While Han Xiao was holed up in the workshop on the top floor of the Leaning Pagoda of the Zhou Place, situated in the heart of the Outer Court, several significant events were unfolding outside due to his return.
His return had been anything but smooth, marked by numerous confrontations and slaps. The name Han Xiao spread like wildfire, becoming the talk of the Outer Court. The once-dismissed "trash prince" was now rumored to have transformed into a demon after his visit to the Willow Tree Forest.
This rumor held a kernel of truth. Wei Su Ming, known as the Fourth Tiger, along with a masked senior from the Inner Court, were currently in a clandestine meeting. Their agenda: devising methods to deal with those implicated in the infamous red envelope scandal. Over the past week, they had concocted several feasible plans, ready to be set into motion.
As they were wining and dining amidst their heated discussion, the door of the humble and private cabin creaked open abruptly, and a familiar youth dashed inside the room.
"That's very disrespectful, Wei Su Mu!" Wei Su Ming scolded his younger twin brother before the masked man could speak.
"Brother, I didn't mean to. But I have something really urgent to tell both of you."
"Still, I have already told you not to disturb us." Turning to the masked man, he apologized. "Senior, I must apologize again for our poor attitudes."
The masked man calmly responded, "It's okay. Our discussion is already over, and I consider him an integral part of our organization."
Wei Su Ming hesitated for a moment, still wary that they were mere pawns in the eyes of the organization this eccentric senior brother spoke of.
The masked man, waving his hand elegantly and fluttering his long silk sleeve, added, "It seems rather urgent to ignore your earlier order. Let's hear him out first."
Su Ming nodded, and both turned to Wei Su Mu. Internally, Su Ming mused, 'Brother, I can and will go through thick and thin for you. But please, don't make this unnecessarily difficult for me.'
Wei Su Mu took a deep breath and announced, "He's back!"
"Who's back?" asked Su Ming.
"The bastard of the Han!"
"The bastard of the Han!" Wei Su Ming echoed, processing the revelation. "You mean Han Xiao?"
The masked man interjected, "Han Xiao? The pig prince who was supposed to die in the Willow Tree Forest at the hands of his own comrades? This is bad. Very bad."
A thick, oppressive aura involuntarily surged from the masked man, causing every porcelain cup and container to shatter under pressure. The sound of breaking echoed through the room. Drinks and food were scattered, evidence of the tension radiating from him.
"Calm down, senior!" Wei Su Ming said, trying to soothe the situation. "As I mentioned before, assassinating a prince of a major nation is a serious matter that could escalate quickly, involving us and even the organization. The plan was foolproof. The only flaw was that his comrades, whom we bribed, were too incompetent to handle even a pig."
"I don't care, boy. You two have already accepted the death contract, and the bounty is already in motion. There's no turning back. Whether he was a pig or a lucky brat kissed by a dragon, you have to eliminate him as soon as possible." The masked man's tone was stern, his psychological pressure palpable.
"How much time do we have before the contract expires?" asked Wei Su Ming.
"Two months and seventeen days, including today!"
"Then don't worry. We have enough time to deal with him." Wei Su Mu responded, his confidence evident.
"Sit beside me and explain everything in detail," Wei Su Ming said, tapping the tiger hide mat, subtly signaling when to speak and when to hold back.
Wei Su Mu was thrilled, finally included in the inner circle after being a mere gatekeeper. Joining the table and sitting with them filled him with joy.
As a prince of the Wei Nation, he knew proper etiquette. He cupped his hands in respect and sat just behind his elder brother, whom he held in high esteem. Taking a deep breath, he began, "The news about Han Xiao came on the very day of the Five Tigers gathering arranged by our senior brother here."
'And we're just hearing this now? What a reliable source of information!' the masked man sneered inwardly, reassessing whether these twins were suitable for his plans.
Su Mu further added, "Brother, after a thorough investigation, I've come up with a strange idea. The trash we considered trash might have been hiding his strength all along, or something changed after his visit to the Willow Trees Forest."
"So, what happened?" asked Wei Su Ming.
"After his return, he was provoked by someone at Level 8 of the Pulse Condensation Realm, but he knocked him out cold with just a few slaps." Wei Su Mu recounted the events smoothly, detailing Han Xiao's encounter with the muscle-head Song Ke and his visit to the Bounty Collection Hall. He left no detail unmentioned, having interviewed over ten disciples to piece together the full story.
The other two listened intently, deep in thought, each formulating their own schemes to turn the situation to their advantage.
"So, none of his team came back, right?" Wei Su Ming asked.
"Yes, Han Xiao openly admitted they were killed in a beast hunt. But I believe our plan went south, and they died by his hand instead," Wei Su Mu replied, trying to show his analytical skills.
"That's enough, brother." Turning to the masked man, Wei Su Ming said, "Senior Brother, I think I didn't fail the mission. It's the organization's failure to collect accurate information on Han Xiao. What do you say?" He was now shifting the blame away from himself.
After several moments of contemplation, the masked man responded, "Hmm, I understand. Speak your mind."
With a rare smile, Wei Su Ming replied, "First, since the information on the subject was faulty, the contract is naturally void. However, I will still accept this contract if the organization officially acknowledges me as one of their own."
"Easy! Is that all?" the masked man asked.
"In addition, I want you to upgrade the level of this contract as soon as possible, using the latest information on our target. If these two conditions are met, I'll make sure the Han Bastard meets his end," Wei Su Ming demanded.
"Sure! Consider it done. Both of you can leave now. I need to attend to something," the masked man replied, waving his hand. A gentle wind swept through the room, tidying the mess and restoring everything to its proper place.
The twins cupped their palms in a final greeting and marched out of the room.
After they had departed, the masked man meticulously scanned his surroundings, ensuring there were no lurking observers. Satisfied, he retrieved a jade ring from within his shirt, its shape resembling a snake biting its own tail, all in a striking crimson hue.
Slipping the ring onto his finger, the room's atmosphere underwent an immediate transformation. A dense gray mist materialized within seconds, and within it, a shadowy figure emerged. This figure appeared to be a man adorned with a golden crown, though the details remained obscure within the mist.
Upon seeing this enigmatic figure, the masked man's composure faltered, and he knelt reverently on the floor. "Greetings, my master!"
"Why have you summoned me, Joker?" a hoarse voice resonated from within the mist.
"Master, there's been a slight shift in plans. The contract to eliminate Han Xiao, the Seventh prince of the Han, has fallen through and is now null," the masked man relayed with deference.
"I'm aware. Your mission remains unchanged: ensure his demise here," the master responded firmly.
"Understood, sir! I'll see to it, even if I must personally intervene. However, I must admit, I'm puzzled by one aspect," the masked man hesitated.
"Speak freely, Joker. You needn't be guarded with me," the master encouraged.
The masked man, though maintaining caution, continued, his demeanor composed. "Why is our organization, already influential in the Zhongguo region, so focused on eliminating a novice prince just beginning his cultivation? And why am I tasked with handling him personally if things go wrong? Isn't that excessive?"
"Joker, you're but a small player in a vast game called Zhongguo. Forget the external affairs; even within, politics and power dynamics run deep, with many secrets. Stop over-thinking; our organization is a mere fledgling to them," the master explained. "Our motives are twofold: first, we hold disdain for the Han royalty, and second, eliminating him sends a clear message and deters future interference. Now, cease your speculation and focus on your duty," the master concluded firmly.