A Mouth Full of Lies

"What!" Gui Xiao furiously tore the sheet of paper in his hand to shreds.

He had only been out on patrol for a short while when someone delivered him an anonymous letter. Only after opening it did Gui Xiao learn that his trusted subordinate, Zhu Man Cang, had been kidnapped.

And the culprit made no effort to hide his identity, even signing his name—Mu Feng—at the bottom.

Expressions flickered repeatedly across Gui Xiao's pale gray face as he asked in confusion, "What is this supposed to be? Retaliation for the provocation from a few days ago?"

He took a deep breath and calmed himself. Perhaps this was not entirely bad news for him. As the Holy Spirit Cult's Holy Son, Mu Feng had secretly kidnapped one of the cult's altar masters to vent his personal grudge.

Once this is dealt with, I'll report everything he did to the Cult Master. Even if nothing can be done to him, the Cult Master will likely strip him of his authority entirely. Then won't the Holy Church be mine alone? Having thought it through, Gui Xiao was delighted.

Looking at the scraps scattered across the ground, Gui Xiao gave a soft laugh. He would certainly attend Mu Feng's "invitation." This desperate, reckless act of his had undoubtedly pushed him to everyone's opposite side.

If he went to rescue Zhu Man Cang, then once this matter came to light, no matter the outcome, he would leave everyone with the impression that he cared for his subordinates.

To him, Mu Feng's dying act of defiance was nothing more than an impulsive, thoughtless tantrum. Gui Xiao sneered inwardly. "In the end, he's just a brat."

With a wave of his right hand, ghostly green flames rose from the scraps on the ground and burned every trace of the letter away. He then leaped toward the place Mu Feng had designated.

Mu Feng tied the unconscious Zhu Man Cang to a tree, then said to Little White, "Set the traps here. I've already told Gui Xiao this location. He'll probably arrive before long."

Little White sounded somewhat taken aback as she asked, "But didn't Your Highness say last time—"

Mu Feng cut her off. "Last time, I intended to spare his life. But you saw it just now. Zhu Man Cang is merely a minor altar master, yet he possesses such wealth. How could he have amassed such enormous riches without exploiting others? If Gui Xiao continues allowing these parasites to devour the Holy Church, when will my plan ever come to fruition?"

Mu Feng's impassioned speech was righteous and stirring. When he finished, he stared intently at the two before him.

Suddenly, they moved.

Little White clasped her fists. "Yes, Your Highness."

The tense Mu Feng finally let out a breath of relief, while Bi Ji, who had already concealed herself nearby, looked at him with helpless amusement.

During their secret meeting, Mu Feng had suddenly decided to test their loyalty, which was why the earlier scene had taken place. Clearly, both of them had passed.

Bi Ji knew perfectly well that Mu Feng wanted to "kill" Gui Xiao not for the grand cause of the Holy Spirit Cult he claimed, but entirely for his own path to godhood.

"At such a young age, he's already full of lies. Not a word out of his mouth is true." Bi Ji suddenly recalled the promise Mu Feng had made to her. Remembering how he had put on the same righteous act back then, she could not help wondering, Could this brat have been lying to me then too?

Bi Ji quickly shook her head and dismissed the thought. Mu Feng had sworn upon his martial soul back then. If he broke his promise, he himself would suffer severe backlash. Yet what Bi Ji did not know was that Mu Feng merely intended to paint her a pretty picture first. Once he became a god, everything could be discussed later.

For a genius, nothing was more tragic than dying before reaching greatness. Every grand promise he made meant one more person safeguarding his safety. Why not? If he had the chance, Mu Feng wanted to make a few more promises and bind a few more people to his chariot.

Bi Ji silently thought from the shadows, Still, I really need to be more careful when speaking with this little fellow in the future. Anyone who truly treats him like a child will suffer a terrible fall.

Meanwhile, Gui Xiao, who regarded Mu Feng as nothing more than a greenhorn, was on his way.

Sitting in the back row of the classroom, Nanmen Yun'er quietly said to Yu Tianhuang, "Don't you think Big Brother Mu is very mysterious?"

Whenever Mu Feng was not in the classroom sitting with Ning Tian in the front row, Nanmen Yun'er still liked pulling Di Qiuli to sit in the back. That way, she could eat snacks without the teacher noticing.

"Why?"

Nanmen Yun'er explained, "Look, it's only been a month since school began, but Big Brother Mu has barely attended class. And whenever he is in the classroom, he is always talking with Ning Tian. I have no idea when the two of them became so close."

Yu Tianhuang thought for a moment. "That is true. And Brother Mu often isn't in the dormitory either. He always seems to be going into Shrek City. I don't know what he's busy with."

"Sigh." Nanmen Yun'er sighed, then slumped her entire body onto the desk. Turning toward the other side, she lazily asked, "Qiu Li, you knew Big Brother Mu before school started. Do you know what he's been busy with?"

"I don't."

"Even you don't know?" Nanmen Yun'er suggested, "Why don't we ask Ning Tian what Big Brother Mu has been talking to her about?"

Nanmen Yun'er added, "Then we'll know what Big Brother Mu has been busy with lately."

As she spoke, she did not forget to poke Di Qiuli.

"No."

Nanmen Yun'er tugged at Di Qiuli's sleeve and pleaded, "Let's just ask. Just once. Aren't you curious?"

Di Qiuli answered decisively, "No."

"Fine." Nanmen Yun'er drooped her head and continued listening to the teacher's dull explanation of martial souls below.

"Didn't you say you weren't going?" Yu Tianhuang asked in confusion as Nanmen Yun'er dragged him off to find Ning Tian.

Nanmen Yun'er wrinkled her delicate nose. "Qiu Li said that. I never did. Don't slander me."

Yu Tianhuang asked doubtfully, "Why are you so determined to find out where Brother Mu has been?"

"Qiu Li has been in a bad mood lately. It must have something to do with Big Brother Mu, but we never get to see him," Nanmen Yun'er said. "If we figure out what Big Brother Mu has been busy with lately, maybe we can help. Then he won't have to run around everywhere like this."

"This—"

Seeing Yu Tianhuang hesitate, Nanmen Yun'er thought he was about to refuse. She widened her eyes and glared at him. "Don't forget that Qiu Li helped you win that Profound Water Pill."

Yu Tianhuang waved his hands and explained, "That's not what I mean. I just think it may not be appropriate for the two of us to meddle in someone else's private matters. Besides, she doesn't want to go ask Ning Tian."

"Hmph." Nanmen Yun'er crossed her arms. "Qiu Li and I aren't ordinary friends. And you know her personality. Whenever something involves Big Brother Mu, she always says the opposite of what she means. In reality, she's the one who wants to know most of all."

Seeing that Nanmen Yun'er could come up with an argument for anything, Yu Tianhuang agreed to go find Ning Tian with her. They chose mealtime, bid Di Qiuli farewell under the excuse that they had something to do, and quietly followed behind Ning Tian.

Their gazes remained openly fixed on Ning Tian. As a qualified guard, Wu Feng quickly and keenly noticed the two following them.

She knew the two had a close relationship with Mu Feng. Since Wu Feng did not think highly of Mu Feng, she coldly asked them, "What are you doing?"