“So, Lord Tiansi, did you use my name to purchase 100 sets of the series books just so you could read those picture books?”
Nan Xi pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Tiansi, his tone a mix of amusement and helplessness.
Faced with Nan Xi’s question, Tiansi did not deny it.
The golden bells jingled as Tiansi flipped through a book and nodded.
“Yes. Xiao Bai wouldn’t buy them for me.”
‘Of course he wouldn’t.’
‘Which Sect Master would buy their own Supreme Elder a collection of scandalous stories about his own romantic history? Especially when they’re high-definition, full-color editions!’
“So I asked Granny Ji to help me buy them.”
“That sounds fine.”
“But then Xiao Bai wouldn’t approve the request.”
“Uh…”
“So — “
Tiansi’s watery eyes looked straight at Nan Xi, her gaze filled with hope.
“Granny Ji said that if we used your name to order the series, there wouldn’t be any issues. The Sect Master doesn’t question a Peak Master’s expenditure list.”
‘So that’s what I’m useful for.’
Nan Xi was instantly amused.
However, he didn’t mind. Tiansi got the books she wanted, and Nan Xi drained Tianquan Peak’s finances. It was a win-win for both of them.
The only one who suffered in this world was the Sect Master of the Tianhe Sect!
However…
Nan Xi’s gaze slowly drifted down to the Collar on Tiansi’s neck before he spoke tentatively.
“Lord Tiansi, regarding the contents of these books… which parts are true and which are fake?”
From their interactions yesterday, Nan Xi judged that he had already earned a portion of Lord Tiansi’s trust.
Using the picture books as a topic to naturally lead into gathering intelligence on the Sect Master of the Tianhe Sect was a logical move.
If the stories were true, it would be equivalent to catching the Sect Master by the tail.
If they were false… well, they were still entertaining to read.
However, after three seconds of brief thought, Tiansi responded.
“I don’t know.”
“Then you read these books because…”
“Because they’re interesting.”
‘Fair enough.’
Nan Xi reached an agreement with Tiansi on this point. He had been getting hooked on them himself just now, so it wasn’t surprising that she enjoyed them.
“But…”
Tiansi stopped flipping the pages and tilted her head in thought.
The book was currently open to the scene where Elder White Crane said to Sect Leader Bai, “For the rest of our lives, we shall never meet again.”
“Xiao Bai really did pursue Little White Crane.”
‘Holy crap, that’s explosive news! Does that mean the rumors about the child are true too?!’
“But I don’t know much else beyond that.”
With that, Tiansi’s gaze returned to the book in her hands, seemingly immersing herself once again in the tragic love story.
In the end, he hadn’t managed to squeeze out any more useful information.
Nan Xi shrugged, feeling resigned.
Oh well. His infiltration of the Tianhe Sect wasn’t something that could be rushed overnight.
Besides, he still held the crumbling Tianquan Peak in his hands.
Once Tianquan Peak fell, the foundation of the Tianhe Sect would surely be shaken.
When that time came, he would work with the Wuxing Sect from the inside…
“What about you?”
“Ah, what?” Nan Xi started, snapping out of his thoughts.
Tiansi had closed the book at some point. She leaned back on the bed, watching Nan Xi lazily.
Her tone was flat, as if she were just making small talk, but for a split second, Nan Xi felt as if he could see his own reflection in her eyes.
“Have you ever pursued a girl?”
“Me?” Nan Xi pointed at his own nose.
“Yes.”
“I…” For once, Nan Xi showed a hint of hesitation.
In his nearly twenty years of cultivation, his goal had always been to become the Sect Master of the Wuxing Sect.
He had never considered the issue of a Dao companion.
Furthermore, there weren’t many girls Nan Xi could call familiar acquaintances.
It wasn’t like he could go and pursue the Saintess of Tianhe Sect.
The current Sect Master would kill him on the spot.
“Not yet,” Nan Xi shook his head with a wry smile after thinking it over. “I also don’t know how to pursue girls.”
“I can teach you.”
“Teach me?”
“Yes.”
Lord Tiansi held up the book. At some point, Abusive Love: You Are the Last Star in My Boundless Sky River had found its way back into her hands.
“The book teaches it. I can teach you.”
She stared intently at Nan Xi, her watery eyes looking incredibly serious.
“Then I must thank you, Lord Tiansi.” Nan Xi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He turned around and looked behind him.
“There are still quite a few books in the living room. I’ll pack them up later and have them sent to your residence.”
“Okay.”
Tiansi nodded and then lazily lay back down to continue studying her book.
From Nan Xi’s perspective, Tiansi’s chin was resting on a small mound made of two pillows, which pressed her full chest into an incredibly tempting curve.
‘See no evil, see no evil.’
After getting a bit of an eyeful, Nan Xi bowed to Tiansi and exited the inner room.
…
In the living room.
Nan Xi propped up his chin, his fingertip tapping the armrest over and over.
Through their recent conversation, he was certain that he had gained Lord Tiansi’s trust.
After all, private topics like discussing girls one liked wouldn’t come up between a superior and a subordinate who were strangers.
This layer of relationship would undoubtedly be a huge help in his mission to destroy the Tianhe Sect.
As for why he was able to gain Lord Tiansi’s initial trust…
Nan Xi had two preliminary theories.
First, it was related to the Collar around Lord Tiansi’s neck.
Clearly, he didn’t yet understand how the restriction of the Deity Transformation Stage had been bypassed.
Perhaps Lord Tiansi’s mind was damaged, allowing the Collar’s effect to take advantage of the opening.
Or maybe… Lord Tiansi only held the title of Supreme Elder and her actual cultivation hadn’t reached the Deity Transformation Stage.
This required further investigation.
However, regardless of which it was, Lord Tiansi’s title as Supreme Elder was right there, providing many opportunities to exploit.
As for the Collar’s principles of operation, based on their current mode of interaction, Nan Xi was already able to subtly influence Tiansi’s perception of him.
If he could gain even more of her trust, that would be even better.
The second theory, however, was much more terrifying.
“Many years ago, we turned an informant within the Tianhe Sect. Find an opportunity to contact him after you arrive.”
This was the instruction his master, the Turtle Immortal, had given him before his departure.
In that case, it was highly likely that Lord Tiansi was that informant.
Her previous initiative in wearing the Collar might have just been her acting along with him.
But that led to a paradox —
If they had a Supreme Elder as a mole, wouldn’t dismantling the Tianhe Sect be as easy as snapping one’s fingers?
Why would Nan Xi need to go through all the trouble of sneaking in and infiltrating as a Third-Level Elder?
This hypothesis was still doubtful.
…
There were still many suspicious points.
Nan Xi let out a long sigh and looked out the window.
Tonight, the wind had died down. The early winter snow had briefly retracted its ferocity.
Occasionally, a few crows would fly by, leaving behind raspy cries.
The moonlight was lonely.
He still had a long way to go.