Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 287 Gaining People's Trust
In their previous conversation, although Pei Wugou was determined to stop Gu Jingnian and Pei Nian's marriage, the atmosphere was somewhat like that of a father-in-law and son-in-law. However, when it came to the transaction, both parties adopted a completely businesslike attitude, without any warmth.

"can."

Gu Jingnian quickly changed his tone and said, "But I have to see my older sister and the others first."

Pei Wugou sighed slightly to express his helplessness, and said with a sigh, "Your strength is very different now than before. Once Gu Caiwei shows herself, wouldn't it be easy for you to kidnap her?"

Although he only arrived now, he was very familiar with Gu Jingnian's current situation and even began to deduce it on the spot.

“You control the troops of Jusai City, and with Fengniang gathering intelligence, you can even take Gu Caiwei away directly using the Shadow Transmission Technique. What worries us even more is that if a fight breaks out, we don’t know how many soldiers will lose their lives under your Fire Wings.”

"So, what you're implying, Lord Pei, is that you don't intend to give him to me?"

“No, we will definitely keep our promise this time,” Pei Wugou said, “provided that you also keep your promise.”

After a pause, he bluntly stated his position, adding, "There is no room for negotiation on this matter. I won't keep you in suspense. The Kaiping Division doesn't believe you can capture Womin and thinks you're trying to trick us into rescuing Gu Caiwei."

This is indeed the case.

Although Pei Wugou had seen through Gu Jingnian's thoughts, he did not waver or hesitate in any way, and said calmly, "If you don't want Womin, then so be it."

He thought it over carefully and realized that in order not to be seen through, he still had to act as if he no longer cared about Gu Caiwei as much as before in order to achieve immortality.

The less he cares about Gu Caiwei, the more Kaiping Si will believe that he has won over Womin.

Compared to immortality, that bit of family affection seems like a drop in the ocean.

Pei Wugou's deep gaze swept over Gu Jingnian, as if she could see through his thoughts. A faint smile appeared on her lips, a smile that seemed to know him well, as if she had seen a child hiding a candied hawthorn.

Unfortunately, the biggest difference between Pei Wugou and Gu Jingnian is that he cannot make decisions.

He had a mission he had to accomplish: to bring Womin back to Zhongzhou no matter what, even if he was certain that Gu Jingnian was lying to him. If he returned empty-handed, he would not be able to prove whether Gu Jingnian had actually had Womin or not.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the Kaiping Division, he had no choice but to take the initiative.

Pei Wugou then said, "How about we compromise? As long as you can prove that you captured Womin, I will devise a plan to bring Gu Caiwei and her daughter here."

Knowing that too much talk would lead to mistakes, Gu Jingnian neither agreed nor refused, but simply turned and walked out, which showed some disrespect to Pei Wugou and was not the way a young master of the Gu family would treat guests in Jusai City.

The host turned and left, while Pei Wugou, the guest, sat there watching, stroking his long beard, his eyes flashing with understanding.

After sitting for a while, Pei Wugou finished his tea and then slowly got up and walked out.

A servant of the Gu family was guarding outside the door. When he came out, he hurriedly went up to him and said, "Lord Pei, please forgive my rudeness. I will escort you to the post station."

"Sending me here is a pretense; the real purpose is to supervise me and prevent me from moving around freely in Jusai City," Pei Wugou bluntly exposed Gu Jize's true intentions.

The servant didn't explain, just laughed it off, and took him to the post station.

--------

Pei Nian moved to the post station and immediately changed into men's clothing. The girlish charm that had often graced her face recently completely disappeared, and she returned to her capable appearance from Rui Kingdom.

Before Pei Wugou returned, she gathered all the people who had come with him and ordered them to line up.

She walked past them with her hands behind her back, her gaze sharp as she observed them until each of them bowed their head in awe.

Do you recognize me?

After a while, Pei Nian casually asked someone a question, his tone as indifferent as if he were just greeting someone.

The man was so frightened that he stammered for a long time.

“Pei… Pei Pei Pei is in charge of the investigation.”

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Nian called out his name, making him even more apprehensive.

Of course, not everyone chosen to accompany Pei Wugou on this mission was as useless as he seemed. Some people glanced at him with disdain in their eyes, but they still respected Pei Nian.

“I recognize many of you,” Pei Nian finally spoke, “but were you sent to arrest me after hearing I was getting married?”

"This……"

The leaders looked at each other, opened their mouths as if to speak, but in the end, they didn't say anything.

