Hui Ming: Qiu Tu, You've Been Exposed (Please Vote)

Even with Qiu Tu's composure, honed over who knew how many years, his heart still skipped a beat the instant he heard Star Gazing God King's words.

However, his acting had long reached the level of a best actor. Naturally, he would not lose his composure over a single sentence from Star Gazing God King.

So, he directly imitated Cloud Cat God King's usual manner, froze for a moment, looked at Star Gazing God King, and said, "What is Star Gazing talking about?"

"Qiu Tu? Who's that? Me?"

After voicing his doubt, Qiu Tu did not continue arguing.

For one thing, that would not fit Cloud Cat God King's habits. For another, continuing to argue would only make him seem agitated, as though he were confessing without being asked.

Still, after speaking, Qiu Tu glanced from the corner of his eye at the Crisis Countdown in the upper left of his vision.

There was no reaction at all.

She should be trying to bluff me.

Thinking that, Qiu Tu felt much more at ease.

After all, he had also carefully investigated and learned about Star Gazing God King over the past two days.

This woman truly seemed to have some remarkable abilities, and she was skilled in divination and prophecy.

Moreover, from what Qiu Tu understood, the Mystery Path was also the most elusive path, with the greatest number of methods.

Who knew whether she had really divined something?

But judging by his Crisis Intuition, she should be bluffing him.

If she had truly discovered his True Identity, Crisis Intuition could not possibly have remained completely silent.

Just as Qiu Tu was thinking that, Star Gazing God King spoke as well.

She lifted her eyes toward Qiu Tu. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders and hung casually behind her.

"Lord Qiu Tu... You don't actually think I'm bluffing you, do you?"

Her tone was certain, and her gaze was deep, as though she had truly already seen through Qiu Tu's identity.

Qiu Tu's expression did not change, but his heart gave another violent jolt.

What's going on? She isn't bluffing?

Could it be... my identity has really been exposed?

As he thought that, Qiu Tu felt that something was wrong.

But that's impossible.

I even deceived Hui Ming. I haven't revealed any flaws during this time, so how was I discovered?

Could she really have divined it?

Just as Qiu Tu was thinking this, Star Gazing slowly closed her eyes. Then, parting her vermilion lips slightly, she softly spoke toward Qiu Tu's side. "Your Highness, do you intend to keep watching the show?"

Your Highness?! The instant he heard Star Gazing God King's words, Qiu Tu's pupils contracted sharply. A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat instantly broke out across his body!

Because at the moment Star Gazing God King exposed everything, Qiu Tu suddenly realized that a woman had somehow appeared beside him—a devastatingly beautiful woman.

She wore a Black Python Robe, her skin pale as blood. Her narrow Phoenix Eyes held not the slightest warmth as she looked at him with the indifference and scrutiny of someone gazing down upon ants.

She had kept her hands behind her back without changing her posture in the slightest, as if she had been standing beside Qiu Tu for who knew how many days, except Qiu Tu had been unable to see her.

To be honest, Qiu Tu had experienced countless crises over the years, but at this moment, he still felt as though everything had completely slipped beyond his control.

However, Qiu Tu had weathered great storms before. After discovering that the situation was utterly out of control, he quickly calmed down.

He knew that since Princess Hui Ming had appeared before him, she must have truly caught him leaving clues and possessed solid evidence.

Thus, after remaining silent for two seconds, he neither denied nor admitted anything. Instead, he began gathering information as much as possible. So he asked, "Your Highness, when did you come to my side?"

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Princess Hui Ming looked at him calmly and slowly said, "You should be asking when I was not at your side."

Hearing the implication in Princess Hui Ming's words, Qiu Tu froze. A guess immediately formed in his heart. "So... ever since I left Chaos West Capital, you've actually been following me the entire time?"

Princess Hui Ming quietly glanced at Qiu Tu. She did not admit it, but her meaning could not have been clearer.

To be honest, although Qiu Tu had long known that High-level God Kings possessed heaven-defying methods, experiencing it firsthand still sent a chill through his heart.

