Preparing for a Win-Win

"Director Wu, what did you need me for?"

Two days later, early in the morning, Chen Yi stepped into the Western Depot and saw its director, Wu Qingsheng, wearing a gloomy expression.

"Come with me."

Puzzled, Chen Yi followed Director Wu upstairs to the study, where someone was already waiting.

It was Li Hundred Household of the Eastern Depot.

"Greetings, Chen Hundred Household."

Li Hundred Household cupped his hands.

Chen Yi returned the gesture, puzzled.

Why was someone from the Eastern Depot here?

Director Wu walked behind the desk. A moment later, a red memorial was flung down in front of Chen Yi.

Chen Yi neither betrayed a reaction nor bent down. He extended a foot and deftly flicked up the raised edge of the memorial. It flew into the air before fluttering down into his hand.

The entire sequence flowed seamlessly.

This was the beauty of lightness techniques and footwork.

Witnessing this, Director Wu's eyelid twitched.

Exquisite footwork and steady breathing-the bearing of a martial artist.

But hadn't he been a complete novice, a notorious all-show-and-no-substance weakling?

This fellow Chen had only come into the public eye a month ago, and he had mastered such exquisite footwork in that single month...

Had he stumbled upon some extraordinary opportunity and received guidance from an expert, or... had he been concealing his abilities all along?

Director Wu frowned slightly, his thoughts tangled. Previously, although he had treated this Hundred Household backed by the Lin faction courteously, he had never taken him particularly seriously.

Chen Yi opened the memorial and glanced at it, then at Li Hundred Household of the Eastern Depot. He immediately understood the situation.

The Eastern Depot's director had submitted a memorial accusing him to the Empress Dowager, who governed as regent. At the end, it explicitly stated that Chen Yi, a Hundred Household of the Western Depot, had shown contempt for the law by taking a maid away for interrogation without authorization.

Seeing that Chen Yi had read the memorial, Director Wu spoke.

"I intercepted this memorial at the Directorate of Ceremonial. It hasn't reached Her Majesty the Empress Dowager yet. But how long can I keep holding it back? In terms of rank and office, Director Xue is a brush-holding eunuch, while I'm merely Sixth Grade."

Holding the memorial, Chen Yi considered briefly.

At that moment, Li Hundred Household of the Eastern Depot spoke up.

"Chen Hundred Household, Director Xue is in a difficult position over this too. We all serve the imperial family. We share both glory and disgrace. Reporting you would hardly bring honor to us brothers in the Eastern Depot either."

Chen Yi smiled and asked,

"Then what should we do now?"

Director Wu said coldly,

"Naturally, you'll return that maid to the Xiang Prince's Residence, and that will settle the matter."

Before Chen Yi could respond, Li Hundred Household spoke first.

"Chen Hundred Household is a grown man who merely acted on impulse. In my opinion, there's still room for discussion."

Listening to their exchange, Chen Yi narrowed his eyes, picking up on something.

One was playing the villain, the other the peacemaker.

The question was whether they had deliberately arranged this, or whether Director Wu was being used.

Director Wu said coldly,

"Discussion? What else is there to discuss?"

Li Hundred Household promptly replied,

"Director Xue says we should leave each other some room. He doesn't want to offend the Western Depot either. He can withdraw this memorial."

With that, Li Hundred Household turned to Chen Yi, his tone threatening.

"However, Chen Hundred Household, you must be cautious in the future. Don't cross the Eastern Depot or break its rules. A mere Hundred Household has no business interfering in the Eastern Depot's affairs."

Chen Yi listened in silence, his face expressionless.

Director Wu also heard the threat in Li Hundred Household's words and sensed something amiss.

Why did it feel... as though this Li Hundred Household was using him to play the villain?

Never mind, never mind. Whatever role he played, it was fine as long as he was serving the imperial family.

Seeing Chen Yi remain silent, Li Hundred Household couldn't help sneering inwardly. He said,

"Chen Hundred Household, I know you're young and full of vigor, but being too aggressive is ultimately no good. Charging around on sheer impulse will only bring disaster upon you. One wrong step leads to another.

"Forgive me for offering a warning on the Acting Depot Lord's behalf: if you keep stirring up trouble everywhere, anyone who wants you dead will find it very easy."

At those final words, Director Wu frowned.

Realizing he had gone too far, Li Hundred Household adopted an earnest expression and tone.

"Rather than that, you should pull back in time. Our Eastern and Western Depots are brother institutions, with a longstanding bond. If our two depots maintain good relations, we can lend each other a hand..."

Li Hundred Household was only halfway through speaking.

A kindly smile suddenly appeared on Chen Yi's face.

"You're absolutely right, Hundred Household."

Li Hundred Household froze, seemingly not expecting Chen Yi to agree so readily.

"Right... about what?"

