Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 774 - 486: The Cicada Sheds its Shell_2

Chapter 774: Chapter 486: The Cicada Sheds its Shell_2

"After all,"

"we have already achieved our goal of coming to the Dayan Empire."

...

...

...

"Hey, didn’t you say Xu Changge would come?"

At the entrance of the estate hidden in the valley, Li Junqing glanced at the figure shrouded under the black robe, and then at the empty forest behind him, suddenly feeling an urge to simply shut the door.

Xu Yuan casually pulled down the hood and, without any pretense, pushed past Li Junqing, who was blocking the doorway, and entered the garden. He glanced around the lavishly decorated courtyard with a touch of admiration:

"You do know how to enjoy life, having a property like this in such a place. Why is it so dark inside? Where are the servants? Oh, right, you always pinch pennies, so you’ve probably moved them already."

As he spoke, he walked towards a pavilion on the side of the courtyard like he owned the place, "Since you’re going to leave the capital, why not sell this estate to me? I just happen to need a retreat."

Dressed in blue and white with purple dragon patterns, Li Junqing briskly followed Xu Yuan, speaking quickly:

"Don’t give me that nonsense. If Xu Changge doesn’t come, I won’t participate in what’s planned for tonight."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan casually waved his hand:

"Don’t hurry, isn’t there still some time before the hour you agreed upon?"

With that, Xu Yuan seated himself on a stone bench in the pavilion, looking at the clearly dissatisfied Third Prince with a mildly interested smile:

"Moreover, haven’t you already broken through to Third Grade?"

"I have settled my trip to Xi’en, so naturally, I didn’t need to suppress my cultivation level any longer."

Li Junqing showed a trace of pride on his face upon hearing this, but it soon faded as he glanced around the serene, classical estate:

"Seeing your confident demeanor, Xu Changge must have arrived already, right?"

Xu Yuan’s face revealed a smile:

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"......"

After a brief silence, Li Junqing probed tentatively:

"You... what did you say to Xu Changge?"

Xu Yuan’s gaze lifted slightly, a hint of reminiscence flickering across his face, he said:

"After that day, I went back to the mansion to find him. I told him I had met the Princess of the Xi’en Empire and that the two of us might not be able to beat her, so I wanted to ask him to help kidnap her."

Li Junqing gasped in shock:

"Sss... You were that direct?"

"I’ve always been direct."

"And what did he say?"

"He told me to scram."

"...." Li Junqing.

Massaging his temples, Li Junqing leaned his elbow on the stone table, holding his forehead and staring at Xu Yuan with a pained expression:

"So, what you’re saying is that your brother didn’t agree to tonight’s plan at all, right?"

"Right."

"Xu Changtian, making a move tonight means burning bridges, and the Xi’en Empire won’t care about your status."

"I know you’re anxious, but don’t rush."

"How can I not be anxious! If you want to die, don’t drag me into it."

Li Junqing got up, ready to leave.

Xu Yuan quickly grabbed him, whispering:

"Relax, I was just joking earlier. Xu Changge will come."

"Joking? You mean Xu Changge actually agreed?"

"Not exactly."

"...." Li Junqing.

Meeting the other’s incredulous gaze, Xu Yuan confidently said:

"You don’t understand my brother. If I say he will come, then he will definitely come. Even if he’s reluctant, he’ll come."

"Why?" Li Junqing frowned.

Xu Yuan spread his hands and declared loudly:

"If he dares not to come, I’ll dare to die to show him!"

"...." Li Junqing.

"...." Xu Changge.

The echoing voice ceased within the mountain hollow, and the courtyard returned to silence once more.

Yet, amidst this tranquility, Xu Yuan inexplicably felt a chill on his back and hurriedly cleared his throat:

"Ahem, I’ve got this under control, just proceed with the plan."

Li Junqing, rubbing the center of his forehead, reminded him in a somewhat unpleasant tone:

"Fine, I have already broken through to Third Grade, and even if I cannot defeat them, this place is only three hundred miles from Di’an City. If I choose to flee, they wouldn’t dare to pursue."

"Don’t worry, when it comes to running away, you might not be faster than me."

"Tsk, that’s debatable."

"Heh."