She had followed him and silently observed him for five or six days? Yet he had not sensed even a trace of her, as though he simply could not see or perceive her at all?

What kind of terrifying method was that?

Just as Qiu Tu was thinking that, Princess Hui Ming spoke again.

With her hands behind her back, she walked before Qiu Tu and quietly examined him for a moment before saying, "Qiu Tu, honestly, during those days you spent with me, you performed excellently."

"I was almost completely deceived by you."

"However... High-level God Kings resonate with heaven and earth. We are incarnations of the Six Great Paths within this world, capable of sensing every point of disharmony."

"So... even though I did not discover the slightest flaw in you or find any issue at all."

"After thinking it over, I still had many suspicions about you."

"So, I ended the battle at Chaos West Capital as quickly as possible, then made time to follow you and observe you."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu's expression remained unchanged, but he suddenly understood. No wonder he had felt that the battle at Chaos West Capital had ended far too hastily. He had thought there must be some hidden reason or another purpose behind it.

So that other purpose had been him.

Hui Ming said, "And after following you, you were indeed extremely careful. You were almost exactly like Cloud Cat."

"However... you are not her."

"Furthermore, you did not use the methods you displayed before me, and you revealed many details that differed from Cloud Cat."

"That made me even more certain that there was something wrong with you."

"And only last night, when you met Dong Xue, gathered intelligence, and used abilities unrelated to Cloud Cat, did I completely confirm your identity."

Hearing Princess Hui Ming's words, Qiu Tu fell silent.

To be honest, Qiu Tu had already been extremely careful, and he had even deceived Princess Hui Ming at first. But he truly had not expected a High-level God King like Princess Hui Ming to possess such a method, allowing her to remain by his side and observe him all along.

That definitely was not invisibility—or rather, it was more than mere invisibility. It was a kind of "disregard."

In other words, even if she did nothing and simply stood quietly before him, he would unconsciously disregard her and be unable to perceive her existence in any way.

Because after Qiu Tu learned that Princess Hui Ming had been beside him this entire time, he recalled the past few days and suddenly realized that Princess Hui Ming really had always been there.

When he spoke with Ghost Face, Hui Ming had been there; when he quietly contemplated and made plans, Hui Ming had been there; when he interrogated Dong Xue and erased her memories, Hui Ming had still been there.

She had simply stood quietly beside him without speaking. Sometimes, she had even tilted her head to look at him.

He clearly could have seen, heard, touched, and sensed her, but... he had unconsciously disregarded her.

No wonder I was exposed.

No matter how careful and cautious Qiu Tu was, if he did not know someone was watching him, it was impossible for him not to reveal any flaws under such round-the-clock observation.

I can't say I lost unfairly.

After silently sighing in his heart, Qiu Tu began considering how to break the deadlock.

After his initial shock and panic, Qiu Tu had actually long since calmed down.

Because he had discovered an extremely important key to breaking the situation: his Crisis Countdown still had not appeared.

At first, Qiu Tu wondered whether his Golden Finger had malfunctioned. But after carefully analyzing it, he felt that perhaps it had not made a mistake.

The core of Crisis Countdown was a life-or-death crisis. It would only trigger when he encountered such a crisis.

And since Crisis Countdown had not triggered at all, there was a High Probability that Princess Hui Ming had no intention of killing him.

Combined with the task Princess Hui Ming had given him before leaving, as well as the things she had said to him, Qiu Tu guessed that Princess Hui Ming had always intended to recruit him and had never wanted to kill him at all.

Only after confirming that his life was not in danger did Qiu Tu relax considerably.

After all, his true body was here now, and he was facing a High-level God King. The slightest misstep could truly lead to disaster.

Therefore, he needed to increase his value in Hui Ming's eyes.

Thinking that, Qiu Tu formed a plan.

He looked toward Princess Hui Ming beside him, raised his hand, and lightly applauded twice. "Your Highness is indeed resourceful and exceptionally capable. I admit that I am inferior."