Chen Yi raised his hands in a fist-and-palm salute and said sincerely,

"The Eastern and Western Depots are brother institutions and should support one another. I inadvertently offended the Eastern Depot before, and I'm fortunate that Director Xue was forgiving. With the Demonic Cult wreaking havoc in the Capital City, I certainly won't break the Eastern Depot's rules again..."

Li Hundred Household was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Chen Yi to be so agreeable.

"Since the matter is settled, you may leave."

Director Wu spoke.

Once they left the study, Li Hundred Household was about to depart when Chen Yi caught hold of him.

"Li Hundred Household, I have something to tell you."

Li Hundred Household stopped.

"May I ask... what it is?"

Chen Yi lowered his voice.

"I wonder whether Director Xue knows... about the Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden?"

Li Hundred Household looked utterly bewildered and immediately said,

"Tell me more."

Hearing that he didn't know the details, Chen Yi spoke slowly.

"With Director Wu absent, I'll speak frankly.

"The reason I intercepted and killed those Demonic Cult members wasn't for personal gain. It was also for your Eastern Depot's sake."

Li Hundred Household asked doubtfully,

"For our Eastern Depot's sake?"

Chen Yi said slowly,

"The Demonic Cult took an enormous risk by winning over an imperial prince. One wrong move could ruin everything. Have you ever wondered why they insisted on doing it?

"According to my private investigation, the Demonic Cult did so because it had a major scheme underway behind the scenes. This scheme concerned the emergence of its Holy Maiden. Once she emerged, the Eastern Depot, which was responsible for confiscating the Xiang Prince's Residence, would probably be implicated.

"I reckoned the Eastern Depot knew nothing of this and was being used by those Demonic Cult villains. That's why I intercepted and killed them-to stop their scheme from succeeding and prevent them from dragging the Eastern Depot down."

Li Hundred Household listened with both shock and fear. He had indeed heard rumors about the Holy Maiden's emergence, but they were only rumors.

Chen Yi took in every detail of his reaction.

Having cleared the game once, he knew that only a handful of people in the entire Capital City knew Yin Tingxue was the Holy Maiden.

And Xue Youge, the Eastern Depot's director, wasn't one of them. Although he colluded with the Demonic Cult, he cared more about his official position.

After all, what powerful official would abandon a life of splendor and foolishly follow the Demonic Cult into some remote mountain backwater?

Li Hundred Household saw how sincerely Chen Yi spoke and recalled his past conduct.

This Western Depot Hundred Household had originally been a corrupt schemer. Why would he suddenly turn against the Demonic Cult and start acting like a righteous hero?

There had to be more to it!

"The reason I ambushed and killed those Demonic Cult members was to sever ties and pull out in time. Some things..."

While Li Hundred Household was still reeling, Chen Yi said lightly,

"Don't weigh four taels until you put them on the scales-and then even a thousand catties won't cover them."

At this, cold sweat broke out on Li Hundred Household's neck. He repeatedly cupped his hands.

"Thank you for the warning, Hundred Household. If the Holy Maiden emerged and this matter came to light, who knows how many heads the Eastern Depot would lose?"

Patting Li Hundred Household on the shoulder, Chen Yi said earnestly,

"Director Xue put it well: we share our losses. The Eastern Depot and I have always been in the same boat."

Filled with relief at escaping disaster, Li Hundred Household now trusted him a little more.

"Thank you, Chen Hundred Household. This is an enormous favor. How can I repay you?"

Chen Yi said,

"I've heard that a secret manual called the Copper Bone Art circulates within the Eastern Depot. Why not lend it to me for a read?"

Li Hundred Household hesitated.

"Well... Director Xue compiled that book. It isn't meant to be shared with outsiders..."

Chen Yi immediately sneered.

"You just called this an enormous favor, Hundred Household. Have I done nothing for the Eastern Depot, then?"

Hearing this, Li Hundred Household considered carefully.

Compared with something that had nearly cost the Eastern Depot its heads, what was a martial arts manual?

Besides, this Chen Hundred Household wasn't some incorruptible man of principle. They could probably cooperate for a long time...

"All right. Just wait, and I'll bring it to you."

Chen Yi promptly cupped his hands.

"Thank you, Hundred Household. This time, I get a secret manual, and the Eastern Depot gets information. A true win-win."

Li Hundred Household couldn't help laughing.

"A win-win indeed."

He watched Li Hundred Household turn and hurry away.

In the shadows, a smile curled across Chen Yi's face.

If this were my first-playthrough save, I'd probably charge around everywhere. I could save and reload anyway.

But now...

I need to use finesse.

Make the experience packs deliver themselves to my door, one by one, and feel deeply grateful to me for it.

Do you even know what a second-playthrough player is?

A second-playthrough player...

Usually prepares to win twice.

Now the question is whether it'll be a big win, a medium win, or a small win.