Seeing their behavior, Pei Nian understood that these people were actually acting on Li Shuangyun's orders to cooperate with her; otherwise, they wouldn't have needed to be so respectful.

Therefore, Pei Wugou's arrival was also at Li Shuangyun's behest.

Just as he realized this, Pei Wugou returned. Seeing Pei Nian directing his entourage, he coughed lightly and said unhappily, "All of you, leave."

"Yes."

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon and withdrew in droves.

"Come with me."

Pei Wugou led Pei Nian back to the house, whereupon he took out a yellow banner from a box and placed it on the ground.

The yellow banner was undoubtedly meant to prevent eavesdroppers, but he was still not at ease, so he took out a small incense burner and lit it.

A wisp of smoke soon filled the room.

The father and daughter smelled the incense, closed their eyes, and when they opened them again, their consciousness was in a place of nothingness. "We are now communicating with our divine senses," Pei Wugou said.

Pei Nian glanced into the darkness beside her and vaguely felt that someone was there, but it was clearly empty, with nothing there.

Pei Wugou added, "You're being too careless. This is Jusai City. Are you deliberately exposing your identity by making contact with them openly?"

“No,” Pei Nian said. “But Father has always disliked the Kaiping Division, yet now he’s working for them?”

"Firstly, it's all for the sake of serving the Kingdom of Switzerland; secondly, it's also to save you."

Pei Nian retorted, "Save me? Do you know what I'm thinking?"

Pei Wugou said, "You have always been loyal and devoted to the Kaiping Division, and no matter how I try to persuade you, you will not listen. Now, have you changed your mind for Gu Jingnian?"

"What if?"

Pei Wugou shook his head and said, "What you think is not important. At this point, you can't even control your own thoughts."

"I……"

Pei Nian was about to retort when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head.

She turned her head and saw a figure appear in the previously empty space. It was Li Shuangyun, looking at them with innocent and gentle eyes, slowly walking over.

Pei Wugou frowned and was about to stop him.

There was no time to lose. Li Shuangyun raised one hand, placed her palm near her mouth, and gently blew on it.

It was as if she were blowing on a fragile dandelion; her breath was sweet and fragrant. But with that breath, Pei Nian fainted.

"and many more!"

Before Pei Wuyue could finish speaking, Li Shuangyun had already disappeared.

Then, Pei Nian, who had fainted, woke up again, her eyes now watery.

"Thank you, Minister Pei. I've finally made it into Jusai City."

The moment she opened her mouth, she spoke in the exact same tone as Li Shuangyun.

It turned out that Li Shuangyun had taken over Pei Nian's body through this incense.

Because the city of Jusai has obsidian to suppress supernatural abilities, and she has no other treasures to help her, she deliberately sent Pei Wugou here and gave him incense, saying it was to prevent others from eavesdropping.

Pei Wugou was displeased and said, "You gave me this incense to scheme against my daughter?!"

“It’s not scheming,” Pei Nian explained softly. “Finishing the job sooner so you can rescue her sooner is better for everyone, isn’t it?”

Pei Wugou snorted, his brows furrowed, but he had no better solution.

Pei Nian stopped speaking, stood there with her eyes lowered, and stood silently.

This is after Li Shuangyun took over Pei Nian's body and began to examine her memories.

"how come?"

Suddenly, Li Shuangyun exclaimed in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Pei Wugou asked.

"It's actually true...it's true."

Li Shuangyun's voice was filled with disbelief.

Pei Wugou asked, "What is real?"

“Womin”.

Although it was only two words, they trembled slightly as Li Shuangyun murmured, "Yingyao has really led Womin out of the boundary. Gu Jingnian actually did it."

“What?” Pei Wugou said, “That’s impossible.”

"But the truth is, Pei Nian saw with his own eyes that Ying Yao and Wo Min were in Jusai City."

Pei Wugou still didn't believe it, saying, "I personally tested Gu Jingnian today, and he was clearly cheating..."

"If he were someone you could see through at a glance, why would we bother with so much effort?"

Li Shuangyun murmured, "There really are people like this in the world. They obtained the elixir of immortality, but they wanted to use it to exchange for their older sister. What a fool."

Having said that, she said in a commanding tone, "Continue to confirm this matter."

"Ok."

The lid of the incense burner was closed, and the wisp of smoke disappeared from the room. Pei Nian was asleep, slumped over the table.

After a long while, she opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion.

(End of this chapter)