Qingzhou City, the Gu Family residence.
The residence was not large, but it enjoyed a quiet setting. Anyone well informed in Qingzhou City knew that an important figure of the Gu Family lived here.
There were no rare flowers or precious plants in the courtyard, only a wisteria trellis that spread across the wall and an old well whose bottom had never been seen.
A middle-aged man with graying temples sat on a stone stool beside the well. Holding a white cloth, he slowly wiped a sheathed longsword.
His movements were unhurried, each pass painstakingly thorough, as though he were polishing a porcelain heirloom.
"Your Highness, the failure at Crossing Peak Stronghold was due to my inadequate planning."
The middle-aged swordsman spoke in a voice as steady as the movements with which he wiped his sword, yet threaded with coldness.
Across from him sat a young man in a moon-white robe.
It was Xia Haoyun, who had previously appeared at Crossing Peak Stronghold.
The eleventh prince of Great Yu held a teacup, rubbing the patterns on its surface with his fingertips. At Gu Zhaohuang's words, he looked up at the azure sky, then smiled.
"There is no need to say that, Elder Gu."
"Ultimately, we made our preparations too hastily."
Xia Haoyun rose and walked over to the wisteria. Lightly stroking its ridged surface, he said:
"The Nine Evil Sect intended to stir up trouble at Crossing Peak Stronghold, Qing Province wanted to use the opportunity to lay a trap, and I hurried over as well. With the news passing through one layer after another, how could someone as shrewd as Shang Yu fail to grow suspicious?"
He paused.
"It was only natural that he stayed away."
Gu Zhaohuang said nothing. He merely stopped wiping his longsword in silence.
Xia