الشطرنج الخالد - Book 07 Chapter 032

Book 07 Chapter 032: Tang Gu’s Request

Everyone in the hall looked at the White Emperor.

Using the White Emperor to lure Gu Hai out of Borderless Heavenly Capital—rather, force him out of Borderless Heavenly Capital?

Sima Changkong grasped Gu Hai’s fatal weakness. He just needed the White Emperor to agree.

Nan Longnu and Sect Master Heavenly Access looked at the White Emperor doubtfully, unsure of this plan’s success. Only the White Emperor understood how possible this was.

Although she felt a pang in her heart for some reason, she cared about her consciousness more.

Just as the White Emperor was about to nod, Tang Gu suddenly called out from behind the White Emperor, “Mister Sima!”

“Huh?” Everyone looked at Tang Gu.

“You want to use my imperial lord as bait, but have you considered my imperial lord’s safety?” Tang Gu asked seriously.

“Safety? Why would the White Emperor be in any danger?”

“Haha! How would there be no danger? What if Gu Hai does not receive the news, but one of his officials does instead? For example, Kong Xuan. What will you do if Kong Xuan receives word and comes to assassinate Imperial Lord to protect Gu Hai?” Tang Gu asked seriously.

“Assassinate?”

“That’s right. Using Imperial Lord as bait will put her in danger. Even if Gu Hai gets tricked into coming, Sect Master Heavenly Access will only target Gu Hai. What if Kong Xuan comes to kill Imperial Lord at this moment? Also, what if the Mosquito Daoist makes the same attempt? Have you considered all this?” Tang Gu asked sternly.

“The White Emperor is capable of protecting herself.” Sima Changkong frowned.

“Protecting herself? Hahaha! What a reply! You would place my imperial lord in danger for your half-baked plan?” Tang Gu said coldly.

“Tang Gu, don’t be rude!” the White Emperor reprimanded.

“Imperial Lord, this humble one was just taking Imperial Lord into consideration. We have to keep our guard up. Sima Changkong could abandon those spies he sent into Borderless Heavenly Capital at the drop of a hat. He did not even plan to rescue Ao Sheng. He would not have cared had Ao Sheng not fled on his own. Sima Changkong even tricked Sect Master Heavenly Access into going to Borderless Heavenly Capital without considering the consequences. Everyone is just a tool that he can abandon at any moment. Now, he wants to use Imperial Lord. This is a threat to Imperial Lord. This humble subordinate has to take Imperial Lord into consideration,” Tang Gu said gravely.

The White Emperor frowned slightly.

“Oh? White Emperor, your subordinate is quite interesting,” Sima Changkong said coldly.

Tang Gu ignored Sima Changkong.

“White Emperor, think about whether you want to kill Gu Hai.” Sima Changkong looked at the White Emperor once more.

The White Emperor frowned slightly. After some thought, an icy glint flashed in her eyes; apparently, she had reached a decision.

“Imperial Lord, this humble subordinate feels that the situation is unclear. While Imperial Lord can act as bait, we need to understand the situation in the Han Imperial Dynasty, at least. We cannot rely on imagination and assumptions for some situations,” Tang Gu coaxed.

The White Emperor looked at Tang Gu somewhat impatiently.

“Imperial Lord, we should at least wait for Ao Sheng to return, right?” Tang Gu continued persuading.

Ao Sheng was about to return, so it would not take much time. The White Emperor nodded. “Very well. We will revisit this when Ao Sheng returns.”

Sima Changkong nodded helplessly as he looked at Tang Gu coldly.

This Tang Gu usually remains by the White Emperor’s side, never interjecting. Why did he suddenly insist on stopping this plan?

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a beam of light shot over from the distance.

“He’s here!” Sect Master Heavenly Access’s eyes lit up.

Boom!

A gust blew over. Then a Daoist holding Ao Sheng landed in the hall.

“Master!” The Daoist bowed respectfully to Sect Master Heavenly Access.

When Sect Master Heavenly Access nodded, that Daoist immediately went to stand behind him.

“Ao Sheng? Where are your arms?” Sima Changkong asked.

“It’s Gu Hai. He wanted to kill me. What a ruthless person, truly possessing the heart of a sovereign!” Ao Sheng said in grief and rage.

“Ao Sheng, what’s going on in Borderless Heavenly Capital?” Sima Changkong asked.

“Don’t ask me this now. Hurry! Where’s my body? I’m going to return to my body!” Ao Sheng said anxiously.

The expressions of Sect Master Heavenly Access, the White Emperor, Bodhisattva Nan Longnu, and Tang Gu changed.

