Mountain Top Dojo.
Before the Old Huai Tree stood several empty wine jars, and the air still carried a faint scent of alcohol. Yulian and the Sanhua cat were playing by the pool some distance away. The Sanhua cat hated water, yet Yulian always used it to tease the Sanhua cat.
Wang Ping sat before the tea table, where a chess game had reached its endgame. His gaze rested on the Mask of Faces inside the Wooden Box, but his mind was on the conversation he had just had with Zhi Gong and Rongyang.
Rongyang had agreed to the matter with scarcely any consideration, while Zhi Gong had said he would stand on their side.
Now, they only needed to wait for news from Rongyang.
Wang Ping waited just like that. When the sun was about to set, Rongyang sent word through the Communication Token, saying that the plan would proceed as usual.
Upon hearing the news, Wang Ping instinctively gave a "heh-heh" laugh, drawing the attention of Yulian and the Sanhua cat, who were resting in the distance. Yulian then rode a cloud over and asked, "What good news is it?"
Wang Ping rose to his feet and had the nearby waiting Puppets clear away the empty wine jars before the Old Huai Tree. He also sent a voice transmission to Liu Shuang, telling her to come to the Mountain Top Dojo.
In fewer than several dozen breaths, Liu Shuang descended before the Old Huai Tree in a streak of light.
Wang Ping did not conceal anything from Liu Shuang. After explaining the matter clearly, he emphasized, "Pressuring Linshui Prefecture is important. This is not for show—you need to understand that. Also, only you yourself need know of this matter."
He told Liu Shuang the truth because he wanted