Chapter 1286: Toying With

Chapter 1286: Chapter 1286: Toying With

Pei Yan’s unexpected behavior startled the three of Ding Zhiyi, making them unsure of how to respond. Pei Yan pushed off the table, leaping from behind to the front, then sat diagonally on the table, looking at the three with a mischievous smile, "Didn’t you complain that the White Deer Institute abandoned past friendships and martial ethics at the slightest pressure and handed you over? Don’t you want revenge? Good! I’ll give you a chance! Just say you were coerced by the White Deer Institute, that you didn’t actually come out of the Teleportation Array, but someone else did. Say this, and you’ve achieved your purpose! As for the rest, you don’t have to worry. I guarantee the White Deer Institute will be completely annihilated because of your words. How does that sound? Isn’t it what you desire?"

After hearing Pei Yan’s words, the room erupted in suppressed laughter. Even these seasoned veterans couldn’t help but chuckle at Ding Zhiyi’s bewildered expression after listening to Pei Yan’s proposal.

"Hehehe, Pei Yan is quite interesting, employing reverse tactics to catch his opponents off guard," Mo Baiqi whispered with a smile to Liu Xuanji, "But this alone won’t make these three follow his lead, nor will it convince everyone here."

"Let’s keep watching; I believe Pei Yan wouldn’t cause such a commotion for nothing!" Liu Xuanji felt much more relaxed upon seeing Pei Yan’s moves. Their situation couldn’t get much worse, but tonight Pei Yan might bring a turning point.

Ding Zhiyi, no fool himself, thought if he immediately refused Pei Yan’s offer, their accidental involvement in the assassination due to a deal with the White Deer Institute would be an unfounded lie based on resentment. Thinking this, Ding Zhiyi internally conceded Pei Yan was quite formidable, then feigned calmness, lifting his head with a sneer, "You want me to frame the White Deer Institute?"

"Sort of," Pei Yan nodded, responding openly.

"Hehehe, you want us to help topple such a significant sect, what’s in it for us?" Ding Zhiyi engaged in verbal sparring with Pei Yan.

"Don’t you want revenge?"

"Of course, we want revenge! But after doing such a significant thing for you, we’d end up dead! Why bother?" Mi Langcai cut in, eyeing Pei Yan with skepticism.

"Oh! Looking for incentives? Fine!" Pei Yan clapped his hands and jumped down from the table, standing before the three, sweeping his gaze over them with a smile, "I’ll give you benefits! Just follow my instructions, and once successful, I’ll ensure you don’t die! But you mustn’t engage in your previous activities, disappear and stop roaming the world!"

After speaking, Pei Yan continued to entice the still-dazed trio, "What? Not satisfied? How about this: I’ll find a secluded place rich in Spiritual Qi for you to live in once you vanish, where you can indulge in leisure, even have offspring with blooming trees if desired! I’ll make arrangements! Live comfortably until death, sounds fair, right?"

"Uh—uh—why should we believe you’ll fulfill everything you’ve said?" Ding Zhiyi stammered at Pei Yan’s increased offer before asking.

"Don’t believe in my power on the Daoist Plane? Fine!" Pei Yan signaled towards the door.

Soon, the door to another chamber opened, drawing the attention of the prominent figures in the pavilion. Mei Simiao entered the compartment where the Embroidered Robe Envoys sat, whispered a few words to the personnel inside, and then Commander-in-Chief Mao Xiang rose and followed Mei Simiao out of the chamber. Not long after, everyone saw the interrogation room door open with Mao Xiang striding in.

This was also the first time Pei Yan saw Mao Xiang, Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Robe Envoy, making Pei Yan examine him closely. Mao Xiang wore the specially tailored uniform of the Embroidered Robe Envoy, his figure tall but plain-looking, with a square face exuding a humble simplicity, fitting the aesthetic of Pei Yan’s grandmother’s generation. Unexpectedly, the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Robe Envoy was like a farmer, reminding Pei Yan of the Chief Instructor Ni who once guided him similar in demeanor. ℯℯ𝑙.

Seeing Pei Yan looking his way, Mao Xiang slightly nodded as a greeting. Pei Yan snapped back to reality, smiling in return, then turned to the trio of Ding Zhiyi, gesturing towards Mao Xiang, "This person is Mao Xiang, Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Robe Envoy. You all should know the status of the Embroidered Robe Envoy within the Immortal Palace. He pledges this to you; it holds weight, doesn’t it?"

"Mr. Pei, what was said earlier is what I say as well. I will fulfill all promised commitments, and if I break my word, may my Dao heart be unstable, leading me into madness, never attaining enlightenment." Mao Xiang solemnly assured the trio, echoing Pei Yan’s words.

With Mao Xiang swearing upon his cultivation path, it was a heavy oath on the Daoist Plane. Ding Zhiyi and his companions were cornered and looked at each other in uncertainty; finally, Ding Zhiyi stepped forward to probe, "Can I ask why? We’ve heard the disturbances in the Immortal Palace a few days ago. Aren’t you at odds with Hongjun Sword Furnace? Why suddenly target the White Deer Institute?"

"Yes! I have a vendetta with Hongjun Sword Furnace!" Pei Yan said, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and placing it between his lips, resignedly, "But we couldn’t find any leverage, nothing in their residence! Only the White Deer Institute seemed flawed with a misuse of the Teleportation Array. Your Spirit Lord wants me to root out a traitor in the Immortal Palace, but how easy is that? Every family has dirt, but none have concrete evidence. Luckily, Hongjun Sword Furnace wisely sought me out post-event, promising compensation, agreeing to support the Embroidered Robe Envoy as an official entity within the Immortal Palace. So, finding a scapegoat in the White Deer Institute isn’t a bad fit!"

Pei Yan’s explanation furrowed his audience’s brows; quick-witted Xu Wendong pondered momentarily and then blurted, "No, wait! Wasn’t it said the teleportation array of Hongjun Sword Furnace has already been discovered? We..."

"Third!" Before Xu Wendong could finish, Ding Zhiyi interrupted sharply, bumping his shoulder hard enough to remind him. Xu Wendong realized his blunder and shut his mouth, then glared venomously at Pei Yan, who was smirking with a cigarette poised in his mouth.

"What did you just say? What’s up with Hongjun Sword Furnace? Colonel Mao, did you hear clearly?" Pei Yan turned his head to Mao Xiang, smilingly asking.

"I heard clearly! He said Hongjun Sword Furnace’s teleportation array has been found out!" Mao Xiang scratched his brow awkwardly, responding with a wry smile.