Chapter 31 – Successfully Hoodwinking the Big Boss

The Stupid Bird’s sense of justice is off the charts; blame its upbringing, I guess.

But justice comes in two flavors: procedural and consequential.

Li Qiuchen wasn’t sure which camp the Stupid Bird belonged to.

Usually the shameless creature had no qualms—otherwise they’d never have become partners-in-crime.

This time was different.

Yanking a girl’s braid and stealing from your parents aren’t the same league of wrong.

The White Crane hesitated, then let out a soft, broken-beaked croak.

Can we win?

“We will win!”

Li Qiuchen thumped his chest in promise.

“Croak!”

Then let’s do it!

The White Crane flapped twice to show resolve, though its eyes still questioned Li Qiuchen.

What kind of false report are you going to write? And why do you think it can fool a mountain god?

“The best lie is the truth.”

Making truth sound like falsehood—that’s a matter of technique.

No sooner said than done.

With the crane squared away—not expecting brilliance, just loyalty—Li Qiuchen lit incense and prayed, calling the mountain god.

He spoke the god’s true name three times; when the sticks burned down, his mind went hazy.

Mist swirled, and two Maidens in White stepped from the fog, lanterns in hand, bowing to Li Qiuchen.

That convenient?

Even Li Qiuchen was stunned.

He’d figured the mountain god might send a disembodied voice at most.

Instead—cross-map teleport after a stick of incense?

The mountain god’s power is terrifying!

On a twisty mountain path that defied compass points, man and crane followed the Maidens through the mist and soon arrived at the entrance to the god’s Immortal Cave.

Li Qiuchen noticed the White Crane’s odd posture; a sidelong glance showed both its legs trembling.

What are you shaking for? I’m not off to assassinate the First Emperor—get a grip.

Last time it had adapted to killing easily enough and had shown no reverence to the mountain god; its nerves shouldn’t be this fragile.

Could it be that its first foray into villainy—conning a deity—has it overexcited?

Give me a break.

It’s like the straight-A class president being dragged by the resident delinquent to lie to her mom-slash-homeroom teacher about needing an abortion.

Wake up—you’re not that kind of… bird!

Jiang Tingyue sat in the cave as if no time had passed since their last meeting.

The Maiden in White served Spiritual tea; Li Qiuchen downed it in one gulp, cleared his throat, and began recounting every scrap of intelligence gathered below the mountain.

The Immortal Elder’s shed skin, the Medicine Masters Believers, the Mahā Immortal Master, conditions in each village and town—he laid it all out without inserting a shred of personal opinion.

The White Crane couldn’t help sneaking glances.

All true—how do you plan to deceive anyone?

At the end, describing the massacre at Sandao Ridge, Li Qiuchen casually added, “Besides those Medicine Masters Believers, a second faction appears to be fishing in troubled waters with its own agenda. Junior’s knowledge is shallow; I can’t fathom their methods.”

The White Crane shrank its neck: here it comes.

Ninety-nine lines of truth, all paving the way for one lie.

A second faction.

Jiang Tingyue, who had remained motionless, flicked his eyes at those words. “What makes you think so?”

Where’s your proof?

Arguments need claims; claims need evidence.

Li Qiuchen kept a straight face. “From what I know of the Medicine Masters Believers, they venerate life and abhor death. The heretic at Sandao Ridge, whatever his goal, worships death—poles apart from the Medicine Masters path.”

Of course there are exceptions.

Like the philosophical-slash-biological dilemma: would you rather eat curry-flavored excrement or excrement-flavored curry?

Medicine Masters Believers might resort to extremes, but Li Qiuchen’s personal judgment still holds water.

On its own the point is flimsy.

Yet backed by the earlier detailed intel, Jiang Tingyue already respected Li Qiuchen’s analytical skill and let the matter rest.

Compared with a baseless “mastermind” theory, the plausible inference of a “new force” warranted attention.

“Wait here a moment.”

Jiang Tingyue pondered, took up brush and paper, and wrote a letter. Calling a Maiden in White, he instructed, “Deliver this to County Captain Ma Tiancheng in Yunzhong County. The matter is urgent—go and return without delay.”

The Maiden accepted the scroll, turned to give Li Qiuchen a sweet smile, and vanished in a streak of light.

That subtle grin sent a shiver down Li Qiuchen’s spine.

What’s that supposed to mean?

All I did was bathe and change clothes last time—think I’m still filthy?

Just wait a few years; when I’m grown, if you still dare undress me, then you’re something.

His thoughts strayed only an instant before snapping back to Jiang Tingyue.

The main event was next.

The boss was about to hand out wages.

Hope he remembers.

Jiang Tingyue looked at man and crane, considered, then said softly, “Well done. I have two bottles of spirit gathering pills to aid your Cultivation—take them. At your level, consume only one every three days or your body won’t bear it. Beyond that, name any request; if it’s within my power, I’ll grant it.”

“Croak!”

“Nothing.”

Li Qiuchen shot the Stupid Bird a glare—what did you croak for?

The boss is being polite and you open your beak like a lion?

Jiang Tingyue shook his head. “I have no Shape-Shift Pill; those two rabbits achieved human form through their own Cultivation. With your talent and family Legacy, if you focus you should reach Foundation Establishment and transform within ten years. Taking a Shape-Shift Pill early would only leave hidden damage.

“I do have a willow-leaf Flying Sword, a gift from a school friend—would you like it?”

“Croak!”

The White Crane nodded.

Jiang Tingyue produced a willow leaf.

Li Qiuchen saw it clearly—an ordinary leaf, yet shimmering with faint treasure-light.

A genuine willow-leaf Flying Sword.

Humble as it looked, anything from the mountain god’s hand was no common Magic Treasure.

With a glance at the crane, Jiang Tingyue flicked the leaf; its green luster vanished, becoming a white feather that streamed into the bird’s wing.

Yikes—what a sneaky Magic Treasure.

If you don’t look closely… no, even if you do, you’d never spot it.

Li Qiuchen silently warned himself: no more horseplay with the Stupid Bird—one wing-beat could slice him to ribbons.