Inside the Shrine.
Zheng Zhaoling watched Cui Hao's performance in silence.
She watched this man, who had devised schemes within this tiny temple and toyed with all of Cloud Dream Marsh in the palm of his hand, now acting like a little boy who had only just gained his wits.
"Sir, can't you let me look cool just once?"
"I've treated you with the utmost courtesy all this way. I don't just call you sir-in my heart and through my actions, I've treated you as the greatest sir of all!"
"Sir! Just think about it. When you let a little divine light slip out and shock the person opposite us, that isn't recognition of me. It's recognition of you!"
"On the surface, I'm the one looking cool, but in reality, it's you!"
"Why can't you understand this pure heart of mine?"
Cui Hao's tone was earnest, his expression even more urgent. If only he hadn't had one foot planted on the scabbard and both hands gripping the hilt, veins bulging as he yanked with all his strength...
Zheng Zhaoling felt that Cui Hao did have something of a point. At least he sounded quite sincere.
"Stop pulling." Zheng Zhaoling sounded rather helpless too. "I know this is your master's divine weapon now. Just tell me who he is. Can't I simply believe you?"
Cui Hao gritted his teeth.
"No! Even my good sir can't mess with me! Only my master gets to do that!"
Zheng Zhaoling was rather at a loss for words at this sight, then said:
"Is your master Chu Xingchen?"
It wasn't as though everything was unrelated. On closer examination of Cui Hao's plan, its core was that she had to come to Cloud Dream Marsh. This also fit with Chu Xingchen's sudden, strange actions.
Besides, to