, for you, I am your only confidant. I have not examined your person, but if I were to do so, I would undoubtedly discover a lot of things, including what I asked of you earlier - which day of which month are you?"

Yun Yang stared at Li Changqiu quizzically. "Yet, I did not do so. First, I intend that you proclaim it yourself - as a sign of respect for me, this confidant of yours. Second, although you are most assuredly a strong character, I didn't want to put you in an overly tough spot."

Li Changqiu's expression wavered slightly in light of Yun Yang's explanation.

"Even if I eventually resort to torture extort the information I need, I would still wish to maintain the respect that is befitting a powerful martial artist."

Yun Yang spoke sincerely, "That is why I dissected your psychology, your motive, everything about you. Because I wanted you to know that one, I respect you; two, losing to me under such circumstances... can't be considered as losing after all."

Li Changqiu heaved a very long sigh, at a loss for words. In the beginning, he had intended to be defensive and remain silent but listening to Yun Yang, he suddenly felt that all his stubbornness seemed to be a childish waste of energy. The opposing party had already studied him to such a degree, what else was there to hide?

Wouldn't it be easier to just be direct and save himself the dignity of a practicing martial artist?

Faced with such an individual, any attempts at denial or lies would be futile.As he had said, losing to him was indeed not an injustice. Unconsciously, Yun Yang's words had controlled the tempo of this conversation and even the flow of Li Changqiu's inner thoughts.

"Incredible!" Li Changqiu's hostile glare mellowed and asked, "Who are you really?"

Yun Yang's eyes beamed when he spoke, "I spoke that truth when I said that I am not from the imperial officials, nor am I from the military."

Li Changqiu replied disdainfully, "I came to that conclusion ages ago."

Yun Yang continued, "May I ask Great Sir Li if any part of my earlier analysis rang false?"

Li Changqiu closed his eyes. "No, you were absolutely correct."

Yun Yang then said confidently, "Then, there is no longer any doubt that you hail from the Four Seasons Tower!"

Li Changqiu huffed, "Why do you still ask when you already know the answer?"

Yun Yang nodded in agreement and asked, "Then which day of which month are you?"

Li Changqiu said slowly, "I'm the nineteenth of the first month."

Yun Yang replied, "Nineteenth of the first month... According to what I know, although the Four Seasons Tower's Hall of Spring is a hall, everyone is in charge of different things. Even if they're in the same month, they're not really affiliated."

Li Changqiu looked up towards Yun Yang in bewilderment, "Who are you really? How do you know so much about the Four Seasons Tower?"

Yun Yang did not answer him but continued to speak, "However, when there is an important undertaking, a contact person will appear. This contact person will usually be a connecting link between the superiors and the followers."

Li Changqiu retorted, "You can continue to blather away."

Yun Yang's heart sang a quiet song of triumph.

Success!

It was all pure deception of course; he was shooting in the dark, placing layer upon layer of guesswork in as confident a tone as possible.

Contact person - any organization would need a contact person; so would any operation. If this contact person was not a connecting link between superiors and followers, how could the person be a contact point? It was a moot point.

As Li Changiu had listened to Yun Yang explain his reasoning, as well as listing out his illicit information, it was easy for Li Changqiu to fall into the common misperception of Yun Yang being a "know-it-all".

"But according to what I know, you, Li Changqiu, are not the contact person," Yun Yang said with a straight face.

Li Changqiu raised his head at once, his gaze sharp as he asked, "How did you know?"

Yun Yang answered confidently, "I just do."

Li Changqiu kept quiet, his gaze clear and focused, his thoughts an absolute mystery.

"Moreover, not only do I know that you're not a contact person, I also know that you are an important person and a key player in this entire affair."

It was another line that could be understood either way and would make sense no matter how one looked at it. Looking at the perplexed expression on Li Changqiu's face, he quickly added, "You, Li Changqiu, may look like someone of a lower status, but you're someone important in the Four Seasons Tower. At least, you're someone who could make decisions on behalf of those from the Four Seasons Tower in Tiantang City."

Li Changqiu's surprise could not have been more palpable. It only served to bolster the impression of Yun Yang's intelligence as he continued attacking with ambiguous sentences while looking at the shock in Li Changqiu's eyes. "You're an impressive martial artist, you're not afraid of death, you have dignity.You have to be someone like a chief of a small team."

Li Changqiu's face was pale as he mumbled, "It shouldn't be possible for you to know this. Could it be that there's a traitor among us?"

Yun Yang did not deny the accusation as he continued, "As for the rest, I still know a bit but I'm tired of talking. Li Changqiu, I do not wish to take your life. You should know what I mean."

Li Changqiu was confused. You do not wish to take my life? I should know what you mean?

What should I understand from you man?

Yet he did not have it in him to confess that he was clueless as to what Yun Yang was saying. It would simply be too embarrassing.