It’s true? Soul exchange?

Sima Changkong was only willing to tell everyone after Gu Hai exposed the truth. Everyone felt shocked at seeing Ao Sheng’s soul in Ao Shun’s body.

“Men, invite Mister Six Fingers here!” Sima Changkong called out.

“Yes!” Someone immediately left.

“Ao Sheng, how did you get discovered? What happened that day? Why did you get exposed so suddenly?” Sima Changkong asked with a complicated expression.

Grimacing, Ao Sheng explained what happened in the Three Pure Ones Hall.

“He tricked you? Then Gu Hai is not that capable after all. To think he failed to discover you were Ao Shun from your speech and mannerisms?” Sect Master Heavenly Access sneered.

“No, you don’t understand. He cannot possibly know I am Ao Shun from my speech, mannerisms, or even memories.” Ao Sheng shook his head.

“Oh?”

“The Western Sea Dragon King gave both of us a drop of azure dragon’s blood previously; that was the ancestor dragon’s blood. However, it was not actually one drop each, but we shared one drop. That one drop of azure dragon blood merged into our bodies, causing our memories to be shared with each other. I know everything about Ao Shun, and he also knows everything about me. So, I will expose nothing, no matter what Gu Hai asks me.” Ao Sheng shook his head.

“Mismatched time? Hah! It must be the Gu’s Immortal Firmament. That Gu Hai is truly a wastrel,” Nan Longnu said coldly.

“That is Gu Hai’s wisdom. He first applied mental pressure, then let you stew for nine months, and finally used my likeness to make you snap. Truly incredible!” Sima Changkong said with an unsightly expression.

Just at this moment, a white-clad man walked into the hall. It was Six Fingers, the heaven-grade zither previously at the Silver Moon Mountain Manor.

“Sima Changkong, Ao Sheng is back?” Six Fingers asked.

“Yes, Mister Six Fingers.” Sima Changkong nodded.

“Mister Six Fingers, please help me return to my body. This is too troublesome. I have had enough of this armless body!” Ao Sheng yelled.

Six Fingers looked at Ao Sheng. “Your body is quite far away; it’s not at the Silver Moon Mountain Manor.”

“Where is it?”

“In the capital, with His Reverence,” Six Fingers said.

“It was moved to the capital? Is His Reverence planning to extract my azure dragon blood?”

“I don’t know.”

“If he wants to refine it, refine Ao Shun’s. Take me back. I want to return to my body. Only you know how to exchange souls. Let’s go, quickly! Hurry!” Ao Sheng said anxiously.

Six Fingers looked at Sima Changkong.

Sima Changkong thought for a while before nodding. “That’s fine. Mister Six Fingers, we don’t need you here for now. Bring Ao Sheng to the capital.”

“Alright.” Six Fingers nodded.

“Wait!” Tang Gu suddenly called out.

“Huh?” Everyone looked at Tang Gu.

“Mister Sima, I know you want to convince Imperial Lord to be your bait. However, we do not understand the Han Nation’s situation at all. I worry for Imperial Lord’s safety!” Tang Gu shouted.

“Tang Gu, don’t be rude!” The White Emperor stopped Tang Gu.

“No. This humble subordinate has to take Imperial Lord’s safety into consideration. With the situation unclear, Imperial Lord is still in danger. You all will not be able to care for Imperial Lord then. In that case, I have a solution to deal with any worries,” Tang Gu said.

“Oh?”

“Mister Six Fingers, I recall Long Shenwu gave you a group of zombies for protection, right? You will be safe at Long Shenwu’s place. In that case, leave your zombies to my imperial lord for her protection,” Tang Gu said.

“Humph! I’ll send Duobao to protect the White Emperor,” Sect Master Heavenly Access said.

“No. Daoist Duobao is your disciple. Anything can happen. What if he runs away? I would rather have those zombies who strictly follow orders to protect Imperial Lord than have Daoist Duobao. It is better for Daoist Duobao to escort Mister Six Fingers to the capital and hand the zombies to us. At least we will feel assured the zombies will not have other thoughts,” Tang Gu said.

Tang Gu considered the White Emperor in every aspect, so she did not stop him.

Sima Changkong frowned at Tang Gu. Eventually, he nodded. “That is fine. Sect Master Heavenly Access’s disciple will escort Mister Six Fingers and Ao Sheng to the capital. Can Mister Six Fingers hand your zombie guards to the White Emperor?”

Six Fingers looked at Tang Gu and the White Emperor before eventually nodding. “Alright.”