"Since that is the case, then if I'm not mistaken... Star Gazing God King—or rather, the real you—deliberately gave Ghost Face false intelligence as well?"

Following Qiu Tu's words, the entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Qiu Tu stood in the middle of the great hall. Star Gazing God King before him and Princess Hui Ming beside him both looked at Qiu Tu with surprise.

Clearly, they had not expected that after merely meeting them once, Qiu Tu would discover their greatest secret.

However, everyone present was intelligent. Princess Hui Ming also knew that since Qiu Tu dared to say it aloud, he must have been completely certain.

Thus, she did not deny it. Instead, she looked curiously at Qiu Tu and asked with authority, "How did you know?"

Hearing Princess Hui Ming's words, Qiu Tu inwardly breathed a slight sigh of relief. He knew his second guess had also been correct.

He looked at Princess Hui Ming, confidence on his face, and said, "Actually... at first, I did not suspect that."

"I merely noticed that the relationship between you, Star Gazing God King, and Ghost Face God King was very strange. There were discrepancies in many matters."

"And I also noticed your disdain for Ghost Face God King."

"So, at that time, I guessed that you and Star Gazing God King had an unusually close relationship."

"Thus... while interrogating Dong Xue, I deliberately asked about how frequently you contacted her."

"And you heard the result as well: Dong Xue said that you hardly ever visited Star Gazing Tower, yet Star Gazing God King had continually been carrying out the tasks you assigned."

"That shows that there must be a secret channel of communication between you and Star Gazing God King, one unknown to outsiders."

"However... that also raised a question."

"Why would you and Star Gazing need a secret channel?"

"Whether it was a personal relationship or official business, it seemed that nothing between you had reached the point where strict secrecy was necessary."

"So... I made a bold guess. Perhaps your 'secret channel' was not established afterward, but something you were born with."

"Following that line of thought, I recalled the information on Star Gazing God King and Your Highness."

"The time Star Gazing God King appeared was roughly the same as when you became a High-level God King."

"And her status within the Royal Court was extraordinarily lofty. Even His Majesty tacitly accepted the rumors involving her and protected her."

At that point, Qiu Tu paused. He first looked at Hui Ming, then at Star Gazing, who was seated on a futon, before continuing, "Of course, up to this point, everything was only my speculation."

"However... Star Gazing God King's attitude toward Your Highness just now further proved my point."

"Given Your Highness's position in the Royal Court, aside from His Majesty, everyone treats you with the utmost respect and would not dare show the slightest discourtesy."

"Yet... Star Gazing God King ordered Your Highness to act as if commanding a subordinate. She did not even rise or bow."

"That shows that in her heart, she considers her own status higher than yours."

"That is why I inferred that she is not merely one with you. Perhaps... she of the Mystery Path is the true body of the real Princess Hui Ming."

After hearing Qiu Tu's analysis, the scene fell utterly silent.

A moment later, light applause sounded in front of Qiu Tu.

Qiu Tu followed the sound and saw that Star Gazing God King had somehow risen to her feet and was looking at him while applauding.

Complex star maps were embroidered in silver thread upon her white robes. As she clapped, those star maps seemed to flow slowly.

She said, "It seems I truly did not misjudge you."

"You really are intelligent."

By saying that, she had practically admitted Qiu Tu's guess.

At that moment, she continued, "So... carefully consider my offer. Join our Royal Court."

"With you here, our Royal Court will surely rise to become the strongest force."

At this point, Princess Hui Ming paused before saying, "And I am completely sincere."

"As long as you join the Royal Court, I will not only fully help you and your companions improve your strength and achieve High-level God King status as soon as possible."

"But I can also hand Mad War God King's position over to you entirely."

"Compared with your awkward position in Order, and the frustration of constantly being plotted against, the Royal Court clearly treats you far better."

"Do you really intend to risk your life for a force that never valued you in the first place?"

Hearing Hui Ming's words, Qiu Tu froze for a moment, and a Pensive Expression involuntarily appeared on his face—