Chapter 24: Asking for a Favor
Page 1 of 3
Wang Genyuan opened the door, but there was no one outside.
Butler Fang glanced around and said, “Brother Wang, you are being overly cautious. It was probably just the servants clattering plates and bowls while serving the food.”
He nodded, returned to the room, and continued speaking with Butler Fang.
In the adjoining room, Wanqu Yue lowered her voice and said to Shao Chengling, “I discovered that the butler of our household is plotting to harm me.”
“What?” Shao Chengling’s round eyes widened.
“He assigned a guard to me, claiming it was for my protection, but in truth he only wants to monitor my every move...”
“The man who follows you everywhere?” Shao Chengling asked after thinking for a moment.
Wanqu Yue nodded.
“Then shall I deal with him for you, Sister?” The corners of Shao Chengling’s mouth lifted into a mysterious smile.
“No, no, no.” Wanqu Yue hurriedly stopped him. “He has his reasons. From what I gathered from the butler, Little Pu’s godmother offended him and was imprisoned. So he forced Little Pu to work for him, promising to rescue his godmother if he agreed. Otherwise, he would make sure they could never see each other again.”
“What a scoundrel!” Shao Chengling slammed his fist onto the table. “What do you intend to do, Sister?”
Wanqu Yue sighed, her eyes filled with pity. “I want to have someone investigate the whereabouts of his godmother and rescue her.”
“Then let me help you, Sister.” He blinked his puppy-dog eyes, their depths brimming with sincerity and innocence.
Wanqu Yue hesitated and did not answer at once.
Shao Chengling pouted and sniffed aggrievedly. “Sister... don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do, of course I do!” Wanqu Yue’s small face flushed after being found out. Embarrassed, she hurriedly waved her hands in explanation.
A smug air spread across Shao Chengling’s brows and the corners of his eyes. “Hehe, don’t worry. As long as it happens in Prosper City, there is nothing I cannot find out!”
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Little Dog-Hole Brother!” Wanqu Yue clasped her fists in thanks.
“Sister, call me Chengling!” Shao Chengling pouted again. Anyone who saw him like that would surely feel tempted to tease him.
“Hahaha, sorry, it just slipped out. Thank you, little brother Chengling. Oh, and don’t tell anyone that you know me.” She patted him on the shoulder.
“Why?” he asked, puzzled.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain it to you slowly another time,” Wanqu Yue said.
“But if I receive any news, how am I supposed to find you?” Shao Chengling nodded, then asked another question.
“How about this? Three days from now, come wait for me at the Ten-Thousand Treasures Restaurant. Shall we meet here again?”
“Good. No problem.”
The two agreed on a time to meet and then went their separate ways.
Wanqu Yue thought to herself that three days from now would happen to be the day Wanqu Feng and the others were going to Jueyin Temple. They certainly would not invite her along.
That way, she would not need to appear in person. As for this matter, she still had to find an opportunity to tell Gongcheng Ling.
[Main Quest 2-3, Requesting Assistance, completed. Main Quest 2-4, The Bird in the Tree, unlocked.]
[Quest 2-3 reward: Ten Breath-Holding Pills. After being swallowed and used with a special breathing technique, they allow the user to hold their breath for a certain period of time and become immune to inhaled drugs.]
Wanqu Yue: “This reward came at exactly the right time. I was just wondering how to warn Gongcheng Ling to be on his guard.”
After returning to the manor, Butler Wang summoned Little Pu and questioned her about Wanqu Yue’s activities that day.
Little Pu described everything in minute detail, beginning with Wanqu Yue’s departure from the manor. But when she mentioned going to the Ten-Thousand Treasures Restaurant, Butler Wang’s expression suddenly changed. He asked warily, “Did she see me? Did she leave at any point during the meal?”
“No.” Little Pu hesitated before shaking her head.
“Are you certain?” Butler Wang still could not bring himself to trust her completely.
Hearing his tone, Little Pu guessed that he too had been at the Ten-Thousand Treasures Restaurant. Though she did not know what he intended to do, she...
Even as she wavered, Little Pu still chose not to mention that Wanqu Yue had left for a while.
“If you don’t believe me, send someone else to watch her. You needn’t come and question me. Besides, my mother is still in your hands. How could I dare lie to you?”
Seeing the certainty on Little Pu’s face, Butler Wang reflected on her words and found them reasonable. Her mother was her weakness. With the old woman in his hands, controlling Pu Lada would be effortless.
He waved for Little Pu to leave, then went to the main hall to discuss the trip to Jueyin Temple three days later with Wanqu Feng.
“Very well. We shall do as he said.”
“However... Butler Wang, once the matter is settled, there will be no need to keep Fang Qingquan alive.”
Wanqu Feng toyed with the weapon in his hand as though he were discussing something utterly ordinary.
“My lord, what did you say...?” Wang Genyuan, standing below the steps, instantly broke into a cold sweat. He could hardly believe his ears.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
“If we do not eliminate him, he may use this matter to threaten us for the rest of our lives. I will not allow any uncertainty to appear on my path to promotion.”
Wanqu Feng selected a dagger from among the many weapons and gently wiped it clean.
“But... how are we supposed to explain it?” Wang Genyuan asked cautiously.
“Explain? What is there to explain? He has been embezzling the household servants’ monthly wages, and he has surely pocketed no small amount from our various purchases. Add to that everything we have given him... When a man blinded by money kills someone for their wealth, what could be more ordinary?”
Wanqu Feng’s gaze sharpened as he extended the freshly polished dagger toward Butler Wang, its point facing outward.
Butler Wang accepted the weapon with both hands. Wanqu Feng continued, “Use this. I took it from the chief of the Red Sand Gang years ago, when we wiped them out. I never imagined it would come in handy. The Red Sand Gang was notorious throughout the land. No matter how thoroughly they investigate, they will never trace this back to us.”
As he stared at the dagger pointed toward him, Butler Wang felt a moment of panic. He could not tell whether Wanqu Feng was making an indirect warning.
Over the years, he had helped Wanqu Feng commit no shortage of vile deeds. When he was no longer useful, would he too be killed in this manner?
Seeing Butler Wang standing there with trembling legs, lost in thought, Wanqu Feng called out to him. Then he smiled and said, “Butler Wang, surely you are not worried that I might one day turn this blade on you?”
Wang Genyuan forced his lips into an awkward smile and replied, “Of course not. My lord has always treated me well. If you had not taken me in all those years ago, I would have long since been left to rot in the wilderness.”
“Put your mind at ease. You are my trusted confidant. Why would I harm you? Just carry out the tasks I assign, and in time you shall enjoy endless wealth and honor.” He patted Wang Genyuan on the shoulder and offered him a few words of comfort.
Only after leaving the main hall did Wang Genyuan recover from what had just happened. His back was drenched in sweat, and his entire body continued to tremble.
He was truly terrified. The blade pointed at him seemed certain to pierce his chest the very next moment.
To Wanqu Feng, anyone could become a stepping stone on the road to office—a complete stranger, a brother who had shared life-and-death trials with him, even his wife or children.
And Wang Genyuan was merely a butler. Worse still, he knew far too many of Wanqu Feng’s shameful secrets. If he were in Wanqu Feng’s position, he would never leave such a threat at his side either.
Wang Genyuan thought that he had better make his own arrangements soon. Otherwise, he had no idea when the dagger from today would appear against his own body.
Page 3 of 3