“Many thanks, Mister Six Fingers. I recall Long Shenwu thinks highly of you and has given you a medallion that can control all the zombies assigned to you.” Tang Gu looked at Six Fingers.

Six Fingers nodded. “The zombie token, take it. Return it to me when I return!”

“Alright. Rest assured.” Tang Gu immediately received the zombie token.

“His Reverence created these zombies. Don’t have any designs on them. Compared to this zombie token, they listen to His Reverence even more,” Six Fingers said coldly.

“Don’t worry. Imperial Lord is taking a risk for Long Shenwu. I am just using it to protect Imperial Lord,” Tang Gu said gravely.

“Alright.” Six Fingers nodded.

Sect Master Heavenly Access sent a batch of his disciples to escort Six Fingers and Ao Sheng to the capital.

Now that Tang Gu had the zombie token, he no longer obstructed the White Emperor from playing bait.

The subsequent discussion went smoothly. They would follow Sima Changkong’s plan and ambush Gu Hai.

After chatting for a while more, everyone returned to their residence.

——

The White Emperor’s courtyard:

The White Emperor looked at Tang Gu indifferently and said coldly, “Tang Gu, you were impudent earlier.”

“Imperial Lord, you are precious to me. How can I not think of your well-being at every moment?” Tang Gu smiled.

“Those zombies? Can they protect us? You underestimate us. If not for Nan Longnu, we would not have come to the Wu Imperial Dynasty. Even that Long Shenwu might not be our opponent,” the White Emperor said coldly.

“Yes, those zombies cannot do much. However, Imperial Lord, have you thought about it? The Wu Imperial Dynasty has something good this time.” Tang Gu smiled.

“Oh?”

“Soul exchange!”

The White Emperor narrowed her eyes.

“Six Fingers can perform soul exchange? He is just a heaven-grade zither. Since he can do it, we can find a heaven-grade zither to do it too. The crux is how. The secret must be in the Silver Moon Mountain Manor. This humble subordinate did not ask for the zombie token for these zombies but to enter the Silver Moon Mountain Manor to search. Perhaps we might receive an unexpected harvest.” Tang Gu smiled.

The White Emperor frowned slightly as she entered deep thought.

While the White Emperor pondered, a voice suddenly rang out at the door. “Tang Gu is right. White Emperor, you have an excellent assistant!”

“Huh?” The White Emperor’s expression hardened as she turned to look.

Tang Gu’s face sank.

Bodhisattva Nan Longnu stepped into the hall and said, “Don’t worry. I have already set up a sound isolation barrier.”

“Nan Longnu, were you eavesdropping on us? No, Jiang Gautama sent you to monitor us because he does not trust us?” The White Emperor’s face turned frosty.

“White Emperor, don’t be angry. You have just joined the Spirit Mountain Holy Land, so it is normal for there to be mistrust at first. When everything has settled down, no one will doubt you anymore.” Nan Longnu smiled.

The White Emperor stared at Nan Longnu.

“You need help from the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Naturally, you have to show some sincerity,” Nan Longnu said.

“Humph!” the White Emperor snorted coldly.

“Tang Gu said it well earlier. If the Spirit Mountain Holy Land obtained the ability to perform soul exchanges, it would be a great contribution. You have just joined the Spirit Mountain Holy Land. Isn’t this a heaven-sent opportunity? I’ll immediately use the zither puppet to report to the Lord Buddha. He will credit this great contribution to you.” Nan Longnu smiled.

The White Emperor’s face sank.

If the Silver Moon Mountain Manor truly contained the secrets to soul exchange, I could have monopolized it. Now…

“Humph! Nothing is certain yet. I will send Tang Gu to investigate. You don’t have to worry about it,” the White Emperor said coldly.

“Him? I still don’t trust him.” Nan Longnu smiled.

“The one you don’t trust is me, right?” the White Emperor countered coldly.

“How about this? I’ll go with Tang Gu. With that zombie token, we can enter and search the Silver Moon Mountain Manor. We will return quickly. Furthermore, Tang Gu’s cultivation is too weak. We will be faster if I bring him,” Nan Longnu said in a determined tone.

The White Emperor still felt somewhat reluctant.

“Don’t you want to kill Gu Hai? We will return by the time you kill Gu Hai. There will be no delay. Don’t worry; I won’t harm Tang Gu. This fellow is quite shrewd. Perhaps he might be useful,” Nan Longnu said seriously.

The White Emperor looked at Tang Gu.

Tang Gu frowned but nodded.

“Alright. Go and return quickly. Don’t let them find out,” the White Emperor eventually sighed.

“Alright. Tang Gu, let’s go.” Nan Longnu nodded.