Chapter 194: Aligning Stars   Zhu Honggong looked perplexed. He inquired in a low voice, “Fourth Senior Brother, who’s Jiang Aijian?”

“Liu Chen, the Third Prince of Great Yan’s Imperial family,” Mingshi Yin replied offhandedly.

Jiang Aijian’s real name was Liu Chen.

Zhu Honggong was speechless. ‘He’s quite the character.’

“Has anyone discovered the truth about Wei Zhuoyan?” Duanmu Sheng asked.

Mingshi Yin said, “Well, previously, Jiang Aijian told us about the real Wei Zhuoyan’s location. This time, it seems like he knows Wei Zhuoyan is a fake. This means he has eyes around Wei Zhuoyan.”

Lu Zhou was deep in thought... Mingshi Yin’s inference made sense.

Even if the upper echelons of the palace knew that Wei Zhuoyan was a fake, they would never acknowledge it officially. The commander-in-chief of the three armies could never be touched. They would prioritize the bigger picture. Those who intended to expose Wei Zhuoyan would be those who wanted to cause a disruption.

‘Is Consort Yi trying to plunge Great Yan into chaos? She’s from the Western Regions, after all. She has the strongest motive to do this. No matter how at odds Mo Li and Wei Zhuoyan were, they’re still part of the Second Prince’s faction. They wouldn’t turn against each other... In that case, who would want Wei Zhuoyan dead?’ Lu Zhou could not come up with an answer no matter how much he thought about it. ‘Instead of guessing blindly, it’s much better to meet him and ask him about it directly.’

At this moment, a female cultivator entered the hall and said, “At the base of the mountain, Ci An requests an audience.”

‘Ci An? Who’s that?’

Mingshi Yin scratched his head. Then, he smacked his forehead and said, “Master... It’s little junior sister’s relative. He came here before.”

Duanmu Sheng frowned and said, “Did something happen?”

“Let him in .” Lu Zhou waved his arm.

“Understood.”

Soon enough, a visibly nervous Ci An arrived in the great hall. His eyes darted around warily as though he expected a villain to jump at him and kick him. He stammered, “G-Greetings, old... old senior...”

Mingshi Yin asked, “What’s wrong? Is someone kidnapped again?”

It was no wonder their master established a rule for those who wished to join the Evil Sky Pavilion to sever ties with their pasts. Little Yuan’er’s relatives alone had gotten into trouble several times. Ordinary people could never endure this. They might be used as hostages to threaten the disciples. Pan Zhong was the same. He would have to be severely warned when he returned.

Ci An hastily waved his hands and said, “No, no... It’s not a kidnapping.”

“What is it then?” Mingshi Yin asked.

Ci An sighed and said, “The old master and the madam... plans to leave Anyang. They miss the young lady... and wish to see her one last time before they leave.”

“Do you know about the Evil Sky Pavilion’s rules?” Mingshi Yin asked.

“I... I do.”

“How dare you come here then?”

“Ever since the incident in Bluesun, the old master and the madam have been missing the young lady. Now that the young lady’s turning 16, the old master and madam want to meet the young lady dearly. They’ll never see her again after this meeting! Please be magnanimous, Pavilion Master,” Ci An said as he fell to his knees.

Lu Zhou was curious. The mortals would not dare to contact the Evil Sky Pavilion, let alone doing it repeatedly. It was truly strange. The old master of the Ci family had been unconscious throughout the kidnapping incident on Bluesun Mountain. He did not get a chance to see Little Yuan’er at all. However, according to the Evil Sky Pavilion’s rules, a disciple would have to sever ties with their past once they joined. He could not make an exception just because they were related by blood. If all of his disciples had that many ties to the secular world, things would be difficult for the Evil Sky Pavilion. However, he was not in a hurry to turn Ci An away.

“Why are they moving?” Lu Zhou asked.

