Even after Tong Mingshan left, Shi Chun continued chuckling to himself for quite a while.
As for the other two, An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, he waited a long time, but neither ever came.
He did not go looking for them, nor would he. There was no need. The best approach was to act as though he knew nothing.
In truth, he had long since grown accustomed to accomplices abandoning him. If they betrayed him, it could only mean he had failed to handle things properly.
When major interests were at stake, denying people a choice and demanding loyalty on moral grounds alone was not their problem. It was his.
If the venture succeeded, betrayal did not matter. If it failed, no one could be made to stay.
In the lobby of the Divine Fire Palace inn, Bai Shuchuan came barging in with two fellow disciples, looking around until he spotted the corridor leading to the guest rooms and headed straight for it.
Two attendants appeared and held out their hands to stop the three of them, saying politely, "Please show us your room tokens."
What room tokens? They were not staying here. Bai Shuchuan said, "We're here to see someone."
The attendant smiled. "Sorry, only guests of the Divine Fire Palace are allowed inside."
Bai Shuchuan's expression changed. "Why didn't I hear about this before?"
"The rule wasn't in place before," the attendant replied. "The proprietor just sent word to establish it."
Jieyun Mountain might be a prestigious major sect, but disciples still living on their regular stipends could hardly throw away several thousand gold just to see someone. Unhappy as he was, Bai Shuchuan could do nothing but turn away indignantly.
He had come to see Shi Chun. Whether to vent his anger or take revenge, he first