As he sat back down, Li Junqing glanced at the sky and said softly:

"There’s roughly a quarter of an hour until the time I agreed upon with those two. Let’s discuss our strategy for now."

"Strategy? What strategy?"

Xu Yuan looked bemused and said matter-of-factly, "If Xu Changge doesn’t show, you, as a Third Grade Great Grandmaster, surely wouldn’t expect me with my Integration Body to take care of that tin can, would you?"

Speaking, Xu Yuan lightly tapped the stone table in front of him, and said:

"Instead of discussing this, you might as well tell me what you and Princess O’Reilly have been negotiating over the past half month. It’s now a common rumor in Di’an City that the two of you have had private meetings no less than seven or eight times."

"Private meetings? Ha... these were all to lay the groundwork for tonight."

Li Junqing snorted lightly, "That woman is very clever. Each negotiation with her demands a great deal of thought on my part to advance the agenda. After eleven negotiations in half a month, we finally settled on a general cooperation plan, luring her to negotiate outside Di’an City for the last time."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan frowned slightly:

"You’ve invited her to meet eleven times in half a month? Isn’t that too frequent? It could make her suspicious."

Li Junqing waved his hand dismissively and laughed:

"I’ve taken that into account, of course. I told her that I might have to be dispatched to the east next month, and under such circumstances, I naturally had to be more diligent."

"You’re leaving next month?"

"Of course, that was a lie. I haven’t reported anything about a dispatch to the east at the morning court."

"In other words, if she finds out, then she can be sure this is a trap?"

"Currently, only a few important court officials know about this matter. Where could she find verification?"

Li Junqing replied nonchalantly, "Besides, I’ve already marked her with our Imperial Family’s Quelling Soul Scent. Even if she wanted to run, it’s already too late."

"....."

After a brief contemplation, Xu Yuan nodded slightly.

Being an envoy entering an unfamiliar empire, if those in power want you dead, even if you are aware, you essentially have no room to resist.

The reason Li Junqing and he chose to act in such a remote place, despite the hassle, was more about concealing Xu Yuan’s identity and hiding the connection between Li Junqing and the Prime Minister’s Mansion, so they could not act within Di’an City.

Just as he was pondering,

A very stern and velvety male voice suddenly reached Xu Yuan’s ears:

"Two fools are still plotting how to conspire, when those two have already abandoned their carriage to run. It’s not too late to chase after them now."

The moment he heard the voice, Xu Yuan immediately stood up. His spiritual vision unfolded to scan the surroundings, but regrettably, other than Li Junqing, he could not sense anyone else.

The voice transmission from Xu Changge...

Seeing Xu Yuan’s sudden movement, Li Junqing asked in slight surprise:

"What’s wrong? Are we going to start fighting as soon as we meet them, or shall I negotiate with them for a moment before we launch a surprise attack?"

Xu Yuan cursed under his breath:

"Stop plotting, you fool. They’ve already abandoned their carriage to run. It’s not too late to chase them now."

"....."

Li Junqing, a little startled, let out his tremendous Third Grade Great Grandmaster’s will-spirit in an instant, which surged toward the trail leading to the manor’s gate. After a moment, he frowned and said:

"What are you talking about? I’ve been keeping watch; those two are sitting right in the carriage from Honglu Temple, merely a quarter-hour’s ride away from us."

"...."

Without another word, Xu Yuan’s eyes flashed blood red, and he leapt up, speeding down the forest path.

Seeing this, Li Junqing, although confused, immediately composed himself and leapt to follow Xu Yuan.

Shortly after, two figures slowly settled in front of the luxurious carriage emblazoned with the emblem of the Honglu Temple.

And peering through the unattended carriage’s window grilles, Xu Yuan’s gaze met O’Reilly’s, who was looking out.

For a moment, eyes locked,

the Willow Ghost Blade appeared instantly in Xu Yuan’s hand. Before Li Junqing could utter a word, Xu Yuan slashed his sword horizontally.

The sword scar, accompanied by a splash of ink-like blood, crossed more than ten yards, cleaving both horse and carriage in half!

Under this Slash Strike, the two severed figures inside the carriage, after a brief pause, quietly transformed into specks of starlight that vanished into the forest under the moonlit night.....