Ci An replied, “Anyang hasn’t been peaceful as of late. Murders keep happening every now and then... It’s said that the Other Tribes are responsible for this. Previously, the Ci family had the protection of the officials... but those people have fled!”

Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded. Combined with Jiang Aijian’s information that Wei Zhuoyan had been ordered to quell the disturbance in Anyang, Ci An should be telling the truth.

Ci An lowered his head and trembled.

The great hall was quiet.

Ci An glanced at the greatest villain in the world furtively before he hastily lowered his head again. He did not know what was going through Lu Zhou’s mind and found the silence stifling.

After a long pause, Lu Zhou waved his arm and said, “Send the guest away.”

Mingshi Yin cupped his fists at Lu Zhou. Then, he made an inviting gesture toward Ci An. “This way.”

“Pa-pavilion Master?” Ci An did not seem to have heard if his request was granted or not. When he heard Lu Zhou ordering his disciple to send him away, he was slightly stunned.

A hint of annoyance crept into Mingshi Yin’s voice as he said, “Aren’t you leaving?”

Ci An hastily rose to his feet and followed Mingshi Yin out of the great hall.

The others bowed and left as well.

...

Meanwhile, in the great hall of the Darknet’s headquarters, Crouching Dragon.

“Sect Master, the Evil Sky Pavilion’s Mister Fourth has sent a letter...”

“What’s the matter?” Si Wuya stood up slowly. He was slightly curious. He left the Evil Sky Pavilion a long time ago. The Evil Sky Pavilion had never contacted him all this while. There was no precedent for this.

“It was sent to the contact point in Anyang and was redirected here. The Evil Sky Pavilion wants you to investigate Yunsan’s whereabouts.”

“Yunsan?”

“That’s right. The only descendant of the Pickpocket Sect, Yanzi Yunsan.”

“The Pickpocket Sect is no more. Yunsan is the only member left. What business does my master have with him?” Si Wuya found this very strange.

“I’m not sure...”

Calling Yunsan the descendant of the Pickpocket Sect was a nice way of putting it. To be direct, he was just a thief.

To think that a person like Ji Tiandao would contact Si Wuya just for a thief... Si Wuya could not wrap his mind around this.

One of his subordinates who was standing by the side bowed and said, “I heard that Yunsan has stolen something from the Evil Sky Pavilion before. Could this be related to that incident?”

Si Wuya nodded and said with a smile, “Oh, master, your heart is growing less and less generous by the day.”

“Uh... Sect Master, should we investigate Yunsan?”

At the end of the day, the Darknet did not belong to the Evil Sky Pavilion. They could reject this request without any qualms.

“Let’s fulfill his wish,” Si Wuya said lightly, “After all, he’s getting old. I wish that he’ll be able to live out his final years comfortably.”

“Understood.”

The subordinate was just about to turn around and leave.

“Hold on.”

“Your orders, Sect Master?”

“Have the Clarity and Righteous Sects been up to anything lately?” Si Wuya asked with his hands clasped on his back.

“The Clarity and Righteous Sects had assembled and went to Tiger Ridge but found nothing. They had returned yesterday. I assume they’re seething with anger right now.”

“Very good.” Si Wuya twirled his Peacock Plume and asked, “Anything from the palace?”

“Wei Zhuoyan has left the Divine Capital and is heading for Anyang to quell the disturbance.”

When Si Wuya heard this, he chuckled and said, “That little impostor sure has guts.”

“Sect Master, should we do anything about it?”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Understood.”

“Also, spread the word that the Giant Silkworm Gloves have been sighted in Anyang.”

When the subordinate heard this, he was stunned. “Sect Master, to lure Yunsan with this method... Isn’t it too...”

“It’s true that Yunsan is skilled in stealing... However, he’s extremely proud as well. Since my master wants to find Yunsan, as his disciple, I can’t sit back and do nothing. The Giant Silkworm Gloves are the best bait...”

“Understood. I’ll see to it right away...”