815: The Grand Gift (Part Two) [Please Vote for the Monthly Ticket]

Qin Li's bluntness left Shen Tang at a loss for words.

He had the thick skin to pull it off without a hint of embarrassment.

In the end, Cui Xiao had to step in and break the awkward silence. "Gongsu, didn't you have something to discuss with our lord?"

Shen Tang cleared her throat and took the offered out.

"Right, right, business first."

Qin Li made no attempt to press the matter. At Shen Tang's gesture, he took the seat beside her. Cui Xiao rose and called for someone to bring tea. Once the three of them were seated, Shen Tang took a sip. "I've received the 'grand gift' you mentioned, Gongsu. There's just one thing I can't make heads or tails of."

"Please ask away, Lord Shen."

"How did you know about that place?"

"A strategist has his ways."

Most leaders of other factions would have left it at that. It was an unwritten rule in the field: as long as a leader knew that her subordinates could get the job done, she didn't need to know how they did it. Besides, subordinates needed a veil of mystery.

But Shen Tang was contrary to the bone. Qin Li wasn't her subordinate right now—he was her partner.

And wasn't honesty the foundation of any partnership?

"Is it your Way of the Scholar?"

Qin Li's gaze remained calm. "Did Qi Shan tell you?"

Shen Tang had the answer, but shook her head and replied honestly, "Yuan Liang only knows the 'what,' not the 'why,' when it comes to your Way of the Scholar. He doesn't know the specifics either. I guessed because I've seen a lot."

Qin Li gave a faint snort, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Of course, he hadn't intended to hide it anyway.

He had spent years with Wu