Chapter 102: Double Agent

“Why me?”

“Because you have ties with the Headmaster of the two academies.”

In the back courtyard of Zhangtai Willow, Hehuan Cage, Ruan Guofan took a sip of tea and raised his eyes to observe Ding Suian. Seeing him frowning, he earnestly advised: “They have thrown a punch, and only then can we respond. But after the eighth day, apart from Sect Master Hao, the State Religion has had no reaction, which is unsettling. Since you have ties with the Headmaster of the two academies, it is most appropriate for you to go and probe their bottom line.”

Ding Suian replied: “That is not appropriate. After the eighth day, the State Religion will inevitably be vigilant. If I take the initiative to visit, my motive will be too obvious.”

“You can say you were forced by the West Yamen.”

“What do you mean?”

Ruan Guofan detailed a plan of feigned surrender. Seeing that Ding Suian still wouldn’t agree, he couldn’t help but ask: “Does Ding Suians courtesy name still have any concerns?”

“I have no means to protect my life.”

This was him coming to negotiate terms. Ruan Guofan seemed prepared, pulling a booklet from his bosom and handing it over.

Ding Suian took it and saw the words ‘Three Origins Shadow Evasion’ written on the yellowed cover. Ruan Guofan, standing to the side, explained at the right moment: “This cultivation manual can be called the most wonderful movement technique in the world. You can only practice it after entering the Astral realm, and now you are just right. If you first practice the ‘Hollow Cicada’ and ‘Earth-Shrinking’ in the Human Origin section, you will benefit endlessly.”

Ding Suian opened the front page. In the table of contents, the Three Origins Shadow Evasion was divided into three parts: ‘Human Origin’, ‘Earth Origin’, and ‘Heaven Origin’.

In the Human Origin section, it was further divided into movement techniques and footwork. The movement technique was called ‘Hollow Cicada’, which aimed to hide one’s own Qi. It was not invisibility in the visual sense, but a ‘disappearance of presence’ by attaching oneself to something and merging with it. Unless one actively attacked or had intense emotional fluctuations, it was difficult to be discovered.

The other footwork, ‘Earth-Shrinking’, was easier to understand. It meant literally that wind was born under the feet, the figure was flexible, the forward speed was greatly increased, the straight-line speed was astonishing, and the turns were free and easy, leaving no feeling of stagnation.

Ding Suian turned to the Earth Origin section. The advanced version of Earth-Shrinking footwork was called ‘Ghostly Soul’, and the advanced version of Hollow Cicada movement technique was called ‘Night Concealment’!

He immediately thought of the high-quality person in black.

“The Three Origins Shadow Evasion is a special gift from Your Highness. Ding Suians courtesy name must do his best.”

Ding Suian hadn’t finished reading the table of contents yet, but hearing this, he said: “Your Highness still remembers me?”

“Naturally, he knows of you.”

“Uncle~” Ding Suian raised the booklet in his hand and smiled: “Giving me such a good thing directly, aren’t you afraid that I won’t do the job after accepting it, Uncle?”

“Hahaha~” Ruan Guofan laughed heartily, then frankly said: “Ding Suians courtesy name is a child I watched grow up; I still have that much trust. If your Uncle has misjudged you, then blame your Uncle for being stupid.”

July 14th.

Chongli Ward, Law Academy.

While Ding Suian stood outside the courtyard gate waiting to be announced, he had already attracted many gazes.

The entire Law Academy, from the doorman to the kitchen, and then to the Headmaster, instructors, and students, were all women.

As a man standing abruptly at the courtyard gate, he naturally became an anomaly who had broken into the Kingdom of Women.

Occasionally, female students holding various musical instruments passed by in groups, some covering their lips with silk handkerchiefs, whispering and giggling, while others were bold, their eyes circling repeatedly over his well-defined side profile.

A moment later, the woman at the gatehouse led him to the Qingjiao Pavilion of the Law Academy.

Xu Jiuxi sat upright behind a large rosewood desk inlaid with mother-of-pearl, holding a book.

Her fingernails, dyed with balsam juice, were not a pure red, but a more alluring coral color, which made her slender fingers look even more like snow.

Seeing Ding Suian enter, she did not stand up. The peach-blossom eyes she looked over with held confusion, and even displeasure.

A few days ago, she had personally visited Suimian Street at night, precisely because of the subtle relationship between the State Religion and the imperial court after the storm on the night of the eighth.