Someone's already turned you inside out but you don't even understand what the person means" His heart was sure of one thing, "Traitor! There must be a traitor in our midst!"

"For example, how many subordinates report to you, their identities, what they're in charge of, the ultimate goal..." Yun Yang looked relaxed, his tone light. "I don't entirely understand them all, so it's now your time to talk."

Li Changqiu snapped his head up and asked chillingly, "I just want to know... who betrayed us?"

Yun Yang shook his head and corrected the enraged man, "That accusation is inaccurate; it's not betraying 'all of you'! It was only your information that was disclosed.."

Full-blown resentment shone in Li Changqiu's eyes.

Only my information had been disclosed! In a place like Tiantang City, I would be fortunate to stay alive and not get sent directly to Death's door!

Yun Yang drank his tea slowly, a vision of peace and calm.

The interrogation had been a success up to now. What was left was to continuously attack Li Changqiu's psychological defenses and provoke him sufficiently to raise his anger levels higher.

His words had been purposefully ambiguous all along. Other than the analysis about Li Changqiu, the rest of them could have taken a turn anytime towards any other direction.

How could you be an ordinary member of the Four Seasons Tower with such a high cultivation base? You're not a contact person - how can you be one when you're a blacksmith? You're a key player - I have guessed it from your gaze, so you're a chief; if you're a chief then how can you not be a head person? Likewise, since you're a head person, how can you not be a chief? Besides, other than a chief, who else could make his own decisions, who could decide on their own to go threaten Qiu Jianhan? Are they not afraid of being punished?

You said a traitor was among you. I didn't admit it, but I had.guessed it anyway.

Since you said there's a traitor, and only I know the information about you alone - what does this mean?

You have a nemesis.

Someone wants you to die.

Someone has already ruined you that I could take you captive here.

Are you still keeping secrets for him?

Are you still defending him?

Yun Yang believed that Li Changqiu was thinking the very same thoughts as well.

"... please, give me a glass of water," Li Changqiu requested hoarsely.

Yun Yang poured a glass of water and took it over to him, tipping the liquid into his mouth carefully and said in a pity, "Actually, you shouldn't be here. With your cultivation base, there's no place in this world you can't go to. I really do not wish to rob such a skilled person of his dignity."

Li Changqiu smiled in a grimace, "But I managed to end up here after all."

Yun Yang continued sympathetically, "Truly, the information regarding you that resides in my hands is so detailed that if I couldn't catch you, it would only speak poorly of me. I can only say this is fate, mine and yours."

"Fate?" A menacing look flashed across Li Changqiu's eyes. "No! This is not my fate! If it weren't for the person betraying me, how would I be reduced to this stage?"

Yun Yang did not say anything for some time. Looking at Li Changqiu who was huffing in anger, he said in a low voice, "Actually... he didn't tell us much. Or at least, he didn't mention your real identity, cultivation base, real face, and some other more specific particulars."

Li Changqiu laughed bitterly towards the sky. "I'm already in your hands, does he still need to speak of those?"

Yun Yang sighed. "I am truly sorry."

Li Changqiu breathed raggedly, his gaze ferocious. Suddenly, the pair of glistening eyes shifted to Yun Yang as the owner asked slowly, "I would know just one thing."

Yun Yang spoke seriously, "Ask away. I shall speak if I know the answer. I shall tell it all once I speak; thus do I honor a skilled martial artist."

Yun Yang had repeatedly mentioned his respect towards another practitioner of the arts.

Li Changqiu asked quietly, "Am I able to challenge this person, and live to tell the tale?"

Yun Yang didn't answer the question immediately, but gazed at his opponent with a thoughtful expression. Li Changqiu's fiery ire slowly dimmed as he looked at Yun Yang's introspective countenance.

"Yes." Yun Yang finally answered with difficulty. Just as Li Changqiu's angry blaze rekindled, Yun Yang was already continuing with his words, "However, I do not wish to have you as an enemy, even though it may be too late. So I dare not allow you this opportunity - unless you swear with heaven as a witness to pledge your allegiance to me."

Yun Yang looked at Li Changqiu with unusual frankness. "Your cultivation base is simply too mighty to let it go to waste."

Li Changqiu laughed bitterly, "It seems to me that I will never have the chance to do so."

Yun Yang spoke lightly, "I dare not allow you the chance. As faithful as you are to the Four Seasons Tower, can't you be as loyal to me? Would I treat you any lesser? I believe that you can see for yourself that I'm not one of those despicable rats!"

Li Changqiu closed his eyes and let out a forlorn laugh. "Of course I can see that. Based on your respect towards skilled martial artists, based on your attitude towards me, of course I know that you are not a contemptible person. Besides, I can clearly see the sincerity in your efforts to recruit me from the beginning."

"Then all is settled." Yun Yang said with a satisfied nod.

"But I can't." Li Changqiu shook his head in despair and said, "You wouldn't understand."