She did not want to expose Ding Suian, the dark piece she had finally managed to plant in the Forbidden Army. Who would have thought that he would run over in broad daylight!

Was he afraid that others wouldn’t know?

“You had better have a huge matter.”

“Headmaster! Save me!”

“What happened?”

Xu Jiuxi slowly stood up and walked forward. The gold-threaded beaded hair accessory loosely pinned in her hair bun swayed gently with her enchanting gait.

“Yesterday, people from the West Yamen suddenly found me!”

“What did they want you to do?”

“They forced me to be a secret agent. To spy on the movements of the State Religion from you, Headmaster.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Xu Jiuxi was not angry, but instead tilted her mouth and chuckled, “So, you were forced by the West Yamen to come here today as well?”

“Yes!”

“What do you plan to do?”

“Headmaster, do you have a way to get me into the Law Academy?”

Young Master Ding was unwilling to be a secret agent and wanted to seek the protection of the Law Academy.

But how could Xu Jiuxi bear to let such an important dark piece become just an ordinary contributor?

After thinking for a moment, she turned sideways, supporting her chin with her elbow on the desk, her ten fingers interlaced. Those upturned peach-blossom eyes finally landed on Ding Suian’s face, her gaze flowing, smiling yet not smiling, enchantingly compelling, “Then you should listen to the West Yamen and work well for the West Yamen.”

A suspected person of the Apocalypse, an officer of the Forbidden Army, and now a secret agent of the West Yamen.

The weight of this dark piece was still rising!

Must stabilize him.

“Headmaster! The methods of the West Yamen… If they find out that I am working for you secretly, I will die a miserable death!”

“I said it before, you are my person! I will protect you, what are you afraid of?”

“…” Ding Suian turned his head away in grievance, appearing very dissatisfied with this arrangement.

“Not happy?”

Xu Jiuxi changed to a charming and sweet tone, the collar of her red shirt slightly open, revealing a section of greasy white jade-like neck and fragile collarbones.

“I… my skills are low, I’m afraid of delaying the Headmaster’s great cause.”

Ding Suian’s tone softened a little, “Suimian Street has many eyes and ears, and I’m also afraid of the secret being seen by others.”

Xu Jiuxi smiled softly and turned to call out: “Shu Yao, bring the silent bell~”

A short while later, Shu Yao brought a simple, ancient bell without any packaging, very much like the kind hanging on the eaves of a temple.

However… it had no clapper.

A bell makes sound entirely by its clapper; without a clapper, it naturally cannot make a sound.

Ding Suian thought that the ‘silent’ in ‘silent bell’ came from this, but heard Xu Jiuxi say: “This is a silent bell. Hanging it in the room, sound within a radius of three zhang will not leak out. If there are uninvited guests, it can also self-vibrate to warn you. You take it, and you won’t be afraid of anyone spying on you again.”

This is good!

With this, next time Zhao Yan dares to sneak into Ji Pavilion to peep at the spring, I will be able to discover it in advance!

Before doing anything, I’ve already received gifts from the West Yamen and the State Religion.

Ding Suian took the silent bell, struggled for a moment, then agreed and bid farewell.

Just as he turned around, he heard Xu Jiuxi say charmingly: “Leaving already?”

“Headmaster, do you have any other instructions?”

“The West Yamen asked you to come and spy on the State Religion’s intelligence, and you are leaving empty-handed like this. How can you report back?”

Xu Jiuxi looked very considerate, “Come here, lean your ear over~”

Ding Suian held his breath, letting a blush unique to a shy young man rise on his face. The next moment, Xu Jiuxi had already leaned over, her breath like orchids, warm and soft breath brushing over his earlobe, “When you go back, just say you found out that Sect Master Hao wants to lower Heavenly Punishment to damage the imperial court’s prestige. If the West Yamen wants to stop it, they need to get rid of him early~”

“Hmm!”

What a trick of driving a wolf to eat a tiger!

Earlier, Zhao Yan entered a dream and saw that Xu Jiuxi and Sect Master Hao were at odds.

Now, she wants to use the hands of the West Yamen to get rid of Sect Master Hao. Anyway, in her eyes, both sides are dogs biting dogs, a guaranteed profit without loss.

“Go, if there are any movements from the West Yamen, report them to me quietly~”